Wales Office

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) works closely with the Wales Office to monitor and support the Welsh Government’s international engagement on devolved matters.

The FCDO provides support and guidance when the Welsh Government chooses to advise UK Government of these meetings, and where it is appropriate to do so. The FCDO also works to ensure that foreign diplomats are aware of the respective responsibilities of the UK and Devolved Governments.

The Wales Office also engages directly with the FCDO overseas network to support ministerial and official investment missions. For the second year in a row, the UK Government has overseen an increase in the number of foreign investments coming into Wales, alongside a rise in the number of jobs created or protected. The new £2.4m Brand Wales programme will enhance our promotion of Wales' Trade and Investment opportunities.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer I gave her on 18 June 2026 (UIN 8620).

Resilience is a shared responsibility between individuals, communities, businesses and all levels of government across the UK to ensure we can effectively respond to risks wherever they occur.

Regular meetings take place between the four governments to discuss various strategies and frameworks aimed at strengthening resilience and identifying opportunities for greater collaboration. This complements the everyday collaboration between the UK and Devolved Governments on risk and resilience.

I have regular discussions with the farming unions on a range of matters. While agriculture is devolved to the Welsh Government, the farming unions are a key partner for the Wales Office and both the Secretary of State and I are committed to working with them and maintaining an active dialogue.

In April of this year, I met with the National Farmers Union (NFU) Cymru and I joined the then Farming Minister in a meeting with the Farmers Union of Wales (FUW). Separately, I met with the Country Land and Business Association (CLA) in May.

Wales Office Ministers spend significant time engaging with Welsh and other MPs on a wide range of issues, hosting MPs at Wales Office events, and holding dedicated meetings with MPs on a regular basis.

Wales Office Ministers spend significant time engaging with Welsh and other MPs on a wide range of issues, hosting MPs at Wales Office events, and holding dedicated meetings with MPs on a regular basis.

I have regular discussions with Cabinet colleagues on a wide range of topics including how UK Government policy interacts with educational institutions in Wales.

Education is devolved in Wales and so is the responsibility of the Welsh Government. The UK Government is providing the Welsh Government with nearly £6.5bn in additional spending power over the Spending Review as a result of changes to the fiscal framework, additional funding through Barnett and the largest settlement in the history of devolution.

BS 30480:2025 (Suicide and the Workplace – Intervention, prevention and support for people affected by suicide) is a voluntary British Standard published by the British Standards Institution (BSI) in November 2025. It provides guidance for organisations on suicide prevention, intervention, and support in workplace settings.

The BSI is the UK's National Standards Body, recognised by Government through a Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Business and Trade (DBT). It develops Standards independently through a consensus-based process involving relevant stakeholders and technical experts.

The BS 30480 Standard is guidance rather than a regulatory requirement. Standards can be used by organisations as tools to support good practice, but decisions on adoption and implementation remain with the organisation concerned.

The BSI has undertaken awareness-raising activity in relation to BS 30480 following publication. This included a parliamentary launch event at Speaker's House in November 2025, supported by Baroness Merron, and BSI has also made the standard available free of charge on its website. The standard has been downloaded more than 11,000 times since publication.

We have taken ‘political appointees’ to mean special advisers. A list of special advisers by department is published each year in the Annual Report on Special Advisers which is laid in parliament. The Annual Report on Special Advisers 2026 will be published in due course.

The Government is committed to adopting artificial intelligence in a way that is transparent, responsible and accountable to the public.

Information about algorithmic and AI tools used by government departments to support decisions that affect members of the public, or that have a significant influence on a decision-making process with public effect, is published through the Algorithmic Transparency Recording Standard (ATRS). The ATRS has been mandatory for central government departments since 2024, and records are published on GOV.UK at www.gov.uk/algorithmic-transparency-records. In addition, departments may use other internal tools which do not fall within the scope of the Standard.

In line with public procurement transparency requirements, departments publish contractual information for AI services and tools on Contracts Finder and, where above the relevant threshold, on the Find a Tender Service.

