Speeches by Davies.

“There will be a Westminster Hall debate on this very point in a few minutes’ time, so we will have to be very brief. How confident are you that the UK Government’s funding for coal tip safety will go beyond routine maintenance and help to redevelop those sites for economic and community benefit?”

“This is my patch now! I will direct my question to Michelle, if that is okay. I am familiar with the innovative work that Thermal Earth does in Capel Hendre. Would other former industrial communities realise the potential for legacy sites, like the mine water heat scheme that it does? Is there potential to open that ou…”

“I thank everybody for contributing today. I am delighted to see my fellow Welsh MPs here, across the parties. I am delighted that, for the vast majority of the debate, we have had consensus that we do not want to send our men, women and young people back down to the pits and the life they had 50 or 60 years ago. The wa…”

“Not at all; I would just like some clarification. The Government announced their intention in November 2024—nearly a year ago now—to introduce a Bill to ban new coalmining licences. Can the Minister tell us exactly when the Government will bring that legislation forward in Parliament?”

“Absolutely, but we need £600 million to make these tips safe. The Government responded to my written question in June that the Labour Welsh Government had not asked for the full amount of the estimated £600 million needed to make all tips in Wales safe. Plaid Cymru believes it is a grave injustice to the people of the …”

“Absolutely. This is an issue for the whole of the United Kingdom. The disaster brought about the Mines and Quarries (Tips) Act 1969, which came into force to improve coal tips’ stability and safety. However, it did not go far enough. Aberfan should have been a moment to address the dangerous legacy of all coal tips onc…”

“That is true. It is ironic that the two incidents happened on exactly the same date—a few years apart, but on 21 October. We must never forget either.”

“I beg to move, That this House has considered coal tip safety and the prohibition of new coal extraction licences. Diolch yn fawr, Gadeirydd. It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Twigg. Just as coal ran in rich veins beneath the Welsh valleys and mountains, it also runs deep through the history of the …”

“rose—”

“We all know that the hon. Member for Clacton supports coalmining companies that have left our communities vulnerable, in the same way that he supports privatising our precious national health service. We will continue to campaign to make all coal tips safe and ensure that Westminster rights the wrongs of the past by pa…”

“In my constituency, pylon proposals are causing huge distress among our rural communities. They will not bring any real benefit to those communities. In fact, developers often bypass the rights of landowners, and the proposed developments will ruin our beautiful landscape. Does the hon. Member agree that electricity in…”

“The Education Secretary’s focus today is on the new vocational qualification training, which will be welcome for students in England. In Wales, however, where her party has led the Government for the past 25 years, the apprenticeship budget has been cut by 14%. Will she be lobbying the Chancellor ahead of the Budget to…”

“No, it is not a speech. Thank you, Mrs Harris; I appreciate your guidance. Does the hon. Member agree with that sustainable and seasonal way of reducing food miles by using public land?”

“The images of ceasefire and families reunited are deeply heartening and a moment of relief and celebration amid such immense suffering, yet this fragile peace remains vulnerable, particularly to the corrosive effects of misinformation. True and lasting peace must be built on openness, transparency and the free flow of …”

“COP30, as with past COPs, requires us to be more sustainable, and that includes food production, as the hon. Member said. In Caerfyrddin, we have a public farm producing vegetables for schools and residential homes, so public land is being used for public benefit. Why can all local authorities not follow suit, supporte…”

“I will direct this question to Rebecca. It would be lovely for you to have a chance to speak as the devolved Member for Wales. When the commissioner for Wales is appointed, will you expect that commissioner to advise on the leasing of the seabed and the impact on communities and the supply chain in Wales, bearing in mi…”

“We are having a lot of development in Wales at the moment with green energy. Some is Crown Estate, some is not. But how do you engage then? What is your best practice? What is the gold standard engagement that you have with the communities?”

“Communities and third sector are my thing, I have to tell you, so I will come back to that.”

“I just want to know the type of work you do with the Crown Estate to invest and deliver renewable energy projects. How involved are you in the delivery of those projects, and what financial investment and commitment do you make towards them?”

“Do you do any onshore? And if you did do onshore—you know where this is going, I am sure—would you underground those cables, bringing onshore wind down to the substation for community benefit?”