Question

To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker what is the latest estimate of the cost of repairing and safeguarding the Palace of Westminster; and by what date he anticipates a definite decision being taken on this matter.

Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble

The R&R Client Board published the strategic case for the R&R Programme in March 2024. This sets out that three options for how to deliver the R&R works to the Palace (including full decant, continued presence and ehanced maintenance and improvement) will be developed in detail. This detailed work, which will include estimated costs and timescales as well as risks and mitigations for all three options, is expected to be presented to the Houses by the end of 2025 to enable an evidence-based decision on how best to restore the Palace.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what proportion of tourists visiting the UK they estimate visit Wales.

Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

Based on the latest available data from VisitBritain and the International Passenger Survey (IPS), the UK received 38 million inbound visitors in 2023, of which Wales received 892,000 visits.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask His Majesty's Government what proportion of the hydroelectric output in Great Britain is generated in (1) England, (2) Wales, and (3) Scotland.

Answered by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Hydroelectric power accounts for 2% of the UK’s electricity generation. A majority of hydroelectric output is generated in Scotland.

In 2023, annual figures show that:

3% of hydroelectricity was generated in England*

7% of hydroelectricity was generated in Wales*

90% of hydroelectricity was generated in Scotland*

Latest data available on hydroelectric generation is available via the DESNZ publication, Energy Trends December 2024, Table ET 6.1: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6762b0d6cdb5e64b69e30735/ET_6.1_DEC_24.xlsx. This table shows annual generation (latest data 2023) of hydroelectricity in GWh, by country, on which the above information is based.

*Rounded to the nearest hundred.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the West Coast Main Line upgrade between Warrington and Carlisle on services between north Wales and London.

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

This investment in renewing and upgrading rail infrastructure is critical to meeting current and future needs of communities along the West Coast Main Line. The Department expects operators to minimise the impact of planned engineering works on passengers as far as possible.

It is expected that route blockades to facilitate these essential works will span a number of years, and it is possible there could be some disruption on parts of the route away from the works, including in north Wales. However, the specifics in terms of effect on passenger services are yet to be agreed between Network Rail and Train Operating Companies. Therefore, the Department is not yet able to assess the full impact on passengers during the work.

Network Rail and relevant Train Operating Companies will keep passengers informed closer to the dates when they are agreed.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with representatives of commercial radio companies regarding reduction of their presence in Wales.

Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Media Act 2024 gives commercial radio greater flexibility to organise its programmes to meet the changing needs of its audiences. While decisions on changes to local radio services are ultimately matters for commercial radio companies, we are disappointed in recent decisions which have resulted in the end of Welsh language programmes.

The Government is a strong supporter of Welsh language broadcasting and will consider the wider implications on Welsh language radio with the Welsh Government and other stakeholders in Wales. Neither I nor any DCMS Ministers have had any direct discussions on this matter with Global.

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.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they have received from farmers in Wales, or farming union representatives, concerning the projected impact of the removal of agricultural property relief for inheritance tax, on the viability of family farms in Wales.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government published information about the reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief at www.gov.uk/government/publications/agricultural-property-relief-and-business-property-relief-reforms.

It is expected that up to 520 estates claiming agricultural property relief will be affected by these reforms. Almost three-quarters of estates claiming agricultural property relief (or those claiming agricultural property relief and business property relief together) are expected to be unaffected.

The Government takes into account all representations, and HM Treasury officials and Ministers meet with stakeholders on a regular basis. In accordance with standard practice, a tax information and impact note will be published alongside the draft legislation before the relevant Finance Bill.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have any plans to issue guidelines to water companies operating in England regarding the salaries paid to their senior management.

Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

For too long, customers have been let down and water companies have discharged record levels of sewage into our rivers, lakes and seas.

That is why we are placing water companies under special measures through the Water (Special Measures) Bill, which will strengthen regulation, including delivering new powers to ban the payment of bonuses for polluting water bosses and bringing criminal charges against persistent law breakers.

Executives will no longer be able to take home eye-watering bonuses where companies fail to meet standards on environmental performance, financial resilience, customer outcomes or criminal liability.

In October 2024, the Secretary of State, in conjunction with the Welsh Government, also launched an Independent Commission on the water sector regulatory system. This is a wide-ranging review to fundamentally transform how our water system works and clean up our rivers, lakes and seas for good.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to the reduction of the general speed limit from 30 miles per hour to 20 miles per hour in built-up residential areas in England.

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

There has not been any consideration given to reducing the general speed limit from 30 miles per hour to 20 miles per hour in built-up residential areas in England.

It is for local authorities to decide where reduced speed limits will be effective on the roads they manage, and consultation and community support should be at the heart of the process.

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they have received from the Welsh Government concerning the maximisation of financial and economic benefit for Wales from the activities of the Crown Estate in Wales.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The UK Government has regular discussions with the Welsh Government on a range of issues, including our shared ambition for floating offshore wind development in the Celtic Sea, and the role of the Crown Estate therein.

The Crown Estate has played a significant role in attracting international investment into Wales to support the UK's net zero target and will continue to do so, particularly through leasing rounds for floating offshore wind in the Celtic Sea. The Crown Estate is key to the £1.4 billion investment and over 5,000 jobs that this government wants to enable from floating offshore wind projects in the Celtic Sea.

The Crown Estate works closely with the Welsh Government and Natural Resources Wales in support of shared priorities, ensuring that these resources are sustainably managed for the long term.

The UK Government’s focus is on taking maximum advantage of this opportunity for Wales. I was therefore pleased that the Secretary of State for Wales worked with Lords Livermore and Hain to agree an amendment to The Crown Estate Bill in the House of Lords that will appoint a Commissioner with special responsibility for Wales. This will ensure the interests of Wales are fully reflected in The Crown Estate’s work.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask His Majesty's Government what sites in Wales currently house or have in the past 20 years housed a nuclear reactor, including university and medical locations.

Answered by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

There have been two nuclear reactors located in Wales; both are now being decommissioned. The nuclear power plant on the Trawsfynydd site came offline in 1991 and the plant on the Wylfa site in Anglesey stopped generating electricity in 2015. The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) regulate nuclear sites in Great Britain and publish a map of licensed sites on their website at www.onr.org.uk/our-work/map-of-sites-and-facilities/. GE Healthcare operated a Nuclear Licensed site in Cardiff which was used for radiopharmaceutical manufacture and de-licensed in 2019. There was no reactor present on this site.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what is their latest estimate of the out-turn cost of HS2 on the basis of their latest proposals for the completion of the project.

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

Our latest position on cost is noted in our December 2024 report to parliament. We are undertaking a full reset of the programme, led by the new CEO Mark Wild. Until that work is concluded we are unable to provide a robust assessment of outturn cost but will be reporting to parliament in due course.

Found: It has been introduced by Lord Wigley (Plaid Cymru).

Found: It has been introduced by Lord Wigley (Plaid Cymru).