Asked by: Ashley Fox (Conservative - Bridgwater)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to the Answer of 22 October 2024 to Question 9283 on Wales Office: Buildings, what the average number of staff was that attended her Department's headquarters in the most recent working period for which figures are available.
Answered by Nia Griffith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Wales Office)
The average number of staff attending the Department's HQ building in the most recent working period for which figures are available is 62%.
Asked by: Lord Wigley (Plaid Cymru - Life peer)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they had with the Farmers' Union of Wales between 4 July and 30 October concerning the economic challenges facing farmers in Wales.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Wales Office has regular engagement with the Farmers Union of Wales as well as other farming union stakeholders in Wales. The Parliamentary Under Secretary for Wales met the Farmers Union of Wales on 11 September where challenges facing farmers in Wales were discussed. Furthermore, on 5 November the Secretary of State for Wales and the Parliamentary Under Secretary for Wales held a virtual meeting with farming unions to discuss the Budget and its effects on farmers in Wales.
The Secretary of State for Wales also hosted a farming unions roundtable event at the Royal Welsh Show on the 22 July.
Asked by: Ann Davies (Plaid Cymru - Caerfyrddin)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what discussions has she had with the Welsh Government on the impact of the measures announced in the Autumn Budget 2024 on the Welsh Government's Welsh language strategy Cymraeg 2050.
Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales
The Welsh Government will be provided with a £21 billion settlement in 2025/26 – the largest in real terms since devolution. This includes an additional £1.7 billion through the Barnett Formula with £1.5 billion for day-to-day spending and £250 million for capital investment in 2025/26. The Welsh Government will decide how to allocate funding on devolved matters like the Welsh language strategy Cymraeg 2050.
Although the Welsh language is a devolved matter, the UK Government has a role to play in supporting the Welsh Government’s Cmyraeg 2050 strategy. This is most notably through ensuring that S4C continues to thrive because of its vital role in ensuring the ongoing promotion and use of the Welsh language.
Asked by: Jamie Stone (Liberal Democrat - Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, whether she has had discussions with the Welsh Government on support for care services for elderly people in rural areas in Wales.
Answered by Nia Griffith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Wales Office)
We are committed to resetting the relationship with the Welsh Government, and my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales meets regularly with the First Minister to discuss a range of issues.
The Department for Health and Social Care also works collaboratively with the Devolved Governments on shared objectives. The First Minister for Wales has said improving access to social care in Wales is one of her priorities.
Asked by: Gregory Campbell (Democratic Unionist Party - East Londonderry)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what meetings she has had on levels of regulation related to the supply of goods from businesses in Wales to customers in Northern Ireland since 4 July 2024.
Answered by Nia Griffith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Wales Office)
The Government is committed to implementing the Windsor Framework and to protecting the UK internal market, including trade between Wales and Northern Ireland.
We will continue to work constructively with all stakeholders: the EU, the devolved administrations and businesses in this aim.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what assessment she has made of the economic impact of the 20mph speed limit on Welsh roads.
Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales
The Welsh Government has been clear that the primary objective of this policy is to save lives and reduce casualties.
From April-June 2024, both collisions and casualties on 20mph and 30mph roads have fallen by almost a quarter compared to the same period of 2023.
Asked by: Lord Roberts of Llandudno (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to support workers affected by job losses at the Tata Steel steelworks in Port Talbot into employment.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Tata Steel/Port Talbot Transition Board has been set up to support those affected by Tata Steel UK’s decarbonisation Transition and will be supported by £100 million of funding. £80 million of which will be provided by the UK Government, as confirmed by the Chancellor in the Budget on 30 October, and the remaining £20 million will be provided by Tata Steel UK.
The Secretary of State for Wales announced the initial £13.5 million funding, to support supply chain businesses and individuals affected, on August 15. This funding will allow businesses who are heavily reliant on Tata Steel as their primary customer, allowing them to diversify towards new markets and customers where necessary. This funding is also available to workers affected by the transition, allowing them to retrain or to learn new skills allowing them to re-enter the job market.
Asked by: Ashley Fox (Conservative - Bridgwater)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many and what proportion of desks were occupied in each of her Department’s offices in the most recent four weeks for which figures are available; and how many staff attended each office in person in the same period.
Answered by Nia Griffith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Wales Office)
The Wales Office does not hold a record of the information requested.
Asked by: Ashley Fox (Conservative - Bridgwater)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many civil servants are assigned to work in each of her Department's offices; and how many desks are available in each office.
Answered by Nia Griffith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Wales Office)
The Wales Office currently has 24 civil servants assigned to its London Office and 21 assigned to its Cardiff Office. There are 28 desks available in the London Office and 15 desks in the Cardiff Office.
Asked by: Ashley Fox (Conservative - Bridgwater)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how much was spent on (a) new furniture and fittings and (b) other refurbishment of Ministerial offices in her Department since the dissolution of the last Parliament; and on what items this was spent.
Answered by Nia Griffith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Wales Office)
The Wales Office has not spent any money on new furniture and fittings and other refurbishments to Ministerial private offices since the dissolution of the last Parliament.