:00:00. > :00:17.the Secretary of State for Wales, Alun Cairns. Order. Order. On
:00:18. > :00:26.today's order paper, it is noted that on 20th may 1917, Major
:00:27. > :00:36.Ballantyne Fleming C Squadron, the Queens own Oxfordshire has ours was
:00:37. > :00:44.killed in action in France. On seven to June 1917, Major Willie Redmond,
:00:45. > :00:51.6th Battalion Royal Irish Regiment, member for clear East, died of
:00:52. > :00:56.wounds received during the Battle -- in a battle in Belgium. We remember
:00:57. > :01:06.them today. Order. Questions to the Secretary of State for Wales.
:01:07. > :01:11.Secretary Alun Cairns. Thank you. On this last Welsh questions before the
:01:12. > :01:16.general election, can I pay particular tribute to two Welsh
:01:17. > :01:19.stars at the weekend. Josh Griffiths, a Swansea Harriers
:01:20. > :01:22.runner, the first Briton to cross the finish line at the London
:01:23. > :01:31.Marathon, but particularly to Matthew Rees, who helped a fellow
:01:32. > :01:34.runner over the closing stages of the London Marathon. The Prime
:01:35. > :01:39.Minister has made clear that we will work to secure benefits to all parts
:01:40. > :01:45.of the United Kingdom. Wales is a dynamic, vibrant, innovative country
:01:46. > :01:50.and is prepared to make a success of the opportunities ahead. Brexit may
:01:51. > :01:57.have a very negative impact on jobs in Wales. So the proposal to build a
:01:58. > :02:01.category C prison in my constituency is welcome in principle, but it is
:02:02. > :02:06.difficult to understand why the Baglan energy Park has been selected
:02:07. > :02:08.as a site for that prison, and it is more difficult to understand why the
:02:09. > :02:14.prisons minister has not had the courtesy to reply to my letter of
:02:15. > :02:18.the 23rd of March. Will he please encourage his friend the prison
:02:19. > :02:28.minister to check his letters, and will he also guaranteed that the
:02:29. > :02:35.community will be fully consulted? He is absolutely right, there are
:02:36. > :02:37.record employment data in Wales, record low levels of unemployment in
:02:38. > :02:45.Wales, so although the prison will be a further boost to the honourable
:02:46. > :02:49.member's constituency. The site was selected in support of the Welsh
:02:50. > :02:54.government after consultation. Wales has a number of technological
:02:55. > :03:00.hotspots around Cardiff and elsewhere. Does he not think they
:03:01. > :03:05.will benefit after Brexit from bilateral trade deals that will be
:03:06. > :03:10.-- we will be able to make with the United States, Canada, and the
:03:11. > :03:18.European Union? He shows a great interest in Wales and knows a lot
:03:19. > :03:23.about the Welsh economy. But he talks about how high-tech sectors,
:03:24. > :03:26.and we have seen some dynamics. The Secretary of State for defence and I
:03:27. > :03:33.were there a few weeks ago, on the day we handed over a hand to Aston
:03:34. > :03:41.Martin. These are providing new opportunities. Welsh manufacturers
:03:42. > :03:44.and farmers will lose the solid protections offered by the block.
:03:45. > :03:48.Why does he not come clean today and admit it is the intention of the
:03:49. > :03:57.Tories to sell those producers down the river? The honourable member
:03:58. > :04:02.will recognise that exports from Wales have grown over the last year.
