Wednesday Volume 606 24 February 2016 No. 119 HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) Wednesday 24 February 2016 £5·00 © 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/. 279 24 FEBRUARY 2016 280 centre in Cardiff. There is no question mark over our House of Commons commitment to securing an ambitious city deal for Cardiff. As I have said, there are some questions about Wednesday 24 February 2016 the nature of the Welsh Government’s financial support for such a deal, but I am sure that, with the correct The House met at half-past Eleven o’clock attitude, we can work through those issues and land a deal. PRAYERS Craig Williams (Cardiff North) (Con): I am sure the Secretary of State will join me in welcoming the massive [MR SPEAKER in the Chair] announcement that Aston Martin will be building its new vehicle in south Wales. Does that not emphasise the important nature of the private sector involvement in Oral Answers to Questions the city deal, and what is he doing to ensure that the Welsh Government and local authorities engage with the private sector so that they lever in more money? WALES Stephen Crabb: My hon. Friend is absolutely right. The Secretary of State was asked— First, though, let me put on record our congratulations to him and his wife, Clare, as it is a few days after the Cardiff City Deal birth of their second child. It is wonderful to see him taking a break from paternity leave to stand here today 1. Edward Argar (Charnwood) (Con): What discussions championing the interests of his constituents in Cardiff. he has had with his ministerial colleagues on proposals He is absolutely right on two counts. The first is on the for a Cardiff city deal. [903619] success of bringing the Aston Martin deal to Wales, The Secretary of State for Wales (Stephen Crabb): which is a great example of the Welsh and the UK The Cardiff city deal represents a once-in-a-generation Governments working together in a true team Wales opportunity to raise growth levels right across the region, approach. The second is on the importance of business securing Cardiff’s position as one of the best capital and the fact that it is right at the heart not just of cities in Europe and a fantastic place in which to do helping to create the city deal vision, but of delivering it business. Yesterday, my right hon. Friend the Secretary as well of State for Communities and Local Government and I met leaders from the Cardiff capital region to discuss Huw Irranca-Davies (Ogmore) (Lab): Let me pass on the city deal and to ensure that progress and momentum my congratulations to the hon. Member for Cardiff are being maintained. North (Craig Williams). I also congratulate the workforce in the St Athan area—in the seat of the Under-Secretary Edward Argar: My hon. Friend the Member for Cardiff of State for Wales, the hon. Member for Vale of Glamorgan North (Craig Williams) has long championed the city (Alun Cairns)—and the Welsh Labour Government on deal to help deliver even greater success for Cardiff and their support for that project, the Cardiff city deal and Wales, but for it to succeed everyone must be as committed the Swansea city deal. Will the Secretary of State confirm to delivering for Cardiff as he and the Secretary of State that the support will be there for Cardiff and for the so clearly are. What assessment has the Secretary of proposal by Terry Matthews for an “internet coast” that State made of the Welsh Assembly Government’s links Swansea and west Wales as well, as that is where commitment to this city deal and particularly their we will drive the jobs into Wales? commitment to funding it? Stephen Crabb: The hon. Gentleman has raised a Stephen Crabb: I thank my hon. Friend for his question. number of different initiatives all together in one question. I discussed the Cardiff city deal proposal on Monday The common thread running through them was the with the First Minister, and I am pleased and reassured nature of partnership working, and we need to see more that all parties are now strongly committed to it. I think of that. I am talking about the Welsh Government, the that there are still some questions to be asked about the UK Government and local partners all working together. nature of the financial commitment coming from the The Aston Martin deal shows the fruit that can be Welsh Government, but there is now momentum behind borne when we have the right kind of attitude and the deal and we look forward to getting it secured as commitment from the Prime Minister, the First Minister, soon as possible. the Ministry of Defence and excellent local MPs such Jo Stevens (Cardiff Central) (Lab): On financial as the Under-Secretary of State for Wales. I have discussed commitment, last month, I asked the Secretary of State the Swansea city deal with Sir Terry Matthews. We are whether his Government would match the £580 million really interested in understanding it in a bit more detail, that the Welsh Government are putting towards the and we want to work with the Swansea city deal partners Cardiff city deal. Has he got a cheque from the Chancellor as well as our partners in Cardiff. yet? Michael Fabricant (Lichfield) (Con): Is it not the case Stephen Crabb: I am slightly surprised by the hon. that Aston Martin moved to St Athan in the Greater Lady’s tone. We have already put £125 million on the Cardiff region partly because of the success of organisations table to help with rail electrification. The Welsh Government such as Superfast Cymru, which is delivering fast may want to put that into the pot. We have already put broadband, and particularly because of the skills that £50 million towards the compound semiconductor catapult now exist in south Wales? 281 Oral Answers24 FEBRUARY 2016 Oral Answers 282 Stephen Crabb: My hon. Friend, who has a great love Mr David Hanson (Delyn) (Lab): Now that it is for and knowledge of Wales, is right. The most important official Government policy to support membership of thing for securing big inward investment projects such the European Union in the referendum, will the Minister as Aston Martin, or the continued inward investment of and the Secretary of State produce a report that shows companies such as Airbus, is the excellence of the skills the benefit of the European Union to jobs and investment and the workforce that we have now in Wales. We are in Wales? not complacent about that. There is more progress that could be achieved, but the reason that such companies Alun Cairns: Our position is clear. The Government choose Wales over locations all round the world is the support the deal that my right hon. Friend the Prime quality of the skills of the workforce, the quality of the Minister has negotiated. Of course, Europe is important infrastructure and the UK Government’s commitment to our exporters and businesses, but it is also important to creating the best environment for economic growth. because of the money repatriated from Europe to Wales and the United Kingdom through cohesion funding. Employment Levels Mr Mark Williams (Ceredigion) (LD): As Aberystwyth’s MP, I reiterate the comments of the hon. Member for 2. Rehman Chishti (Gillingham and Rainham) (Con): Gillingham and Rainham (Rehman Chishti). If we are What recent assessment he has made of trends in the serious about creating more jobs, and we are, that level of employment in Wales. [903620] means real investment in real infrastructure. Why, then, has the Government’s mobile infrastructure project been 7. Sir Henry Bellingham (North West Norfolk) (Con): such a failure and delivered so little for rural Wales? What assessment he has made of trends in the level of employment in Wales; and if he will make a statement. Alun Cairns: The hon. Gentleman raises this issue [903626] persistently. As a result of representations from him and others, I met Openreach earlier this week, as well as The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales Broadband Delivery UK. I have plans to meet the (Alun Cairns): Employment in Wales is now at a record mobile operators shortly to discuss what more can be high, with more people than ever before having the done to improve the mobile infrastructure. With the security of a pay packet to provide for themselves and 4G auction, at least 95% coverage will be gained in their family. Aston Martin has been mentioned. That is Wales. That contrasts significantly with the 3G auction testimony to the significant investment that Wales is and the low percentage that Wales was left with last time. attracting. Guto Bebb (Aberconwy) (Con): Will my hon. Friend Rehman Chishti: As a former student of Aberystwyth join me in congratulating my constituent, Mr Sean University, the oldest and the best law school in Wales, I Taylor, on the further expansion of his company, Zip have been pleased to see that more than 80% of employees World? In four years this company has gone from no in mid-Wales are now employed by small and medium-sized staff to 220 staff, revitalising the economy of rural enterprises. Will the Minister join me in acknowledging north-west Wales, to the benefit of employment and the significance of that thriving community to the economy diversification of the local economy.