Asked by: Baroness Bloomfield of Hinton Waldrist (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many policy reviews and consultations the Wales Office has launched since the General Election on 4 July 2024; what the subject of each review is; and what the anticipated timescales are for their completion.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Wales Office has not launched any policy reviews or consultations since the General Election on 4 July 2024.
Asked by: Lord Murphy of Torfaen (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether the Secretary of State for Wales intends to meet Welsh Ministers to discuss the future of the Welsh National Opera.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
My colleagues, the Secretary of State for Wales Jo Stevens MP and the Parliamentary Under Secretary for Wales Dame Nia Griffith MP, meet with Welsh Government colleagues frequently on a range of issues including culture. Our two governments are working in close partnership to deliver for the people of Wales.
In October, the Parliamentary Under Secretary for Wales Dame Nia Griffith MP and DCMS Minister Sir Chris Bryant MP met with Welsh Government Minister for Culture Jack Sargeant MS to discuss the Welsh National Opera and to recognise the value of its work, not just for the people of Wales but also for the people of England.
Minister Bryant then held a series of meetings with Welsh National Opera and Arts Council England to understand the issue in more detail. This series of meetings was able to reassure everyone that all partners wanted to see a positive long-term future for Welsh National Opera.
My colleague, the Parliamentary Under Secretary for Wales Dame Nia Griffith MP, looks forward to meeting with you at the end of this month to discuss this further.
Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what steps she is taking to help ensure electricity bills do not increase in Wales, in the context of proposals for zonal energy pricing.
Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales
No decision has been taken on Zonal or Reformed National pricing. The Government are currently conducting analysis to understand the impacts of zonal pricing on consumers, including those in Wales.
The Government will ultimately develop proposals that minimise costs and ensure a fair outcome for consumers, as part of our Plan for Change to lower bills and improve living standards.
The Government is working closely with the Welsh Government to understand how any potential review of electricity market arrangements (REMA) reforms could impact Welsh consumers and industry, and this will be taken into account as part of the final decision-making process.
Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what steps he has taken since 5 July 2024 to ensure that NHS IT systems in England and Wales are fully compatible.
Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales
I regularly meet with Cabinet colleagues and with the First Minister to discuss a range of matters, including the NHS. Our two governments are working in close partnership to deliver for the people of Wales.
I acknowledge the complex challenge of integrating IT systems across England and Wales and I know that both the NHS in Wales and in England are aware of the issue. I am pleased that Digital Health and Care Wales is working closely with the NHS in England to identify ways of addressing this.
We are working in a spirit of genuine collaboration to do everything possible to cut waiting lists and build an NHS fit for the future. Our two Governments are already learning from best practice in areas such as the Welsh Government’s work on dentistry and GP practices, and in the UK Government’s plans to roll out extra elective capacity, including through new surgical hubs. There is also a Statement of Values and Principles that underpins the arrangements for treatment of patients living on the Wales-England border. We will continue to explore cross-border health arrangements where capacity allows.
In the Autumn Budget, we provided the Welsh Government with an additional £1.7 billion to invest in public services like the NHS. An extra £600 million in funding has now been announced by the Welsh Government for health and social care in their Budget for 2025/26.
Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what criteria was used to select the five areas in Wales set to receive funding through the Plan for Neighbourhoods.
Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales
These areas were identified based on a clear and transparent methodology, which considered a range of socio-economic factors, including:
A detailed methodology note outlining the selection criteria is publicly available on the GOV.UK website.
The long-term Plan for Towns programme was not fully funded by the previous government. As part of its Plan for Neighbourhoods, this Government is committed to ensuring that each of the five selected towns in Wales will receive up to £20 million in funding and support over the next decade.
We will work in partnership with the Welsh Government on the Plan for Neighbourhoods to make sure it aligns with the Welsh Governments work to regenerate neighbourhoods. This funding will be used to revitalise high streets, enhance local parks, support libraries, cultural venues, and youth clubs, and invest in essential community services to create thriving, well-connected neighbourhoods.
Asked by: Jon Trickett (Labour - Normanton and Hemsworth)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many of their Department's officials have been seconded from (a) the Institute for Economic Affairs, (b) the Policy Exchange, (c) the Adam Smith Institute and (d) Labour Together since July 2024.
Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales
No officials from my Department have been seconded from the Institute for Economic Affairs, the Policy Exchange, the Adam Smith Institute or Labour Together since July 2024.
Asked by: Jon Trickett (Labour - Normanton and Hemsworth)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many staff their Department has seconded from Hakluyt since July 2024.
Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales
No staff in my Department have been seconded from Hakluyt since July 2024.
Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what recent estimate she has made of the total cost of the electrification of the North Wales mainline.
Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales
The previous Government made a series of unfunded commitments in its Network North plan, including the proposed electrification of the North Wales Main Line.
The Government recognises the case for enhancing levels of service on the North Wales Main Line and is prioritising increasing capacity alongside improving connectivity. In August, Network Rail and Transport for Wales announced that it is undertaking local consultation, planning and development work to close four level crossings along the North Wales Main Line. This has the potential to increase rail capacity by 40%, with 50% more timetabled services on the North Wales Main Line.
This government acknowledges that its predecessors have short-changed Wales for years on rail investment, including because of HS2. The North Wales Transport Commission and South East Wales Transport Commission provide the Government with key recommendations for rail enhancements in these regions that will boost economic growth and provide good jobs and housing.
The UK and Welsh governments have agreed a prioritisation of rail improvement projects developed by the Wales Rail Board which will inform work in the run up to the Spring Spending Review.
Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what recent estimate she has made of the total cost of the electrification of the remainder of the South Wales mainline to be.
Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales
This Government acknowledges that its predecessors have short-changed Wales for years on rail investment, including because of HS2. The South East Wales Transport Commission and North Wales Transport Commission provide the government with key recommendations for rail enhancements in these regions that will boost economic growth and provide good jobs and housing.
The UK and Welsh governments have agreed a prioritisation of rail improvement projects developed by the Wales Rail Board which will inform work in the run up to the Spring Spending Review.
Asked by: Lord Wigley (Plaid Cymru - Life peer)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what is the estimated cost of maintaining the Wales Office in the 2024–25 and 2025–26 financial years.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The estimated cost of maintaining the Wales Offices in London and Cardiff are £622k in 2024-25 and £769k in 2025-26.