Speaking in Monday’s Parliamentary debate on the Queen’s Speech, Vale of Clwyd MP Dr James Davies welcomed the 38 new Government Bills which it set out, and outlined how the Transport Bill could help ensure rail infrastructure improvements in North Wales, whilst the Financial Services and Markets Bill could safeguard continued access to cash machines.
James also spoke about the Data Reform Bill, which he said “has the potential to empower citizens and improve their lives via more effective delivery of public healthcare, security and Government services.” He added: “Requiring UK-wide comparable and interoperable data within our public services, but particularly the NHS, could help to identify unacceptable performance, allow learning from best practice, and drive improvement and change. It would also better enable the electorate to identify success or failure and hold politicians to account accordingly.”
Speaking in the House of Commons, he said:
“The proposed Transport Bill will create Great British Railways, which I hope will overcome some of the current fragmentation, including that between the Wales and borders franchise and the rest of Great Britain’s network.
“Our nearest major cities of Manchester and Liverpool and their airports can be reached in just over an hour by road, on average, from Rhyl in my constituency. In comparison, rail services take about two hours, yet a similar distance by rail in the south-east of Britain can take as little as 40 minutes.
“Poor regional rail services stifle economic growth, including in our vital tourism sector, suppress efforts to reduce higher-than-average unemployment, and result in just 2% of commutes to the north-west of England being by rail - some 80% less than the national average. I urge the Government to ensure that the rail infrastructure improvements that north Wales requires are placed in the soon-to-be-updated rail network enhancements pipeline at the “decision to develop” stage.”
James added that the Transport Bill is expected to contain provisions to enable the installation of more electric vehicle charge points, a move he said “is very much needed locally.”
He also spoke of his hope that the Bill will contain provisions to bring ‘UKNET’ into being - a strategic transport network for the whole UK, as recommended in the Union Connectivity Review.
With regards access to cash, James referred to the campaign he led for the return of cash machines in Prestatyn and welcomed the fact that the Financial Services and Markets Bill will protect cash by ensuring continued access to withdrawal and deposit facilities across the UK.
He said:
“We must remember that cash remains an important part of life for millions of people across the UK, particularly those in vulnerable groups, as they grow up and grow old. ATMs remain the most popular way of withdrawing cash, but their numbers have been in decline recently. I have experience of that in my constituency: on Prestatyn’s high street, the number of ATMs dropped from six to zero because of the rapid closure of several banks.
“Cash is still important for many residents and companies in my constituency, especially the independent businesses on the high street. Following a campaign, and thanks to Cardtronics, three new cash machines have now been installed in the town centre. I welcome the fact that the Financial Services and Markets Bill will protect cash by ensuring continued access to withdrawal and deposit facilities across the UK. It is important that the Bill be delivered as soon as possible so that existing cash infrastructure can be protected.”
He added:
“I hope that the legislation will set out that LINK be formally regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority to ensure access to cash, whether through mandating the installation of ATMs, recommending new banking hubs or requiring enhanced Post Office services. It should also ensure that communities such as Prestatyn that lost banking services before 2022, rather than only those that lose branches after the Bill is on the statute book, will potentially qualify for a hub.
“Consideration should be given to the ongoing availability of Welsh language banking service provision in a community—a concern that Menter Iaith Sir Ddinbych has emphasised in correspondence with me, particularly in relation to the town of Denbigh.”
The Conservative Government will also deliver a new Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill to help unlock the UK’s potential as we come out of the Covid pandemic.
James added:
"There are four other Bills that I particularly welcome.
"Firstly, the Energy Security Bill will enable the extension of the energy price cap beyond 2023 and this has the potential to help many, including the older in society. The proposed Bill’s intentions to promote the use of hydrogen and carbon capture, usage and storage will I hope further boost the HyNet project in the North West and North Wales, while its support to grow the consumer market for heat pumps can provide a brighter future for us all – as I discovered when I recently opened the Sustainable Building Centre at Thorncliffe Building Supplies in Dyserth.
"Secondly, the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumer Bill will prohibit fake reviews of products and services online and help consumers manage unwanted digital subscriptions, amongst other measures.
"Thirdly, the UK Infrastructure Bank Bill is important as it can help tackle the disparity in infrastructure across the country and therefore lessen economic disparities. Nobody can underestimate how critical this is to our country being a good place to grow up.
"And fourthly, the Social Security (Special Rules for End of Life) Bill will amend the definition of terminal illness in existing legislation, so that individuals who are considered by a clinician as having 12 months or less to live (rather than the current six months), can have fast-tracked access to important disability benefits.
Finally, he commented:
“The Queen’s Speech delivers a promising set of Bills that will help to ensure that Britain remains one of the best places to grow up and grow old. I look forward to helping to shape the legislation as it progresses through Parliament and I hope that the Labour Welsh Government will work with HM Government to fully utilise the opportunities this Queen’s Speech will bring for the Vale of Clwyd and Wales as a whole.”
Read the contribution in Hansard here: Making Britain the Best Place to Grow Up and Grow Old - Hansard - UK Parliament
