Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with her Turkish counterpart on the detention of opposition mayors in Turkiye, including Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu; and what diplomatic steps she is taking to help improve the situation in that country for opposition parties.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer provided on 30 April 2025 in response to Question 47082.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions she has had with the Welsh Government on the adequacy of current levels of available crisis support funding delivered through Welsh Local Authorities to assist off-grid households with the cost of purchasing heating oil.

Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

The government recognises the pressures facing households who rely on heating oil. This is why we are providing an additional £53 million of targeted support for vulnerable households, largely in rural communities.

HMT officials and Ministers meet regularly with their counterparts in the Welsh Government.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she made of the potential impact of the recent rise in the cost of domestic heating oil on levels of fuel poverty in Wales.

Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

The government recognises the pressures facing households who rely on heating oil. This is why we are providing an additional £53 million of targeted support for vulnerable households, largely in rural communities.

This funding has been allocated based on census data, and the Welsh Government will receive £3.8 million.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to support off-grid households in Wales with the changing costs of domestic heating oil.

Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

The government recognises the pressures facing households who rely on heating oil. This is why we are providing an additional £53 million of targeted support for vulnerable households, largely in rural communities.

This funding has been allocated based on census data, and the Welsh Government will receive £3.8 million.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what estimate his Department has made of the number of domestic properties which use (a) oil and (b) liquefied petroleum gas for heating purposes by parliamentary constituency.

Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Department does not produce bespoke estimates of the number of domestic properties using oil or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for heating by parliamentary constituency. Information on the heating fuels used by households is published by the Office for National Statistics and the devolved administrations.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to ensure that the interests of viewers in Wales, including those in rural communities who rely on terrestrial television, are represented in Government discussions on the future of television distribution.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The Government is leading a project to assess the future of TV distribution beyond 2034 and is committed to maintaining access for audiences in all parts of the UK. The project is engaging with devolved governments and audience groups representing the interests of Welsh audiences such as the Voice of the Listener and Viewer, the Rural Services Network, and S4C. Before any decision is made close consideration will be given to how any changes would impact Welsh audiences, including those in rural communities.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much revenue has been raised through the domestic VAT charge on heating oil and liquid petroleum gas since the outbreak conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran on 28 February 2026.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

HM Revenue and Customs does not hold information on VAT revenue from specific products or services, including VAT on heating oil and liquid petroleum gas.

This is because businesses are not required to provide figures at a product level within their VAT returns, as this would impose an excessive administrative burden.

VAT is chargeable at the reduced rate of 5% on domestic fuel and power.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of including household Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) data in the methodology used to allocate support funding to each UK nation for heating oil and LPG‑heated properties announced on 16 March 2026.

Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

The government has acted quickly to provide timely, targeted support to those households struggling with the rising price of heating oil.

In England, Crisis Payments can be provided by local authorities to support the purchase of any form of fuel that is used for domestic heating, cooking or lighting.

In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, it is for the relevant devolved government to deliver support as they see fit.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether the Government plans to require the BBC, as part of the next BBC Charter, to continue to distribute its services through platforms that do not require a fixed broadband connection to receive them.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The BBC Charter Review was officially launched on 16 December with the publication of the Terms of Reference and Green Paper. The Charter Review is looking at a range of issues to make sure the BBC truly represents and delivers for every person in this country, including the broadcast technologies the BBC should use to deliver its services. The Government is now considering responses to the public consultation, and these will inform policy decisions for the next BBC Royal Charter. Decisions will be set out in a White Paper, expected to be published later this year.

The White Paper will also be informed by the Government’s project to assess the future of TV distribution. Once the Government’s approach to the future of TV distribution has been decided in consultation with the public, we will need to consider how the BBC’s obligations might need to change, and how the BBC can make sure that no one is left behind in any transition to online viewing by centering digital inclusion in its services and activities.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the role of free to air terrestrial television in supporting the reach and universality of the BBC as part of the ongoing BBC Charter Review.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The BBC Charter Review was officially launched on 16 December with the publication of the Terms of Reference and Green Paper. The Charter Review is looking at a range of issues to make sure the BBC truly represents and delivers for every person in this country, including the broadcast technologies the BBC should use to deliver its services. The Government is now considering responses to the public consultation, and these will inform policy decisions for the next BBC Royal Charter. Decisions will be set out in a White Paper, expected to be published later this year.

The White Paper will also be informed by the Government’s project to assess the future of TV distribution. Once the Government’s approach to the future of TV distribution has been decided in consultation with the public, we will need to consider how the BBC’s obligations might need to change, and how the BBC can make sure that no one is left behind in any transition to online viewing by centering digital inclusion in its services and activities.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what consultations were had with the (a) fuel distribution industry and the (b) Welsh government on the development of the support package for households in Wales using heating oil and Liquid Petroleum gas as heating methods announced on 16 March 2026.

Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

The government has acted quickly to provide timely, targeted support for those households struggling with the rising price of heating oil.

Officials from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero have coordinated closely with industry since the conflict in the Middle East began, and continue to do so.

I have discussed this support with all devolved government Finance Ministers. In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, it is for the relevant devolved government to deliver support as they see fit.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of further income tax power devolution to Wales following her announcement on 17 March 2026 to pursue devolution of income tax powers in England.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Chancellor announced on 17^th March that she will set out a roadmap at Budget for giving English regional leaders a share of some national taxes. This will include looking at income tax, alongside other taxes. It is not about new taxes or higher tax rates.

The Welsh Senedd already has significant income tax powers. This was the product of a lengthy process of debate and development, including the Silk Commission’s first report, the Wales Act 2014, and the Wales Act 2017. Consideration of any further income tax devolution would be a matter for discussion between the Welsh and UK Governments and be subject to consensus in Wales and the agreement of both the UK Parliament and the Senedd.

Restructuring at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Sign Language Week

LGBTQ+ veterans

Changes to State Pension age affecting 1950s-born women

Decoupling the price of gas from electricity

Baby loss kits

Government contract with Palantir Technologies

Heating oil prices

Energy prices for households and businesses

Creative industries and the use of AI

Congratulations to Hollie Davidson

Oil prices and the cost of living

Royal Mail delivery standards

International Women's Day 2026 and women’s inclusion in placemaking

Use of catapults against wildlife

Submit Evidence (by 4 May 2026)

The rate of child poverty in Wales has changed very little over the past two decades, with around a third of Welsh children living in poverty during that time. Currently, 31% of children in Wales live in relative income poverty after housing costs. However, that figure also varies significantly depending on a family's circumstances, with larger families, lone parent families and families with at least one disabled adult or child experiencing higher rates of child poverty.