Asked by: Stuart Anderson (Conservative - Wolverhampton South West)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what steps his Department is taking in cross-government policy to improve the mental wellbeing of veterans.
Answered by Simon Hart - Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury (Chief Whip)
On 1 March 2022, the Minister for Defence People and Veterans and I jointly announced that we would be appointing Colonel James Phillips as the Veterans’ Commissioner for Wales, thereby ensuring that all parts of the UK have an independent voice representing the interests of veterans. In this role, Colonel Phillips will engage with veterans and their families, listen to their needs and aspirations and identify areas for positive change. The appointment of Colonel Phillips is an important step forward in supporting ex-service personnel in Wales – including with mental wellbeing - and an integral part of meeting our ambition of making the United Kingdom the best place in the world to be a veteran.
The provision of mental health services is devolved to the Welsh Government. The Office of Veterans Affairs are supporting veterans’ mental health in England through Op COURAGE. It has engaged extensively with the Welsh Government throughout the development of the Veterans’ Strategy Action Plan. The Plan brings forward commitments in a variety of areas, including mental wellbeing.
Asked by: Stuart Anderson (Conservative - Wolverhampton South West)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what steps his Department is taking to contribute to efforts to reduce carbon emissions.
Answered by David T C Davies - Secretary of State for Wales
The Department is committed to reducing emissions and energy consumption to reduce costs. The Department's current targets to make progress on reducing emissions have been published as part of the Greening Government Commitments. The Government's recently published British Energy Security Strategy will protect the UK from price spikes in the future by accelerating our move towards cleaner, cheaper, home-grown energy.
Asked by: Stuart Anderson (Conservative - Wolverhampton South West)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the progress of the Places for Growth programme.
Answered by Simon Hart - Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury (Chief Whip)
I have regular discussions with Cabinet colleagues on a range of issues, including the Places for Growth programme.
The Places for Growth programme is delivering the UK Government’s commitment to move 22,000 Civil Service roles and 50% of UK-based Senior Civil Service roles, out of Greater London by 2030. Wales has already benefitted from this work including the establishment of a Trade Hub for Wales and a dedicated DLUHC Wales area team based in the UK Government’s Cardiff Hub (Ty William Morgan). Furthermore, as detailed in the Levelling Up White Paper, Wales will benefit from the relocation of around 500 non-operational Ministry of Justice roles to sites including Cardiff, Swansea and Wrexham.
Asked by: Stuart Anderson (Conservative - Wolverhampton South West)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure that Wales receives an equitable share of funding allocated through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund following the UK's departure from the EU.
Answered by Simon Hart - Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury (Chief Whip)
The UK Government will, at minimum, match EU funds in Wales through Wales’s share of the £2.6 billion UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF). Wales will also continue to benefit from EU funding over the coming years. Additionally, Wales will benefit from other local growth funding - including through the Levelling Up Fund and Community Ownership Fund.
Further information on UKSPF allocations will be announced in due course.
Asked by: Stuart Anderson (Conservative - Wolverhampton South West)
Question to the Wales Office:
What progress his Department has made on City and Growth deals in Wales.
Answered by David T C Davies - Secretary of State for Wales
The City and Growth Deals are progressing well. Cardiff has several exciting projects in the pipeline and I was pleased to approve and visit Swansea Bay’s Pembroke Dock Marine and see the progress on Swansea’s Digital District for myself. North Wales’ Full Deal Agreement and Mid Wales’ Head of Terms are also expected by the end of the year.