How will Brexit impact Wales? Lords to hear evidence
As part of its inquiry into the implications of Brexit for the devolved nations, the House of Lords EU Committee will take evidence at the National Assembly for Wales on Tuesday 7 February. The Committee will hear from Welsh politicians, leading academics, trade unions and industry experts.
Across four evidence sessions, the Committee will explore the broad political and economic impact of Brexit on Wales; if the UK Government is doing enough to reflect Wales' interests in its Brexit strategy; and which powers should be exercised by the Welsh Government after Brexit. The Committee will also examine the Welsh Government's recently-published paper on ‘Securing Wales' future'.
The Committee will be taking further evidence in the coming weeks. On Wednesday 15 March, the Committee will hear from Rt Hon Carwyn Jones AM, First Minister of Wales, and Cabinet Secretary Mark Drakeford AM.
In Cardiff on 7 February, the Committee will hear from (at 10:00am):
- Andrew RT Davies AM, Leader of the Welsh Conservatives
- Leanne Wood AM, Leader of Plaid Cymru
- Neil Hamilton AM, Leader of UKIP in Wales
At 11:15am the Committee will hear from:
- Sir Emyr Jones Parry GCMG, Chancellor, Aberystwyth University and former UK Permanent Representative to NATO and to the United Nations
- Professor Gerald Holtham, economic expert and Managing Director, Cadwyn Capital LLP
At 2:00pm the Committee will hear from:
- Dr Joanna Hunt, Reader in Law, Cardiff University
- Dr Rachel Minto, Research Associate, Cardiff University
At 3.30pm the Committee will hear from:
- Mr Nicholas Fenwick, Head of Policy, Farmers' Union of Wales
- Mr Ben Cottam, Head of External Affairs, Federation of Small Businesses in Wales
- Dr Victoria Winckler, Director, Bevan Foundation
- Ms Mary Williams, Community Coordinator, Unite Wales
Questions the Committee are likely to ask:
- Which EU competences should be transferred to the Welsh Government after Brexit, and are there any powers currently reserved to the UK Government that should be devolved as a consequence of Brexit?
- How much leverage does Wales have to influence the UK's negotiating stance?
- What are the current mechanisms for direct engagement between the devolved administrations and the EU? How will these be affected by Brexit?
- Is it possible for the nations and regions of the UK to have a differentiated future relationship with the EU, or is a consistent approach across the UK the only viable solution?
