Wales Questions House of Commons

affairs and Brexit. Join me for a

round-up for the day in both Houses

of Parliament at 11pm tonight the

first questions for the Secretary of

State for Wales, Alun Cairns.

Growth corridors are an important

element of the industrial strategy

for Wales and we are responding to

local demand, building on the work

undertaken by great Western cities

and creating a great Western

powerhouse. We want to see the

skills and expertise of this

important region recognised across

the UK and internationally.

Does the Minister agree with me that

scrapping the tolls at the Severn

Crossing, a commitment made by this

Conservative Government, will prove

an economic catalyst for further

investment and significantly expand

the links between South Wales and

the south-west?

Minister.

I welcome those Severn tolls which

sent a powerful message to be clean

and this economic corridor to bring

investment for South Wales and save

the average motorist around £1400

per year.

Mr Speaker, my constituents want to

have access to work in the

south-west but it is claimed that

the demand for rail services will

grow and grow locally... But there

are still too few carriages open and

unreliable rail services. Will the

minister talk to great Western about

this?

Will have a consultation at the

moment and we help our constituents

will take part. It is important we

recognise investment in rail is

important so as a Government that is

why we are investing more as a

country band since the Victorian

era. And with the new trains, that

is an investment of over £5.7

billion. I hope she will welcome the

positive news.

Kevin Foster.

Thank you. South Wales is one of the

key market for Torbay's holiday

companies and industry. But we want

the Minister to look at improving

the direct rail link between Cardiff

and painting, raising issues with

Great Western about refreshments

because at the moment there are not

only by the whole journey.

I their wealth is a good place for

his constituents do have a

definition, too -- Wales. We must

make sure transport is as successful

as possible and we are in constant

discussions to improve services. In

terms of food, we will make that

point, I am sure.

Real economic growth projects in

that region, to deliver this

project, and can I ask the Minister

to get on with it and encourage the

Secretary of State to defend and

talk up for Wales in Cabinet?

I can assure the honourable

gentleman that my right honourable

friend is always standing for Wales

and Cabinet and does that

effectively. Terms of the tidal

lagoon, we're looking at this very

carefully to ensure that it is value

for money for the taxpayer as well.

Number two, Mr Speaker.

Thank you, Mr Speaker, and with your

permission I will answer questions,

two, seven and 11 together. I don't

think the Welsh Government

continuity bill is necessary and the

UK Government wants to reach

agreement with the Welsh Government

and the European Union with all bill

with the view of including national

assembly support for legislation.

Despite that answer, the Cabinet

Office on Friday and today less than

24 devolved things that the UK

Government will snatch back from

Wales and Scotland and that proves

the need for a continuity bill. Why

is he not defending his devolved

parliament and signing up for it

instead of allowing this power grab?

Mr Speaker, my relationship with the

vice minister of the Welsh

Government is a positive

relationship and we don't agree with

everything but we agree on the

objectives and that is to improve

businesses and communities in Wales.

In relation to Wales, there are 64

areas the devolution settlement, and

24 areas that we want to discuss

further with the Welsh Government to

come to an agreement of how best to

ensure that common rules apply

across the UK to ensure that Welsh

businesses are protected in order to

be able to market their produce

across the rest of the UK.

Earlier this week, the long-awaited

Government amendments to clause 11

were published, despite assurances

and policies, they were published

without the consent or support or

agreement of the devolved

administrations. Can I ask the

Minister, is it still the Government

policy to obtain the consent of the

devolved administrations, and if

further agreement is reached, will

he bring forward further amendments?

Well, Mr Speaker, the honourable

member is relating to amendments

tabled in relation to clause 11 in

the other place, and of course

commitments were made that

amendments would be tabled and that

is exactly what we have done. If we

have not tabled this amendments,

then we would have been criticised

for not having brought those

forward. As I have said in this

chamber and elsewhere, we are

determined to work with devolved

administrations to come to an

agreement, but it is the UK

Government which has the interests

of looking after the whole of the

UK. UK Government wants to act in

the interests of business and

communities to ensure a Scottish

business can sell or buy products in

Wales and same regulations that a

comment UK market would have.

One of the reason the Continuity

Bill has come forward is because

there is no agreement on this

blatant Westminster paragraph and

that has not stopped them pressing

ahead anyway, but can they agree no

deal could be agreed a new powers

unless there has been a joint

ministerial committee?

