Christina Rees Portrait

Christina Rees

Labour (Co-op) - Former Member for Neath

First elected: 7th May 2015

Left House: 30th May 2024 (Dissolution)


Consolidation, &c., Bills (Joint Committee)
6th Jul 2020 - 30th May 2024
Panel of Chairs
16th Jul 2020 - 30th May 2024
Petitions Committee
13th Jul 2021 - 30th May 2024
Unauthorised Entry to Football Matches Bill
1st May 2024 - 8th May 2024
Secure 16 to 19 Academies Bill
24th Apr 2024 - 1st May 2024
Pensions (Special Rules for End of Life) Bill
17th Apr 2024 - 24th Apr 2024
Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) Bill
17th Apr 2024 - 24th Apr 2024
Shark Fins Bill
9th Nov 2022 - 16th Nov 2022
Employment (Allocation of Tips) Bill
7th Sep 2022 - 12th Oct 2022
Shadow Secretary of State for Wales
9th Feb 2017 - 6th Apr 2020
Shadow Minister (Justice)
10th Oct 2016 - 9th Feb 2017
Welsh Affairs Committee
13th Jul 2015 - 1st Feb 2016
Justice Committee
6th Jul 2015 - 26th Oct 2015


Division Voting information

Christina Rees has voted in 1370 divisions, and 3 times against the majority of their Party.

8 Feb 2017 - Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement (CETA) between the EU and Canada - View Vote Context
Christina Rees voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 68 Labour No votes vs 85 Labour Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 409 Noes - 126
28 Jan 2016 - draft Civil Proceedings, Family Proceedings and Upper Tribunal Fees (amendment) order 2016 - View Vote Context
Christina Rees voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 1 Labour Aye votes vs 1 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 11 Noes - 1
11 Sep 2015 - Assisted Dying (No. 2) Bill - View Vote Context
Christina Rees voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 73 Labour Aye votes vs 91 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 118 Noes - 330
View All Christina Rees Division Votes

All Debates

Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.

Sparring Partners
Alun Cairns (Conservative)
(54 debate interactions)
Jonathan Edwards (Independent)
(13 debate interactions)
Nick Thomas-Symonds (Labour)
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
(13 debate interactions)
View All Sparring Partners
Department Debates
Wales Office
(101 debate contributions)
Ministry of Justice
(52 debate contributions)
Cabinet Office
(37 debate contributions)
View All Department Debates
Legislation Debates
Shark Fins Act 2023
(5,216 words contributed)
Mutual Guarantee Societies Bill 2016-17
(1,189 words contributed)
View All Legislation Debates
View all Christina Rees's debates

Latest EDMs signed by Christina Rees

23rd April 2024
Christina Rees signed this EDM on Wednesday 24th April 2024

Childcare for working parents

Tabled by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
That this House notes the importance of affordable childcare to enable parents, especially mothers, to work; further notes the important contribution of migrants to the economy; welcomes the intention behind the expansion of childcare support for working parents which is currently being rolled out; also notes however that this support …
19 signatures
(Most recent: 15 May 2024)
Signatures by party:
Labour: 12
Scottish National Party: 3
Democratic Unionist Party: 2
Independent: 2
Social Democratic & Labour Party: 1
22nd April 2024
Christina Rees signed this EDM on Wednesday 24th April 2024

Multiple sclerosis (MS) Awareness Week

Tabled by: Charlotte Nichols (Labour - Warrington North)
That this House supports MS Awareness Week, which takes place between 22 and 28 April 2024; recognises that the MS Society, MS Trust, MS Together, MS-UK, the Neuro Therapy Network, Shift.ms and Overcoming MS are working together to speak up about the realities of life with MS, a neurological condition …
23 signatures
(Most recent: 13 May 2024)
Signatures by party:
Scottish National Party: 5
Labour: 4
Independent: 4
Liberal Democrat: 4
Plaid Cymru: 3
Democratic Unionist Party: 1
Alba Party: 1
Green Party: 1
View All Christina Rees's signed Early Day Motions

Commons initiatives

These initiatives were driven by Christina Rees, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.

