Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what assessment she has undertaken with Cabinet colleagues on the potential impact of granting the Welsh Government’s proposed UK Internal Market Act exemption on the Deposit Return Scheme on (a) businesses and (b) consumers.

Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales

The Government is following the process to assess the Welsh Government’s proposal for an exclusion from the UK Internal Market Act as set out in the UK Internal Market Act Review published in July 2025. The Government has been engaging with stakeholders to gather evidence and feedback on the impact of the proposal on the UK internal market in order to inform its response to the Welsh Government’s proposal. The Government is working at pace to be able to communicate its position within the Resources & Waste Common Framework, in line with the processes set out in the 2025 Review.

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, by how much they plan to reduce their Department's budget to help fund the digital ID scheme.

Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales

Digital Identity policy is in development, with a dedicated team inside the Cabinet Office working to develop the proposals.

Costs in this Spending Review period will be met within the existing Spending Review settlements.

We are inviting the public to have their say in the upcoming consultation as we develop a safe, secure, and inclusive system for the UK. No final decisions will be made until after the consultation.

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, whether she has had discussions with the Welsh Government on the potential impact of the proposed visitor levy on the Welsh economy.

Answered by Anna McMorrin - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Wales Office)

The Welsh Government’s Visitor Levy could raise up to £33 million a year to reinvest in local communities and support tourism, reflecting the strength of the sector.

We have announced that a similar overnight levy will be introduced in England, building on the example set by Wales.

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what discussions she has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the potential impact of her policies on the cost of living in Wales.

Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales

I have regular discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the cost of living in Wales. We took decisive action in the budget by scrapping the Two Child Limit, extending the fuel duty freeze, uprating the Universal Credit Standard Allowance and increasing the State Pension.

This was a Labour budget, with Labour values at its heart. We are determined to do whatever it takes to improve the cost of living for families across Wales.

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what recent discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on increasing economic growth in Wales.

Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales

This Government is investing to unlock growth, create jobs and improve the cost of living.

We are creating thousands of jobs in every corner of Wales. This includes huge investment into new nuclear power in Wylfa, two new AI Growth Zones, a Defence Growth Deal, two Freeports, two Investment Zones, and investment into our semiconductor sector in South Wales.

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the Autumn Budget 2025 on family farms in Wales.

Answered by Anna McMorrin - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Wales Office)

Family farms and the wider agricultural sector play a vital role across our communities. I'm pleased that this Government has been able to deliver the largest funding settlement to Welsh Government to enable them to support our farming communities.

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what the cost to the public purse was of feasibility studies conducted by their Department for projects that did not proceed in the last five years.

Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales

The cost to the public purse is zero as the Department has not undertaken any feasibility studies in the last five years.

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Found: started, relations between the devolved Administrations and Whitehall were essentially between the Wales Office

Found: days earlier 17/07/2025 United Kingdom Supreme Court 22/10/2024 100 days earlier 14/07/2025 Wales Office

Found: The Wales Office – Office of the Secretary of State for Wales; 48. The Welsh Ministers: 48.1.

Found: their own set of policies and fund their own programmes and schemes. 88 Housing in England and Wales – Office

Found: achieve lifetime carbon savings of over half a million tonnes of carbon 88 Housing in England and Wales – Office

Found: Amount Paid X029 F2CSI Fin Gov Grants & Tax NLF Interest WALES OFFICE VOTE ACCT 28.01.2025 1902629168

Found: or inherited records held by the Welsh Government following devolution that originate from the Wales Office