:01:55. > :02:01.Good morning and welcome to BBC Parliament's live coverage of the
:02:02. > :02:05.Commons. In half an hour David Cameron will be at the dispatch box
:02:06. > :02:09.to face Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn plus backbench MPs for the latest
:02:10. > :02:13.round of Prime Minister 's questions. No doubt the junior
:02:14. > :02:17.doctors' strike action will be in the half hour session. It will be
:02:18. > :02:23.followed by Toby Perkins bringing in a Bill that will introduce a new
:02:24. > :02:29.English national anthem at sporting events. The main business in the
:02:30. > :02:35.chamber today is an SNP led the bait on a Labour led economy. -- debate.
:02:36. > :02:39.There were also be a review on the powers of the house that recommended
:02:40. > :02:43.removing the ability of the Lords to block secondary legislation. You can
:02:44. > :02:51.watch that live on our website this afternoon at BBC .co .uk. Join us
:02:52. > :02:55.for a round-up of the day in both Houses of Parliament at 11pm. First
:02:56. > :03:03.is the questions to the Welsh Secretary, Stephen Crabb.
:03:04. > :03:09.Order. Order. Questions to the Secretary of State for Wales, Mr
:03:10. > :03:18.Mark Williams. Thank you, Mr Speaker.
:03:19. > :03:22.With your permission I will answer questions one and four together.
:03:23. > :03:25.The Secretary of State and I have regular discussions with Cabinet
:03:26. > :03:29.colleagues providing opportunities to discuss a range of issues in
:03:30. > :03:37.flooding matters relating to the funding of services across Wales,
:03:38. > :03:42.leading future funding of S4 C. The Prime Minister stated last week
:03:43. > :03:46.from that dispatch box he wanted to meet the wording and spirit of his
:03:47. > :03:52.manifesto promise on S4C, a promise that said we would save guard the
:03:53. > :03:57.funding and editorial independence of S4C. In light of that last week,
:03:58. > :04:02.can I invite the Minister to make it clear the government will abandon
:04:03. > :04:07.the proposed cuts to the S4C's Budget and look at the funding needs
:04:08. > :04:12.of S4C in the future? We will meet our manifesto
:04:13. > :04:15.commitment to safeguard the funding and editorial independence of S4C,
:04:16. > :04:18.and the Honourable Member will have heard the Prem and Mr's words when
:04:19. > :04:24.he said we will meet the wording and spirit of our manifesto commitment.
:04:25. > :04:27.He will also remember there was a debate proposed evening before by my
:04:28. > :04:31.honourable friend the member for command and West and South
:04:32. > :04:34.Pembrokeshire. The culture minister responded by saying he was looking
:04:35. > :04:39.at the arguments and was keen to engage positively.
:04:40. > :04:42.I am grateful to the honourable gentleman for mentioning last
:04:43. > :04:47.Wednesday's debate because I wanted to talk about that and the consensus
:04:48. > :04:50.it brought out in the chamber regarding the funding for S4C. Given
:04:51. > :04:55.that consensus, will the Secretary of State remained his colleagues at
:04:56. > :04:58.the Department for Culture, Media and Sport that they have a statutory
:04:59. > :05:04.response ability to protect that funding and will he take the
:05:05. > :05:07.opportunity to join with us in recommending an independent review
:05:08. > :05:11.of S4C? She will recognise the way the
:05:12. > :05:15.culture minister responded. He said he was listening to the arguments
:05:16. > :05:20.and wanted to engage as positively as he could in that. I hope she
:05:21. > :05:25.would recognise the spirit in which that was intended.
