Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Stephen Crabb and Dehenna Davison

Monday 5th June 2023 Commons Chamber

[Dehenna Davison]

I am certainly willing to meet the hon. Lady to discuss the project. It is worth noting that the allocations we have made to Scotland meet the commitments that we made in our first levelling-up fund prospectus, but of course we want to ensure that the funds reach the areas that need them most.

[Stephen Crabb (Preseli Pembrokeshire) (Con)]

Given the soaring costs in the construction sector, many local authorities, including Pembrokeshire County Council in my constituency, will find it a real challenge to meet the full scope of their successful levelling-up bids. I know that the Minister has been proactive in reaching out to councils, but can she assure the House that she and her team will continue to provide all possible support for local authorities to ensure that money is spent well on meaningful projects that fulfil our levelling-up objectives?

[Dehenna Davison]

I am grateful to my right hon. Friend for his engagement with his own levelling-up funding projects. As I have said, we have made £65 million available specifically to support the development and completion of projects, which will include some cost engineering in some cases, because we recognise that inflation has been extremely hard on the construction industry, but my officials and I stand ready to help in any way we can.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Stephen Crabb and Dehenna Davison

Monday 17th October 2022 Commons Chamber

[Dehenna Davison]

I thank my hon. Friend for his question and for his passion for delivering devolution in his local area. It is a shame when some local stakeholders do not back this project to deliver all its incredible opportunities. I will certainly work with my hon. Friend and local stakeholders to see what we can do to make that happen.

[Stephen Crabb (Preseli Pembrokeshire) (Con)]

9. What discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on establishing a freeport in Wales.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (Dehenna Davison)]

We reached an agreement with the Welsh Government earlier this year to collaborate on and deliver a new freeport in Wales, and this has received Cabinet agreement. We launched the bidding prospectus on 1 September, the closing date is 24 November, and we expect to announce the successful locations in spring next year.

[Stephen Crabb]

I thank my hon. Friend for her answer and welcome her to her position.

Floating offshore wind represents a major new industrial opportunity across the whole of the UK, but especially for us in Wales. Does my hon. Friend agree that an innovative and collaborative freeport bid, along the lines of what Port Talbot and the port of Milford Haven are currently putting together, would help to unlock the full economic value and benefits of floating offshore wind for the whole of the south and west Wales region?

[Dehenna Davison]

I thank my right hon. Friend for his question and for his passion and commitment to delivering a freeport. I know that he is a great champion for the Milford Haven bid in particular, and I look forward to sitting down with him to discuss it. The freeports programme has great potential to contribute towards achieving the Welsh and UK Governments’ decarbonisation agenda and net zero ambitions. We look forward to receiving strong bids from across Wales that demonstrate how they will meet the Government’s shared goals, as articulated in the bidding prospectus.