Wales Office

I have regular discussions with the Welsh Government on how our two governments are delivering, investing in Wales’s future and strengthening our union.

Through a record budget settlement for the Welsh Government, alongside our investment into Welsh rail, Growth Deals, Investment Zones, Freeports, Pride in Place Funds and our Defence Growth Deal for Wales – we are working together to improve public services, support communities, drive jobs, and deliver economic growth.

I have regular discussions with the Welsh Government on how our two governments are delivering, investing in Wales’s future and strengthening our union.

Through a record budget settlement for the Welsh Government, alongside our investment into Welsh rail, Growth Deals, Investment Zones, Freeports, Pride in Place Funds and our Defence Growth Deal for Wales – we are working together to improve public services, support communities, drive jobs, and deliver economic growth.

We do not hold this information.

The Government is committed to supporting British businesses and ensuring they have the best chance to win public contracts. The new Procurement Act creates a simpler and more transparent system that will support British businesses bidding for work. The Act also allows contracting authorities to set standards that recognise the quality and standard of UK businesses and products. Alongside this, the National Procurement Policy Statement encourages contracting authorities to consider this government’s Industrial strategy and the sectors vital to our economic growth.

The UK Government recognises the major opportunities floating offshore wind presents for Wales and I am determined to ensure that we take full advantage of them.

Gwynt Glas (a joint venture between EDF Renewables and ESB) and Equinor have now entered into Agreements for Lease with The Crown Estate to develop two 1.5GW Floating Offshore Wind farms in the Celtic Sea through the Leasing Round 5 process, in addition to the five floating wind Test and Demonstration projects (totalling 432MW of capacity) already in development in the region. The Crown Estate has confirmed that work is underway on options to deliver a third 1.5GW lease area.

These new windfarms will be among the largest of their kind in the world and have the capacity to deliver enough power for more than four million homes. It is estimated this new industry will support over 5,000 new jobs and deliver a £1.4 billion-pound boost to the UK economy, it will also help deliver transformational change to places like Port Talbot. As part of the Comprehensive Spending Review, the UK Government has reconfirmed up to £80 million for port infrastructure investment in Port Talbot to supporting floating offshore wind and green growth in Wales.

The Local Growth Fund will invest £547 million in Wales over the next three years, more than half a billion pounds of much needed investment in Wales. This funding will drive economic growth, create jobs and raise living standards as part of the UK Government’s mission to kickstart economic growth and break down barriers to opportunity.

The Local Growth Fund at £547 million is just one element of our wider package of targeted, long-term local growth funding referred to in June, which also includes the new Pride in Place initiative. Communities across Wales will benefit from the Pride in Place Programme and Pride in Place Impact Fund, supporting projects that will build stronger communities, create thriving places, and empower local people.

I have regular discussions with Cabinet colleagues on a range of matters. In July, the then Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Wales met with Broadcast 2040+ to understand their perspectives on the long-term future of terrestrial TV in Wales.

The lead department on this matter, DCMS established the Future of TV Distribution stakeholder forum which takes views from a range of broadcasters active in Wales, including S4C, the BBC and ITV. The forum also benefits from the perspectives of a number of groups representing the interests of Welsh and UK-wide audiences, such as Voice of the Listener and Viewer, Digital Poverty Alliance and Silver Voices. Before any decisions are made, including in relation to Wales, close consideration will be given to how any changes would impact audiences, and especially those who rely on digital terrestrial television as their primary means of watching television.

As set out in the Civil Service People Plan 2024-2027, we are committed to ensuring we attract, develop and retain talented people from a diverse range of backgrounds to create a modern Civil Service, now and for the future.

Civil Service recruitment must follow the rules set out in legislation within the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act (CRaGA) 2010 which outlines the requirements to ensure that civil servants are recruited on merit, via fair and open competition.

My Department has not run any internship schemes in the last year.

The UK Government has regular discussions with the Welsh Government on the deposit return scheme, including through the Resources and Waste Common Framework.

