Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what is the average cost of a visa for a scientist from overseas to work in the UK, and whether they have benchmarked this against costs for similar visas provided by other countries.

Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)

The cost of a visa for a scientist to work in the UK will vary depending on the visa route they enter the UK through. Visa fees are published on gov.uk and can be viewed through the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/visa-fees-transparency-data.

Should an applicant wishing to work in the UK as a scientist apply for a skilled worker from overseas the current cost is £719 (up to three-years) or £1,420 (over three-years). Alternatively, should they enter the UK via the Global Talent route the current fee is £716. They could also apply for a 12-month Standard Visitor visa for academics which currently costs £200.

Visa products are difficult to compare because visa offers, including benefits and entitlements gained and duration of stay, vary significantly between countries. However, UK visa fees are broadly competitive when compared with the fees charged by comparative countries globally.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government why the new Oxford–Cambridge railway line is classified as an England and Wales project.

Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

The UK Government is responsible for heavy rail infrastructure across England and Wales so spends money on this in Wales rather than funding the Welsh Government to do so through the Barnett formula. This approach applies to investment in heavy rail by the Department for Transport, including HS2 and East-West Rail, and is consistent with the funding arrangements for all other policy areas reserved in Wales as set out in the Statement of Funding Policy.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the Barnett consequential as a result of funding allocated to the new Oxford–Cambridge railway line for (1) Scotland and (2) Northern Ireland.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

At the Spending Review 2025, the Barnett formula was applied at department level using departmental comparability factors. This means that Barnett consequentials generated in relation to specific programmes cannot be determined.

The UK Government is responsible for heavy rail infrastructure across England and Wales and so directly spends money on this in Wales rather than funding the Welsh Government to do so through the Barnett formula.

This approach applies to our investment in rail in England and is consistent with the funding arrangements for all other policy areas reserved in Wales as set out in the Statement of Funding Policy.

As part of the Spending Review, the Chancellor announced at least £445m for railways in Wales over ten years, including new funding for Burns Review stations, North Wales Level Crossing, Padeswood Sidings and Cardiff West Junction.

The UK Government continues to work closely with the Welsh Government, including open discussions with HM Treasury to provide clarity on changes that have an impact on their funding, and to ensure the smooth delivery of funding arrangements.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the Barnett consequential that would have been allocated to Wales if the new Oxford–Cambridge railway line had been classified as an England project, rather than an England and Wales project.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

At the Spending Review 2025, the Barnett formula was applied at department level using departmental comparability factors. This means that Barnett consequentials generated in relation to specific programmes cannot be determined.

The UK Government is responsible for heavy rail infrastructure across England and Wales and so directly spends money on this in Wales rather than funding the Welsh Government to do so through the Barnett formula.

This approach applies to our investment in rail in England and is consistent with the funding arrangements for all other policy areas reserved in Wales as set out in the Statement of Funding Policy.

As part of the Spending Review, the Chancellor announced at least £445m for railways in Wales over ten years, including new funding for Burns Review stations, North Wales Level Crossing, Padeswood Sidings and Cardiff West Junction.

The UK Government continues to work closely with the Welsh Government, including open discussions with HM Treasury to provide clarity on changes that have an impact on their funding, and to ensure the smooth delivery of funding arrangements.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask His Majesty's Government what would be the anticipated net revenue gain from taxing the Winter Fuel Payment.

Answered by Baroness Sherlock - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

On 9 June the Government announced that, from this winter 2025/26, Winter Fuel Payment eligibility will be expanded in England and Wales. Pensioners with incomes below or equal to £35,000 will benefit from a Winter Fuel Payment. This will mean that the vast majority of pensioners - over three quarters, or 9 million individuals - will benefit this parliament. We estimate that this will save around £450m per year compared to a policy of universal Winter Fuel Payments in England and Wales. Winter Fuel Payments are transferred in Northern Ireland and the policy area is devolved in Scotland. Last Autumn, the Office for Budgetary Responsibility certified that targeting Winter Fuel Payments towards pensioners in receipt of Pension Credit would save £1.65bn per year UK-wide by 2029/30, relative to universal Winter Fuel Payments in England and Wales.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask His Majesty's Government what would be the anticipated net revenue gain from maintaining the Winter Fuel Payment for all citizens except higher-rate taxpayers.

Answered by Baroness Sherlock - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

On 9 June the Government announced that, from this winter 2025/26, Winter Fuel Payment eligibility will be expanded in England and Wales. Pensioners with incomes below or equal to £35,000 will benefit from a Winter Fuel Payment. This will mean that the vast majority of pensioners - over three quarters, or 9 million individuals - will benefit this parliament. We estimate that this will save around £450m per year compared to a policy of universal Winter Fuel Payments in England and Wales. Winter Fuel Payments are transferred in Northern Ireland and the policy area is devolved in Scotland. Last Autumn, the Office for Budgetary Responsibility certified that targeting Winter Fuel Payments towards pensioners in receipt of Pension Credit would save £1.65bn per year UK-wide by 2029/30, relative to universal Winter Fuel Payments in England and Wales.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask His Majesty's Government what is the expected net revenue gain from restricting the Winter Fuel Payment to pensioners in receipt of pension credit.

Answered by Baroness Sherlock - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

On 9 June the Government announced that, from this winter 2025/26, Winter Fuel Payment eligibility will be expanded in England and Wales. Pensioners with incomes below or equal to £35,000 will benefit from a Winter Fuel Payment. This will mean that the vast majority of pensioners - over three quarters, or 9 million individuals - will benefit this parliament. We estimate that this will save around £450m per year compared to a policy of universal Winter Fuel Payments in England and Wales. Winter Fuel Payments are transferred in Northern Ireland and the policy area is devolved in Scotland. Last Autumn, the Office for Budgetary Responsibility certified that targeting Winter Fuel Payments towards pensioners in receipt of Pension Credit would save £1.65bn per year UK-wide by 2029/30, relative to universal Winter Fuel Payments in England and Wales.

Found: The Chair); Lord Dodds of Duncairn; Lord Empey; Baroness Foster of Aghadrumsee; Baroness Goudie; Lord Hain

Found: The Chair); Lord Dodds of Duncairn; Lord Empey; Baroness Foster of Aghadrumsee; Baroness Goudie; Lord Hain

Found: Members present: Lord Lexden (The Chair); Lord Dodds of Duncairn; Lord Empey; Baroness Goudie; Lord Hain

Found: In your Lordships evidence session on 19 March, Lord Hain asked whether Stormont representatives could

Found: Lord Carlile of Berriew (The Chair); Lord Empey; Baroness Foster of Aghadrumsee; Baroness Goudie; Lord Hain

University APPG
Wednesday 11th June 2025

Found: Home Office: Visas: Scientists The Rt Hon. the Lord Hain (Labour): (HL6048) To ask His Majesty's Government