:05:26. > :05:30.Given the Culture Secretary and the Director General informed -- the
:05:31. > :05:36.Culture Secretary informed the director-general of the BBC that he
:05:37. > :05:40.might cut S4C's grant by the same percentage as the BBC is getting cut
:05:41. > :05:45.itself and it would be up to the government to decide how to make up
:05:46. > :05:49.the shortfall, this is not the only cut being faced by S4C, what
:05:50. > :05:51.additional funds will the government be providing over and above these
:05:52. > :05:59.cuts? There is a charter open to discuss
:06:00. > :06:04.the late Michael discussions under way. There will be a widespread
:06:05. > :06:09.consultation and I hope she and other members will engage positively
:06:10. > :06:13.in that. -- there is a charter open to discussion at the moment.
:06:14. > :06:17.I understand we are facing a BBC Charter consultation, but looking at
:06:18. > :06:21.the BBC's response in the present situation that is surely now room
:06:22. > :06:25.for cross-party consensus that the funding for the public expenditure
:06:26. > :06:30.element of S4C should be devolved to the National Assembly for Wales.
:06:31. > :06:36.I don't accept the basis of the questions that has come forward. It
:06:37. > :06:38.was my right honourable friend the Secretary of State's discussion that
:06:39. > :06:42.led to the Saint Davids Day agreement and there was no agreement
:06:43. > :06:46.on that sort of issue. We have to remember there was asked
:06:47. > :06:53.-- it was our conservative government that established S4C. I
:06:54. > :06:56.hope she will share in recognising that success.
:06:57. > :07:07.What complete waffle from the Minister. The Tory Party manifesto
:07:08. > :07:10.said only last spring that that Party was committed in government to
:07:11. > :07:17.safeguarding the funding and editorial independence of S4C. Now
:07:18. > :07:23.we are talking about a cut from the DC MS Budget of a quarter of its
:07:24. > :07:27.funding. The Secretary of State is asking for migration, it is this-
:07:28. > :07:33.why will they not safeguard the funding, and why is that quarter of
:07:34. > :07:37.the funding Budget still on the table? It is a disgrace, how can we
:07:38. > :07:43.trust them on any other commitment they make? The honourable lady will
:07:44. > :07:48.have heard my answers to questions that have just come immediately
:07:49. > :07:52.before. I find it a bit richer when the Labour Party opposite are
:07:53. > :07:56.calling for extra funding for a Welsh language channel when this
:07:57. > :08:00.morning the First Minister in the Assembly is seeking to defend his
:08:01. > :08:11.position of cutting the Budget to support the Welsh language by 5.5%.
:08:12. > :08:15.Just a disgrace. Mr Speaker, our nation 's small
:08:16. > :08:18.businesses are the true heroes of this economic recovery and I am
:08:19. > :08:23.proud to be part of a government on this site. SMEs have treated two
:08:24. > :08:28.thirds of all the new private-sector jobs in Wales since 2010 as we
:08:29. > :08:35.continue to reduce legislation and lower taxes and support small
:08:36. > :08:38.businesses across the UK. 2016 is a British trade of commerce
:08:39. > :08:42.and year of action on export. Can my right honourable friend
:08:43. > :08:49.update the house on how he is helping small businesses in Wales?
:08:50. > :08:53.My honourable friend raises an important point. We set ourselves an
:08:54. > :08:57.ambitious target of ?1 trillion worth of exports from the UK by
:08:58. > :09:01.2020. If we are to have any hope of meeting that target we have to
:09:02. > :09:06.engage SMEs across the UK, especially in Wales. I will be in
:09:07. > :09:08.North Wales tomorrow with my right honourable friend the Minister for
:09:09. > :09:15.trade and investment promoting everything Wales has to offer.
