Wednesday Volume 676 3 June 2020 No. 63 HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) Wednesday 3 June 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/. 825 3 JUNE 2020 826 Simon Hart: My opposite number makes a very good House of Commons point. Right from the start, as I think he will agree, the Chancellor has said that we will always look at every possible anomaly in these support systems, because he Wednesday 3 June 2020 and all of us, I suspect, in our in own constituency examples recognise that even though the measures are widespread and generous and try to account for every The House met at half-past Eleven o’clock individual circumstance, they do not always do so. Where people slip through the net and where there are PRAYERS anomalies, yes, of course, we will work to see if we can rectify those. [MR SPEAKER in the Chair] Stephen Crabb (Preseli Pembrokeshire) (Con): The furloughing scheme has been a lifeline for businesses in every corner of the United Kingdom and demonstrates the strength and the value of our Union, but with the Oral Answers to Questions scheme becoming co-financing in August, could I ask my right hon. Friend urgently to discuss with the Chancellor the need for ongoing financial support, particularly for WALES tourism businesses in Wales? Frankly, they will not have the money to contribute a share of staff costs, and they see little prospect of the Welsh Government allowing The Secretary of State was asked— any kind of late tourism season this year. Covid-19: Role of the Union Simon Hart: My right hon. Friend rightly points out what is becoming known as the risk of the 12-month 2. Ruth Edwards (Rushcliffe) (Con): What assessment winter, and he might be pleased to hear that I have he has made of the role of the Union during the already had such conversations with Treasury Ministers covid-19 outbreak. [902987] including the Chancellor himself. We are looking, as we The Secretary of State for Wales (Simon Hart): Our always do, at ways of making sure that for industries co-ordinated UK-wide response to the threat posed by that find themselves in a particularly difficult position— covid-19 is testament to the strength and value of the tourism and leisure is one such example—there are Union. People and businesses in Wales and across the ways in which we can be as flexible as possible, but UK have benefited from the Government’s unprecedented obviously within the overall financial ambitions and package of support, which is far beyond the scale that constraints that we all understand. any UK nation could offer alone. Chris Evans (Islwyn) (Lab/Co-op): The furlough scheme Ruth Edwards: I thank the Secretary of State. As all in Wales has rightly been a success. However, as the nations start to lift lockdown measures and interconnectivity Secretary of State knows, one large company called starts to increase, it is really important that we work BA—British Airways—has decided not only to furlough together to track and trace the movement of any covid-19 its staff, but to consult about losing their jobs. It is cases, especially across porous borders such as the one morally reprehensible that during this time people are between England and Wales. Does my right hon. Friend worried about their jobs. Will he make a commitment, agree that this is in fact an opportunity to show how we first, to condemn this behaviour and, secondly, to speak are stronger working together and that we are better off to the chief executive of BA about the jobs that are at tackling the crisis as one United Kingdom? risk in constituencies such as mine and those of other colleagues across Wales? Simon Hart: My hon. Friend makes a very good point, and I absolutely agree with her. Covid does not Simon Hart: Indeed, I have examples in my own respect political boundaries and it does not respect constituency of people who have come to me feeling national boundaries. As a result of that, we have had completely bewildered at the position they find themselves something in the region of 110 meetings now at which in. Absolutely, I offer that guarantee to take it up with the Welsh Government were present so that we can BA. It does seem, on the face of it, to be a mystifying approach this issue, for example through the joint decision, particularly in the circumstances we are in. biosecurity centre, as one United Kingdom, because The answer to that is yes, of course, we will look into it. that is the why that we will crack this. I am sure that, UK-wide, there is going to be much more debate in this place about that very problem. Gerald Jones (Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney) (Lab): The contact tracing systems are now active in all four Transport Connectivity nations across the UK, and will require thousands of people to self-isolate to stop the virus spreading further, 3. Mrs Sheryll Murray (South East Cornwall) (Con): but for many self-employed and low-paid people who What recent discussions he has had with the Secretary do not qualify for support such as statutory sick pay, of State for Transport on connectivity (a) within Wales this means there will be no money coming in to support and (b) cross-border. [902988] them or their families. Will the Government urgently look to fill the gaps in statutory sick pay so that no one The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales faces the impossible choice of self-isolating or putting (David T. C. Davies): We have regular discussions with food on the table? Minsters in the Department for Transport across a wide 827 Oral Answers 3 JUNE 2020 Oral Answers 828 range of issues, including connectivity within Wales Jeff Smith: The Welsh Labour Government require and cross-border, such as our support for the Pant- businesses that receive financial support to sign up to Llanymynech bypass and the restoration of the Barmouth their economic contract, which means that they need to viaduct, and obviously we have offered the funding for support economic growth, fair work, employee health an M4 relief road. I very much hope that the Welsh and skills, and action to reduce carbon footprints. Given Government will choose to prioritise these schemes. the need to build back better after this crisis, does the Secretary of State agree that the Welsh Government Mrs Murray: I welcome that answer, but I have had approach should be adopted by the UK Government? lots of correspondence from constituents concerned about people travelling to second and holiday homes. Simon Hart: The point the hon. Gentleman makes is What is hon. Friend’s assessment of what can be done interesting, because of course a number of the companies about this in Wales? to which he refers are UK-wide companies. It is a UK-wide issue that we are looking at, and it will require David T.C. Davies: My hon. Friend raises an important co-operation between the UK Government and the point. The leisure and tourism industry has been hugely Welsh Government in the areas that are devolved and affected by covid-19, but now is not the time for people the areas that are clearly reserved. Currently, that to travel to Wales for a holiday or to a second home. Of co-operation and collaboration has been, by and large— course, when this crisis is over, we want to roll out the probably eight times out of 10—as positive as the hon. red and green carpet for visitors from throughout the Gentleman would hope, and as businesses and individuals United Kingdom to come and enjoy everything that would hope. Wewill of course continue that collaboration. Wales has to offer. I look forward to welcoming my We are now into the recovery period, hopefully—touch hon. Friend. wood—and that will clearly test that collaboration, but at the moment I have confidence that it can work. Covid-19: Co-operation with Welsh Government Dr James Davies (Vale of Clwyd) (Con): A few days ago, Wales finally joined the UK portal for covid test 4. Lilian Greenwood (Nottingham South) (Lab): What applications—some five weeks following its launch. Perhaps steps his Department is taking to ensure effective because of such delays, north Wales remains an outlier co-operation with the Welsh Government during the in new case numbers. Will my right hon. Friend join me covid-19 outbreak. [902989] in calling on the Welsh Government to get a grip on controlling outbreaks, mostly relating to care homes 8. Jeff Smith (Manchester, Withington) (Lab): What and hospitals? steps his Department is taking to ensure close co-operation with the Welsh Government during the covid-19 outbreak. Simon Hart: My hon Friend clearly has considerable [902994] and detailed knowledge of this pandemic and the problems in his area. I hope he will be relieved to hear that I have The Secretary of State for Wales (Simon Hart): My a call this afternoon with the First Minister to discuss, hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Wales and among other things, exactly the point my hon. Friend I are working hand in hand with the Welsh Government raises, because the statistics show that north Wales is in responding to the virus. I have already provided the currently an uncomfortable outlier compared with what House with a comprehensive schedule of engagements is going on throughout the rest of the UK and particularly between my Department and the Welsh Government, Wales.