Oral Answers to Questions

Lord Evans of Rainow Excerpts

Wednesday 13th January 2016 Commons Chamber

[David Rutley (Macclesfield) (Con)]

7. What recent assessment he has made of the economic effect on north Wales of the northern powerhouse; and if he will make a statement.

[Graham Evans (Weaver Vale) (Con)]

10. What recent assessment he has made of the economic benefit to north Wales of the northern powerhouse.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales (Alun Cairns)]

The northern powerhouse, which stretches from north Wales to Newcastle, is reviving the economic and civic strength of our great northern cities. It is central to our vision for rebalancing the economy, and north Wales is already benefiting from large-scale infrastructure investments.

[Alun Cairns]

My hon. Friend is absolutely right. North-east Wales and north-west England form one single economic entity, and businesses in north Wales see the opportunity that the northern powerhouse can bring. When the Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, my hon. Friend the Member for Stockton South (James Wharton), and I met businesses last year in north Wales, they were keen to be a central part of that, and, as my hon. Friend said, HS2 offers great opportunities.

[Graham Evans]

Does my hon. Friend agree that the £10.4 million investment in the reopening of the Halton curve will provide a significant economic boost for north Wales, as well as for Cheshire and my constituency of Weaver Vale, not least because there is a direct link to Liverpool John Lennon airport?

[Alun Cairns]

I pay tribute to my hon. Friend for his work in securing that investment. He championed this project from the outset, and later this year the direct link from north Wales through Cheshire to Liverpool will be operational. That is a tangible demonstration of the northern powerhouse in action.

Oral Answers to Questions

Lord Evans of Rainow Excerpts

Wednesday 16th September 2015 Commons Chamber

[The Prime Minister]

The hon. Gentleman is quite right to raise this, and everyone is concerned about the steelworks in Redcar. Obviously, we have taken the action of voting with others in Europe against Chinese dumping. We have also provided over £30 million of support in respect of high energy users. Also, by setting out our national infrastructure plan, we are giving steel producers a sense of the demand in our country in the months and years to come. I will certainly consult my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovations and Skills about the best sort of meeting we can have in order to make sure we do everything we can to keep steelmaking in Redcar.

[Graham Evans (Weaver Vale) (Con)]

Q9. Does the Prime Minister agree that this Government’s commitment to spend 2% of GDP on defence protects our national and economic future, while giving our 21st century armed forces the moral and financial support they need to protect our nation’s security?

[The Prime Minister]

We have had to make difficult decisions in the spending review and we will have to make further difficult decisions, but on the decision to increase our defence spending in a very dangerous and uncertain world, when we face threats in Europe with the behaviour of Russia and the threat from ISIL in the middle east, combined with all the other threats, including cyber, it is absolutely right to increase this spending and to make sure that membership of NATO remains the cornerstone of our defence. National security will always be the top priority of this Government.

Oral Answers to Questions

Lord Evans of Rainow Excerpts

Wednesday 29th June 2011 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Order. Prime Minister’s questions is principally for Back Benchers. I call Mr Graham Evans.

[Graham Evans (Weaver Vale) (Con)]

On 8 June 1944, a relative of mine, Sergeant Jack Chadwick, was shot down while dropping much-needed supplies to the French resistance. Today he lies in a Normandy churchyard, together with the seven-man crew of his Halifax bomber. Does my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister agree that it is right and proper that this nation should remember the sacrifice of the 55,000 members of Bomber Command who gave their lives to rid Europe of Nazi tyranny?

[The Prime Minister]

I think it is absolutely right that we remember those who served in Bomber Command. I recognise that a lot of work is going on to make sure that that is done, and that work has my support. As someone who recently visited one of the Commonwealth war graves cemeteries in Normandy, let me also say that it is brilliant that their upkeep is so good, and that such a huge amount of work goes into making sure that relatives can visit and see their fallen heroes.

Oral Answers to Questions

Lord Evans of Rainow Excerpts

Wednesday 11th May 2011 Commons Chamber

[Steve Baker (Wycombe) (Con)]

10. What recent assessment she has made of the future of the nuclear industry in Wales.

[Graham Evans (Weaver Vale) (Con)]

11. What recent assessment she has made of the future of the nuclear industry in Wales.

[David T. C. Davies (Monmouth) (Con)]

13. What recent assessment she has made of the future of the nuclear industry in Wales.

--- Later in debate ---

[Mrs Gillan]

As my hon. Friend knows, this Government have said that nuclear could be part of the future energy mix, and he will know personally of my attitude towards Wylfa continuing as a nuclear power station, with new generation at the site.

[Graham Evans]

Does the Secretary of State agree that new power plants in Wales are good news for energy security, industry and job creation?

[Mrs Gillan]

That is an easy question for me to answer. I welcome the work that has been done to enable Wylfa to continue generating low-carbon electricity for a further two years, and I am delighted that the site has been chosen as a future new site for generation. [Interruption.]

Oral Answers to Questions

Lord Evans of Rainow Excerpts

Wednesday 16th March 2011 Commons Chamber

[Graham Evans (Weaver Vale) (Con)]

10. What recent discussions she has had with ministerial colleagues and Ministers in the Welsh Assembly Government on energy policy in Wales.

[The Secretary of State for Wales (Mrs Cheryl Gillan)]

The Under-Secretary of State for Wales and I have regular discussions with ministerial colleagues and Welsh Assembly Government Ministers on a range of issues, including energy policy. Last week, I was pleased to call the first Welsh Grand Committee debate on energy since 2008, which gave right hon. and hon. Members a chance to debate in detail that issue, which is of vital importance to Wales.

[Graham Evans]

As a result of the last Government’s policy of burying their head in the sand when it came to energy, we are facing the real prospect of power cuts. Does the Secretary of State agree that building new power plants in Wales is essential for energy security, industry and job creation?

[Mrs Gillan]

Energy is certainly a key priority of this Government and we are working hard to ensure that the UK, including Wales, has an energy infrastructure that is fit for the 21st century.