Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, whether UK Shared Prosperity Fund revenue-funded programmes in Welsh local authorities will be maintained via the Local Growth Fund.
Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales
As announced at the Spending Review, from 2026-27 the UK government will provide targeted, long-term local growth funding to support regional growth across the UK, completing the transition from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF). For the next three years, this funding will be at the same overall level in cash terms as under UKSPF in the current year in Wales.
My Department has been provided with the financial breakdown for the new Local Growth Fund, including the capital and revenue split. I have regular discussions with both UK and Welsh Government ministerial colleagues on how this funding will benefit communities the length and breadth of Wales.
Over the course of the Spending Review period, the Local Growth Fund will invest in a range of projects that drive growth through both capital and revenue funding – from infrastructure to supporting businesses and helping people find jobs and acquire new skills.
The Welsh Government is developing an Investment Plan for the Local Growth Fund in Wales, and there is currently a live consultation to inform priorities. Insights from the consultation exercise alongside learning from evaluations of previous programmes will help ensure that the Local Growth Fund delivers long-term, sustainable benefits for communities and complements other major programmes such as Pride in Place, City and Regional Growth Deals, Freeports and Investment Zones.
This new fund reinforces the strong collaborative relationship between the UK Government and Welsh Government. It will help create jobs and grow productivity, bringing benefit to every part of Wales. I am fully committed to ensuring that the transition to the new Local Growth Fund is as smooth as possible with sufficient flexibilities for local authorities to manage the change in capital and revenue funding. To this end, I have written a joint letter with Rebecca Evans MS, Welsh Government Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Planning to local authority leaders in Wales reassuring them that both governments are open to exploring opportunities for additional flexibilities within the parameters of the budget settlement and our shared responsibilities for managing public money. This will help local authorities manage the change while continuing to support local businesses and workers.
Asked by: Mims Davies (Conservative - East Grinstead and Uckfield)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what meetings she has held with the victims and survivors of grooming gangs in Wales since January 2025.
Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales
As the lead department, the Home Office leads on engagement with victims and survivors of grooming gangs across Wales and England. On 16 June 2025, the then Home Secretary made a statement to Parliament confirming that the Government has accepted all of the recommendations made in Baroness Casey’s national audit on group-based child sexual exploitation and abuse, including a recommendation to commission a national inquiry.
Baroness Casey specifically recommended that the national police operation and national inquiry should cover England and Wales. The Home Office has been working closely with partners to develop the Terms of Reference for the Inquiry, with early consultation already undertaken with victims and survivors. The National Working Group (NWG) charity has been coordinating the engagement with victims and survivors related to the inquiry set-up, including sessions attended by the Minister for Safeguarding and VAWG.
Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, further to her announcement on 23 September 2024 of a health partnership between Wales and England, what progress has been made in establishing that partnership; and when she expects it to become operational.
Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales
Both the UK and Welsh Governments know how important it is to strengthen our NHS and bring down waiting lists. That is why our two governments are working together in the spirit of genuine collaboration and partnership to do everything possible to cut waiting lists, collaborate and learn from each other.
That partnership begins with how the NHS is funded. At the Spending Review, we announced a record £22.4 billion per year on average for the Welsh Government between 2026-27 and 2028-29, to invest in public services and drive down waiting lists. This is the largest budget settlement in the history of devolution. This builds on what was announced at Autumn Budget which provided the Welsh Government with an additional £1.7 billion to invest in public services like the NHS. An extra £600 million in funding was invested by the Welsh Government for health and social care in their Budget for 2025/26. The record settlement we provided to the Welsh Government has helped to reduce NHS waiting lists and I was pleased to see that in the most recent health statistics that the over two years waiting lists are more than three quarters (87.6%) lower than the peak in March 2022.
Our governments are learning from each other by sharing best practice on health. The UK Government has learned from the Welsh Government’s reform to dentistry and GP practices, as the UK Government has shared its approach to rolling out extra elective capacity, including through new surgical hubs – an approach the Welsh Government is also taking.
