:00:00. > :00:00.Order, order. The chairman of ways and means to move the motion for an
:00:00. > :00:11.unopposed return in his name. LAUGHTER
:00:12. > :00:21.Questions to the Secretary of State for Wales, Mr Neil Carmichael. Thank
:00:22. > :00:26.you, Mr Speaker. May I say it is a pleasure that the increased interest
:00:27. > :00:31.this house has in Welsh versions. This garment is investing a record
:00:32. > :00:37.amount in Welsh where -- railways. The new railway will significantly
:00:38. > :00:42.enhance the travel experience of passengers in Wales and the
:00:43. > :00:46.south-west. Does the Minister agree with me that the investment so far
:00:47. > :00:49.national transport infrastructure national transport infrastructure
:00:50. > :00:52.and it must be continued but does he always agree -- also agree that you
:00:53. > :00:57.need to have stations of the right places so that more and more
:00:58. > :01:01.passengers can get access? I agree with my honourable friend who is
:01:02. > :01:03.well-known for his campaigning efforts on behalf of rail commuters.
:01:04. > :01:06.The investment that this government is making in the railway
:01:07. > :01:13.infrastructure is at rebels -- record levels. We are seeing great
:01:14. > :01:17.investment in signalling in North Wales, and that new capacity will be
:01:18. > :01:24.good for the economy of South Wales in the south-west. The Minister will
:01:25. > :01:26.know there is no economic connectivity between South Wales and
:01:27. > :01:32.the south-west than between South Wales and North Wales, so will he
:01:33. > :01:35.give an undertaking to speed up the electrification of the railways, in
:01:36. > :01:39.particular at a time where we see Brexit leading to a lot of
:01:40. > :01:44.uncertainty about inward investment in Wales. The honourable member
:01:45. > :01:48.makes an important point about interconnectivity. I don't think it
:01:49. > :01:50.is a case of either or, I think it is very important to have greater
:01:51. > :01:54.interconnections between North and South Wales but we also need to
:01:55. > :01:57.recognise that South Wales needs to be linked with the London area and
:01:58. > :02:02.the south-west and when you do have the same in North Wales. In terms of
:02:03. > :02:06.speeding up I don't think I'd will take any lessons from the party
:02:07. > :02:14.opposite who failed to invest a single penny during a 13 year
:02:15. > :02:16.period. In stark contrast to the last government what this government
:02:17. > :02:20.is doing to the great Western line is remarkable, the electrification
:02:21. > :02:24.and the new trains. But will the Minister will meet with me to
:02:25. > :02:26.discuss direct trains from Cardiff Central station to London to build
:02:27. > :02:34.on that capacity and that investment? My honourable friend is
:02:35. > :02:37.a great champion for railway connections between South Wales and
:02:38. > :02:40.London and it would be a pleasure to meet with him to discuss further
:02:41. > :02:45.developments in a Welsh context. I fully agree that the modernisation
:02:46. > :02:50.of the South Wales railway line will have a great effect, not least for
:02:51. > :02:57.example the new link into Heathrow Airport. Improving Cardiff Central
:02:58. > :03:00.station is a vital part of this. Can he update the house on the
:03:01. > :03:03.discussion is the government has had recently with Cardiff Council and
:03:04. > :03:09.others about modernising and upgrading Cardiff Central? I can
:03:10. > :03:14.confirm my right honourable friend has met with council leaders in
:03:15. > :03:17.Cardiff in relation to the developer of Cardiff Central station. The
:03:18. > :03:20.government has already invested in enhanced capacity in terms of
:03:21. > :03:23.platforms. That process needs to continue. We recognise the
:03:24. > :03:27.importance of Cardiff Central station to the economy, not just to
:03:28. > :03:37.the capital city of Wales but the wider economic area and talks are
:03:38. > :03:44.ongoing. Plans for future South Wales rail links were heavily
:03:45. > :03:49.dependent on EU cash so will the Minister asked the Treasury to
:03:50. > :03:54.support mail -- rail links like the Metro for the future? The South
:03:55. > :04:01.Wales metro links will be important for the right Honourable member's
:04:02. > :04:04.consistently -- constituency. But it is a ?1.2 billion investment of
:04:05. > :04:08.which less than 8% was earmarked marked a BET you funding. This
:04:09. > :04:23.government has committed ?4.5 million for that investment.
