Asked by: Ann Davies (Plaid Cymru - Caerfyrddin)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment has he made of the potential impact of the benefit cap on levels of poverty in Wales.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government) (Equalities)
The Government is committed to tackling poverty and supporting people to achieve financial independence. The benefit cap supports the fundamental principle that work is the best route out of poverty by encouraging those who can work to move into and progress in work, while protecting those for whom work is not possible.
In addition, the Government is tackling cost of living pressures facing families. In Wales, this includes targeted measures such as raising the minimum wage and removing the two child limit in Universal Credit. Discretionary Housing Payments may also be available to households in Wales that are subject to the cap and need additional support with their housing costs.
Asked by: Ann Davies (Plaid Cymru - Caerfyrddin)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many households in Wales are impacted by the benefit cap; and how many of those households include children.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government) (Equalities)
The department publishes monthly official statistics on the number of households in Great Britain receiving Housing Benefit (HB) or Universal Credit (UC) which are affected by the benefit cap. The statistics are currently available to May 2026 in the HB Point in Time Caseload and the UC Point in Time Caseload datasets on Stat-Xplore. These statistics can be broken down by country and Family Type.
Users can log in or access Stat-Xplore as a guest and, if needed, can access guidance on how to extract information.
Asked by: Ann Davies (Plaid Cymru - Caerfyrddin)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many households in Wales are in receipt of Local Housing Allowance; and how many of those households include children.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government) (Equalities)
The number of households receiving the Universal Credit (UC) Housing Element or Housing Benefit, who are subject to the Local Housing Allowance (LHA), is available on Stat-Xplore (https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/). ‘Households on Universal Credit’ and ‘Housing Benefit – Data from April 2018’ would be the datasets of interest, and filters can be applied to show information for Wales and households with children only.
Users can log in or access Stat-Xplore as a guest, and if needed, can access guidance on how to extract the information required.
Asked by: Ann Davies (Plaid Cymru - Caerfyrddin)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many of the 100,000 jobs announced on 8 September 2026 in the joint statement with the British Retail Consortium are expected to be created in Wales.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has announced an ambition to create 100,000 new jobs in the retail sector for young people by 2029, supporting more young people to take their first step into work. This is a significant commitment from one of the UK's largest employment sectors and an important contribution towards the Government's ambition that every young person has the opportunity to build the skills, experience and connections needed to move into work.
As part of this ambition, BRC is launching 'Opening Shift' a new joint DWP and BRC work experience programme for 18–24 year old jobseekers. ‘Opening Shift’ will provide retail work experience, workplace support and interview experience, helping young people to build skills, confidence and experience employers are looking for.
The commitment complements the Government's Youth Guarantee, which is backed by £2.5 billion of additional investment and will ensure young people can access the support, training, work experience and opportunities they need to move into employment, education or training. ‘Opening Shift’ will play an important role in helping deliver the Youth Guarantee's commitment to provide 150,000 work experience opportunities by 2029.
BRC represents a wide range of retail employers across the UK, and young people across the country will benefit from opportunities created through this partnership. The opportunities available in individual areas will depend on participating employers' business needs and local presence.
Work Experience is available to all claimants throughout their claim. Young jobseekers will be offered a work experience placement as part of their Youth Guarantee Journey which may include referrals to Opening Shift opportunities, where these are available and appropriate for the individual.
Asked by: Ann Davies (Plaid Cymru - Caerfyrddin)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the potential impact of the 8 September announcement in partnership with the British Retail Consortium on rural unemployment levels in Wales.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has announced an ambition to create 100,000 new jobs in the retail sector for young people by 2029, supporting more young people to take their first step into work. This is a significant commitment from one of the UK's largest employment sectors and an important contribution towards the Government's ambition that every young person has the opportunity to build the skills, experience and connections needed to move into work.
As part of this ambition, BRC is launching 'Opening Shift' a new joint DWP and BRC work experience programme for 18–24 year old jobseekers. ‘Opening Shift’ will provide retail work experience, workplace support and interview experience, helping young people to build skills, confidence and experience employers are looking for.
The commitment complements the Government's Youth Guarantee, which is backed by £2.5 billion of additional investment and will ensure young people can access the support, training, work experience and opportunities they need to move into employment, education or training. ‘Opening Shift’ will play an important role in helping deliver the Youth Guarantee's commitment to provide 150,000 work experience opportunities by 2029.
BRC represents a wide range of retail employers across the UK, and young people across the country will benefit from opportunities created through this partnership. The opportunities available in individual areas will depend on participating employers' business needs and local presence.
Work Experience is available to all claimants throughout their claim. Young jobseekers will be offered a work experience placement as part of their Youth Guarantee Journey which may include referrals to Opening Shift opportunities, where these are available and appropriate for the individual.
Asked by: Ann Davies (Plaid Cymru - Caerfyrddin)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what consideration he has given to developing a UK-wide resilience fund to financially support farmers with (a) the impact of extreme weather, (b) cases of bluetongue and (c) input costs such as fertiliser.
