Whole Day Download the Hansard
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Wednesday Volume 608 13 April 2016 No. 142 HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) Wednesday 13 April 2016 © Parliamentary Copyright House of Commons 2016 This publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Open Parliament licence, which is published at www.parliament.uk/site-information/copyright/. 333 13 APRIL 2016 334 Alun Cairns: As the right hon. Gentleman knows, the House of Commons new cross-border taskforce is making a bid for control period 6 funding from the Department for Transport with the aim of improving links with north Wales. Wednesday 13 April 2016 Franchise negotiations are taking place between the Welsh and United Kingdom Governments, and we are The House met at half-past Eleven o’clock determined to ensure that Members are represented properly in those negotiations. PRAYERS Mr David Jones (Clwyd West) (Con): I, too, welcome my right hon. Friend to his position. As he said, the Budget contained excellent news for north Wales in the [MR SPEAKER in the Chair] form of the growth deal announcement, which recognises the region’s close association with the north-west of England, but does he agree that maximising the benefit will require at least an element of political devolution to Oral Answers to Questions north Wales? Alun Cairns: My right hon. Friend speaks with authority and knowledge of this issue. Devolution to north Wales WALES from what is seen in many quarters as the remoteness of Cardiff Bay is essential. The community groups whom I met in north Wales, whether they were from the north-west, The Secretary of State was asked— from the border or from the English side of the boundary, wanted the growth deal to work on a cross-border basis, Economy and I am determined to explore that possibility in the interests of the region. 1. Julian Sturdy (York Outer) (Con): What assessment he has made of the effectiveness of steps taken to Jonathan Edwards (Carmarthen East and Dinefwr) (PC): One of the most effective ways of rebalancing the rebalance the economy in Wales. [904360] economy is to empower the Welsh Government by The Secretary of State for Wales (Alun Cairns): As giving them the necessary job creation levers, which is the economy continues to grow, this one nation Government why I welcome moves to increase fiscal empowerment are ambitious for every part of the UK. In Wales, we for Wales. If fiscal devolution is to work, however, it are regenerating the south-east with a city deal for the must be facilitated by the provision of a genuinely Cardiff capital region. We intend to follow suit with a no-detriment fiscal framework. The SNP Scottish deal for Swansea in the west, and we have opened the Government have negotiated such a framework for door to a growth deal for north Wales. their country. What is the Secretary of State’s preferred deduction method for Wales? Julian Sturdy: May I be the first to welcome the Alun Cairns: The hon. Gentleman will be aware of Secretary of State and the Minister to their new roles? the plans in the draft Wales Bill for the granting of Following the announcement of the north Wales income tax-varying powers for the Welsh Government. growth deal in the Budget, what plans are there for the We want Wales to be a low-tax economy. Of course, deal to be genuinely cross-border and to plug into the mechanisms will need to be introduced to protect Welsh northern powerhouse, which has the potential to deliver interests. The hon. Gentleman will be pleased to hear huge benefits throughout the north, not only for the that I met the Chief Secretary to the Treasury earlier distinct regions like north Wales but for God’s own this week to discuss early proposals for such mechanisms, county of Yorkshire? and we are happy to engage in further such discussions. Alun Cairns: As well as seeking to grow the economy Mr Philip Hollobone (Kettering) (Con): Which sectors across the United Kingdom, all the way to Yorkshire of the Welsh economy offer the most exciting prospects and beyond, we are seeking to move our dependency in for growth to help to rebalance the economy, and what Wales from the south-eastern part of the country. Less steps is my right hon. Friend taking to encourage them? than two weeks ago, I was in north Wales talking to local authority leaders, businesses and business groups, Alun Cairns: As my hon. Friend will know, the Budget all of whom were keen to support the north Wales focused on the city deal for Cardiff, which is the largest growth deal. It was interesting to note that they called city deal in the United Kingdom, with £1.2 billion for the deal to take place on a cross-border basis, covering 10 local authority areas. However, we