MPs who are act as Ministers or Shadow Ministers are generally restricted from performing Commons initiatives other than Urgent Questions.


Christina Rees has not been granted any Urgent Questions

Christina Rees has not been granted any Adjournment Debates

4 Bills introduced by Christina Rees


A Bill to prohibit the import and export of shark fins and to make provision relating to the removal of fins from sharks.

This Bill received Royal Assent on 29th June 2023 and was enacted into law.


A Bill to make provision about groups of employees at risk of redundancy buying their employing company as a co-operative; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 40%

Last Event - 2nd Reading
Friday 6th May 2022

A Bill to make provision for the creation of mutual guarantee societies, for their membership by small and medium size businesses for the purpose of lending to and by such business and for their operation; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading: House Of Commons
Tuesday 10th January 2017
(Read Debate)

A Bill to make provision about the recording of the names of the mother of each party to a marriage or civil partnership for registration purposes; to make provision for requiring such information to be displayed on marriage certificates and civil partnership certificates; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading: House Of Commons
Wednesday 4th November 2015

Latest 50 Written Questions

(View all written questions)
Written Questions can be tabled by MPs and Lords to request specific information information on the work, policy and activities of a Government Department
18 Other Department Questions
14th Jul 2021
What recent progress he has made on preparations for COP26.

The UK Presidency alongside our Operational Partners continue to work tirelessly to support the delivery of an in-person COP26 in Glasgow.

As the Prime Minister announced at the G7, the UK Government has begun work to provide COVID-19 vaccines to accredited COP26 delegates who would be unable to get them otherwise.

I urge all accredited delegates who do not have access to a vaccine to register their interest through the UNFCCC registration portal as soon as possible and no later than 23 July.

Lord Sharma
COP26 President (Cabinet Office)
19th Jul 2017
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what recent steps she has taken to remove barriers to inclusivity for LGBT individuals in Neath constituency.

This Government is committed to LGBT equality throughout the United Kingdom and that is why we are proud to have introduced marriage for same sex couples in England and Wales. We recently announced the launch of a National LGBT Survey asking LGBT people about their experiences of accessing public services, and our intention to consult on reforming the Gender Recognition Act 2004.

Equalities policy is a devolved matter so improving services and support for LGBT people locally would be the responsibility of the Welsh Government.

13th Nov 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, for what reasons the matters within his Department's responsibility in Schedule 1 of the draft Wales Bill have been designated as reserved.

The reservations listed in Schedule 1 to the draft Wales Bill reflects the Government’s view of where the Welsh devolution boundary lies following the devolution of further powers to the Assembly provided for in the draft Bill.

13th Nov 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many times he has (a) met and (b) corresponded with a minister of the Welsh Government on the draft Wales Bill in the last 12 months.

The Wales Office is the lead Government department on the draft Wales Bill, and is the primary point of contact with the Welsh Government on matters related to the draft Bill.

13th Nov 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, by what process his Department identified the areas of policy within its responsibility proposed for reservation in Annex B of the publication Powers for a Purpose: Towards a lasting devolution settlement for Wales, published on 27 February 2015.

Annex B to the Powers for a Purpose Command Paper provided an illustrative list of the main areas in which reservations would be needed in a reserved powers model. The list described the Government’s emerging thinking as the new reserved powers model was being developed. The Government published its full proposals in the draft Wales Bill on 20 October 2015.

26th Oct 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how his Department plans to apply the apprenticeships levy in Wales.

My Rt hon Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer will announce further details of the apprenticeship levy at the Spending Review, including the scope and rate of the levy and how it will operate with respect to the Devolved Administrations.

26th Oct 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, whether it is his policy that the apprenticeship levy will apply to labour-only subcontractors.

My Rt hon Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer will announce further details of the apprenticeship levy at the Spending Review, including the scope and rate of the levy and how it will operate with respect to the Devolved Administrations.

26th Oct 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how he intends that small employers will access funding for apprenticeships.

My Rt hon Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer will announce further details of the apprenticeship levy at the Spending Review, including the scope and rate of the levy and how it will operate with respect to the Devolved Administrations.

