ROGER WILLIAMS SAYS FAREWELL TO SPEAKER

9.14.01am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 12th Jun 2009

At the last Welsh Questions before the appointment of a new Speaker, Roger Williams, MP for Brecon and Radnorshire and Liberal Democrat Shadow Secretary of State for Wales, thanked Speaker Martin for his kindness over the years, despite the fact that occasionally the Speaker confused Roger Williams with the MP for Caernarfon, Hywel Williams.

Hywel Williams MP

The Speaker has a difficult job remembering every member and sometimes can mistake two MPs, especially when they have the same surname. This has happened to Roger and Hywel Williams on more than one occasion. As can be seen from the picture, Hywel Williams has rather less hair than Roger but is equally good looking.

Mr Williams said:

"Although I thought it was necessary for the Speaker to go so that reform could take place more quickly, the speaker has proved a very kind and considerate man, especially to new members.

"It is always good to leave on a happy note."

NOTES:

Mr. Roger Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire) (LD): Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank you for your kindness over the years-even though you have occasionally confused me with the hon. Member for Caernarfon (Hywel Williams). I also welcome back to his former post the Secretary of State, who faces greater challenges now than ever before. I should also like to thank his predecessor, who was kind enough to meet representatives from a group of manufacturing companies in my constituency. Manufacturing is key to the Welsh economy, but Experian recently released a report that suggested that 350,000 manufacturing jobs would be lost across the UK between now and 2010. We know that a significant proportion of those losses will affect Wales's already battered manufacturing sector. On his return to the Cabinet, will the Secretary of State make protecting Welsh manufacturing jobs his No. 1 priority? The last thing we want to see is whole communities left on the scrap heap, as happened in the 1980s and 1990s.

Mr. Hain: I very much agree with the hon. Gentleman, and I shall certainly be happy to work with him. I know that the sort of manufacturing that still exists in his constituency is very important. It tends to be made up of small and medium-sized enterprises that need all the support that they can get. I also thank the hon. Gentleman for his welcome. I do not know who was the more prejudiced by the confusion between him and the hon. Member for Caernarfon (Hywel Williams).