:04:24. > :04:28.With permission, Mr Speaker, I will answer questions to and for
:04:29. > :04:32.together. The British people have voted to leave the European Union,
:04:33. > :04:36.and my right honourable friend the Prime Minister has been clear that
:04:37. > :04:39.there will must be respected and delivered. We are now preparing for
:04:40. > :04:43.a negotiated exit from the European Union, which will involve close
:04:44. > :04:47.engagement with all of the devolved administrations to ensure that the
:04:48. > :04:54.interest of the parts of the United Kingdom are protected and advanced.
:04:55. > :05:02.Structural funding for Wales is guaranteed until 2020, given the
:05:03. > :05:06.substantially budgetary gains that will be made after withdrawal from
:05:07. > :05:09.the EU, can my right honourable friend make every effort to ensure
:05:10. > :05:13.that the current level of funding will continue until at least that
:05:14. > :05:20.date? Mr Speaker the government has a strong record in guaranteeing
:05:21. > :05:25.funds for Wales. Most notably, the Barnett formula which was ignored
:05:26. > :05:31.for 13 years by the party opposite. It demonstrates we work hard in
:05:32. > :05:40.demonstrating areas that need and deserve support. Has the Minister
:05:41. > :05:46.had talks with major employers in Wales such as Ford, Everest, to find
:05:47. > :05:52.out what the investment intentions are following the vote to leave the
:05:53. > :05:56.EU? The honourable lady raises an important question and within a week
:05:57. > :05:59.of the Brexit referendum I met a number of business leaders in
:06:00. > :06:04.Cardiff, and last week I met a number of business leaders in North
:06:05. > :06:07.Wales, and I was struck by the pragmatism and the approach, the
:06:08. > :06:12.positivity they were showing. One of the most positive quotes was that
:06:13. > :06:15.entrepreneurs thrive on change. They recognise we are not turning our
:06:16. > :06:20.backs on Europe that we are opening up new markets across the globe.
:06:21. > :06:26.Does he agree that every single government minister who has spoken
:06:27. > :06:29.on this issue has expressed their desire to ensure that spending
:06:30. > :06:32.remains at exactly the same levels in Wales as it always has done,
:06:33. > :06:39.doesn't this show the commitment this government has to the people of
:06:40. > :06:43.Wales? My honourable friend makes an important point and allows me to
:06:44. > :06:45.underline once again the positive financial commitments this
:06:46. > :06:53.government has made to Wales. In addition to the 115% funding for the
:06:54. > :06:56.Barnett formula we have introduced, there is an basement in
:06:57. > :07:02.electrification, and a city deal on top of a range of other projects, UK
:07:03. > :07:09.taxpayer money during invested in Wales on top of the Barnett
:07:10. > :07:11.consequential 's. Given that Wales will no longer receive funding
:07:12. > :07:26.through the European INAUDIBLE
:07:27. > :07:28.What consideration is he giving to developing a clearly needs -based
:07:29. > :07:35.formula for allocating funding to Wales. There were many campaigns for
:07:36. > :07:41.a Barnett for, but it was only this government that deliver that. With
:07:42. > :07:46.relation to European funds, we have not yet concluded a negotiating
:07:47. > :07:51.position. I would add that simply releasing what are currently EU
:07:52. > :07:59.funds with one source that is another with Westminster Mrs the
:08:00. > :08:04.point. Those errors that receive most EU fans were the areas sadly