26th Oct 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, whether he intends that the apprenticeships levy will replace the one-third contributions for post-19 apprenticeships as part of the Richard Review reforms.

My Rt hon Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer will announce further details of the apprenticeship levy at the Spending Review, including the scope and rate of the levy and how it will operate with respect to the Devolved Administrations.

26th Oct 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, whether it is his policy that employers who pay the CITB levy will also have to pay the apprenticeships levy.

My Rt hon Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer will announce further details of the apprenticeship levy at the Spending Review, including the scope and rate of the levy and how it will operate with respect to the Devolved Administrations.

26th Oct 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, whether it is his policy that employers will have to pay the apprenticeships levy if they do not take on apprentices.

My Rt hon Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer will announce further details of the apprenticeship levy at the Spending Review, including the scope and rate of the levy and how it will operate with respect to the Devolved Administrations.

26th Oct 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how much of the proposed apprenticeships levy employers will be able to claim back through the e-voucher.

My Rt hon Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer will announce further details of the apprenticeship levy at the Spending Review, including the scope and rate of the levy and how it will operate with respect to the Devolved Administrations.

26th Oct 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what the apprenticeships levy rate will be.

My Rt hon Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer will announce further details of the apprenticeship levy at the Spending Review, including the scope and rate of the levy and how it will operate with respect to the Devolved Administrations.

17th Sep 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, when the negotiations for a Contract for Difference for the Swansea Bay tidal lagoon project will be concluded.

We hope to conclude initial due diligence of the project, including a value for money assessment, by the end of the financial year. We will take a decision on progressing to the next phase of the project at this point.

2nd Jun 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what estimate she has made of the number of pre-pay gas and electricity meters installed in England, Wales and Scotland without the authority of the account holder in the last 12 months; if she will prohibit the installation of such pre-payment meters without such authority; and if she will make a statement.

Ofgem closely monitors domestic energy suppliers’ performance and publishes information in relation to debt owed by domestic electricity and gas accounts holders in Great Britain. In 2013, latest data available, a total of 299,784 electricity prepayment meters were installed in the year, of which 227,886 were installed to recover a debt. A total of 293,846 gas prepayment meters were installed in the year, of which 226,999 were installed to recover a debt. Ofgem’s data does not to show how many prepayment meters were installed without the authority of the account holder (under a warrant) or differentiate between installations in England, Scotland and Wales.

The installation of prepayment meter is a valuable alternative to the disconnection of supply for debt. The need to apply to the courts for a warrant to enter a consumer’s home to install a prepayment meter should be an action of last resort after all attempts to communicate with the consumer have failed. Courts will require supply companies to provide details of the communication path followed as part of the warrant application process.

2nd Jun 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what plans her Department has to sponsor alternative green energy projects in Wales in the next 12 months.

We know that Wales is experiencing benefits from green energy projects. Figures published by BIS in The Size and Performance of the UK Low Carbon Economy (March 2015) [1] report show that in 2013, 17,300 people were employed in the low carbon energy sectors in Wales.

Figures published by DECC in the March 2015 update to Energy Trends [2] show that in 2014, Wales’ renewable electricity generation increased by 31%, and formed 5.4% of the UK’s total renewable electricity generation.

In respect of the next 12 months, deployment timelines for specific projects are a commercial matter for developers.

[1] https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/416240/bis-15-206-size-and-performance-of-uk-low-carbon-economy.pdf

[2] https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/415976/ET_Mar_15.PDF

2nd Jun 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what estimate she has made of the number of jobs created in the Swansea Bay region as a result of the construction of the proposed tidal lagoon.

The socio-economic effects of the proposed Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon will form part of my rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State’s consideration of the application for development consent for that project. However, as that application is still under consideration, she cannot currently engage in any discussion of that project’s merits or otherwise.

The first phase of the Contract for Difference negotiation, which is currently taking place, is a due diligence exercise. This will, amongst other things, consider the value for money case for the proposed Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon project and a wider programme of lagoons. The value for money case will give consideration to whether lagoons contribute to the delivery of a more socially cost effective electricity generation mix.

12th Dec 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing an Energy Social Tariff.