Help the agreements of the devolved

administrations will come as soon as

possible and I will not tie down to

one particular committee. But there

was a joint ministerial committee

last week another enjoyable thing. I

have been this position before work

was that would not get a consent

motion for the Wales Bill is that

progressed through Parliament by

only by constant hard work and

engagement and optimism, acting in

the interests of business and

communities, not on politicians,

that allowed this.

Can my right honourable friend

confirmed that not only is there not

a power grab, but there will be a

significant increase in powers to

the devolved administrations as

Britain leaves the European Union?

Mr Speaker, my honourable friend is

right and there is no intention of

any power grab out of the 64 areas

relating to Wales, and we have

already said that 30 would pass

without any need for any further

agreement or, at the very most, an

informal agreement between the UK

Government and the devolved

administrations. There are 24 areas

combined in the interests of

businesses in Wales and Scotland and

Northern Ireland and England to have

common practices so we can protect

the UK market. 80% of Welsh

agriculture is sold to the rest of

the UK.

Mr Speaker, does he recall that

Wales is a principality in the

United Kingdom as a nation and

worried to leave the European Union,

therefore, rather than looking back

continuity of the EU, we must be

focusing on how to strike the best

deal for Britain leaving the EU, to

be ready and they won prepared at

Dover?

-- prepared at Dover at the front

line on day one?

Wales voted to leave the EU and we

are obligated to act on that

instruction from the referendum but

we must also highlight that 80% of

output of goods from Wales coast of

the rest of the UK and Scotland

sells four times more to the rest of

the UK than to the rest of the

European Union. On that basis,

protecting the UK market must be a

priority. Acting in the interests of

business and communities is our

priority.

Are my right honourable friend

update the House on the advantages

do Wells of having a Common Market

across the whole of the United

Kingdom, -- can he?

My honourable friend is right

because much focuses as --

understandably and rightly placed on

selling and trading with the

European Union but the most

important market in Wales is the UK

market. Eight out of ten lorries are

output to Wales and the supply

chains are complex... Two weeks ago

we recognise the investment of

Toyota in Derbyshire and that has

major positive impact on Toyota

and...

Microphone?

I can't hear. I can't hear.

The consent... And in so doing this

Government has changed the

fundamental principle of the

devolution settlement against the

settled will of the people of Wales.

Mr Speaker, I don't recognise the

statements of the honourable member

being used there. The amendment that

has been tabled in the other place

is a significant amendment where it

recognises powers automatically fall

to devolved administrations but also

introduces the prospect of bringing

those essentially to protect the UK

Common Market, in the interest of

Welsh business. I have been

privileged to sit in front of panels

of industry representatives and we

are acting in the way they are

calling for rather than the interest

of politicians who are more

interested in powers.

Mr Speaker, I thank the Secretary of

State for his response, but the UK

Government has said that this

amendment merely creates a temporary

place for the 24 powers to be kept,

in a freezer, until new arrangements

are discussed. If this is a

temporary measure, why permanently

alter the Government of Wales act

2006?

Mr Speaker, protecting the UK market

is absolutely a priority for us and

the honourable lady will have people

in her constituency who want to sell

their products in England according

to common practices on food

labelling. That is an example of an

area policy we seek to get agreement

on. We will continue to work hard

with the devolved administrations in

order to get agreement, but it is

only the UK Government backtracked

on the interests of the whole of the

UK rather than some politicians in

other areas seeking to represent a

regional dimension only.

Last week the Secretary of State

published a list explicitly

outlining which powers Westminster

intends either to halt or to dole

out, as it sees fit. This week we

published a set of amendments,

without gaining the agreement of

either of the devolved nations.

Could he explain how this is

anything other than a power grab?

Mr Speaker, in the first instance, I

would say that list is still subject

to discussion, as it clearly states,

in terms of the headings under the

three various sections. I am also

pleased to say a devolved

administration, as in Scotland and

Wales, they have recognised we

wanted to publish that list and

supported the publication of the

list, not necessarily that they

recognise the three elements of the

list. This demonstrates the positive

way in which we are seeking to work

with a devolved administration, the

devolved administrations in order to

get agreement. Only the UK

Government can act in the interests

of the whole UK.

The Welsh continuity bill will pass

through its first stage of the

timetable, if it passes, debate over

the power grab will be forced out of

this chamber and into the courts.

Will be Secretary of State confirm

when beginning to tell passes

whether he intends to fight this in

the courts?

I do not think, as I

said earlier, but the continuity

bill is necessary. The Welsh amateur

said that do not want to --

Government were not wish to pursue

the continuity bill. I believe there

is enough goodwill to come to an

agreement. If we are focusing on the

needs of businesses and communities,

we will get to a positive outcome.

