Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Stephen Crabb and John Bercow

Wednesday 21st January 2015 Commons Chamber

[The Secretary of State for Wales (Stephen Crabb)]

Incidents of religious and racial hatred are thankfully very low in Wales. But as we approach Holocaust memorial day, it is right that we look again at the efforts we are making to prevent such incidents and to say with a clear and united voice that anti-Semitism and all forms of racial and religious hatred are not compatible with the freedom values that are cherished by the people of Wales. [Interruption.]

[Mr Speaker]

Order. This question is about Holocaust memorial day and the scourge of anti-Semitism. The House should listen to the question and to the answer.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Stephen Crabb and John Bercow

Wednesday 3rd December 2014 Commons Chamber

[Stephen Crabb]

I spent two days in north Wales meeting business leaders and local authorities to talk about how we can drive up the quality of infrastructure in north Wales, and I can tell the hon. Gentleman that we have a long-term plan that will deliver the improvements for infrastructure in south Wales and north Wales too. [Interruption.]

[Mr Speaker]

Order. Let us have a bit of quiet in the Chamber so that Mr Howell can raise the subject of the Newport investment summit.

[John Howell (Henley) (Con)]

9. What discussions he had with business leaders at the recent Newport investment summit.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Stephen Crabb and John Bercow

Wednesday 22nd October 2014 Commons Chamber

[Stephen Crabb]

The Government recognise that Welsh agriculture produces some of the best quality products in the UK. That is why we have talked to farming representatives throughout the summer, and why my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister became the first ever serving Prime Minister to visit the Royal Welsh show this summer. We stay in close contact with farming organisations. We are clear that supermarkets need to work with the farming industry to deliver better returns for farmers.

[Mr Speaker]

There is an opportunity for a free hit on the agricultural sector in Wales. If nobody wishes to seize it, and as we are all present and correct, we will move on to questions to the Prime Minister.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Stephen Crabb and John Bercow

Wednesday 26th March 2014 Commons Chamber

[Stephen Crabb]

Visitor numbers to Wales increased strongly last year and they are increasing faster than for visitors to England and Scotland. There is no evidence to suggest that VAT rates are a deterrent for visitors to Wales.

[Mr Speaker]

The principals are present and correct and we can proceed with questions to the Prime Minister.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Stephen Crabb and John Bercow

Wednesday 12th February 2014 Commons Chamber

[Stephen Crabb]

If the right hon. Gentleman looks at the figures, he will see that the biggest destruction in real wage levels occurred under the last three years of the previous Labour Government, and we are still recovering from the economic trauma of that period. Wage levels are still not where we want them to be, but they are increasing in Wales, which is positive news for people on the lowest incomes.

[Mr Speaker]

Well, we have got through the lot, the principals are present and the House is expectant, so we can move on to questions to the Prime Minister.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Stephen Crabb and John Bercow

Wednesday 20th November 2013 Commons Chamber

[Stephen Crabb]

My hon. Friend is exactly right. Aside from the important economic benefits to Wales of the new prison, importantly it will help families stay in closer touch with prisoners, which has been proven time and again to be a vital factor in whether people reduce their offending behaviour when they are out of prison.

[Mr Speaker]

I call Mr Crispin Blunt.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Stephen Crabb and John Bercow

Wednesday 9th October 2013 Commons Chamber

[Stephen Crabb]

I have not seen the information that the hon. Lady has brought to the House today, but I will gladly sit down and go through it with her. I would be concerned if, as she says, there has been such an increase in the number of people suffering rent arrears. That is not what we are planning for, and we are making available to Welsh local authorities the resources to ease families through this difficult transition.

[Mr Speaker]

An extraordinary thing has happened. The appetite for interrogation of hon. and right hon. Members seems to have dried up. We have completed all the questions and we have had the answers. The principals are here, and we are ready to go.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Stephen Crabb and John Bercow

Wednesday 15th May 2013 Commons Chamber

[Stephen Crabb]

There is a constant close dialogue between us, the Home Office and the Minister for Universities and Science about how we can attract more overseas students to the UK. I do not know what figures the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent (Nick Smith) has seen, but if he looks at the figures for overseas students coming to Wales, he will see that there has been a 73% increase in the past five years, and those numbers are continuing to go up. [Interruption.]

