Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, whether the Government plans to hold a Wales investment conference.
Answered by David T C Davies
The UK Government is committed to growing the economy of Wales, creating well-paid jobs and opportunity right across the country.
The second Global Investment Summit will be hosted by the Department for Business and Trade this Autumn, showcasing Welsh businesses to investors from around the world.
Day to day, the Office of the Secretary of State for Wales works closely with the Department for Business and Trade and the Office for Investment to support growth and investment. This has led to forty-seven new foreign direct investments in Wales during 2022/23, creating 3,062 new jobs (a five-year record).
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, whether he has had recent discussions with Cabinet colleagues on the potential impact of Flybe being placed in administration on people in (a) Newport West constituency and (b) Wales.
Answered by David T C Davies
The Government acknowledges that this will be a difficult time for Flybe’s passengers and staff. Our immediate priority has been to support people travelling home and employees who have lost their jobs. Flybe hasn’t operated from Cardiff Airport since 2020 and we recognise the impact this has had on the airport in the years since.
Financial assistance to providers or air transport services is a devolved matter and therefore in the hands of the Welsh Government, although officials at the Department for Transport engage regularly with the Welsh Government on aviation policy.
With specific regard to Cardiff Airport, a robust strategy is urgently needed to ensure the sustainability of Cardiff Airport, having originally been bought by the Welsh Government for £52m in 2013 and has since (in 2021) been valued at just £15m.
This year marks a decade since the Welsh Government bought Cardiff Airport. We’ve seen warnings raised over the site’s future sustainability and have seen major airlines – such as Wizz Air and Flybe – ceasing all operations at the site. There are no signs of improvement. Annual passenger numbers have fallen since the pandemic, down from 1.6 million in 2019 to 812,000 in the year to November 2022.
It’s absolutely crucial that the Welsh Government publishes a comprehensive strategy to place the airport on a more sustainable footing, with a crucial aim of returning it to the commercial sector at the earliest opportunity. Doing so, I hope, would be of benefit to the people of Newport West, Wales and the rest of the UK.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what discussions he has had with representatives of international businesses on inward investment into Wales; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by David T C Davies
I regularly meet a range of stakeholders to discuss investment opportunities in Wales. Most recently I met with the Qatar Investment Authority in Doha, to discuss opportunities for Wales. I have also had meetings with representatives from companies like Ciner Glass and the Eren Group about their investments in Wales.
Wales has already seen the benefit of inward investment, with 43 new foreign direct investments in the 2021-2022 financial year, creating around 1,800 new jobs. Furthermore, the Department for International Trade’s dedicated Wales team has ensured Wales’ investment opportunities are promoted at the UK’s flagship international investment events, such as the recent Green Trade and Investment Expo in Gateshead and through opportunities for Wales as part of the GREAT campaign.
The UK Government is committed to supporting key sectors in Wales, while also creating an environment where businesses of the future can thrive, and inward investment is critical in this. Our Freeports programme has the potential to help Wales compete for global investment and trade, and further enhance Wales’ ability to attract investment and new businesses. The UK’s Free Trade Agreements will also bring new investment opportunities for Wales.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many ministerial visits to Wales have taken place in each of the last five years.
Answered by David T C Davies
Since 1 November 2018, around 184 Ministerial visits have taken place by Wales Office Ministers.
At the time of answering, I have conducted 15 Governmental engagements in Wales in my capacity as Secretary of State for Wales.
The Department does not hold information on Ministers from other Department’s visits or engagements.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many meetings he has held at (a) Downing Street and (b) the House of Commons with elected representatives from Wales since his appointment; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by David T C Davies
As Secretary of State for Wales, I conduct the vast majority of Government businesses within the Wales Office, including meetings with elected representatives in Wales.
I have had meetings with elected representatives from Wales in Parliament and in Downing Street.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on the steps he is taking to increase tourism links between Wales and Northern Ireland.
Answered by David T C Davies
Tourism is devolved in Wales, however the UK Government, through Visit Britain, works with Visit Wales and the other devolved nations’ tourist boards to grow domestic tourism across the UK, including between Wales and Northern Ireland. In addition, UK Government engages with the devolved administrations through the Devolved Administrations' Inter-ministerial Group for Tourism.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, when he last held discussions with the Welsh Government on the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
Answered by Robert Buckland
I have regular contact with the First Minister of Wales and his Ministerial team on a range of issues, including how the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) will help to level up communities in Wales.
The UK Government has engaged with each devolved administration on the design of the UKSPF, at both official and ministerial levels. This has helped inform the most appropriate mix of interventions and funding allocations for each nation. We remain committed to engaging with the devolved administrations as the UKSPF is implemented.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what assessment he has made of the impact of the Shared Prosperity Fund on people living in Newport West constituency.
Answered by Robert Buckland
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) is a key part of the UK Government’s ambitious Levelling Up agenda and a significant component of our support for places in Wales and indeed across the whole of the UK. It provides £2.6 billion of new funding UK-wide for local investment up to March 2025.
Communities in Newport will benefit from a share of the £278 million in UKSPF which has been allocated to the Cardiff Capital Region. This investment will boost productivity, jobs and living standards whilst empowering local leaders to restore local pride and a sense of community.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many members of staff have left his Department since 12 December 2019.
Answered by Robert Buckland
37 staff have left the Department in the period 12 December 2019 to 6 September 2022. This excludes agency staff.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what recent discussions he has had with the Welsh Government on the Government's proposals for the Northern Ireland Protocol.
Answered by Robert Buckland
I discussed a range of issues with the First Minister of Wales when we met last month, including the UK Government’s legislative programme, and discussed this issue briefly with him this week.
I look forward to further discussions with the First Minister and his Ministerial team in the coming months, and trust that the Welsh Government will work with me constructively on matters which include a devolved interest.
This includes the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill, which will fix the practical problems the protocol has created whilst avoiding a hard border, and protect the integrity of the UK and EU Single Market.