Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lindsay Hoyle and James Davies

Wednesday 18th October 2023 Commons Chamber

[Dr Davies]

Of course, improving rail is not simply about the rail infrastructure; it is also about the train operating companies and how they operate. The hon. Gentleman is right that Transport for Wales has struggled from time to time. I can reassure him that I do have discussions with it. In fact, I am also meeting the rail Minister, my hon. Friend the Member for Bexhill and Battle (Huw Merriman) later today, when I will reiterate those concerns.

[Mr Speaker]

I welcome the shadow Minister to her new position.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lindsay Hoyle and James Davies

Wednesday 19th April 2023 Commons Chamber

[Dr James Davies]

I thank my right hon. Friend and constituency neighbour. He is perfectly right to raise this issue. He is referring to the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016. It may be well intentioned, but the fact is that there is a shortage of housing and if we want to keep landlords in the market we need to incentivise them, so the mandatory regulations and costs imposed are really in place at the wrong time.

[Mr Speaker]

I call the shadow Minister.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lindsay Hoyle and James Davies

Wednesday 1st March 2023 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

I call the Minister. Happy St David’s Day.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales (Dr James Davies)]

Diolch yn fawr, Mr Llefarydd, and a happy St David’s Day—dydd gŵyl Dewi hapus.

The Government are committed to improving digital connectivity as demonstrated by our commitment to Project Gigabit, the shared rural network and, most recently, the new very hard-to-reach pilots, two of which are located in Wales.

--- Later in debate ---

[Dr Davies]

I know that my hon. Friend is a regular visitor to Wales. He is quite right to raise the importance of broadband both to people’s modern way of life and also to business. There has been progress, but there is much more to do.

[Mr Speaker]

I call the shadow Secretary of State.

--- Later in debate ---

[Dr Davies]

The hon. Lady is aware that the geography and topography of Wales make digital connections more tricky than in some other areas. She is also aware that it is the Welsh Government who have been leading on the roll-out of broadband in Wales in conjunction with Building Digital UK, and I agree that more work needs to be done to improve those figures.

[Mr Speaker]

I call Liz Saville Roberts.

--- Later in debate ---

[Dr Davies]

As I mentioned in my previous answer, there is an ambitious programme for offshore wind, including floating offshore wind in south-west Wales and south-west England. There is an intention for 4 GW of power to be provided through the Celtic sea by 2035 and many more gigawatts in the future.

[Mr Speaker]

I call the Chair of the Select Committee.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lindsay Hoyle and James Davies

Wednesday 18th January 2023 Commons Chamber

[Dr Davies]

I cannot agree with the hon. Gentleman. As he will know, many elements of the policy are devolved in Wales. Therefore, discussions continue with the Welsh Government on those aspects. I would highlight that there are 5,400 similar zones in other parts of the world. We must deliver growth for Britain in a similar fashion.

[Mr Speaker]

I call the Chair of the Welsh Affairs Committee.

--- Later in debate ---

[Dr Davies]

My hon. Friend is quite right that the policy is not a good way to spend money, and is not deliverable either. As an NHS GP working in north-east Wales, I can tell her that the delivery of NHS services is shocking in many senses. We need the Welsh Government to improve their performance.

[Mr Speaker]

I call the shadow Minister.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lindsay Hoyle and James Davies

Wednesday 23rd November 2022 Commons Chamber

[Dr Davies]

I thank the hon. Lady for her question. I would be interested to read more about the Blue Eden project, which I understand has had community renewal funding to look at the prospect of it progressing. I will certainly follow it with great interest.

[Mr Speaker]

I call the Chair of the Select Committee, Stephen Crabb.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lindsay Hoyle and James Davies

Wednesday 20th May 2020 Commons Chamber

[Dr James Davies [V]]

Does the Secretary of State agree with Adam Marshall, director general of the British Chambers of Commerce, has said:

“We need to see the whole of the UK moving together—the alternative for business is additional confusion and cost. Avoiding divergence for the sake of politics is important.”

Does the Secretary of State agree?

[Mr Speaker]

I do not know if the Secretary of State could hear that—if not, we will move on.