:09:16. > :09:17.The Welsh steel industry plays a critical role in underpinning
:09:18. > :09:26.business across the board, including SMEs. Global headwinds affecting the
:09:27. > :09:29.industry have been growing stronger. Will the Secretary of State join
:09:30. > :09:34.with me and Welsh MPs from all parties in asking for a meeting with
:09:35. > :09:37.his honourable friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation
:09:38. > :09:42.and Skills to ensure no stone remains unturned in the fight to
:09:43. > :09:46.save the Welsh steel industry? I thank the honourable gentleman for
:09:47. > :09:50.his question and the spirit in which he has asked it. He knows as well as
:09:51. > :09:56.we do that the steel industry across the UK faces a global crisis. He is
:09:57. > :09:59.aware of all the different actions taken by this government to try to
:10:00. > :10:03.help the Welsh and British Steel industry faced the global nature of
:10:04. > :10:07.the crisis. I am happy to pass on this request to the Secretary of
:10:08. > :10:12.State for business and we are in very close contact Tata Steel,
:10:13. > :10:16.including the -- especially the plant in Port Talbot in his
:10:17. > :10:22.constituency. My right honourable friend will know that one of the
:10:23. > :10:26.SMEs is tidal lagoon Power limited with his debt is Michael its
:10:27. > :10:36.exciting plans for the Swansea Bay tidal lagoon. -- with its exciting
:10:37. > :10:40.plans. Can the Secretary of state to tell
:10:41. > :10:43.us what financial support will be coming from the government saw this
:10:44. > :10:55.exciting project can succeed without delay?
:10:56. > :10:59.The Swansea tidal lagoon proposition is very exciting and commence a lot
:11:00. > :11:03.of support across Wales but we also have to recognise it is a project
:11:04. > :11:07.asking for a very significant level of public subsidy. It is absolutely
:11:08. > :11:11.right my right honourable friend is in the Treasury and the Department
:11:12. > :11:14.for energy and out robust due diligence in making sure projects
:11:15. > :11:19.like this deliver value for the taxpayer.
:11:20. > :11:23.One of the issues small businesses raise with me is a lack of
:11:24. > :11:29.connectivity for superfast broadband and mobile connections. Now that the
:11:30. > :11:32.government and the Minister agree with me that we are under a
:11:33. > :11:38.universal obligation for broadband, can he help me in supporting a pilot
:11:39. > :11:42.scheme in the Isle of Anglesey? The honourable gentleman raises an
:11:43. > :11:47.important point and we have discussed this many times in Wales
:11:48. > :11:53.-- Wales questions and debates and improvements are happening across
:11:54. > :11:55.Wales. We are seeing improvements in internet connectivity and mobile
:11:56. > :12:03.phones, as well. There is much more we can do, I would be interested to
:12:04. > :12:07.hear about the pilot project. In early December, the UK Government
:12:08. > :12:13.announced ?50 million of additional funding to address issues of
:12:14. > :12:18.flooding. A figure which has an it consequentials for Wales of ?2.76
:12:19. > :12:21.million. Since then, a further ?90 million of funding has been
:12:22. > :12:25.announced by the UK Government and we await to see what, if any,
:12:26. > :12:31.Barnett consequentials arise from this. The new money a la greeted to
:12:32. > :12:33.Wales, will the Minister join me in calling for the Welsh Assembly
:12:34. > :12:38.government to allocate this to an area where many SMEs were flooded
:12:39. > :12:47.three years ago and where there is currently a ?4 million -- shortfall
:12:48. > :12:50.for necessary flood defence works. I join my friend in making their
:12:51. > :12:55.suggestion and recommendation and it is worth putting on record our
:12:56. > :12:59.sympathy and thoughts for all families and businesses in Wales, as
:13:00. > :13:04.with families across the UK who suffered flooding during the
:13:05. > :13:08.Christmas period. All of the money this government has announced for
:13:09. > :13:11.the flood issues have Barnett consequential for Wales. It is up to
:13:12. > :13:14.the Welsh government how they use that money but we certainly want
:13:15. > :13:17.them to use everything a penny to address flooding issues that we will
:13:18. > :13:27.keep coming back to time and time again and in this place.
