Oral Answers to Questions

Andrew Bowie Excerpts

Wednesday 9th February 2022 Commons Chamber

[Simon Hart]

No.

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

7. What steps the Government are taking to improve connectivity and infrastructure in Wales.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales (David T. C. Davies)]

The Government are committed to levelling up across the whole United Kingdom, including Wales. Better connectivity and infrastructure are key to that, which is why we asked Sir Peter Hendy to conduct the Union connectivity review.

[Andrew Bowie]

Does my hon. Friend agree that in addition to the actions that he has announced, the Union connectivity review pledges to do much more, including reducing journey times on the east coast rail line and protecting important domestic routes between London and Aberdeen, for example? It shows levelling up in action and is a demonstration of this Government working for the entire United Kingdom, including Wales.

[David T. C. Davies]

To draw on the link between Wales and Scotland, I congratulate Loganair, which flies between Cardiff and Edinburgh and will no doubt benefit from the cut in air passenger duty for regional airports. As a result, we can expect to see an increase in demand for flights, which is good news for Cardiff airport, good news for travellers and good news for the Union.

Oral Answers to Questions

Andrew Bowie Excerpts

Wednesday 19th May 2021 Commons Chamber

[The Prime Minister]

The right hon. Gentleman is completely wrong, and he should look at the Bill when it comes forward, because we want to protect the green belt. We want to protect our wonderful open spaces. This is a Government who understand the value of the countryside and rural Britain, but we also think that young people have been deprived for too long of the ability to get on to the housing ladder. That is not just in the south-east, but across the country, and that is why we are bringing forward sensible reforms to allow brownfield sites to go ahead.

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

Two weeks ago, in giving the Scottish Conservatives their highest ever number of votes in the era of devolution, the Scottish people decided that Scotland would remain at the heart of this newly reinvigorated global Britain. With that in mind, will the Prime Minister accept my invitation to Stonehaven in my constituency to come and plant one of the 120 cherry blossom trees donated by the Sakura Cherry Tree Project to celebrate the deep and growing links between our country and that other great trading nation, Japan?

[The Prime Minister]

I think that such a gesture would be the cherry on the cake of the free trade deal that we have already done.

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.