[Mr Speaker]

Order. There is a large number of extremely noisy private conversations taking place, including among those on the Opposition Benches, who I am sure will now wish to hear Jessica Morden.

[Jessica Morden (Newport East) (Lab)]

9. What assessment he has made of the effects of the Government’s welfare policies on disabled people in Wales.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Stephen Crabb and John Bercow

Wednesday 27th February 2013 Commons Chamber

[Stephen Crabb]

I welcome that question from my hon. Friend. I will next be in the area this weekend—he and I have the pleasure and privilege of representing the most beautiful part of the United Kingdom. I very much welcome the new development he has announced; it will be a major boost to tourism not just in Pembrokeshire but across Wales.

[Mr Speaker]

I call Mrs Helen Goodman. No? Well, everybody is here. We are ready. Let’s get going. Questions to the Prime Minister.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Stephen Crabb and John Bercow

Wednesday 16th January 2013 Commons Chamber

[Michael Fabricant (Lichfield) (Con)]

My hon. Friend will be aware that the reason for the digital switch-off was the sell-off of analogue frequencies for 4G. Does that mean that there will be adequate 4G coverage in north-east Wales—and elsewhere—when 3G services are superseded?

[Mr Speaker]

For the time being we need not preoccupy ourselves with elsewhere, merely with north-east Wales.

[Stephen Crabb]

I am advised that coverage in north-east Wales will be similar to the previous analogue coverage. Where communities experience a loss following the switchover or the roll-out of 4G services, the Government will be happy to pursue that issue and take it up with the relevant agencies.

--- Later in debate ---

[Stephen Crabb]

The right hon. Gentleman is absolutely right, of course, about the critical importance of the tourism industry to Wales. I recall from last year that the Wales Office team had a busy Wales tourism week, and we look forward to a similarly busy week at the end of this month, going out promoting tourism in Wales and meeting tourism representatives and operators.

[Mr Speaker]

I call Mr Glyn Davies.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Stephen Crabb and John Bercow

Wednesday 28th November 2012 Commons Chamber

[Stephen Crabb]

The hon. Gentleman brings a powerful example to the House of why we need to do more at different levels, in both the UK and the Welsh Governments, to increase the number of organ donors across the UK, and to that end we look forward to seeing the detail of the Welsh Government legislation.

[Mr Speaker]

I call Mr Roger Williams.

--- Later in debate ---

[Stephen Crabb]

I absolutely agree with my hon. Friend. The Government cannot, of course, control volatile energy prices on the world markets, but what we can do is ensure that consumers in the UK get access to the very best deals on their energy bills. That is what we are committed to doing, as demonstrated by last week’s announcement by my right hon. Friend the Energy Secretary.

[Mr Speaker]

Order. A very large number of noisy conversations are taking place in the Chamber. Let us have a bit of order for Mr Guto Bebb.

Cabinet Office

Debate between Stephen Crabb and John Bercow

Tuesday 21st December 2010 Commons Chamber

[Mr Bone]

On a point of order, Mr Speaker. Am I right in understanding that the 10-minute limit for my hon. Friend to respond is only guidance and that he can run on into extra time?

[Mr Speaker]

As usual, the hon. Gentleman is correct. The time limit was an expectation that I stated at the outset, but the Chair will exercise judgment about when the debate should be concluded. The hon. Member for Preseli Pembrokeshire (Stephen Crabb) is seeking to respond to points, and he may briefly continue to do so.

[Stephen Crabb]

I am grateful for your generosity and clarification, Mr Speaker. All previous competitions up to 2002 had been organised on a UK-wide basis. The golden jubilee competition was the only time when separate competitions were held for the devolved nations and for England. We regard the bestowing of city status as a signal honour and a rare mark of distinction. Something special will be lost if too many places are granted city status. The Government’s expectation is that only one new city will be created as a result of the diamond jubilee competition and, similarly, that only one existing city will be granted a lord mayoralty or lord provostship.