THERESA May has promised the Welsh Government will have an "enhanced" role in the ongoing Brexit negotiations.

Following the overwhelming defeat of her Brexit deal last week, and with only slightly more than than two months to go until the UK leaves the European Union, the prime minister appeared before Parliament this afternoon to outline her 'Plan B'.

Mrs May promised to involve MPs, as well as the Welsh and Scottish governments, more closely in the negotiations, and announced the £65 fee for EU citizens living in the UK to apply for settled status would be scrapped - with anyone who has already paid the fee already to be reimbursed.

But critics said the prime minister's statement provided no clarity on the way forward.

Mrs May told MPs she hoped to meet Wales' first minister Mark Drakeford and his Scottish counterpart Nicola Sturgeon in the next week to discuss the process.

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"While it will always be for Her Majesty's Government to negotiate for the whole of the UK, we are also committed to giving the devolved administrations an enhanced role in the next phase, respecting their competence and vital interest in these negotiations," she said.

With the Northern Ireland backstop proving the most controversial aspect of the deal, the prime minister said she would carry out further negotiations to develop a new agreement "in a way that can command the greatest possible support in the House".

But she continued to refuse to bow to pressure to delay Article 50, support a second referendum or call a fresh General Election.

Writing on Twitter, Mr Drakeford slammed the statement.

He said: "Groundhog Day – no change on what is on offer, no new proposals, no abandoning of her crippling red lines. The risk of the UK crashing out of the EU without a deal remains a live one. The time has come to take a new approach."

Theresa May speaking before Parliament this afternoon. Picture: PA Wire

And Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn - who refused to take part in cross-party talks on the deal over the past week - said Mrs May had not choice but to change her position following last week's vote, saying: "The prime minister must change her red lines, because her current deal is undeliverable."

The prime minister also said MPs would be provided with more information on the negotiations behind closed doors in an effort to avoid the release of confidential information which could affect talks.

"I know that today Parliament has not felt it has enough visibility of the government's position as it is being developed and negotiated," she said.

"It has sought documents through humble addresses but that mechanism cannot take into account the fact that some information when made public could weaken the UK's negotiating hand.

"So as the negotiations progress we will also look to deliver confidential committee sessions that can ensure Parliament has the most up-to-date information whilst not undermining the negotiations."

Mrs May will return to Parliament with a new deal on Tuesday, January 29.