Submit Evidence (by 27 Mar 2026)

Cross-border healthcare affects individuals living in both England and across Wales, who travel between the nations for GPs, specialist care, hospitals, and more. Cross-border healthcare arrangements between England and Wales offer unique challenges, some of which the Welsh Affairs Committee heard during a one-off evidence session conducted in January 2025.

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to the answer of 27 January 2026 to Question 107737 on Devolution: Wales, the future devolution of which specific key policy areas have been discussed; when each of those discussions took place with Welsh Government Ministers since July 2024

Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales

I have regular discussions with Welsh Government Ministers on a wide range of policy issues, including on the devolution settlement. Unlike Plaid Cymru, who wish to force their costly, separatist ideology on the people of Wales, Labour is the party of devolution. We created devolution, we defend devolution from parties who wish to destroy it, and we will always update the devolution settlement to ensure it delivers the best outcomes for people and communities across Wales.

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they have received from the Welsh Government about the devolution of responsibility for the police service in Wales to Senedd Cymru; and on what dates they received those representations.

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

The Secretary of State for Wales and her Cabinet colleagues engage with Welsh Ministers frequently on a wide range of issues, including the future of devolution in key policy areas. Established intergovernmental mechanisms also provide ongoing opportunities for the UK and Welsh Governments to engage on matters relating to policing, and to ensure that Welsh priorities are fully considered within the existing devolution settlement.

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, with regard to the speech by the First Minister of Wales on 22 January about devolution, what consideration they have given to introducing a constitutional reform bill to define the responsibilities of the Welsh Government in law.

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

The UK Government has regular discussions with the Welsh Government on a range of issues, including the Welsh devolution settlement. It is in our shared interests that the settlement clearly defines the responsibilities of our respective governments and that it delivers for the people of Wales.

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, whether they will require their department and agencies to offer payroll deductions to all employees to enable them to join a credit union.

Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales

Staff in my Department are employed by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), which provides payroll services on our behalf.

The MoJ does not currently operate a payroll‑deduction facility for credit union membership, however, staff who wish to join a credit union can already do so independently. My department continues to support staff financial wellbeing through the MoJ’s wider financial wellbeing offer, which provides access to information, tools, and advice.

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what discussions she has had with her counterpart in the Welsh Government on how much of the £445 million funding for Welsh railways will be spent on (a) electrification, (b) railway station development, (c) railway station development and track upgrade and (d) any other category of expenditure.

Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales

I have regular discussions with Welsh Government Ministers on a range of issues, including this Government’s historic investment in Welsh rail.

The UK Government has announced at least £445 million for rail enhancements in Wales, to right years of underfunding by previous Conservative Governments and unleash Wales’ economic potential.

This will mean new stations, more and faster trains on the key lines across North and South Wales, connecting people with the new, well-paid jobs we are creating across Wales.

The UK Government will set out more detail on the pipeline of projects that we will deliver very shortly.

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what discussions she has had with her counterpart in the Welsh Government on how much and what proportion of the £450 million investment in Welsh railways will be spent in the current spending review period; and whether her Department has issued guidance to Network Rail on the expected delivery schedule for that funding.

Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales

The UK Government has announced at least £445 million for rail enhancements in Wales, to right years of underfunding by previous Conservative Governments and unleash Wales’ economic potential.

The vast majority of this investment will be spent in this Spending Review period, with a small amount profiled beyond this Spending Review period to help the development of the next set of projects.

This will mean new stations, more and faster trains on the key lines across North and South Wales, connecting people with the new, well-paid jobs we are creating across Wales.

The UK Government will set out more detail on the pipeline of projects that we will deliver very shortly.

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if she will provide a breakdown by operations, maintenance, renewals and enhancement of funding committed by the UK Government to Welsh railways between 2025–26 and 2028–29.

Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales

Estimated Operations, Maintenance and Renewals (OMR) expenditure for Wales during Control Period (CP) 7 is broken down as follows:

2024-25 - £502 million

2025-26 - £447 million

2026-27 - £503 million

2027-28 - £499 million

2028-29 - £487 million

In addition to this, the UK Government has announced at least £445 million for rail enhancements in Wales, to right years of underfunding by previous Conservative Governments and unleash Wales’ economic potential.

This will mean new stations, more and faster trains on the key lines across North and South Wales, connecting people with the new, well-paid jobs we are creating across Wales.

The UK Government will set out more detail on the pipeline of projects that we will deliver very shortly.

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, whether the investment announced for Welsh railways forms part of a multi-year funding settlement; and how much of the investment is guaranteed beyond 2025–26, including planned spend in 2026–27 and 2027–28.

Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales

The UK Government has announced at least £445 million for rail enhancements in Wales, to right years of underfunding by previous Conservative Governments and unleash Wales’ economic potential. The vast majority of this investment will be spent in this Spending Review period.

This investment will mean new stations, more and faster trains on the key lines across North and South Wales, connecting people with the new, well-paid jobs we are creating across Wales.

The UK Government will set out more detail on the pipeline of projects that we will deliver very shortly.

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Found: to pension age. 3 ONS 2025, Healthy life expectancy by national area deprivation, England and Wales, Office

Found: spending plans for 2025/26 53 Commons Library Research Briefing, 16 February 2026 Wales The Wales Office

Found: Number of parks and play areas in local areas, England and Wales - Office for National Statistics 51

Found: Resource Capital Total Net Budget Resource Capital Non-Budget Expenditure Net Cash Requirement Wales Office

Found: 500 23 Non-Budget Expenditure 52,531,534 23,639,190 Net Cash Requirement 52,548,035 23,646,616 Wales Office

Found: Treasury 455 Cabinet Office 477 Scotland Office and Office of the Advocate General 497 Wales Office

Found: Treasury 455 Cabinet Office 477 Scotland Office and Office of the Advocate General 497 Wales Office

Found: Wales MHCLG EPC Statistics - quarterly statistics on the number of EPC lodgements for England and Wales Office

Found: Office for National Statistics (ONS) (2023) Gender identity, England and Wales - Office for National

Found: Office for National Statistics (ONS) (2023) Gender identity, England and Wales - Office for National

Found: Government has had positive engagement with the relevant UK Government departments facilitated by the Wales Office

Found: children’s rights impact assessment, Welsh Government • Approximated Social Grade, England and Wales, Office