Wales Questions House of Commons

the Secretary of State for Wales, Alun Cairns. Order. Order. On

today's order paper, it is noted that on 20th may 1917, Major

Ballantyne Fleming C Squadron, the Queens own Oxfordshire has ours was

killed in action in France. On seven to June 1917, Major Willie Redmond,

6th Battalion Royal Irish Regiment, member for clear East, died of

wounds received during the Battle -- in a battle in Belgium. We remember

them today. Order. Questions to the Secretary of State for Wales.

Secretary Alun Cairns. Thank you. On this last Welsh questions before the

general election, can I pay particular tribute to two Welsh

stars at the weekend. Josh Griffiths, a Swansea Harriers

runner, the first Briton to cross the finish line at the London

Marathon, but particularly to Matthew Rees, who helped a fellow

runner over the closing stages of the London Marathon. The Prime

Minister has made clear that we will work to secure benefits to all parts

of the United Kingdom. Wales is a dynamic, vibrant, innovative country

and is prepared to make a success of the opportunities ahead. Brexit may

have a very negative impact on jobs in Wales. So the proposal to build a

category C prison in my constituency is welcome in principle, but it is

difficult to understand why the Baglan energy Park has been selected

as a site for that prison, and it is more difficult to understand why the

prisons minister has not had the courtesy to reply to my letter of

the 23rd of March. Will he please encourage his friend the prison

minister to check his letters, and will he also guaranteed that the

community will be fully consulted? He is absolutely right, there are

record employment data in Wales, record low levels of unemployment in

Wales, so although the prison will be a further boost to the honourable

member's constituency. The site was selected in support of the Welsh

government after consultation. Wales has a number of technological

hotspots around Cardiff and elsewhere. Does he not think they

will benefit after Brexit from bilateral trade deals that will be

-- we will be able to make with the United States, Canada, and the

European Union? He shows a great interest in Wales and knows a lot

about the Welsh economy. But he talks about how high-tech sectors,

and we have seen some dynamics. The Secretary of State for defence and I

were there a few weeks ago, on the day we handed over a hand to Aston

Martin. These are providing new opportunities. Welsh manufacturers

and farmers will lose the solid protections offered by the block.

Why does he not come clean today and admit it is the intention of the

Tories to sell those producers down the river? The honourable member

will recognise that exports from Wales have grown over the last year.

