Asked by: Baroness Smith of Llanfaes (Plaid Cymru - Life peer)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government which specific disused coal tips will be supported with the £25 million funding announced in the Autumn Budget.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
We are committed to supporting the Welsh Government in ensuring disused coal tips are safe. That is why we allocated £25 million of funding in 2025/6 for essential work being undertaken by the Welsh Government to keep disused coal tips maintained and safe. It is for the Welsh Government to allocate funding and as confirmed in their draft budget, the Welsh Government will do this by expanding the Coal Tip Safety Grant. The Welsh Government, in administering this fund, will work with local authorities in Wales to determine exactly which tips get the money.
Asked by: Lord Wigley (Plaid Cymru - Life peer)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they have received since 4 July requesting a review of the funding formula which finances the Senedd’s current and capital expenditure.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Secretary of State for Wales regularly meets with the First Minister to discuss a variety of issues. We have recognised that Wales’s Fiscal Framework is out of date and will be working with Welsh Government to update it. We remain committed to working in partnership to ensure the smooth delivery of the funding settlement.
Autumn Budget delivered the largest settlement for Wales in real terms since devolution at £21 billion. This includes an additional £1.7 billion through the Barnett Formula.
Since 4 July, we have received one piece of correspondence asking for a review of the Barnett Formula.
Asked by: John Cooper (Conservative - Dumfries and Galloway)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how much their Department spent on (a) media and (b) voice training for Ministers since 5 July 2024.
Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales
The Department has not spent any money on either media or voice training for Ministers since 5 July 2024.
Asked by: Emily Thornberry (Labour - Islington South and Finsbury)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to the Answer of 21 October 2024 to Question 9284 on Wales Office: Ministers' Private Offices, how much was spent on (a) new furniture and fittings and (b) other refurbishment of Ministerial offices in her Department between 4 July 2022 and 4 July 2024; and on what items this was spent.
Answered by Nia Griffith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Wales Office)
The Department spent £4,277.25 on refurbishment of Ministers Offices between 4 July 2022 and 4 July 2024. The spend was on:
£286.76 - replacement of two blind cords with plastic cords;
£3,990.49 - re-upholstering of five leather chairs in the London Office.
The spend was under the previous administration.
Asked by: Ashley Fox (Conservative - Bridgwater)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to the Answer of 19 November 2024 to Question 13970 on Wales Office: Buildings, how many staff attended the Department's HQ building in that period; and how many staff are assigned to that workplace.
Answered by Nia Griffith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Wales Office)
The average number of staff attending the Department's HQ building in that period for which figures are available is 15. The Office currently has 24 civil servants assigned to its London Office.
Asked by: Cat Smith (Labour - Lancaster and Wyre)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, whether ministers in her Department have met with representatives of the alcohol industry since July 2024.
Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales
Details of ministers’ meetings with external individuals and organisations are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK. Data for the period of July to September 2024 will be published in due course.
Asked by: Ann Davies (Plaid Cymru - Caerfyrddin)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on the pensions of former Allied Steel and Wire workers.
Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales
The Government is committed to supporting both current and retired steelworkers. That is why we are supporting the continuation of steelmaking at Port Talbot and providing up to £100million to support the community through this transition.
The Government is aware of the concerns surrounding the matter of indexation of pre-1997 accruals in the Financial Assistance Scheme (FAS), including for former members of the Allied Steel and Wire pension scheme.
Affected members of the FAS have engaged with the Department for Work and Pensions on this issue, and this was a matter considered by the Work and Pensions Select Committee in its recent inquiry into Defined Benefit pensions.
The Minister for Pensions is looking closely at this issue, supported by the Committee’s final report, published in March 2024, which helpfully outlines areas to be considered.
Asked by: Matt Bishop (Labour - Forest of Dean)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what steps she is taking with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care to provide (a) guidance and (b) training to healthcare providers on welsh health regulations when providing cross-border healthcare services.
Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales
NHS Wales and NHS England have a Statement of Values and Principles that underpins the arrangements for treatment for patients living on the Wales England border. This supports better patient outcomes and avoids fragmentation of care for those people living either side of the border. Further detail on the statement is in the link below.
Asked by: Ashley Fox (Conservative - Bridgwater)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, whether she has had discussions with the Welsh Government on the proposed increase in the number of Senedd members.
Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales
I have had no discussions with the Welsh Government on this matter in my capacity as Secretary of State, as the Bill became law prior to the General Election.
As would be expected, this government respects devolution and the powers of the Senedd to determine its representation and elections.
Asked by: Robbie Moore (Conservative - Keighley and Ilkley)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what discussions she has had with the Welsh Government on changes to Council Tax in Wales.
Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales
Council Tax in Wales is a devolved matter and is the responsibility of the Welsh Government. The Welsh Government confirmed plans for reform earlier this year including a property revaluation exercise to bring the system up to date, and a redesign of the tax bands to make the system fairer. No major changes to council tax will be made in this Senedd term.