Wales Questions House of Commons

Order. Order. Questions to the Secretary of State for Wales, Mr

Steve Double. Questionable one, Mr Speaker. Secretary Alun Cairns. I am

keen to strengthen the relationship tween south Wales and the

south-west, after all Bristol is the most productive city in England

outside of London. Abolishing the Seve tolls will help to bolster the

joint economic prospects of South Wales and the South West of England.

I thank the Secretary of State for that answer but can I ask if he

would be a strong voice in Cabinet, not just for Wales, but for the

regions of our country, and, I don't know, perhaps especially places like

Cornwall, and if he were to make sure that the shared asperity fund

is distributed fairly and on the basis of genuine need? I am grateful

to my honourable friend for his question because his area, such as

large parts of Wales, benefit from what is currently EU structural

funds and the Shared Prosperity Fund offers great prospect of having a

much more streamlined approach to supporting some of the most needy

parts of the United Kingdom. I'm determined that the shared

perspective fund is a much more efficient delivery system with fair

distributional round the UK to serve his part as well as Wales,

obviously. What would have strengthened the links is

electrification of the railway between Cardiff and Swansea, which

the previous Tory Prime Minister described as vital. By scrapping

that, hasn't this Tory government once again let down Wales? Grateful

to the honourable member for his question but I am sure he would

recognise that advances in bimodal technology means that electrifying

between Cardiff and Swansea would not save passengers any journey

time. In fact, there would be significant journey disruption and

delay, adding costs to travellers and businesses alike without any

time-saving. And the advances in bimodal trains, mean we can take the

most modern fleet of trains further in West Wales than we would

otherwise with solely an electrified railway. The scrapping of the seven

tolls is a huge benefit. Will my right honourable friend agree with

me that it is of vast benefit the places like Wiltshire, where we have

places where I am grateful to my honourable

friend for his question. He has rightly recognised scrapping of the

Severn tolls is not only a significant boost to the South Wales

economy but also to the economy of the South West of England. He

welcomed it, along with the Chambers of commerce in south Wales with

business West, many others. It seems the only people who have not

welcomed the scrapping of the Severn tolls is the party opposite and the

Welsh government. Will he give a categorical equipment that --

commitment that all of those areas in Wales currently in receipt of

European structural funds will continue to be eligible in the

future? The UK Shared Prosperity Fund can do even more because we

will not have the same restrictions that the European Commission put on

the European structural funds. It hardly makes sense that some of the

most deprived parts of Wales are excluded from the European

structural fund's map as it stands because of European new rules. The

UK Shared Prosperity Fund allows us to introduce a much more efficient

and responsive scheme. Thank you, Mr Speaker. One project that could

provide significant economic opportunities on both sides of the

Bristol Channel is the provision of a regular ferry service between

Ilfracombe in my constituency and south Wales. It is being considered

by a commercial company. I wonder what support The Welsh Office could

give to that idea. I will happily meet my honourable friend to discuss

what prospects there are because he, like me, recognises the major

opportunities, economic opportunities that exist by binding

the regions together. Between the south-west of England and the South

Wales economy, we have one of the largest digital clusters. We have

one of the best cyber security clusters and the more we can do to

encourage economic growth, which will involve the sort of subjects I

have mentioned, as well as tourism that would benefit... Questionable

to, Mr Speaker. -- question number two. The UK Government is investing

significant sums in infrastructure, delivering improved journey times

the passengers on the latest trains. This will provide tangible benefits

to people and businesses in South Wales and boost access to jobs and

new opportunities. Has the Secretary of State specifically discussed with

his Cabinet colleagues funding for the reader element of Cardiff

Central station in my constituency? Well it be redeveloped, yes or no?

Grateful to the honourable lady for the question. Yes, I have discussed

with Cabinet colleagues the need for investment in new stations in Wales.

There is the prospect of a new stations and for further investment.

