1-20 of 29 results for primarymember:"John Howell"
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If he will make an assessment of the effect of the outcome of the 2021 Senedd election on the economy in Wales.
If he will make an assessment of the effect of the outcome of the 2021 Senedd election on the economy in Wales.
The Senedd election has shown that three out of four voters rejected separatism, recognising that our economic prosperity is indelibly linked to being part of the Union.
I am concerned that one of the first priorities of the Welsh Government seems to be a universal basic income. Is my right hon. Friend aware of the debates that I took part in at the Council of Europe, in which the idea was completely rubbished?
I am concerned that one of the first priorities of the Welsh Government seems to be a universal basic income. Is my right hon. Friend aware of the debates that I took part in at the Council of Europe, in which the idea was completely rubbished?
I say to my hon. Friend:
“Anybody who thinks this is a good idea should knock some doors of Labour voters in working families. It might sound radical to academics and ‘policy wonks’ but it sounds out of touch if you ask most normal people.”
Those are not my words, but the words of the new Minister for the Economy in the Welsh Government, so it seems that they have a problem in their own ranks, let alone trying to persuade us of the merits of it.
What steps the Government is taking to support innovation in Wales.
What steps the Government is taking to support innovation in Wales.
Does the Minister share my view that a prime mover behind rebalancing the economy is the sense of fairness? Does he agree that the action taken by the Government in freeing generations of people in constituencies throughout Wales is about making the best use of their talents? [Interruption.]
Does the Minister share my view that a prime mover behind rebalancing the economy is the sense of fairness? Does he agree that the action taken by the Government in freeing generations of people in constituencies throughout Wales is about making the best use of their talents? [Interruption.]
I did not hear the full question, but what I did hear was a really important point about fairness when it comes to rebalancing the economy. Unlike previous Labour Governments, who stood by while the economy of the United Kingdom became hopelessly imbalanced towards London and the south-east, we do not think that is good enough. We think that there are talents and resources in the north of England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the west of England that need to be captured and enhanced to drive growth in the UK.
What assessment he has made of recent trends in the level of benefit dependency in Wales.
What assessment he has made of recent trends in the level of benefit dependency in Wales.
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what assessment he has made of the effect of welfare reform on employment levels in Wales.
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what assessment he has made of the effect of welfare reform on employment levels in Wales.
Welfare reform is working in Wales and people are seizing the opportunity to support themselves through hard work. Since 2010, we have seen over 54,000 fewer people claiming out of work benefits and employment increase by 61,000.
What discussions he had with business leaders at the recent Newport Investment Summit.
What discussions he had with business leaders at the recent Newport Investment Summit.
The UK investment summit in Newport was another important opportunity to focus on all that is good about the Welsh economy at this time. I was proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, the First Minister of Wales and businesses in Wales to bang the drum for all that is great about our nation. During the summit I met numerous companies that are looking to invest or to expand their investment in Wales.
Did my right hon. Friend discuss with business leaders the fact that there were 79 foreign direct investment projects in Wales in 2013-14, the highest level in 24 years?
Did my right hon. Friend discuss with business leaders the fact that there were 79 foreign direct investment projects in Wales in 2013-14, the highest level in 24 years?
My hon. Friend is exactly right; there has been a sharp increase in inward investment in Wales. The important point to note about those projects is that they were all secured with the help of UK Trade & Investment and the UK Government.
What recent assessment he has made of employment trends in Wales.
What recent assessment he has made of employment trends in Wales.
Our long-term economic plan is working, and it is working for Wales. The economy is growing, and there have never been more people in work in Wales as unemployment continues to fall. I want to see all parts of Wales share in that positive trend.
Can the Minister confirm that, because of the difficult decisions the Government have made, Wales has seen a larger fall in the rate of economic inactivity than any other UK nation?
Can the Minister confirm that, because of the difficult decisions the Government have made, Wales has seen a larger fall in the rate of economic inactivity than any other UK nation?
My hon. Friend is, as ever, exactly right. Wales has seen a larger fall in economic inactivity than any other part of the United Kingdom. We all welcome the fact that 57,000 fewer people are economically inactive in Wales, but that has come about only because of the responsible decisions made by the Government—decisions that were opposed by the Labour party.
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues and others on the broadcasting industry in Wales.
[122196]
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues and others on the broadcasting industry in Wales.
[122196]
The Secretary of State for Wales, my right hon. Friend the Member for Clwyd West (Mr Jones), and I have regular discussions with ministerial colleagues and others on the broadcasting industry in Wales including a meeting yesterday with Teledwyr Annibynnol Cymru, the Welsh independent producers.
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I have regular discussions with ministerial colleagues and others on a range of issues, including the construction industry in Wales. I have written to the Welsh Government offering to facilitate discussions with my right hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Local Government to explore the possible extension of the NewBuy scheme to Wales.
Does my hon. Friend share my concern that the approach to planning and building regulations being adopted by the Labour Welsh Government is having an adverse effect on the construction industry in Wales?
Does my hon. Friend share my concern that the approach to planning and building regulations being adopted by the Labour Welsh Government is having an adverse effect on the construction industry in Wales?
In Wales, an increasingly onerous planning and building regulations system is developing. Both planning and building regulations are key to the development of new housing and, at a time when England is relaxing that regime, the Welsh Assembly Government are making it more oppressive.
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions she has had with ministerial colleagues and Ministers in the Welsh Government on cross-border economic implications of the development of enterprise zones.
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions she has had with ministerial colleagues and Ministers in the Welsh Government on cross-border economic implications of the development of enterprise zones.
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what progress has been made on the Government's commitment to undertake a process similar to the Calman Commission on devolution funding; and if she will make a statement.
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what progress has been made on the Government's commitment to undertake a process similar to the Calman Commission on devolution funding; and if she will make a statement.