Janet Finch-Saunders:
I move the motion.
It is an absolute privilege to move this debate on behalf of the Welsh Conservative group. As a Welsh Conservative and a fervent believer in the safety, strength and stability of the United Kingdom, I will put forward our case as to why we believe that Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and England are better together.
This debate is timely, given the forthcoming referendum on Scottish independence posing a rather significant challenge to our union. There are many inherent connections between the home nations. The reasons for maintaining a strong United Kingdom, however, go beyond camaraderie, culture and community. As a United Kingdom, we enjoy a strong voice at the United Nations, the European Union, NATO and the International Monetary Fund. Estimates by the Centre for Economics and Business Research are that Britain will be the largest economy in Europe by 2030, surpassing Germany and presenting numerous opportunities for growth, and this is already beginning to show.
The Confederation of British Industry further estimates a current UK trade surplus of £5 billion in green technology and services, with further increases predicted in the food and drinks industry of £7.4 billion and a £4.2 billion rise in the exports of the chemical and pharmaceutical industries. The United Kingdom is second only to the United States of America in the exporting of services in the knowledge-intensive sector, with predictions that this market will expand by some 260% in Latin America, Asia and Africa. Together, our four component nations are able to capitalise on these opportunities and the resultant growth.
As a union, the UK is the sixth wealthiest country in the world with an esteemed heritage as a global leader in innovation and industry. With emerging economies in BRICS nations coming to dominate in the years ahead, we risk being left behind in the global race if we are divided.
Proponents of an independent Scotland focus on its ability to keep the revenue generated by North sea oil, but as ‘The Economist’ highlighted, this would only just recover the amount that it loses in subsidies from the UK. Moreover, this scant resource would constitute some 18% of gross domestic product, making an independent Scotland increasingly reliant on North sea oil, whose production levels fall by around 6% a year.
YouGov polling suggests that just over only a quarter are in favour of independence, whereas 32% want further devolution, but as part of the United Kingdom. Here, the Welsh public are inherently proud of its dual identity as Welsh and British. This is clearly demonstrated by just 9% support for independence; a figure that has not risen for over a decade and a half.
We share a common culture. We are rivalries in rugby, but joint victors at the Olympics. Our dual identity as both Welsh and British makes the United Kingdom unique, and should, of course, be celebrated. There is a terrific history of Welsh contributions to the common culture of the United Kingdom. Ambassadors such as Dylan Thomas, Ellie Simmonds, Lord Roberts—by that, I mean Wyn Roberts—Richard Burton and Sir Terry Matthews are all celebrated for their contributions to Wales and the United Kingdom. Our own Presiding Officer, recently honoured as a Dame of the realm, personifies the importance of Welsh contributions to the United Kingdom.
Since the onset of devolution, Wales has received £208 billion in funding from the UK Government and, more recently, has received significant infrastructure investment from the UK Government of £500 million for transport infrastructure, further encouraging the growth of our economy, and almost £60 million to roll out broadband, enabling start-ups in technology industries to form the success stories of our tomorrow. Indeed, it is the UK Government in its response to the Silk commission that has extended to Wales the greatest level of autonomy in modern history, with the independence to raise more of our own revenue being devolved, treating us as an equal partner within the United Kingdom. Wales receives a net subsidy from other parts of the UK to the tune of some 23% of GDP and Northern Ireland receives 29%. The basis of the union has always been that money is redistributed to support those components of the UK in greater need of support. Were this union to end, large swathes of our nations would meet with serious financial constraints. It is a fact that smaller nations are far more vulnerable to economic shocks. Let us remember the voices in the Chamber in favour of leaving the union and calling for emulating the model of Iceland, only months before its economy suffered a severe collapse, leaving it with unemployment over 2% higher than pre-recession levels—
Leanne Wood:
Do you accept that Iceland is actually doing quite well now?
Janet Finch-Saunders:
What I do accept is that the United Kingdom in its present form works. As the United Kingdom, we are privileged to share the oldest and most successful currency union in the world. The strength of the pound has allowed our economies to weather the worst of the eurozone crisis and recover from recession faster than many other nations. Britain is renowned for its history of being a leader in the world from victory in two world wars to the abolition of slavery. Britain, as a whole, has a wealth of historic achievement of which it can be proud and a strong future to which it can look forward with pride.
To address the amendments to this debate, the Welsh Conservatives will be opposing amendment 1. We believe that this amendment not only undermines the spirit of this debate, but completely usurps it and detracts from a celebration of the economic culture and social ties of the United Kingdom. It would also not be prudent to commit to further powers at a time when the Wales Bill is still in draft stage, so we will abstain on amendment 2. Finally, we will be supporting amendment 3. We believe that the devolution process has brought the services that matter to the people of Wales—health, education, local government, the economy and more—closer to their doorsteps.
In conclusion, I believe that the British people know that our common membership of the United Kingdom makes us safer, stronger and more stable within the international community. I believe, too, that they know that our membership of Great Britain enables us to secure links in trade and investment with global powers and the markets of tomorrow. Most importantly, I believe that they know that our shared membership of the United Kingdom does not just make us better off, it makes us better. Diolch.
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