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Tag: Speeches

  • Ben Bradshaw – 2023 Statement on Church of England’s Ban on Same-Sex Couples

    Ben Bradshaw – 2023 Statement on Church of England’s Ban on Same-Sex Couples

    The statement made by Ben Bradshaw, the Labour MP for Exeter, in the House of Commons on 18 January 2023.

    On a point of order, Mr Speaker. You may have heard that today the Church of England bishops have recommended no substantial change to the Church’s current ban on same-sex couples being married in church in England, although of course it is already possible in Scotland and will soon be possible in Wales. Many Members across the House—the majority, I would judge—believe that by continuing to exclude lesbian and gay people from its full rites, the Church is no longer compatible with its established status, which confers the duty to serve the whole nation. Has the Second Church Estates Commissioner indicated to you whether he will come to this House and make a statement on this very serious state of affairs and its potential constitutional consequences?

    Mr Speaker

    The answer is no—nobody has come to speak to me—but the Second Church Estates Commissioner is here with us and may wish to answer the right hon. Gentleman.

    The Second Church Estates Commissioner (Andrew Selous)

    Further to that point of order, Mr Speaker. I hear exactly what the right hon. Gentleman says. He will know that I will be answering questions in this House next Thursday, and I will willingly take questions on that. I should also point out that the Church of England has not yet made a formal, full statement on the matter. That will happen on Friday; I myself am only being fully briefed on it tomorrow. I am available to this House next Thursday and at any time at your discretion, Mr Speaker.

    Mr Speaker

    Unless the right hon. Member for Exeter (Mr Bradshaw) can get a question, he may not be able to get in as easily, so it may be appropriate for the Second Church Estates Commissioner to come forward with a statement rather than waiting for Church Commissioners’ questions. It would be helpful to have that statement on Monday; I would encourage that, because it is a topic that the House will wish to know about. I will leave that with the Second Church Estates Commissioner.

  • Lloyd Russell-Moyle – 2023 Personal Statement on Comments Made to Miriam Cates

    Lloyd Russell-Moyle – 2023 Personal Statement on Comments Made to Miriam Cates

    The personal statement made by Lloyd Russell-Moyle, the Labour MP for Brighton Kemptown, in the House of Commons on 18 January 2023.

    On a point of order, Mr Speaker. I wanted to notify the House at the earliest opportunity that I have written to the hon. Member for Penistone and Stocksbridge (Miriam Cates) to acknowledge that the tone of my remarks in the Chamber yesterday was a mistake. I stand by the words that I said, and I profoundly disagree with the comments that the hon. Member made, but our job as MPs is to channel passion and anger into considered debate to win our arguments—in this case, on the trans community and devolution. I recognise that I failed to control that passion during what was an emotional debate. I should have expressed my deep disagreement on what I believe is an abhorrent view in a more appropriate way. I want to particularly apologise to Madam Deputy Speaker, who had to preside over the debate.

    Mr Speaker

    I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for giving notice that he wished to come and make that point of order. It allows me to take this opportunity to remind hon. Members of the importance of good temper and moderation in contributions from all sides and all Members. We will disagree, but how we express that disagreement is important. Please, let us have moderate and temperate language going forward.

  • Alan Brown – 2023 Speech on Electric Vehicle Battery Production

    Alan Brown – 2023 Speech on Electric Vehicle Battery Production

    The speech made by Alan Brown, the SNP MP for Kilmarnock and Loudoun, in the House of Commons on 18 January 2023.

    I express sympathy with all those affected by the job losses, but this is an abject failure of the mythical levelling-up agenda. Unfortunately, that should not come as a surprise. It has always irritated me that the Tories claim that they are the ones to level up communities—the very communities that they devastated in the first place.

    Just over a year ago, the former, former Prime Minister was boasting about the construction of Britishvolt’s gigafactory. He said that it would create 3,000 direct jobs and 5,000 supply-chain jobs, and support the production of 300,000 batteries for car production. That meant putting our faith in a company with no pedigree, no assets except a field and no products to deliver a £4 billion factory—and that with one owner with a conviction for fraud. We know that the Government do not care about paying taxes, but that is akin to awarding a ferry contract to a company with no ferries. When did the Government do due diligence? When did they realise that there was a problem and what actions did they take? When will we see a coherent strategy for battery production, EV manufacturing, the roll-out of charging points across the UK and, importantly, hydrogen vehicle manufacturing and green hydrogen production?

