Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between David Rutley and Alun Cairns

Wednesday 24th February 2016 Commons Chamber

[Alun Cairns]

Welfare reform needs to be taken in its totality. It is about incentivising work but also about increasing wages and lowering taxes. I would hope that the hon. Lady would reflect on the positive nature of welfare reform in turning around communities, families and society.

[David Rutley (Macclesfield) (Con)]

8. What recent discussions he has had with stakeholders in Wales on future investment in large infrastructure projects in north Wales.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales (Alun Cairns)]

The Secretary of State and I regularly meet stakeholders to discuss the Government’s plans to deliver improvements in infrastructure across the whole of Wales. For instance, next week the Secretary of State will meet Hitachi to discuss its proposals for a new nuclear power station at Wylfa in more detail.

[David Rutley]

Can my hon. Friend confirm that bringing HS2 to Crewe six years early, as part of the Government’s northern powerhouse, will directly benefit the people of north Wales and spur more economic development programmes in Wales, as well as in north-west England and Cheshire more generally?

[Alun Cairns]

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for raising this issue. He highlights the fact that the HS2 project is truly a national scheme. The Crewe hub offers significant potential to north Wales and to the northern powerhouse. I recently met the North Wales-Mersey Dee alliance rail taskforce, which also recognises the potential of north Wales for the northern powerhouse and the northern powerhouse for north Wales.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between David Rutley and Alun Cairns

Wednesday 13th January 2016 Commons Chamber

[Graham Evans (Weaver Vale) (Con)]

10. What recent assessment he has made of the economic benefit to north Wales of the northern powerhouse.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales (Alun Cairns)]

The northern powerhouse, which stretches from north Wales to Newcastle, is reviving the economic and civic strength of our great northern cities. It is central to our vision for rebalancing the economy, and north Wales is already benefiting from large-scale infrastructure investments.

[David Rutley]

Given the proximity of north Wales to the newly established Cheshire science corridor, the positive impact of infrastructure investment—including High Speed 2—and the 871 square miles of opportunity nearby in Cheshire and Warrington, does my hon. Friend agree that north Wales stands to benefit strongly from the northern powerhouse that is being taken forward by this Conservative Government?

[Alun Cairns]

My hon. Friend is absolutely right. North-east Wales and north-west England form one single economic entity, and businesses in north Wales see the opportunity that the northern powerhouse can bring. When the Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, my hon. Friend the Member for Stockton South (James Wharton), and I met businesses last year in north Wales, they were keen to be a central part of that, and, as my hon. Friend said, HS2 offers great opportunities.

Cost of Living

Debate between David Rutley and Alun Cairns

Wednesday 27th November 2013 Commons Chamber

[Alun Cairns]

rose—

[David Rutley (Macclesfield) (Con)]

rose—

Welfare Benefits Up-rating Bill

Debate between David Rutley and Alun Cairns

Tuesday 8th January 2013 Commons Chamber

[David Rutley (Macclesfield) (Con)]

Will my hon. Friend remind the House what steps the Labour party took to bring benefit increases closer to the world of work when it was in office?

[Alun Cairns]

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for that useful reminder that the Labour party did nothing on the issue. Few individuals—if any—would reject a benefit payment, even if in their hearts they were confused about why they were receiving it or uncomfortable with that. The then Chancellor knew well what he was doing and that withdrawing a payment after issuing it in the first place would create a difficult and almost impossible situation—the situation we are in now. Dependency on the state became more widespread, and with that came a significant political shift to the left. The centre ground of politics moved at that moment. It is, therefore, little wonder that £90 billion is now spent on welfare for people of working age.

During the seven years before the last general election, tax credit spend increased by a staggering 258%—that is the context I wished to create in response to the hon. Member for Edinburgh East (Sheila Gilmore). Adding insult to taxpayers’ injury, the tax credit regime was one of the most inefficient benefit systems ever devised, leading to £2 billion of fraud each and every year. Today’s Bill will lead to savings of £1.9 billion over two years, with the pain shared by those recipients whose increases in benefits will be limited. Although £1.9 billion is a significant sum, it does not go anywhere near the increases in spending introduced by the previous Government, particularly leading up to the 2010 general election.

Financial Services Bill

Debate between David Rutley and Alun Cairns

Monday 23rd April 2012 Commons Chamber

[David Rutley]

My hon. Friend is making a characteristically powerful speech about his concerns about various products and what the FCA should do to move things forward. I am concerned about some of the speeches and interventions from the Opposition, who are trying to be too prescriptive about what the FCA should do with particular products. Clearly, there is a range of issues and concerns, but ultimately we should surely allow the new chief executive of the FCA to take the decision based on what he or she feels should be the priority. Does my hon. Friend agree that we should not be too prescriptive?

[Alun Cairns]

I entirely agree. That is one of my reasons for opposing amendment 40. In my view, it will not achieve what it sets out to achieve, but will have far-reaching consequences for not only the FCA but consumers and providers.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between David Rutley and Alun Cairns

Wednesday 22nd June 2011 Commons Chamber

[Alun Cairns (Vale of Glamorgan) (Con)]

4. What steps the Government plan to take to ensure a stable economic environment for businesses in Scotland.

[David Rutley (Macclesfield) (Con)]

12. What steps the Government plan to take to ensure a stable economic environment for businesses in Scotland.