Llinos Medi

Adoption of new digital technology, including AI, can help businesses become more productive – but we know Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) sometimes need additional help and support to do so.

The AI Opportunities Action Plan set out a vision for AI to drive economic growth, including through investment. InnovateUK’s BridgeAI programme helps businesses in high growth potential sectors harness AI, offering funding opportunities and expert advice.

To go further, the industry-led SME Digital Adoption Taskforce will soon be publishing their final recommendations on ways to help SMEs adopt productivity-enhancing digital technology, which will inform our upcoming SME Strategy.

Adoption of technologies like cybersecurity is important to protect businesses and increase productivity.

The National Cyber Security Centre publishes a range of expert guidance, including the Small Business Guide, which contains practical and affordable advice for businesses to improve their cybersecurity. Small businesses can also benefit from advice and support from the regional Cyber Resilience Centres across England and Wales, which are a police-led collaboration with government, private sector and academia.

The industry-led SME Digital Adoption Taskforce will soon publish recommendations on ways to increase SME adoption of digital technology like cybersecurity software. These will inform our upcoming SME Strategy.

Businesses can access complementary, comprehensive support services from both the Department for Business and Trade and the Welsh Government. We work closely with Welsh Government counterparts to improve trading conditions. My department will host a flagship export roadshow in Cardiff on 13 June, focused on the technology sector to help businesses grow.

Our landmark deals with the United States and India will improve Welsh business access to important markets. Our new agreement with the European Union will support businesses, backing British jobs. Welsh businesses will benefit significantly from this deal, given 61% of all Welsh goods exports went to EU destinations in 2024.

We continue to work closely with the Welsh Government to monitor the impacts, and to support Welsh exporters. Additionally on 3 April, we launched a Request for Input from businesses, to help inform the UK’s response to US tariffs.

We continue to support businesses of all sizes to grow and export globally, including to the US. Through Great.gov.uk, businesses can access export support programmes including the Export Academy, International Markets Network, Growth Hubs and Help to Grow: Management scheme.

We know that this is a concerning time for automotive businesses in Wales. Last year, Wales exported £89 million worth of road vehicles to the US, which accounted for 14% of its total road vehicle exports. That is why the government has been focused on negotiating an economic deal with the US, and we remain committed to these discussions.

We are resolute in our support for industry across the whole of the UK, and we will continue to engage with businesses to assess and understand the impact of these tariffs. In addition, on 3 April the government launched a Request for Input from businesses to help inform the UK's response to US tariffs.

The Hitachi-owned Horizon took the decision to withdraw from the nuclear new build project at Wylfa in September 2020. Any and all discussions undertaken by the previous government with Hitachi concerning the financing of the proposed Horizon project at Wylfa are commercially sensitive and confidential.

My Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State has regular discussion with the Devolved Administrations on a wide range of issues.

The Government believes that our mission to deliver clean power by 2030 is the best way to break our dependence on global fossil fuel markets and protect billpayers permanently. The creation of Great British Energy will help us to harness clean energy and have less reliance on volatile international energy markets and help in our commitment to make Britain a clean energy superpower by 2030. This, combined with our Warm Homes Plan to upgrade millions of homes to make them warmer and cheaper to run is how we will drive down energy bills and make cold homes a thing of the past

We recognise that we need to support households struggling with bills whilst we transition to clean power by 2030. This is why we delivered the Warm Home Discount to around 3 million eligible low-income households last winter. We have recently consulted on the expansion of the Warm Home Discount, giving more eligible households £150 off their energy bills. These proposals would bring around 2.7 million households on a qualifying means-tested benefit into the scheme – pushing the total number of households that would receive the discount next winter up to around 6 million. The consultation closed on 24 March and DESNZ is considering the responses received

I have been clear with suppliers that they should do all that they can to support their customers – including vulnerable consumers – who may be struggling with their bills. I would urge any consumers who are struggling to pay their bills to speak to their supplier, local authority, or Citizens Advice who may be able to provide help and support.

The Government is continuing to work with Ofgem and energy suppliers to ensure energy bills remain fair and affordable while we transition to clean power by 2030.

Over this Parliament the Government will be working relentlessly to translate the much cheaper wholesale costs of clean power into lower bills for consumers. This will be core to every decision we make.

This is a complex issue and decisions will be made which must be informed by robust research and analysis. We will ensure we keep fairness and affordability at the forefront of our minds throughout this process.

The Department is considering a range of reforms to unlock renewable investment and pass through the benefits of cheaper renewables to consumers. This includes potential changes to support local and community energy.