:04:03. > :04:12.They have grown significantly by 6.2%, something that we welcome. He
:04:13. > :04:15.will also recognise the data of record levels of employment and low
:04:16. > :04:25.levels of unemployment. People recognise we want the clearest open
:04:26. > :04:32.trading arrangements we can in support of Welsh producers. Can he
:04:33. > :04:37.confirmed that rural areas of Wales will be placed front and centre in a
:04:38. > :04:40.post Brexit Britain? Can I pay tribute to the work my honourable
:04:41. > :04:47.friend does in relation to supporting the rural economy in his
:04:48. > :04:51.constituency in particular. We maintain a close relationship with
:04:52. > :04:55.farming unions in Wales, most of the meetings take place in his
:04:56. > :04:57.constituency and that demonstrates the active relationship we have with
:04:58. > :05:03.key stakeholders and the Welsh government. How did he respond to
:05:04. > :05:07.the farming unions request for a full assessment on the impact of
:05:08. > :05:13.Welsh agriculture should we be in the possession of falling back on
:05:14. > :05:18.World Trade Organisation tariffs? 40% tariffs will destroy Welsh
:05:19. > :05:22.agriculture. I am disappointed with the approach he is taking. He is
:05:23. > :05:29.assuming the worst case scenario. We're having this general election
:05:30. > :05:34.to have strong and stable leadership in the challenging negotiations
:05:35. > :05:37.ahead. There are 27 EU nations that will be challenging everything as we
:05:38. > :05:42.negotiate to leave the European Union. Strong and stable leadership
:05:43. > :05:47.is needed more than ever. If the honourable gentleman is so keen on
:05:48. > :05:53.listening to Welsh farmers, can he tell us why the government are
:05:54. > :05:55.refusing to agree with the farmers union in Wales, why will these
:05:56. > :06:03.powers of agriculture not be devolved to the Welsh government? I
:06:04. > :06:13.am sure she will recognise we engage closely with the NFU before the
:06:14. > :06:19.drafting of the Great Repeal Bill White Paper. The DEFRA Secretary of
:06:20. > :06:25.State also met the farming unions to consider how best placed ER. The
:06:26. > :06:31.absolutely supportive in the position we have taken up the White
:06:32. > :06:35.Paper. The Prime Minister has said she is prepared to walk away from
:06:36. > :06:38.the negotiating table without a trade deal with the EU. The Foreign
:06:39. > :06:46.Secretary said no deal would be no problem, and yet no deal has
:06:47. > :06:52.incurred tariffs up 30 to 40% in deviant meat producers, and 10% on
:06:53. > :06:59.car manufacturers. Isn't it the case this Tory Government is prepared to
:07:00. > :07:07.play fast and loose with the Welsh government, putting livelihoods at
:07:08. > :07:11.risk. -- the Welsh agriculture industry. We want the strongest most
:07:12. > :07:19.open agreement, and it seems that the real investors are taking us on
:07:20. > :07:25.our ambition. We have seen a major investment from title to and Nissan,
:07:26. > :07:27.and with Aston Martin. That demonstrates their confidence in our
:07:28. > :07:38.vision as we leave the European Union. I will answer question two,
:07:39. > :07:41.seven and ten together. Wales remains the same outward looking
:07:42. > :07:45.global country we have always been. Aston Martin has chosen to invest in
:07:46. > :07:49.Wales as a result of the great work done by the Department of
:07:50. > :07:54.International trade and the Welsh government. Wales continues to be a
:07:55. > :07:56.great investment destination. Welsh food and drink exports to the
:07:57. > :08:01.European Union will face eye watering tariffs upon leaving the
:08:02. > :08:09.single market. Will he guarantee that as part of the WTO deal, the
:08:10. > :08:16.home market will not be flooded with food imports such as Australian
:08:17. > :08:21.meets? Here's peddling scare stories. When it comes to Lamb, New
:08:22. > :08:27.Zealand currently does not even meet its quota to the European Union.
:08:28. > :08:30.Only 70% of the New Zealand Coulthard is currently maintained.