    Graham Stuart

    I share the hon. Gentleman’s enthusiasm for the opportunities that come from net zero. That is why we are moving so hard on nuclear, which of course anybody who is not a prisoner of some ideological opposition and is genuinely committed to green energy would support. We are supporting that across the piece. I do not think that Conservative Members will take lessons on industrial intervention from Scottish nationalists after their shipbuilding enterprises in the north.

  • Grant Shapps – 2023 Speech at the Davos World Economic Forum Annual Meeting

    Grant Shapps – 2023 Speech at the Davos World Economic Forum Annual Meeting

    The speech made by Grant Shapps, the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, in Davos, Switzerland on 19 January 2023.

    Introduction / 50 years of Davos

    Good afternoon everyone.

    It is 52 years since Professor Klaus Schwab founded the World Economic Forum……

    And chose Davos as the location for its annual meetings…… a place described as the perfect sanctuary to escape the outside world.

    And there was no shortage of problems for those first delegates to escape in the early ‘70s…..

    A looming oil crisis.

    Cold War tension with Russia.

    Industrial unrest.

    And soaring inflation…..

    To name just a few….

    Looking back over half a century later, it doesn’t take too much imagination to see parallels with today’s world.

    Countries experiencing a wave of distinctly old-fashioned economic shocks…..

    From an energy crisis, and war in Ukraine…… to strikes and the rising cost of living……

    All things we hoped had disappeared along with bell bottomed jeans in the 1970s….. but have regrettably flared up again.

    However, unlike those first visitors to Davos five decades ago……

    We are not here this week to escape the problems of the outside world.

    We’re here – Government and industry – to fix them.

    Prime Minister / Growth

    We’ve now got a government which is making the right decisions for Britain, and for our economy.

    A fortnight ago, in his New Year speech……

    As well as pledging to halve inflation this year, and make sure national debt is falling……

    The Prime Minister was unequivocal in his commitment to ‘growth’.

    Now for this Government, ‘growth’ isn’t a goal…. a target….. or a destination.

    It’s the cornerstone of everything we are doing.

    And that’s because it’s the single biggest enabler of everything we want to deliver.

    How do we fix the NHS? Growth.

    How do we tackle the cost of living? Growth.

    How do we level up our country and make it fairer for all? Growth.

    Nothing will deflect us from this most urgent of priorities.

    Innovation

    But how do we achieve it?

    If we analyse Britain’s economic growth since the first Davos five decades ago…….

    Roughly half of our productivity increase has come from innovation.

    Half of the progress we’ve made as a country, is thanks to entrepreneurs….. disruptors….. risk takers….. and innovators…..

    People and businesses daring to think differently.

    And the exciting thing is, the change we’ve seen over the past 50 years will pale in comparison when compared with the next 50.

    We are truly on the cusp of a new Industrial Revolution.

    A revolution in how we do business.

    How we communicate.

    How we travel.

    How we feed a growing global population.

    How we power our homes and industries……

    A revolution in how we live our lives.

    And we have a choice.

    Either we sit back as a nation, waiting for change to happen…… and lose our position as one of the world’s leading economies……

    Or we propel ourselves forward……

    Using the unique combination of assets and talents which Britain possesses to shape the future.

    And my overwhelming focus as Business Secretary will be the latter path……

    To help businesses grasp the opportunities that lay ahead.

    To inspire and support the entrepreneurs of tomorrow.

    So Britain can create its own success.

    And the key challenge is this:

    We have never lacked great inventors, clever ideas, or promising start-ups.

    Last year, the UK was ranked among the five most innovative nations on earth by the World Intellectual Property Office……

    Ahead of South Korea, Germany, China and Singapore.

    So that’s not our issue.

    However, we must do better is convert start-ups to scale-ups.

    So I want to inspire ‘Scale-up Britain’.

    Building businesses that don’t just develop in the UK…..

    But stay to grow and mature into world-leaders.

    And that’s what I’d like to talk to you about today.

    Raising ambitions

    The first step to a ‘Scale-up’ nation is to ‘scale-up’ our ambitions.

    I want to make Britain the most dynamic place in the world to launch, grow and do business.

