Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)
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Wednesday Volume 515 8 September 2010 No. 42 HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) Wednesday 8 September 2010 £5·00 © Parliamentary Copyright House of Commons 2010 This publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Parliamentary Click-Use Licence, available online through the Office of Public Sector Information website at www.opsi.gov.uk/click-use/ Enquiries to the Office of Public Sector Information, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 4DU; e-mail: [email protected] 303 8 SEPTEMBER 2010 304 Mr Peter Hain (Neath) (Lab): How can the Minister House of Commons and the Secretary of State possibly justify cutting proportionately three times as many Welsh MPs as Wednesday 8 September 2010 English MPs, creating monster constituencies in rural Wales and geographically impossible ones in Welsh valleys? Instead of ramming through those changes, The House met at half-past Eleven o’clock why will not the Government maintain the existing system of public inquiries that has protected local interests PRAYERS for generations? Mr Jones: I am surprised that the right hon. Gentleman [MR SPEAKER in the Chair] takes that view. I would have thought that he would be as anxious as Government Members to ensure that votes cast in general elections are fair and of equal Oral Answers to Questions value. As it stands, votes in certain parts of the country are worth significantly more than those in other parts. So far as constituency boundaries are concerned, I remind him that they will be determined by the impartial WALES and neutral Boundary Commission, with which I have already had discussions. The Secretary of State was asked— Mr Hain: But the Minister and the Secretary of State Parliamentary Constituencies have presided over rigging the situation in advance. Is the Secretary of State proud that by slashing the number 1. Jonathan Evans (Cardiff North) (Con): What of Welsh MPs by fully a quarter from 40 to 30, she is the discussions she has had with the Deputy Prime first Secretary of State for Wales in history to reduce Minister on the implementation in Wales of a Wales’s voice in Parliament? Why is she also the first reduction in the number of parliamentary Secretary of State to refuse a request for a meeting of constituencies; and if she will make a statement. the Welsh Grand Committee? Does she not understand [13132] the anger about that among Welsh MPs of all parties, including hers? We demand a meeting of the Welsh The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales Grand Committee so that our constituents can see what (Mr David Jones): My right hon. Friend the Secretary is being done to them. of State and I have had numerous discussions with the Deputy Prime Minister and the Parliamentary Secretary, Mr Jones: Again, the right hon. Gentleman is completely Cabinet Office, my hon. Friend the Member for Forest wrong. Our position, to which I would have thought he of Dean (Mr Harper), who is responsible for political would be signed up, is that votes across the country and constitutional reform, on matters affecting Wales should be of equal validity. The current position is that in the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies they are not. On holding a Grand Committee, I imagine Bill. and hope that he and the shadow Minister, the hon. Member for Caerphilly (Mr David), will be present at Jonathan Evans: Does my hon. Friend agree that the the meeting that we have convened this afternoon to put current electoral architecture in Wales, which grants the their concerns forward. Labour party 65% of the representation on barely 36% of the vote, can be described neither as democratic nor as S4C valuing votes from Wales equally? Mr Jones: My hon. Friend is entirely right. The 2. Hywel Williams (Arfon) (PC): What recent Government’s proposals for electoral reform are founded discussions she has had with Ministerial colleagues on on the principles of equality and fairness, and it is the review of the economic impact of S4C. [13133] clearly fair that votes cast at parliamentary elections throughout the United Kingdom should be of broadly The Secretary of State for Wales (Mrs Cheryl Gillan): equal value, including in Wales. I have had several discussions with my right hon. Friend Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd) (Lab): There are currently the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on approximately 170,000 people missing from the electoral the importance of S4C and Welsh broadcasting in register in Wales. On Monday, the hon. Gentleman’s general, and I will continue to do so to ensure that colleague the Deputy Prime Minister announced that Wales receives a broad range of programmes about and the Government are considering ways of putting those for the people of Wales. I have also had discussions with people back on the register. Will that happen before or the senior management at S4C. after the Boundary Commission’s freeze date in December? Hywel Williams: I thank the Secretary of State for Mr Jones: I have to say to the hon. Gentleman that her reply. Does she agree that given its programming for the Labour party did not address that matter when it children, its substantial forward spending on planned was in government. The vital consideration must be to programmes and the profound sociolinguistic effect ensure that all votes are fair and that all voters are fairly that it has, S4C is in no way just another television registered, and that will be the principle on which this channel that happens to be in Welsh? It is not a Welsh Government proceed. version of Dave TV, nice thought that is. 305 Oral Answers8 SEPTEMBER 2010 Oral Answers 306 Mrs Gillan: I agree with the hon. Gentleman. From ensure that when she next meets the Defence Secretary, what I have seen of S4C, it is a television station that she stands up for the RAF in Wales, and bases such as continues to meet the needs of Welsh speakers by RAF Valley, which has had substantial investment in providing programmes and services through the medium the past 10 years? They serve the economy locally, but of Welsh. It is fair to acknowledge that it is dealing with they will also serve our country well in future. some internal problems at the moment, but I have been impressed with the range of services that it provides, Mrs Gillan: The hon. Gentleman should know that I particularly to people who are learning Welsh. He may have deep affection for RAF Valley, having done my know that I visited the set of “Rownd a Rownd”, where armed services parliamentary fellowship scheme with I was extremely impressed by how we are bringing on the RAF. I was even privileged to sit in the back seat of young acting talent in Wales through that soap opera. I several fast jets, courtesy of some first-class pilots. The was impressed with the cast and the production team RAF has a special place in my heart, and I can certainly working on it. assure him that I will always speak up loudly for RAF Valley. Mr Mark Williams (Ceredigion) (LD): The Secretary of State will also be aware of the significance of the independent TV production sector and the importance Policing of its relationship with S4C. The sector was recognised in a Select Committee report in the previous Parliament 4. Jessica Morden (Newport East) (Lab): What recent as one in which Wales excels. Extensive cuts could discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for jeopardise that. Will she continue to make the robust the Home Department on policing in Wales. [13136] case to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport about the scale of the potential cuts? The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales (Mr David Jones): My right hon. Friend the Secretary Mrs Gillan: I will continue to do that on a regular of State and I have regular discussions with Cabinet basis. One thing that is so exciting about the Welsh and ministerial colleagues, and we regularly meet the economy is our huge potential in the creative industries. Association of Chief Police Officers Cymru, Police There is tremendous potential between the BBC and Authorities of Wales, the Welsh Local Government ITV, which is expanding its news coverage, and S4C, but Association and other interested parties to discuss matters our broadcasting industry must face the reality of the affecting policing and law and order in Wales. budget within which we must work, thanks to the previous Government’s mismanagement of the economy. However, I stress that the television industry is the place Jessica Morden: With Welsh police forces facing budget for independent companies to do business. cuts this year of more than £6 million, which is a real threat to front-line policing in constituencies such as Airbus A400M mine, will the Minister tell the House how much it will cost to elect and fund the proposed directly elected 3. Mark Tami (Alyn and Deeside) (Lab): What police commissioners in Wales? discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Defence on the A400M military transport aircraft and Mr Jones: The hon. Lady will know that we have had Airbus in Wales. [13134] to impose budget cuts to make a start on sorting out the appalling economic legacy that we inherited from the The Secretary of State for Wales (Mrs Cheryl Gillan): Labour party. Elected police commissioners will not I have already held discussions with my right hon. cost a penny more than the police authorities that they Friend the Defence Secretary on a number of military will replace, and they will add the considerable value of issues that affect Wales, and I have arranged to speak to ensuring that there is a democratic link between the him again during this two-week sitting of Parliament.