Oral Answers to Questions

Alex Barros-Curtis Excerpts

Wednesday 4th November 2026 Commons Chamber

[Anna McMorrin]

I thank the hon. Member for his question, but I think he may have a short memory. It was his Government who cut the Army to its smallest size since Napoleonic times and short-changed the equipment plan by £17 billion. In stark contrast, this Chancellor announced a £298 billion investment in defence over the next four years. We are working at pace to deliver the development growth deal across the country, with high-quality jobs and investment across Wales. I am urging the Plaid Cymru Government to stop at nothing, to work with us and to ensure that we deliver security for the people of Wales and those high-quality jobs.

[Mr Alex Barros-Curtis (Cardiff West) (Lab)]

5. What steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to strengthen Wales’s place in the Union.

[The Secretary of State for Wales (Stephen Kinnock)]

Whether it is through Wales’s role in bolstering the UK’s defence and steel production, or leading the way in industries such as compound semiconductors and the life sciences, our Union of nations is hugely strengthened by Wales. We cannot put a ceiling on the awesome talent and ambition of the Welsh people, and I simply cannot understand why Plaid Cymru is hellbent on doing so.

[Mr Barros-Curtis]

I was shocked to see the front page of the Western Mail last week, which said:

“Free milk scheme for pupils could be scrapped”.

I thought we had gone back in time to the infamous milk snatcher, Margaret Thatcher, but no, it was the modern-day Plaid Cymru Welsh Government. Does the Secretary of State agree with me that scrapping free school milk would be a backward step, and will he commit to working with Cabinet colleagues to ensure that the Union means more opportunities for our children in Wales, not fewer?

[Stephen Kinnock]

Well, I have to say that when Plaid won in May, I did not have Thatcherism 2.0 on my bingo card. First, Plaid dragged its feet on additional learning needs funding; then it refused to commit to Flying Start; and now it may be targeting free school milk. My hon. Friend is right: the Plaid Welsh Government should be supporting children and families, just as this UK Labour Government have by scrapping the two-child cap, which will be hugely beneficial for nearly 70,000 Welsh children.