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, pursuant to the Answer of 19 February 2025 to Question 30336 on Parking: Regulation, what steps he is taking to (a) consult and (b) assess the potential impact of the measures contained in the proposed Government code on standards of parking operator (i) practice and (ii) behaviour.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The government consulted on its proposals to raise standards across the private parking industry between 11 July 2025 and 26 September 2025. All responses are now being analysed. The government’s response to the consultation, together with the impact assessment of the measures contained in the new Code on the industry, will be published in due course.
The consultation document can be accessed on gov.uk here.
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 estimate he has made of the number of off-grid homes in Wales that are not suitable for heat pump technology.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
While we do not have a specific assessment for Wales, evidence shows heat pumps will work well in most off-gas grid homes.
A home’s suitability to install a heat pump depends on several factors, including having sufficient internal and external space (for the heat pump unit, thermal store and larger radiators), the peak current draw of the grid connection, and the home’s peak heat loss.
We have commissioned research on the costs of different approaches to decarbonising complex housing archetypes, including alternative low carbon heating solutions where required, and we expect to receive results in Spring 2026.
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 estimate he has made of the number of jobs that will be created by the (a) Awel Y Mor and (b) The Erebus Project will be based in Wales.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department has not made an assessment of the number of jobs that will be created by individual offshore wind projects.
However, securing 8.4GW of offshore wind capacity in Contracts for Difference Allocation Round 7 has unlocked £22 billion in private investment and supports 7,000 skilled jobs in every corner of the country.
The government estimates that the offshore wind sector could support up to 100,000 direct and indirect jobs in Great Britain by 2030. Wales is well placed to benefit, with its clean energy workforce expected to grow by around 110% by 2030 – equivalent to an increase of approximately 10,000 direct jobs from 2023 levels.
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 steps his Department has taken to help support the decarbonisation of off-grid homes including the uptake of Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil in homes where heat-pump technology is not viable.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government launched a consultation on 18 November to explore alternative clean heating solutions that may play a role in some homes, including renewable liquid fuels (RLFs) such as hydrotreated vegetable oil.
The consultation will run until 10 February.
Asked by: Llinos Medi (Plaid Cymru - Ynys Môn)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has had discussions with the Welsh Government on the potential merits of introducing a Guest Beer agreement in Wales.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
My department works closely with hospitality businesses to assess impact of rising operating costs across energy, staffing, compliance and taxation. Additionally, the Hospitality Sector Council provides a formal forum to co-create solutions to pressures facing the industry.
The Government recognises that independent breweries are essential to the diversity and character of our pubs. We have conducted a review of the beer market to determine whether there are any structural barriers preventing small breweries, the findings from which are currently being reviewed.
We maintain regular engagement with trade bodies such as the Society of Independent Brewers, as well as colleagues across government, to ensure that policy decisions are informed by the latest evidence and genuinely support the sector’s long‑term stability.
Asked by: Llinos Medi (Plaid Cymru - Ynys Môn)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to support small independent breweries from increased operating costs in Wales.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
My department works closely with hospitality businesses to assess impact of rising operating costs across energy, staffing, compliance and taxation. Additionally, the Hospitality Sector Council provides a formal forum to co-create solutions to pressures facing the industry.
The Government recognises that independent breweries are essential to the diversity and character of our pubs. We have conducted a review of the beer market to determine whether there are any structural barriers preventing small breweries, the findings from which are currently being reviewed.
We maintain regular engagement with trade bodies such as the Society of Independent Brewers, as well as colleagues across government, to ensure that policy decisions are informed by the latest evidence and genuinely support the sector’s long‑term stability.
Asked by: Llinos Medi (Plaid Cymru - Ynys Môn)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment she has made of the potential merits of increasing draught duty relief.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
This Government is proud to have been able to significantly expand the generosity of Draught Relief this parliament, in recognition of the economic and cultural importance of pubs, and the wider “on trade”.
In February 2025, the Chancellor delivered a duty cut on qualifying draught products – approximately 60% of the alcoholic drinks sold in pubs. This took a penny of duty off a typical strength pint and reduced overall duty receipts by £85m. Draught beer and cider now pay 13.9% less in tax than their packaged equivalents.
The Government keeps duty rates under review, and the Chancellor makes decisions on tax policy at fiscal events. The Government welcomes representations from the on trade sector on the effectiveness of Draught Relief in advance of the Budget.
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, with reference to table F of his Department's publication entitled Contracts for Difference Allocation Round 7: results, published on 14 January 2026, what is the total megawatt deployment capacity for (a) offshore wind and (b) floating offshore wind in Wales.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The total megawatt deployment capacity for fixed bottom offshore wind in Wales is 775 megawatts and 100 megawatts for floating offshore wind. These projects represent the first successful developments in Wales in over a decade.
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, how many homes in Wales have received measures under (a) Energy Company Obligation (b) Energy Company Obligation 1 (c) Energy Company Obligation 2 (d) Energy Company Obligation 3 and (e) Energy Company Obligation 4.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The number of unique households in Wales receiving measures under each Energy Company Obligation (ECO) phase between January 2013 and September 2025 is shown in the table below. Each property is counted when receiving an ECO measure for the first time under each phase. The total of 140,439 homes is lower than the sum of the phases as it shows the unique number of households receiving measures across the scheme.
These data have been derived from the Household Energy Efficiency statistics publication where further details on the measures delivered can be found.
Summary table
All ECO schemes | 140,439 |
ECO1 | 42,980 |
ECO2 | 46,753 |
ECO2 Help-to-Heat | 13,519 |
ECO3 | 24,248 |
ECO4 | 27,606 |
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, how much money has been spent in Wales on (a) Energy Company Obligation (b) Energy Company Obligation 1 (c) Energy Company Obligation 2 (d) Energy Company Obligation 3 and (e) Energy Company Obligation 4.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Estimated Energy Company Obligation (ECO) costs for Great Britain can be found in Table 5.1 of the latest Household Energy Efficiency Statistics Release. Figures for Wales are not available.