A good example of our two Governments working together on health is the Interministerial Group (IMG) for Health and Social Care, which met on 25 September, chaired by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department of Health & Social Care (DHSC). The IMG brought together Ministers from DHSC and the Devolved Governments to discuss shared priorities across health in the UK, including innovation and elective recovery. There are also regular meetings between officials in UK Government and the Devolved Governments on a range health and social care matters.
Our two Governments are working together on ‘Exercise PEGASUS’ – a national exercise on the United Kingdom’s preparedness for a pandemic. This was the first of its kind in nearly a decade and the biggest in UK history.
There are long-standing arrangements for cancer care, renal services and mental health support that cross the border seamlessly. Furthermore, NHS England is working with NHS Wales to improve digital interoperability, especially through the shared care record and technical collaboration on the fast healthcare interoperability resources which allows systems from different manufacturers to exchange messages and data, regardless of the setting that care is delivered in.
In October, the chief information officers across governments agreed to begin working together on digital architecture and standards. This is intended to improve how the NHS across the border can share systems, standards and communicate more effectively. This partnership aims to improve the sharing of digital records in the short term and eventually to achieve a single patient record.
Around 30,000 people who live in England have a GP in Wales, and vice versa. That is why 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: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many meetings of (a) officials and (b) ministers have taken place to progress the health partnership between Wales and England announced on 23 September 2024 by the Secretary of State.
Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales
Both the UK and Welsh Governments know how important it is to strengthen our NHS and bring down waiting lists. That is why our two governments are working together in the spirit of genuine collaboration and partnership to do everything possible to cut waiting lists, collaborate and learn from each other.
That partnership begins with how the NHS is funded. At the Spending Review, we announced a record £22.4 billion per year on average for the Welsh Government between 2026-27 and 2028-29, to invest in public services and drive down waiting lists. This is the largest budget settlement in the history of devolution. This builds on what was announced at Autumn Budget which provided the Welsh Government with an additional £1.7 billion to invest in public services like the NHS. An extra £600 million in funding was invested by the Welsh Government for health and social care in their Budget for 2025/26. The record settlement we provided to the Welsh Government has helped to reduce NHS waiting lists and I was pleased to see that in the most recent health statistics that the over two years waiting lists are more than three quarters (87.6%) lower than the peak in March 2022.
Our governments are learning from each other by sharing best practice on health. The UK Government has learned from the Welsh Government’s reform to dentistry and GP practices, as the UK Government has shared its approach to rolling out extra elective capacity, including through new surgical hubs – an approach the Welsh Government is also taking.
A good example of our two Governments working together on health is the Interministerial Group (IMG) for Health and Social Care, which met on 25 September, chaired by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department of Health & Social Care (DHSC). The IMG brought together Ministers from DHSC and the Devolved Governments to discuss shared priorities across health in the UK, including innovation and elective recovery. There are also regular meetings between officials in UK Government and the Devolved Governments on a range health and social care matters.
Our two Governments are working together on ‘Exercise PEGASUS’ – a national exercise on the United Kingdom’s preparedness for a pandemic. This was the first of its kind in nearly a decade and the biggest in UK history.
There are long-standing arrangements for cancer care, renal services and mental health support that cross the border seamlessly. Furthermore, NHS England is working with NHS Wales to improve digital interoperability, especially through the shared care record and technical collaboration on the fast healthcare interoperability resources which allows systems from different manufacturers to exchange messages and data, regardless of the setting that care is delivered in.
In October, the chief information officers across governments agreed to begin working together on digital architecture and standards. This is intended to improve how the NHS across the border can share systems, standards and communicate more effectively. This partnership aims to improve the sharing of digital records in the short term and eventually to achieve a single patient record.
Around 30,000 people who live in England have a GP in Wales, and vice versa. That is why 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: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what (a) milestones and (b) deliverables were agreed for the health partnership with England announced on the 23 September 2024.
Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales
Both the UK and Welsh Governments know how important it is to strengthen our NHS and bring down waiting lists. That is why our two governments are working together in the spirit of genuine collaboration and partnership to do everything possible to cut waiting lists, collaborate and learn from each other.
