Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what discussions (a) Ministers and (b) officials in her Departmental have had with the Welsh Government on supporting pan-regional economies that overlap the borders of England and Wales.

Growth is the number one mission of the government, and our new industrial strategy is central to that mission. The Industrial Strategy will drive growth, create a pro-business environment and support high-potential clusters across the UK, including cross border clusters.

I regularly meet the First Minister to discuss a variety of issues, including economic growth and the Industrial Strategy.

In addition, officials from the Wales Office, the Department for Business and Trade, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, the Welsh Government and HM Treasury are working closely on the Industrial Strategy. This work includes active consideration of opportunities that straddle the border between England and Wales.