:00:10. > :00:14.Good morning and welcome to BBC Parliament's live coverage on a
:00:15. > :00:18.special Parliamentary day in the Commons. In half an hour, Theresa
:00:19. > :00:23.May will be facing the Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, plus
:00:24. > :00:27.backbench MPs for the latest round of Prime Minister's Questions was
:00:28. > :00:30.then at around 4:30pm, the Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip
:00:31. > :00:33.Hammond will be delivering his spring budget to MPs. The first part
:00:34. > :00:38.of the Chancellor's statement is generally a review of the nation's
:00:39. > :00:42.finances, the second half will range over the Chancellor's new measures.
:00:43. > :00:46.Jeremy Corbyn will reply on behalf of the opposition. MPs will debate
:00:47. > :00:50.the measures in the budget for four days. Don't forget to join me Keith
:00:51. > :00:55.McDougal for a round-up of the day in both Houses of Parliament at 11
:00:56. > :01:02.o'clock at night, ahead of questions to the Welsh Secretary, the house
:01:03. > :01:08.tills briefly with a local ball. -- local built was the second reading,
:01:09. > :01:14.what day? Wednesday 15th of March, sir. Order, questions to the
:01:15. > :01:20.Secretary of State for Wales, Stuart see McDonald.
:01:21. > :01:26.Thank you, Mr Speaker, can I see and encourage the whole house to
:01:27. > :01:30.recognise it is International Women's Day and I know there are
:01:31. > :01:33.events in parliament and across government. I have regular
:01:34. > :01:38.discussions with the Secretary of State for Brexit the European Union
:01:39. > :01:47.to ensure that I accept is a success, as members of the EU joint
:01:48. > :01:50.committee on negotiations, we are committed to working closely with
:01:51. > :01:52.the devolved administrations to ensure that exiting the European
:01:53. > :02:01.Union is a fair and stronger outcome. I join with welcoming
:02:02. > :02:07.International Women's Day. Welsh Finance Secretary Mark Redford
:02:08. > :02:11.voiced concerns over grabbing new powers like farming and fishing that
:02:12. > :02:15.should without question go directly to Cardiff and Edinburgh under
:02:16. > :02:18.existing devolution settlements. Can the Secretary of State give a
:02:19. > :02:24.cast-iron guarantee there will be no such attempt to undermine and
:02:25. > :02:27.rollback on devolution? Mr Speaker, we have already said no decision is
:02:28. > :02:32.currently taken by the devolved administrations will be removed from
:02:33. > :02:36.them and we will use the return of decision-making from Europe back to
:02:37. > :02:43.the UK to strengthen devolution and to strengthen the union. On behalf
:02:44. > :02:49.of the people of Wales, well my right honourable friend tell the
:02:50. > :02:52.Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union that nobody, not the
:02:53. > :02:56.unelected House of Lords and nobody else, is going to stand in the way
:02:57. > :03:03.of the will of the Welsh people to have their freedom? I think that my
:03:04. > :03:06.honourable friend is reminding us that Wales voted to leave the
:03:07. > :03:09.European Union at the recent referendum, and I think there is an
:03:10. > :03:15.obligation on the government and on both houses to accept the outcome of
:03:16. > :03:22.that referendum. A hard Brexit would be bad for jobs in Wales. One of the
:03:23. > :03:28.highest unemployment rates in the country, yet the DWP are proposing
:03:29. > :03:31.shutting the job centre. With the Secretary of State meet with me to
:03:32. > :03:39.talk about supporting people into work? I will happily meet with the
:03:40. > :03:43.honourable member, I don't necessarily recognise the messages
:03:44. > :03:46.saying about the approach we are taking the Brexit. We want a deal
:03:47. > :03:50.that works for every part of the United Kingdom, but on the issue of
:03:51. > :03:54.employment and unemployment, I am sure that he will welcome that
:03:55. > :03:57.unemployment across Wales is lower than the UK average, which is
:03:58. > :04:02.remarkable considering the industrial average in constituencies
:04:03. > :04:09.like his and elsewhere in Wales but I will happily work with him. Also
:04:10. > :04:12.yesterday in his evidence to the Brexit select committee, Cabinet
:04:13. > :04:17.secretary Mark Draper had said that the Welsh government does gracefully
:04:18. > :04:20.was not made aware of the UK Government's four point Brexit plan
:04:21. > :04:25.or the white Paper. What is he doing to ensure that the Plaid Cymru White
:04:26. > :04:30.Paper is fed into the Article 50 letter and accompanying documents?