As set out in the Autumn Statement, the Government will develop a new approach to consumer protection in energy markets, which will apply from April 2024 onwards.

The Government is committed to work with consumer groups and industry to consider the best approach, including options such as social tariffs, as part of wider retail market reforms.

31st Oct 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether his Department has instructed energy companies to only offer smart meters to consumers who wish to remove a prepayment meter.

The Government wants as many homes and small businesses to be able to benefit from smart meters as possible. Therefore, it has taken steps to make smart meters the default metering offer in Great Britain.

This includes obligating energy suppliers, under licence conditions, to take all reasonable steps to install a smart meter where a meter is fitted for the first time or when an existing meter needs to be replaced.

Prepayment customers see particular benefits from smart meters, which enable consumers to top-up remotely and track their balance easily, so they do not unknowingly run out of credit.

31st Oct 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of requiring energy suppliers to offer consumers with electromagnetic hypersensitivity, non-broadcasting, legacy meters in place of smart meters.

Smart meters use radio waves in the home to allow remote readings to be taken from gas and electricity meters. There is no evidence that radio waves produced by smart meters pose a health risk. More information can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/smart-meters-radio-waves-and-health/smart-meters-radio-waves-and-health.

In respect of 5G, UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) advice states that there should be no consequences for public health. More information can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/5g-technologies-radio-waves-and-health/5g-technologies-radio-waves-and-health.

31st Oct 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the (a) smart meter and (b) 5G rollout on people with electromagnetic hypersensitivity.

Smart meters use radio waves in the home to allow remote readings to be taken from gas and electricity meters. There is no evidence that radio waves produced by smart meters pose a health risk. More information can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/smart-meters-radio-waves-and-health/smart-meters-radio-waves-and-health.

In respect of 5G, UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) advice states that there should be no consequences for public health. More information can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/5g-technologies-radio-waves-and-health/5g-technologies-radio-waves-and-health.

21st Sep 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when he plans to publish a response to the call for evidence on Designing a Framework for Transparency of Carbon Content in Energy Products including any assessment on Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin.

As published in the 15th December Written Ministerial Statement concerning wholesale energy prices and future energy retail market policy, the Department’s work on green tariffs and carbon content was paused to prioritise activity in relation to the unprecedented global increases in gas prices.

The Government's immediate priority for retail energy markets is to ensure the successful delivery of the Energy Bill Support Scheme, Energy Price Guarantee and the Energy Bill Relief Scheme, as well as the other support being provided to energy users. The government will set out next steps on the future of the retail market in due course.

25th Jan 2018
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when he plans to respond to the letter of the First Minister of Wales of 6 December 2017 on additional financial support for the Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon.

My Rt hon Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has responded to the First Minister of Wales’ letter.

18th Jul 2017
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent estimate he has made of the number and proportion of constituents in Neath who will be covered by the Government's proposal to safeguard customers on the poorest-value energy tariffs.

Ofgem is considering options to protect vulnerable consumers and has yet to announce a formal proposal. Alongside this Ofgem has announced a package of measures to help consumers move away from poor value tariffs.

25th Jan 2016
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, for what reasons the Government took the decision to close the Manufacturing Advisory Service.

As part of the Spending Review settlement, we decided to wind down the national delivery of the Business Growth Service (BGS) including the Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS).


The BGS used substantial taxpayer resources, £85 million a year, which was distributed through a network of contractors and subcontractors. When it did eventually reach businesses, businesses would have to provide half the cost of advice themselves, despite the substantial taxpayer funding being provided.


The Spending Review protected our economic security by taking the difficult decisions to live within our means and bring down our debt. The most important way we can help manufacturers is to continue to secure a strong, growing economy.


Where we do use taxpayers money, we have targeted it where it will help businesses the most.


We have extended the doubling of Small Business Rate Relief by another year, meaning 405,000 small businesses will pay no rates at all while another 200,000 small businesses will pay reduced rates. Next year we’ll be extending the Employment Allowance from £2,000 to £3,000, meaning thousands of small businesses will pay no jobs tax.


We’re providing further funding to Growth Hubs to help businesses at the local level and away from Whitehall.