:08:05. > :08:09.that voted to leave the EU. We need to look at models of European aid in
:08:10. > :08:16.a different way. The debates on our future in the European Union was
:08:17. > :08:18.very badly informed. Will the Secretary of State convene an
:08:19. > :08:23.independent enquiry to identify and quantify and publish the losses and
:08:24. > :08:29.indeed any benefits to Wales from leaving the European Union, and the
:08:30. > :08:35.steps that he can take within his powers to safeguard our national
:08:36. > :08:39.interest? A European Union unit is being set up in Whitehall that will
:08:40. > :08:43.consider all the implications for my right honourable friend, the next
:08:44. > :08:48.pie Minister, in order to form judgments and direct government
:08:49. > :08:51.policy. But I think we need to recognise that if any country can
:08:52. > :08:56.make a success of leaving the European Union, it is the United
:08:57. > :09:03.Kingdom, with its proud history of the global trading nation. I did ask
:09:04. > :09:07.about his department. Anyway, I am concerned about the loss of
:09:08. > :09:10.convergence funding of research monies to universities and lost
:09:11. > :09:16.opportunities to young people to live and work and study abroad. But
:09:17. > :09:21.also, being Welsh, and European, I fear the closing of our horizons
:09:22. > :09:27.towards a parochial little Britain. What more can he do to ensure the
:09:28. > :09:33.future of our Welsh cultural London bypass to the rest of our continent?
:09:34. > :09:36.Mr Speaker, I am disappointed with the question that the honourable
:09:37. > :09:41.member has raised, because he will understand that I have got a close
:09:42. > :09:47.working relationship with the Welsh government, with the First Minister
:09:48. > :09:51.in particular. What is in Wales's interest is in the United Kingdom's,
:09:52. > :09:55.and I intend to do all possible to maintain that positive relationship
:09:56. > :10:05.as we negotiate to leave the European Union. The Secretary of
:10:06. > :10:10.State's answers have been predictably vacuous and ambiguous.
:10:11. > :10:16.Can I give him a chance to boost his promotion hopes today by giving a
:10:17. > :10:21.straight answer, and flout all Parliamentary traditions? Brexit is
:10:22. > :10:26.perilous to Wales, especially to the steel industry. There will be an
:10:27. > :10:33.immediate loss of 600 million, and there might be further losses later.
:10:34. > :10:38.The simple question is, and a one word answer will do, well he
:10:39. > :10:43.guarantee that Wales will not lose any of the funding it has under
:10:44. > :10:52.Brexit? I can guarantee that Wales will get
:10:53. > :10:57.its fair share. And the Barnett formula and all of those issues that
:10:58. > :11:01.I have highlighted. This party can give certainty of leadership with
:11:02. > :11:05.strong visionary negotiating stance as we approach the referendum, as we
:11:06. > :11:08.approach the departure from the European Union. It is quite obvious
:11:09. > :11:17.that we cannot get that certainty of leadership from that party opposite.
:11:18. > :11:22.Number three, Mr Speaker. This government is taking unprecedented
:11:23. > :11:27.steps to ensure great and fat disparity across the UK and the UK
:11:28. > :11:33.Government cities and local growth agenda is revolutionising the way we
:11:34. > :11:42.achieve this. Region city deal, alongside an ongoing discussion in
:11:43. > :11:44.Swansea, is a clear commitment to rebalance the economy in Wales.