The UK Government is committed to devolving non-Jobcentre Plus employment support funding to the Welsh Government.

DWP and Welsh Government officials are working closely to progress this commitment, which will support our joint efforts to help people back into secure, well-paid jobs.

To date, DWP has devolved funding for a Get Britain Working economic inactivity Trailblazer in Wales, providing £10 million to the Welsh Government to deliver tailored support where it is most needed. This includes help with CV writing and job searching, one-to-one mentoring, counselling, wellbeing services, and condition management for those with health conditions.

The UK Government and Welsh Government regularly discuss justice matters in Wales. Both governments have agreed to work together to explore options relating to the governance and funding of youth justice services and partnership arrangements on probation services. This work is currently underway.

The Union Flag was flown on the Department's main building (a) 366 days in 2024 and (b) 259 days to date in 2025.

The UK Government is working in full partnership with the Welsh Government to deliver the four City and Regional Growth Deals across Wales. The North Wales Growth Deal was agreed in 2020 with the UK Government, Welsh Government and six local authorities collaborating to deliver the £1 billion programme.

The North Wales Growth Deal seeks to tackle long-term challenges and barriers to deliver inclusive growth whilst building on the region’s strengths to create a more vibrant, sustainable and resilient economy in North Wales. The UK Government has committed £120 million to support these aims which has been matched by £120 million from the Welsh Government. The Deal will leverage £760 million from the private sector and other public sector sources. The Deal has invested £24 million to date.

The City and Growth Deals invest in large-scale capital investments, which by nature take longer to deliver employment outcomes. As capital investments near completion, there will be an acceleration in job creation in line with projected outcomes. For example, the Engineering, Enterprise and Optics Centre which is due to open in November will provide a world leading space for research and development at Wrexham University. As of September 2025, the North Wales Growth Deal has created a total of 38 jobs. The Growth Deal will create jobs across the six local authorities covered by the Deal in a wide range of sectors, including:

• Innovation
• Manufacturing
• Low Carbon Energy
• Digital Infrastructure
• Tourism
• Agri-food

The UK Government’s investment and collaboration with the Welsh Government has kickstarted sustained economic growth in North Wales and will to unlock new opportunities for people and businesses across the region. The UK Government is working in partnership with the Welsh Government to support and accelerate delivery by the North Wales Growth Deal.

The UK Government is working in full partnership with the Welsh Government to co-invest in the delivery of four City and Regional Growth Deals across Wales. The Mid Wales Growth Deal was signed in 2022 by the UK Government, Welsh Government, Ceredigion County Council and Powys County Council.

Over its 10 to 15-year lifetime, the Deal aims to deliver £280-400 million in capital investment. To support these aims, the UK Government has committed to a £55 million contribution and the Welsh Government have matched this commitment with a contribution of £55 million. Additional investment is sought by the Deal from the public and private sectors.

The Mid Wales Growth Deal recently entered into its delivery phase and will report on its spend and jobs creation at the end of the current quarter. The City and Growth Deals invest in large-scale capital investments, which by nature take longer to deliver employment outcomes. As capital investments near completion, there will be an acceleration in job creation in line with projected outcomes. For example, the recently launched Mid Wales Commercial Property Investment Fund is already supporting businesses to invest in new or expanded premises - tackling one of the key challenges facing growing enterprises in the region. The Deal continues to develop its portfolio in order to meet the needs of this unique region, it will focus on the following key themes building on the existing strengths of the region:

• Tourism
• Food
• Skills
• Digital
• Applied Research & Innovation
• Land and Property

The UK Government’s investment and collaboration with the Welsh Government will kickstart sustained economic growth in Mid Wales and unlock new opportunities for people and businesses across the region.

The UK Government is working in full partnership with the Welsh Government to co-invest in the delivery of four City and Regional Growth Deals across Wales. Since it was agreed in 2016 by UK Government, Welsh Government and ten local authorities in South East Wales, we have collaborated to deliver this £1.23 billion programme, which builds upon the region’s sectoral strengths.