:13:28. > :13:34.-- discussing in this place. He will share worries over press reports
:13:35. > :13:44.recently, could you tell us whether he would support a Welsh public
:13:45. > :13:48.stake in Tata Steel? I am not going to engage in
:13:49. > :13:52.speculation about job cuts which we saw in the press at the weekend. I
:13:53. > :13:56.think members in this house on all sides need to be responsible in how
:13:57. > :14:03.we debate these issues. We are in very close contact with Tata Steel
:14:04. > :14:07.internationally and with regards to the operation across the UK, we know
:14:08. > :14:11.their needs at this moment but there are big issues and questions that
:14:12. > :14:17.have to be addressed. Number three, please, Mr Speaker.
:14:18. > :14:32.We are investing in the most ambitious rail upgrade since
:14:33. > :14:36.Victorian times. We are electrifying the Vale of Glamorgan and valleys
:14:37. > :14:43.lines. This will reduce journey times for passengers across South
:14:44. > :14:47.Wales. We need good rail links down to Cardiff and across to Bristol for
:14:48. > :14:52.job. The ever deal to Cardiff Lane must be part of the core metro line
:14:53. > :14:57.for that to happen. Can I ask the minister how he will make sure that
:14:58. > :15:04.Southeast Wales gets the modern transport infrastructure it so badly
:15:05. > :15:08.needs? The honourable member has been a strong champion for
:15:09. > :15:15.investment in this railway line including the new station and the
:15:16. > :15:19.UK's Government investment. Of course, the scope of the Valley
:15:20. > :15:23.lines are great as the Welsh correct. But the Department for
:15:24. > :15:34.Transport has been ?125 million available specifically for this.
:15:35. > :15:40.This Government's investment in the rail network is crucial to people
:15:41. > :15:45.across Wales particularly in my constituency. Will the Minister take
:15:46. > :15:48.this opportunity to reaffirm the Government's commitment to
:15:49. > :15:57.electrocution of the line to Swansea? The Prime Minister has
:15:58. > :16:04.confirmed, the Transport Secretary and Secretary of State for Wales
:16:05. > :16:10.have confirmed, we will electrify the great Western mainline all the
:16:11. > :16:15.way to Swansea. Given that UK commuters spend up to six times as
:16:16. > :16:19.much on rail fares as European passengers, has the Secretary of
:16:20. > :16:28.State made any assessment of the impact of recent welfare decreases
:16:29. > :16:35.on the Welsh economy? -- rail fare increases? We need to contrast that
:16:36. > :16:38.with the ?3 billion that has been spent on improving services to and
:16:39. > :16:43.within Wales and making sure that Wales benefits from the national
:16:44. > :16:48.project of HS2 so that nor the wheels can benefit as well. Will the
:16:49. > :16:54.Minister except that this investment will revolutionise collectivity in
:16:55. > :16:56.the valleys and on the mainline to Swansea? Can heat sure with the
:16:57. > :17:03.House what assessments have been done about the impact it will have
:17:04. > :17:10.on job creation and passenger travel journeys? -- can he share? This is
:17:11. > :17:13.an important point about the economic prospects that come out on
:17:14. > :17:17.this significant investment. It is also worth remembering that the last
:17:18. > :17:22.Labour Government left Wales as one of only three countries in Europe,
:17:23. > :17:23.along with Moldova and Albania, without a single mile of electrified
:17:24. > :17:38.track. We regularly have discussions on a
:17:39. > :17:44.range of issues including transport infrastructure. The M4 is one of
:17:45. > :17:47.Wales's vital arteries. The need to upgrade was identified decades ago
:17:48. > :17:55.by business leaders as a number one priority. The Minister will be aware
:17:56. > :17:57.that the ongoing delays on the' four had been causing problems for the
:17:58. > :18:06.economy and South will. Pretty outline what steps the -- Kuti
:18:07. > :18:15.outline what steps he has taken to improve this? It is hard to believe
:18:16. > :18:23.that this was committed to only to be cancelled by members on the bench
