Oral Answers to Questions — Wales – in the House of Commons at 11:30 am on 10 June 2009.
Albert Owen
Labour, Ynys Môn
11:30,
10 June 2009
What recent meetings he has had with ministerial colleagues on new employment and training opportunities in low carbon industries in Wales.
Peter Hain
The Secretary of State for Wales
It is nice to be back, even though my appointment was marked by an earthquake a few miles from my home. May I also pay tribute to my close friend, my right hon. Friend Mr. Murphy, one of Wales's outstanding politicians? We have followed each other in and out of this job for 10 years. He had regular such meetings with ministerial colleagues—in particular through the National Economic Council—and I will continue to do so.
Albert Owen
Labour, Ynys Môn
I thank the Secretary of State for that answer, and I welcome him back to his role. I also pay tribute to my right hon. Friend Mr. Murphy for the excellent contribution that he has made in government to Wales and to the rest of the United Kingdom.
Last Friday, I attended a skills building competition at Coleg Menai in my Constituency, where I saw at first hand young craftsmen and students learning and developing skills for the future. Does the Secretary of State agree that Wales is well placed to be at the forefront of the green revolution to come, and does he further agree that we need a skills sharing strategy to build a pool of skills in energy generation for the future, including renewables, clean coal and nuclear power?
Peter Hain
The Secretary of State for Wales
I completely agree with my hon. Friend, who is an outstanding Member of Parliament for his Constituency. I am aware of the excellent training opportunities available at Coleg Menai, which have been achieved through additional funding of £4 million from the Welsh Assembly Government for its energy and fabrication centre. That funding would be slashed if the Conservative party ever got into power.
Jennifer Willott
Shadow Secretary of State, Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Last year I surveyed businesses in Cardiff that install and develop renewable technologies. The overwhelming Majority said that business was falling because it was so difficult for families to get grants to install those technologies in their homes and people could not afford them. Since then, access to those grants has become even more difficult. Will the Secretary of State liaise with Cabinet colleagues to ensure that more money is available for families to install such technologies in their homes, so that we can ensure that this key Welsh industry can be developed and grow further?
Peter Hain
The Secretary of State for Wales
I very much agree with the hon. Lady that the more funding we can get to assist people to put renewable energy installations into their homes the better, but of course the UK budget under this Government provided an extra £1.4 billion in additional support for the low carbon economy. She may know that the Welsh Assembly Government have invested some £4.5 million in the Carbon Trust to help it to develop its business plan. All of that funding is part of our investment programme driving forward our objective of a low carbon economy.
Lembit Öpik
Liberal Democrat, Montgomeryshire
I, too, congratulate the right hon. Gentleman on his return. He knows that I thought that it was utterly unjust that he was pushed out of office on trumped-up charges; it is good that he has now proved his innocence and returned to the front bench.
Montgomeryshire is a pioneer in low carbon industry through the work of the Centre for Alternative Technology. However, it is concerned that local authorities in Wales spend less on school maintenance and upkeep than any other council service, to the detriment of the environment. How can we expect to instil a sense of environmental responsibility and global citizenship if the next generation is being taught in schools that are environmentally not fit for use?
Peter Hain
The Secretary of State for Wales
The answer may well be to get a Labour county council, to provide the additional funding. I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for his remarks, and for the support that I have had across the House. He raises an important question, and if there is any other help that I can give him in securing his objectives I will be happy to do so.
Dame Cheryl Gillan
Shadow Secretary of State for Wales
As this could be the last time that I am at the Dispatch Box under your auspices, Mr. Speaker, may I take this opportunity to thank you for your courtesy towards me and my Front-Bench team and for your service to this House, and to wish you well?
In welcoming the return of the new Secretary of State, I also wish to express my admiration for his predecessor. I have enjoyed working with Mr. Murphy, a decent and straightforward man. We will miss his common sense and dedication to Wales. I wonder what sort of Prime Minister we have, who can so easily dispense with his services.
In January the Government announced a £2.3 billion scheme for the car industry, including £1 billion to help it develop low carbon technologies. The German, French and Italian Governments have all delivered on their schemes. What has happened to the money for British and Welsh companies, and why are they the last to receive the help that was promised?
Peter Hain
The Secretary of State for Wales
The money is coming through, although it would be threatened if the Conservatives ever got into power. I echo the hon. Lady's remarks about you, Mr. Speaker. We have worked together for a long time. I am also grateful for the welcome that the hon. Lady gave me. I have been very fond of her over the years and I was glad to see that she survived the twin gaffes of advertising for a researcher for whom knowledge of devolution was "desirable but not necessary", and letting the cat out of the bag on plans to reverse the devolution of higher education.
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