Simon Hart: I actually agree with a lot in the point that the hon. Gentleman raises. If he looks at some of the projects we are talking about, particularly around defence spending—£850 million of defence spending—the potential around floating offshore wind once the Crown Estate’s leases are in play and the huge potential around nuclear development at Wylfa, he will see that domestic UK procurement...
Simon Hart: The UK Government are Wales tourism’s biggest fan, and the fact we stepped up with financial help during the pandemic and saved thousands of jobs is testament to that.
Simon Hart: I think I can do even better than my hon. Friend requests me to by simply quoting the words of the chief executive of UKHospitality, Kate Nicholls, who said: “The tourism tax is ill thought through and proposed without any impact assessment. Welsh Government does not know why it is needed, what its effect will be on visitors and what damage it will do to businesses and jobs in a sector...
Simon Hart: Perhaps I can encourage the hon. Gentleman to persuade his colleague in Cardiff, the First Minister, to drop his ridiculous plans for a tourism tax and for various other means of punishing successful businesses in Wales. If he did that, perhaps we could create some lasting jobs in Wales rather than simply listening to his political protestations.
Simon Hart: I join the chorus of compliments directed at my right hon. Friend, and neighbour, the Member for Preseli Pembrokeshire (Stephen Crabb) for his part in this debate and, indeed, in chairing the Welsh Affairs Committee, which he does with absolute skill and aplomb. I was struck by a few points he made. He referred to the inflationary pressures that are on the UK at the moment being a global...
Simon Hart: I will keep pressing on, because we do not have a lot of time. My old friend and neighbour, the hon. Member for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr (Jonathan Edwards), and I have had this exchange about separatism versus Unionism many times, but until such time that he can explain to me why it is apparently essential for the future of Wales that we leave the UK, while simultaneously apparently just...
Simon Hart: I have regular discussions with the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and Welsh Ministers on a wide range of issues. As previously stated in 2017, the UK Government intends to legislate to remove the Trade Union (Wales) Act 2017 through primary legislation when Parliamentary time allows. The repeal of Regulation 7, which will apply across all sectors, is...
Simon Hart: I have regular discussions with the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on a wide range of issues. The Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses (Amendment) Regulations 2022 have no direct impact on the Trade Union (Wales) Act 2017. Employment and industrial relations law is however a reserved matter. As previously stated in 2017, the UK...
Simon Hart: The Foreign Secretary wrote to the Minister for Economy in the Welsh Government ahead of introduction of the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill to inform the Minister of the forthcoming legislation and seek the consent of the Senedd for provisions in the Bill that are within devolved competence. FCDO officials have also met with officials in the Welsh Government to discuss the content of the...
Simon Hart: The UK Government are actively engaging with the Welsh Government and other Devolved Administrations on building safety matters. While it is for each Administration to take their own approach to building safety as a devolved matter, there is positive potential for sharing approaches to proportionality, data, engagement with industry, and other areas of mutual interest. Pledges with...
Simon Hart: Under Section 93 of the Transport Act 1985 local authorities in England and Wales can agree with neighbouring authorities to offer discretionary travel concessions on local services where the route may cross the border.
Simon Hart: On 1 March 2022, the Minister for Defence People and Veterans and I jointly announced that we would be appointing Colonel James Phillips as the Veterans’ Commissioner for Wales, thereby ensuring that all parts of the UK have an independent voice representing the interests of veterans. In this role, Colonel Phillips will engage with veterans and their families, listen to their needs and...
Simon Hart: I am sure the whole House will want to join me in sending love and best wishes to parents, teachers, and the village of Llanfair Caereinion in Powys following the traumatic incident involving their school on Monday. I hope very much that my hon. Friend the Member for Montgomeryshire (Craig Williams) will be able to pass on the House’s very best wishes. I regularly discuss rail...
Simon Hart: I do not know why some Members on the Opposition Benches were being so derogatory during the hon. Lady’s extremely valid question. It was perfectly reasonable for her to highlight the fact that transport infrastructure in the UK is in the UK, and that any suggestion that it should in some way be devolved underestimates completely the economic value that it provides. I agree with the...
Simon Hart: My right hon. Friend has made a good point. The Government recognise the importance of the line to which he has referred, and I know that Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and Transport for Wales have been discussing the opportunities presented by battery-powered trains. My right hon. Friend also made a good point about cross-border connectivity and the need for us to view these areas...
Simon Hart: The hon. Lady has raised, quite reasonably, a point that she has raised before. I agree with her on most of the issues that she has raised, apart from the background to the cancellation of electrification, a decision which, as she knows, was taken in the context of bimodal trains as an equally beneficial alternative. However, her general views about rail infrastructure and net zero are...
Simon Hart: A good question interspersed with some slightly trite comments; the hon. Gentleman might have done better had he avoided them. He overlooks the fact we have invested £340 million so far, with £125 million for the core valley lines, £58 million for Cardiff Central station, £76 million for the electrification of the Severn tunnel, £4.7 million for St Clears station in my own constituency,...
Simon Hart: I am happy to meet my hon. Friend on that point. I have travelled that route myself many times, and I would be happy to see what we can do to help.
Simon Hart: To alleviate the immediate impacts of this global crisis, we have injected support worth over £22 billion in 2023. For businesses, we have cut fuel duty and provided help to high energy-using businesses. In the longer term, our Plan for Jobs will ensure long-term prosperity for Wales, including the development of the Wylfa nuclear power station.
Simon Hart: Even the Welsh Government have not made that argument to me. I think they fully recognise that the proper and fair distribution of welfare is done most effectively and cost-effectively on a UK-wide basis, but I am grateful that the hon. Gentleman has raised this issue because the money that the Scottish Government are using is available as a consequence of the Barnett formula, and the...