We continue supporting our world leading research-led and advanced manufacturing sectors such as life sciences, defence, aerospace, automotive and chemicals to grow, export, and attract and retain inward investment. We are supporting industry with an extra £1 billion in aerospace and automotive R&D and investing £6.9 billion in the UK’s research infrastructure.

19th Jul 2017
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what national funding sources are available to Welsh sporting bodies.

Sport is a devolved matter, and responsibility for the delivery of grassroots sport in Wales sits with Sport Wales. However, UK Sport, ​which receives funding from the UK government and the National Lottery and prepares athletes for Olympic and Paralympic Games, works closely with Sport Wales, including on ​support for leadership in sport, for the 66 World Class Programme athletes who indicate Wales as their home nation, and on​ securing the rights to host major sports events. Such events in Wales since 2013​ have generated an estimated ​£11m in economic impact.

19th Jul 2017
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent steps she has taken to improve wifi coverage in Neath constituency.

Digital connectivity is a clear priority for this Government. The Super Connected Cities Programme, which closed in 2015, installed WiFi in 1491 public buildings with a combined annual footfall of over 114 million, including in Wales. WiFi was also installed on 1422 public vehicles.

BDUK’s Superfast programme will provide at least 24 Megabits per second (Mbps) coverage to 95% of the UK by the end of this year. In Neath, superfast coverage is already above 95%.

As a result of the Government's landmark agreement with mobile operators in 2014, each mobile operator will deliver mobile coverage to 90% of the UK's landmass by the end of this year. Additionally O2 will deliver indoor 4G coverage to 95% of premises in Wales, also by the end of 2017.

17th Feb 2017
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she has taken to establish a network of employers to encourage their staff to be more physically active.

On 9 February this year we published Sporting Future - First Annual Report which confirms that Government is considering how best to take forward work on employers promoting physical activity in the light of publication of the Green Paper on Health and Work in October 2016. The government plans to announce proposals in March 2017.

5th Sep 2016
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions she has had with UK Anti-Doping and its international partners on doping in sport.

I have regular meetings with UK Anti-Doping, as well as the UK's international partners, to discuss a range of anti-doping matters. The most effective way to combat doping in sport is through a collaborative approach where Governments work in partnership with the sports movement, the World Anti-Doping Agency and other National Doping Organisations.

25th Jan 2016
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when the Government plans to publish the results of its consultation on the review of the BBC's Royal Charter.

I refer the honourable member to my response to PQ 22672, submitted to Parliament on 19 January.

7th Jul 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the effect of inflation on the levels of access to food over the school holidays for children in living in low income families.

Education is a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only.

In England, the holiday activities and food programme provides heathy meals, enriching activities, and free childcare places to children from low-income families. This benefits their heath, wellbeing and learning, and contributes to recovery from COVID-19. This is supported by over £200 million funding each year.

To support people who need additional welfare help, the government is providing an extra £500 million of local support via the Household Support Fund, which is being extended to March 2023. This brings the total amount provided to £1.5 billion since October 2021.

Devolved administrations will receive £79 million through the Barnett formula up to October 2022, and a further £79 million from October 2022 to March 2023.

Schools are responsible for the provision of school meals and may enter individual contracts with suppliers and caterers to meet this duty.

7th Jul 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department has taken to prevent hunger over the school holidays for children who are eligible for free school meals.

Education is a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only.

In England, the holiday activities and food programme provides heathy meals, enriching activities, and free childcare places to children from low-income families. This benefits their heath, wellbeing and learning, and contributes to recovery from COVID-19. This is supported by over £200 million funding each year.

To support people who need additional welfare help, the government is providing an extra £500 million of local support via the Household Support Fund, which is being extended to March 2023. This brings the total amount provided to £1.5 billion since October 2021.

Devolved administrations will receive £79 million through the Barnett formula up to October 2022, and a further £79 million from October 2022 to March 2023.

Schools are responsible for the provision of school meals and may enter individual contracts with suppliers and caterers to meet this duty.

23rd Mar 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will publish the Departmental delivery plan that outlines its intention for each piece of retained EU law as committed to in a letter from the Minister for Industry and Investment Security to Baroness Andrews on 3 February 2023.