:18:24. > :18:26.opposite. My honourable friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer has made
:18:27. > :18:32.additional resources available and we just want the Welsh Government to
:18:33. > :18:37.get on with it. In light of serious flooding from climate change, will
:18:38. > :18:41.he be ensuring that the newly proposed M4 relief road will double
:18:42. > :18:47.as a flood defence in terms of the Severn estuary? The root of the
:18:48. > :18:52.matter for the Welsh Government. We would encourage them to consider all
:18:53. > :18:54.options, but we want the project to start as soon as possible. Even if
:18:55. > :18:57.it started at the as soon as it started at the as soon as
:18:58. > :19:00.possible timescale outlined by the Welsh Government at the moment, is
:19:01. > :19:08.completion still wouldn't be until the end of 2022 which is
:19:09. > :19:16.unacceptable. Last week the Chancellor of the Exchequer visited
:19:17. > :19:20.Cardiff. We are working with the Cardiff capital region to deliver on
:19:21. > :19:30.ambitious proposals that will deliver economic growth right across
:19:31. > :19:35.the entire region. There is a deadline of March and a down payment
:19:36. > :19:43.of 50 million pounds. Does the Secretary of State agree that at the
:19:44. > :19:47.heart of the city deal process we stand a real chance of the long-term
:19:48. > :19:53.transformation of the those Wales economy? He is absolutely right, and
:19:54. > :20:00.I want to thank the work he has done in championing the city deal for
:20:01. > :20:03.Cardiff. It was a massive statement of this Government's confidence in
:20:04. > :20:07.Welsh business and our ambition for Wales. We are clear that the ?50
:20:08. > :20:12.million is a down payment on the Cardiff city deal. I think it is now
:20:13. > :20:14.time for the local partners and the Welsh Government to crack on and
:20:15. > :20:20.conclude this transformational project. We don't just want warm
:20:21. > :20:23.words from the Chancellor about the Cardiff city deal. We want to know
:20:24. > :20:28.if the UK Government is going to match the 580 million that have been
:20:29. > :20:32.pledged by the Welsh permit for the Cardiff city deal. Can the Minister
:20:33. > :20:37.and without? I am not sure if the honourable lady noticed that in the
:20:38. > :20:41.visit to Cardiff last Thursday, we were not just using warbirds, we
:20:42. > :20:48.were investing ?50 million of UK Government money. -- not just using
:20:49. > :20:53.warm words. It was made clear that we will support in principle the
:20:54. > :21:04.infrastructure fund at the heart of the Cardiff city deal project. The
:21:05. > :21:09.Northern Powerhouse which stretches from North Wales to Newcastle is
:21:10. > :21:13.reviving the great Northern cities. It is central to our vision for
:21:14. > :21:16.rebalancing the economy, and North Wales has already benefited from
:21:17. > :21:23.large-scale infrastructure investments. Given the proximity of
:21:24. > :21:31.North Wales to the newly established science order, the positive impact
:21:32. > :21:36.of infrastructure investment including HS2, does my honourable
:21:37. > :21:39.friend agree that North Wales tends to strongly benefit from the
:21:40. > :21:44.northern power is being taken for by this conservative governance? My
:21:45. > :21:51.honourable friend and right. North Wales and the North of England fold
:21:52. > :21:59.one economic entity. -- form one entity. I met businesses last year
:22:00. > :22:03.in North Wales and the working to be a central part of it. As my
:22:04. > :22:08.honourable friend mention, HS2 offers excellent opportunities for
:22:09. > :22:11.those. With my honourable friend agree that the ?10.4 million
:22:12. > :22:19.investment into the reopening of the halting curve will provide
:22:20. > :22:23.significant economic boost for North Wales, not least with the fact you
:22:24. > :22:29.have the direct link to Liverpool John Lennon Airport? Can I pay
:22:30. > :22:32.tribute to my honourable friend for his work in securing this
:22:33. > :22:38.investment? He championed this project from the outset and later
:22:39. > :22:41.this year the direct link from North Wales to Chester to Liverpool will