:11:45. > :11:52.That's my honourable friend agree with me that in my area of North
:11:53. > :11:54.Wells, good transport links are vital to balance the economy? What
:11:55. > :12:09.plans does he have two address this? Last Thursday I was at a summit in
:12:10. > :12:15.North Wales where we discussed the proposal for improving rail links
:12:16. > :12:23.and road links in North Wales as part of a great deal. -- growth
:12:24. > :12:27.deal. Central to rebalancing the Welsh economy, the Metro project and
:12:28. > :12:33.the city region. Given that in the referendum campaign, 13 government
:12:34. > :12:36.ministers signed a letter to guarantee continuation of EU
:12:37. > :12:40.funding, will the Minister in sure that none of those projects lose out
:12:41. > :12:44.as a result of after leaving the EU? I think he is asking me to make a
:12:45. > :12:47.guaranteed in ratio to a future government which will be established
:12:48. > :12:53.by the new Prime Minister from this afternoon onwards. The city deal was
:12:54. > :12:56.an initiative which had cooperation between the Westminster and Welsh
:12:57. > :13:00.government, it showed what can be done when governments work together
:13:01. > :13:05.and the investment that is proposed into the South Wales metro was
:13:06. > :13:07.something was not delivered over the previous government over 13 years
:13:08. > :13:16.where they could have made difference. Given the opportunities
:13:17. > :13:20.of the North Wales great deal for my constituency and north-east Wales,
:13:21. > :13:24.what steps as the minister taken to follow the lead of the Treasury to
:13:25. > :13:29.ensure that women business leaders are fully engaged in the North Wales
:13:30. > :13:34.great deal? Meetings that we are having in North Wales have been with
:13:35. > :13:38.council leaders, further education leaders, leaders of Welsh
:13:39. > :13:43.businesses, and I am glad to say those leaders represent male and
:13:44. > :13:48.female people. We have an approach in North Wales which is inclusive
:13:49. > :13:52.and supportive by all stakeholders, people River potential of North
:13:53. > :14:03.Wales joining in the northern powerhouse for the benefit of all
:14:04. > :14:09.residents. Central to all balancing is exports, Wales has a significant
:14:10. > :14:13.trade surplus as opposed to the English portion which does not. What
:14:14. > :14:18.assessment has he made with the number of countries across the world
:14:19. > :14:26.that Wales could export to, and does he not realise that tariff free
:14:27. > :14:33.access to the single market is vital to the Welsh economy... We have got
:14:34. > :14:36.his drift. I agree with him that access to the market is very
:14:37. > :14:40.important to the Welsh economy but he should also recognise that Welsh
:14:41. > :14:44.export growth has been faster to those countries outside the EU. What
:14:45. > :14:49.we need for a balanced approach to the Welsh economy is to ensure we
:14:50. > :14:53.have access the market around the world so that Welsh businesses can
:14:54. > :15:01.carry on with the success they have had recently. Number five, Mr
:15:02. > :15:03.Speaker. As the secretary of state, I'm determined to maintain the
:15:04. > :15:07.economic success that we have seen in recent times and that we manage
:15:08. > :15:12.our transition to the new arrangement in a calm and measured
:15:13. > :15:15.way. As we negotiate our way out of the European Union, a whole range of
:15:16. > :15:27.decisions will have to be made in due course. The A456 Road heads
:15:28. > :15:32.through my constituency and it has had a very bad safety record. Order,
:15:33. > :15:37.I think the people of Merthyr Tydfil will at least want to hear the
:15:38. > :15:45.honourable gentleman. Thank you, Mr Speaker. A456 run through my
:15:46. > :15:50.constituency and has historically had a bad safety record. With EU
:15:51. > :15:53.funds, this road has been turned into a dual carriageway but some
:15:54. > :15:58.phases of this work are yet to start. Will the Secretary of State
:15:59. > :16:01.providing assurance that he will do all he can and work with the bulk to
:16:02. > :16:07.provide support and ensure this government and many like it will not
