Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what assessment he has made of the strength of trade relations between Wales and (a) Northern Ireland, (b) Scotland and (c) England; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Lord Hart of Tenby
The Government is monitoring and assessing these critical trade routes between Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland and England. We are committed to strengthening the Union and increasing trade flows between the four nations as a key part of that strategy.
Under the UK Internal Market Act, we have legislated for a framework within which to manage regulatory divergence within the UK, ensuring the continued free flow of goods and services between Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland and England, by preventing the introduction of new regulatory barriers and enshrining the principles of mutual recognition and non-discrimination into domestic law. These principles ensure that regulations from one part of the UK are recognised across the other home nations and support companies trading in the UK regardless of where in the UK they are based.
We have further legislated to ensure unfettered access for trade between Northern Ireland and Great Britain.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on promoting renewable energy generation in (a) Newport West constituency and (b) Wales.
Answered by Lord Hart of Tenby
I have regular discussions with the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy about promoting renewable energy generation across all parts of Wales, including Newport.
The UK Government is committed to supporting renewable energy generation, with £285 million per year available in the fourth round of the Contracts for Difference renewable energy support scheme for projects in Wales, Scotland and England. We also recently announced up to £160 million in new funding for new large-scale floating offshore wind ports and factories across the UK. Wales is well placed to capitalise on this funding given the emerging pipelines in areas around the Celtic Sea.
I will continue to work with the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, and my Cabinet colleagues, to ensure that we capitalise on the huge renewable energy opportunities Wales has to offer.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, whether he has had recent discussions with the Welsh Government on UK Government financial support for Wales to assist with resettlement of Ukrainian refugees in that country.
Answered by Lord Hart of Tenby
Representatives from across Government meet frequently with colleagues in the Welsh Government and across the Devolved Administrations to update them on a number of matters, including the handling of the current Ukrainian crisis.
Given this is a constantly evolving matter, we are keeping under review how best the UK Government can support refugees fleeing Ukraine and how we allocate financial resource to do so.
At the same time, we have been working at pace to launch the Ukraine Family Scheme and it is now open for extended family members to apply.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what discussions he has had with the Welsh Government on potential financial support available for the resettlement and welcome of refugees fleeing Ukraine.
Answered by Lord Hart of Tenby
Representatives from across Government meet frequently with colleagues in the Welsh Government and across the Devolved Administrations to update them on a number of matters, including the handling of the current Ukrainian crisis.
Given this is a constantly evolving matter, we are keeping under review how best the UK Government can support refugees fleeing Ukraine and how we allocate financial resource to do so.
At the same time, we have been working at pace to launch the Ukraine Family Scheme and it is now open for extended family members to apply.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, whether he has met representatives of the Welsh Local Government Association to discuss financial support to welcome refugees from Ukraine.
Answered by Lord Hart of Tenby
Representatives from across Government meet frequently with colleagues in the Welsh Local Government Association to update them on a number of matters, including the handling of the current Ukrainian crisis.
Given this is a constantly evolving matter, we are keeping under review how best the UK Government can support refugees fleeing Ukraine and how we allocate financial resource to do so.
At the same time, we have been working at pace to launch the Ukraine Family Scheme and it is now open for extended family members to apply.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on supporting economic growth in Newport West constituency.
Answered by Lord Hart of Tenby
I have regular discussions with my ministerial colleagues on a range of matters, including economic growth. The UK Government closely monitors economic growth across the UK and has taken steps to support economic growth in Wales.
The UK Government have provided £46 million through the UK Community Renewal Fund, of which Newport received £2.8 million. This included £850,000 for a ‘Foot in the Door’ programme aimed at improving access to pre-employment training activity for 300 beneficiaries in Newport and over £700,000 to the Welsh Institute of Digital Information to invest in its research and development centre at the University of South Wales Newport campus.
Furthermore, the UK Government is investing £790 million in city and growth deals across Wales, with the Cardiff Capital Region, which includes Newport, receiving £500 million. These Growth Deals empower Wales’ regions to determine how best to drive jobs and growth in their areas, and to identify their own needs and strengths.
The UK Government also recently published the Levelling Up White Paper that sets out our ambitions on levelling up across the UK, tackling regional and local inequalities so we can see growth, more jobs, and higher wages UK-wide. Wales remains front and centre in the UK Government’s plans to level up and have received £121 million through the first rounds of the Levelling Up Fund, in addition to £464,000 through the Community Ownership Fund. These funds will support vital transport improvements, invest in local skills, support local people into employment and regenerate town centres. All to drive local growth and invest for the people and communities most in need, across Wales.
The UK Government is further supporting young people in Wales through the Kickstart programme, which provides fully funded six-month jobs for 16-24-year olds on Universal Credit, with 6,000 jobs already started in Wales. Sustainable jobs are integral to building back better and we are determined to level up every part of the UK.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what recent steps his Department has taken to help strengthen the Union.
Answered by Lord Hart of Tenby
The UK Government is clear in our commitment to the Union as a successful partnership which brings tangible benefits to people across the United Kingdom. The resources of the UK Government play an important role in delivering these benefits, as highlighted by the record amounts of Barnett-based funding we are providing to the Welsh Government.
Our response to the pandemic has demonstrated the strength and importance of the Union, with the UK Government working with the devolved administrations more closely and productively than ever. I meet with the First Ministers and deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland in regular calls chaired by the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, and will continue to do so as we seek to work together on matters of common interest.
My Department and I are fully focused on delivering jobs and economic growth in Wales, promoting levelling up and our transition to a net zero economy in doing so. The Government’s Plan for Wales sets out the UK Government’s commitments to Wales as we drive economic recovery from the pandemic.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many Welsh (a) citizens and (b) residents are of Ukrainian heritage.
Answered by Lord Hart of Tenby
My Department does not hold this information.
The UK Government has announced a bespoke humanitarian support package for the people of Ukraine, which includes an expanded Family Visa Scheme enabling British nationals, and people settled here to bring a wider group of family members to the UK.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, whether he has had discussions with the Welsh Government on the Russian invasion of Ukraine and its potential impact on the people in Wales.
Answered by Lord Hart of Tenby
The UK Government is engaging with the Welsh Government and all the Devolved Administrations to keep them appraised of the developing situation on Ukraine, the UK’s response, and potential impacts on the UK. This includes engagement with the First Minister of Wales.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, whether he has had recent discussions with Cabinet colleagues on Government Departments procuring more products that are made in (a) Newport West constituency and (b) Wales.
Answered by Lord Hart of Tenby
I have regular discussions with my Cabinet colleagues on a range of issues, including those around procurement. The Government wants businesses from every corner of the UK to be successful in bidding for UK public contracts.
We are reforming the procurement rules to make it simpler, quicker and cheaper for suppliers, including small and mid-size enterprises and social enterprises, to bid for public sector contracts. The Welsh Government has confirmed that it will also join the reforms.
The reforms will support the Government’s levelling up priorities by making it easier for public sector buyers to take account of social value when awarding contracts. This will allow public sector procurement to play into the strengths of Welsh businesses, including those in Newport West, who are well placed to deliver benefits.