I have met with Cardiff Council to talk about it, I have spoken about

it to the Welsh government. I am keen to explore the opportunities

that exist there and also the opportunity to attract private

investment and therefore I have spoken to the privates developer

surrounding that side. Returning to the subject of electrification, it

is true that the bimodal trains are good but they are a second-best

solution. But look into the future for further rail infrastructure

investment in Wales, does my right honourable friend agree that there

are major questions to be asked of Network Rail was like ability to

deliver projects on time, and control their costs, and what more

could be done to create a more competitive but cost effective

environment for rail infrastructure environment investment in Wales? My

honourable friend makes an important point about the efficiency of -- the

efficiency of network whale -- Nirat wail. The Public Accounts Committee

reassessed the case for electrification, partly as a result

of the increased costs that have been delivered by Network Rail. But

I would also say, to improve rail access to West Wales and the

Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire, and other places in West Wales, we

have the opportunity to explore new opportunities of new stations that

could well deliver bimodal trains on a regular basis to parts of Wales

that don't access fast trains at the moment. Following a delegation I

lead in 2014. The then Prime Minister, David Cameron, alleged to

extend electrification to Swansea, saying it would have a huge economic

impact on developing employment in an area of neglect and

infrastructure, so will he stand up to the Prime Minister, and basically

deliver the promises of the previous Prime Minister, as a previous member

of Secretary of State did, and deliver the Thomases of

electrification we so urgently needs? I will not call the

honourable gentleman in a hurry if he is going to be so long winded. I

hope the honourable member will recognise the new most modern trains

will be available in Swansea and serviced in Swansea within a short

number of weeks. Swansea will benefit from the latest most modern

trains and will benefit from 15 minutes of safe journey time when

the project is completed. There will be no time-saving, in fact there

would be significant disruption to Swansea if we continued with the

electric only model he seems to be advocating. But is it not the case

that Swansea's connectivity will be improved by the new Kingsway

Project, which is creating a digital district Gretchen Mark and isn't it

a shame that members opposite don't recognise this important move?

Perhaps they don't know what a digital district is! My honourable

friend has great expertise in all things Welsh but particularly in

relation to digital project and the Kingsway Project he talked about.

The Swansea -based city deal is an exciting project that will

complement the private activity that is taking place, and that will

improve connectivity by digital means as well as the rail

connectivity and the new trains being operating very soon. Thank

you, Mr Speaker. I love the new haircut and the tie. LAUGHTER

You are great. Before the summer recess, the

Transport Secretary, his Cabinet colleague sneaked out news that the

UK Government would break its promise to electrify the mainline

from Cardiff to Swansea. People in Wales are now rightly asking whether

his government can even be trusted to deliver electrification as far as

Cardiff. Would the Secretary of State promise that this

electrification will go ahead, and not join the ever growing list of

broken promises his government has made to the people of Wales? Mr

Speaker, the honourable lady will be well aware that the work is

currently underway, in terms of electrifying the Cardiff. The

bimodal trains will be bringing the service times when the project is

complete it will be a major benefit, not only the Cardiff but also

Swansea as I have said. Also the major advantage of the bimodal

trains means that we can take the latest rolling stock further in West

Wales rather than the electric only project, which would have meant any

benefits would have stopped in Swansea. The agreement with the

Democratic Unionist Party about a living for the whole United Kingdom

so we can get on with our plan to get the best Brexit deal for our

country and create an economy that works everybody. It is part of the

government's and to support growth across all parts of the UK the city

deals in Wales and the introduction of Barnett floor tooth to provide

Welsh government with a fair level of funding for the long-term.

Given that deal, did the Secretary of State actually demand and

increase for Wales and the Barnum formula? The Secretary of State and

myself have been successful in achieving city deals for Cardiff and

Swansea and we are working towards a North Wales growth deal as well.

That funding from Westminster was not subject to any consequential is.

