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Parliamentary Debates (Hansard) Wednesday Volume 686 16 December 2020 No. 153 HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) Wednesday 16 December 2020 © Parliamentary Copyright House of Commons 2020 This publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Open Parliament licence, which is published at www.parliament.uk/site-information/copyright/. 253 16 DECEMBER 2020 254 football. They are keen to embrace the changes that will House of Commons come, but they want the certainty that their Government will support them come what may. Will the Secretary of Wednesday 16 December 2020 State confirm that he is working closely with all Cabinet colleagues to ensure that my sheep farmers are front and centre of the UK Government’s mind when transition The House met at half-past Eleven o’clock ends? PRAYERS Simon Hart: Not only my hon. Friend’s sheep farmers but sheep farmers in constituencies across the House can feel confident that the Government are on their [MR SPEAKER in the Chair] side. One way we can demonstrate that is the fact that Virtual participation in proceedings commenced (Order, we have guaranteed the £337 million of funding across 4 June). the lifetime of this Parliament. People said we would not do it, but we have done it, and we are committed to [NB: [V] denotes a Member participating virtually.] ensuring that there is a healthy future for the farming industry, particularly livestock in Wales. Oral Answers to Questions Mr Speaker: With the first of two questions, Liz Saville Roberts. Happy birthday! Liz Saville Roberts (Dwyfor Meirionnydd) (PC): Diolch WALES yn fawr, Lefarydd. It was interesting to hear the reference made to Welsh fishing previously, but I am sure the The Secretary of State was asked— Secretary of State is aware that 90% of the Welsh fleet is made up of small boats, under 10 metres in length, Fishing which catch shellfish and non-quota fish species such as bass. Between the prospect of no-deal tariffs to their Mrs Sheryll Murray (South East Cornwall) (Con): markets in Europe and the covid closure of hospitality, What steps his Department is taking to support the fishermen such as those in Porthdinllaen near where I Welsh fishing sector. [910244] live see no Brexit bonanza on the horizon. As Nelson might have put it, “Wales expects that every Secretary The Secretary of State for Wales (Simon Hart): Our of State for Wales will do his duty.” Can the Secretary commitment to this country’s fishing industry is absolute, of State explain how his Government’s vainglorious and we have defended it resolutely in our negotiations Trafalgar posturing with warships in the channel helps with the European Union. We promised fishermen in our small fishing vessels? Wales, Cornwall and across the United Kingdom that we would take back control of our waters, and that is Simon Hart: I am grateful to the right hon. Lady for precisely what will happen. her comments. I was rather hopeful that leaving the common fisheries policy and regaining our status as an Mrs Murray [V]: Welsh fishermen have said to me independent nation state might be something that would how important it is that we take back control of our appeal to a separatist, but sadly that does not appear waters and do not give away access in any trade deal to be the case. I can answer her question, perhaps, by with the EU. Does my right hon. Friend back them in referring her to the inclusion in the spending review of that goal? £2 million-worth of support for fisheries in Wales in 2021-22 and for the lifetime of this Parliament. We share Simon Hart: I agree with my hon. Friend. The fishing a common theme, in the sense that I too have those industry made its views absolutely clear back in 2016, as fishing interests off the coast of west Wales and I am did 55% of the Welsh nation. UK sovereignty over very conscious of the problems she raises. That is why fishing in UK waters is not up for discussion. we are determined to ensure that they are properly looked after. Transition Period: Business Liz Saville Roberts: I am sure the Secretary of State is Fay Jones (Brecon and Radnorshire) (Con): What aware that there is a consultation going on about how to steps his Department is taking to help Welsh businesses allocate fishing quotas in the future. If that is done on prepare for the end of the transition period. [910245] historical grounds for Wales, it will be very bad news indeed for our fishermen. Turning to the Prime Minister’s The Secretary of State for Wales (Simon Hart): The latest U-turn on the United Kingdom Internal Market Wales Office is engaged with businesses the length and Bill, it will give a modicum of flexibility to the devolved breadth of Wales, with a simple message: “Make sure nations, but it is undeniable that the Bill is a disaster, you are prepared for the end of the transition period, weakening devolved power and centralising more power whether or not we reach a negotiated outcome with here in Westminster. The Conservatives and Labour have the EU.” been working together this week to let efforts to give our devolved Governments a say in state aid fail. Will Fay Jones: When I was speaking to sheep farmers in the Secretary of State commit to a productive U-turn Builth Wells in my constituency at the weekend, they this time, and assure me that no other powers will be made it clear that they do not want to be a political reserved through the internal market Bill? 255 Oral Answers 16 DECEMBER 2020 Oral Answers 256 Simon Hart: The fact that the Government have that there would not be a referendum, but there was. listened carefully to the arguments should not be deemed They said that the leave camp would lose the referendum, some kind of act of evil or a U-turn. It shows that we but it did not. Then they said there would not be a are conscious of the complexities of this legislation and withdrawal agreement, but there was. They said that the have listened carefully to the arguments. Where the Conservatives would not win the election, but they did. right hon. Lady makes a mistake is in thinking that the Now he is saying there will not be a deal; I think we contents of the UK Internal Market Bill are somehow a should wait and see. threat to devolution. Actually, they are a means by which we can encourage inward investment into Wales Anna McMorrin (Cardiff North) (Lab) [V]: I have and encourage jobs and livelihoods. We have had this been speaking to businesses across Cardiff North, and exchange across the House before, and it strikes me as they are doing all they can to protect against the impact worrying that she always refers to power—it is all about of a no deal, but they are deeply worried about supply power to Cardiff, rather than jobs and livelihoods in chain delays, stockpiling and a tariff cliff edge. They are Wales. For a party that argues it is the party of Wales, it saying that they can put the sandbags down, but that’s seems to be remarkably out of touch with the people it. So will the Secretary of State apologise to the many of Wales. people in Cardiff North and across the whole country whose jobs and livelihoods he is willing to gamble and Stephen Crabb (Preseli Pembrokeshire) (Con): One of play politics with, and tell me whether his Government the findings of our Select Committee report last week on are preparing to fail or failing to prepare? this issue was that the Government have really stepped up their communication with Welsh businesses ahead of Simon Hart: After all, it was the hon. Lady’s party the end of the transition period, which is very welcome. that voted against a deal last year, so when she had the The new money that the Government have announced opportunity to land this more carefully, she chose not forWelshports,includingFishguardinmyownconstituency, to and therefore increased the risk of getting the outcome is very welcome too, but will my right hon. Friend say a that she definitely does not want. Attempting to pillory bitmoreaboutwhatheisdoingwiththeWelshGovernment the Government when actually there has been considerable to ensure that the inland checking facilities that will be daily joint working between the Welsh Government, under required ahead of the full implementation of new border the control of her own party, and the UK Government checks will be in place,given the very challenging timetables over many months to ensure that the risks are minimised, that he is working to? is not just an insult to the House but an insult to her own colleagues in Cardiff who have been devoting a huge Simon Hart: My right hon. Friend raises an interesting amount of time to try to make this work as seamlessly as point. Of course, the devolution settlement poses its possible. own complexities. With Holyhead, we have a Welsh Government-UK Government-HMRC relationship that Shared Prosperity Fund needs to be managed as we progress towards the end of the transition period, but Fishguard and Pembroke on Gavin Newlands (Paisley and Renfrewshire North) the coast of west Wales, in the areas we represent, are (SNP): With reference to the spending review 2020, entirely in the gift of the Welsh Government. However, what discussions he has had with the Welsh Government we have tried to ensure that we work almost on a daily on the UK shared prosperity fund.
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