also extending to Cheshire and the Wirral, to ensure that have ambitions for the Swansea bay city deal and the north Wales was plugged into the northern powerhouse. north Wales growth deal. We need to remember that this involves UK taxpayers’ money in addition to the Mr David Hanson (Delyn) (Lab): Given the importance Barnett block, which is something that we never saw of north Wales, will the Secretary of State press very when Labour was in power. hard for the establishment of links to Manchester airport and rail links to enable people to benefit from HS2, and Albert Owen (Ynys Môn) (Lab): North Wales growth would I, as a north Wales MP, be able to vote on such is interdependent on growth in the Republic of Ireland measures? as well as in England. Will the Secretary of State—and I 335 Oral Answers13 APRIL 2016 Oral Answers 336 welcome both him and the Under-Secretary of State to Alun Cairns: I would have hoped that the hon. their new positions—ensure that north Wales Labour Gentleman, like business groups, be it the Federation of Members are provided with some details of the so-called Small Businesses, the chambers of commerce or the partnership, given that we are the partners from north Institute of Directors, would welcome the halving of Wales? the tolls. We saw no action in that regard from the Labour party when it was in government. However, we Alun Cairns: I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for have gone further than just halving the Severn tolls. A his kind words and support. small goods vehicle, for example, will move from the We are determined to work on that issue. There has current rate of £13.20 to less than £4 when the tolls are been a bottom-up approach on the growth deal. We halved, because we are also removing the second-class have met local authority leaders and businesses from toll. north Wales, and we are determined to pursue that 13. [904372] David T. C. Davies (Monmouth) (Con): further. I am not sure that I can make the growth deal The announcement by this Conservative Government stretch as far as Northern Ireland and the Republic of the cut in tolls is hugely welcome. Does my right Ireland, but I would be interested to try to take it across hon. Friend agree, however, that in the longer term the the English border. revenue generated from the tolls should not exceed the cost of maintaining the two Severn bridges? Severn Crossings: Tolls Alun Cairns: I pay tribute to my hon. Friend for his 2. Simon Hoare (North Dorset) (Con): What assessment diligent and persistent campaigning on the issue. I he has made of the potential effect on people in Wales know that he was absolutely delighted when the Chancellor of the Government’s decision to reduce tolls on the was able to respond to his and many other Conservative Severn crossings. [904361] colleagues’ requests. Of course, a debt will remain on the tolls even when the bridges come back into public The Secretary of State for Wales (Alun Cairns): This ownership in 2018 or thereabouts. That debt will still Government’s commitment to halve the Severn crossings need to be serviced, as will the innovations on free-flowing toll is a major boost for the economy and people of traffic that we want to introduce. south Wales. It will make a positive difference to commuters and small business owners and demonstrates our continued Nia Griffith (Llanelli) (Lab): I congratulate the Secretary determination to rebalance the economy. of State and the Minister on their recent appointments. Labour Members look forward to working constructively with them, particularly on the new Wales Bill, whenever Simon Hoare: I am grateful to my right hon. Friend that may appear. for that reply. I also welcome him to his place. It seems only a moment or so ago that we were competing to be To clarify, in last month’s Budget the Chancellor the parliamentary candidate for the then safe Labour made much of halving the tolls on the Severn crossings, seat of Gower, which was some years ago. but as we have since discovered that is not quite the bargain it appears to be. The 50% discount includes the Does my right hon. Friend agree that the reduction in 20% of VAT, which disappears anyway when the bridge the tolls will also hugely benefit the Welsh tourism reverts to public ownership, and of course businesses sector by encouraging people to come to Wales, and reclaim VAT. So instead of leaving businesses still paying that it is time for the Welsh Government to pull their thousands of pounds a year, why will not the Government finger out and deliver the investment and improvements do the right thing and scrap these tolls altogether? to the M4 corridor? Alun Cairns: We have an election coming and the call Alun Cairns: I am grateful to my hon.