Oral Answers to Questions

Anne McLaughlin Excerpts

Wednesday 17th March 2021 Commons Chamber

[Simon Hart]

The best way of avoiding that outcome is for the Welsh Government to get behind the scheme and support a project that is endorsed by local authorities and port authorities in Wales, and to encourage jobs and livelihoods in that way. Every single day that they leave it—on the basis of the “not invented here” syndrome—will cost jobs and livelihoods. My message to the hon. Gentleman is get hold of the Welsh Government and encourage them to come to the party.

[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.

[Anne McLaughlin [V]]

I find that very interesting, because the Labour First Minister of Wales, Mark Drakeford, told the Welsh Affairs Committee a few weeks ago that devolution is under aggressive attack by a Tory Government who have “outright hostility” at the heart of their governance. With independence currently polling as high as 40% in Wales without an official campaign, will the Secretary of State respect the democratic rights of people in Wales and Scotland to have a post-pandemic independence referendum in the event of pro-independence majorities 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.