That partnership begins with how the NHS is funded. At the Spending Review, we announced a record £22.4 billion per year on average for the Welsh Government between 2026-27 and 2028-29, to invest in public services and drive down waiting lists. This is the largest budget settlement in the history of devolution. This builds on what was announced at Autumn Budget which provided the Welsh Government with an additional £1.7 billion to invest in public services like the NHS. An extra £600 million in funding was invested by the Welsh Government for health and social care in their Budget for 2025/26. The record settlement we provided to the Welsh Government has helped to reduce NHS waiting lists and I was pleased to see that in the most recent health statistics that the over two years waiting lists are more than three quarters (87.6%) lower than the peak in March 2022.
Our governments are learning from each other by sharing best practice on health. The UK Government has learned from the Welsh Government’s reform to dentistry and GP practices, as the UK Government has shared its approach to rolling out extra elective capacity, including through new surgical hubs – an approach the Welsh Government is also taking.
A good example of our two Governments working together on health is the Interministerial Group (IMG) for Health and Social Care, which met on 25 September, chaired by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department of Health & Social Care (DHSC). The IMG brought together Ministers from DHSC and the Devolved Governments to discuss shared priorities across health in the UK, including innovation and elective recovery. There are also regular meetings between officials in UK Government and the Devolved Governments on a range health and social care matters.
Our two Governments are working together on ‘Exercise PEGASUS’ – a national exercise on the United Kingdom’s preparedness for a pandemic. This was the first of its kind in nearly a decade and the biggest in UK history.
There are long-standing arrangements for cancer care, renal services and mental health support that cross the border seamlessly. Furthermore, NHS England is working with NHS Wales to improve digital interoperability, especially through the shared care record and technical collaboration on the fast healthcare interoperability resources which allows systems from different manufacturers to exchange messages and data, regardless of the setting that care is delivered in.
In October, the chief information officers across governments agreed to begin working together on digital architecture and standards. This is intended to improve how the NHS across the border can share systems, standards and communicate more effectively. This partnership aims to improve the sharing of digital records in the short term and eventually to achieve a single patient record.
Around 30,000 people who live in England have a GP in Wales, and vice versa. That is why 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: Jess Asato (Labour - Lowestoft)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, whether her Department has (a) implemented a domestic abuse policy for staff and (b) trained line managers to effectively respond to staff who are experiencing domestic abuse.
Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) provides employment services, including policies, to staff and line managers in my department.
Staff and line managers in my Department can access domestic abuse guidance and support which provides important information on how to best respond to anyone experiencing or who is a survivor of domestic abuse.
Asked by: John Hayes (Conservative - South Holland and The Deepings)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many (a) single sex and (b) gender neutral bathroom facilities her Department provides in its Whitehall premises.
Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales
The Department's main Whitehall building, Gwydyr House has 4 single sex and 2 non-gendered universal toilets (individual self-contained lockable toilet rooms which contain a toilet, washbasin and hand-drying facilities). This is in addition to 1 wheelchair accessible toilet.
Asked by: Mims Davies (Conservative - East Grinstead and Uckfield)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, whether her Department has had it own ministerial car service since her appointment.
Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales
Since my appointment, the Wales Office has not had its own ministerial car service.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how much (a) their Department and (b) its arm’s length bodies have spent on (i) installing electric vehicle charging facilities and (ii) purchasing electric vehicles since 4 July 2024; and what estimate their Department has made of the difference in capital cost between (A) the electric vehicles purchased by their Department and (B) comparable (1) petrol and (2) diesel models.
Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales
The Wales Office has not incurred any expenditure on the installation of electric vehicle charging facilities or purchased any electric vehicles since 4 July 2024.
The Department does not have any arm’s length bodies.
Asked by: Rupert Lowe (Independent - Great Yarmouth)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how much her Department has spent on social media advertising by (a) influencer and (b) organisation in each of the last five financial years.
Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales
Over the last five financial years, the department has spent the following on social media promotion and online advertising:
2024-25: £20,248.40
2025-26 to date: £26,751.60
This spend was on the joint UK Government/Welsh Government campaign to promote the availability of Tata Steel transition funding. The campaign aimed to raise awareness of the support available to steelworkers affected by the decarbonisation transition at Tata Steel UK in Port Talbot, including access to skills funding for those leaving the business. It also highlighted funding opportunities for local businesses impacted by the transition.
There has been no spend on social media advertising using an influencer during this period.