:04:31. > :04:35.The Welsh government's White Paper on exiting the European Union was
:04:36. > :04:38.considered by the joint Mysterio committee at the end of February.
:04:39. > :04:42.There is a significant amount of common ground in that paper. The
:04:43. > :04:45.Welsh government talk about unfettered access. My right
:04:46. > :04:48.honourable friend the Prime Minister has talked about frictionless access
:04:49. > :04:52.in trade. There is a lot of common ground on this we can work with and
:04:53. > :04:55.I am optimistic that we will continue to work in a positive
:04:56. > :04:58.environment with the Welsh government and with the devolved
:04:59. > :05:05.administrations to secure the Brexit deal that works for every part of
:05:06. > :05:12.the United Kingdom. Number two, Mr Speaker. My right will friend the
:05:13. > :05:16.Secretary of State and I hold regular discussions to champion the
:05:17. > :05:21.businesses and people of North Wales was our commitment is demonstrated
:05:22. > :05:24.by the government's ?212 million investment in HMP and we have open
:05:25. > :05:34.the doors to further strengthen the region's economy. The mercy the
:05:35. > :05:39.Alliance meets tomorrow, it has presented a cohesive, coherent
:05:40. > :05:43.transport plan for improvement of links between North Wales and the
:05:44. > :05:50.rest of the country. Will the government give is not just warm
:05:51. > :05:55.words but a financial commitment to North Wales to match the investment
:05:56. > :05:58.that is put in by the Welsh government? The honourable gentleman
:05:59. > :06:01.knows that his support for the transfer better connectivity between
:06:02. > :06:05.North Wales and the north-west of England is something supported by
:06:06. > :06:08.the Wales Office very strongly. The proposals made by stakeholders in
:06:09. > :06:12.North Wales are being given serious consideration but I wouldn't want to
:06:13. > :06:20.prejudge any financial decision made by other departments in Westminster.
:06:21. > :06:24.Is the minister aware of significant concerns among the local authorities
:06:25. > :06:28.covering North Wales, West Cheshire, is Cheshire, Warrington and others
:06:29. > :06:33.at the inadequacy of the current proposals for the HS2 station at
:06:34. > :06:41.Crewe, both in terms of line routing and platform at junction
:06:42. > :06:48.arrangements? Will he undertake to ensure a fit for purpose Crewe hub
:06:49. > :06:55.station? I would like to pay tribute to my honourable friend on the work
:06:56. > :06:59.he is doing. I think my honourable friend recognises the potential of
:07:00. > :07:03.HS2 to be a way in which we can open the door to greater connectivity.
:07:04. > :07:08.The Conservancy has raised about the Crewe hard in some thing I
:07:09. > :07:12.recognise, it is something -- hub. -- the concerns he has raised. I
:07:13. > :07:18.would be more than pleased to have a meeting with with him at any point.