AI services and tools are accessed across government through a range of commercial routes. Departments may contract directly with AI providers, access AI products via intermediated routes such as reseller arrangements where the contractual relationship sits with a partner rather than the underlying provider or use AI capabilities delivered as features within existing enterprise software and platform contracts (for example productivity, HR or service management tools).

Departments remain responsible in all cases for ensuring compliance with procurement legislation, securing value for money, and publishing relevant contractual information in line with transparency requirements.

The information requested can be found at https://questions-statements.parliament.uk.

My Department has not hired any external public relations consultants since July 2024.

According to the latest accredited data published by the Office for National Statistics, there are approximately 41,155 Civil Servants based in Wales, and 5,990 staff working for Senedd Cymru.

The Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Wales each held early discussions with the First Minister to congratulate him on his appointment and to outline the importance of constructive working between our two governments. Other UK Government ministers have also engaged with their Welsh Government counterparts on matters within their areas of responsibility.

I have regular discussions with members of the business community in Wales. The Welsh tourism sector is thriving. In 2024, British residents alone took over 7 million overnight trips in Wales. The Welsh Government’s Visitor Levy could raise up to £33 million a year to reinvest in local communities and support tourism.

UK Government officials engaged extensively with key trade associations and representatives of the glass packaging sector both prior to and following the decision to grant a UK Internal Market Act exclusion for the Welsh Government’s Deposit Return Scheme.

Central data on Civil Service Headquarters (HQ) occupancy is collected and published quarterly on GOV.UK for all HQ buildings of Whitehall Departments.

The data for the period from January 2025 can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-hq-occupancy-data.

Central data on Civil Service Headquarters (HQ) occupancy is collected and published quarterly on GOV.UK for all HQ buildings of Whitehall Departments.

The data for the period since January 2026 can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-hq-occupancy-data.

The Wales Office does not centrally collect or hold data on the number of civil servants working from home or remotely. Office attendance is monitored locally by line managers, who are responsible for ensuring compliance with the minimum 60% attendance expectation.

My Department and I have been in regular contact with the Welsh Government concerning a range of issues since 8 May 2026.

The Government is fully committed to upholding and strengthening our democracy by protecting against foreign interference, improving political transparency, adding tougher checks for donations and closing loopholes by reinforcing electoral legislation.

Since becoming Secretary of State for Wales, I have met with key stakeholders from across Wales including within the agricultural sector.

I am responsible for the overall strategic direction of the Wales Office’s work and apportion ministerial responsibilities across the ministerial team with the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Wales Office, Anna McMorrin MP, taking responsibility for agriculture.

Minister McMorrin meets with farmers and wider stakeholders in the rural community in Wales on a regular basis. In January 2026, Minister McMorrin visited a farm in the Vale of Glamorgan with representatives of NFU Wales, met with representatives of FUW in April, was pleased to join with the Minister of State for Food Security and Rural Affairs at a meeting with the FUW later that same month and met with representatives of the Country Land and Business Association in May.

Wales benefits from being a part of the United Kingdom and the UK is stronger for having Wales in it.

We will do whatever it takes to strengthen the union by focusing on our economic, national, and energy security. This is a UK Government that is fully focused on delivering the priorities of the people of Wales – tackling the cost of living, supporting our steelmaking communities, and delivering generational investment in Welsh rail.

Wales benefits from being a part of the United Kingdom and the UK is stronger for having Wales in it.

We will do whatever it takes to strengthen the union by focusing on our economic, national, and energy security. This is a UK Government that is fully focused on delivering the priorities of the people of Wales – tackling the cost of living, supporting our steelmaking communities, and delivering generational investment in Welsh rail.

Improving the cost of living is the UK Labour Government’s number one priority.

That is why we took £117 off people’s energy bills, expanded the Warm Home Discount, increased the minimum and living wage, universal credit and pensions, and we have frozen the tax paid at the petrol pump until the end of this year.

Staff in my Department may travel overseas on authorised short-term trips when required as part of their official duties.

