Thursday Volume 617 1 December 2016 No. 73 HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) Thursday 1 December 2016 © Parliamentary Copyright House of Commons 2016 This publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Open Parliament licence, which is published at www.parliament.uk/site-information/copyright/. 1645 1 DECEMBER 2016 1646 the Minister that the Government have a plan to ensure House of Commons that those resources continue to come to my constituency post-Brexit? Thursday 1 December 2016 Mr Jones: The Government set out a clear plan at the The House met at half-past Nine o’clock autumn statement for our strategic framework for the northern powerhouse. We are spending £13 billion on transport in the north, establishing Transport for the PRAYERS North and ensuring a statutory status. Investment in the north is very substantial indeed, and that is borne [MR SPEAKER in the Chair] out by the improving—and, indeed, record—levels of employment in the north. 21. [907611] Sir Desmond Swayne (New Forest West) (Con): Oral Answers to Questions My right hon. Friend can afford to be generous and let local government spend these sums because they are trifling compared with the bonanza available to us all as EXITING THE EUROPEAN UNION a consequence of lifting the common external tariff. The Secretary of State was asked— Mr Jones: I am glad that my right hon. Friend is so supportive of Government policy in this regard. He is Devolution of Power and Resources: Local Communities absolutely right. Frankly, Opposition Members would do well to be more positive about the benefits of Brexit, 1. Chi Onwurah (Newcastle upon Tyne Central) (Lab): rather than constantly seeking to talk down the economy. What recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on further devolution of power and resources from James Duddridge (Rochford and Southend East) (Con): Whitehall to local communities as part of his Department’s I fully approve of more money going to the frontline, preparations for the UK exiting the EU. [907589] but can the Minister give me some reassurance that he 5. Julie Cooper (Burnley) (Lab): What recent discussions will not be funding the “regions”—a pernicious invention he has had with Cabinet colleagues on further devolution of people who wanted to break up the United Kingdom of power and resources from Whitehall to local communities into various parts that were not contiguous with any as part of his Department’s preparations for the UK historical links to our communities? exiting the EU. [907593] Mr Jones: Indeed, the regions are a European construct. The Minister of State, Department for Exiting the Post-Brexit, we will be able to choose which parts of European Union (Mr David Jones): The vote to leave the our country benefit from Government support. European Union was a vote to take back control, and this Government continue to champion devolution to 20. [907610] Richard Arkless (Dumfries and Galloway) local government. (SNP): The Lord Advocate has delivered his advice, in which he said clearly that if the great repeal Bill were to Chi Onwurah: Newcastle voted to remain; the north-east pass, Scotland’s legislative consent motion would be voted to leave, and that is what we are doing, but no one required from the Scottish Parliament. Why does the voted to replace regional European support with centralised Secretary of State disagree with Scotland’s senior Law Whitehall neglect. Will the Minister confirm that, as Officer? powers are returned from Brussels, they will be devolved to the regions? Will he agree to meet me and local Mr Jones: As the hon. Gentleman will know, these government representatives in Newcastle to determine matters are currently being litigated in the Supreme how best to achieve that? Court, which will consider them later this month. The judgment should be delivered before the end of next Mr Jones: The hon. Lady invites me to visit Newcastle. month. In fact, I do intend to visit it, and I look forward to seeing her and local government leaders there. I must point out that this Government are making huge strides Mr Philip Hollobone (Kettering) (Con): Will my right towards rebalancing the economy and empowering local hon. Friend point out to those who are moaning about government through the devolution of powers away the potential loss of EU funding that it is our money in from Whitehall. At the autumn statement, the Government the first place, and that for every £1 we get from the signalled their intention to go further, including exploring European Union, we have to pay £2 to achieve it? devolution to cities such as London and Greater Manchester and to the west midlands, and offering greater flexibility Mr Jones: My hon. Friend makes his point precisely; for mayoral combined authorities to borrow for their that is exactly the case. There will be substantial savings new functions. following our departure from the European Union, with more to invest in the local economies around Julie Cooper: Although I voted in the referendum to our country. remain, I fully accept the outcome of the democratic election and my focus now is to ensure that the people Mr Dennis Skinner (Bolsover) (Lab): Change in local in my constituency are not worse off post-Brexit. Given government is normally done by Bills that go through that we have benefited from EU funding to the tune of this House. The system this Government are adopting is around £5 million a year, may I seek a guarantee from to charge local authorities or produce cuts in local 1647 Oral Answers1 DECEMBER 2016 Oral Answers 1648 authorities—representing, in Derbyshire’s case, about intend to respect the decision of the British people and £155 million—and then to say that if they have the what underpins it. As he rightly says, it would be northern “poorhouse”, as it might be called, they will irresponsible to set out red lines or to make unilateral get a little tiny bit back. As for Brexit, we all know why decisions at this stage, but it must be made clear that we the Secretary of State is going slow on that: because, want decisions over how taxpayers’ money is spent to be unlike John Major before him, who had about 18 rebels, made in this House. this time there are 80 Tory Back Benchers who are in favour of Brexit and about another 80 who are against Wayne David (Caerphilly) (Lab): This is a general it. That is why he does not deliver any information. question, so it provides the Minister with plenty of scope to give some sort of response. Will the Government Mr Jones: I am sure that the hon. Gentleman will be consider making any contribution in any shape or form pleased when article 50 is triggered before the end of for access to the single market? March. On the issue of local government in the north, all I can say is that there is huge enthusiasm in northern Mr Davis: I note that the first half of the hon. local authorities for directly elected Mayors. Gentleman’s question was probably aimed more at you, Mr Speaker, than at me. The simple answer we have Jenny Chapman (Darlington) (Lab): We could be a given previously—it is very important, because there is bit more positive if the Government showed us a plan a distinction between picking off an individual policy that we could be positive about. I assume the Minister and setting out a major criterion—is that the major misspoke when he said that the regions are “a European criterion here—[Interruption.] I will answer him if he construct”. I can assure him that that is not the case lets me do so. The major criterion is that we get the best where I come from in the north-east. They are very possible access for goods and services to the European much not a European construct, but something about market. If that is included in what he is talking about, which we are intensely proud. For the Government to then of course we would consider it. think that they can negotiate without involving regional businesses, civic leaders, airports and our universities Mr Peter Bone (Wellingborough) (Con): One of the really takes a special kind of narcissism. If there is decisions that I suppose the Government have to make going to be so much money flowing post-Brexit, why is is when we will stop paying money to the European it that the Government are refusing to guarantee every Union, or whether we then ask for it back. One way to penny of our regional funding now? negotiate could be to say, “Well, any money we’ve paid to the European Union after 23 June should come back Mr Jones: The hon. Lady is entirely right: it is necessary to us.” Is that not one of the positions we could take? to consult businesses, universities, civic leaders and all parts of civil society. Indeed, that is precisely what we are doing. The Department is engaging with representatives Mr Davis: I got into trouble once before for saying, of over 50 sectors across the economy. This is important “Get thee behind me, Satan”, which was royally work, and it is much better to get a proper, reasonable misinterpreted in the press. However, my hon. Friend Brexit than the hasty sort of Brexit that she and her makes a significant point. This money is British money: colleagues seem to be advocating. it will come back to us, and we will decide what to do with it.