Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Wales Office

Oral Answers to Questions

Deidre Brock Excerpts
Wednesday 19th May 2021

(3 years, 3 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Lindsay Hoyle Portrait Mr Speaker
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Order. If somebody wants to do a little tapping, there is room outside for that.

Deidre Brock Portrait Deidre Brock (Edinburgh North and Leith) (SNP)
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What recent discussions he has had with the Welsh Government on the adequacy of the fiscal settlement.

David T C Davies Portrait The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales (David T. C. Davies)
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This fiscal settlement delivers for Wales. This year, the Welsh Government will receive almost £19 billion of block grant funding, which is £1 billion more than was agreed with the Welsh Labour Government as being a fair settlement for Wales.

Deidre Brock Portrait Deidre Brock [V]
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The fiscal settlement will not matter all that much if the possible trade deal with Australia goes through with a zero-tariff regime, which would cause serious difficulties for Welsh and, indeed, Scottish farmers. What compensation for those farmers is being built into the fiscal settlement, should this latest gung-ho trade deal scupper their livelihoods?

David T C Davies Portrait David T. C. Davies
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No trade deal has been signed yet, but yesterday I was on a call with National Farmers Union representatives, who said that they welcomed the principle of a trade deal. They have a few concerns about some of the details, and we will continue our discussions with the NFU and with farmers. But I am surprised at the hon. Lady, who I think was in favour of having a free trade deal with the European Union. Why would she not want to have a free trade deal with a country with which we all—and she and I personally—have very close links indeed?