Staff may request temporary International Remote Working for personal reasons only in very limited circumstances, such as compassionate grounds involving a seriously ill relative overseas, or to accompany a spouse or partner on a diplomatic or other Government posting abroad. All requests are assessed case by case, taking full account of operational requirements and risk, and always require prior senior approval.

The Wales Office has spent £173.17 on lanyards since 4 July 2024. There was one design, bilingual Wales Office branding which was included in the cost of the lanyards.

I have made clear the benefit of both the UK and Welsh Governments working together on shared priorities, this includes the delivery of R&D funding in Wales. Devolved Governments can allocate block grant funding as they choose within devolved policy areas, which include higher education and economic development. This includes the ability to allocate funding to R&D according to their priorities.

The UK Government is currently considering the future of Local Innovation Partnerships Fund in the nations.

Nothing. The Wales Office has not spent any money on advertising on podcasts in the last three years.

The Government is committed to harnessing the benefits of artificial intelligence to improve the productivity of the Civil Service and the quality of public services.

Departments provide officials, Ministers and special advisers with access to secure, enterprise-grade generative AI tools that have been assured to the appropriate security standards and approved for official use. Ministers, special advisers and officials may only use generative AI tools that their department has approved for official use. The use of publicly available or consumer versions of generative AI tools, including those named in the Question, for official business is not permitted unless a department has specifically assured and approved that tool.

The Wales Office is not currently using the AI tools listed above.

Approved enterprise tools are configured so that departmental data is held securely and is not used to train publicly available AI models. The use of generative AI across government is governed by the AI Playbook for the UK Government, which set out the principles for the safe, responsible and effective use of these tools.

I am committed to working closely with the Welsh Government on innovation and economic growth. On 20 May, I held my first call with the new First Minister of Wales Rhun ap Iorwerth. I made clear the benefit of both the UK and Welsh Governments working together on shared priorities around the cost of living and poverty as well as public services and economic growth, including the delivery of clean energy infrastructure in Wales.

R&D funding is partially devolved; Devolved Governments receive funding in their block grants which includes consequentials arising from UKRI allocations made through Research England. Devolved Governments can allocate block grant funding as they choose within devolved policy areas, which include higher education and economic development. This includes the ability to allocate funding to R&D according to their priorities. According to data from the Office for National Statistics, in 2024/25, £150 million R&D funding was invested through the Welsh Government and Medr.

In addition, through the Local Innovation Partnerships Fund (LIPF), we are also empowering local leaders in 17 regions across the UK to target R&D investment and unleash their full innovation potential. The Government is investing up to £50 million through the LIPF in Wales between 2026 and 2031, this includes £30 million for Cardiff Capital Region and £20 million for South West Wales. The Government is also considering the future of LIPF in the nations.

My department works closely with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and UKRI on our shared priorities, including the distribution of R&D funding to Wales where we have seen an increase of £31 million in UKRI investment between 2021/22 and 2023/24. The Government is investing up to £50 million through the Local Innovation Partnership Fund in Wales between 2026 and 2031, this includes £30 million for Cardiff Capital Region and £20 million for South West Wales. The Government is also considering the future of LIPF in the nations.

R&D funding is partially devolved; Devolved Governments receive funding in their block grants which includes consequentials arising from UKRI allocations made through Research England. Devolved Governments can allocate block grant funding as they choose within devolved policy areas, which include higher education and economic development. This includes the ability to allocate funding to R&D according to their priorities. According to data from the Office for National Statistics, in 2024/25, £150 million R&D funding was invested through the Welsh Government and Medr.

The Wales Office works closely with other government departments to keep the status of uncommenced legislation falling within areas of its responsibility under review. Decisions on commencement are taken in the normal course of policy making.

The Wales Office routinely assesses the implications for Wales of UK Parliament Bills, including Private Members Bills. As a result, a small proportion of three officials’ time was spent in relation to the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill.