    A high-skills, high-wage economy, with a business-friendly culture, where creative enterprise is encouraged and rewarded.

    At difficult times like this, our instinct could be to turn inwards, think smaller, hedge our bets, and protect domestic industry by closing ourselves off.

    But that’s precisely the opposite of what’s needed right now,

    Rather, we must open up more.

    We must think bigger, take strategic risks.

    We must target high-growth sectors with long-term potential.

    We must form new global partnerships….. inviting the world to come and invest in Britain.

    And we must build a business ecosystem that harnesses our incredible potential to be a leader in the fourth Industrial Revolution, just as we were in the first.

    Tech

    We know that emerging technology is a market we want to lead.

    And we already have the largest tech sector in Europe….. worth over $1 trillion in 2021……

    Making us only the third country in the world to ever reach this historic landmark.

    So we’re well placed, but how do we scale-up innovators into global leaders?

    We must face facts.

    We have failed so far to develop any home-grown tech giants that can compete with the biggest global players.

    Granted…… that blessed with the world’s finest universities and most enquiring minds, we have produced more billion-dollar unicorn start-ups than France, Germany and the Netherlands put together…..

    But why do so many companies move abroad after being nurtured in the UK?

    And why doesn’t Britain produce a Google, Amazon or Apple?

    After all, it was a Brit who invented the World Wide Web….

    I think we can learn a lot from Silicon Valley’s ambition……

    And its record creating global tech brands……

    But we can also learn from the mistakes it has made.

    Its unicorns have sometimes prioritised shareholder value above all else.

    Its culture sometimes falls short of the standards we expect from modern employers.

    And whilst it has made a few people unimaginably rich, the wealth isn’t shared by everyone…… with homelessness in nearby San Francisco a visible sign of this inequality.

    So what I want to create is a Silicon Valley with a British edge.

    A scale-up Britain with global ambitions to lead the tech market and improve the world.

    UK strengths

    So how do we get there?

    Well, as Business Secretary, I recognise we have an extraordinary mix of assets in this country to help businesses on this mission.

    We host 4 of the world’s top 10 universities .

    We have a research-friendly regulatory environment now capable of greater speed and flexibility, in part due to Brexit.

    The international language of business is our mother tongue.

    We’ve announced the largest R&D budget in our history to become a science superpower.

    And the ONS recently revealed that the UK is investing close to 3% of GDP in research and development – significantly higher than previously thought.

    When it comes to scale-up finance, we are home to one of the world’s two biggest financial centres.

    We’re releasing £100 billion more through the Solvency II reforms that will be used for investment.

    We are number two in the world for business start-ups.

    And we are number one in Europe for venture capital investment.

    Put simply: no-one else has such a unique blend of advantages.

    But we have to bring them together to become more than the sum of those parts, to truly harness all our powers – if we’re to scale-up Britain and achieve our potential.

    Brexit

    Now, I know that some thought the UK’s vote to leave the European Union was a signal of global retreat.

    And I won’t deny that Brexit has brought significant challenges.

    I personally voted remain, not through any love of the European Union, but largely because of the huge hassle of leaving.

    But here’s the thing……. I was a minister both before and after Brexit.

    And now we’ve gone through the process of leaving the EU, I can see how we reap the benefits……

    With new trade deals, and new regulatory freedoms.

    For example, we got back powers that are already attracting new investment to Britain.

    As PricewaterhouseCoopers’ annual survey found this week, the UK is now a top 3 global investment market.

    We’re removing years of burdensome EU regulations in favour of a more agile, forward-looking approach.

    Just recently, for example, I visited Teesside to see the site for a new lithium refinery built by a company called Green Lithium.

    The plant will supply battery grade materials for use in gigafactories for electric vehicles, as well as renewable energy and consumer technology.

    This is not just levelling-up in action….. helped by Government funding…..

    It’s Europe’s first large scale lithium refinery….. securing critical minerals at a volatile time for global markets and supply chains.

    It will provide 8% of Europe’s refined lithium……mainly for cars…..and was made possible by Brexit freedoms….. because we could change how the mineral is classified and that nimble work unlocked investment.

    By being more agile, we can adapt to changing circumstances.

    And here’s another productivity example…..

    When I was Transport Secretary, we faced a global shortage of lorry drivers.

