WRITTEN STATEMENT
BY
THE WELSH GOVERNMENT
TITLE
First Minister’s Statement – JMC (P)
DATE
31 January 2017
BY
Carwyn Jones AM, First Minister
A meeting of the Joint Ministerial Committee (Plenary), chaired by the Prime Minister, was
held in Cardiff on Monday 30 January. This was the first time the JMC (P) has been held
outside London and I was pleased to welcome colleagues from the UK, Scottish and
Northern Ireland administrations to Wales.
The main issue for discussion was, naturally, the UK Exit from the European Union. Our
White Paper “Securing Wales’ Future”, which we produced jointly with Plaid Cymru and was
published last week, was tabled as a formal document for the discussion. I emphasised the
key issues for Wales centred around full and unfettered participation in the Single Market
along with a sensibly and flexibly managed migration policy to meet future recruitment
needs in Wales.
The JMC also considered emerging international trade options for the United Kingdom in
the light of EU exit. I explained Wales’ commitment to international free trade without
barriers and our determination to work with business to promote trade and investment
wherever in the world opportunities arise. I noted that the Welsh Government works
constructively with the UK Government and its agencies around the world and will continue
to do so as new trade opportunities come on stream.
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