Defra is conducting analysis of its Retained EU Law stock to determine what should be preserved as part of domestic law, as well as REUL that should be removed, or amended. A list of regulations to be revoked or allowed to sunset, through the REUL Bill will be published in due course.

9th Oct 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if the Government will implement proposals put forward by the World Wildlife Fund in its 2015 Forest Campaign to ensure that the UK timber market deals in 100 per cent sustainable timber by 2020.

Defra is committed to tackling the trade in illegal timber. We implement the EU Timber Regulation (EUTR), which makes it an offence to place illegally logged timber on the EU market for the first time, and the EU Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Regulation, which aims to combat illegal logging and improve the supply of legal timber to the EU. The EU FLEGT Regulation establishes Voluntary Partnership Agreements (VPAs) between the EU and timber producing countries. Once VPAs have been agreed, timber producing countries will issue exports with a ‘FLEGT licence’ which verifies the timber’s legality.

The Government’s Timber Procurement Policy also requires Government Departments, Executive Agencies and Non-Departmental Public Bodies to procure timber and timber products that are both legal and sustainable.

It is positive that UK companies and other bodies are making similar commitments to trade in both legal and sustainable timber by signing up to WWF’s Forest Campaign.

10th Sep 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of (a) the level of imports of puppies to the UK from other EU countries under the pet travel scheme and (b) the adequacy of controls to avoid the use of that scheme to import puppies for sale.

Defra actively shares intelligence relating to abuse of the EU pet travel scheme. Evidence collected by APHA, Local Authorities and welfare organisations has led to investigations in other EU countries.

The UK maintains effective border controls and all the relevant agencies work together to target people who systematically abuse the rules.

The illegal trade is ultimately driven by demand. Defra have published guidance on buying a pet and have worked closely with the Pet Advertising Advisory Group to drive up standards for online advertisements.

21st Feb 2018
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what support her Department provides to internally displaced people; and if she will make a statement.

The UK is committed to meeting the needs of all displaced populations, including Internally Displaced Persons. We are providing more multiyear funding to support internally displaced populations and the communities that host them, through both humanitarian and longer term development programmes including those in Iraq, Nigeria, South Sudan and Yemen.

We support, through core and bilateral funding, some of the key agencies involved in IDP response, including the UN office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).

3rd Sep 2018
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will outline the scoring mechanism for the procurement of new HS2 rolling stock that will reflect the need for the benefits of HS2 investment to be spread across the whole of the UK.

The ‘benefits realisation’ requirements of the HS2 rolling stock procurement requires the successful tenderer to achieve a number of skills, education and employment objectives including items such as apprenticeship and graduate recruitment in addition to supporting the National College for High Speed Rail in Birmingham and Doncaster. It also requires the successful tenderer to promote supply chain opportunities to the wider supply chain across the UK including new entrants and SMEs. Tenderers’ plans for delivering the ‘benefits realisation’ requirements are assessed in Stage 4 of HS2’s tender evaluation model.

4th Jun 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress has been made on electrification of the mainline between London and Swansea; and if he will make a statement.

The Great Western electrification is the biggest and most complex electrification scheme for more than a generation and it is planned to be completed during Control Period 5.

4th Jun 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of average change in regulated rail fares between 2015 and 2016.

We have committed to capping regulated rail fares at the Retail Price Inflation (RPI) for five years from 2016 and we have also stopped operators increasing individual regulated fares by up to 2% more than RPI. Train operators will use the July 2015 RPI figure, published in August, to set regulated rail fares for 2016. Data on these fares will be published in December 2015.

14th May 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many Carer's Allowance overpayments to people living in Wales there were for the value of (a) £0.01 to £500, (b) £500.01 to £1,000, (c) £1,000.01 to £5,000, (d) £5,000.01 to £20,000 and (e) more than £20,000 in financial years (i) 2021-22, (ii) 2022-23 and (iii) 2023-24.

We are unable to provide a response to this request as it is not possible for us to identify the data requested by geographic location.

14th May 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many Carer’s Allowance overpayments relating to earnings conditions were made to people living in Wales in each of the last three financial years.

