Oral Answers to Questions

Peter Swallow Excerpts

Wednesday 4th March 2026 Commons Chamber

[Mr Calvin Bailey (Leyton and Wanstead) (Lab)]

1. What recent discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on increasing economic growth in Wales.

[Peter Swallow (Bracknell) (Lab)]

2. What recent discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on increasing economic growth in Wales.

[Tristan Osborne (Chatham and Aylesford) (Lab)]

8. What recent discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on increasing economic growth in Wales.

--- Later in debate ---

[Jo Stevens]

Our £50 million defence growth deal will harness Wales’s unique strengths in autonomy. It is focused on supporting the growth of dual-use industry right across Wales, so that the benefits will be felt beyond the defence sector. This deal is another example of the choice facing Wales at the Senedd election in May. We have Plaid Cymru, who would rather reject defence investment and pull us out of NATO at this critical moment of global instability, and we have Reform, whose foreign policy will probably be determined by its friend, President Putin. Only Labour can be trusted to invest in our national security and our economy.

[Peter Swallow]

One challenge faced by young people from Bracknell to Bangor is a lack of affordable housing, and not building enough homes affects our economy, too. I was pleased that the Secretary of State recently announced that our UK Government would be devolving powers to create a vacant land tax to the Welsh Government. Does she agree that this move will prevent land banking, and will lead to more houses being built in Wales, which would be good for the economy and good for our young people?

[Jo Stevens]

I was pleased to announce last month that this Government plan to devolve powers to the Welsh Government to introduce a vacant land tax, subject to consultation. This will help the Welsh Government to encourage even more house building, fuelling construction jobs and economic growth, and it is a perfect example of how this Labour Government approach enhancing devolution. We will never miss an opportunity to enhance devolution in ways that make a practical and positive difference to the people and economy of Wales.