Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Cabinet Office

Oral Answers to Questions

Simon Hart Excerpts
Tuesday 9th July 2013

(10 years, 10 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Chloe Smith Portrait Miss Smith
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The hon. Gentleman will have been eagle-eyed and read my written ministerial statement last week announcing £4.2 million to deal with exactly that.

Simon Hart Portrait Simon Hart (Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire) (Con)
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4. What assessment he has made of the work of the Commission on Devolution in Wales.

Nick Clegg Portrait The Deputy Prime Minister (Mr Nick Clegg)
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The Government are grateful to the commission for its hard work and for engaging widely across Wales. We have been carefully considering its recommendations on the financial powers of the Assembly, and we intend to respond shortly. The commission is now undertaking a thorough review of the broader devolution settlement for Wales, and I look forward to seeing its report next year.

Simon Hart Portrait Simon Hart
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The Chief Secretary to the Treasury has said that funding improvements to the M4 are largely connected with the recommendations of the Silk commission. Given that Welsh businesses have already suffered two delays, will the Deputy Prime Minister ensure that they do not suffer a third as a result of delayed negotiations?

Nick Clegg Portrait The Deputy Prime Minister
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As my hon. Friend knows, the Chancellor recently confirmed that we would respond to part 1 of the Silk commission’s report shortly. It is a complex area of work. There are 33 recommendations that touch on various complex areas of fiscal and taxation policy. We are endeavouring to respond as soon as possible, including on the issue of infrastructure investment that he raises.