Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to her oral answer in response to the question from the hon. Member for Lichfield of 16 July 2025, Official Report, Column 282, what the evidential basis is for her statement on historic underfunding.

Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales

I regret that the Hon. Member seems to refuse to accept or acknowledge the historic underfunding. When I gave evidence to the Welsh Affairs Committee in January, there was widespread agreement that this was the case and many others have expressed similar sentiments.

The low levels of enhancement spending we have seen in recent years makes it more difficult to realise the modal shift needed to sustain a continuous enhancements pipeline. Denying that there has been underfunding is not the way address the problem. This government prefers to tackle the issue head on, starting with at least £445m of spending, front-loaded to support delivery of Wales' priorities for rail infrastructure during this next Spending Review period.

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many employees in her Department earn (a) £100,000 and (b) £166,000 or more per year.

Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales

My Department publishes an Annual Report on GOV.UK which contains salary details for senior officials in the Wales Office.

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to her oral answer in response to the question from the hon. Member for Lichfield of 16 July 2025, Official Report, Column 282, over what period that £445 million covers; and what the allocated spending is in each financial year.

Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales

Following the Spending Review, the UK Government is investing at least £445m into Welsh rail infrastructure upgrades, with the vast majority of this funding to be spent within the Spending Review period.

This investment will mean new stations and more and faster trains on the key lines across North and South Wales. The UK Government is working in collaboration with the Welsh Government, Network Rail and Transport for Wales, through the Wales Rail Board.

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, whether her Department has spent money on promotion through social media influencers since July 2024.

Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales

The Wales Office has not spent money on social media influencers since July 2024.

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what proportion of staff in her Department did not meet the minimum office attendance target in the latest period for which data is available; and what sanctions her Department issues to staff who do not meet this target.

Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales

We have no record of any staff failing to meet the minimum office attendance target for the latest period for which data is available.

On 24 October 2024, the Cabinet Office announced that 60% minimum office attendance for most staff continues to be the best balance of working for the Civil Service. Senior managers will continue to be expected to be in the office more than 60% of the time.

If people do not meet that reasonable expectation, as with any management instruction it will be dealt with via existing performance management processes and ultimately with disciplinary action should there be sustained failure to comply.

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what proportion of staff in her Department have flexible working arrangements; and how many of those work compressed hours.

Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales

My Department operates a hybrid working policy, which is available to all staff and enables them to work in a flexible way based on the needs of the Wales Office. No staff currently work compressed hours on a contractual basis.

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the implementation of schedule 3 of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 in Wales in reducing surface water flooding since 2019.

Answered by Nia Griffith

This is a devolved matter and is the responsibility of the Welsh Government. The Welsh Government undertook a review in 2023, the results of which can be found here:

https://www.gov.wales/sites/default/files/publications/2023-07/sustainable-drainage-systems-suds-schedule-3-post-implementation-review.pdf

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what information they hold on the number of workdays that were completed remotely in their Department in (a) 2024 and (b) 2025 to date.

Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales

Following a search of our paper and electronic records, we have established that information on the number of workdays completed remotely in 2024 and 2025 is not held by the Wales Office.

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, for what purposes their Department has used artificial intelligence in the last year.

Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales

The Department utilises AI tools to support officials in their work, mainly in drafting of written material for internal use.

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how much (a) revenue and (b) capital spending has been allocated to railways in Wales in each year of the Spending Review period; and (i) how much and (ii) over what period of time her Department plans to spend on railways in Wales outside of the Spending Review period.

Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales

I would refer the Honourable Member to the answer I provided to written question UIN 69339 on 2 September 2025.

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many days the Union Flag was flown on her Department's main buildings in (a) 2024 and (b) 2025 to date.

Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales

The Union Flag was flown on the Department's main building (a) 366 days in 2024 and (b) 259 days to date in 2025.

