Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he is taking steps to help support British (a) defence and (b) technology companies to participate in procurement processes arising from proposed increased military production in EU countries.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Working with industry, the government will continue focusing on markets offering the best export opportunities, and with whom stronger defence, digital and technology relationships support delivery of UK defence objectives, including across Europe. Domestically, the Cabinet Office's recent National Procurement Policy Statement sets out how public procurement can be used to kickstart economic growth, including by encouraging innovation and new technologies in line with the Industrial Strategy.
As part of a defence innovation drive, the government will also look to enhance investment in defence start-ups and scale-up technology and capability, including through the National Security Strategic Investment Fund.
More broadly, the government recognises the defence, digital and technology sector's importance to our economic growth mission which is why they were identified as two of the eight growth-driving sectors in our forthcoming Industrial Strategy, which will be published in spring 2025.
Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what her plans are for the future of the UK Levelling Up Fund.
Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Levelling Up Fund is now fully committed. We (MHCLG and DfT) have awarded £4.8 billion across three rounds of the Levelling Up Fund to 271 projects across the UK. We are working with the successful applicants to help deliver the benefits of these projects to communities across the UK.
Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the operational independence of the UK's F-35 fighter jet fleet.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The UK maintains the freedom of action to operate the F-35 Lightning at a time and place of our choosing.
Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what steps he has taken since 5 July 2024 to ensure that NHS IT systems in England and Wales are fully compatible.
Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales
I regularly meet with Cabinet colleagues and with the First Minister to discuss a range of matters, including the NHS. Our two governments are working in close partnership to deliver for the people of Wales.
I acknowledge the complex challenge of integrating IT systems across England and Wales and I know that both the NHS in Wales and in England are aware of the issue. I am pleased that Digital Health and Care Wales is working closely with the NHS in England to identify ways of addressing this.
We are working in a spirit of genuine collaboration to do everything possible to cut waiting lists and build an NHS fit for the future. Our two Governments are already learning from best practice in areas such as the Welsh Government’s work on dentistry and GP practices, and in the UK Government’s plans to roll out extra elective capacity, including through new surgical hubs. There is also a Statement of Values and Principles that underpins the arrangements for treatment of patients living on the Wales-England border. We will continue to explore cross-border health arrangements where capacity allows.
In the Autumn Budget, we provided the Welsh Government with an additional £1.7 billion to invest in public services like the NHS. An extra £600 million in funding has now been announced by the Welsh Government for health and social care in their Budget for 2025/26.
Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what criteria was used to select the five areas in Wales set to receive funding through the Plan for Neighbourhoods.
Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales
These areas were identified based on a clear and transparent methodology, which considered a range of socio-economic factors, including:
A detailed methodology note outlining the selection criteria is publicly available on the GOV.UK website.
The long-term Plan for Towns programme was not fully funded by the previous government. As part of its Plan for Neighbourhoods, this Government is committed to ensuring that each of the five selected towns in Wales will receive up to £20 million in funding and support over the next decade.
We will work in partnership with the Welsh Government on the Plan for Neighbourhoods to make sure it aligns with the Welsh Governments work to regenerate neighbourhoods. This funding will be used to revitalise high streets, enhance local parks, support libraries, cultural venues, and youth clubs, and invest in essential community services to create thriving, well-connected neighbourhoods.
Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what recent estimate she has made of the total cost of the electrification of the North Wales mainline.
Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales
The previous Government made a series of unfunded commitments in its Network North plan, including the proposed electrification of the North Wales Main Line.
The Government recognises the case for enhancing levels of service on the North Wales Main Line and is prioritising increasing capacity alongside improving connectivity. In August, Network Rail and Transport for Wales announced that it is undertaking local consultation, planning and development work to close four level crossings along the North Wales Main Line. This has the potential to increase rail capacity by 40%, with 50% more timetabled services on the North Wales Main Line.
This government acknowledges that its predecessors have short-changed Wales for years on rail investment, including because of HS2. The North Wales Transport Commission and South East Wales Transport Commission provide the Government with key recommendations for rail enhancements in these regions that will boost economic growth and provide good jobs and housing.
The UK and Welsh governments have agreed a prioritisation of rail improvement projects developed by the Wales Rail Board which will inform work in the run up to the Spring Spending Review.
Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what recent estimate she has made of the total cost of the electrification of the remainder of the South Wales mainline to be.
Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales
This Government acknowledges that its predecessors have short-changed Wales for years on rail investment, including because of HS2. The South East Wales Transport Commission and North Wales Transport Commission provide the government with key recommendations for rail enhancements in these regions that will boost economic growth and provide good jobs and housing.
The UK and Welsh governments have agreed a prioritisation of rail improvement projects developed by the Wales Rail Board which will inform work in the run up to the Spring Spending Review.
Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what discussions his Department has had with the farming sector on a trade deal with the United States.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The UK-US relationship is already very strong, with trade of around £300 billion, and shared investment of over £1.2 trillion at the end of 2023. The Prime Minister and President Trump met on 27 February and agreed to deepen this relationship and to work together on a trade deal focused on tech. The Secretary of State for Business and Trade has also been engaging with the US Administration including Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, to make the case for stronger UK-US trade that benefits both our countries, and will continue to make every effort to support British business.