Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

UK Internal Market

Wednesday 16 September 2020 · 10 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 4 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Government's response to the UK internal market consultation highlighted broad support from businesses and job creators in Wales.
  • The Bill ensures continued certainty for seamless trade across the UK post-transition period.
  • The Welsh Government will not lose any powers; 70 new ones will be added.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Craig Williams Con
Wales Business & Trade
Context

The UK Internal Market Bill was recently published.

Question

What recent assessment has the Government made of Wales's role in the proposed UK internal market?

Answer from Simon Hart (Secretary of State for Wales)

The Government's response to the UK internal market consultation highlighted broad support from businesses and job creators in Wales. The Bill ensures continued certainty for seamless trade across the UK post-transition period.

Answered
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Q2 Jonathan Edwards PC
Wales Brexit
Context

The UK Internal Market Bill is perceived as a move to reassert direct Westminster control over Wales.

Question

Why won't the Government admit that they are using Brexit legislation like the UK Internal Market Bill to effectively reassert direct Westminster rule over Wales?

Answer from Simon Hart (Secretary of State for Wales)

Disagrees with the premise; public consultation shows business support. Describes critics as protecting a 'cosy clique' while businesses see it as vital for economic recovery and job creation.

Not addressed: Intent of reasserting Westminster control over Wales

How: Disagrees With Premise, Claims Support From Business

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Q3 Jo Gideon
Economy Wales Business & Trade
Context

The Secretary of State has engaged with businesses about the proposals.

Question

What conversations has the Secretary of State had with businesses across Wales and what kind of response did he receive?

Answer from Simon Hart (Secretary of State for Wales)

Engaged with businesses through in-person and online meetings. No major concerns expressed; they see UKIM as a natural successor to the status quo, important for economic recovery and job creation.

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Q4 Tommy Sheppard SNP
Economy Wales
Context

The Bill is seen as giving the UK Government power to make spending decisions in Wales.

Question

How does the Secretary of State respect the devolution settlement while allowing the UK Government to make spending decisions in Wales?

Answer from Simon Hart (Secretary of State for Wales)

Claims nationalists are focused on politics, whereas Bill is about jobs and economy. Welsh Government will not lose any powers; 70 new ones will be added. UK Government support enhances the economy post-covid.

Not addressed: Impact of spending decisions by UK Government in Wales

How: Focuses On Jobs And Economy, Claims Nationalists Are Politically Motivated

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Q5 Ben Everitt
Democracy & Elections
Context

Discussion on UK internal market Bill and its impact.

Question

Does my right hon. Friend agree that it is not just free movement of goods but also people, culture, ideas and values between our four nations that makes our Union so strong?

Answer from Simon Hart (Secretary of State for Wales)

Agrees; Union is important not just economically but also culturally and socially. Legislation will enhance these aspects over coming years.

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Q6 Craig Williams Con
Wales Business & Trade Local Government
Context

Local businesses support the Bill, seeing it as beneficial.

Question

Does my right hon. Friend agree that local businesses welcome the internal market Bill because of its potential to bring investment?

Answer from Simon Hart (Secretary of State for Wales)

Agrees; border must be porous. Cross-border workforce benefits from free movement. Criticizes nationalist politicians for distractions and lack of delivery, advocating for support from all parties including nationalists.

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Q7 Liz Saville-Roberts PC Dwyfor Meirionnydd
Brexit
Context

Previous statement suggested public bodies in Wales could buy more local goods post-Brexit, contrary to the internal market Bill.

Question

How does the Secretary of State reconcile his previous claim that public bodies can buy more local goods after Brexit with the UK Internal Market Bill blocking such measures?

Answer from Simon Hart (Secretary of State for Wales)

Disagrees with the claim; public consultation shows support. Bill secures a market enjoyed for 45 years, seen as logical step forward for jobs.

Not addressed: Reconciling previous statements about local goods procurement and current Bill provisions

How: Disagrees With The Claim, Claims Public Support

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Q8 Liz Saville-Roberts PC Dwyfor Meirionnydd
Democracy & Elections
Context

The UK Internal Market Bill is under debate, with concerns raised about its impact on the Union and devolution.

Question

How can the Secretary of State reconcile this historical serendipity with this Government's brazen power-grab?

Answer from Simon Hart

The Labour Opposition considers the UKIM Bill a threat to the Union, while nationalists consider it a threat to separatism. The bill introduces 70 new powers without removing any existing ones, thus it is not a power-grab.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific concerns raised by nationalists were not directly addressed.

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Q9 Gerald Jones Lab Merthyr Tydfil and Aberdare
Scotland Wales Brexit
Context

The Tory party promised to strengthen the Union and devolved settlements, but critics argue that the UKIM Bill undermines these promises.

Question

Will the Secretary of State accept that the Internal Market Bill rolls back powers, undermines devolution settlement and gives comfort to those who want to break up the Union?

Answer from Simon Hart

No. The legislation is seen by businesses in Wales as a natural transition from EU rules to collaborative operations between UK and Welsh Governments, addressing jobs and livelihoods.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific rollbacks of powers were not acknowledged.

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Q10 Chris Elmore Lab Bridgend
Scotland Brexit
Context

Critics argue the UKIM Bill is an attempt to roll back devolution due to political opposition to Labour-led Governments in Wales.

Question

Will the Secretary of State accept that the Government's Internal Market Bill tries to roll back devolution because they do not like who is elected to Government in Wales?

Answer from Simon Hart

The economic reality is that people want jobs and investment, rather than defining our post-covid and post-Brexit evolution in terms of political one-upmanship. The Government intends to deliver on this.

Not addressed: The specific rollbacks of devolution powers were not addressed.

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