Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions she has had with the Welsh Government on funding improvements to Holyhead train station.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

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.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department has assessed the potential merits of nationalising the British Steel plant in Scunthorpe during its negotiations on that matter.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

As part of the Government's responsible approach to policy and decision-making, we have considered the merits of nationalising British Steel and made an estimate of the cost. That estimate is confidential for commercial reasons. However, the Government has no plans to nationalise British Steel.

We are developing a steel strategy, working in partnership with trade unions and industry to grow the steel sector in the UK. This government has identified up to £2.5bn (on top of the £500mn secured for Port Talbot) to support the steel industry.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has made an estimate of the cost of nationalising the British Steel plant in Scunthorpe.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

As part of the Government's responsible approach to policy and decision-making, we have considered the merits of nationalising British Steel and made an estimate of the cost. That estimate is confidential for commercial reasons. However, the Government has no plans to nationalise British Steel.

We are developing a steel strategy, working in partnership with trade unions and industry to grow the steel sector in the UK. This government has identified up to £2.5bn (on top of the £500mn secured for Port Talbot) to support the steel industry.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent assessment has he made of the potential impact of the UK-Colombia bilateral agreement for the promotion and protection of investments, published in June 2014, on (a) climate change and (b) human rights.

Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

I refer the Hon. Member for Ynys Môn to my response to Question 12968 on 12th November 2024.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she has made a recent assessment of the potential merits of increasing the rate of Statutory Sick Pay.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

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.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will publish details of any plans held by his Department for the development of a nuclear power station at Wylfa.

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

Great British Nuclear (GBN) completed its purchase of the sites at Wylfa (in Ynys Mon / Anglesey) and Oldbury-on-Severn (Gloucestershire) in June 2024.

As a site which has previously hosted a nuclear power station, and is now owned by GBN , we want Wylfa to play an important role in new nuclear in the UK. The Government is examining the legacy left to us by the previous government and decisions have yet to be taken on projects and technologies to be deployed at specific sites. As GBN progress the Small Modular Reactor competition toward final decisions in the spring, we will set out our plans in due course.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions she has had with the Welsh Government on devolving management of the Crown Estate to Wales.

Answered by Darren Jones - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

The UK Government has had no discussions with the Welsh Government on devolving the Crown Estate.

The Crown Estate has played a significant role in attracting international investment into Wales to support the UK’s net zero target and will continue to do so through future leasing rounds for offshore wind developments, including floating wind projects in the Celtic Sea. They work closely with the Welsh Government and Natural Resources Wales in support of shared priorities, ensuring that these resources are sustainably managed for the long term.

Introducing a new entity would fragment the market, complicate existing processes, and likely delay further development offshore, undermining investment in Welsh waters.

Financial redress for 1950s-born women

Possible sanctions on Bidzina Ivanishvili

Right to protest outside the BBC

Detainment of Dr Hussam Abu Safiya

Import and sale of real fur

Pesticides in public spaces

Reform of electoral law

Sexual harassment in the workplace

Scientific hearing on animal experiments

England men's cricket team's upcoming fixture against Afghanistan

The EU and the arms trade, human rights, and the Israel-Gaza conflict

Reunification of the Parthenon Sculptures

Sue Flood and Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition

Uber and private hire drivers

Suspension of Israel from international sports competitions

Release of Emily Damari

Found: I am copying this letter to Llinos Medi, a Member of the Welsh Affairs Committee and constituency MP

Found: meeting Members present: Ruth Jones (Chair); Aphra Brandreth; David Chadwick; Ann Davies; Ben Lake; Llinos Medi

Found: October 2024 Members present1 Ruth Jones, in the Chair2 David Chadwick Ann Davies Claire Hughes Llinos Medi

Found: Q13 Llinos Medi: As a supplementary to that, is there a timescale for that?

Found: Hobhouse Alison Hume Sarah Hall Sorcha Eastwood Chris Webb Charlotte Nichols Tony Vaughan Llinos Medi

Found: New Amendments: NC1 _NC1 Llinos Medi Liz Saville Roberts Ben Lake Ann Davies ★.

Found: New Amendments: NC1 _NC1 Llinos Medi Liz Saville Roberts Ben Lake Ann Davies ★.

Submit Evidence (by 2 Feb 2025)

Wales has a proud industrial heritage based on activities such as coal mining, slate quarrying, copper smelting, steelmaking and manufacturing among others.