Answered by Emma Reynolds - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The Government understands the impact that recent cost pressures have had on farmers across the country. It has cut the duty rate on red diesel by over a third per litre to 6.48p, the lowest rate in over 20 years. This will remain in place until the end of the year, supporting the agricultural sector in the fuel intensive harvest period.
The Government has announced a £65 million package of support to help farmers in England manage the impact of this summer’s prolonged dry weather. This includes an extra £50 million for the Sustainable Farming Incentive 2026 to help farmers adapt to the risk of future droughts, and up to £15 million to build on-farm reservoirs, helping farmers become more resilient. The Government also confirmed temporary adjustments to Environmental Land Management agreements, so farmers affected by drought can continue to receive payments and take practical steps to protect livestock, crops and land. Agricultural policy in the UK is devolved.
The Government ran a call for input on suspending tariffs on fertiliser, as part of a cost-of-living tariff suspensions package, and is now considering the responses ahead of making a final decision.
Biosecurity is of utmost importance to the government. The government is strengthening the systems needed to prevent, detect and control disease and coordinating national action to protect trade, public health and animal welfare.
Asked by: Ann Davies (Plaid Cymru - Caerfyrddin)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to support farmers with the cost of fertiliser.
Answered by Emma Reynolds - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The Government understands the impact that recent cost pressures have had on farmers across the country. It has cut the duty rate on red diesel by over a third per litre to 6.48p, the lowest rate in over 20 years. This will remain in place until the end of the year, supporting the agricultural sector in the fuel intensive harvest period.
The Government has announced a £65 million package of support to help farmers in England manage the impact of this summer’s prolonged dry weather. This includes an extra £50 million for the Sustainable Farming Incentive 2026 to help farmers adapt to the risk of future droughts, and up to £15 million to build on-farm reservoirs, helping farmers become more resilient. The Government also confirmed temporary adjustments to Environmental Land Management agreements, so farmers affected by drought can continue to receive payments and take practical steps to protect livestock, crops and land. Agricultural policy in the UK is devolved.
The Government ran a call for input on suspending tariffs on fertiliser, as part of a cost-of-living tariff suspensions package, and is now considering the responses ahead of making a final decision.
Biosecurity is of utmost importance to the government. The government is strengthening the systems needed to prevent, detect and control disease and coordinating national action to protect trade, public health and animal welfare.
Asked by: Ann Davies (Plaid Cymru - Caerfyrddin)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism’s quarterly pricing of fertiliser imports on the stability of the fertiliser market.
Answered by James Murray - Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General
The UK Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) will be introduced from 1 January 2027 and will apply to highly traded, carbon-intensive goods, including fertiliser. The CBAM is designed to mitigate the risk of carbon leakage and ensure that these carbon-intensive imports face a carbon cost that is comparable to that faced by equivalent goods, were they produced in the UK.
The Government expects liabilities arising from the CBAM on fertiliser to be modest in its early years, and for trade flows to remain stable.
The quarterly pricing methodology balances providing certainty for importers with ensuring that the carbon price applied to imports reflects movements in the prevailing UK ETS price. The Government intends to publish illustrative CBAM rates this autumn to help businesses better understand the potential effects of the policy.
A tax information and impacts note can be found at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/introduction-of-carbon-border-adjustment-mechanism/carbon-border-adjustment-mechanism#summary-of-impacts
Asked by: Ann Davies (Plaid Cymru - Caerfyrddin)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of import control and inspection regimes for eggs, including salmonella testing.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Import controls for products entering Great Britain (GB) are set through the Border Target Operating Model (BTOM). Import controls are based upon an assessment of the risk to animal and public health. Like all import controls under the BTOM, controls for eggs are kept under regular risk-based review to ensure robust control is in place.
Imports of eggs must originate from countries and establishments approved to export to GB and must meet relevant sanitary and food safety requirements. Consignments are subject to documentary, identity and physical checks at GB Border Control Posts.
Salmonella controls in eggs are primarily managed through requirements applied at source, including exporting country assurances, official controls and certification. GB does not routinely test every imported consignment of eggs for salmonella at the border. Importers of eggs and food business operators handling eggs have a responsibility to ensure compliance with GB food safety requirements.
Asked by: Ann Davies (Plaid Cymru - Caerfyrddin)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of updating the Licensing Act 2003 to reflect the growth of online alcohol delivery services and potential associated risks of alcohol related harm.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Licensing Act 2003 provides the legal framework for the sale and supply of alcohol in England and Wales. It is already an offence under the Act to knowingly sell or attempt to sell alcohol to a person who is drunk or underage.
Consumer alcohol purchasing habits have evolved in recent years, particularly with a notable growth in sales made via online platforms and rapid delivery services. The Department for Health and Social Care, which has responsibility for policy on health harms, and the Home Office are looking at how current licensing rules apply to these services to ensure these are effective.
This includes engaging with experts, people with lived experience, and other stakeholders, and assessing emerging evidence on the impact that this may be having on health outcomes and on the effective promotion of the licensing objectives. I chaired a roundtable in June on this issue, jointly with the then Minister for Public Health and Prevention, and we are now determining our next steps, including engagement with delivery companies.