:08:31. > :08:32.He should have some confidence in Welsh agriculture produce good
:08:33. > :08:38.rather than speaking down about the prospects of the economy. I would
:08:39. > :08:43.have more confidence if he answered the question. On Monday I visited
:08:44. > :08:47.one of the largest and most successful high-tech businesses in
:08:48. > :08:54.Wales. They told me that post Brexit, they are hoping against hope
:08:55. > :08:57.to be able to export to the European partners as at present, without all
:08:58. > :09:03.the red tape and expense of being outside the customs union. Why is
:09:04. > :09:08.this hard Brexit government determined to make life more
:09:09. > :09:11.difficult for key exporters? Again he is highlighting the negativity
:09:12. > :09:17.surrounding this issue, but it is one that I do not recognise. It is
:09:18. > :09:24.also not recognised by businesses in Wales, and negativity not
:09:25. > :09:27.highlighted by businesses in Wales. They are looking to global future,
:09:28. > :09:33.and we will secure the greatest possible access to the European
:09:34. > :09:36.market, and will also look into global trade deals ensuring Wales is
:09:37. > :09:42.part of global growth as well as maintaining a European market. Wales
:09:43. > :09:44.has huge potential in terms of export and trading opportunities and
:09:45. > :09:49.the Department of International trade is an important tool for those
:09:50. > :09:52.companies in Wales looking to expand overseas. How was the Minister
:09:53. > :09:58.ensuring that Wales are central to the work of that department and his
:09:59. > :10:03.department? The Department didn't and traders crucial component of the
:10:04. > :10:06.ways in which we can support Welsh businesses, and the Wales Office is
:10:07. > :10:11.working very closely with the Department. We had an exports
:10:12. > :10:13.conference in Cardiff on the 6th of March, which was extremely well
:10:14. > :10:16.attended, where the opportunities available to Welsh businesses in the
:10:17. > :10:22.European Union and globally were highlighted, and that meeting was a
:10:23. > :10:29.huge success. My honourable friend will agree, I am sure, but there is
:10:30. > :10:34.much common ground between Cornwall and Wales, with the opportunities
:10:35. > :10:39.that the export of goods, high-quality goods, and services
:10:40. > :10:44.across the globe are presented by Brexit. What advice can he share
:10:45. > :10:46.with businesses across my constituency as we begin the
:10:47. > :10:54.negotiations to leave the European Union? Thanks for the question. She
:10:55. > :10:57.is correct, there is a lot in common between Wales and Cornwall, not
:10:58. > :11:00.least the language. Businesses in Cornwall should do the same as
:11:01. > :11:06.businesses in Wales, they should engage with the Department for rent
:11:07. > :11:08.at the trade, look at the opportunity to launch aid missions,
:11:09. > :11:10.identify new markets. There are opportunities they are and we need
:11:11. > :11:20.to exploit them. They rely on British employees
:11:21. > :11:25.moving and working across Europe when we leave Europe. The guarantee
:11:26. > :11:28.we can offer to anyone who wants to work across Europe is that this
:11:29. > :11:32.Government will listen to them and act on their behalf. We have no
:11:33. > :11:38.interest in doing anything other than fully supporting companies such
:11:39. > :11:45.as Airbus which is such a key component of the economy of north
:11:46. > :11:49.Wales. We need to have proper infrastructure. Will the minister
:11:50. > :11:52.congratulate the Welsh Government for putting in additional funds,
:11:53. > :12:00.will he work with them to ensure that places remain the heart of the
:12:01. > :12:05.British Isles because of their close proximity to Ireland and the rest of
:12:06. > :12:08.Europe? He is right. The Secretary of State visited Holyhead with the
:12:09. > :12:12.honourable gentleman and he is right to highlight that Wales is in a very
:12:13. > :12:15.fortunate position. We have two governments that can work for the
:12:16. > :12:19.benefit of our economy and cooperation between the UK
:12:20. > :12:21.Government and Welsh have meant following developers such as
:12:22. > :12:29.Holyhead is absolutely crucial for the way forward after Brexit. With
:12:30. > :12:34.permission, I will answer questions three, four, five and 11 together.
:12:35. > :12:40.To provide the greatest level of legal and administrative certainty
:12:41. > :12:43.upon leaving the European Union, the Government will replicate the
:12:44. > :12:47.current frameworks. In parallel, we will bring discussions with the
:12:48. > :12:50.devolved administrations to identify where common frameworks should be
:12:51. > :12:56.retained. We expect the outcome of this to be significant increase in
