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 number of FAS and PPF members whose original pension scheme did not provide for specified pre-1997 indexation and will therefore not be included in the Government’s plans announced in the Budget on 26 November.
Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
At the Budget, the Chancellor announced that the Government will introduce pre-1997 indexation in the Pension Protection Fund (PPF) and the Financial Assistance Scheme (FAS), for members whose original schemes provided this. Compensation payments from these schemes on pensions built up before 6 April 1997 will be CPI-linked (capped at 2.5%), and this will apply prospectively.
The PPF have made an assessment that around 165,000 PPF members and 91,000 current FAS members have some pre-97 benefits where their former schemes provided mandatory indexation. The remaining members will not fall within the scope of our reforms, either because these members had no mandatory pre-97 indexation in their original schemes, or no pre-97 service.
Asked by: Ann Davies (Plaid Cymru - Caerfyrddin)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions her Department has had with the Welsh government regarding the drafting of the Railways Bill.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department for Transport has worked closely with the Welsh Government throughout the development of the Railways Bill.
This engagement has included both ministerial and official-level meetings to ensure constructive and collaborative development of provisions enabling a responsive railway in the Wales and borders area.
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 he has made of the impact of not uprating Local Housing Allowance on homelessness in Wales.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State confirmed in his Written Ministerial Statement (HCWS1101) that Local Housing Allowance rates and the benefit cap will not be increased for 2026-27. He considered a range of factors, including the rentals levels across Great Britain, the wider fiscal context and welfare priorities. This included the decision to prioritise removing the two child limit, which will lift 450k children out of poverty.
Responsibility for housing and homelessness is devolved to the Welsh Government, while social security is reserved to the UK Government.
Discretionary Housing Payments are available from local authorities for those who face a shortfall in meeting 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, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of removing the benefit cap alongside the removal of the two child cap announced in the Budget Statement on 26 November 2025.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
No assessment has been made
The benefit cap aims to incentivise work as, where possible, it is in the best interest of children to be in working households. Being in work substantially reduces the chance of poverty: the poverty rate of children living in households where all adults work is 17% compared to 65% for children who live in households where no adults work.
Returning to employment, or increasing the number of hours worked, significantly increases the likelihood of a household not being affected by the cap. People who are working and earning at least £846 each month are exempt from the benefit cap. There is also protection for the most vulnerable as those who are caring or are severely disabled are exempt from the benefit cap.
The Government is committed to helping people move into and progress in work and we are delivering a step-change in employment and skills support for parents, enabling parents to balance work and caring responsibilities through high quality, flexible jobs, and improving access to childcare so parents are better able to work.
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 number of households that will be affected by the removal of the two child cap but subjected to the benefit cap following changes announced in the Budget Statement on 26 November in (a) Wales and (b) across the UK.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The requested information is not available.
Asked by: Ann Davies (Plaid Cymru - Caerfyrddin)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on the potential impact of not uprating Local Housing Allowance on homelessness in Wales.
Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales
I have discussions with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on a regular basis and on a range of issues. My officials work closely with DWP, MHCLG and other departments, including regarding Local Housing Allowance (LHA).
The Government is taking action to support low-income households, including removing the two-child limit to reduce child poverty, benefitting 69,000 children in Wales. In addition, we are increasing the National Living Wage and the National Minimum Wage building on April 2025 increases that already helped up to 160,000 workers in Wales, cutting household energy bills by £150 per year and uprating the Universal Credit Standard Allowance by over 6%. This is the first ever sustained real terms increase in the Standard Allowance, directly benefitting 320,000 households in Wales.
Discretionary Housing Payments are available from local authorities for those who face a shortfall in meeting their housing costs and need further support.
Asked by: Ann Davies (Plaid Cymru - Caerfyrddin)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to the Budget Statement on 26 November 2025, whether the full investment reserve amount of £2.3bn will be transferred to BCSSS trustees.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The transfer of the full reserve of £2.3bn to BCSSS Trustees has been implemented and the required amendments to the scheme rules agreed and signed.
Asked by: Ann Davies (Plaid Cymru - Caerfyrddin)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on steps to ensure that that fossil fuel companies fund the costs of climate recovery in the UK.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
My Rt hon Friend the Secretary of State has regular discussions with Ministerial Colleagues on a number of issues.
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 plans he has to review the criteria used to determine the State Pension age to reflect regional inequalities in healthy life expectancy.
Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government launched the third Government Review of State Pension age on 21 July.
This Review will consider a wide range of evidence including the latest ONS life expectancy and healthy life expectancy projections, findings from the Government Actuary on adult life in retirement, and an independent report led by Dr Suzy Morrissey, which will consider which facts are most relevant in setting State Pension age.
Asked by: Ann Davies (Plaid Cymru - Caerfyrddin)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment she has made of the impact of frozen personal tax thresholds on pensioners’ disposable incomes.
Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The previous government made the decision to freeze the income tax Personal Allowance at its current level of £12,570 until April
The previous government published a Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN) setting out the impacts.