:16:08. > :16:11.be jeopardised by Brexit? He raises an important point, and I would
:16:12. > :16:14.underline that we remain full, active members of the EU, with all
:16:15. > :16:19.of the benefits and obligations that brings for at least two years. The
:16:20. > :16:24.project highlighted is one of the more successful projects of European
:16:25. > :16:27.aided funded programmes. But not all of those projects were as
:16:28. > :16:30.successful. Some of the strategies were questionable and some of the
:16:31. > :16:41.outcomes were Willie, we need to reassess how we support regional
:16:42. > :16:53.aided programmes. Can of the Shadow Secretary of State good absolute
:16:54. > :17:02.commitment that no regenerations will be loose out as a result of the
:17:03. > :17:07.disastrous Brexit result? I can guarantee for the next two years at
:17:08. > :17:15.least that no European supported project will lose out. Of course we
:17:16. > :17:17.have not yet concluded our negotiating position. And simply
:17:18. > :17:19.replacing one source of funding with another misses the point. The EU
:17:20. > :17:23.referendum sent out a clear message from those communities that are
:17:24. > :17:29.purported to benefit the most from European aid, and they simply did
:17:30. > :17:45.not want was being offered to them. Number six, Mr Speaker. They have a
:17:46. > :17:50.significant potential at donating to the energy mix. We have commissioned
:17:51. > :17:53.independent report on tidal lagoons and I look forward to reading it in
:17:54. > :18:01.the autumn. The Bristol Channel is the highest second highest ride --
:18:02. > :18:06.the second highest rise and fall inside in the world and we need to
:18:07. > :18:12.harness that power, it will create powerful hundreds of years. He is
:18:13. > :18:16.absolutely right, the potential does exist, that is why we have
:18:17. > :18:22.commissioned an independent report which will report in the autumn. He
:18:23. > :18:25.needs to look carefully at the cost and benefits of a potential tidal
:18:26. > :18:31.lagoon. We are supportive of the content but we have to make sure
:18:32. > :18:36.that element with the cost to the UK taxpayer. The Minister will note
:18:37. > :18:43.many renewal Project... CHEERING
:18:44. > :18:54.Mr Speaker, I did not know I was a popular. -- I was that popular. As
:18:55. > :19:00.you will know, many renewable energy projects will depend on EU funding.
:19:01. > :19:03.Can he give a cast iron guarantee that the UK Cabinet will meet that
:19:04. > :19:07.funding if it is lost through our exit from the European Union? I can
:19:08. > :19:14.assure the honourable member that he is not. The tidal lagoon issue is
:19:15. > :19:18.being considered in its complexity. We are looking at all the issues. I
:19:19. > :19:20.am not aware of any EU funding which was committed to the tidal lagoon
:19:21. > :19:29.and therefore I can offer no guarantees. The Henry review team
:19:30. > :19:34.has met representatives of business and civic society right across
:19:35. > :19:39.Wales. The tidal lagoon infrastructure project will be a
:19:40. > :19:43.massive economic opportunity for Wales and especially my constituency
:19:44. > :19:47.of Swansea East. Can the Minister assure this house that he will be
:19:48. > :19:52.emphasising to the Henry review how much support there is, how much
:19:53. > :19:57.enthusiast and how important this vital scheme is to be done as a
:19:58. > :20:02.matter of urgency? Can I welcome the honourable lady to her place on the
:20:03. > :20:05.front bench. Also fully accept the comments made in terms of the
:20:06. > :20:10.support by the concept in the Swansea area, and I can also confirm
:20:11. > :20:15.that my right honourable friend has already met with Charles Henry in
:20:16. > :20:22.order to discuss the project. It is not my position to prejudge an
:20:23. > :20:27.independent report. I can assure the honourable lady that the support is
:20:28. > :20:36.known to Charles Henry. Question, number seven. The voice of
:20:37. > :20:39.Montgomeryshire must be heard at! With permission, Mr Zika...
:20:40. > :20:53.Charing with permission, Mr Speaker, I will
:20:54. > :20:55.answer question 11 and seven together.
:20:56. > :21:01.The farming sector is the economic backbone of the Welsh rural economy.