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the Welsh Government regarding the reconfiguration of career patterns within the Civil Service in Wales to maximise recruitment of such staff from Wales.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The UK and Welsh Governments work closely together on matters relating to the civil service. Both governments participate in civil service learning and development schemes aimed at supporting career progression such as the Future Leadership Scheme (FLS) operated by the Cabinet Office. The Places for Growth Programme has also relocated 1,304 civil service roles to Wales, strengthening opportunities and career pathways. As one of the 13 growth areas announced by the then Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster in May, Cardiff is set to benefit from the relocation of even more government jobs over the Spending Review period.

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, with regard to the Swansea Bay City Region City Deal, how much has been spent to date by (1) the UK Government, and (2) the Welsh Government; how many new jobs have been created; and which sectors and local authority areas those jobs are in.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The UK Government is working in full partnership with the Welsh Government to co-invest in the delivery of four City and Regional Growth Deals across Wales. The Swansea Bay City Deal was agreed in 2017 by the UK Government, Welsh Government and the four local authorities in South West Wales. The Swansea Bay Deal represents a total investment of £1.3billion comprising nine headline programmes, and over 36 projects focused on economic acceleration, life sciences, energy, smart manufacturing and digital innovation. To date, the Deal has invested £537 million.

The Deal aims to deliver key economic and social benefits across the South West Wales region over a 15-year period whilst leveraging an anticipated £642 million from private sector investment. The UK Government has committed £115.6 million to support the Deal’s delivery with the Welsh Government contributing £125.4 million. An additional £396 million has been committed by other public sector and local authority contributions.

The City and Growth Deals invest in large-scale capital investments, which by nature take longer to deliver employment outcomes. As capital investments near completion, there will be an acceleration in job creation in line with projected outcomes. For example, the opening of 71/72 Kingsway in Swansea earlier this year and phase one of Pentre Awel (Llanelli) due to open soon.

To date, the Swansea Bay City Deal to date has created a total of 912 jobs across the four local authorities in sectors such as:

• Life Sciences
• Creative Industries
• Energy
• Smart Manufacturing
• Digital Infrastructure

The UK Government’s investment and collaboration with the Welsh Government has kickstarted sustained economic growth in the Swansea Bay region and will continue to unlock new opportunities for people and businesses across the region.

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, with regard to the Cardiff Capital Region City Deal, how much has been spent to date by (1) the UK Government, and (2) the Welsh Government; how many new jobs have been created; and which sectors and local authority areas those jobs are in.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The UK Government is working in full partnership with the Welsh Government to co-invest in the delivery of four City and Regional Growth Deals across Wales. Since it was agreed in 2016 by UK Government, Welsh Government and ten local authorities in South East Wales, we have collaborated to deliver this £1.23 billion programme, which builds upon the region’s sectoral strengths.

Over its 20-year lifetime, the Deal aims to deliver 25,000 new jobs and attract £4 billion in private sector investment. To support the delivery of these aims, the UK Government has committed £500 million, of which £375 million has been allocated to the Wider Investment Fund and £125 million has been allocated to the Electrification of the Core Valley Lines. The Cardiff Capital Region City Deal is the only Welsh deal where UK Government contribution is not directly matched by Welsh Government. The Welsh Government’s funding supports the Cardiff Capital Region by contributing £734 million to the delivery of the South Wales Metro. £192 million has been invested by the Deal to date.

The City and Growth Deals invest in large-scale capital investments, which by nature take longer to deliver employment outcomes. As capital investments near completion, there will be an acceleration in job creation in line with projected outcomes. For example, the extension to the new KLA factory is due to complete with contractors by December 2025. As of September 2025, the Deal has created a total of 4,335 jobs across the ten local authorities covered by the Deal, and across a wide range of sectors, including:

• Compound semiconductors
• Transport
• Digital & Innovation
• Skills and Employment
• Creative Industries
• Life Sciences
• FinTech

The UK Government’s investment and collaboration with the Welsh Government has kickstarted sustained economic growth in the Cardiff Capital Region and will continue to unlock new opportunities for people and businesses across the region.

