Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Robin Walker and Wayne David

Thursday 6th December 2018 Commons Chamber

[Mr Walker]

This is an issue that we take very seriously. The ministerial forum, which I co-chair with the Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office, my hon. Friend the Member for Norwich North (Chloe Smith), who is the Minister for the constitution, has had some very useful engagement, in addition to the JMC structure. My new Secretary of State has already attended his first meeting of the JMC. We intend to keep moving forward and talking to and including the devolved Administrations in our approach.

[Wayne David (Caerphilly) (Lab)]

Under the Government’s post-Brexit UK prosperity fund, will funds be allocated on the same basis and to the same areas as under the current European structural funds?

[Mr Walker]

The hon. Gentleman asks an interesting question. Clearly, work is still ongoing on the UK shared prosperity fund. There is a huge opportunity to do better than the European structural funds. Our country sends millions of pounds into the European structural fund system, and they never return to our country. In the future, the UK shared prosperity fund can deliver more effectively for every part of the United Kingdom.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Robin Walker and Wayne David

Thursday 14th December 2017 Commons Chamber

[Mr Robin Walker]

Since the creation of our Department, we have engaged closely with the financial services industry. We have received representations from a wide variety of stakeholders, including UK Finance, TheCityUK, the Association of Foreign Banks and the Investment Association, as well as many firms in Edinburgh, which, as the hon. Lady knows well, is a regional and global leader in, among others, the asset management and insurance industries. We will continue to work closely with them and colleagues at the Treasury to ensure that our financial services industry thrives.

[Wayne David (Caerphilly) (Lab)]

Will the Government consider negotiating our continued participation in the Erasmus 2 programme after we have left the European Union?

[Mr Walker]

The Prime Minister said in her Florence speech that we would continue to co-operate in areas of culture and education. I believe that we should explore that in the next phase of the talks.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Robin Walker and Wayne David

Thursday 9th March 2017 Commons Chamber

[Mr Walker]

Of course, we have formally involved the devolved Administrations in our preparations through the JMC process, and we continue to engage in that process. With regard to the great repeal Bill, a White Paper will be published and the devolved Administrations will have their opportunities to respond to that, as will hon. Members across the House.

[Wayne David (Caerphilly) (Lab)]

When the Government devolve powers that have been repatriated, will they consider allocating extra resources to ensure that those policies are implemented properly?

[Mr Walker]

As we have said, we have not made the final decisions about repatriation. That is something we will want to discuss with the devolved Administrations, as I think the Welsh Government have suggested. The Treasury has already made important guarantees that cover devolved Administrations as well as Government Departments.