Asked by: Craig Williams (Conservative - Montgomeryshire)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what plans his Department has to support the tourism sector in Mid Wales as covid-19 lockdown restrictions are eased.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
We recognise that COVID-19 has significantly impacted the tourism sector across the UK, including in Mid Wales. I hold regular discussions with my counterparts in the Welsh Government, the Scottish Government and the Northern Ireland Executive to assess COVID-19’s impact on tourism across the UK. We will continue to engage with the Devolved Administrations to assess how we can most effectively support the sector’s recovery from COVID-19.
As tourism is devolved, the Welsh Government is responsible for how and when lockdown restrictions are eased for the tourism sector in Wales, and for targeted financial initiatives to support the sector.
Asked by: Craig Williams (Conservative - Montgomeryshire)
Question to the Department for Education:
What steps his Department is taking to ensure that students due to sit exams in academic year 2019-20 will be able to progress into employment or the next stage of education.
Answered by Nick Gibb
Ofqual, the independent qualifications regulator, has put in place arrangements that will enable students to receive a grade wherever possible.
The calculated grades awarded this summer will be formal grades, with the same status as grades awarded in any other year. They will therefore be accepted by all institutions.
University representatives have already confirmed that they expect universities to do all they can to support students and ensure they can progress to higher education.
Students who cannot get a grade or would like the opportunity to improve their grades will be able to sit exams in the autumn.
Asked by: Craig Williams (Conservative - Montgomeryshire)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
What steps his Department is taking to ensure the effective delivery of broadband and telecommunications.
Answered by Matt Warman
The Government wants to deliver nationwide coverage of gigabit capable broadband as soon as possible.
We are introducing a range of measures to deliver this ambition. The Leasehold Property Bill will make it easier for operators to deploy broadband in blocks of flats. We announced that we would be legislating to mandate gigabit connectivity in new build homes, and that we will be investing £5 billion in bringing gigabit broadband to the hardest to reach areas of the UK. To improve mobile coverage, we are investing £200 million into the 5G testbeds and trials programme. We have also announced the £1 billion Shared Rural Network deal with the mobile network operators to increase 4G coverage throughout the UK to 95% by the end of 2025.
Asked by: Craig Williams (Conservative - Montgomeryshire)
Question to the Wales Office:
What discussions he has had with the Welsh Government on the deployment of military personnel to Wales in response to the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by David T C Davies - Secretary of State for Wales
We have worked closely with the Welsh Government to enable the UK’s armed forces to play a vital role. Our servicemen and women have worked tirelessly to help build hospitals, drive ambulances and get PPE where it is needed most. This is testament to how strong we are as a United Kingdom.
Asked by: Craig Williams (Conservative - Montgomeryshire)
Question to the Wales Office:
What recent discussions he has had with the Welsh Government on cross-border infrastructure.
Answered by David T C Davies - Secretary of State for Wales
I met Ken Skates, Minster for Transport and Economy for the Welsh Government last week and we discussed opportunities to improve transport across the border.
Asked by: Craig Williams (Conservative - Montgomeryshire)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what guidance his Department has issued for home owners on the risk of wall tie corrosion.
Answered by Lord Barwell
Statutory guidance to the Building Regulations in Approved Document A Structure states that wall ties should be made of stainless steel (which is considered to be corrosion resistant) and have a minimum embedment length in each wall leaf of 50mm.
The Department has not issued any guidance to home owners, as identification, investigation and specifying repairs of corroded wall ties are specialist technical matters that are best left to a structural engineer or building surveyor. It is also likely that the building insurer will be involved.
Asked by: Craig Williams (Conservative - Montgomeryshire)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect of holding (a) the 2017 Champions League Final and (b) similar events on the economy of Cardiff and the surrounding south Wales area.
Answered by Alun Cairns
Hosting the final of the world’s biggest annual sporting event will undoubtedly bring a huge economic benefit to the whole of Wales. It is estimated it will bring £45m into the Cardiff economy alone and the eyes of the world will be on Wales with an anticipated global TV audience of around 180 million. That is why the UK Government played a critical part by providing the required guarantees to UEFA.
Asked by: Craig Williams (Conservative - Montgomeryshire)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what plans the Government has to mark Hanukkah in 2017.
Answered by Marcus Jones - Treasurer of HM Household (Deputy Chief Whip, House of Commons)
The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) has been proud to celebrate religious festivities and significant dates with our faith communities for many years. Our usual practice is to issue a celebratory message, alongside the Prime Minister, and attend community events where feasible. Downing Street and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office mark faith events throughout the year by holding receptions for faith leaders, dignitaries, international guests and community representatives, which DCLG Ministers attend. We will, in partnership with Downing Street and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, consider our detailed plans for Hanukkah later in the year.
Asked by: Craig Williams (Conservative - Montgomeryshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the proposed timescale is for installing a free-flow toll system on the Severn Bridges.
Answered by John Hayes
The timing of any potential installation of free-flow tolling has yet to be decided. If following the consultation it is decided to further consider the case for free-flow then we will set out the further steps necessary and this may lead to a further consultation on its implementation.
Asked by: Craig Williams (Conservative - Montgomeryshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when the Severn Bridges will return to public ownership.
Answered by John Hayes
The private concession will end once Severn River Crossing PLC have recovered an agreed amount of revenue from users. This amount is £1,028,910,000 (in July 1989 prices). We expect this revenue to be fully recovered some time between late 2017 and early 2018, depending on traffic flows, and both crossings will return to public ownership after that.