:12:57. > :13:00.the decision-making power of the devolved administrations. Accepting
:13:01. > :13:06.the minister's request to be positive, would he agree with me
:13:07. > :13:11.that the best way forward for Welsh farmers and Scottish farmers is for
:13:12. > :13:21.responsibility for financial subsidy arrangements to be transferred to
:13:22. > :13:24.the Welsh and Scottish assemblies? Naturally, the UK Government will
:13:25. > :13:28.continue to engage positively with the Scottish Government as well as
:13:29. > :13:32.the Welsh Government, but I'm sure the honourable member will agree
:13:33. > :13:37.that protecting the integrity of the UK market must be fundamental to
:13:38. > :13:41.that discussion. Because clearly Scottish farmers would sell more to
:13:42. > :13:47.the UK than they well elsewhere. Wales has consistently voted for the
:13:48. > :13:51.governance of their own country and to transfer responsibility away from
:13:52. > :13:54.Westminster and closer to the people in Wales. Come the Secretary of
:13:55. > :13:58.State give a concrete guarantee there will be no such attempts to
:13:59. > :14:04.undermine devolution relating to any of the devolved governments? I wish
:14:05. > :14:10.to highlight one of the achievements of this Parliament, is to pass the
:14:11. > :14:17.latest Government of Wales act 2017, which enhanced powers even further
:14:18. > :14:19.in a whole range of areas. That demonstrates our stance on
:14:20. > :14:27.devolution, which is to trust the people. Plaid Cymru and the SNP will
:14:28. > :14:31.defend against the Tory Government's plans... To use the Great Repeal
:14:32. > :14:36.Bill to undermine devolved Government might not passing on
:14:37. > :14:42.powers from Brussels. What guarantees can he make that Wales
:14:43. > :14:49.and Scotland are repatriated all powers in its devolved governments
:14:50. > :14:53.and that these are not absorbed by the Westminster machine? As powers
:14:54. > :14:58.are repatriated from the European Union, it is vital that we provide
:14:59. > :15:02.communities with as much certainty and security as possible. We need to
:15:03. > :15:06.protect the integrity of the UK market. We need to work with
:15:07. > :15:12.devolved administrations in order to construct common standards and
:15:13. > :15:23.common frameworks in order to support them. After a decade of Tory
:15:24. > :15:31.rule in Westminster... In section 4.2 of the Great Repeal Bill, about
:15:32. > :15:35.taking transport away from the people of Wales. Can he tell us what
:15:36. > :15:39.he is doing to ensure that the people of Wales and their interests
:15:40. > :15:43.are not forgotten? The Government will continue to engage with the
:15:44. > :15:46.Welsh Government but we will also continue to engage with
:15:47. > :15:50.stakeholders, and the stakeholders across agriculture, business,
:15:51. > :15:56.commerce, have all supported the Great Repeal Bill's stance, to
:15:57. > :15:58.replicate the powers on a temporary basis until we can come to
:15:59. > :16:04.agreements with devolved administrations on where those
:16:05. > :16:07.powers... My right honourable friend will be aware that the setting of
:16:08. > :16:11.business rates in Wales is now devolved. Would he share my concern
:16:12. > :16:17.is that small business rates relief scheme in Wales is less generous
:16:18. > :16:23.than that in England? He is absolutely right and I can well
:16:24. > :16:26.remember walking the high street in Prestatyn recently, where business
:16:27. > :16:33.rates was highlighted as a major concern to stomach the small shops
:16:34. > :16:37.on that high street. He is right but the Chancellor in the recent budget
:16:38. > :16:40.enhanced the Welsh settlement significantly as a result of
:16:41. > :16:46.supporting small business rates in England, and I would hope that the
:16:47. > :16:51.Welsh Government would support small businesses in Wales. I have been an
:16:52. > :17:01.MP for two years and I have seen two secretaries of state and five Shadow
:17:02. > :17:04.secretaries of states giving my country crumbs. When will he
:17:05. > :17:09.announce a Wales bill that brings power back to Wales? The honourable
:17:10. > :17:14.member will appreciate that we have said with the Great Repeal Bill
:17:15. > :17:17.White Paper that no decisions committee taken by the Welsh
:17:18. > :17:22.allotment will be taken from them. We expect repatriation of powers
:17:23. > :17:24.from the European union will extend the powers of the Welsh Government
:17:25. > :17:31.significantly, but of course there is a power to work through to
:17:32. > :17:35.provide the certainty and stability that industry needs. I thank the
:17:36. > :17:39.Labour MPs for all the support, particularly the Welsh Labour MPs.