Does my right honourable friend agree that last years fiscal

framework agreement secures long-term needs -based funding for

Welsh government and that this can act as an enabler for improved

public services across Wales? I find -- I thank ever the question, she is

right, this government has delivered a fiscal framework for Wales that

was called for 13 years when the party opposite did nothing. The

fiscal framework gives certainty of funding for Wales and the people of

Wales and will be beneficial to the benefit of Welsh economy. The

Secretary of State and the minister have been having problems with their

party in Wales and does he agree with the leader of the Conservative

party in Wales but any... When is the Secretary of State and the

minister going to do their job and followed the line of their leader in

Wales in securing additional funding? Leader of the Assembly

group has the right was in position that the situation is clear, the

commitments of this government Wales is unprecedented. We have delivered

the fiscal framework when the party opposite did nothing, city deals the

Cardiff and Swansea and great deal of the North Wales. The track deal

is of additional funding. The UK government will contribute ?150

million over two years towards improvement of broadband in Northern

Ireland, off the bottom and ten constituencies for download speeds

are in Wales. What discussions has had with Cabinet colleagues to

improve broadband in Wales? I welcome the question and I welcome

him to his place was to the situation is clear, constituencies

like Cowan-Dickie and Anne Conway have been lagging behind. But he

will be very aware that broadband roll-out is the responsibility of

the Welsh government is interesting to note the Labour constituency will

prioritise over Kerry dig in. A magical monetary celebrated by the

Tories during the general election has been found planted and

flourishing in Northern Ireland. Meanwhile, Wales withers under Tory

austerity. Mr Speaker, some Tories have taken a principled stand on the

issue of barrel bombs to Northern Ireland, the Tory leader in Wales

said any potential incentives considered for one nation must also

be considered for Wales for Mr Speaker, when is the Secretary of

State for Wales going to do his job and stand up for Wales? I welcome

him to his new position on the front bench. I think I will repeat the

comment over Jamaica, for 13 years from 1997 the honourable member was

a backbencher when there was a Labour government in this place, the

Labour government did not deliver any changes to the formula, did not

deliver fiscal framework for Wales, this government is delivering for

Wales and will deliver in North Wales which will be beneficial to

the constituents of the honourable member. The Wales office has a close

discussions with ministerial colleagues following the publication

of the review. The lagoon at Swansea is an exciting project but it is

vitally delivers value for money. It is nine months since the Henry

review strongly endorsed the tidal lagoon at Swansea. It is the

second-highest rise and fall in the tide in the world, it would unlock

power for generations but only on the Welsh side but on the other side

of the Bristol Channel, when our ministers going to a decision? I

thank him for his question and he is a champion for this new technology

however it has to be stated that whilst the Henry review was

supportive of the concept of a tidal lagoon in Swansea, there were no

financial issues are dealt with in that report. It is necessary we make

a decision which is right not just in terms of the concept of a tidal

lagoon in Swansea but that decision has to be looked at in relation to

the energy price consumer will pay and the taxpayer. Too many noisy

private conversations taking place in the Chamber. As has been

indicated, the Henry review was set by the Conservative party, the

framework to finance these big project was set up by the

Conservatives, it is time now to deliver. It is time to stop talking

and start delivering for Wales and I urge the office to stand up for

Wales on this project and deliver for Wales. I thank him for his

question and he is a champion of energy projects across Wales and in

his own constituency of Anglesey but he understands in the same way I do

but these decisions is the right in relation to the cost to taxpayers

and the energy consumer. We will ensure the decision were made takes

all issues into account and makes the right decision for the energy

consumer and for the people of Wales. With the minister make

renewable energy in Wales a priority set a complex full part in

delivering important goals on energy security and tackling climate

change? I thank her for her question. The development of energy

policy in Wales is about energy security and securing our energy

supply for the future which is why we and my colleagues in the Welsh

office are involved in projects like the new power station Anglesey and

small modular reactions for part of Wales and looking at the tidal

lagoon in Swansea. Wales has once in a generation opportunity to become

the world leader in tidal lagoons, the Swansea Bay tidal lagoon alone

will generate 2000 jobs and contribute 300 million to Welsh

economy. Welsh Labour MPs, the Welsh Labour government, many public faces

and campaigners have declared they love the lagoon. So why is this

government refusing to publish its response to the Henry review and in

so doing putting this project at risk? At a risk of repeating myself,

she highlights the fact there is support for this concept in Wales

and the race. But she also needs to be honest but the fact the Labour

government in Wales and Labour Assembly members have also

highlighted the danger of high energy prices to the steel industry.

We need to make a decision which is right for industry in Wales, for the

Swansea Bay tidal lagoon but on a calculator bases looking at the

facts which is what we will do. Question five, Mr Speaker. This

government is committed to supporting renewable energy to more

secure energy. In March we gave consent for a storage project which

we supported other renewable technologies like capturing Access

energy from solar or wind. It is a great example of the essential role

Wales plays in the UK energy supply. I thank the minister for that answer

but following on from questions from the honourable member for Tiverton

and Hamilton, and from my honourable friend the issue of the tidal lagoon

does need a response from the government. It is eight months since

the review, can the minister Saint now when the government will publish

its response because there is a real risk the investors that are needed

to fund this project will walk away and a decision is made very soon by

this government. I thank for question. In previous parliament she

was a front bench spokesman for the Treasury, she will be aware of the

fact we need to analyse from a cost perspective the benefits and the

costs of the tidal lagoon. The decision decision will be made in

due course by the relevant ministers. On the issue of the tidal

lagoon there is great support from my constituency where energy would

manufacture the turbines, is the minister concerned the lead we have

in this sector may be lost if we do not make a swift decision? I thank

him for the question, having read the review I am aware of the

potential benefits to industry from the technology question which is why

the giving such serious consideration to the report produced

Charles Henry. Community hydro schemes throughout Wales have faced

increases of up to 900% in the business rates. In Scotland there

was 100% relief in England there is a cap but Labour ministers in Wales

are sitting on the hands. I'm told the basic problem is made in London.