    You probably remember the tanker driver shortages which led to petrol queues in 2021.

    Well, I announced a large package of measures to help secure fuel deliveries to petrol stations…… many of which again, were helped by Brexit freedoms.

    For example, I was able to change the law to streamline driving tests …… something I could not have done if we’d still been a member of the European Union.

    And of course, we showed how agile regulation can deliver fast, effective results when Britain led the world in approving COVID vaccines, both delivering the jabs and coming out of lockdown first.

    Leadership

    All these benefits give us incredible scope for the future.

    Not just to compete. But to drive the tech revolution ourselves.

    The market is changing, and there’s a clear space for leadership.

    But we are.

    A British version of Silicon Valley specialising in digital technologies and deep tech .

    We are pioneering so many breakthrough technologies…… from clean and secure energy to life sciences and transport.

    We are investing in our world class Catapult Network to explore how technologies can be further applied to industry.

    And through initiatives like the Digital Regulation Cooperation Forum, we will continue setting the pace.

    We can lead a new wave of digitalisation too….. by developing the Metaverse, Digital Twins and new AI enabled robotic systems .

    This wave will be driven by open ecosystems of start-ups and scale-ups, with major players collaborating across borders…..

    And like-minded countries developing world-leading standards.

    The UK will play a key role in this – for example through the OECD’s recently-announced Global Technology Forum.

    We will work with partners to become the global hub for a responsible cyber-physical future.

    Our futures will be defined by not just one tech, but many.

    Artificial intelligence….. advanced communication networks….. robotics….. augmented reality and immersive technologies….. quantum and blockchain…… all potentially game-changers.

    And the UK has strengths in not just one of these technologies – but all of them.

    The potential they offer together is greater than the sum of their parts……

    With the power to transform whole industries around the world.

    Summary

    So – to recap – we have a unique opportunity here……

    Unprecedented in our lifetimes……

    To re-equip and re-boot British industry….. for a rapidly changing world.

    We have a government committed to growth.

    We have expertise in a wide mix of cutting edge technologies.

    We have the right environment to nurture business.

    We have already launched more than four and a half thousand startups and scaleups working in advanced digital technologies in the UK.

    So, with the largest tech sector in Europe, we’re already well on the way to becoming a British Silicon Valley.

    Scale-up Summit

    But to help us raise our game, we need to listen to a wider variety of entrepreneurs currently driving change.

    So I will launch a Scale-up Summit to bring together key frontier tech, development and finance figures who have accelerated tech businesses from start-ups to scale-ups……

    Who have worked around the world, from California to Tallinn…..

    And who can help us replicate their success in the UK, from Catford to Teeside.

    In particular, we want to hear from those who have achieved high growth, unicorn status…… and experienced multiple exits.

    We will use the Summit to build networks and share expertise.

    And establish how best we can use our skills and strengths to spark the growth of tomorrow.

    Conclusion

    So, despite the prevailing economic news right now……

    The difficult challenges that almost every government and business is grappling with……

    This is no time to sit back and escape the problems of the outside world, as those first Davos visitors did half a century ago…..

    It’s time to confront them.

    And the best way to do that is to get our economy growing.

    We in government know that this country can’t thrive unless its businesses are fit and flourishing too.

    That’s why the Prime Minister, the Chancellor and I are working flat out to not only recover from the toughest period in recent economic history…… but also to prepare for the next 50 years of British innovation…..

    Using the unique assets Britain has at its disposal……

    Building resilient businesses with global reach…..

    And leading in emerging markets that will deliver in the long-term.

    That’s how we’ll scale-up our ambitions.

    And that’s how we will shape the future.

    Thank you.

  • Jonathan Reynolds – 2023 Speech on Electric Vehicle Battery Production

    Jonathan Reynolds – 2023 Speech on Electric Vehicle Battery Production

    The speech made by Jonathan Reynolds, the Labour MP for Stalybridge and Hyde, in the House of Commons on 18 January 2023.

    When the Britishvolt site was first announced in 2019, with the promise to deliver the UK’s second ever gigafactory and create 8,000 jobs in Northumberland, it was lauded by the Government as their flagship example of levelling up: the right hon. Member for Spelthorne (Kwasi Kwarteng), then Business Secretary, said that Britishvolt is

    “exactly what levelling up looks like”,

    and Government Ministers fell all over themselves to take the credit, so now they must also accept accountability for its failure, because, much like their levelling up strategy, all we have been left with is an empty space instead of what was promised.