:07:19. > :07:20.I look forward to welcoming the Secretary of State tomorrow to my
:07:21. > :07:23.constituency and seeing the importance of connectivity between
:07:24. > :07:28.Wales, Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom. On the issue of
:07:29. > :07:30.broadband, can I ask the Parliamentary undersecretary, with
:07:31. > :07:36.the universal service obligation, has he made the case to the
:07:37. > :07:41.department of finance to roll out that extra 5%? The honourable
:07:42. > :07:46.gentleman is well-known for championing Anglesey. I thoroughly
:07:47. > :07:50.agree with him on the importance of connectivity, both digitally and by
:07:51. > :07:53.road and rail. The Wales Office is continually making the case to make
:07:54. > :08:00.sure that the whole of the UK is well served by the digital economy
:08:01. > :08:07.as we exit the EU. Given the interconnected nature, constituents
:08:08. > :08:11.like mine, as my honourable friend agree that collaboration is
:08:12. > :08:16.essential for people living on the borders? My honourable friend makes
:08:17. > :08:18.a very important point. I was in mid Wales over the weekend and there is
:08:19. > :08:22.no doubt that connectivity is part of day-to-day life in mid wells and
:08:23. > :08:26.I would endorse the fact that we need to cooperate both in government
:08:27. > :08:39.and in business across the Wales England border. On the matter of
:08:40. > :08:42.Brexit, we have seen that Lord Heseltine has been ousted from
:08:43. > :08:48.government. Will the Minister tell us what hope we have of securing
:08:49. > :08:55.deals for the rest of Wales when experts are axed at the whim of
:08:56. > :08:57.insecure executives fearful of Parliamentary in serenity? The
:08:58. > :09:02.honourable lady highlight an issue in the news today. The important
:09:03. > :09:08.thing to highlight is the Swansea region deal is a bottom-up agenda.
:09:09. > :09:12.Lord Heseltine did contribute significant expertise when there was
:09:13. > :09:15.a challenge session and I am sure that we will have -- confident we
:09:16. > :09:19.will have a deal and further growth deals for Wales as a result of the
:09:20. > :09:24.work this government is doing to ensure that Wales benefits from
:09:25. > :09:28.investment in the same way as any other part of the United Kingdom.
:09:29. > :09:34.Can I bring the minister back to North Wales, and its connectivity
:09:35. > :09:38.through my own constituency? In his response to my friend for Rex, he
:09:39. > :09:44.seemed to pass the buck to another part of government. That is not good
:09:45. > :09:48.enough. -- for Wrexham. Will he make sure that this government and its
:09:49. > :09:51.silos to the restricted activity between Wales and its cities and
:09:52. > :09:58.will he arrange a meeting with different ministers and us as MPs
:09:59. > :10:00.who want to see more investment between North Wales and Merseyside?
:10:01. > :10:04.I am very happy to be brought back to North Wales, as a North Wales
:10:05. > :10:08.member, that is nothing other than a pleasure for myself but can I just
:10:09. > :10:11.said to the honourable lady, this government is moving ahead with a
:10:12. > :10:15.cross-border growth deal, which will benefit North Wales and the
:10:16. > :10:18.north-west of England. The aim is to improve connectivity between North
:10:19. > :10:22.Wales and the cities of Liverpool and Manchester, and I am very proud
:10:23. > :10:29.for example the fact there are now 57 trains a week going for my
:10:30. > :10:32.constituency to Manchester. We need more of that to improve the economy
:10:33. > :10:36.of North Wales and the north-west of England. Happy International Women's
:10:37. > :10:43.Day to all the women across the world, and especially my daughter
:10:44. > :10:50.who has been my inspiration. Last week, Welsh government economy and
:10:51. > :10:55.infrastructure Minister Ken Scates launched the vision for North Wales,
:10:56. > :11:01.entitled moving north Wales forward. When will the Minister be launching
:11:02. > :11:06.his vision for North Wales? First of all may I welcome the honourable
:11:07. > :11:09.lady to her place. I am delighted to respond to her questions on
:11:10. > :11:12.International Women's Day. In relation to the vision for North
:11:13. > :11:15.Wales, I am disappointed that the Welsh government's vision for North
:11:16. > :11:21.Wales seems to be a vision for North East Wales. This government has a
:11:22. > :11:31.vision for connectivity across the whole of North Wales. Question under
:11:32. > :11:37.three. I am delighted that the use of Wales -- Welsh, held both in
:11:38. > :11:42.Wales and here at Westminster. This is just one example of how we are
:11:43. > :11:46.looking to promote the Welsh language throughout the UK. I may
:11:47. > :11:54.represent an English constituency but I am also proud of my Welsh
:11:55. > :12:02.ancestry. Will he therefore welcomed the increased viewer figures for S4C
:12:03. > :12:07.in England? My honourable friend makes an important point, it was
:12:08. > :12:10.highlighted me that since the partnership between S4C and BBC has
:12:11. > :12:15.seen ten one players on the iPlayer, the largest growing figures have
:12:16. > :12:18.been in England with a 25% growth over the last year alone. This must
:12:19. > :12:19.be welcomed by everybody who cares about the Welsh language and
