Business of the House

Debate between Geraint Davies and Penny Mordaunt

Thursday 2nd March 2023 Commons Chamber

[Penny Mordaunt]

The hon. Gentleman knows that we will bring forward a Bill that will do precisely as he asks. I am glad that we have it on record that he will support the Government.

[Geraint Davies (Swansea West) (Lab/Co-op)]

The Leader of the House may be aware of an article in yesterday’s Financial Times about the funding cliff edge faced by universities across the United Kingdom at the end of structural funding in March, which will end 166 projects. In Swansea, we will be looking at a loss of 24 projects and 150 jobs, and she had promised to raise that issue with the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, although there have been a couple of BEIS Secretaries since then. As that funding is desperately important for green growth—and shared prosperity funding goes to local authorities rather than to universities—will she urgently raise this matter with Cabinet colleagues, particularly those from the Treasury, ahead of the Budget, so that we can get the green growth research and development that we need to make Britain strong again?

[Penny Mordaunt]

I am sure that the hon. Gentleman has already raised that with the Chancellor but—belt and braces—I shall make sure that the Chancellor has heard him.

Business of the House

Debate between Geraint Davies and Penny Mordaunt

Thursday 24th November 2022 Commons Chamber

[Penny Mordaunt]

I thank my hon. Friend for raising that important matter. I know that it is of huge concern to Members in all parties. Many events will be taking place in Parliament to ensure that the voices of the Iranian people can be heard and that we hear about what is going on there. The UK supported the special session at the UN to which he referred. I will write to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the Foreign Secretary to make sure that they have heard his concerns today.

[Geraint Davies (Swansea West) (Lab/Co-op)]

In 2010, 26,000 people used food banks. Last year, the figure was 2.6 million—a hundredfold increase. This year, we have one in four households in food poverty. Has the Leader of the House looked at the evidence from the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, including that of FareShare and the Food Foundation? Indeed, the UN special rapporteur called for a right to food and also supported what the Welsh Government are doing in ruling on universal free breakfasts and lunches for our schoolchildren across the nation. We should do the same in England at a time of this desperate hunger among English children in English schools. Let us do it. Let us have that debate and make it work.

[Penny Mordaunt]

I thank the hon. Gentleman for raising that important matter. One benefit of having debates is that we can also share good practice across the UK. Food banks are one particular type of support. The pantry and larder schemes, I know, are also expanding. I shall certainly write to the relevant Department to let it know about the hon. Gentleman’s question today and to ensure that those opportunities are taken up.

Business of the House

Debate between Geraint Davies and Penny Mordaunt

Thursday 27th October 2022 Commons Chamber

[Penny Mordaunt]

I thank my hon. Friend for raising this. We want to support all young people in their talents and ambitions. She has identified a barrier that stops people setting up their own businesses and starting to develop their ideas at a young age. I shall certainly write to the new Secretary of State and raise the matter with him.

[Geraint Davies (Swansea West) (Lab/Co-op)]

I know that the Leader of the House is a great supporter of green growth. She may know of the innovative work at Swansea University to create hydrogen from off-peak renewables and waste plastic. Is she aware that the university faces a cliff edge in EU funding that threatens 50 projects and 270 highly skilled jobs? Will she talk with her colleagues at Cabinet level and look to make time for a debate on this so that we have the investment in existing projects and jobs and the money to scale up market-ready innovation to generate jobs and exports?

[Penny Mordaunt]

We recently had Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy questions. I do not know whether the hon. Gentleman was able to raise the matter then. If not, I will be happy to do so on his behalf.

Replacement of the Chancellor of the Exchequer

Debate between Geraint Davies and Penny Mordaunt

Monday 17th October 2022 Commons Chamber

[Penny Mordaunt]

The Prime Minister, in her current and previous roles, has always acted in the national interest and will continue to do so. Her Government will continue to support her. This country needs some stability and some assurance now, and she always takes decisions in the national interest.

[Geraint Davies (Swansea West) (Lab/Co-op)]

As the new Chancellor has reversed all the economic promises made by the Prime Minister in her election campaign to become Prime Minister and as that very Chancellor had the fewest votes in that leadership election—he was thrown out with only 18—does that not show that the next Prime Minister should not be chosen by Conservative Members and their wider membership, but by the British people in a general election, as soon as possible, to get this country back on track?

[Penny Mordaunt]

There are serious questions that we as a Parliament should be examining today. I hope we will soon move on to the Chancellor’s statement, because that is what our constituents are concerned and worried about—not events within the Westminster bubble.

Future Relationship with the EU

Debate between Geraint Davies and Penny Mordaunt

Thursday 10th December 2020 Commons Chamber

[Penny Mordaunt]

I refer the hon. Lady to the statement by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster yesterday and just reiterate Northern Ireland’s unique position in the United Kingdom.

[Geraint Davies (Swansea West) (Lab/Co-op) [V]]

The Government have already published an economic impact assessment of no deal. Will the Minister ensure that they publish an economic assessment of any EU deal on offer, so if any deal is rejected we will all know at what cost?

[Penny Mordaunt]

At the moment efforts are on securing a deal, and the deal that is there—the component parts of it—is in the best interests of the people of the United Kingdom and in the best interests of the citizens and businesses in the member states of the European Union. That is very clear and that is what we are all hoping for and all working towards. The question is: will the EU accept that?