They have grown significantly by 6.2%, something that we welcome. He

will also recognise the data of record levels of employment and low

levels of unemployment. People recognise we want the clearest open

trading arrangements we can in support of Welsh producers. Can he

confirmed that rural areas of Wales will be placed front and centre in a

post Brexit Britain? Can I pay tribute to the work my honourable

friend does in relation to supporting the rural economy in his

constituency in particular. We maintain a close relationship with

farming unions in Wales, most of the meetings take place in his

constituency and that demonstrates the active relationship we have with

key stakeholders and the Welsh government. How did he respond to

the farming unions request for a full assessment on the impact of

Welsh agriculture should we be in the possession of falling back on

World Trade Organisation tariffs? 40% tariffs will destroy Welsh

agriculture. I am disappointed with the approach he is taking. He is

assuming the worst case scenario. We're having this general election

to have strong and stable leadership in the challenging negotiations

ahead. There are 27 EU nations that will be challenging everything as we

negotiate to leave the European Union. Strong and stable leadership

is needed more than ever. If the honourable gentleman is so keen on

listening to Welsh farmers, can he tell us why the government are

refusing to agree with the farmers union in Wales, why will these

powers of agriculture not be devolved to the Welsh government? I

am sure she will recognise we engage closely with the NFU before the

drafting of the Great Repeal Bill White Paper. The DEFRA Secretary of

State also met the farming unions to consider how best placed ER. The

absolutely supportive in the position we have taken up the White

Paper. The Prime Minister has said she is prepared to walk away from

the negotiating table without a trade deal with the EU. The Foreign

Secretary said no deal would be no problem, and yet no deal has

incurred tariffs up 30 to 40% in deviant meat producers, and 10% on

car manufacturers. Isn't it the case this Tory Government is prepared to

play fast and loose with the Welsh government, putting livelihoods at

risk. -- the Welsh agriculture industry. We want the strongest most

open agreement, and it seems that the real investors are taking us on

our ambition. We have seen a major investment from title to and Nissan,

and with Aston Martin. That demonstrates their confidence in our

vision as we leave the European Union. I will answer question two,

seven and ten together. Wales remains the same outward looking

global country we have always been. Aston Martin has chosen to invest in

Wales as a result of the great work done by the Department of

International trade and the Welsh government. Wales continues to be a

great investment destination. Welsh food and drink exports to the

European Union will face eye watering tariffs upon leaving the

single market. Will he guarantee that as part of the WTO deal, the

home market will not be flooded with food imports such as Australian

meets? Here's peddling scare stories. When it comes to Lamb, New

Zealand currently does not even meet its quota to the European Union.

Only 70% of the New Zealand Coulthard is currently maintained.

He should have some confidence in Welsh agriculture produce good

rather than speaking down about the prospects of the economy. I would

have more confidence if he answered the question. On Monday I visited

one of the largest and most successful high-tech businesses in

Wales. They told me that post Brexit, they are hoping against hope

to be able to export to the European partners as at present, without all

the red tape and expense of being outside the customs union. Why is

this hard Brexit government determined to make life more

difficult for key exporters? Again he is highlighting the negativity

surrounding this issue, but it is one that I do not recognise. It is

also not recognised by businesses in Wales, and negativity not

highlighted by businesses in Wales. They are looking to global future,

and we will secure the greatest possible access to the European

market, and will also look into global trade deals ensuring Wales is

part of global growth as well as maintaining a European market. Wales

has huge potential in terms of export and trading opportunities and

the Department of International trade is an important tool for those

companies in Wales looking to expand overseas. How was the Minister

ensuring that Wales are central to the work of that department and his

department? The Department didn't and traders crucial component of the

ways in which we can support Welsh businesses, and the Wales Office is

working very closely with the Department. We had an exports

conference in Cardiff on the 6th of March, which was extremely well

attended, where the opportunities available to Welsh businesses in the

European Union and globally were highlighted, and that meeting was a

huge success. My honourable friend will agree, I am sure, but there is

much common ground between Cornwall and Wales, with the opportunities

that the export of goods, high-quality goods, and services

across the globe are presented by Brexit. What advice can he share

with businesses across my constituency as we begin the

negotiations to leave the European Union? Thanks for the question. She

is correct, there is a lot in common between Wales and Cornwall, not

least the language. Businesses in Cornwall should do the same as

businesses in Wales, they should engage with the Department for rent

at the trade, look at the opportunity to launch aid missions,

identify new markets. There are opportunities they are and we need

to exploit them. They rely on British employees

moving and working across Europe when we leave Europe. The guarantee

we can offer to anyone who wants to work across Europe is that this

Government will listen to them and act on their behalf. We have no

interest in doing anything other than fully supporting companies such

as Airbus which is such a key component of the economy of north

Wales. We need to have proper infrastructure. Will the minister

congratulate the Welsh Government for putting in additional funds,

will he work with them to ensure that places remain the heart of the

British Isles because of their close proximity to Ireland and the rest of

Europe? He is right. The Secretary of State visited Holyhead with the

honourable gentleman and he is right to highlight that Wales is in a very

fortunate position. We have two governments that can work for the

benefit of our economy and cooperation between the UK

Government and Welsh have meant following developers such as

Holyhead is absolutely crucial for the way forward after Brexit. With

permission, I will answer questions three, four, five and 11 together.