:12:20. > :12:32.culture. The funding last year for S4C was
:12:33. > :12:35.?6.7 million, but next year it is ?6.1 million. How does that square
:12:36. > :12:41.with a manifesto commitment to protect funding for S4C? Honourable
:12:42. > :12:46.member is aware that the commitment made was that the funding for S4C
:12:47. > :12:50.would be frozen until after the delivery of a review of S4C, and I
:12:51. > :12:56.am certain there will be an announcement that the funding will
:12:57. > :13:00.be frozen until after the review has taken place. I proudly served on the
:13:01. > :13:04.Welsh language built during the John Major government, so I am fully in
:13:05. > :13:10.favour of the Welsh language, but can we have some consistency on road
:13:11. > :13:13.signs? In some areas, Welsh is first followed by English, in others it is
:13:14. > :13:20.vice versa. It make life complicated. I think the whole house
:13:21. > :13:23.is aware of the honourable gentleman's commitment and support
:13:24. > :13:28.for Wales and his support for Welsh questions. It's interesting but, in
:13:29. > :13:32.relation to road signs, it's a question of localism. It is a
:13:33. > :13:37.devolved issue. Whether local authority wants Welsh first, Welsh
:13:38. > :13:42.is first. Where it is English first, the local authority can choose to do
:13:43. > :13:46.that. Can I press the Minister father when he says he is certainly
:13:47. > :13:52.a positive announcement will be made with Schumacher can he guarantee the
:13:53. > :13:56.freeze will be carried on until the review of S4C is concluded? S4C do
:13:57. > :14:02.marvellous work across Wales and the world and they need reassurance
:14:03. > :14:07.their funding will be frozen again. The honourable gentleman is well
:14:08. > :14:10.known for his support for S4C and the Welsh language. This department
:14:11. > :14:15.is committed to ensuring that commitment is delivered but, more
:14:16. > :14:19.importantly, we need a long-term agreement on the future of S4C, and
:14:20. > :14:23.the point of this review is to ensure that S4C not only has a
:14:24. > :14:30.decent financial situation for this financial year but that it is on a
:14:31. > :14:33.strong footing for the future. This institution has spent four centuries
:14:34. > :14:37.disrespecting the Welsh language, which existed and was a
:14:38. > :14:42.sophisticated literary language for 1000 years before English existed.
:14:43. > :14:53.We pay tribute to the late Gwyn Roberts and my friend,...
:14:54. > :14:56.HE SPEAKS WELSH. I say to the honourable gentleman
:14:57. > :14:59.that the deployment of another language should in all courtesy be
:15:00. > :15:03.immediately followed by a translation from those who would
:15:04. > :15:09.benefit from it. But we can say that for another occasion. The honourable
:15:10. > :15:13.gentleman finished his comments by saying, long may be language live,
:15:14. > :15:19.and I would subscribe to that. I am grateful for him highlighting my
:15:20. > :15:23.predecessor's work in relation to the Welsh language act and the work
:15:24. > :15:27.that he did in relation to Welsh language education. The fact is that
:15:28. > :15:30.the Welsh language is no longer a political football and it should
:15:31. > :15:36.never be a political football again. We all need to support it in all
:15:37. > :15:43.parties across Wales. The SNP support the Welsh language. Would he
:15:44. > :15:50.used his office to reciprocate the good wishes of the SNP and urged the
:15:51. > :15:55.BBC to fund BBC Alba to the same levels? So we have the same support
:15:56. > :15:59.for Welsh and Gaelic, as they rightly supported across the UK? I
:16:00. > :16:05.have a fond recollection of having a holiday on the Isle of Barra when I
:16:06. > :16:09.was ten and hearing the Scots language spoken in the streets. I
:16:10. > :16:14.understand that BBC Alba have had an increase of over ?1 million, which
:16:15. > :16:18.is to be welcomed, and I would say the situation in Scotland is that
:16:19. > :16:23.people want to support language of Scotland in the same way as people
:16:24. > :16:30.in Wales want to support Welsh. Wales is in exporting nation. Welsh
:16:31. > :16:36.lamb and whiskey and sea salt are all known well beyond our borders,
:16:37. > :16:40.but we can do more and on Monday I posted a business export summit in
:16:41. > :16:44.Cardiff to ensure that businesses in Wales have full access to UK
:16:45. > :16:50.Government support for export. Could he tell the hell is the steps he is
:16:51. > :16:54.taking to engage and understand the needs of smaller businesses in Wales
:16:55. > :16:58.as we negotiate to leave the European Union? I think my
:16:59. > :17:06.honourable friend recognises the global trading ambition that this
:17:07. > :17:10.government holds. There are 1200 staff in the department for
:17:11. > :17:12.international trade across 109 countries, and any business based in
:17:13. > :17:17.Swansea is entitled to the same support as any business based in
:17:18. > :17:22.Swindon, and I would encourage them to use the department for
:17:23. > :17:29.international trade. 44% of trade goes to the EU but in Wales 70% goes
:17:30. > :17:32.to the EU, and the CBI of producers last week in Swansea told me it is
:17:33. > :17:38.imperative that we retain access to the single market and customs union.