Over its 20-year lifetime, the Deal aims to deliver 25,000 new jobs and attract £4 billion in private sector investment. To support the delivery of these aims, the UK Government has committed £500 million, of which £375 million has been allocated to the Wider Investment Fund and £125 million has been allocated to the Electrification of the Core Valley Lines. The Cardiff Capital Region City Deal is the only Welsh deal where UK Government contribution is not directly matched by Welsh Government. The Welsh Government’s funding supports the Cardiff Capital Region by contributing £734 million to the delivery of the South Wales Metro. £192 million has been invested by the Deal to date.

The City and Growth Deals invest in large-scale capital investments, which by nature take longer to deliver employment outcomes. As capital investments near completion, there will be an acceleration in job creation in line with projected outcomes. For example, the extension to the new KLA factory is due to complete with contractors by December 2025. As of September 2025, the Deal has created a total of 4,335 jobs across the ten local authorities covered by the Deal, and across a wide range of sectors, including:

• Compound semiconductors
• Transport
• Digital & Innovation
• Skills and Employment
• Creative Industries
• Life Sciences
• FinTech

The UK Government’s investment and collaboration with the Welsh Government has kickstarted sustained economic growth in the Cardiff Capital Region and will continue to unlock new opportunities for people and businesses across the region.

The UK Government is working in full partnership with the Welsh Government to co-invest in the delivery of four City and Regional Growth Deals across Wales. The Swansea Bay City Deal was agreed in 2017 by the UK Government, Welsh Government and the four local authorities in South West Wales. The Swansea Bay Deal represents a total investment of £1.3billion comprising nine headline programmes, and over 36 projects focused on economic acceleration, life sciences, energy, smart manufacturing and digital innovation. To date, the Deal has invested £537 million.

The Deal aims to deliver key economic and social benefits across the South West Wales region over a 15-year period whilst leveraging an anticipated £642 million from private sector investment. The UK Government has committed £115.6 million to support the Deal’s delivery with the Welsh Government contributing £125.4 million. An additional £396 million has been committed by other public sector and local authority contributions.

The City and Growth Deals invest in large-scale capital investments, which by nature take longer to deliver employment outcomes. As capital investments near completion, there will be an acceleration in job creation in line with projected outcomes. For example, the opening of 71/72 Kingsway in Swansea earlier this year and phase one of Pentre Awel (Llanelli) due to open soon.

To date, the Swansea Bay City Deal to date has created a total of 912 jobs across the four local authorities in sectors such as:

• Life Sciences
• Creative Industries
• Energy
• Smart Manufacturing
• Digital Infrastructure

The UK Government’s investment and collaboration with the Welsh Government has kickstarted sustained economic growth in the Swansea Bay region and will continue to unlock new opportunities for people and businesses across the region.

The UK and Welsh Governments work closely together on matters relating to the civil service. Both governments participate in civil service learning and development schemes aimed at supporting career progression such as the Future Leadership Scheme (FLS) operated by the Cabinet Office. The Places for Growth Programme has also relocated 1,304 civil service roles to Wales, strengthening opportunities and career pathways. As one of the 13 growth areas announced by the then Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster in May, Cardiff is set to benefit from the relocation of even more government jobs over the Spending Review period.

I would refer the Honourable Member to the answer I provided to written question UIN 69339 on 2 September 2025.

The Department utilises AI tools to support officials in their work, mainly in drafting of written material for internal use.

Following a search of our paper and electronic records, we have established that information on the number of workdays completed remotely in 2024 and 2025 is not held by the Wales Office.

My Department operates a hybrid working policy, which is available to all staff and enables them to work in a flexible way based on the needs of the Wales Office. No staff currently work compressed hours on a contractual basis.

This is a devolved matter and is the responsibility of the Welsh Government. The Welsh Government undertook a review in 2023, the results of which can be found here:

https://www.gov.wales/sites/default/files/publications/2023-07/sustainable-drainage-systems-suds-schedule-3-post-implementation-review.pdf

We have no record of any staff failing to meet the minimum office attendance target for the latest period for which data is available.