:17:40. > :17:43.The Welsh Labour Government tells me that the joint ministerial committee
:17:44. > :17:46.is not listening or responding to the voices of the devolved
:17:47. > :17:52.administrations. It is not fit for purpose. Does the Secretary of State
:17:53. > :17:56.agree that they should be given statutory powers so the Great Repeal
:17:57. > :18:04.Bill will not in anyway rewrite devolution as setup in the recent
:18:05. > :18:11.Government of Wales act? I thank her for her time as shadow Secretary of
:18:12. > :18:17.State for Wales. I underlined the importance of the role of the joint
:18:18. > :18:21.ministerial committee. Clearly, there is an awful lot of discussion
:18:22. > :18:27.that takes place in the interests of the whole of the United Kingdom and
:18:28. > :18:32.we feel that there may well be the potential to develop further but a
:18:33. > :18:37.statute for this is not the answer. Thank you. The chapter in the Brexit
:18:38. > :18:40.White Paper on securing trade deals with other countries contained no
:18:41. > :18:44.mention of Wales whatsoever. What influence will be Secretary of State
:18:45. > :18:52.give the Welsh Government to do something about this so that Wales
:18:53. > :18:55.is not just an afterthought? He will recognise that the joint ministerial
:18:56. > :18:59.committees for Wales and the Welsh Government is being represented, but
:19:00. > :19:02.I have made it a determination to engage proactively with the
:19:03. > :19:06.stakeholders in Wales because they equally share a view that is not
:19:07. > :19:11.always consistent with that of the Welsh Government, so therefore, in
:19:12. > :19:21.the Great Repeal Bill White Paper, they have a direct input into that
:19:22. > :19:27.through my office. Number six. With permission, I will answer questions
:19:28. > :19:30.six and eight together. We are delivering a strategy that is truly
:19:31. > :19:34.UK wide and build on our strengths and proposals for the years ahead.
:19:35. > :19:40.It is important that the economy works for everyone, delivers
:19:41. > :19:46.well-paid skilled jobs and allows businesses to prosper and grow
:19:47. > :19:51.across the UK. That we are doing. I thank my honourable friend for that
:19:52. > :19:54.answer. The industrial strategy in the Cardiff city deal demonstrates
:19:55. > :20:03.the strong and stable Government that the people of sideways note --
:20:04. > :20:07.people of south Wales need. It is delivering sustainable jobs. Bye-bye
:20:08. > :20:12.honourable friend agree? I couldn't do anything other than agreed with
:20:13. > :20:24.my honourable friend, who is a fantastic champion for the city of
:20:25. > :20:27.Cardiff. It is a world-class resource where Wales leads the globe
:20:28. > :20:32.and we could do so much more with the support of the UK Government
:20:33. > :20:36.working with the Welsh Government. And the minister outlined what
:20:37. > :20:39.response he has had from businesses and organisations across Wales since
:20:40. > :20:44.the launch of the industrial strategy consultation? And how is he
:20:45. > :20:49.ensuring that Welsh interests are front and centre of this tragedy as
:20:50. > :20:53.he goes forward? I thank my right honourable friend for the question,
:20:54. > :20:56.and the response from stakeholders across Wales has been truly superb.
:20:57. > :21:00.The engagements that the Wales Office has has with businesses and
:21:01. > :21:04.industry across Wales has been second to non-. Their response to
:21:05. > :21:11.the industrial strategy is clear. They want is to support research and
:21:12. > :21:16.innovation. That is exactly the type of priorities we have in our
:21:17. > :21:21.industrial strategy. The medal for Cardiff North its right to be
:21:22. > :21:26.concerned about unequal treatment under his Government's industrial
:21:27. > :21:30.strategy for Wales, because there has been silence about Bridgend and
:21:31. > :21:36.forward compared with Nissan in the north-east. Can he at the dispatch
:21:37. > :21:42.box guaranteed that fought in South Wales can get extracted the same
:21:43. > :21:48.treatment -- guarantee that Ford cars in South Wales can get exactly
:21:49. > :21:52.the same treatment as Nissan? We are in regular discussions with Ford
:21:53. > :21:54.cars in Bridgend. The discussions are ongoing and constructive and
:21:55. > :22:00.involved the Welsh Government as well. Our commitment is that
:22:01. > :22:10.Bridgend remains a car producing area. The Welsh Labour Government
:22:11. > :22:16.has proven that lasting economic success only comes through continued
:22:17. > :22:19.investment in Welsh industry and infrastructure. Is there any chance
:22:20. > :22:28.of progress on the electrification of the great Western Railway to
:22:29. > :22:37.Swansea, the north Wales growth plan and an HS2 hub before Brexit? She is
:22:38. > :22:43.right that investment and infrastructure is crucial. That is
:22:44. > :22:49.why the Welsh have meant gets on with it. But in relation to the
:22:50. > :22:54.infrastructure, electric trains will be on their way to Swansea before
:22:55. > :22:56.the end of the year. The business we have accrued will be absolutely
:22:57. > :23:13.crucial to the developments in north Wales. Speak about Mr Stephen Crabb.
