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 assessment he has made of the potential impact of removing the developing nation exemptions for steel producing countries on the steel industry in Wales.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
In light of the expiry of the steel safeguard in June 2025, we are currently developing a new, robust trade measure to support resilient and secure supply chains.
Officials are working closely with stakeholders across the sector, and we are assessing a full range of supply chain interests in designing the measure, including for developing nations. This also includes consideration of UK demand patterns and import shares. Our approach will remain firmly evidence based and fully consistent with the UK’s international and domestic legal obligations.
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 assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing domestic quotas for steel which reflect changes in UK (a) demand and (b) import shares.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
In light of the expiry of the steel safeguard in June 2025, we are currently developing a new, robust trade measure to support resilient and secure supply chains.
Officials are working closely with stakeholders across the sector, and we are assessing a full range of supply chain interests in designing the measure, including for developing nations. This also includes consideration of UK demand patterns and import shares. Our approach will remain firmly evidence based and fully consistent with the UK’s international and domestic legal obligations.
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 help reduce industrial energy costs for businesses in Wales.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme (BICS) is a flagship policy designed to address high industrial electricity costs in manufacturing and boost their global competitiveness and will apply to eligible businesses in Wales. There are separate plans to increase the level of the discount on electricity network charges from 60% to 90% under the Network Charging Compensation Scheme. This will benefit several businesses across Wales who currently receive support through the British Industry Supercharger. The Government has also launched a consultation on Corporate Power Purchase Agreements to help businesses secure more stable electricity for the long term.
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 recent discussions he has had with the Welsh Government on support for the steel industry in Wales.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Ministerial colleagues and I have had regular engagement with the Welsh Government on steel, through interministerial discussions, and official level engagement.
The Department has worked closely with the Welsh Government to develop the upcoming steel strategy and the Cabinet Secretary for the Economy, Energy and Planning is a member of the Steel Council. We have collaborated on areas of the strategy that have devolved elements including skills, procurement and R&D, as well as discussions to ensure the successful transformation of Port Talbot.
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 impact of the cost of energy standing charges on households in North Wales.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
We are committed to bearing down on the cost of standing charges and continue to work closely with the independent regulator, Ofgem, on this issue.
As a result of action following the Autumn Budget, and shifting the recovery of the Warm Home Discount to unit rates, the average standing charge in the Price Cap from April to end June has come down by £13, and standing charges are lower now than in July 2024.
In addition, on 25 February Ofgem announced the launch of a one-year, lower standing charge tariff pilot with some major suppliers, from April 2026.
Through its Cost Allocation and Recovery Review, Ofgem has also been reviewing how fixed costs, which tend to be funded through standing charges, should be recovered in the future energy system. This includes whether those fixed costs could be recovered in more progressive ways.
Asked by: Llinos Medi (Plaid Cymru - Ynys Môn)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the absence of a permanent motorcycle examiner based in north Wales on (a) test provision ,b) test availability and (c) learners and training providers.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) understands the importance of ensuring test-ready learner riders can take their test as quickly as practically possible.
DVSA is committed to providing motorcycle testing provision in North Wales and deploys examiners from other parts of the country to help meet demand. DVSA has also made additional tests available at Bangor driving test centre to account for the difficulty caused by the weather over the winter months.
Additional testing provision will be available in Bangor from March 2026.
DVSA also continues to recruit driving examiners in North Wales, and hopes this will provide the opportunity to nominate individuals for motorcycle examiner training in 2026.
Asked by: Llinos Medi (Plaid Cymru - Ynys Môn)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what was the cost of the six-day live facial recognition trial at Holyhead port in November 2025.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
The budget for the Immigration Enforcement Live Facial Recognition trials in Holyhead in November 2025 was £50,000; this was to cover the cost of the police technical support for 6 days of deployments and the watchlist production.
The deployments were completed on budget.
Asked by: Llinos Medi (Plaid Cymru - Ynys Môn)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what is his Department’s timescale for the distribution of updated materials on the Victims Code to police forces; and what assessment has he made of adherence to that timescale.
Answered by Alex Davies-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
We launched the consultation on a new Victims’ Code on 5 February, which will be open to responses for 12 weeks. Following consideration of the consultation responses, and any subsequent changes, we will issue a government response and then issue the new Code in accordance with the Parliamentary process set out in the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024. We will update and distribute revised materials alongside the new Code.
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 his Department has made of the potential impact of lowering the landlord cost cap and introducing low property value exemptions for minimum energy efficiency standards on private renters in Wales.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Government’s response to the consultation on increasing the minimum energy efficiency standard for private rented homes was accompanied by the Department’s Impact Assessment. The assessment provides an estimated impact of the final policy based on a range of data available, including HM Land Registry and property price data available for Wales. The measures included in the final policy are intended to be proportional to help manage the burden placed on landlords and the impact on the rental market, whilst still delivering improved, warmer, cheaper to heat homes for private rented sector tenants.
Asked by: Llinos Medi (Plaid Cymru - Ynys Môn)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to Written Statement UIN HCWS1315, what Barnett consequentials will be provided to the Welsh Government as a result of the grants awarded to local authorities in England to address SEND deficits.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
Any Barnett consequentials generated will be confirmed when departments formally receive funding; the next opportunity is Spring Forecast 2026.