On 24 October 2024, the Cabinet Office announced that 60% minimum office attendance for most staff continues to be the best balance of working for the Civil Service. Senior managers will continue to be expected to be in the office more than 60% of the time.

If people do not meet that reasonable expectation, as with any management instruction it will be dealt with via existing performance management processes and ultimately with disciplinary action should there be sustained failure to comply.

The Wales Office has not spent money on social media influencers since July 2024.

Following the Spending Review, the UK Government is investing at least £445m into Welsh rail infrastructure upgrades, with the vast majority of this funding to be spent within the Spending Review period.

This investment will mean new stations and more and faster trains on the key lines across North and South Wales. The UK Government is working in collaboration with the Welsh Government, Network Rail and Transport for Wales, through the Wales Rail Board.

I regret that the Hon. Member seems to refuse to accept or acknowledge the historic underfunding. When I gave evidence to the Welsh Affairs Committee in January, there was widespread agreement that this was the case and many others have expressed similar sentiments.

The low levels of enhancement spending we have seen in recent years makes it more difficult to realise the modal shift needed to sustain a continuous enhancements pipeline. Denying that there has been underfunding is not the way address the problem. This government prefers to tackle the issue head on, starting with at least £445m of spending, front-loaded to support delivery of Wales' priorities for rail infrastructure during this next Spending Review period.

My Department publishes an Annual Report on GOV.UK which contains salary details for senior officials in the Wales Office.

The Tata Steel/Port Talbot Transition Board, chaired by the Secretary of State for Wales, supports those affected by Tata Steel UK’s decarbonisation transition and is supported by £100 million of funding. £80 million of which is provided by the UK Government, as confirmed by the Chancellor in the Budget on 30 October, and the remaining £20 million is provided by Tata Steel UK. The joint investment by UK Government and Tata Steel UK of £1.3 billion in an Electric Arc Furnace at Port Talbot has helped to protect 5,000 jobs and many more within the supply chain.

The Transition Board, in under a year, allocated the full UK Government £80 million funding to help those people and businesses affected by the transition, and to regenerate the local area. The UK Government Funds have created:

• The Supply Chain Transition Fund, to help businesses adapt to new markets.

• The Employment and Skills Fund, to help individuals re-train and find new well-paid jobs.

• The Business Start-Up Fund, to help people affected start new businesses.

• The Business Growth and Resilience Funds to help businesses reliant on Tata Steel UK but not in the supply chain, such as shops and cafes, adapt to the changes.

• Mental health and wellbeing support, to provide additional help to those affected.

• Regeneration projects, to create new business space for local businesses; to help remediate land and flood mitigation for the creation of an innovation centre in Port Talbot; and to create a skills centre for future green skills in green energy.

• An Economic Growth and Investment Fund is in development, to attract inward investment into Port Talbot, to create new, well-paid jobs for those affected by job losses.

The Transition Board receives updates on the impact of the funds at every Board meeting, containing data provided by delivery partners, such as Neath Port Talbot Council and Business Wales. The Transition Board last met on 26 June, and the following progress was reported up until that date:

• The Employment and Skills Fund: more than 2,800 training courses and qualifications have been funded so far.
• The Supply Chain Fund: 240 jobs have been safeguarded, and 26 new jobs have been created so far.
• The Resilience and Growth Funds: a total of 192 enquiries for support have been received so far.
• The Business Start-Up Fund: 12 new business have been created.

Funding for growth and regeneration projects in Port Talbot have also been funded by the Transition Board:

• On 6 February, the Secretary of State for Wales announced over £8m of the Transition Board funding to support the South Wales Industrial Transition from Carbon Hub project. This will redevelop a four-acre site at Harbourside, Port Talbot which will include the construction of additional shared space, undertake flood mitigation and the provision of specialist equipment. This investment will help establish an Innovation District in Port Talbot. This will support more than 100 jobs and bring an estimated £87.7 million in GVA benefits to the local economy.

