Leaving the EU: Business Links Stephen Crabb (Preseli
Pembrokeshire) (Con) 2. What assessment he has made of the
adequacy of Wales’s international business links since the UK’s
decision to leave the EU. [908304] Karl McCartney (Lincoln)
(Con) 5. What assessment he has made of the adequacy of
Wales’s international business links since the UK's...Request free trial
Leaving the EU: Business Links
-
(Preseli Pembrokeshire)
(Con)
2. What assessment he has made of the adequacy of Wales’s
international business links since the UK’s decision to
leave the EU. [908304]
-
(Lincoln) (Con)
5. What assessment he has made of the adequacy of Wales’s
international business links since the UK's decision to
leave the EU. [908307]
-
The Secretary of State for Wales (Alun Cairns)
The UK, including Wales, remains the same outward-looking,
globally minded country that we have always been. To
support Wales’s international business links further, I am
jointly hosting a Wales business export summit in Cardiff
in early March to ensure that businesses in Wales have full
access to UK Government support.
-
The Republic of Ireland is one
of Wales’s most important trading partners, with around
360,000 trucks passing through Welsh ports to Ireland every
year. May I encourage my right hon. Friend to get really
involved in the discussions about future UK-Irish border
and customs controls to ensure that future arrangements not
only uphold the peace process with the north, but protect
Welsh interests by minimising checks and delays on trucks
that use Welsh ports?
-
My right hon. Friend is a true champion of the port in
Milford Haven and the links and benefits that it brings to
the Welsh and UK economies, and he has played a significant
part in developing it. As we negotiate our exit from the
European Union, and the special situation between Northern
Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, the Welsh
situation is not being ignored. At every Joint Ministerial
Committee it has been recognised not only by my right hon.
Friend the Secretary of State for Exiting the European
Union, but at the Joint Ministerial Committee involving the
Prime Minister.
-
Given the first-class universities in Wales, including my
alma mater Coleg Prifysgol Dewi Sant, will my right hon.
Friend confirm that he will highlight their expertise as
part of his assessment of international business links?
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My hon. Friend makes an important point. I have mentioned
that the Joint Ministerial Committee involving the devolved
Administrations plays an important part, but that does not
mean that universities will not have a part to play in
influencing the negotiations on exiting the European Union.
I spoke to the vice-chancellor of Cardiff University last
week. I am happy to maintain a close relationship with my
hon. Friend’s former university and to ensure that all
universities across the United Kingdom have their say as we
negotiate our exit from the European Union.
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(Ynys Môn) (Lab)
The Secretary of State’s response to the right hon. Member
for Preseli Pembrokeshire (Stephen Crabb) was not good
enough, to be frank. We have had the same response to that
question for some time now. We are going to have a common
travel area, and it is going to impact heavily on Welsh
ports. Will the Secretary of State put the case for Welsh
ports and meet Welsh Members of Parliament to ensure that
that important trade has a Welsh dimension?
-
I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for highlighting the
issues relating to Holyhead, which are being taken into
consideration in our discussions. I will happily meet him
and any colleagues he wishes to bring along. The situation
in Holyhead and Milford Haven is, absolutely, important to
the Welsh and the UK economy, and it has issues in common
with Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. We want to
ensure that we get a deal that works for all situations.
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Ian C. Lucas (Wrexham) (Lab)
I am very pleased that the Secretary of State mentioned
universities in his response about international business
links. Is he aware of the profound concern that is shared
by most vice-chancellors, including Professor Hinfelaar at
Wrexham Glynd?r University, about the impact that changes
to migration rules will have on students from within the EU
and outside it? Will the Secretary of State discuss the
matter in detail with those vice-chancellors?
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As well as the universities that I have highlighted, I am
in close engagement with Universities Wales, which
represents all universities, but I am happy to meet any of
the vice-chancellors about the situation. Many assumptions
have been made about migration controls. Clearly, it is in
our interests to ensure that universities can succeed and
prosper, and migration and international students are an
important part of their model. Controlling immigration does
not mean stopping immigration.
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(Cardiff North)
(Con)
I am glad of my right hon. Friend’s concentration on
universities in his answers. He will be aware that just
before Christmas, Cardiff University school of chemistry
was formally presented with a royal warrant, officially
awarding the department a regius professorship of chemistry
in recognition of the exceptionally high standard of
research at Cardiff University. What are my right hon.
Friend and the Wales Office doing to make sure that our
institutions and professors get such accolades and that we
can stand on the international stage?
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My hon. Friend makes an important point about the success
and the role of universities. The UK Government have a part
to play in recognising, championing and promoting that, as
well as using Innovate UK money. He is right to highlight
the new regius professorship that was awarded to Cardiff
University. That underlines its expertise and success in
the field of chemistry, and we are determined to ensure
that that plays a significant part on the global stage.
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(Torfaen)
(Lab)
As the Secretary of State considers Wales’s business links
post-Brexit, will he give the highest priority to the Welsh
steel industry, and will he not rule out a trade defence
mechanism for steel if that is what is required to save Welsh
steelworkers’ jobs?
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I thank the hon. Gentleman for raising the steel industry. It
is an extremely important industry for communities in Wales,
but it is also of strategic importance for the whole of the
United Kingdom. Last week, I met all the unions relating to
steel, and we discussed the challenges that exist, as well as
how the company, the pension trustees, the pensioners and the
employees of the steelworks need to work their way through
this. The Government stand ready to support the industry—we
are determined to find a long-term, sustainable future for
the steel industry—and I recognise its importance for Wales
and for the UK.
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