National Assembly for Wales

Good afternoon, and can I welcome Members and the public to this afternoon's meeting of the External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee, which will be held in a virtual mode? And can I therefore, in accordance with Standing Order 34.19, determine that the public are excluded from the committee's meeting in order to protect the public health? Just a reminder that the meeting is being broadcast on Senedd.tv and is available on the internet via www.senedd.tv. The meeting is also bilingual and translation is available from Welsh to English. In the event I lose my connection, then we have already determined that Alun Davies will act as temporary Chair, either until I reconnect or the end of the meeting, whichever is sooner. Has any Member, at this point in time, got to declare an interest in any of the issues we're discussing today? I see there are none at this point, so thank you for that. 

We go on to item 2 on the agenda, which is papers to note, and we have four. The first one is correspondence from the Counsel General and Minister for European Transition, regarding the end of transition action plan, which was published on 12 November. Are Members content to note this paper, as you have already had a chance to possibly read the transition plan? I see they are, so we note the paper.

The second is correspondence from the First Minister, regarding the thirty-fourth summit of the British-Irish Council, which was held on 13 November, and which he and the Minister for Economy, Transport and North Wales attended. Are Members again content to note the contents of that paper? They are. Thank you.

The third one is correspondence from the Counsel General and Minister for European Transition, regarding the UK-Japan comprehensive economic partnership agreement, published on 16 November. Again, are Members at this point in time content to note that? They are. Thank you.

The fourth one is correspondence from the Auditor General for Wales, regarding the preparations for the end of Brexit transition on 31 December. This was received this week. Are Members content to note that paper and take the opportunity to read the details that this discusses on preparedness? I note they are.

Then we move on to the next item on the agenda, which is a motion under 17.42(vi) to resolve to exclude the public from the remainder of the meeting. Are Members content to do so? I see they are, and therefore there is no objection and therefore we move into private session for the remainder of today's meeting.