Asked by: Llinos Medi (Plaid Cymru - Ynys Môn)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she plans to review Personal Independence Payment Mandatory Reconsideration decision timelines to align with the eight week period before a Motability vehicle must be returned.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
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.
Asked by: Llinos Medi (Plaid Cymru - Ynys Môn)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 5 September 2024 to Question 3769 on Crown Estate: Wales, what assessment she has made of the ability of the commissioners with special responsibilities for Wales as provided for within the Crown Estate Bill to perform their functions without disaggregated net revenue profit data for Wales.
Answered by Darren Jones - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The Crown Estate Bill, as amended in the House of Lords, requires the appointment of a Commissioner responsible for giving advice about Wales (alongside separate equivalent appointments for England and Northern Ireland). The Bill confirms that ‘giving advice about’ means the relevant Commissioner would give advice to the Commissioners about conditions in Wales, in so far as it relates to their functions in relation to Wales. It is the Treasury’s view that the ability to give that advice does not depend on having disaggregated net revenue profit data. The Crown Estate operates across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, but its operations are not divided into business units by nation. It is not possible to disaggregate by nation without applying a high degree of subjective judgment in relation to costs. As was noted in the Answer of 5 September 2024 to Question 3769, The Crown Estate does already publish a Wales Review to supplement the annual report, which highlights The Crown Estate’s work in Wales.
Asked by: Llinos Medi (Plaid Cymru - Ynys Môn)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent progress she has made on developing a future funding framework to replace the Shared Prosperity Fund.
Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The government is progressing with the development of a future funding framework to replace the Shared Prosperity Fund. We will set out our long-term vision for local growth at the multi-year spending review.
Asked by: Llinos Medi (Plaid Cymru - Ynys Môn)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent discussions he has with the Welsh Government on developing a new nuclear site at Wylfa.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Ministers, and officials within the Department, regularly meet Welsh Government counterparts. As a site which has previously hosted a nuclear power station and is now owned by Great British Nuclear (GBN), we will work with GBN to assess options for new nuclear at the Wylfa site.
Asked by: Llinos Medi (Plaid Cymru - Ynys Môn)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the suitability of Wylfa to be designated as a preferred site for a new nuclear energy generation project.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
On 6 February 2025, we published the draft of a new nuclear National Policy Statement (EN-7) for consultation. EN-7 proposes to employ a criteria-based approach, rather than listing potentially suitable sites, to empower nuclear developers to identify suitable sites for their projects.
The Government wants previously listed sites, such as Wylfa, which was acquired by Great British Nuclear in 2024, to meet their potential and EN-7 acknowledges the advantages they can offer for nuclear infrastructure deployment.
Asked by: Llinos Medi (Plaid Cymru - Ynys Môn)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of designating Wylfa as a preferred site for a new nuclear energy generation project.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
On 6 February 2025, we published the draft of a new nuclear National Policy Statement (EN-7) for consultation. EN-7 proposes to employ a criteria-based approach, rather than listing potentially suitable sites, to empower nuclear developers to identify suitable sites for their projects.
The Government wants previously listed sites, such as Wylfa, which was acquired by Great British Nuclear in 2024, to meet their potential and EN-7 acknowledges the advantages they can offer for nuclear infrastructure deployment.
Asked by: Llinos Medi (Plaid Cymru - Ynys Môn)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when she plans to publish the funding framework that will replace the shared prosperity fund.
Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The government is progressing with the development of a future funding framework to replace the Shared Prosperity Fund. We will set out our long-term vision for local growth at the multi-year spending review.
I have discussed this issue with my Ministerial counterparts in each of the devolved governments, including a very constructive meeting with the Welsh Government’s Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning. I look forward to building on this engagement as we approach the spending review.
Asked by: Llinos Medi (Plaid Cymru - Ynys Môn)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has had recent discussions with the Cabinet Secretary for Finance in the Welsh Government on the funding framework that will replace the shared prosperity fund.
Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The government is progressing with the development of a future funding framework to replace the Shared Prosperity Fund. We will set out our long-term vision for local growth at the multi-year spending review.
I have discussed this issue with my Ministerial counterparts in each of the devolved governments, including a very constructive meeting with the Welsh Government’s Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning. I look forward to building on this engagement as we approach the spending review.
Asked by: Llinos Medi (Plaid Cymru - Ynys Môn)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 24 January 2025 to Question 25389 on Crown Estate: Wales, if she will list all ministerial level meetings with the Welsh Government where the devolution of the Crown Estate in Wales has been discussed.
Answered by Darren Jones - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The UK Government has regular discussions with the Welsh Government at official and ministerial level on a range of issues. This has included a request from the Welsh Government that the UK Government considers devolution of the management of The Crown Estate in Wales.
In the last three months, there has been one ministerial meeting within the Treasury with the Welsh Government which included The Crown Estate and Wales. This was held on the 25 November 2024 between the Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Welsh Language. The meeting covered growth, resetting our relationship with the EU, Great British Energy and The Crown Estate.
Asked by: Llinos Medi (Plaid Cymru - Ynys Môn)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 13 January 2025 to Question 22766 on Crown Estates: Wales and with reference to the Answer by the First Minister of Wales to the Question from Rhun ap Iorwerth MS of 21 January 2025, for what reason the First Minister said that there had been discussions on devolving the Crown Estate to Wales.
Answered by Darren Jones - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The UK Government has regular discussions with the Welsh Government at official and ministerial level on a range of issues. This has included a request from the Welsh Government that the UK Government considers devolution of the management of The Crown Estate in Wales.
As set out in the answer of 13 January 2025 to Question 22766: Crown Estates: Wales, the UK Government and Welsh Government have not entered discussions to take forward the devolution of The Crown Estate in Wales. However, the matter has been discussed at Ministerial level.
Whilst we acknowledge the policy position of the Welsh Government put forward during discussions, as previously set out, the UK Government does not believe devolution of the Crown Estate is currently in the best interests of Wales as it could fragment the energy market, complicate existing processes, and potentially delay grid connectivity reform as well as the further development of offshore energy. Together this gives rise to concerns it would delay progress towards net zero and undermine investment in Welsh waters.
We will continue to engage constructively with the Welsh Government on a wide range of topics relevant to the operation of the devolution settlement, including how to ensure that The Crown Estate works in the interests of Wales.