    The collapse of Britishvolt into administration is in no uncertain terms a disaster for the UK car industry, but what is even more worrying is that this is a symptom of a much wider failure. The automotive manufacturing sector currently employs over 182,000 people, and if we are to continue to make cars in this country we must make electric batteries in the UK. The Faraday Institution says we need 10 factories by 2040 to sustain our automotive sector, so even if Britishvolt was going ahead we would still be nowhere near where we need to be. These factories are being built in competitor countries, and that is because they have Governments with the vision and commitment to be the partner that private firms need to turn these factories from plans on paper into a reality. Surely the Government must accept that we need an industrial strategy.

    Will the Minister update the House on the Government’s plans to urgently increase UK battery-making capability? Can he tell us when the Government first had concerns about Britishvolt’s ability to deliver the factory, and why did these concerns not come to light when the Department conducted its extensive due diligence investigations into Britishvolt’s plans? What conversations has he had with other companies to secure the site and ensure the factory is built in Blyth? And will he now commit to Labour’s plans to build eight new gigafactories across the UK and expand the roll-out of charging points to support electric vehicle manufacturing?

    Wherever we look the Conservatives are failing this country, whether in public services or our iconic industries. Unless this Government wake up to the scale of the transition required, we will not only risk many of the good jobs that so many of our communities rely upon, but we will miss out on one of the greatest economic opportunities this country has ever had.

    Graham Stuart

    The hon. Gentleman is right about one thing: there is a tremendous opportunity. That is why we have the automotive transformation fund. That is why we did thorough due diligence on Britishvolt. It is because we set conditions around milestones that it had to meet that not a penny of that fund was dispensed to Britishvolt. However, I make no apology for supporting companies that are going to be part of that opportunity. The idea from the Labour party is that, if it were in power, it would build these factories. That is not how the economy works. That is why, in 2010, after 13 years of Labour Government, we saw youth unemployment up by more than 40%. That is the truth. We saw communities such as Blyth left behind and ignored. We saw an economic strategy that did not work for our young people and did not contribute to net zero in the way that it should. On the underpinning energy system, a bit more than 7% of our electricity came from renewables when Labour left power. Now it is more than 40%.

    The net zero strategy announced £350 million for the automotive transformation fund. That was in addition to the £500 million announced as part of the 10-point plan. That is why we are seeing investment. That is why we have nearly full employment. That is why we have factories and manufacturing going ahead in a way that would never happen under Labour.

  • Graham Stuart – 2023 Statement on Electric Vehicle Battery Production

    Graham Stuart – 2023 Statement on Electric Vehicle Battery Production

    The statement made by Graham Stuart, the Minister for Energy and Climate, in the House of Commons on 18 January 2023.

    Britishvolt entering into administration is a regrettable situation, and our thoughts are with the company’s employees and their families at this time. The Government are entirely committed to the future of the automotive industry and promoting EV capability. As part of our efforts to see British companies succeed in the industry, we offered significant support to Britishvolt through the automotive transformation fund on the condition that key milestones, including private sector investment commitments, were met. Unfortunately, the company was unable to meet these conditions and as a result no ATF funds were paid out. Throughout the process, we have always remained hopeful that Britishvolt would find a suitable investor and we are disappointed that this has not been possible. We want to ensure the best outcome for the site, and we will work closely with the local authority and potential investors to achieve this.

    The automotive industry is a vital part of the UK economy, and it is integral to delivering on levelling up, net zero and advancing global Britain. We will continue to take steps to champion the UK as the best location in the world for automotive manufacturing as we transition to electric and zero-emission vehicles.

    Despite what the party opposite may claim, we are not giving up on the automotive industry: on the contrary, our ambition to scale up the electric vehicle industry on our shores is greater than ever. We are leveraging investment from industry by providing Government support for new plants and upgrades to ensure that the UK automotive industry thrives into the future. Companies continue to show confidence in the UK, announcing major investments across the country including: £1 billion from Nissan and Envision to create an EV manufacturing hub in Sunderland; £100 million from Stellantis for its site in Ellesmere Port; and £380 million from Ford to make Halewood its first EV components site in Europe. And we will continue to work through our automotive transformation fund to build a globally competitive electric vehicle supply chain in the UK, boosting home-grown EV battery production, levelling up and advancing towards a greener future.