The Secretary of State previously commissioned Ofgem to explore policy and regulatory barriers to local supply, including route to market challenges. We are also learning from the responses to the Call for Evidence on barriers to community energy[1], which referenced local supply issues.

The Department continues to work with Ofgem and key stakeholders to enhance our community energy offer. We will set out further detail in due course.

[1] https://www.gov.uk/government/calls-for-evidence/barriers-to-community-energy-projects

DESNZ do not produce their own figure on the nuclear workforce in Wales.

The Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) migration is industry-led. The Department works closely with other departments, including the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government and the Welsh Government, to ensure that local authorities and vulnerable customers are protected and prepared for the migration.

On 18 November 2024, the Government published guidance for local authorities on the migration. Local authorities have been asked to sign data sharing agreements with communication providers on telecare and vulnerable customers. Over 85% of local authorities that provide telecare have an agreement with at least one communication provider.

Industry are leading and funding a National Telecare Campaign to support identifying vulnerable customers. Welsh language will be used in broadcast and printed adverts.

DCMS recognises that the cruise sector makes a significant contribution to the UK economy, namely £9.4 billion and supporting 82,000 jobs pre-pandemic. As a new government we are reviewing the composition and terms of reference of the Tourism Industry Council with the aim of securing broad and diverse representation from a variety of industries and delivering clear outcomes for the sector.

The Fishing & Coastal Growth Fund will be investing £360 million over the next 12 years. As part of that fund Ministers committed to working closely with the industry and local communities in order to ensure investment is targeted to where it is needed most. As part of that planned engagement we will work closely with Devolved Governments.

No such discussions have taken place recently. Holyhead Station is managed by Transport for Wales who are answerable to Welsh Ministers. Regular discussions between the UK and Welsh Governments on rail improvements take place via the Wales Rail Board.

Affordability of rail travel is one of our key objectives. However, any concessions made to rail fares policy must balance benefits for certain groups against the impacts on taxpayers. Currently there are no plans for offering a discounted railcard for NHS and other key workers.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) closed the Holyhead Personal Independence Payment (PIP) Assessment Centre (AC) as part of the Functional Assessment Services (FAS) strategy to bring together all functional health assessment services in a geographical area under one supplier. Consolidating the Holyhead PIP AC into the Work Capability Assessment & Specialist Benefit site in Bangor ensures that all health benefits will be assessed in the same building; this contributes to an easier customer experience when applying for multiple health benefits.

DWP is committed to ensuring that everyone can access our services without facing any disadvantages. We have various measures in place to make sure our assessments are accessible to all, in accordance with the Equality Act 2010. DWP meets legal accessibility requirements by ensuring our services are accessible to everyone.

We consider the specific needs of individuals who require a particular assessment method due to their health condition or circumstances. At every stage of the claim process, individuals are asked to inform us of any mobility restrictions. If the assessment provider is made aware of these restrictions, they will consider arranging the most appropriate assessment channel.

As part of the FAS process, we first consider the feasibility of a paper-based assessment. If a paper-based review isn't possible, individuals will be invited to an assessment.

If a customer requires a face-to-face assessment and the journey time to the assessment centre exceeds 90 minutes, individuals may be directed to an alternative centre within the 90-minute travel time if one is available. This ensures that claimants travel no more than 90 minutes (one way) by public transport to their assessments. This 90-minute figure is the maximum, and in most cases, travel time will be much shorter. If travel time exceeds 90 minutes by public transport, we can utilise alternative channels, such as using telephone, video, or home assessments, or assisting with travel costs for taxis.

The average household income of families in receipt of Personal Independence Payment in the UK and in Wales is shown in the table below:

This data is available publicly on the Stat Xplore website (https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/) under the Family Resources Survey folder, in the Household dataset (2022-23).

Please note:

- Average household income is estimated based on sample data from the Family Resources Survey (FRS).

- The data uses grossing factors based on 2011 Census data, so caution should be exercised when making comparisons with published reports and tables prior to 2012-13.

- Relative to administrative records, the FRS is known to under-report State Support and benefit receipt. Please refer to the M6A and M6B tables in the FRS Methodology and Standard Error data tables.

- In 2022-23, income from Pensioner Cost of Living Payment, Disability Cost of Living Payment, low-income benefits and tax credits Cost of Living Payment, Council Tax energy rebate, Energy Bills Support Scheme, Warm Home Discount and Welsh Fuel Support Scheme is included.

- From 2021-22 income from directors’ dividends has been included in this data.

The role of a Mandatory Reconsideration (MR) decision maker is to make a robust decision, supported by the law and available evidence.

