Wednesday Volume 551 17 October 2012 No. 50 HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) Wednesday 17 October 2012 £5·00 © Parliamentary Copyright House of Commons 2012 This publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Open Parliament licence, which is published at www.parliament.uk/site-information/copyright/. 301 17 OCTOBER 2012 302 Mrs Siân C. James (Swansea East) (Lab): I know that House of Commons the right hon. Gentleman is a great proponent of the Welsh language, but I urge him to ensure that in all Wednesday 17 October 2012 aspects and in all avenues of work within the Palace of Westminster the Welsh language is given the respect it The House met at half-past Eleven o’clock so rightly deserves. I hope that this type of thing is not going to happen again. PRAYERS Mr Jones: The hon. Lady has identified a problem that needs to be resolved, in that the Welsh Language [MR SPEAKER in the Chair] Commissioner is, of course, a position that was created by the Welsh Assembly. It is important that in the non-devolved areas sufficient support should be given to the Welsh language, and I am pleased to report that Oral Answers to Questions my office is prepared and anxious to undertake that duty. Steel Industry WALES 2. Dr Hywel Francis (Aberavon) (Lab): What recent The Secretary of State was asked— discussions he has had on the future of the steel industry in Wales. [122186] Police and Crime Commissioners The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales 1. Jessica Morden (Newport East) (Lab): What recent (Stephen Crabb): I have had regular discussions with discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for ministerial colleagues on issues that affect Wales, including the Home Department on preparations for elected the future of the steel industry. police and crime commissioners in Wales. [122185] Dr Francis: I thank the Minister for his reply. May I The Secretary of State for Wales (Mr David Jones): warmly congratulate him and his colleague on their new With permission, Mr Speaker, I would like to take this positions, which I believe were as a consequence of their opportunity to pay tribute to the dedication and apprenticeships on the Welsh Affairs Committee? professionalism of Dyfed-Powys police and all the other Tata Steel is a major investor and employer in my agencies involved in the search for April Jones, who constituency. Nearly £250 million has been invested went missing on 1 October. I am sure that the whole recently in the steel plant at Port Talbot, which is House will join me in praising them for their continued strongly supported by the Welsh Government, the local work to find April and in praising the support shown by council, the local trade unions and the local management. so many of the people of Machynlleth for her family. This is a strong regional partnership, so what will the The Wales Office and the Home Office have been Wales Office do to assist the steel industry in these working closely with the Welsh Government and partners challenging times? Will the Secretary of State speak to to make the police and crime commissioner reforms a the Business Secretary, his Cabinet colleague, to address success in Wales. Considerable progress has been achieved the issue of a level playing field in energy costs? Will he through the Wales Transition Board. visit the steelworks in my constituency at the earliest opportunity? Jessica Morden: I welcome the Secretary of State to Stephen Crabb: I thank the hon. Gentleman for his his new job. Will he let us know how much printing the question and for his kind remarks. One of the most second set of ballot papers for the police commissioner enjoyable parts of my first term in Parliament was elections in Wales will cost the Home Office? serving under his chairmanship on the Welsh Affairs Mr Jones: I am grateful to the hon. Lady for her Committee. welcome. As the House will know, the order for the The Government absolutely recognise the strategic bilingual version of the forms was laid on 15 October, importance of Tata Steel as an inward investor into and it is hoped that the process will be completed by Wales, and the Wales Office has close links with the 30 October. On the question of cost, I shall write to her. company. I will certainly speak to the Business Secretary about what more we can do to support Tata’s inward Glyn Davies (Montgomeryshire) (Con): A serious investment. We do recognise that particular issue associated potential problem has been averted over the preparation with energy costs. That is why we have made £250 million of voting papers in the Welsh language. Will the Secretary available for intensive energy users, and I hope that the of State engage with the Welsh Language Commissioner hon. Gentleman and industries in Wales will be making to ensure that the commitment to