Energy Policy

Tonia Antoniazzi Excerpts

Monday 25th June 2018 Commons Chamber

[Greg Clark]

In terms of support for Wales, for every £100 of public funds spent in England, £120 is spent in Wales, and the NAO, which scrutinises all such decisions and proposals, will find that this one was taken in complete conformity with the standards of probity required.

[Tonia Antoniazzi (Gower) (Lab)]

rose—

[Madam Deputy Speaker (Dame Eleanor Laing)]

And finally, the prize for patience and perseverance goes to Tonia Antoniazzi.

--- Later in debate ---

[Tonia Antoniazzi]

I have been a teacher in Wales for 20 years, and I am devastated by today’s news. Pupils throughout Wales have been studying an exciting new future promised to Wales by this Government, and now it is not going to happen. The fig leaf of a city deal will not hide the Government’s shortcomings in Swansea. This is a clear dereliction of duty. If they have no aspiration for Wales, what aspiration does the Secretary of State expect for our future generations?

[Greg Clark]

I am surprised that the hon. Lady would turn her nose up at a £1.3 billion city deal. I would have thought she would welcome it on behalf of her constituents. It does her constituents, young and old, no service to saddle them with energy bills much higher than if we have regard to the price that ordinary people would pay in their bills and which businesses would incur when trading. That is responsible government.