  • Keir Starmer – 2023 Parliamentary Question on Ambulance Waiting Times

    Keir Starmer – 2023 Parliamentary Question on Ambulance Waiting Times

    The parliamentary question asked by Sir Keir Starmer, the Leader of the Opposition, in the House of Commons on 18 January 2023.

    Keir Starmer (Holborn and St Pancras) (Lab)

    I join the Prime Minister in his comments about the dreadful case of David Carrick.

    It is three minutes past 12. If somebody phones 999 now because they have chest pains and fear it might be a heart attack, when would the Prime Minister expect an ambulance to arrive?

    The Prime Minister

    It is absolutely right that people can rely on the emergency services when they need them, and that is why we are rapidly implementing measures to improve the delivery of ambulance times and, indeed, urgent and emergency care. If the right hon. and learned Gentleman cares about ensuring patients get access to life-saving emergency care when they need it, why will he not support our minimum safety legislation?

    Keir Starmer

    The Prime Minister can deflect all he likes but, for a person suffering chest pains, the clock starts ticking straightaway—every minute counts. That is why the Government say an ambulance should be there in 18 minutes. In this case, that would be about 20 minutes past 12. I know he does not want to answer the question I asked him, so I will ask him again. When will that ambulance arrive?

    The Prime Minister

    Because of the extra funding we are putting in to relieve pressure in urgent and emergency care departments, and the investment we are putting into ambulance call handling, we will improve ambulance times as we are recovering from the pandemic and indeed the pressures of this winter. But I say this to the right hon. and learned Gentleman again, because he makes my case for me: he describes the life-saving care that people desperately need, so why, when they have this in other countries—France, Spain, Italy and others—is he depriving people here of that care?

    Keir Starmer

    The Prime Minister obviously does not know or does not care. I will tell him: if our heart attack victim had called for an ambulance in Peterborough at 12.03 pm, it would not arrive until 2.10 pm. These are our constituents waiting for ambulances I am talking about. If this had happened in Northampton, the ambulance would not arrive until—[Interruption.]

    Mr Speaker

    Order. Mr Bristow, I hope you want to see the rest of the questions out. I want you to be here, but you are going to have to behave better.

    Keir Starmer

    I am talking about our constituents. If they were in Northampton, the ambulance would not arrive until 2.20 pm. If they were in Plymouth, it would not arrive until 2.40 pm. That is why someone who fears a heart attack is waiting more than two and half hours for an ambulance. That is not the worst-case scenario; it is just the average wait. So for one week, will the Prime Minister stop blaming others, take some responsibility and just admit that under his watch the NHS is in crisis, isn’t it?

    The Prime Minister

    I notice that the one place the right hon. and learned Gentleman did not mention was Wales, where we know that ambulance times are even worse than they are in England. Let me set out the reason that is the case, because this is not about politics; this is about the fact that the NHS in Scotland, in Wales, in England is dealing with unprecedented challenges, recovering from covid and dealing with a very virulent and early flu season, and everyone is doing their best to bring those wait times down. But again, I ask him: if he believes so much in improving ambulance wait times, why will he not support our minimum safety legislation?

    Keir Starmer

    The Prime Minister will not answer any questions and he will not take any responsibility. By 1 pm, our heart attack victim is in a bad way, sweaty, dizzy and with their chest tightening. [Interruption.] I am talking about a heart attack and Conservative Members are shouting—this is your constituent. By that time, they should be getting treatment. But an hour after they have called 999 they are still lying there, waiting, listening to the clock tick. How does he think they feel, knowing that an ambulance could be still hours away?

    The Prime Minister

    The specific and practical things we are doing to improve ambulance times are clear: we are investing more in urgent and emergency care to create more bed capacity; we are ensuring that the flow of patients through emergency care is faster than it ever has been; we are discharging people at a record rate out of hospitals, to ease the constraints that they are facing; and we are reducing the call-out rates by moving people out of ambulance stacks, with them being dealt with in the community. Those are all very practical steps that will make a difference in the short term. But I ask the right hon. and learned Gentleman this again and again, although we know why; the reason he is not putting patients first when it comes to ambulance waiting times is because he is simply in the pockets of his union paymasters.

