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Wednesday Volume 669 15 January 2020 No. 10 HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) Wednesday 15 January 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/. 1005 15 JANUARY 2020 1006 I cannot think of anybody better in the House to take House of Commons forward that project. I am happy to commit to helping her to do that and I know the Welsh Government will Wednesday 15 January 2020 be doing the same, so fingers crossed; we will definitely work together on our shared ambitions in that regard. The House met at half-past Eleven o’clock Shared Prosperity Fund PRAYERS 2. Peter Grant (Glenrothes) (SNP): What recent discussions he has had with the Welsh Government on the shared prosperity fund. [900126] [MR SPEAKER in the Chair] 9. Chris Elmore (Ogmore) (Lab): What recent discussions BUSINESS BEFORE QUESTIONS he has had with the Welsh Government on the UK shared prosperity fund. [900133] SELECTION Ordered, 10. Anna McMorrin (Cardiff North) (Lab): What That Sir Alan Campbell, Mike Freer, Rebecca Harris, Amanda recent discussions he has had with the Welsh Government Milling, Jessica Morden, Iain Stewart, Mark Tami, Owen Thompson, on the UK shared prosperity fund. [900134] and Bill Wiggin be members of the Committee of Selection until the end of the current Parliament.—(Amanda Milling.) The Secretary of State for Wales (Simon Hart): I have already had productive discussions with the First Minister and his colleagues. Only last week I met Jeremy Miles to Oral Answers to Questions discuss the UK shared prosperity fund, and I am excited about the opportunities that the fund will create to bind together the whole United Kingdom, tackling inequality WALES and deprivation across each of our four nations. Peter Grant: Diolch yn fawr. The EU funding that The Secretary of State was asked— comes to an end in 2020 has delivered more than Welsh Language £2 billion of investment in Wales since 2014. This money has been used according to priorities set in Wales, for 1. Virginia Crosbie (Ynys Môn) (Con): What steps his Wales, by the Government of Wales. Can the Secretary Department is taking to support the Welsh language. of State give an assurance that Wales will receive not a [900125] single penny less under the Government’s funding scheme, and that the priorities for Wales will continue to be set The Secretary of State for Wales (Simon Hart): My in Wales, by the people and the Parliament of Wales? Department and I are 100% committed to supporting the Welsh Government’s ambition of 1 million Welsh Simon Hart: I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for speakers by 2050, as well as to increasing Welsh language strengthening the Union by coming here to support services across Whitehall and supporting the growth Welsh questions, which is very much appreciated. I of the Welsh language in Wales. I am proud that my hope that I can reassure him by describing the shared constituency is home to S4C, and welcome ideas from prosperity fund as a good news story, because for the all Members on ways we can promote the Welsh language. first time in 45 years, a substantial sum of money is going to be distributed in Wales by Welsh politicians Virginia Crosbie: I am a keen supporter of the language who are directly accountable to Welsh voters. That has and a Welsh learner myself. [HON.MEMBERS: “Hear, not been the case for some time. The hon. Gentleman is hear.”] Diolch yn fawr; thank you. Does the Minister quite right that the collaborative approach I take with agree that the best way to support the language is the Welsh Government over the distribution of the fund through economic prosperity, which means supporting should ensure that it goes to the places where it is most jobs, skilled employment and projects such as Wylfa needed, and is not—as some might argue has been the Newydd on Ynys Môn? case in the past—blown on vanity projects. The relevant Minister in the Welsh Government is with me on this; Simon Hart: May I start by congratulating my hon. we have a shared ambition to ensure that outcome, and Friend on her fantastic election result? She has already to do so collaboratively and efficiently. brought an energy and a fizz to her part of the world, which will be appreciated across the House. I know that Chris Elmore: I am all for strengthening the Union, her father is watching these proceedings from his as most Welsh politicians are. I am completely against hospital bed, and he will be as proud as we are that she nationalism and all it stands for, but the reality is that I is among us. am also in favour of supporting the devolution settlement. As far as the Welsh language is concerned, I absolutely This funding has always been controlled by the Assembly, share my hon. Friend’srecognition that a vibrant economy so can the Secretary of State confirm that he will rule and a vibrant language go hand in hand. The language out subverting the Welsh Government by funding local of Wales is one of the oldest in the world and we are government directly in Wales? Bypassing the Welsh rightly proud of it—even those of us who are perhaps Government and the National Assembly for Wales will not as fluent as others. On the question of Wylfa, do nothing to strengthen the Union. 1007 Oral Answers 15 JANUARY 2020 Oral Answers 1008 Simon Hart: The reassurance I can give is that nothing such thing as real friends, only sharks circling waiting contained in the proposals for the shared prosperity for a sniff of blood”, but no such situation would fund will in any way drive a coach and horses through describe our relationship. He has done a fantastic job the devolution settlement. for Wales. He has boundless energy and I know that Wales will benefit from that again. Anna McMorrin: The Secretary of State answered the On my right hon. Friend’s comments about the shared hon. Member for Glenrothes (Peter Grant) by saying prosperity fund, I hope I can reassure him by saying that there would be a “substantial” amount of money. that this is a reset of the meter of the relationship Will he, though, confirm that there will not be a penny between the Welsh and the UK Governments. It is less nor a power lost, as the First Minister of Wales put absolutely right that he highlights the priority that we it, to Wales, and that spending decisions will in fact be should give to this, which is getting the money to the taken where they should be—by the Welsh Government? right place in a timely way and in a way that is accountable to Welsh voters as it never has been before. Simon Hart: On the first part of the hon. Lady’s question, our manifesto commitment was clear on that. Sarah Atherton (Wrexham) (Con): Diolch yn fawr, As for the second part, my discussions with Jeremy Mr Speaker. Under the Welsh Labour Government, Miles so far have been very clear about taking a collaborative Wrexham has missed out on opportunities for the past approach so that the UK and Welsh Governments, 20 years. Can the Secretary of State give assurances that working together, ensure that this money gets to the Wrexham will now start to receive benefits from the shared right place in a timely fashion. prosperity fund? NickThomas-Symonds(Torfaen)(Lab):MayIcongratulate Simon Hart: May I congratulate my hon. Friend too? the Secretary of State on his new post? I also congratulate It is going to be a day of congratulating new Members, myconstituencyneighbour,thehon.MemberforMonmouth which is a happy place to be. (David T. C. Davies), on his long-anticipated and—may I say?—long-awaited promotion to the Front Bench. I hope—my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary will As Wales leaves the European Union, the Secretary confirm this in due course—that, as far is Wrexham is of State will be aware, because we have heard it in the concerned, the answer is yes. As for growth deals, that is questions so far, that there are deep concerns about the an ongoing and positive development for Wales on continuation of structural and investment funding. I which further information will be made available as we have to say that his answers to my hon. Friends have not proceed. It is absolutely right that my hon. Friend been that reassuring so far. Can he clear up the uncertainty highlights the specifics for her particular part of Wales, now with two unequivocal guarantees—not a penny and yes, we will certainly comply and co-operate with lost, and the Welsh Government having complete control that. of the funding? Mr David Jones (Clwyd West) (Con): May I, too, Simon Hart: On the hon. Gentleman’s first question— warmly welcome my right hon. Friend and my hon. Friend there are lots of double questions going on—the answer the Minister to their positions? is yes. That was in the manifesto and we made it clear. The shared prosperity fund represents a unique As for the second question, the Welsh Government do opportunity for all parts of Wales to benefit from not even have complete control over the situation now, Brexit. Does my right hon. Friend therefore agree that it so he is asking about something that is not even the is essential that in the design of the architecture of the status quo.