Oral Answers to Questions

Chris Davies Excerpts

Thursday 2nd March 2017 Commons Chamber

[Dr Thérèse Coffey]

We take the preservation and the use of water very seriously. The opening up of the market for small and medium-sized enterprises and businesses is a good advance, but I am looking at those other matters carefully.

[Chris Davies (Brecon and Radnorshire) (Con)]

On the day after St David’s day, will my right hon. Friend reassure Welsh farmers that Welsh lamb and not New Zealand lamb will be at the forefront of her mind when negotiating an EU exit?

[Andrea Leadsom]

My hon. Friend, like me and lots of other colleagues from across the House, enjoyed that lovely reception at Downing Street and the fabulous Welsh singing. I can absolutely assure him that we will keep Welsh lamb farmers at the heart of any negotiations on free trade agreements.

--- Later in debate ---

[Andrew Stephenson (Pendle) (Con)]

1. What progress has been made on identifying parish churches suitable for wi-fi and broadband in rural areas.

[Chris Davies (Brecon and Radnorshire) (Con)]

7. What progress has been made on identifying parish churches suitable for wi-fi and broadband in rural areas.

[Daniel Kawczynski (Shrewsbury and Atcham) (Con)]

9. What progress has been made on identifying parish churches suitable for wi-fi and broadband in rural areas.

--- Later in debate ---

[Mr Speaker]

This is very reassuring indeed.

[Chris Davies]

Right across the country, church buildings are central to strong local communities. Will my right hon. Friend explain whether it has been possible to provide wi-fi and broadband in listed churches and chapels to help those buildings to remain sustainable well into the future?

[Dame Caroline Spelman]

I am grateful for that question, because there is a commonly held myth that it is not possible to amend ancient and listed buildings in these ways, but as my hon. Friend will have seen from the success in Norwich diocese, there is no fundamental barrier to putting a wi-fi booster set or a mobile phone booster on the top of a church tower or spire. That is why the Government have welcomed the partnership with the Church of England to try to reach our notspots.