DURING the first Westminster Government statement on Brexit in the House of Commons since the European Salzburg Summit, local MP Jonathan Edwards called for clarity for Welsh funding post-Brexit.

Over the 2014-2020 funding cycle, Wales will benefit from over £2bn of European Cohesion Fund investment.

The Westminster Government has given little clarity on access to what funding will be available to Wales following an exit from the European Union. The only substantive detail released so far is that the Fund will be administered by Westminster’s Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG) – a department which currently deals almost entirely with English, non-devolved matters.

The management of European funding and economic development is a devolved responsibility. If MHCLG takes over responsibility for funding economic development in Wales post-Brexit, this would be a further power-grab from the National Assembly for Wales by Westminster, argues Mr Edwards, MP for Carmarthen and East Dinefwr.

Mr Edwards asked the Minister: “An issue of huge importance to Wales post-Brexit is cohesion funding.

“Following the summit the Prime Minister said that the shared prosperity fund would be under sole control of the British Government.

“Economic development is a devolved policy area – but will now be clawed back by Westminster. Isn’t it now clear that for Wales Brexit means the direct opposite of ‘taking back control’?”

Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab replied: “It is important to ensure that Brexit works for all parts of the United Kingdom. We continue to engage with all the devolved administrations on all the devolved issues.”

Commenting after the statement, Mr Edwards said: “Under the cover of Brexit Westminster is not only snatching back our powers, but now our money as well.

“Not a penny less and a range of new powers were the promises made by the Brexiteers. Like so much of what they said, it’s turning out to be lies. Instead they are trying to turn Wales into a vassal country.

“West Wales and the valleys will lose millions of pounds as Westminster contrives to take back control of powers and money that is rightfully ours.”