:22:42. > :22:47.be operational. This is the tangible demonstration of the northerly
:22:48. > :22:56.powerhouse in action. -- in northern Paris. Will he recognise that HS2
:22:57. > :23:01.coming to crew is very important, not just to electrify and link to
:23:02. > :23:05.North Wales but also to speed up contacts to Manchester Airport for
:23:06. > :23:11.North Wales? The honourable member will be aware of the real transport
:23:12. > :23:15.Summit held in North Wales last year. It talked about how we can
:23:16. > :23:20.best ring already bid to modernise the railway infrastructure across
:23:21. > :23:24.North Wales. We look forward to that bids coming forward, but only last
:23:25. > :23:27.week I sport to the chairman of the North Wales economic ambition board
:23:28. > :23:32.to discuss the progress of this project. I have previously
:23:33. > :23:36.questioned my honourable friend and his colleagues about the potential
:23:37. > :23:41.benefits of the northerly powerhouse to North Wales. I have been
:23:42. > :23:46.disappointed to be told about total lack of engagement on the board of
:23:47. > :23:52.the Welsh assembly Government. Can my honourable friend change their
:23:53. > :23:59.stance and be more plugged into the project? What is clear, businesses
:24:00. > :24:03.see the benefits, local authorities see the benefits, and we would
:24:04. > :24:08.encourage the Welsh Government to engage positively, because the
:24:09. > :24:14.business does not recognise the initiative boundaries between the
:24:15. > :24:18.two. The Government's so-called northerly powerhouse will bring no
:24:19. > :24:21.benefit to North Wales unless we see much needed investment in
:24:22. > :24:25.infrastructure this Government has so far failed to deliver. When
:24:26. > :24:30.either billeted Broughton, the Chancellor promised in July that he
:24:31. > :24:34.would look at rail electrification in North Wales. -- when he visited
:24:35. > :24:39.Broughton. Six months later, has anything happened? Yes, a
:24:40. > :24:43.significant amount has happened about real investment in North
:24:44. > :24:49.Wales. I mention the summit that was held last year. We working to
:24:50. > :24:53.develop signalling to improve the really lives. The board are
:24:54. > :24:59.delighted with the support we have given and we are keen to develop
:25:00. > :25:05.that even further. Let's hope they get on a bit quicker with the
:25:06. > :25:16.electrification ban the arm with the great Western mainline. That track
:25:17. > :25:19.than they are. We also need better links to Manchester. Can the
:25:20. > :25:26.Minister if way my instead of investing in greater capacity en
:25:27. > :25:33.route to Manchester brought, they have rejected a ban supposedly in
:25:34. > :25:36.favour of trans-Pennine services? At the Secretary of State claimed that
:25:37. > :25:41.the Cabinet table counts for anything, what is the going to do
:25:42. > :25:43.about it? I don't recognise the premise of the Honourable Lady's
:25:44. > :25:48.question. Significant discussions are going on between the Department
:25:49. > :25:53.for Transport and the Welsh Government and rail operators about
:25:54. > :26:04.the franchises, and we will happily take representation on a positive
:26:05. > :26:07.basis. In all parts of the United Kingdom, our welfare reforms are
:26:08. > :26:12.working, transforming the lives of those from disadvantaged
:26:13. > :26:16.backgrounds. The number of workless households in Wales continues to
:26:17. > :26:28.fall, with 12,000 pure in the last year alone. Would he agree with me
:26:29. > :26:31.that the Government was mayor -- reforms are improving the lives of
:26:32. > :26:36.children in Wales? I absolutely do agree. We on these benches
:26:37. > :26:42.understand that work is the best route out of poverty. While I am
:26:43. > :26:46.pleased that the number of children growing in a home where no parent
:26:47. > :26:50.works has halved since 2010, I'm clear that if we are to transform a
:26:51. > :26:59.life chances we have to go much deeper and address the root causes
:27:00. > :27:07.of worklessness. Four years ago, my constituent Margaret Foster was
