Wednesday Volume 682 14 October 2020 No. 119 HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) Wednesday 14 October 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/. 353 14 OCTOBER 2020 354 the likelihood of food shortages and their intention House of Commons to grab new powers. That does not sound like inter- governmental parity of esteem. Where does his role to Wednesday 14 October 2020 represent the Tory party in Wales stop and his role to build trust and mutual respect start? The House met at half-past Eleven o’clock PRAYERS Simon Hart: The first responsibility in this particular context is to respect the fact that 55% of people in [MR SPEAKER in the Chair] Wales voted to leave the European Union, and it seems astonishing that the party of Wales, represented by the Virtual participation in proceedings commenced (Order, right hon. Lady, is still so out of step with the people of 4 June). Wales when it comes to that. The clock is not being [NB: [V] denotes a Member participating virtually.] turned back, and what we are attempting to do is to deliver a deal that respects that decision and all the Speaker’s Statement institutions in Wales, which I thought we both valued. Mr Speaker: It has come to my attention that, owing to an oversight in the Public Bill Office, the Government Liz Saville Roberts: Trust in politicians is sadly were not invited to signify Queen’s consent last night on diminishing, because politicians are not seen to answer Third Reading of the Fisheries Bill. I am satisfied that the question at hand. Back to the matter of trust, Queen’s consent is required and that it has been obtained, transmission rates indicate that Wales stands on the as it was signified for the Bill in the House of Lords on brink of a circuit-break announcement. Businesses in Wednesday 15 July this year. If a Privy Councillor will Wales, and people who need to self-isolate, seek assurance now signify formally that the Queen’sconsent was obtained that they can trust the Treasury to back up covid-19 for this Bill, I will direct that the appropriate entry be control measures made in Wales for Wales. Can the made in the Journal for yesterday’s proceedings. Secretary of State guarantee to the people of Wales that they can, indeed, trust the Government to do this? The Secretary of State for Wales (Simon Hart) indicated assent. Simon Hart: Having seen the Chancellor ensure that the Welsh Government have had £4.4 billion-worth of Oral Answers to Questions UK taxpayers’ money for exactly that purpose, I hope the right hon. Lady would share my view that we are WALES looking at the UK in the round. Covid is an international problem, and it does not respect political boundaries. The Secretary of State was asked— The Chancellor’s announcements make it very clear EU Trade Negotiations that he sees all the UK as a priority, not just individual component parts, and I would think the numbers speak David Linden (Glasgow East) (SNP): What recent for themselves. discussions he has had with the devolved Administrations on UK trade negotiations with the EU. [907294] Covid-19 Restrictions The Secretary of State for Wales (Simon Hart): I have regular discussions with Welsh Ministers on a range of Simon Baynes (Clwyd South) (Con): What recent issues, including EU negotiations. The Joint Ministerial discussions he has had with the Welsh Government on Committee on EU negotiations meets regularly. My covid-19 restrictions in Wales. [907295] Cabinet and ministerial colleagues frequently meet Ministers from the devolved Administrations. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales David Linden: Tomorrow is the day the Prime Minister (David T. C. Davies): We have, of course, worked hand has set as the deadline for a trade deal with the EU. So in hand with the Welsh Government throughout the far, the devolved Administrations have been left out of covid-19 pandemic. The Secretary of State and I have the loop or deliberately kept in the dark on some regular discussions with Welsh Ministers about the details.Does the Secretary of State believe that withholding ongoing UK-wide response to covid-19, and those include key information and detail at such a stage as this shows discussions between the Secretary of State and the First respect or disrespect to the devolved Administrations? Minister and, of course, meetings between the UK Government and all devolved institutions. Simon Hart: I do not recognise the hon. Gentleman’s accusation. Given the number of meetings I have personally Simon Baynes: Restricting the virus is vital, but the been in with Ministers from the devolved nations, let Welsh Government’s lockdown measures in Clwyd South alone other colleagues, it would be a difficult charge to and the rest of north Wales need reviewing. Given the land to suggest that they have not been closely involved