Asked by: Lord Wigley (Plaid Cymru - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the reliability of postal deliveries in rural areas, and what plans they have to further investigate this matter.
Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The government is committed to a sustainable universal postal service for users throughout the UK, including maintaining the one-price-goes anywhere principle including for those in remote and rural areas.
It is for Ofcom, as the independent regulator of postal services, to set and monitor Royal Mail’s service standards and decide how to use its powers to investigate and take enforcement action should Royal Mail fail to achieve its obligations without good justification.
Asked by: Lord Wigley (Plaid Cymru - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to increase the compensation payable to those victims of the Post Office Horizon errors who initially agreed to a smaller amount than might now be payable due to financial pressures arising from their wrongful convictions.
Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Previously convicted postmasters can accept a £600,000 fixed-sum settlement or opt for a detailed assessment if they wish to claim more. All eligible applicants will receive a preliminary payment of £200,000 while making this decision, to help with any immediate financial pressures.
We recognise the fixed sum may not suit everyone’s circumstances, which is why we fund legal advice and disclosure to help assess whether this is the right option. There is no time limit to make a decision.
Claimants can instead opt to submit a full claim We also fund legal advice to help prepare these claims and if a claimant disagrees with their offer, their case can be referred to an Independent Panel for consideration.
Asked by: Lord Wigley (Plaid Cymru - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government, of the additional expenditure on the steel industry announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 11 June (HC Deb cols 980–81), how much will be spent in (1) Scunthorpe, (2) Sheffield, and (3) Port Talbot.
Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
We are committed to providing up to £2.5bn for steel which is being delivered in part through the National Wealth Fund.
At the Spending Review, the Chancellor confirmed that we will invest in the long-term future of Scunthorpe. We have been clear that private investment to modernise British Steel will also be required and work continues at pace to develop the optimal approach. Funding of approximately £130m in total has been provided to British Steel to ensure continued operation of the blast furnaces.
In addition to the £2.5bn for steel, the Chancellor confirmed:
Asked by: Lord Wigley (Plaid Cymru - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to identify deposits of manganese in the sea bed within UK territorial waters.
Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
His Majesty's Government have not taken any steps to identify deposits of manganese in the sea bed within UK territorial waters.
Asked by: Lord Wigley (Plaid Cymru - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will prohibit the export of arms to Israel until the government of Israel allows deliveries of food and medicines to Gaza.
Answered by Baroness Gustafsson - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
In September, we suspended all licences for exports of items for the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) that might be used in military operations in Gaza, subject to the specific measures announced in Parliament with respect to the global F-35 programme.
Of the remaining licences for Israel, the vast majority are either for civilian purposes, including scientific equipment and body armour for journalists or NGOs, or for components for products for re-export to other countries.
We have taken the same approach to new licence applications since September, refusing any licences for items that could be used in military operations in Gaza.
Asked by: Lord Wigley (Plaid Cymru - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the increase in volume of beef produced in the United States which will be sold in the UK as a result of the US–UK Economic Prosperity Deal.
Answered by Baroness Gustafsson - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The United States is the largest single country partner for both UK exports and imports into the UK.
On 8 May the UK government announced a landmark economic deal with the US. We agreed new reciprocal market access on beef – with UK farmers given a guaranteed quota for 13,000 metric tonnes of beef exports at a very low tariff rate. Imports of hormone treated beef will remain illegal. Our approach to this trade deal has ensured that agricultural imports coming into the UK meet the highest food standards.
This government will continue to act in Britain’s national interest – for workers, for business and for families.
Asked by: Lord Wigley (Plaid Cymru - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have taken steps, in negotiating a trade agreement with the United State of America, to ensure that food standards will not be reduced in the UK.
Answered by Baroness Gustafsson - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
We have had constructive discussions with the US on an economic deal, and we remain committed to these talks. But, as we have made clear, we will only ever sign trade agreements which align with the UK’s national interests. Our manifesto was also clear that we will always uphold our high food standards.
Asked by: Lord Wigley (Plaid Cymru - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government by what date they anticipate that all compensation payments arising from the Post Office Horizon issue will be fully paid.
Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Horizon redress applications continue to be received and no deadlines have yet been set for them. However the Department’s target for the schemes which it administers is to respond to 90% of full claims within 40 working days. We hope, for example, to have settled nearly all cases in the GLO scheme by the end of 2025.
The Government remains committed to providing fair redress to all victims affected by this scandal as quickly as possible. We continue to encourage those victims who have not yet submitted a claim for redress to come forward. As of 31 March 2025, the total amount of redress paid to victims across all schemes has increased by more than three and a half times with £892 million having now been paid to over 6,200 claimants across all schemes.
Asked by: Lord Wigley (Plaid Cymru - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many companies owned by corporations with headquarters in the USA currently have manufacturing facilities in Wales.
Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Wales is a prime destination for foreign direct investment from the United States.
Many companies are operating in the manufacturing sector. A number of US-owned companies are operating in Wales’ world leading compound semiconductor cluster, including KLA and Vishay. Both companies have recently announced large investments in South Wales driven by our world-class research facilities and skilled workforce.
The information is not held centrally.
Asked by: Lord Wigley (Plaid Cymru - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to increase the volume and value of trade between the UK and Argentina.
Answered by Baroness Gustafsson - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Trade between the UK and Argentina was worth £2 billion in the 12 months to June 2024 with our top goods exports including beverages, pharmaceuticals and manufactured goods. In October, the Secretary of State met his Argentine counterpart, the first trade-related bilateral ministerial meeting between both governments since 2019. They agreed to work together to strengthen our trade relationship further including in areas such as services, customs, and education. This will build on our existing cooperation this year which saw the largest delegation from Argentina in 20 years to London’s Metal Exchange Week in September.