:27:08. > :27:12.sacked by this prime minister. Yesterday I raised the case in a
:27:13. > :27:15.debate, and today I have been approached by local employers to
:27:16. > :27:22.offer her work. Why is the Secretary of State on this prime minister
:27:23. > :27:27.residing over a system to support disabled workers which is so useless
:27:28. > :27:34.that it takes a member of parliament raising the issue in Parliament for
:27:35. > :27:37.anything to happen? I'd point out to the honourable member that the
:27:38. > :27:42.proportion of disabled people in Wales in work have increased under
:27:43. > :27:46.this Government. There was a time when members on the benches opposite
:27:47. > :27:53.understood well there for. There was a time when they talked of the
:27:54. > :27:56.language of wealth are written -- welfare reform, and maybe when they
:27:57. > :28:04.are done kicking long side of each other they will get back to
:28:05. > :28:10.addressing that. I recognise the proposed Swazi tidal lagoon project
:28:11. > :28:13.has the potential to establish Wales as a major hub for tidal power. --
:28:14. > :28:34.Swansea tidal lagoon project. Dean Quarry of my constituency is
:28:35. > :28:38.likely to be the source for the tidal lagoon. Residents are
:28:39. > :28:42.concerned as it is an important tourist area and conservation zone,
:28:43. > :28:45.and we believe there are cheaper areas to source the zone. Will the
:28:46. > :28:50.Minister agree that the impact on the environment and economy is too
:28:51. > :28:53.great, our sources of stone are available, and the Government will
:28:54. > :28:58.look for other places where they can get the Stone other than Dean
:28:59. > :29:03.Quarry? I am aware of the specific issue raised by my honourable
:29:04. > :29:07.friend, who is as ever a powerful and effective voice on behalf of his
:29:08. > :29:13.constituents. Banning applications in relation to Dean Quarry would be
:29:14. > :29:16.dealt with by the marine management organisation and local authorities
:29:17. > :29:27.should absolutely didn't accountable concerns. -- planning applications.
:29:28. > :29:31.It would be a travesty if the UK Government were to pull the plug on
:29:32. > :29:39.the lagoon, so can the Minister confirm the Government remains
:29:40. > :29:43.committed to the project? The honourable lady is right. This is a
:29:44. > :29:46.big, potentially very exciting and significant project. It is also a
:29:47. > :29:50.project looking for a very large amount of public subsidy and
:29:51. > :29:53.intervention, and it is absolute rights, not that we would expect
:29:54. > :29:57.members on the opposite benches to understand this, but when you are
:29:58. > :30:07.dealing with large amounts of taxpayers' money... Swansea Bay
:30:08. > :30:15.tidal lagoons and other lagoons that may come as a result of it will
:30:16. > :30:19.provide excellent potential for supply chains across South Wales.
:30:20. > :30:25.Will he at least committed to making this happen and doing it as soon as
:30:26. > :30:30.possible? I will just repeat the answer I gave to his colleague. We
:30:31. > :30:33.recognise that this is a potentially very exciting significant project in
:30:34. > :30:37.terms of delivering a low carbon renewable energy over a long period
:30:38. > :30:43.of time. We need to look very fully at the finances to ensure it does
:30:44. > :30:45.deliver value to taxpayers putting a large amount of subsidy into the
:30:46. > :31:03.project. I shall have further such meetings
:31:04. > :31:08.later today. The Royal College of Midwives has called the government's
:31:09. > :31:11.plans to cut nurses' student grants appalling. The Royal College of
:31:12. > :31:16.Nursing says they are deeply concerned. Meanwhile, the honourable
:31:17. > :31:19.member for Lewis who is a nurse so she would have struggled to
:31:20. > :31:23.undertake are training giving the proposed changes to the bursaries
:31:24. > :31:30.scheme. Why does the Prime Minister still think he is right to scrap
:31:31. > :31:34.grants for students nurses? For the very simple reason that we want to
:31:35. > :31:38.sit more nurses in training and more nurses in our NHS. We believe there
:31:39. > :31:40.will be an additional 10,000