Asked by: Baroness Smith of Llanfaes (Plaid Cymru - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Lord Khan of Burnley on 23 July (HL Deb col 486), when the review of voter ID will be completed; and when they expect to publish their proposals.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Electoral Commission is the independent electoral regulator and will be reporting on the administration of the May local elections and the recent General Election. We anticipate publication of their initial findings on voter ID in September and their full election report later in the year.
The Elections Act 2022 included a requirement for the Secretary of State to publish an evaluation of the implementation and impact of the Voter ID policy on the next local and next two UK Parliamentary General Elections. Work has already begun on the evaluation of the July 2024 election, and we will publish in due course.
Both of these reports will inform the wider work officials are doing to thoroughly review voter ID.
Asked by: Baroness Smith of Llanfaes (Plaid Cymru - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Lord Khan of Burnley on 23 July (HL Deb col 485), when they intend to extend the voting franchise to 16 and 17 year-olds, and what plans they have to encourage young people to participate in the electoral system.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
This Government will lower the voting age to 16 during this Parliament. This measure will strengthen our democracy and empower young people to participate in it, and we will develop plans for outreach and engagement with the newly enfranchised to encourage them to make the most of their new rights.
Asked by: Baroness Smith of Llanfaes (Plaid Cymru - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill on 23 July (HL Deb col 361) in relation to an upcoming meeting with the Cabinet Secretary for Transport in Wales, when is the meeting, and whether they will report the discussions that take place in the meeting.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The meeting with the Cabinet Secretary for Transport in Wales is planned to take place in August. The meeting will include the parties agreeing how any reporting from the meeting will take place afterwards. The Secretary of State has already met with the Cabinet Secretary for Transport in Wales.
Asked by: Baroness Smith of Llanfaes (Plaid Cymru - Life peer)
Question
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to commence section 106 of the Equality Act 2010 relating to political party candidate information and if so, when.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government believes that every party standing for elections to the House of Commons, the Scottish Parliament and the Senedd has a duty to demonstrate progress towards better representation. Commencement of section 106 is one way of achieving that and we will set out our plans for this area in due course.
Asked by: Baroness Smith of Llanfaes (Plaid Cymru - Life peer)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 26 July (HL190), what specific plans they have to deliver enhanced powers for the Senedd and Welsh Government.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
As set out in our manifesto, the Government is committed to devolving employment support funding to the Welsh Government, to working with the Welsh Government to consider the devolution of youth justice, and to conducting a strategic review of probation governance, which will include considering the benefits of devolved models.
Asked by: Baroness Smith of Llanfaes (Plaid Cymru - Life peer)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 26 July (HL190), what specific plans they have to deliver better access to economic resources for Wales.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government recognises that the Welsh Fiscal Framework is out of date and is committed to working in partnership with the Welsh Government to ensure that it delivers value for money. We will also restore decision-making over the allocation of structural funds to the representatives of Wales. The Secretary of State for Wales will work closely with HM Treasury and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government in taking these commitments forward.
Asked by: Baroness Smith of Llanfaes (Plaid Cymru - Life peer)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 26 July (HL190), what specific plans they have to deliver strengthened intergovernmental working.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The UK Government is resetting its relationship with the devolved governments to strengthen the UK through greater respect. This stronger intergovernmental working will be spearheaded by a new Council of the Nations and Regions, bringing together the Prime Minister, the First Ministers of Wales and Scotland, the First and deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland and the Mayors of Combined Authorities in England, to enable greater collaboration on shared challenges and opportunities.
Asked by: Baroness Smith of Llanfaes (Plaid Cymru - Life peer)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 26 July (HL190), what specific plans they have to deliver enhanced protection for Welsh devolution.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government is fully committed to strengthening the Sewel Convention by setting out a new memorandum of understanding outlining how the nations will work together for the common good. We will work closely with the devolved governments in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, to reach consensus on matters regarding legislation in service of people across the United Kingdom.
Asked by: Baroness Smith of Llanfaes (Plaid Cymru - Life peer)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Lord Hermer on 23 July (HL Deb col 374) in relation to the devolution of employment support funding to Wales, what is the amount of that funding, and what services will be in scope.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The UK Government is resetting its relationship with the Devolved Governments to strengthen the UK through greater respect and collaboration.
We look forward to working closely with the Welsh Government to agree how we devolve employment support and ensure this complements existing provision and planned reforms to Jobcentre Plus services.
Asked by: Baroness Smith of Llanfaes (Plaid Cymru - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to protect jobs at Tata Steel, and how much of their £3 billion plan for steel has been committed to this.
Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
This Government's manifesto committed £2.5 billion to rebuild the steel sector, in addition to £500 million already earmarked for Port Talbot steelworks. This funding will harness public and private investment to secure jobs and boost growth in Wales and the UK. We are working closely with Tata and Unions to ensure a better deal.
At the most recent meeting of the Transition Board (11 July), chaired by the Secretary of State for Wales, the Board agreed it would move into a delivery phase to support those affected staff and the local area. The Transition Board will meet again in August to consider next steps.