Politicians to focus on the

powers...

Thank you.

I want answers

question 35 together, the UK,'s rail

infrastructure is focused on

maximising the benefits to

passengers while delivering the best

value for taxpayers. The fleet of

modern trains running on the great

Western mainline to Swansea bring

significant time savings to and from

London and tangible benefits to

about a dozen times of speed,

comfort and reliability without the

need for costly programme of

electrification.

Instead into a lector like to

Swansea, more people will use that

cars. Following the removal of the

tolls on the Severn bridge, they

said no further modelling was

undertaken in terms of increasing

cars. Happy Minister's department

assessed the further gridlock?

I do not accept that not a lecture

finding lines to Swansea will not

bring benefits, it will. The train

journey times to London will reduce

that by 15 minutes. We have to

recognise because of gone up

significantly, benefit to cost ratio

was extremely low and even the

Public Accounts Committee

recommended that it was looked at

again.

Does the city of state agree with me

that his Government's broken

promises on rail electrification and

its unwillingness to provide funding

for rail enhancements will damage

the connectivity and therefore

hinder our opportunities for

economic growth and development?

I find it very hard to hear from of

the party opposite talking about

rail investment when in 13 years

they properly electrified ten miles

of line. We are bringing record

investment that is being seen all

over the country, particularly in

Wales, we are proud of our

achievements.

Is he aware of press reports

suggesting that the Welsh Labour

Government are now cancelling a al

education projects in the valleys?

They would get on with building the

M4 relief road.

It is this Government that has been

bringing in the investment in rail

infrastructure and he is right that

the rate that car door does need

some solving. -- Mforce. Frankly it

is time the washroom got on with it.

Can I urge my honourable friend to

look at the evidence the transport

select committee received on this

issue. We had that the new trains

will run to the same timetable if

they are operating under diesel

power or electric, it is no loss of

service by having these lines

electrified.

He is a great expert in transport

matters and he is absolutely right,

actually having the lines above the

train are not going to improve

performance. What passengers want is

being able to get to their

destination reliably and that is

what we are going to bring.

Yesterday the Labour Government

cancelled electrification, using

exactly the same as the Secretary of

State that travelling

electrification on the line to

Swansea. Is it the case that when it

comes to the Welsh railways, they

are being let down by the Government

at both ends of the M4?

I would not accept that. The fact is

that we are investing in railway and

let us not forget that some of the

investment but we made, maybe in

England will actually benefit

passengers in Wales. Helping north

Wales, north Wales passengers get to

Liverpool and the north-west.

Number format.

We are working with the unions added

devolved administrations to develop

a long-term viable solution. We are

deeply disappointed by the US

announcement are taking all possible

action to support the industry.

The still works in Corby is part of

steel supply chain that involves

sites in Wales, further to the

conversations that he has been

hammering in Wales, what

conversations with the having with

ministers how he can best support

the steel industry in the UK going

for?

Can I pay tribute to my honourable

friend for the work that he is doing

in supporting the steel industry. He

was absolutely forefront of the

debate two years ago when the steel

industry was facing a particular

crisis, it is through his influence

that we have introduced an entity

compensation scheme, flexibility

over EU emissions, 45 trade defence

measures, it is his influence that

is pretty strong in this debate.

If the aware of the factor when

President Bush introduced Deal

tariffs in 2002, a lead to 200,000

job losses in the US what steps are

being taken to ensure that American

politicians are pressing President

Bush to drop these are truly,

President Trump 's sorry, to drop

these terrorists.

We have said -- drop these

terrorists.

I spoke about the issue, the US

ambassador here in the UK are now

spoken to the UK Trade Commission

again in the US and just last

Friday. This is a cross Government

effort, someone is travelling to the

US as I speak to pursue the issue.

The Prime Minister has raised

directly with the president.

Number six.

I have regular constructive

discussions with the Welsh

government on EU exit and the EU

withdrawal bill and look forward to

continue these discussions this

afternoon at the joint committee,

chaired by my right honourable

friend the Prime Minister.

Agriculture and health farming in

particular are vital to Welsh

economy. What is he doing to ensure

the EU money going into rural

economy continues to do so after

Brexit? What discussions as he had

with his desperate colleagues? --

Defra.

He is right to highlight the

importance of the -- to the Welsh

economy. Committed to funding

agriculture to the similar scale

till 2022.

