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.
Asked by: Baroness Smith of Llanfaes (Plaid Cymru - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the Welsh Government regarding the future of the Welsh National Opera.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Whilst it would not be appropriate for Ministers to intervene directly in funding decisions by arm’s-length bodies such as Arts Council England or in the operation of the Welsh National Opera, and whilst arts policy in Wales is devolved, Minister Bryant has held a series of very productive meetings with the Wales Office, Welsh Government, Arts Council England, and Welsh National Opera to understand the challenges it faces in more detail and to see how, within the parameters of the arm’s length principle, we can best help ensure a strong, secure and sustainable future for the WNO.
The core point of agreement across all these meetings and across all partners was a recognition of the value of the Welsh National Opera and its work - for the people of England as well as for the people of Wales. It was clear that all partners are keen to achieve a positive long-term future for the organisation, and are working towards that goal. We look forward to the new leadership at the WNO coming up with a practicable plan in the near future.
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 established pooling arrangements for Welsh local government pension schemes via the Wales Public Sector Pension Partnership will be affected by any efforts to encourage or mandate the pooling of English local government pension funds.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government is currently consulting on proposals relating to asset pooling in the Local Government Pensions Scheme (LGPS) England and Wales. The consultation text can be found at Gov.uk: Local Government Pension Scheme (England and Wales): Fit for the future - GOV.UK.
The proposals in the consultation apply to both England and Wales. They would require the Wales Pension Partnership to make changes to their pooling model in order to meet the minimum standards for pooling, and for all LGPS assets to be under pool management. The consultation recognises that the Wales Pension Partnership operates within a devolved nation and that it may make sense for the Welsh LGPS administering authorities to continue to operate a separate asset pool.
Asked by: Baroness Smith of Llanfaes (Plaid Cymru - Life peer)
Question
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Baroness Smith of Basildon on 30 July, what plans they have to consult on their proposals to reform this House; when any such consultation will (1) be published, and (2) close; and what specific proposals will be in scope.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Basildon - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
The Kings Speech included the House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Bill which has now been introduced into the House of Commons. Other proposed reforms include the appointment process, retirement and participation. I have already started engaging with colleagues around the House and welcome their input. I look forward to continuing this dialogue. As outlined in our manifesto, in the longer term the Government will consult on further reforms to ensure that an alternative second chamber is more representative of the nation and regions.