Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what steps he is taking to ensure that Wales achieves maximum benefit from the Government's carbon capture and storage cluster programme.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Secretary of State for Wales
This Government is committed to ensuring that Wales benefits fully from the UK’s Carbon Capture Usage and Storage (CCUS) Cluster programme through the HyNet Cluster, which is expected to support thousands of jobs across North West England and Wales.
Following financial close of the HyNet Transport and Storage Network in April 2025, the Padeswood project in North Wales signed final contracts with Government and is expected to capture up to 800,000 tonnes of CO2 annually as well as supporting secure, long-term jobs.
Since August 2025, eight capture projects based across Wales and the North West of England have been in negotiations for the HyNet cluster. Officials in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) are continuing to negotiate with these projects to best deliver against the CCUS programme’s objectives.
CCUS will also be key to decarbonising South Wales' heavy industries, and the Milford Haven CO2 project is progressing proposals for carbon shipping in the region. As Secretary of State for Wales, I will continue to work with Cabinet colleagues to support industry throughout the region.
Asked by: Mims Davies (Conservative - East Grinstead and Uckfield)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many meetings he has held with the Welsh Government since his appointment on 26 July 2026 to discuss its proposal to close junctions on the M4, on what dates those meetings took place, and what the outcomes of those meetings were.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Secretary of State for Wales
I have held discussions with Welsh Government counterparts on a range of issues since my appointment in July 2026.
On 6 October 2026, the Welsh Government announced an 18-month programme of work to develop road-based and engineering solutions for the M4, including consideration of the potential closure of junctions in the Newport area. Decisions relating to the M4 are devolved and are therefore a matter for the Welsh Government, but I am deeply concerned by these proposals and their impacts.
The UK Government recognises the need to address congestion on the M4. The Burns Commission recommended five new stations in South East Wales as part of a wider network of transport alternatives intended to ease congestion, improve journey time reliability and deliver economic benefits across South Wales.
At Spending Review 2025, £95 million was allocated to the Burns Stations, with an ambition to bring two stations into construction by 2029. This investment forms part of the UK Government's wider commitment of £445 million for rail enhancements in Wales.
In addition, the Prime Minister has committed to delivering Transport for Wales's vision document, which includes projects with an estimated value of up to £14 billion. These proposals would strengthen connectivity between communities and key employment centres, support new jobs and housing, and drive economic growth across Wales. By enabling more frequent, reliable and integrated public transport services, they would also provide people with a genuine alternative to the car and encourage modal shift from road to rail.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what representations he has made to the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero in respect to the Parc Adfer CCS project as part of the Government’s ongoing HyNet Project Negotiation List Review.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Secretary of State for Wales
I regularly engage with Ministers in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on a range of matters, including industrial decarbonisation in Wales. I am eager to ensure that industries across North Wales are well placed to benefit from the HyNet Cluster, which is critical to decarbonising the region and securing high-quality jobs.
The UK Government remains committed to securing the maximum value from the HyNet cluster and is undertaking a holistic assessment against a range of factors, including affordability, value for money, maturity, deliverability, strategic contribution, and network capacity. Government appreciate the industry’s need for clarity on the HyNet Project Negotiation List Review and will provide further updates as soon as they are available.
Asked by: Louie French (Conservative - Old Bexley and Sidcup)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how much his Department spent on hotel accommodation for (a) staff and (b) Ministers broken down by (i) UK stays and (ii) overseas stays in the 2024-25 financial year.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Secretary of State for Wales
The Wales Office spent £29,614 on hotel accommodation in 2024-25. The spend is broken down as follows:
| Spend on UK Hotels | Spend on Overseas Hotels | Total Spend |
| £ | £ | £ |
Staff | 26,857 | 1,861 | 28,718 |
Ministers | 370 | 526 | 896 |
Total | 27,227 | 2,387 | 29,614 |
Asked by: John Hayes (Conservative - South Holland and The Deepings)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how much his Department spent on interpreters and related translation services in 2025.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Secretary of State for Wales
The Wales Office spent £9,060.98 in financial year 2025-6 on translation services. This expenditure related to the translation of documents into Welsh. No expenditure was incurred on interpreting services.
Asked by: John Hayes (Conservative - South Holland and The Deepings)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many and what proportion of civil servants in his Department were on permanent home working contracts in 2025.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Secretary of State for Wales
No civil servants in my Department were on permanent home working contracts in 2025.
Asked by: John Hayes (Conservative - South Holland and The Deepings)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, whether his Department (a) uses or (b) plans to install rooftop solar panels on its premises.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Secretary of State for Wales
The Department occupies premises owned, leased and managed by the Government Property Agency (GPA) and HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), who are responsible for building assets, including the installation and use of rooftop solar panels.
Funding support for public bodies to install solar panels has been available through the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS) with a total of over £3 billion made available up 2028. Great British Energy (GBE) also supports public sector decarbonisation and the GBE Solar programme is investing £255 million to fund around 250 schools, around 260 NHS sites, and around 15 military sites to install solar panels across the country.
Asked by: John Hayes (Conservative - South Holland and The Deepings)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, whether his Department monitors the amount of food waste generated by its offices each month.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Secretary of State for Wales
The Department does not monitor the amount of food waste generated by its offices each month. The Department's offices are located in buildings managed by the Government Property Agency and HM Revenue & Customs, which provide facilities management services and are responsible for monitoring and recording food waste generated within those buildings.
Asked by: Lord Wigley (Plaid Cymru - Life peer)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what response they have given, or propose to give, to the Welsh Government’s request for its borrowing powers to be made equivalent to those available to the Scottish Government.
Answered by Lord Katz - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Spending Review 2025 provided the Welsh Government with its largest real-terms Spending Review settlement since devolution, with nearly £6.5 billion of additional spending power over the Spending Review period. At Autumn Budget 2025, the Government announced changes to the Welsh Fiscal Framework, including a 10% increase in annual and cumulative capital borrowing limits and Wales Reserve limits from 2026-27, with annual indexation from 2027-28.
The Fiscal Frameworks for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have been agreed separately with each devolved government to reflect the different needs of each nation.
Asked by: Lord Wigley (Plaid Cymru - Life peer)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what changes, if any, have been made to the terms of reference or the responsibilities of the Wales Office.
Answered by Lord Katz - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
There have been no changes to the terms of reference or the responsibilities of the Wales Office.