difficulties they are causing, particularly for hospitality, with the process right from the beginning. I suspect his the wedding industry and leisure businesses, by using comments are based on the fact that he does not like the county boundaries rather than being targeted on the reality of what is going on, rather than being a legitimate specific areas with high covid case numbers, is the comment. Minister able to outline how often the Welsh Government Liz Saville Roberts (Dwyfor Meirionnydd) (PC): Last have invited the UK Government to participate in their week, it was revealed that the Secretary of State’s covid-19 planning meetings and whether they have discussed Government have actively sought to conceal information using more detailed evidence by community rather than from the Welsh Government. This information included just by county? 355 Oral Answers 14 OCTOBER 2020 Oral Answers 356 David T. C. Davies: That is a very good question. Government do. Although I fully accept that some Although the UK Government extend an open invitation people may have concerns about the slightly different to the devolved Administrations to take part in Cobra approach the Welsh Government sometimes adopt in meetings and ministerial implementation groups, the this matter, the UK Government respect devolution same spirit of co-operation has not thus far been and the reality of Welsh government, and my role as a forthcoming. I was invited to one meeting by Welsh Minister is to work constructively with Welsh Government Government Ministers to discuss parts that were reserved Ministers. At this moment, I do not wish to start to the UK Government anyway. We stand ready to playing politics and criticising them. accept the same level of co-operation from Welsh Government as we have always extended to them. Storm Dennis Gerald Jones (Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney) (Lab): With cases rising across the UK, the First Minister has Chris Bryant (Rhondda) (Lab): What additional funding called for an extraordinary meeting of Cobra to discuss the Government have provided to communities in Wales plans for a so-called circuit-break lockdown. The measures affected by Storm Dennis. [907296] are already under active consideration in Wales and would be implemented by the Welsh Government if The Secretary of State for Wales (Simon Hart): The they need to be, but of course, any such measures are Chief Secretary to the Treasury wrote to the hon. more effective if we apply them with a four-nation Gentleman last week to confirm that he is expecting to approach across the whole UK. Will the Government provide £2.5 million needed for the tip repairs in Tylorstown, now listen to their own scientific advisers and the Opposition in the hon. Gentleman’s constituency. The letter also and agree to meet the devolved nations to discuss these clarifies that the Chief Secretary is waiting to hear specific proposals? further from the Welsh Government on an additional request to access the reserve. David T. C. Davies: Throughout this pandemic, the Government have listened to a wide range of scientific advisers, some of whom will be advising circuit breakers, Chris Bryant: That was useless yet again. I have been whereas others will be suggesting that measures are too asking for the money for the Rhondda for months. The strict. The Government have listened to all and tried to Prime Minister wrote to me in June saying that he steer a course through the middle of this. They have recognised that Wales had been particularly badly hit listened to Welsh Government Ministers on numerous by Storm Dennis and that the UK Government would occasions, with more than 100 such meetings having look seriously at any requests for funding. I am delighted taken place. We will continue to listen with an open that we have got the £2.5 million for the Tylorstown tip, mind and to follow the evidence. but we need £60 million to mend culverts and drains and to make people’s houses secure in Pontypridd, the Anna McMorrin (Cardiff North) (Lab): Unlike this Rhondda and across the whole of Rhondda Cynon Taf. Tory Government in England, our Labour Government Make sure you earn your money by getting us the in Wales do follow the science. The rules in Wales have money in the Rhondda. stopped people taking the virus with them from high- prevalence to low-prevalence areas, thus protecting people’s Simon Hart: What a contrast with the conversation lives. We want the same for visitors to Wales from across the hon. Gentleman and I had last when I reported this the rest of the UK, where rates are even higher, so why news to him; he was charm and diplomacy itself then, are this Tory Government ignoring the First Minister yet when he gets in the Chamber with an audience, he yet again, failing to stand up for the people of Wales becomes a different personality.