:17:39. > :17:40.The people of Wales did not vote to leave those but can he give his
:17:41. > :17:45.assurances that he will do everything he can to keep that going
:17:46. > :17:50.so that our exports are free to keep continuing? On Monday I held an
:17:51. > :17:53.event to promote exports not only to Europe but all parts of the globe.
:17:54. > :18:00.Clearly there are great opportunities in 4000 Welsh
:18:01. > :18:03.companies which took their first steps towards exporting last year
:18:04. > :18:07.but Europe is an important market, we want frictionless trade, but we
:18:08. > :18:10.also want to look to the great opportunities that exiting the EU
:18:11. > :18:16.will bring to businesses across the UK. There is an excessive number of
:18:17. > :18:19.noisy private conversations. I understand the sense of
:18:20. > :18:23.anticipation, but it is unfair on the member asking the question and
:18:24. > :18:28.the minister answering. Let's have a decent audience for Mr Stephen
:18:29. > :18:33.Crabb. Despite Wales having world leading companies that contribute to
:18:34. > :18:37.humanitarian efforts in some of the poorest nations on earth, no Welsh
:18:38. > :18:40.company has been able to secure a contract with the Department for
:18:41. > :18:42.International Development. Would my honourable friend look into this and
:18:43. > :18:46.work with the excellent development Secretary to not only make the
:18:47. > :18:53.department more pro-business but more pro-Welsh business as well? He
:18:54. > :18:57.raises an important point, and he has been a strong champion for Wales
:18:58. > :19:01.and also someone who has shown a strong interest in matters of
:19:02. > :19:04.overseas development. I will happily work with him and my right
:19:05. > :19:09.honourable friend, the Secretary of State, in order to ensure that Welsh
:19:10. > :19:14.businesses get the same opportunities as any UK business to
:19:15. > :19:22.win contracts and help them develop and support in those nations. In St
:19:23. > :19:25.David's Day celebrations, Wales 's First Minister, Carwyn Jones,
:19:26. > :19:29.declared that Wales is open for business. Last week, he spent four
:19:30. > :19:34.days in America boosting post Brexit trade between the USA and Wales.
:19:35. > :19:39.Does the Secretary of State plan to visit the USA and recruit more
:19:40. > :19:42.business for Wales? Can I also welcome the honourable lady to the
:19:43. > :19:51.dispatch box for her first Welsh questions. Last week, the
:19:52. > :19:54.announcement was made up ?20 million investment for which the UK and
:19:55. > :19:59.Welsh governments worked together to land at significant employment
:20:00. > :20:06.opportunity that will secure 1200 jobs for more than two decades
:20:07. > :20:08.ahead. My right honourable friend, the Secretary of State for
:20:09. > :20:13.international trade and I, working closely. He always rightly
:20:14. > :20:17.underlines that every business in Wales is entitled to the same
:20:18. > :20:19.support as any business in England, and I am working closely with him
:20:20. > :20:28.not only on that but on trade missions as well. I recently met
:20:29. > :20:32.with the unions and, following the positive outcome of the recent
:20:33. > :20:35.ballot, it is now vital that all parties work together to deliver on
:20:36. > :20:39.the agreed proposals. We will continue to engage in the sector as
:20:40. > :20:43.well as with the unions, the devolved nations and other partners
:20:44. > :20:47.as we seek to find a long-term, viable solution for the industry.
