Oral Answers to Questions Debate

Full Debate: Read Full Debate
Department: Wales Office

Oral Answers to Questions

Carla Lockhart Excerpts
Wednesday 6th November 2024

(2 days, 3 hours ago)

Commons Chamber
Read Full debate Read Hansard Text Watch Debate Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
Jo Stevens Portrait Jo Stevens
- View Speech - Hansard - - - Excerpts

I would be delighted to go back to Wrexham and visit the university with my hon. Friend. Welsh universities will benefit from record levels of investment in research and development, which will be worth over £20 billion next year. The Budget confirmed £160 million of funding for the Wrexham and Flintshire investment zone, which was chosen due to the presence of world-renowned research institutions such as Wrexham University and Bangor University.

Carla Lockhart Portrait Carla Lockhart (Upper Bann) (DUP)
- View Speech - Hansard - -

We say the phrase “no farmers, no food” so often, but never has there been a need for such emphasis as in the wake of the autumn Budget. Farmers in Wales, in Northern Ireland and right across this United Kingdom are reeling from the change in agricultural property relief and the impact it will have on the future of family farms. What is the Secretary of State doing to support farmers and make this case to the Treasury?

Jo Stevens Portrait Jo Stevens
- View Speech - Hansard - - - Excerpts

This Government continue to provide significant tax relief for farmers. For example, farming parents are able to pass up to £3 million to their children free of tax. They then pay half of the normal inheritance tax rates on anything over £3 million, and they have up to 10 years to pay it. The vast majority of farms will be unaffected by the changes in the Budget and will continue not to pay inheritance tax.