The US UK Trade & Investment working

group was set up in July of last

year. What representations has these

are clear statement about group

about the impact that President

Trump's tariffs would have on the

industry?

I mention to the honourable member

about the direct action by have

taken but I also referred to a whole

host of actions that were taken by

my right honourable friend, this is

such a priority for this team, a

cross Government action to support

the steel industry. My father was a

welder, I recognise the importance

of this industry.

The Welsh Labour Government in

Cardiff loves nothing more than a

long and fuzzy row with Westminster

over powers. Does you agree with me

that they would do much better to

work constructively and

pragmatically with ministers here to

make a success of Brexit, which is

after of what the people of Wales

waited for?

I am grateful my right honourable

friend is my predecessor, took some

positive steps to get a positive

relationship with the Welsh

government and laid the foundations

of the Wales Bill which is now the

wealth that. That is clarified the

devolution settlement that enables

constructive debate to take place

and I'm optimistic that over the EU

withdrawal bill that we can win if

we both focus on the outcome that we

need to focus on, the interests of

businesses and community 's.

I network steel who are close to

the... Does the Secretary of State

not think it is ironic that a time

when we need to be corporate and

more than ever, we are planning to

leave the European Union?

I also want to support the

steelworks but I remind the

honourable member that Wales waited

to leave the European Union and we

have an obligation to act on that

instruction. The honourable member

is right about the diversion and be

distorted to the market at the risk.

We are working closely with the

opinion in order to protect the

interests of Wales steals workers.

Members across this has recognised

the economic activity is not

hindered by the Borders. They

supported the Northern Powerhouse. I

was delighted to see that growth

corridors were formally recognising

the industrial strategy and will

continue to develop these for the

benefit of the 50% of the Welsh

people who live within 25 miles of

the border.

Wells greater access to my

constituency thanks to the M4. As

the considered building the M31, the

economic benefits will bring to

everyone I would agree, we recognise

the connectivity of them important,

cross-border connectivity.

The Department for Transport is

collecting evidence at the moment.

Attracting financial services to the

economy. Now the M4 toll bridges

coming down, as financial Wells

Powerhouse from Cardiff to Swansea?

Card already enjoys a centre of

excellence in finance, I think the

fact that the tolls are going on the

bridge will make that opportunity

even more available and we will do

everything we can to make sure that

it benefits in every way it can.

Can I tell my honourable friend that

I had a meeting with commercial

property people on Monday and they

were telling me that the

electrification of the realm line to

Swansea has having no effect

whatsoever on the investment, what

is the effect is the lowering of

tolls on the Severn crossing.

I think we should be talking up the

benefits of the investment that is

happening in our rail infrastructure

to bring about growth of cities like

Swansea, it is disappointing to hear

negative comments when really we

should be pushing the opportunities

that exist in the city.

There 7 million residents in

north-west England, 700,000 in north

Wales, priming and connecting these

two economies makes absolute sense.

The issue is finding, money. Welsh

government heavily committed

hundreds of millions of pounds to

these improvements, what new

additional funding has this

Government committed to date?

As the honourable gentleman knows,

we have given more money to the

Welsh assembly under the new

settlement but I completely

recognise that actually the

cross-border activity in north Wales

and the north-west of England is

incredibly important. That is

wireless pleased to meet with

representatives from the all-party

group the other day and we are

looking at some of the rail

investment that is needed,

particularly at the cow. -- fouls.

Question nine.

They cater investment in the Welsh

railway structure. So the benefit of

passengers, commuters and

businesses.

I am losing my voice. HS2... HS2

will cost £56 billion, 20,000 jobs

for £1 billion we could build 2.5

miles of HS2 or half the time is

between Cardiff and Swansea and have

an electrified Swansea Metro. Why is

the Welsh Secretary not objecting to

the billion pound cut from Network

Rail in our infrastructure and

investing in Wales instead?

He has done very well considering he

has lost his voice.

I would point out that HS2 of the UK

scheme provides the opportunity of

significant benefits to connectivity

to north Wales. He is relating a

Swansea Metro project which offers

interesting opportunities and I

happy to say that I am meeting the

architect of that in the coming

weeks.

Does my right honourable friend

agreed that the recently launched

Wells strategic rail 's prospectus

contains sensible proposals that

would significantly improve rail

connectivity in north Wales and they

should receive favourable

consideration by the Government?

I am grateful to my right honourable

friend for his hard work in this

area because connectivity on a

cross-border races is important and

demonstrate how integrated the

network is. There are significant

investment is taking place across

the north Wales network,