    Keir Starmer

    This is not hypothetical; this is real life. Stephanie from Plymouth was battling cancer when she collapsed at home. Her mum rang 999, desperate for help. Stephanie only lived a couple of miles from the hospital, but they could not prioritise her. She was 26 when she died, waiting for that ambulance—a young woman whose life was ended far too soon. As a dad, I cannot even fathom that pain. So on behalf of Stephanie and her family, will the Prime Minister stop the excuses, stop shifting the blame, stop the political games and simply tell us: when will he sort out these delays and get back to the 18-minute wait?

    The Prime Minister

    Of course Stephanie’s case is a tragedy. Of course, people are working as hard as they can to ensure that people get the care that they need. The right hon. and learned Gentleman talks about political games. He is a living example of someone playing political games when it comes to people’s healthcare. I have already mentioned what has been going on in Wales. Is he confident that, in the Labour-run Welsh NHS, nobody is suffering right now? Of course they are, because the NHS everywhere is under pressure. What we should be doing is supporting those doctors and nurses to make the changes that we are doing to bring care to those people. I will ask him this: if he is so concerned about making sure that the Stephanies of the future get the care that they need, why is he denying those families the guarantee of emergency life-saving care?

    Keir Starmer

    So, that is the Prime Minister’s answer to Stephanie’s family—deflect, blame others, never take responsibility. Just like last week, he will not say when he will deliver the basic minimum service levels that people need.

    Over the 40 minutes or so that these sessions tend to last, 700 people will call an ambulance; two will be reporting a heart attack, four a stroke. Instead of the rapid help they need, many will wait and wait and wait. If the Prime Minister will not answer any questions, will he at least apologise for the lethal chaos under his watch?

    The Prime Minister

    The right hon. and learned Gentleman asks about the minimum safety levels. We will deliver them as soon as we can pass them. Why will he not vote for them? We are delivering on the people’s priorities. As we have seen this week, the right hon. and learned Gentleman will just say anything if the politics suits him; it is as simple as that. He will break promises left, right and centre. He promised to nationalise public services. He promised to have a second referendum. He promised to defend the mass migration of the EU, and now we are apparently led to believe—[Interruption.]

    Mr Speaker

    Order. I expect those on the Front Bench to keep a little quiet. If they do not, there is somewhere else where they can shout and make their noise.

    The Prime Minister

    If we are to deliver for the British people, people need to have strong convictions. When it comes to the right hon. and learned Gentleman, he is not just for the free movement of people; he also has the free movement of principles.

  • Michael Fabricant – 2023 Parliamentary Question on Investment from England Into Wales

    Michael Fabricant – 2023 Parliamentary Question on Investment from England Into Wales

    The parliamentary question asked by Michael Fabricant, the Conservative MP for Lichfield, in the House of Commons on 18 January 2023.

    Michael Fabricant (Lichfield) (Con)

    What discussions he has had with the Welsh Government on investment from England into Wales; and if he will make a statement.

    The Secretary of State for Wales (David T. C. Davies)

    I have regular discussions with the Welsh Government on increasing investment in Wales and supporting the Welsh economy. Our plans for at least one Welsh freeport alongside our investment in infrastructure will act as a catalyst for further investment from the UK and beyond.

    Michael Fabricant

    A number of Welsh nationalists—not all but some—used the opportunity of covid and the closure of the Welsh border to incite anti-English feeling. Now we hear that Plaid Cymru, working with Labour, will introduce a hotel tax and other taxes. What does my right hon. Friend think that will do for English investment in Wales?

    David T. C. Davies

    I want to see people from England, and from all over the world, visiting Wales, and I am sure that all who do will appreciate the natural beauty and all that Wales has to offer to the tourism industry. I was disappointed that some people appeared to be indulging in anti-English rhetoric during the covid crisis. I hope all Members of this House would condemn such behaviour. I want to do more to encourage tourism, which is why I regret the fact that the Welsh Labour Government are bringing in a tourism tax. A tax on tourism is an attack on the tourist industry.

    Alison McGovern (Wirral South) (Lab)

    On the subject of investment between England and Wales, progress on speeding up the Wrexham to Bidston line is about as slow as the trains on the Wrexham to Bidston line. What has the Secretary of State personally done to improve rail connections between north Wales and Liverpool?

