Geraint Davies: If she will make an assessment of the implications for her policies of the report by the Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development of the Council of Europe entitled “Safeguarding democracy, rights and the environment in international trade”.
Geraint Davies: The Minister knows that I am trade rapporteur to the Council of Europe. My report, which has been agreed by 46 member states, calls for due diligence on the border to protect supply chains from human rights abuse and deforestation, and more clout for the environment vis-à-vis the interests of energy companies, in particular in dispute mechanisms. Will she meet me about taking forward those...
Geraint Davies: Will the Minister give way?
Geraint Davies: The Minister pointed out that infrastructure investment is devolved to Scotland and therefore the money for England and Wales would all be spent in England. The assumption is that Wales will benefit, which it does not. Does he accept that there is a compelling case for infrastructure investment or enhancement to be devolved completely to Wales so that we get our 5% share over time, in the...
Geraint Davies: Will the Minister give way on this?
Geraint Davies: Will the Minister give way?
Geraint Davies: Will the Minister give way one more time?
Geraint Davies: If I can make a technical point, does the right hon. Lady accept that because the UK Government have not invested in rail enhancement, maintenance costs have risen and the productivity of the lines has fallen? We have ended up in a situation whereby the Welsh Government pay the bills by taking money from other needs, such as health, to make up for the lack of investment by the UK Government,...
Geraint Davies: Does the right hon. Lady agree that, in addition, the end of EU structural funding, which has a timespan of about seven years, means that Wales is not in a position independently to invest in infrastructure over the medium to long term, and that it needs that investment and assurance, and the devolution of rail infrastructure?
Geraint Davies: It is great to serve under your chairpersonship, Mrs Cummins, and a big congratulations to the hon. Member for Neath (Christina Rees). If, in the aftermath of the King’s coronation, the Government are serious about the Union, they should stop starving Wales of its resources and making it relatively poorer, year after year. The average wage in Wales is 72.7% of the UK level; it was £21,000...
Geraint Davies: Precisely. The money is poured into London, which already has the wealth and the best transport system. There is an idea that there will be some sort of trickle down. In transport generally, the only place we have publicly owned transport that works is London; elsewhere, it is a complete mess because it is not controlled in the interests of the public. Investment is the core issue I am...
Geraint Davies: Precisely. The Welsh Government, in their wisdom, have quite rightly decided that we need to shift our focus from personal car use and diesel to public transport and rail. However, they are not being accommodated by the UK Government, who give us the money we need to provide infrastructure that enables people to move around more modestly, and to work from home and so on, in order to save...
Geraint Davies: On the electrification of the south Wales main line, my hon. Friend will know that David Cameron promised that the electrification would reach Swansea, but it ends at Cardiff. Does she think that that is a half-done job?
Geraint Davies: Last but not least, I call the Minister.
Geraint Davies: Thank you so much, John Howell, in particular for the reference to the upcoming Reykjavík Council of Europe summit.
Geraint Davies: I invite John Howell to speak next—my colleague at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, which does so much on human rights and the rule of law. In fact, he is the leader of our delegation.
Geraint Davies: I call Richard Foord; it is a happy coincidence that I am wearing this blue and yellow tie.
Geraint Davies: I remind Members that if they want to participate, they will need to bob.
Geraint Davies: The chief medical officer, Chris Whitty, has just issued a report, with 15 recommendations, that gives a route map on how to achieve these targets earlier, including on indoor air pollution and wood burners. Will the Minister respond to that now, write in greater detail to me as the chair of the all-party group on air pollution, and come to a meeting to explain what progress the Government...
Geraint Davies: Whether he has made a comparative assessment of the level of additional rail funding provided to Scotland and Wales as a Barnett consequential of HS2.