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, with regard to the North Wales Growth Deal, how much has been spent to date by (1) the UK Government, and (2) the Welsh Government; how many new jobs have been created; and which sectors and local authority areas those jobs are in.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The UK Government is working in full partnership with the Welsh Government to deliver the four City and Regional Growth Deals across Wales. The North Wales Growth Deal was agreed in 2020 with the UK Government, Welsh Government and six local authorities collaborating to deliver the £1 billion programme.

The North Wales Growth Deal seeks to tackle long-term challenges and barriers to deliver inclusive growth whilst building on the region’s strengths to create a more vibrant, sustainable and resilient economy in North Wales. The UK Government has committed £120 million to support these aims which has been matched by £120 million from the Welsh Government. The Deal will leverage £760 million from the private sector and other public sector sources. The Deal has invested £24 million to date.

The City and Growth Deals invest in large-scale capital investments, which by nature take longer to deliver employment outcomes. As capital investments near completion, there will be an acceleration in job creation in line with projected outcomes. For example, the Engineering, Enterprise and Optics Centre which is due to open in November will provide a world leading space for research and development at Wrexham University. As of September 2025, the North Wales Growth Deal has created a total of 38 jobs. The Growth Deal will create jobs across the six local authorities covered by the Deal in a wide range of sectors, including:

• Innovation
• Manufacturing
• Low Carbon Energy
• Digital Infrastructure
• Tourism
• Agri-food

The UK Government’s investment and collaboration with the Welsh Government has kickstarted sustained economic growth in North Wales and will to unlock new opportunities for people and businesses across the region. The UK Government is working in partnership with the Welsh Government to support and accelerate delivery by the North Wales Growth Deal.

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, with regard to the Mid Wales Growth Deal, how much has been spent to date by (1) the UK Government, and (2) the Welsh Government; how many new jobs have been created; and which sectors and local authority areas those jobs are in.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The UK Government is working in full partnership with the Welsh Government to co-invest in the delivery of four City and Regional Growth Deals across Wales. The Mid Wales Growth Deal was signed in 2022 by the UK Government, Welsh Government, Ceredigion County Council and Powys County Council.

Over its 10 to 15-year lifetime, the Deal aims to deliver £280-400 million in capital investment. To support these aims, the UK Government has committed to a £55 million contribution and the Welsh Government have matched this commitment with a contribution of £55 million. Additional investment is sought by the Deal from the public and private sectors.

The Mid Wales Growth Deal recently entered into its delivery phase and will report on its spend and jobs creation at the end of the current quarter. The City and Growth Deals invest in large-scale capital investments, which by nature take longer to deliver employment outcomes. As capital investments near completion, there will be an acceleration in job creation in line with projected outcomes. For example, the recently launched Mid Wales Commercial Property Investment Fund is already supporting businesses to invest in new or expanded premises - tackling one of the key challenges facing growing enterprises in the region. The Deal continues to develop its portfolio in order to meet the needs of this unique region, it will focus on the following key themes building on the existing strengths of the region:

• Tourism
• Food
• Skills
• Digital
• Applied Research & Innovation
• Land and Property

The UK Government’s investment and collaboration with the Welsh Government will kickstart sustained economic growth in Mid Wales and unlock new opportunities for people and businesses across the region.

Found: Customs − AFC0078 – Home Office − AFC0079 – Department of Health and Social Care − AFC0080 – Wales Office

Found: order breaches in five years, new figures show | BelfastTelegraph.co.uk 5 Crime in England and Wales - Office

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Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the proportion of violent crime that is linked to gang activity.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The ONS Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) and Home Office police recorded crime data contains information on violent crime and is published by the ONS (Crime in England and Wales - Office for National Statistics and the nature of violent crime: appendix tables - Office for National Statistics).

Found: 2023–24 15,721 9.1% 2024–25 25,832 15.3% Source: Deaths registered monthly in England and Wales - Office

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