    David T. C. Davies

    I am sure I speak for the whole Government in saying that we are completely committed to better rail connections across the United Kingdom. I am well aware of the line between Wrexham and Bidston. I am also aware that it went through a business case procedure that was not completely positive. I can assure the hon. Lady that a number of projects in the rail network enhancements pipeline will be discussed shortly by the Department for Transport.

  • Jerome Mayhew – 2023 Parliamentary Question on the Menai Bridge Closure

    Jerome Mayhew – 2023 Parliamentary Question on the Menai Bridge Closure

    The parliamentary question asked by Jerome Mayhew, the Conservative MP for Broadland, in the House of Commons on 18 January 2023.

    Jerome Mayhew (Broadland) (Con)

    Whether he has had recent discussions with the Welsh Government on the closure of the Menai bridge.

    The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales (Dr James Davies)

    Roads are a devolved matter and the decision to close the Menai suspension bridge was therefore made by the Welsh Government. Work has commenced on the emergency replacement of brittle hangers dating back to 1938, and this will be followed by additional maintenance works. Welsh Government Ministers assure me that, subject to safety assessments, the bridge is due to reopen at the end of this month.

    Jerome Mayhew

    The Menai bridge supplies the lifeline of tourism to Anglesey and the wider region. Given Welsh Labour’s negligent handling of the maintenance of the bridge, and now its closure for months, how does my hon. Friend think Welsh Labour is doing on its manifesto commitment to rebuild tourism in Wales?

    Dr Davies

    Quality road infrastructure is vital to unlocking the potential of the north Wales visitor economy. I believe that there are questions to be answered about the specification of the contracted private finance initiative maintenance schedule for the bridge, which was awarded by the last Labour UK Government in 1998, and about the stalled consideration of a third crossing on the Menai strait. I urge the Welsh Government to publish the findings of the roads review and resume the improvement of the north Wales road network.

  • Wendy Chamberlain – 2023 Parliamentary Question on Rail Infrastructure in Wales

    Wendy Chamberlain – 2023 Parliamentary Question on Rail Infrastructure in Wales

    The parliamentary question asked by Wendy Chamberlain, the Liberal Democrat MP for North East Fife, in the House of Commons on 18 January 2023.

    Wendy Chamberlain (North East Fife) (LD)

    What recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on support for rail infrastructure in Wales.

    The Secretary of State for Wales (David T. C. Davies)

    I have regular discussions with Cabinet members on a range of transport measures. More than £340 million has been provided for rail enhancements in Wales, including at Cardiff Central station and for the electrification of the Severn tunnel.

    Wendy Chamberlain

    The Government’s failure to end rail strikes impacts all of us across the UK. Like in Scotland, transport is devolved in Wales, but we need people coming from England into our countries to get much-needed revenue for tourism and hospitality. In Wales, a pay agreement has been reached but its own railways cannot function on strike days because of UK- managed maintenance responsibilities. Can the Secretary of State outline what he is doing to resolve these damaging strikes and get railways up and running again?

    David T. C. Davies

    I must confess that I failed to hear much of that question, and I apologise for that. I heard the hon. Lady ask what I was going to do to get railways up and running again, but I am not certain which ones she was referring to. This puts me in a slightly difficult position as far as answering is concerned, but I can honestly say to her that we have spent £340 million on railways over this control the period, including £125 million on the core valley lines, £4.7 million on St Clears station, £4 million on the Bow Street station and £2.7 million on the Cambrian line. In addition to that, we have spent money on projects such as the electrification of the south Wales line. The Cardiff capital region South Wales Metro is funded partly by the UK Government through a growth deal, and our commitment to the railways is—

    Mr Speaker

    Order. I call Kevin Foster.

    Kevin Foster (Torbay) (Con)

    Direct train services between south Wales and Devon are a key part of our rail infrastructure, yet most are operated using older, less reliable rolling stock. What prospect does the Secretary of State see for getting new, more modern trains operating on these routes?

    David T. C. Davies

    I am pleased to be able to tell my hon. Friend that more modern stock is being rolled out on those particular routes, so he will be able to benefit from more comfortable carriages that will also emit less carbon and be better for the environment.