Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Transition Period: Business

Wednesday 16 December 2020 · 7 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Wales Office is engaged with businesses across Wales, urging them to prepare for the end of the transition period.
  • The Secretary of State confirmed a 337 million funding guarantee over this Parliament to support the farming industry in Wales.
  • The Secretary of State highlighted 2 million-worth of support for fisheries in Wales included in the spending review.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Fay Jones
Wales Brexit
Context

There is no specific event mentioned, but the context is that Welsh businesses need to prepare for changes after the end of the transition period with the EU.

Question

What steps his Department is taking to help Welsh businesses prepare for the end of the transition period?

Answer from Simon Hart

The Wales Office is engaged with businesses across Wales, urging them to prepare for the end of the transition period. The Department has guaranteed £337 million funding over this Parliament and is committed to supporting the farming industry in Wales.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No specific steps or mechanisms were detailed beyond a general message.

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Q2 Fay Jones
Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

The question arose from concerns expressed by sheep farmers in Builth Wells about their future support from the government during and after the transition period.

Question

When I was speaking to sheep farmers in Builth Wells in my constituency at the weekend, they made it clear that they do not want to be a political football. They are keen to embrace the changes that will come, but they want the certainty that their Government will support them come what may. Will the Secretary of State confirm that he is working closely with all Cabinet colleagues to ensure that my sheep farmers are front and centre of the UK Government's mind when transition ends?

Answer from Simon Hart

The Secretary of State confirmed a £337 million funding guarantee over this Parliament and assured that the Government supports the farming industry in Wales. He emphasised that the Government is committed to ensuring a healthy future for livestock in Wales.

Answered
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Q3 Liz Saville-Roberts PC Dwyfor Meirionnydd
Wales Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

The question was prompted by concerns from small-scale fishermen in Porthdinllaen about the impact of potential no-deal scenarios and the Government's approach to Brexit.

Question

Can the Secretary of State explain how his Government's vainglorious Trafalgar posturing with warships in the channel helps our small fishing vessels?

Answer from Simon Hart

The Secretary of State referred to £2 million-worth of support for fisheries in Wales included in the spending review and highlighted his awareness of fishing issues off the coast of west Wales. He argued that leaving the common fisheries policy benefits Wales, even though this view may not align with Plaid Cymru's.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Explanation on how warships support small-scale fishermen was not provided.

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Q4 Liz Saville-Roberts PC Dwyfor Meirionnydd
Wales Brexit
Context

The question was in response to the Prime Minister's latest U-turn on the UK Internal Market Bill and concerns about its impact on devolved powers.

Question

Will the Secretary of State commit to a productive U-turn this time, and assure me that no other powers will be reserved through the internal market bill?

Answer from Simon Hart

The Government's amendment to the UK Internal Market Bill is seen as listening carefully to arguments and not an act of evil. The Secretary of State argued that the bill aims at encouraging inward investment into Wales for jobs and livelihoods, contrary to what Plaid Cymru views.

Not addressed: The specific commitment regarding a U-turn was avoided.

How: Discussing Broader Economic Benefits Rather Than The Legal Impact Of The Bill

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Q5 Stephen Crabb Con
Immigration Wales
Context

The context involves concerns about whether inland checking facilities required ahead of full border checks will be in place on time.

Question

Will my right hon. Friend say a bit more about what he is doing with the Welsh Government to ensure that the inland checking facilities that will be required ahead of the full implementation of new border checks will be in place, given the very challenging timetables that he is working to?

Answer from Simon Hart

There is a complex relationship involving UK Government, HMRC, and Welsh Government at locations like Holyhead. However, there is daily work with the Welsh Government to ensure delivery timetables for inland checking facilities are met in places such as Fishguard and Pembroke.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific details on collaboration were not provided.

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Q6 Gerald Jones Lab Merthyr Tydfil and Aberdare
Wales Brexit
Context

The UK faces the possibility of a no-deal Brexit, with unclear trading terms for businesses. The CBI warned that preparing for such an outcome during a pandemic is unrealistic.

Question

The Government's failure to get the Brexit deal means we still have no clue about the terms on which businesses will be trading from January. We face the very real prospect of a no-deal exit, risking chaos at our ports and shortages of critical goods. What is your message to Welsh businesses that now face a Brexit cliff edge in just a few days' time?

Answer from Simon Hart

I have been working closely with colleagues in Cardiff, hosting joint webinars and seminars. We are engaging with businesses across Wales in limitless number of ways. The message I am getting from them is not the same as the message delivered by the hon. Gentleman. They are prepared and aware of challenges and opportunities. The hon. Gentleman's party was saying there would be no referendum, but it happened. They said they would not win the election, but they did.

Not addressed: The Secretary of State did not provide a specific message to Welsh businesses about their preparedness for no-deal Brexit

How: Attacking The Questioner'S Party

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Q7 Anna McMorrin Lab Cardiff North
Brexit
Context

Local businesses in Cardiff North are concerned about supply chain delays, stockpiling issues, and tariff implications due to the uncertainty of a no-deal Brexit.

Question

Businesses across Cardiff North are doing their best to protect against no deal but are worried about supply chain delays, stockpiling, and tariffs. They feel that they can put down sandbags but cannot prevent potential failures. Will the Secretary of State apologise for risking jobs and livelihoods by playing politics with Brexit, and will his Government be preparing to fail or failing to prepare?

Answer from Simon Hart

The hon. Lady's party voted against a deal last year, increasing the risk of no deal. There has been considerable daily joint working between the Welsh Government under her own party's control and the UK Government over many months to minimize risks.

Not addressed: No apology was given or preparation status clarified for businesses in Cardiff North

How: Attacking The Questioner'S Party

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