Will the minister meet representatives of the sector to

find a quick solution? I thank him for his question, his constituency

has a number of hydro projects and other more than delighted to meet

with the honourable member to discuss what these problems lie. My

understanding is the problem is lying Cardiff with a Labour

government but am happy to meet with him to make sure we deal with this

problem. I have regular discussions with my right honourable friend the

Secretary of State for exiting the European Union on how all aspects of

exit from the EU will affect Wales. The European Union withdrawal bill

will maximise certainty to individuals and businesses across

Wales and across the rest of the UK. 15 months after the referendum

result, progress on Brexit is still too slow. Two thirds of Welsh

exports go to the European Union, thousands of Welsh jobs depend on

this trade. So what is the Secretary of State doing as I Welsh economy is

in wrecked by a cliff edge Brexit that would damage these vital ties?

The honourable member will be well aware that the EU withdrawal bill is

about to be debated tomorrow and I hope the honourable member will

support that bill because of the certainty and security provides

intensive closing loopholes and ensuring we have appropriate

frameworks implies. Those present the issues of the cliff edge talks

about. Since the referendum result, we have seen record inward

investment in Wales, record amounts of employment and a proposal to

scrap the Severn Bridge tolls, doesn't this show under Conservative

policy the future for Wales is very good indeed? I am grateful to my

honourable friend for his question. He not only is a passionate

campaigner for the UK and for Wales but is also a compassionate campaign

of the benefits of leaving the European Union. We want to see a

stronger fairer more united outward looking union and all parts of this

house have a part to play. 100 years ago the black chair was posthumously

awarded at the Birkenhead said Ford. I would like to congratulate the

poets nephew and also for safeguarding the family. This month

also celebrate the referendum 20 years ago that pro-devolution to

Wales. The withdrawal bill is a barefaced Westminster bids to take

back control against the will of the people of Wales. Can the minister

tell this house what his government will do when Wales denied consent to

the bill later this year, would in the political folly press ahead? If

colleagues who show sensitivity to time that would be appreciated. I

underline many of the points she has made in relation to the former home

being open today. She will recognise the withdrawal is about creating the

smoothest form of exit we can possibly deliver. And where the

first Secretary of State that the first minister earlier this week, we

are keen to deepen our engagement further, we won the worst government

to respond so can come up with a sort of frameworks that will work

every part the UK. You mentioned more powers to Wales but is the

better it not undermined by the government record broken promises,

tidal lagoon, no decision, as was the funding, slashed, well alleged

navigation cancelled. Willis the powers Wales can look forward to and

one we will hear about what they are. I'm disappointed by the tone of

her question. Earlier this year we passed the Wales act, last December

we agreed a new fiscal framework which gives a very fair settlement

to Wales and we are trying to work with the worst government in the

close possible to deliver an exit from the European Union that will

work for every part of the UK and Wales is my interest in that. I'm

sure that the Secretary of State for Wales knows the Welsh economy could

be damaged by careless talk on Brexit. And the public narrative

that is coming from the worst government is often alarmist and

could even scupper future foreign investment from overseas. What can

the Secretary of State do to reassure potential foreign investors

that Wales is open for business and remains a first-class destination

for foreign investment? Well, she is absolutely right and I would say to

is shown that many of the members opposite is failed to recognise the

opportunity leaving the European Union brings about. When my right

honourable friend the Prime minister was in Japan last week, she

announced a deal in relation to Aston Martin which is yet another

significant trade arrangement with Japan on the back of Nissan and

Toyota and the Vale of Glamorgan and the Midlands will benefit further

from but Aston Martin deal. As we return from the summer recess,

I'm shower thoughts of the House will be the Vic tempts of the

Barcelona terror attack. Mr Speaker, awant to reassure the house the UK

has ensured assistance in the form of military and humanitarian

resources are in