Oral Answers to Questions

Gavin Newlands Excerpts

Wednesday 18th July 2018 Commons Chamber

[John Mc Nally (Falkirk) (SNP)]

1. What recent assessment he has made of the effect on the Welsh economy of the UK leaving the EU.

[Gavin Newlands (Paisley and Renfrewshire North) (SNP)]

7. What recent assessment he has made of the effect on the Welsh economy of the UK leaving the EU.

[Stephen Gethins (North East Fife) (SNP)]

9. What recent assessment he has made of the effect on the Welsh economy of the UK leaving the EU.

--- Later in debate ---

[Alun Cairns]

As the House would expect, I looked closely at that report, but of course the outcome that the hon. Gentleman suggests would mean that we could not honour the expectations of the British people following the referendum decision to leave the European Union; it would mean retaining free movement of people. The Chequers agreement protects the agricultural sector so that it has the opportunity to trade frictionlessly with the European Union.

[Gavin Newlands]

By 2020, the Welsh economy will have been supported by almost £150 billion of investment through EU structural funds. The Government committed to replacing that funding, along with support for farming and the English NHS, with money from the mythical Brexit dividend. Now that it is clear that the UK will not receive a single penny back from Brexit, will the Secretary of State confirm that there will still be money for Wales?