In law there is no time limit within which a MR decision must be made. This reflects the overarching policy that the focus should be on making the right decision and not the speed of clearance. Decisions will be made without delay, but if the decision maker considers that more time is needed to gather or consider evidence, then they will give themselves that time to ensure they are confident that the decision made is correct.

There are no plans to review PIP MR timelines to align with the eight week period before a Motability vehicle must be returned. However, we are recruiting more MR decision makers and making overtime available to increase productivity and, in doing so, we expect to reduce wait times.

The Government reviews the rate of Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) annually as part of the uprating process. We are committed to building our understanding of how our plans to strengthen SSP, announced in our Plan to Make Work Pay, will impact employers and employees alike.

Through the Employment Rights Bill we are removing the Waiting Period so that SSP is payable from the first day of sickness absence, and we are also removing the Lower Earnings Limit which will widen eligibility to the up to 1.3 million employees who are currently not entitled to SSP.

Many employers choose to go further than paying the statutory minimum and provide more financial support to their employees during a sickness absence. Around 60% of all employees eligible to receive such contractual sick pay. Those who need additional financial support while off sick may be able to receive more help through the welfare system such as Universal Credit, depending on their individual circumstances.

The Government is monitoring the impact of the death certification reforms which came into legal effect on 9 September 2024. Overall, the implementation of the reforms has been effective and medical examiners are conducting scrutiny of the causes of death in every case that is not investigated by a coroner. Medical examiners were introduced to provide additional safeguards in death certification, and they are obliged by law to make all the enquiries they consider necessary to conduct their scrutiny and to ensure there has been an opportunity for the bereaved to ask questions and raise concerns in every case. Feedback from bereaved people about the support provided by medical examiner offices is overwhelmingly positive.

Since the introduction of the reforms, the median time taken to register a death in England and Wales appears to have risen by two days, from seven days to nine days, though there is regional variation. This figure is for all deaths, as it includes those certified by a doctor and those investigated by a coroner. The median time taken to register a death varies depending on the type of certification, and deaths certified through the medical examiner route, which comprise approximately 80% of deaths registered each week, typically had a shorter period between death and registration compared to all deaths. It’s important to note that the medical examiner system was active on a non-statutory basis before the introduction of the statutory system on 9 September 2024, and this makes direct ‘before’ and ‘after’ comparisons challenging to draw conclusions from.

To improve the implementation of the reforms, the Welsh administration has implemented short-term fortnightly oversight meetings to engage all partners along the death certification pathway, including health boards, medical examiner services, coroners, funeral directors, registrars, primary care associations, and patient voice organisations, to monitor, improve, and learn lessons from the implementation through the 2024/2025 winter period.

A closer, more cooperative relationship with the European Union is in the United Kingdom’s national interest, and we are working to identify areas where we can strengthen cooperation for mutual benefit. However, the UK currently has no plans to join the EU4Health programme as an associated third country.

The abolition of NHS England will strip out the unnecessary bureaucracy and cut the duplication that comes from having two organisations doing the same job; we will empower staff to focus on delivering better care for patients, driving productivity up and getting waiting times down.

Ministers will work with the new transformation team at the top of NHS England and any impact on delivery, including cross border healthcare, will be closely monitored.

No one who lives in Wales has missed a screening invitation due to this incident.

Energy levies support vital investment to secure the UK’s electricity system with homegrown, clean power. Through public and private investment, the Government is protecting billpayers from volatile international fossil fuel markets.

To help those that most need it, the Warm Home Discount provides a £150 discount off electricity bills to around 3 million households. The government has consulted on expanding the scheme to around 6 million households in total for winter 2025/26 and will respond to the consultation in due course.

Spending Review 2025 (SR25) delivers for businesses UK-wide, including across Wales. Public finance institutions will work in collaboration with the devolved governments and local stakeholders to invest in businesses and technologies, and drive growth across all the nations of the UK. The British Business Bank, National Wealth Fund, and Great British Energy are already investing in businesses across Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The government is due to publish its modern Industrial Strategy setting out how the government will accelerate growth in eight growth-driving sectors and strengthen economic resilience across the UK.

The growth-driving sectors – advanced manufacturing, clean energy industries, creative industries, defence, digital and technologies, financial services, life sciences, and professional and business services – are active across the regions and nations, each with their own specialisms. Supporting the success of these sectors, and the places where they are based, will be crucial in delivering high-quality jobs, new opportunities and higher living standards across the whole country.

Further detail on what SR25 delivers for businesses across the UK can be found at: Spending Review 2025 document - GOV.UK