Janet Finch-Saunders

First Minister, as a constituency Member in Aberconwy, I’m only too well aware of the valuable importance of Airbus in Broughton with the jobs—6,000 jobs—that they provide. I know in a statement after the referendum result they did say that they are really looking to constructively work with the UK Government to provide support for their workers and, indeed, to carry on with their operations here. How will you, as First Minister, and your Welsh Government provide the assurance that they probably need right now? Have you been to visit? Have you come up to north Wales and visited Airbus in order to have those senior management level talks, so that they do receive that assurance that you will be working equally as hard as the UK Government to support them?

Carwyn Jones The First Minister

I met with the president of Airbus in the week of the referendum. I know that the Cabinet Secretary has also met with Airbus. I have regular meetings with Airbus to listen to their concerns. All manufacturers are saying to me that they are concerned about access to the single market. They are European operations, and if the UK is outside of the market they sell in, there are consequences for investment in the future. It doesn’t mean that they could close them overnight—of course it doesn’t—but if you are an international company, you’re more likely to invest inside a market than outside it. That’s why it’s hugely important that we continue to have free access to the single market, tariff free. I cannot imagine what our Welsh lamb farmers will do if a 15 per cent tariff is imposed on the lamb that they produce and that is sold in the European market, which is why—of course, steel as well: the steel tariffs would be even higher—it’s vitally important that, regardless of the other issues, bearing in mind the way that people voted, access to the single market without tariffs remains.