Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Stephen Crabb and Mark Tami

Wednesday 4th March 2015 Commons Chamber

[Stephen Crabb]

If the hon. Gentleman thinks that is any kind of boon for the Welsh economy, I point him to the opinion poll conducted by BBC Wales which this morning shows that a majority of voters across Wales, even in the Labour heartlands—from Rhondda to Cynon Valley, from Caerphilly to Pontypridd—prefer my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to remain as leader rather than the Leader of the Opposition.

[Mark Tami (Alyn and Deeside) (Lab)]

2. What recent discussions he has had with business representatives in Wales on the importance of membership of the EU to the Welsh economy.

Government Policies (Wales)

Debate between Stephen Crabb and Mark Tami

Wednesday 26th November 2014 Commons Chamber

[Mark Tami]

rose—

[Stephen Crabb]

I give way to the Member in whose constituency Airbus is located.

[Mark Tami]

Does the right hon. Gentleman accept that Airbus is a European partnership and it works because we are in Europe, and if we were not in Europe that relationship would be endangered, along with thousands of jobs?

[Stephen Crabb]

There is truth in what the hon. Gentleman says. It is an excellent example of European industrial co-operation, but he knows better than anyone else here that at the heart of the success of Airbus in his north Wales constituency are the excellent skills and motivation of the workers, many of whom are in his constituency, but also in other constituencies.

North Wales is at the heart of Wales’s economic growth, and I look forward to seeing more excellent examples of enterprise in Wales’s very own northern powerhouse tomorrow, when I embark on a two-day business tour there. The Labour party here in London at times seems to resist these developments.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Stephen Crabb and Mark Tami

Wednesday 9th July 2014 Commons Chamber

[Stephen Crabb]

My hon. Friend is exactly right; he knows a lot about this issue. There was an appalling increase of more than 75% in youth unemployment on the watch of the last Labour Government. I am pleased to say that in the past four years, we have seen youth unemployment fall by 31% in Wales. We are bringing down unemployment among young people.

[Mark Tami (Alyn and Deeside) (Lab)]

13. Will the Minister not just accept the success of Jobs Growth Wales—a scheme that actually works? Why will he not implement a similar scheme in England rather than carry on with the failed policies he is currently putting forward?

[Stephen Crabb]

Jobs Growth Wales makes a contribution, and I am not going to knock anything that helps young people in our constituencies to get on the employment ladder. I am concerned, however, that the Welsh Government are still refusing to allow people on the Work programme to access the additional help of Jobs Growth Wales. We need to see the Welsh Government make more progress on tackling that.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Stephen Crabb and Mark Tami

Wednesday 9th October 2013 Commons Chamber

[Mark Tami]

Will the Minister advise me where he thinks Flintshire county council and other local authorities are supposed to find these mythical one and two-bedroom properties? While he is at it, why does he think it is a good idea to force disabled people out of homes that have been adapted by councils at high cost?

[Stephen Crabb]

We are not forcing disabled people out of their homes. On the hon. Gentleman’s question about Flintshire, we are making available to his local authority more than £240,000 this year in discretionary housing benefit. I ask him to ask his local authority why it has more than 275 empty properties in the social rented sector. That is part of the answer to the local housing problems in Flintshire.