First Minister says Prime Minister agrees Wales fiscal powers must change, after Glasgow talks

First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth said on Friday that there was an "encouraging consensus" with the Prime Minister that Wales' fiscal and borrowing powers must be revised "as a matter of urgency". He spoke after meeting Andy Burnham in Glasgow, on the day of the National Economic Council, in a statement issued by the Welsh Government.

Powers: how and when

Mr ap Iorwerth said he welcomed the Prime Minister's comments that the question was now "how and when". He said the powers had "for so long put Wales at a disadvantage compared with other UK nations". He also repeated that further devolution within Wales is a matter for the Senedd and only the Senedd.

Rail money and child payment

On rail funding, the First Minister said he was pleased to hear the Prime Minister's "personal commitment" to look at the £14bn pledge. He also said he had raised the need for the Treasury to act with urgency so the Welsh Government can press ahead with its Cynnal weekly child payment pilot for the poorest families. Welsh Government figures published on 6 October put the amount allocated so far for UK Government-controlled rail enhancement in Wales at £302m to 2029-30. The two figures cover different scopes and periods, so the comparison is not a delivery ratio.

Europe

Mr ap Iorwerth said he offered the Prime Minister his full support in pushing for a stronger relationship with the EU. He urged him to go further and pursue rejoining the single market and customs union as a priority.

What is not yet known

The statement is the Welsh Government's account of the meeting. Before the talks it had set out asks including a new Wales Bill and parity of powers with Scotland; the post-meeting statement refers only to fiscal and borrowing powers. It sets out no timetable for changes and no date for a decision on the rail pledge or the child payment pilot. We have not yet seen a UK Government account of the talks.