:20:48. > :20:52.International trade secretary is said to have said that the
:20:53. > :20:57.government should ignore those who argue for protection. Will the
:20:58. > :21:01.Secretary of State agree to argue for a proper trade defence mechanism
:21:02. > :21:07.for steel, which is what is required? I hope the honourable
:21:08. > :21:11.member will look to the positive records of this government, in spite
:21:12. > :21:17.of the scaremongering by many of the members opposite. There are 41 trade
:21:18. > :21:22.measures already in place, and the outcomes of the results speak for
:21:23. > :21:29.themselves. We have reduced into the EU by 29%, and orders have fallen by
:21:30. > :21:32.99%. The statistics speak for themselves. This government is
:21:33. > :21:37.determined to take the right action to support free trade and Welsh and
:21:38. > :21:41.UK businesses in industry. Can my right honourable friend update the
:21:42. > :21:44.house on what action has been taken to ensure that Welsh steel is used
:21:45. > :21:50.in British procurement across the UK? My honourable friend is right.
:21:51. > :21:59.Significant steps have been taken since 12 months ago, when the crisis
:22:00. > :22:02.broke. Energy intensive industries support has meant that ?134 million
:22:03. > :22:07.has now been paid to the steel sector. I have already mentioned
:22:08. > :22:11.their 41 trade defence measures in place. We have introduced
:22:12. > :22:14.flexibility over EU emissions regulations. We are determined to
:22:15. > :22:19.ensure everything will be done to make the industry sustainable
:22:20. > :22:25.long-term. There has been much discussion in the last week about
:22:26. > :22:34.the automotive industry, especially Ford in Bridgend and the position of
:22:35. > :22:38.Vauxhall. They both have major importance to Wales. The present of
:22:39. > :22:40.a domestic steel industry is key to our own automotive industry, so can
:22:41. > :22:46.the Minister confirm what discussions he has had with his
:22:47. > :22:50.colleagues regarding both industries and what assurances he can give to
:22:51. > :22:54.both industries that the government commitment? I am grateful to the
:22:55. > :22:58.honourable mother for his question, and the Secretary of State for
:22:59. > :23:01.business energy and industrial strategy and I are in regular
:23:02. > :23:06.communications, not only about steel but also the automotive sector.
:23:07. > :23:10.Although Ellesmere port is not in Wales, there are clearly a
:23:11. > :23:13.significant number of Welsh employees in the workforce. I would
:23:14. > :23:16.hope the honourable member would take encouragement from the major
:23:17. > :23:22.investments, such as Nissan in Sunderland. There are 100 automotive
:23:23. > :23:33.component industries based in Wales that will have access to those
:23:34. > :23:37.contracts. Number six Mr Speaker. The government has confirmed its
:23:38. > :23:39.commitment to the Cardiff city deal, which will provide an investment
:23:40. > :23:45.fund for the region and support electrification of the Valley Lines.
:23:46. > :23:47.There are great and deployment opportunities for those living in
:23:48. > :23:54.some of Wales's most deprived communities. The scope, planning and
:23:55. > :23:59.delivery of electrification is a matter for the Welsh government.
:24:00. > :24:05.That is a pitiful answer. It doesn't answer the question at all. The
:24:06. > :24:09.former Secretary of State for Transport, the member for west
:24:10. > :24:13.Derbyshire, who is sitting there, talking to the present Secretary of
:24:14. > :24:18.State for Transport, told this house in October 2012 it would be finished
:24:19. > :24:22.by May 2015, and they haven't even started. When will he make sure that
:24:23. > :24:27.my constituents get the proper service they require? Clean trains,
:24:28. > :24:32.disabled access, proper toilets and a service that doesn't break down.
