Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Wales Office

Oral Answers to Questions

Albert Owen Excerpts
Wednesday 1st November 2017

(6 years, 5 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Guto Bebb Portrait Guto Bebb
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I thank my hon. Friend for his question. He is a champion for the agricultural industry, which is no surprise in view of the constituency he represents. I can assure him that the discussions with the farming unions will intensify, and I am very pleased to announce that the Secretary of State for International Trade will be in Wales this week.

Albert Owen Portrait Albert Owen (Ynys Môn) (Lab)
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rose—[Interruption.]

John Bercow Portrait Mr Speaker
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The hon. Gentleman discovers anew his popularity on a daily basis.

Albert Owen Portrait Albert Owen
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I am very pleased that the Prime Minister is here to listen to my question, because on a number of occasions I have asked her about the importance of the port of Holyhead in my constituency to Irish trade. Last week, a company from Ireland suggested a new route to Holland and Belgium, circumnavigating Britain. Stakeholders in my constituency are concerned about that. The Irish Government are concerned about that; so are the Welsh Government. When will the UK Government wake up?

Guto Bebb Portrait Guto Bebb
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The hon. Gentleman raises an important point about the port of Holyhead and the concern is shared by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales, who visited the port with him. These concerns have been heard in the Wales Office; we have met stakeholders and Irish businesses. I can assure him that our intention is to ensure a frictionless border in Holyhead, in the same way as in Ireland.