Craig Williams

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to PQ133213, published on 11 January 2021.

We recognise that COVID-19 has significantly impacted the tourism sector across the UK, including in Mid Wales. I hold regular discussions with my counterparts in the Welsh Government, the Scottish Government and the Northern Ireland Executive to assess COVID-19’s impact on tourism across the UK. We will continue to engage with the Devolved Administrations to assess how we can most effectively support the sector’s recovery from COVID-19.

As tourism is devolved, the Welsh Government is responsible for how and when lockdown restrictions are eased for the tourism sector in Wales, and for targeted financial initiatives to support the sector.

We are introducing a range of measures to deliver this ambition. The Leasehold Property Bill will make it easier for operators to deploy broadband in blocks of flats. We announced that we would be legislating to mandate gigabit connectivity in new build homes, and that we will be investing £5 billion in bringing gigabit broadband to the hardest to reach areas of the UK. To improve mobile coverage, we are investing £200 million into the 5G testbeds and trials programme. We have also announced the £1 billion Shared Rural Network deal with the mobile network operators to increase 4G coverage throughout the UK to 95% by the end of 2025.

Ofqual, the independent qualifications regulator, has put in place arrangements that will enable students to receive a grade wherever possible.

The calculated grades awarded this summer will be formal grades, with the same status as grades awarded in any other year. They will therefore be accepted by all institutions.

University representatives have already confirmed that they expect universities to do all they can to support students and ensure they can progress to higher education.

Students who cannot get a grade or would like the opportunity to improve their grades will be able to sit exams in the autumn.

The UK will donate 100 million vaccine doses over the next year, with 80% to go to COVAX. As of 9 August, the UK has donated 10.3 million doses, of which 4 million have been given bilaterally. We are aware of the challenges associated with storing and distributing COVID-19 vaccines, particularly in hard-to-reach communities. Resilient supply chains are essential, and cold chain equipment can bring capacity to this critical global challenge.

The UK's direct funding on COVID-19 vaccines has focused on vaccine development and procurement. For delivery, the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO) has been engaging Multilateral Development Banks to make funds available to countries as part of a combined $29 billion COVID-19 financing envelope that can support vaccine procurement. Gavi has also raised $775 million to support vaccine delivery. The FCDO is also active in the UNICEF-convened Country Readiness and Delivery Working Group to drive coordination across donor and international organisation delivery programming. We are specifically engaging through our humanitarian networks to ensure that delivery planning and financing addresses the challenges of delivery in fragile environments.

The UK has stood up for Israel when it faces bias and unreasonable criticism, and has been clear that the existence of a dedicated agenda item ('Item 7') damages the prospect for a two-state solution and does little to advance dialogue, stability or mutual understanding. As such, at the 40th session of the Human Rights Council in March 2019 we moved to voting against all resolutions under Item 7. However, the UN and its member states have every right to address issues of concern in a measured, balanced and proportionate way. We will continue to support scrutiny of Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories in the Human Rights Council, so long as it is justified, proportionate, and not proposed under Item 7.

Publication of the interim report is not currently foreseen by the EU. The UK has repeatedly lobbied the EU to push for publication, but this is ultimately a decision for the EU.

The Extended Area Sites (EAS) are being built in the most remote and rural areas of Great Britain to supplement the infrastructure provided for the Emergency Services Network (ESN) by EE.

When an Extended Area Site (EAS) site is activated, it will be able to handle Emergency Service Network calls and data transmission. On the majority of sites, it will also be available for EE’s commercial customers to use.

Wherever possible, the design of mast structures will be future-proofed so they can easily be upgraded to offer a commercial service. We will make all 292 EAS sites available, where possible, for mobile network operators to deploy on them as part of the Shared Rural Network although we recognise that, in some cases, upgrades may not be possible due to technical, financial, or other reasons. I can confirm that 117 sites meet the criteria to be utilised as part of the shared Rural Network with work ongoing on the status of the remaining sites.

The Carrier Strike Group (CSG) will deploy for the first time in 2021, providing tangible reassurance and security to our friends and credible deterrence to those who seek to undermine global security. During this autumn the CSG will be tested through a series of increasingly demanding exercises with allies so that by the end of this year we can declare with full confidence that the CSG has met Initial Operating Capability and is ready for operations.

I have had many online meetings with Welsh Government ministers over recent months, including several discussions with Ken Skates, the Welsh Government Minister for Economy, Transport and North Wales.

These discussions have covered multiple topics, including the support that is being made available through Local Authorities to support businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The finances of local authorities in Wales is devolved and is a matter for the Welsh Government.

We have worked closely with the Welsh Government to enable the UK’s armed forces to play a vital role. Our servicemen and women have worked tirelessly to help build hospitals, drive ambulances and get PPE where it is needed most. This is testament to how strong we are as a United Kingdom.

I met Ken Skates, Minster for Transport and Economy for the Welsh Government last week and we discussed opportunities to improve transport across the border.