I have regular discussions with Cabinet colleagues on a range of matters. The lead department on this matter, DCMS, established the Future of TV Distribution stakeholder forum which took views from a range of broadcasters active in Wales, including S4C, the BBC and ITV. The forum also benefitted from the perspectives of a number of groups representing the interests of Welsh and UK-wide audiences, such as Voice of the Listener and Viewer, Digital Poverty Alliance and Silver Voices. Before any decisions are made, including in relation to Wales, close consideration will be given to how any changes would impact audiences, and especially those who rely on digital terrestrial television as their primary means of watching television.

The drafting of policy and both primary and secondary legislation is the responsibility of a large number of officials across government departments. A range of tools are used to assist with this drafting, including AI which is most commonly used for research and to check, critique, and otherwise interrogate drafts. Work is continuously underway to identify ways of improving the efficiency of this work, including collaboration between departments to share ideas and emerging practices.

Whilst AI can be used to assist with the drafting of policy and legislation, the production of the draft remains the responsibility of a lead human drafter to meet the high standards expected of Government.

It is Parliament's responsibility to scrutinise and amend legislation as it sees necessary.

The Welsh tourism industry is thriving. The Welsh Government’s Visitor Levy could raise up to £33 million a year to reinvest in local communities and support tourism. In 2024, British residents alone took over 7 million overnight trips in Wales.

I’m pleased to see the UK Government recognising the Welsh Labour Government’s pioneering work on this issue, with a similar overnight levy being introduced in England, enabling mayors to invest in transport, infrastructure, and the visitor economy.

I was delighted to see the announcement that Aberystwyth has become Wales’ first UNESCO City of Literature and first UNESCO Creative City.

Our Welsh culture and heritage are a source of great pride, and would like to congratulate Aberystwyth on being recognised, as Wales continues to grow its UNESCO presence internationally.

This UK Labour Government promised a Defence Growth Deal for Wales and we have delivered on that commitment.

Wales is central to the security of the United Kingdom and I’m proud that our Defence Growth Deal, backed by £50 million of UK Government investment, will transform the nation into a centre for innovation, creating highly-skilled jobs and driving growth across the country.

Whilst Health is a devolved matter, the Secretary of State for Wales has regular engagement with colleagues from the Department of Health and Social Care and Welsh Government. Ministers and officials work closely with their counterparts through established intergovernmental structures, including the Interministerial Group for Health. NHS England and Wales jointly published a Statement of Values and Principles for cross-border healthcare which sets a clear expectation that patients living in defined border areas should receive care without delay or administrative burden, with the aim of delivering faster, improved and more equitable health outcomes for all patients.

Whilst Health is a devolved matter, I have regular engagement with colleagues from the Department of Health and Social Care and Welsh Government. Ministers and officials work closely with their counterparts through established intergovernmental structures, including the Interministerial Group for Health. Both the UK and Welsh Governments support improvements in patient access and drive down waiting lists as a key priority. NHS England and Wales jointly published a Statement of Values and Principles for cross-border healthcare which sets a clear expectation that patients living in defined border areas should receive care without delay or administrative burden, with the aim of delivering faster, improved and more equitable health outcomes for all patients.

Whilst Health is a devolved matter, I have regular engagement with colleagues from the Department of Health and Social Care and Welsh Government. Ministers and officials work closely with their counterparts through established intergovernmental structures, including the Interministerial Group for Health. Both the UK and Welsh Governments support improvements in patient access and drive down waiting lists as a key priority. NHS England and Wales jointly published a Statement of Values and Principles for cross-border healthcare which sets a clear expectation that patients living in defined border areas should receive care without delay or administrative burden, with the aim of delivering faster, improved and more equitable health outcomes for all patients.

Civil Servants are appointed on merit on the basis of fair and open competition and are expected to carry out their role with dedication and a commitment to the Civil Service and its core values: integrity, honesty, objectivity and impartiality.

No civil servants in my Department were found to have broken the Civil Service Code in 2024 or 2025.

The Wales Office has fifty staff and is committed to thorough performance management and has in place robust processes to ensure that those who fall below the expected standards are supported to improve in a timely manner. To this end, there have been:

No employees placed on a Performance Improvement Plan in 2023/24, one in 2024/25, and none in 2025/26.

Those who cannot improve their performance, despite this additional support, may be dismissed.