We are unable to provide a response to this request as it is not possible for us to identify the data requested by geographic location.

14th May 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many recipients of Carer’s Allowance in Wales also had another income in financial year 2023-24.

The data requested is not currently held by the department and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.

12th Dec 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he been made of the adequacy of the Cost of Living Payments for disabled people not on means tested benefits who have higher energy usage.

I refer the Hon and Rt Hon Members to the answer I gave on 13 December 2022 to Question UIN 106507.

5th Sep 2019
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of people in Neath constituency have (a) opted out after being auto-enrolled into a workplace pension and (b) saved more than the auto-enrolment minimum contribution.

Automatic enrolment has achieved a quiet revolution through getting employees into the habit of pension saving, and reversing the decline in workplace pension participation in the decade prior to these reforms. Workplace pension participation rates are being transformed with 87% of eligible employees saving into one in 2018, up from 55% in 2012.

The DWP does not hold data for individual constituencies in relation to opt outs or the number of individuals who have saved above the automatic enrolment minimum contribution level. However, we do know that overall around 9% of automatically enrolled workers have chosen to opt out which is significantly below original estimates; and our latest evaluation report shows that, in April 2017, approximately 5.9 million eligible employees were already meeting the April 2019 minimum contribution rates.

In the Neath constituency, since 2012, approximately 3,000 eligible jobholders have been automatically enrolled and 860 employers have met their duties.

Automatic Enrolment Evaluation Report 2018, available via the following weblink: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/764964/Automatic_Enrolment_Evaluation_Report_2018.pdf.

The Pensions Regulator’s data on Automatic enrolment declaration of compliance by constituency, available via the following weblink: https://www.thepensionsregulator.gov.uk/en/document-library/research-and-analysis/data-requests

16th Jan 2018
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, why her Department is asking the recipients of state pensions to switch the accounts that their pensions are paid into from the Post Office to a bank, building society or credit union.

Direct Payment into a bank, building society or credit union account is the standard way to make all government payments.

The Post Office card account (POca) was introduced in 2003 as a very simple service through which pension and benefits can be paid. It was always intended as a stepping stone into mainstream banking, and financial inclusion, while customers got used to elements of banking.

There are now fewer barriers to prevent people, who do not have an existing account, from accessing and using one. Importantly as most bank accounts can be accessed at the post office it doesn’t need to change how or where they collect their money.

Additionally, POca is expensive to administer and as we deal with public funds we have a duty to use the most cost-effective method for issuing customer payments - which is into a bank, building society or credit union account.

11th Jan 2018
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to inform Employment and Support Allowance claimants who are approaching retirement age that their benefit is coming to an end and that they must prepare to make a new claim for state pension.

Provided the Department has their up-to-date address, it will send ESA claimants a letter four months before they reach State Pension age telling them they can now claim State Pension; and another letter telling them that their ESA payments will soon stop and advising them to claim State Pension instead. Claimants will also get help and guidance from their work coach and Benefit Centre staff, should they need it.

This gives ESA claimants every opportunity to claim in time to ensure that there are no delays or disruptions between their final benefit payment and their first State Pension payment.

More than one-third of people now choose to claim their State Pension online. People can also claim by phone or in writing ensuring all customers can access their Pension via whichever method suits their needs. It has never been easier to claim your State Pension.

11th Jan 2018
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what arrangements are in place to ensure that there are no delays or disruptions between final ESA payment and and the first state pension payment for people reaching state pension age.

Provided the Department has their up-to-date address, it will send ESA claimants a letter four months before they reach State Pension age telling them they can now claim State Pension; and another letter telling them that their ESA payments will soon stop and advising them to claim State Pension instead. Claimants will also get help and guidance from their work coach and Benefit Centre staff, should they need it.

This gives ESA claimants every opportunity to claim in time to ensure that there are no delays or disruptions between their final benefit payment and their first State Pension payment.

More than one-third of people now choose to claim their State Pension online. People can also claim by phone or in writing ensuring all customers can access their Pension via whichever method suits their needs. It has never been easier to claim your State Pension.