Asked by: Baroness Smith of Llanfaes (Plaid Cymru - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what live environmental data are available regarding disused coal tips.
Answered by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
There are over 6,000 disused coal tips in Britain with 2,573 located in Wales. The majority of tips are in local authority or private ownership which includes legal responsibilities. The Welsh Government has published coal tips data and details of their work programme to address the tips issue including inspections/maintenance https://www.gov.wales/coal-tip-safety
There is no central tips record in England or Scotland as the geological makeup of tip locations in those areas, and previous reprofiling/restoration, has left a lower risk profile.
Asked by: Baroness Smith of Llanfaes (Plaid Cymru - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what resilience plans are in place for communities that are next to disused coal tips.
Answered by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The majority of tips are in local authority or private ownership and the responsibility for managing the associated monitoring and resilience work is a matter for the landowner and local authority.
The Government recognises the importance of ensuring coal tip safety and just how much this issue resonates with local communities, particularly in the South Wales valleys, that is why the Government announced funding of £25m in 25/26 to the Welsh Government in the Budget, for making coal tips safe.
Asked by: Baroness Smith of Llanfaes (Plaid Cymru - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the rate of Universal Credit for young adults living in supported accommodation.
Answered by Baroness Sherlock - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
People on a low income living in supported or temporary accommodation can claim Universal Credit for help with their daily living costs and Housing Benefit for help with their housing costs.
Universal Credit awards are formed of a standard allowance, paid according to age and household unit, plus help with eligible housing costs, which can then be supplemented with additional elements and premiums for groups recognised as having additional needs, such as parents, disabled people, and carers.
Under the Social Security Administration Act 1992 the Secretary of State is required by law to review State Pension and benefit rates each year to see if they have retained their value in relation to the general level of prices or earnings. Benefit rates are reviewed each year, increasing by 6.7% in April 2024 and by a further 1.7% from April 2025, in line with inflation. Around 5.7 million Universal Credit families are forecast to benefit from uprating in financial year 2025 to 2026, with an average annual gain for a family estimated to be £150. The Government has committed to reviewing Universal Credit and we will set out further details in due course.
Asked by: Baroness Smith of Llanfaes (Plaid Cymru - Life peer)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government which specific disused coal tips will be supported with the £25 million funding announced in the Autumn Budget.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
We are committed to supporting the Welsh Government in ensuring disused coal tips are safe. That is why we allocated £25 million of funding in 2025/6 for essential work being undertaken by the Welsh Government to keep disused coal tips maintained and safe. It is for the Welsh Government to allocate funding and as confirmed in their draft budget, the Welsh Government will do this by expanding the Coal Tip Safety Grant. The Welsh Government, in administering this fund, will work with local authorities in Wales to determine exactly which tips get the money.
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 whether they plan to calculate UK Shared Prosperity Fund allocations from 2026 using a needs-based formula or a population-based formula.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government will set out its long-term vision for local growth beyond 2025-26 at the multi-year spending review in the Spring. This will end the approach of local authorities and MCAs being forced to compete against each other for growth funds; target funding where it is most needed; and empower local leaders to create jobs, improve wages and get Britain building.
Asked by: Baroness Smith of Llanfaes (Plaid Cymru - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether any Barnett consequentials arising from the additional national insurance contributions for public service workers in England will cover all additional national insurance contributions for public service workers in Wales.
Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
In the Budget, the Chancellor provided funding to the public sector to support them with the additional cost associated with changes to Employer National Insurance Contributions.
The Welsh Government will receive funding through the Barnett Formula in 2025-26 for any changes to UK Government department budgets, including support for Employer National Insurance Contributions. This is the normal operation of the funding arrangements as set out in the Statement of Funding Policy.
This funding will be in addition to the Welsh Government’s record Spending Review settlement for 2025-26, which is the largest in real terms of any settlement since devolution.
Asked by: Baroness Smith of Llanfaes (Plaid Cymru - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government when they will publish measures to amend the Coal Industry Act 1994.
Answered by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
On 14th November 2024 the Government announced its intention to change coal extraction policy through primary legislation to restrict future licensing of all new coal mines. The Government anticipates this will involve measures to amend the Coal Industry Act 1994 which will be introduced when Parliamentary time allows.
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 Written Answer by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage on 26 November (HL2477), what they expect the minimum standards for asset pooling to be in the Local Government Pensions Scheme, and what would be required for the Wales Public Sector Pension Partnership to meet these minimum standards.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government is consulting on proposals for Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) asset pools, including the Wales Pension Partnership, to meet the following minimum standards:
Asked by: Baroness Smith of Llanfaes (Plaid Cymru - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether, following the nationalisation of Great Western Rail (GWR), they will review the timetables for the routes currently operated by GWR, and whether they will include a late evening service on those routes.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
For each transfer into DfT Operator Ltd, there will not be any immediate changes to the timetable specification and there are no immediate plans to change the way future timetable adjustments will be managed. My Department has regular discussions with Great Western Railway to review the level of service provision, including in relation to late evening services, to ensure that the timetable meets passenger demand, is resilient, and provides value for money for taxpayers.
Asked by: Baroness Smith of Llanfaes (Plaid Cymru - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential for disruption caused by rail works at Old Oak Common to train services from Carmarthen to London; and how long they anticipate this disruption will last.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Old Oak Common station is a crucial enabler for the Government’s growth mission. During its construction there will be periods of full line closures and some periods, generally weekends, when the closure of some lines means fewer services will be able to operate. During full line closures, most services from Carmarthen to London are expected to be diverted into London Euston, maintaining direct access for passengers into Central London. This Government will continue working with industry partners to ensure that disruption for passengers using the Great Western Main Line is kept to a minimum.