Speeches by Medi.

“To follow up from that, it is unclear how much attention a Crown Estate commissioner with the responsibility for Wales will give to Welsh matters along with the other responsibilities that you have just mentioned. Welsh interests deserve to be front and centre, not simply an afterthought. Would you support the commissi…”

“SMEs like Affinity at RAF Valley, in my constituency, offer apprenticeships that equip young people with crucial engineering skills. It is vital that the defence industrial strategy’s new clearing-style system for apprenticeships works with local SMEs and colleges to expand these opportunities. Can the Minister clarify…”

“Rhian, you mentioned that you do not work around the clusters. Do you think that the clusters are a way of promoting inward investment?”

“We could see the semiconductor cluster as a cluster that has one job to succeed in. Is it then easier for you, Howard, to get that inward investment because you have your clear agenda?”

“Diolch. Because of the way you have worded your views on clusters—you said that they have no boundaries—do you think that they are a good mechanism to promote inward investment?”

“Can I go to Russell for that Welsh view on whether clusters are a mechanism for bringing in inward investment?”

“Diolch, Madam Dirprwy Lefarydd. I declare an interest as the chair of the all-party parliamentary group for hospitality, events, major food and drink businesses in Wales. The hospitality sector in Wales has enormous economic value. It contributes £4 billion to the Welsh economy and employs more than 165,000 people. It …”

“Communities in Newark are affected like communities on Ynys Môn. Productive land on Ynys Môn creates good agricultural outcomes and means a good rural economy. Productivity on Ynys Môn is £4,000 below the Welsh average, and building new large-scale solar will have an impact on that. Does the right hon. Member agree tha…”

“The Government have made direct interventions for steel jobs in Scunthorpe and now in Rotherham. That is no comfort for steelworkers in Wales; no similar measures were taken to protect their jobs. Can the Minister explain why her Government will save jobs in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, but will only help workers in Por…”

“Ukraine needs a just peace. It also needs financial support to rebuild. The EU has said that it will allow frozen Russian assets to be used in higher risk investments to generate more money. What discussions has the Secretary of State had on supporting the EU’s latest effort to use Russia’s assets to provide vital fund…”

“This follows on nicely from that. When we come to food security and the need to monitor it, do you have any targets or ways of monitoring when it comes to food security and our food security vulnerability?”

“As chair of the Food Strategy Advisory Board, how are you working to ensure that Welsh agriculture is meaningfully represented in the development of the UK’s national strategy, particularly considering the national Welsh sheep flock being at its lowest level since 2011?”

“The main concern is that it is not a fair playing field, with imports coming in with different standards to those for the production of meat in Wales and in the UK. You mentioned that you are monitoring it and that you will use levers. Are you aware of what those levers are if the situation changes dramatically?”

“Given the Centre for Inclusive Trade Policy’s findings that Wales and Scotland are particularly vulnerable to increased competition from Australian and New Zealand sheep meat imports under current free trade agreements, what specific actions are the UK Government undertaking to safeguard Welsh agriculture—and particula…”

“Despite promises of economic competence and a brighter future at the election, the tax choices that this Government have made have undermined economic growth in Wales. Over 99% of all businesses in Wales are small and medium sized, and the increase in employer national insurance contributions has hit them incredibly ha…”

“Solar developers are not playing by the rules when it comes to accessing the land of people on Ynys Môn. Government guidance states that developers must act reasonably when trying to obtain permission to access the land, but my constituents have received threatening emails and there have even been cases of developers t…”

“Diolch, Madam Ddirprwy Lefarydd. Climate change is a huge threat to food security. In 2018, losses in the Welsh livestock sector due to extreme weather reached £175 million, which is equivalent to 9% of the total Welsh agricultural output. Farmers need support to protect their livestock and crops. Will the Secretary of…”

“The strategic spatial energy plan must ensure that new large energy projects in Wales work with and not against communities. There must also be a role for local small-scale projects, as these can deliver the large amounts of clean energy we need, with far less impact on our communities and the national grid. Can the Se…”

“Diolch, Dirprwy Lefarydd. This month, Ynys Môn’s status as a UNESCO global geopark is due its revalidation process to assess the functionality and quality of its status. The island is a globally significant site for geological study and appreciation, with a vast geological history spanning four eras, twelve geological …”

“It comes from the Welsh Local Government Association. Due to the national insurance not being fully paid and the Welsh Government taking money from the reserves to counteract that, next year there will be that shortfall before they start their budget setting. With inflation going up too, councils are facing a difficult…”