:24:33. > :24:36.Well, I think the whole house enjoys the rhetoric from the honourable
:24:37. > :24:41.member for Rhondda, but it would appear... There is far too much
:24:42. > :24:44.noise in the chamber. One cannot fail to hear the honourable
:24:45. > :24:49.gentleman for Rhondda, but I want to the Minister's reply was to it would
:24:50. > :24:54.appear that the honourable manner that does understand the way that
:24:55. > :24:57.evolution works. The city deal has been agreed with the Welsh
:24:58. > :25:01.government, but the scope, planning and delivery is for the Welsh
:25:02. > :25:06.government, so I would advise him to speak to his colleagues in the Welsh
:25:07. > :25:10.government. With the arrival of electrification in south Wales and
:25:11. > :25:14.the government's investment in the new bimodal trains, which is greatly
:25:15. > :25:17.welcomed, we need the correct infrastructure to ensure the people
:25:18. > :25:22.in south-west Wales benefit, which could be realised by the creation of
:25:23. > :25:27.a parkway station at Swansea. Will my right honourable friend meet with
:25:28. > :25:32.me to discuss this? , congratulate my honourable member for the work he
:25:33. > :25:35.is doing in ensuring that south-west Wales also benefits from the
:25:36. > :25:39.electrification of the great western mainline. I would be delighted to
:25:40. > :25:43.meet him to discuss the proposals for a Swansea Parkway station, which
:25:44. > :25:51.would be a huge boost for that city as we move towards a city deal.
:25:52. > :25:57.White Paper Securing Wales' Future was submitted to... We are
:25:58. > :26:02.discussing detailed proposals with the Welsh government. Does the
:26:03. > :26:05.Minister realised the difference between discussing a paper and
:26:06. > :26:10.taking action on it? When are the devolved government is going to have
:26:11. > :26:18.any proper kitchen taken on their strategies? Will we just be left
:26:19. > :26:21.with the scraps from the table? Mr Speaker, I hope the honourable
:26:22. > :26:24.member would recognise that there is a significant amount of common
:26:25. > :26:30.ground between the Welsh government's paper and the 12
:26:31. > :26:32.principles my right honourable friend, the Prime Minister, as
:26:33. > :26:36.outlined. This government is determined to deliver a deal works
:26:37. > :26:40.for every part of the UK, and we have already said no decision is
:26:41. > :26:44.currently taken by the devolved administrations will be removed from
:26:45. > :26:49.them, and that we will use the return of power from Europe to the
:26:50. > :26:59.UK to devolution, but also to strengthen the union of the UK. Over
:27:00. > :27:08.5000 EU students study in Wales, and over 1300 EU academics teach and
:27:09. > :27:11.research here. The Welsh- EU White Paper is clear. Their position must
:27:12. > :27:17.be assured. Why will his government not adopt this elementary piece of
:27:18. > :27:20.economic good sense? My right honourable friend, the Prime
:27:21. > :27:24.Minister and others have said that we want to seek the earliest
:27:25. > :27:29.agreement to secure the status of EU nationals living in the UK and UK
:27:30. > :27:33.nationals living in the EU. It is not in our interests to undermine
:27:34. > :27:35.anyone's sector. We would like to press for an early agreement, but it
:27:36. > :27:46.takes two people to come to that. Today on international women's day
:27:47. > :27:50.my constituent will be studying for her final exams and electrical
:27:51. > :27:54.engineering. She is likely to get a first in a field with a little world
:27:55. > :27:58.shortage of qualified people and women in particular. Had this
:27:59. > :28:11.Government had its way she would have been deported last week. The
:28:12. > :28:14.honourable member will know we do not respond in individual cases but
:28:15. > :28:18.I think the honourable member will know the detail himself and the
:28:19. > :28:22.latest situation relating to that. I would hope it would also recognise
:28:23. > :28:26.an international women's day that there is no other nation across the
:28:27. > :28:30.European Union that has lower unemployment for women and that
:28:31. > :28:43.nation is Wales. I hope he will recognise that. Questions to the
:28:44. > :28:45.Prime Minister. I am sure members across the whole House will wish to
:28:46. > :28:47.join me in marking International women's