To provide the greatest level of legal and administrative certainty

upon leaving the European Union, the Government will replicate the

current frameworks. In parallel, we will bring discussions with the

devolved administrations to identify where common frameworks should be

retained. We expect the outcome of this to be significant increase in

the decision-making power of the devolved administrations. Accepting

the minister's request to be positive, would he agree with me

that the best way forward for Welsh farmers and Scottish farmers is for

responsibility for financial subsidy arrangements to be transferred to

the Welsh and Scottish assemblies? Naturally, the UK Government will

continue to engage positively with the Scottish Government as well as

the Welsh Government, but I'm sure the honourable member will agree

that protecting the integrity of the UK market must be fundamental to

that discussion. Because clearly Scottish farmers would sell more to

the UK than they well elsewhere. Wales has consistently voted for the

governance of their own country and to transfer responsibility away from

Westminster and closer to the people in Wales. Come the Secretary of

State give a concrete guarantee there will be no such attempts to

undermine devolution relating to any of the devolved governments? I wish

to highlight one of the achievements of this Parliament, is to pass the

latest Government of Wales act 2017, which enhanced powers even further

in a whole range of areas. That demonstrates our stance on

devolution, which is to trust the people. Plaid Cymru and the SNP will

defend against the Tory Government's plans... To use the Great Repeal

Bill to undermine devolved Government might not passing on

powers from Brussels. What guarantees can he make that Wales

and Scotland are repatriated all powers in its devolved governments

and that these are not absorbed by the Westminster machine? As powers

are repatriated from the European Union, it is vital that we provide

communities with as much certainty and security as possible. We need to

protect the integrity of the UK market. We need to work with

devolved administrations in order to construct common standards and

common frameworks in order to support them. After a decade of Tory

rule in Westminster... In section 4.2 of the Great Repeal Bill, about

taking transport away from the people of Wales. Can he tell us what

he is doing to ensure that the people of Wales and their interests

are not forgotten? The Government will continue to engage with the

Welsh Government but we will also continue to engage with

stakeholders, and the stakeholders across agriculture, business,

commerce, have all supported the Great Repeal Bill's stance, to

replicate the powers on a temporary basis until we can come to

agreements with devolved administrations on where those

powers... My right honourable friend will be aware that the setting of

business rates in Wales is now devolved. Would he share my concern

is that small business rates relief scheme in Wales is less generous

than that in England? He is absolutely right and I can well

remember walking the high street in Prestatyn recently, where business

rates was highlighted as a major concern to stomach the small shops

on that high street. He is right but the Chancellor in the recent budget

enhanced the Welsh settlement significantly as a result of

supporting small business rates in England, and I would hope that the

Welsh Government would support small businesses in Wales. I have been an

MP for two years and I have seen two secretaries of state and five Shadow

secretaries of states giving my country crumbs. When will he

announce a Wales bill that brings power back to Wales? The honourable

member will appreciate that we have said with the Great Repeal Bill

White Paper that no decisions committee taken by the Welsh

allotment will be taken from them. We expect repatriation of powers

from the European union will extend the powers of the Welsh Government

significantly, but of course there is a power to work through to

provide the certainty and stability that industry needs. I thank the

Labour MPs for all the support, particularly the Welsh Labour MPs.

The Welsh Labour Government tells me that the joint ministerial committee

is not listening or responding to the voices of the devolved

administrations. It is not fit for purpose. Does the Secretary of State

agree that they should be given statutory powers so the Great Repeal

Bill will not in anyway rewrite devolution as setup in the recent

Government of Wales act? I thank her for her time as shadow Secretary of

State for Wales. I underlined the importance of the role of the joint

ministerial committee. Clearly, there is an awful lot of discussion

that takes place in the interests of the whole of the United Kingdom and

we feel that there may well be the potential to develop further but a

statute for this is not the answer. Thank you. The chapter in the Brexit

White Paper on securing trade deals with other countries contained no

mention of Wales whatsoever. What influence will be Secretary of State

give the Welsh Government to do something about this so that Wales

is not just an afterthought? He will recognise that the joint ministerial

committees for Wales and the Welsh Government is being represented, but

I have made it a determination to engage proactively with the

stakeholders in Wales because they equally share a view that is not

always consistent with that of the Welsh Government, so therefore, in

the Great Repeal Bill White Paper, they have a direct input into that

through my office. Number six. With permission, I will answer questions

six and eight together. We are delivering a strategy that is truly

UK wide and build on our strengths and proposals for the years ahead.

It is important that the economy works for everyone, delivers

well-paid skilled jobs and allows businesses to prosper and grow

across the UK. That we are doing. I thank my honourable friend for that

answer. The industrial strategy in the Cardiff city deal demonstrates

the strong and stable Government that the people of sideways note --

people of south Wales need. It is delivering sustainable jobs. Bye-bye

honourable friend agree? I couldn't do anything other than agreed with

my honourable friend, who is a fantastic champion for the city of

Cardiff. It is a world-class resource where Wales leads the globe

and we could do so much more with the support of the UK Government

working with the Welsh Government. And the minister outlined what

response he has had from businesses and organisations across Wales since

the launch of the industrial strategy consultation? And how is he

ensuring that Welsh interests are front and centre of this tragedy as

he goes forward? I thank my right honourable friend for the question,

and the response from stakeholders across Wales has been truly superb.

