Oral Answers to Questions

Andrew Bowie Excerpts

Wednesday 17th March 2021 Commons Chamber

[Anne McLaughlin (Glasgow North East) (SNP)]

What recent assessment his Department has made of the strength of the Union between Wales and the rest of the UK.

[Andrew Bowie (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (Con)]

What steps his Department is taking to strengthen the Union.

[The Secretary of State for Wales (Simon Hart)]

As the vaccine roll-out has shown, our four nations are safer, stronger and more prosperous together, and I look forward to the people of Wales giving a resounding endorsement of the Union at the Senedd elections in May.

[Simon Hart]

I think the First Minister has been pretty reckless in trying to inject an air of uncertainty into these discussions, and most of us realise that he is only doing so because his only chance of remaining as First Minister post May is to do some kind of a deal with Plaid Cymru; and we know what the price of that would be.

[Andrew Bowie]

Will my right hon. Friend explain what benefits to Wales being a member of our United Kingdom brings?

[Simon Hart]

We could spend the rest of the morning listing the benefits, but I refer my hon. Friend to the Budget only a few days ago, with £4.8 million for the Holyhead hydrogen hub, £30 million for the global centre of rail excellence, the £4.8 billion levelling-up fund and £450 million community ownership fund. I could go on and on, but the benefits are numerous.