bilingualism in Wales representations about how they can benefit from that is fully respected in all non-devolved areas, where the money. problem arose? Michael Fabricant (Lichfield) (Con): As my mother Mr Jones: Yes, the Wales Office is committed fully to comes from Aberavon, I understand only too well the the Welsh language and its support, not only in the importance of the steel industry and I congratulate the devolved areas but in the un-devolved ones. I am pleased hon. Member for Aberavon (Dr Francis) on asking his to report that my office is working closely with the question. Does my hon. Friend the Minister agree, Welsh Language Commissioner, and indeed it is proposed however, that the great news we have received today that that an official of the commissioner will be embedded employment in Wales is up by 40,000 and unemployment in the Wales Office. down by 7,000 is a good start? 303 Oral Answers17 OCTOBER 2012 Oral Answers 304 Stephen Crabb: The labour market statistics for Wales of the first Welsh Bill—that is, the Local Government were particularly good today. Unemployment and Byelaws (Wales) Bill—to the Supreme Court should not worklessness are down and overall employment levels be regarded as disrespectful or hostile in any sense. It is are up. There are great reasons for optimism, but there simply an administrative procedure to clear up the issue is no reason to be complacent. of competence and that is it. Respect Agenda Owen Smith (Pontypridd) (Lab): I add my words of support to those of the Secretary of State in support of 3. Kevin Brennan (Cardiff West) (Lab): What steps he the Dyfed-Powys police and the community of Machynlleth plans to take to promote the Prime Minister’s respect as they live through the awful events of recent weeks. I agenda in dealings between the UK Government and also warmly congratulate the Secretary of State and his the Welsh Government. [122187] deputy and welcome them to their new role. The Opposition are thrilled that the Prime Minister finally found a The Secretary of State for Wales (Mr David Jones): I Welsh MP to take on the post. am committed to working with the Welsh Government In fairness, the Secretary of State’s predecessor, with to deliver economic growth in Wales. I do not intend whom I did not always agree, has found a new spirit of that political differences should stand in the way of candour in recent weeks since she left the job and has such co-operative working in the interests of Wales. admitted, for example, that his Government have lost all reputation for competence. On this question of respect, Kevin Brennan: I congratulate the Secretary of State will he continue in this spirit of openness and clear up and his hon. Friend the Minister—llongyfarchiadau, as the question of his attitude to devolution? Will he tell us we say in Wales. When the Prime Minister promised a straightforwardly—does he think that devolution has respect agenda, did he mean trying to block Welsh been good for Wales? Assembly legislation, unilaterally abolishing wage protection for agricultural workers in Wales and tearing up a Mr Jones: I do not think I can carry on accepting all cross-border GCSE exam system without consultation? these welcomes; it is far too much for me—[Interruption.] If that is the case, can he even spell the word respect? It I am sure they will soon come to an end. I feel strongly is R. E. S. P. E. C. T., by the way. that devolution is developing, and that as the Assembly and the Assembly Government mature as institutions Mr Jones: As we say in Wales, diolch am they could be very good for Wales indeed. That is why I y llongyfarchiadau. I can assure the hon. Gentleman and my office are determined to work closely with them that this Government are fully committed to the respect to assist in doing our best for Wales with them. agenda. We are working closely with the Welsh Government and I am very pleased with the relationship I am cultivating Owen Smith: Mr Speaker, you will forgive me if I with Carwyn Jones, the First Minister. think that the Secretary of State’s view that the Assembly David T. C. Davies (Monmouth) (Con): Would both “could”be good for Wales is hardly a ringing endorsement Ministers, whom I warmly congratulate, agree with me of the devolution settlement that was so decisively that parch, as we say in Monmouthshire, is something supported by the Welsh people. Are not his view that that works in both directions, and that the refusal of the devolution settlement has “damaged our constitution” Welsh Assembly Ministers to appear before Select and his deputy’s view that it is “constitutional vandalism” Committees shows a disgraceful lack of respect not what they really think and where they really have disrespect only to this House but to those of us who were put in it for devolution? Is not the truth that the right hon.