The engagements that the Wales Office has has with businesses and

industry across Wales has been second to non-. Their response to

the industrial strategy is clear. They want is to support research and

innovation. That is exactly the type of priorities we have in our

industrial strategy. The medal for Cardiff North its right to be

concerned about unequal treatment under his Government's industrial

strategy for Wales, because there has been silence about Bridgend and

forward compared with Nissan in the north-east. Can he at the dispatch

box guaranteed that fought in South Wales can get extracted the same

treatment -- guarantee that Ford cars in South Wales can get exactly

the same treatment as Nissan? We are in regular discussions with Ford

cars in Bridgend. The discussions are ongoing and constructive and

involved the Welsh Government as well. Our commitment is that

Bridgend remains a car producing area. The Welsh Labour Government

has proven that lasting economic success only comes through continued

investment in Welsh industry and infrastructure. Is there any chance

of progress on the electrification of the great Western Railway to

Swansea, the north Wales growth plan and an HS2 hub before Brexit? She is

right that investment and infrastructure is crucial. That is

why the Welsh have meant gets on with it. But in relation to the

infrastructure, electric trains will be on their way to Swansea before

the end of the year. The business we have accrued will be absolutely

crucial to the developments in north Wales. Speak about Mr Stephen Crabb.

Over the last seven years we have given new powers to the Welsh

Government... CHEERING

We have given new powers to the Welsh Labour Government and need

money precisely to get on and improve transport in Wales. But we

have seen near zero progress on the big projects like improving the M4

around Newport. Who does he think is responsible for holding Wales back

and watch with voters do about it on the 8th of June? -- what should

voters do? The fiscal framework which has been agreed between the UK

and Welsh Government has been described as a game changer. It

means that Wales is no longer underfunded, unlike the 13 years

when there was a Labour Government. People should look at those roads

and should point the finger of blame at the Labour Government in Cardiff.

He said there would be electric trains going to Swansea. It is not

an electrified line. When will he electrified the line? The honourable

gentleman should be aware that ?5 million has been put towards the

city deal in Cardiff, which will be crucial for the electrification of

those lines. We have also done work... I will say one thing. You

are the party that electrified not a single mile of Railtrack in Wales in

13 years. I have been in close discussions with Cabinet colleagues

about our response to the Hendry Review, which we are considering.

Any potential energy project that could deliver clean energy mix for

the UK is whether of consideration. It must also deliver value for money

for the taxpayer. The Henry report... Swansea has the second

highest rise and fall of tide in the world. We should be harnessing it.

Can we see this is part of the Conservative manifesto in this

general election? He right in recognising the natural resources in

Wales and had they can play a significant part in the energy mix

to the whole of the UK. We would like to see this type of project

succeed but it needs to be value for money for the taxpayer. Why is he so

reluctant to embrace what is Wales' Northsea power in tidal energy,

which is entirely predictable eternal and would provide a bonanza

of jobs? The honourable member I hope will recognise it was this

Government's early actions in 2015 to provide planning permission for

the project he highlights, and we would like this type of project to

succeed but it has to be value for money. But over and above

everything, we need strong and stable leadership to provide the

economic security to pay for any such project. Question number... 12.

I defer my honourable member to the answer I gave earlier to the member

for Cardiff North and North West Cambridgeshire. Does the minister

agree with me that the importance of linking north Wales with the

powerhouse is crucial? We have a great relationship with the Northern

Powerhouse and a deal is essential for north Wales because the Northern

Powerhouse needs north Wales and vice versa. We will ensure that that

happens if we are re-elected. Would build no roads and no railways. --

warm words build no roads and no railways. We have had enough of warm

words from this Government. What we want is investment in north Wales.

For the first time. Show us the money! I'm disappointed that promise

from the honourable member who was at a meeting with me yesterday with

the Transport Minister. He should highlight the huge investment in

Wrexham which is creating jobs and has been seen as an example of how

to do public sector investment in Wales and the UK. Order. Questions

to the Prime