Oral Answers to Questions

Simon Hart Excerpts

Wednesday 20th June 2012 Commons Chamber

[Mr Hague]

I know that the hon. Gentleman has long-running concerns about this and has frequently expressed them. It is important to stress that for all but the most expensive parts of London, at least 30% of all private rental properties will be affordable. In London, under the system that we inherited, 150 families were receiving housing benefit of more than £50,000 a year, and that is not acceptable to the taxpayers of this country in general. Our reforms are fair. Housing benefit will still be paid to meet rents of almost £21,000 a year. There is also a £190 million fund for discretionary payments to help local authorities with the changes, including assistance to renegotiate lower rents with landlords, but the principle remains, and I say it again, that it is not fair that people on housing benefit can afford to live in streets and homes that people out working hard are unable to live in.

[Simon Hart (Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire) (Con)]

Q9. Wales is the only nation in the UK without a single yard of electrified rail track, thanks in part to the Labour party. As a former Secretary of State for Wales, could the Foreign Secretary persuade the Government that extending the track as far as Swansea, not just Cardiff, would be great for jobs, great for Wales, and somewhat cheaper than the current refurbishment of Tottenham Court Road station?

[Mr Hague]

I know that my right hon. Friend the Welsh Secretary is working hard on this. We are committed to electrifying more than 300 miles of railway routes, which compares with just 9 miles electrified under the previous Government—an interesting contrast in infrastructure investment. The Department for Transport is currently considering a business case for electrification between Cardiff and Swansea prepared in Wales, and I understand that the decision will be made by the summer. Of course, it will depend on whether it is affordable and on the assessment of competing priorities as well.

Oral Answers to Questions

Simon Hart Excerpts

Wednesday 14th September 2011 Commons Chamber

[John Stevenson (Carlisle) (Con)]

10. What recent discussions he has had with the Deputy Prime Minister on establishing a commission on the West Lothian question.

[Simon Hart (Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire) (Con)]

11. What recent discussions he has had with the Deputy Prime Minister on establishing a commission on the West Lothian question.

[The Secretary of State for Scotland (Michael Moore)]

I have regular discussions with my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister on a range of issues, and last week the Government announced the steps that we are taking to establish a commission on the West Lothian question.

--- Later in debate ---

[Simon Hart]

Does the Secretary of State share my view that resolving the West Lothian question would not, in fact, damage the Union?

[Michael Moore]

We now have an opportunity to consider carefully the issues that were first so famously posed back in 1977. As devolution has developed over recent years, the need to address these issues has become more urgent. We are keen for that to be done, which is why we are the first Government to set up a commission to look at the issues, and we look forward to its getting on with its work.