:21:02. > :21:02.The total income is estimated at 125 million. More importantly is the
:21:03. > :21:10.contribution... CHEERING that it makes to our rural
:21:11. > :21:12.communities. It is crucially important and
:21:13. > :21:22.discovered will continue to support it. Does the Minister share my
:21:23. > :21:24.concerns, Mr Speaker, the Welsh farming unions, about the
:21:25. > :21:28.administration of the single farm payment scheme in Wales,
:21:29. > :21:30.particularly in relation to cross-border issues? And will he
:21:31. > :21:36.agreed to meet the farming unions at the Royal Welsh show next week to
:21:37. > :21:41.discuss this very serious issue? I agree completely, with my honourable
:21:42. > :21:44.friend, any delays in payments to the farming community is
:21:45. > :21:48.problematic. It is an issue which is devolved to the Welsh garment, an
:21:49. > :21:51.issue which I have already discussed this farming unions. My right
:21:52. > :21:57.honourable friend the Secretary of State will be at the Royal Welsh
:21:58. > :22:01.next week subject to the discussions with the next Prime Minister, and
:22:02. > :22:06.meetings had been arranged at this event which is the premier farming
:22:07. > :22:09.event in the UK. Welsh and British farmers are response Paul for
:22:10. > :22:13.producing some of the finest food in the world. Now that we are to leave
:22:14. > :22:20.the EU, what effort is my honourable friend making to make sure that
:22:21. > :22:25.department ensures all of the UK's home-grown produce is promoted to
:22:26. > :22:28.international markets? She is absolutely right in saying the
:22:29. > :22:35.quality of food produced in Wales is second to none. We have produced the
:22:36. > :22:42.best lamb in the world, and the contribution to such produce to the
:22:43. > :22:46.economy is vital. We have met with leaders including food producers to
:22:47. > :22:49.give them confidence that they can still access international markets
:22:50. > :22:55.following the EU referendum results. The Royal Welsh show next week will
:22:56. > :22:58.show the very best of Welsh agriculture. When the Secretary of
:22:59. > :23:02.State goes there, he will have the same question that I have received
:23:03. > :23:06.in the last few weeks since 23rd June, what guarantees are there that
:23:07. > :23:10.the support for the family farm at its present level will remain in the
:23:11. > :23:14.future to sustain the essential rural economy in Wales?
:23:15. > :23:26.CHEERING I thank my honourable friend for the
:23:27. > :23:30.question, it he is a champion of the rural sector. I can assure him that
:23:31. > :23:33.we have already had meetings with the farming unions, we can certainly
:23:34. > :23:38.offer the guarantee that the current funding arrangements will be in
:23:39. > :23:41.place until 2018. The ongoing support for Welsh farming will be
:23:42. > :23:45.subject to agreement between this government, the way in which we exit
:23:46. > :23:52.the EU and the decisions taken by the future Prime Minister. Given
:23:53. > :23:54.that the common agricultural policy end world element programme
:23:55. > :24:03.contribute hundreds of millions of pounds to the Welsh rural economy,
:24:04. > :24:09.what UK exits scenario could possibly benefit Wales? I argued for
:24:10. > :24:14.Wales and the UK to stay within the EU but the reality is Wales voted to
:24:15. > :24:17.leave. It is crucial that we support the industries that are dependent on
:24:18. > :24:25.exporting to the European Union. We do have a quality product offered by
:24:26. > :24:33.the Welsh agriculture, we need to talk that up. I give assurances to
:24:34. > :24:39.the farming unions at the current funding situation is in place two
:24:40. > :24:44.years. Does the Minister agree with me that leaving the European Union
:24:45. > :24:49.offers a golden opportunity to assess the level of subsidy paid to
:24:50. > :24:56.farming in Wales to see whether that money can be more effectively and
:24:57. > :25:00.efficiently spent in other areas? Well, I would say that there is a
:25:01. > :25:03.need to look at the way in which government spends money. If there is
:25:04. > :25:08.going to be a funding mechanism in the future for Welsh agriculture, it
:25:09. > :25:15.must be looked at in the totality of government spending. It is important
:25:16. > :25:17.to state that over 60,000 jobs in Wales are dependent on the
:25:18. > :25:22.agriculture sector and it would be short-sighted in the extreme to turn
:25:23. > :25:43.its back on a sector which put Wales on international map.
:25:44. > :25:53.I know the whole house will join me in congratulating Andy Murray,
:25:54. > :25:54.Heather Watson, on their stunning success