:23:14. > :23:15.Over the last seven years we have given new powers to the Welsh
:23:16. > :23:21.Government... CHEERING
:23:22. > :23:25.We have given new powers to the Welsh Labour Government and need
:23:26. > :23:28.money precisely to get on and improve transport in Wales. But we
:23:29. > :23:34.have seen near zero progress on the big projects like improving the M4
:23:35. > :23:37.around Newport. Who does he think is responsible for holding Wales back
:23:38. > :23:44.and watch with voters do about it on the 8th of June? -- what should
:23:45. > :23:47.voters do? The fiscal framework which has been agreed between the UK
:23:48. > :23:51.and Welsh Government has been described as a game changer. It
:23:52. > :23:56.means that Wales is no longer underfunded, unlike the 13 years
:23:57. > :24:03.when there was a Labour Government. People should look at those roads
:24:04. > :24:10.and should point the finger of blame at the Labour Government in Cardiff.
:24:11. > :24:15.He said there would be electric trains going to Swansea. It is not
:24:16. > :24:22.an electrified line. When will he electrified the line? The honourable
:24:23. > :24:27.gentleman should be aware that ?5 million has been put towards the
:24:28. > :24:31.city deal in Cardiff, which will be crucial for the electrification of
:24:32. > :24:36.those lines. We have also done work... I will say one thing. You
:24:37. > :24:49.are the party that electrified not a single mile of Railtrack in Wales in
:24:50. > :24:54.13 years. I have been in close discussions with Cabinet colleagues
:24:55. > :24:58.about our response to the Hendry Review, which we are considering.
:24:59. > :25:06.Any potential energy project that could deliver clean energy mix for
:25:07. > :25:13.the UK is whether of consideration. It must also deliver value for money
:25:14. > :25:19.for the taxpayer. The Henry report... Swansea has the second
:25:20. > :25:25.highest rise and fall of tide in the world. We should be harnessing it.
:25:26. > :25:28.Can we see this is part of the Conservative manifesto in this
:25:29. > :25:33.general election? He right in recognising the natural resources in
:25:34. > :25:36.Wales and had they can play a significant part in the energy mix
:25:37. > :25:39.to the whole of the UK. We would like to see this type of project
:25:40. > :25:46.succeed but it needs to be value for money for the taxpayer. Why is he so
:25:47. > :25:55.reluctant to embrace what is Wales' Northsea power in tidal energy,
:25:56. > :26:00.which is entirely predictable eternal and would provide a bonanza
:26:01. > :26:06.of jobs? The honourable member I hope will recognise it was this
:26:07. > :26:10.Government's early actions in 2015 to provide planning permission for
:26:11. > :26:13.the project he highlights, and we would like this type of project to
:26:14. > :26:17.succeed but it has to be value for money. But over and above
:26:18. > :26:21.everything, we need strong and stable leadership to provide the
:26:22. > :26:37.economic security to pay for any such project. Question number... 12.
:26:38. > :26:41.I defer my honourable member to the answer I gave earlier to the member
:26:42. > :26:52.for Cardiff North and North West Cambridgeshire. Does the minister
:26:53. > :26:59.agree with me that the importance of linking north Wales with the
:27:00. > :27:03.powerhouse is crucial? We have a great relationship with the Northern
:27:04. > :27:07.Powerhouse and a deal is essential for north Wales because the Northern
:27:08. > :27:16.Powerhouse needs north Wales and vice versa. We will ensure that that
:27:17. > :27:23.happens if we are re-elected. Would build no roads and no railways. --
:27:24. > :27:28.warm words build no roads and no railways. We have had enough of warm
:27:29. > :27:33.words from this Government. What we want is investment in north Wales.
:27:34. > :27:40.For the first time. Show us the money! I'm disappointed that promise
:27:41. > :27:44.from the honourable member who was at a meeting with me yesterday with
:27:45. > :27:48.the Transport Minister. He should highlight the huge investment in
:27:49. > :27:51.Wrexham which is creating jobs and has been seen as an example of how
:27:52. > :27:56.to do public sector investment in Wales and the UK. Order. Questions
:27:57. > :27:57.to the Prime