• Three additional growth and regeneration projects were announced by the Secretary of State for Wales on 22 May, which committed over £20m for the creation of an Advanced Manufacturing Production Facility (AMPF) and National Net Zero Skills Centre of Excellence; and for the redevelopment of Metal Box and Sandfields Business Centre. These two projects will support over 270 jobs, and bring an estimated £119 million in GVA benefits to the local economy.

The growth and regeneration projects will also create construction jobs during the building, refurbishment and remediation phases.

Details of central government contracts above £12,000 for procurements commenced before 24 February 2025 are published on Contracts Finder (https://www.gov.uk/contracts-finder).

Contracts procured under the Procurement Act 2023 above £12,000 inc. VAT are published on the Central Digital Platform Find a Tender service. This includes a note of the winning supplier (https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Search).

In just twelve months, this Labour government has supported over £3.4 billion in private investment into Wales, creating and sustaining over 8000 jobs.

Wales now punches above its weight, landing nearly 5% of all UK inward investment projects, up from 3.4% before the election.

Our Industrial Strategy will create tens of thousands of jobs in Wales, backed by our trade deals, Freeports, Investment Zones, and Defence Growth Deal.

This is the difference two Labour governments working together makes for Wales.

The UK Government has regular discussions with the Welsh Government on a range of issues including our joint ambition for Wales to be at the forefront of the clean energy transition.

The UK Government is committed to delivering a secure, reliable, and low-carbon energy future for the UK and we have committed almost £17bn across the Spending Review period to the most ambitious nuclear new build programme for a generation.

This includes making available over £2.5bn across the Spending Review period to enable one of Europe’s first Small Modular Reactor (SMR) programmes. Great British Energy – Nuclear has selected Rolls-Royce SMR as its preferred bidder to partner with to build the UK’s first small modular reactors, subject to government approvals and contract signature.

The government values the work undertaken by Cwmni Egino to develop socio-economic growth opportunities from new nuclear development in North Wales. Trawsfynydd could be a candidate for new nuclear in future and is one of a number of potential sites that could host new civil nuclear projects, subject to national planning policy, regulatory approvals and technical assessments.

Up to 160,000 workers across Wales received a record pay rise through increases to the National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage.

Full-time workers on the National Living Wage will see a real-terms pay increase of £1,400 per year, whilst 18-to-20-year-olds will get a record boost of £2,500 each year. This will help provide people across Wales with better financial stability.

The Spending Review demonstrated how our two Labour Governments are investing in Wales’ future and strengthening our Union for generations to come.

With a record settlement for the Welsh Government, an historic investment of at least £445m into Welsh rail, money to keep coal tips safe and protecting every penny of Wales’ growth funds, we have ended Tory austerity.

Apprenticeships are available to new and existing Wales Office staff and my Department promotes these opportunities through Ministry of Justice (MoJ) intranet bulletins and Wales Office staff newsletters. When vacancies arise, the Department also considers if posts may be advertised as apprenticeships.

My Department is not an employer in its own right and the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) provide employment services on our behalf, including setting ethnicity data categories for collection.

The Chancellor set out that the UK Government will commit at least £445 million investment into Welsh rail infrastructure upgrades at the Spending Review in June.

For too long, Wales’s long-term infrastructure needs have not been recognised. This government is taking a different approach, delivering at least £445 million of rail enhancements funding for Wales. UK Government does not comment on Spending Review discussions, however we are delivering the maximum number of projects the sector can deliver in the next few years.

My top priority in advance of the Spending Review was to tackle historic underfunding in Wales’ rail infrastructure. This funding will mean new stations, more and faster trains on the key lines across North and South Wales - connecting people with the new, well-paid jobs we are creating across Wales.

Through the Wales Rail Board, we will work in collaboration with the Welsh Government to agree and develop future rail service improvements, delivering a sustainable pipeline of investment.

No staff in my Department currently have permission to work remotely outside the UK.

This information is not centrally held. The Office has a hybrid working policy and all staff are issued with a laptop and mobile phone to allow remote working where necessary. Staff are expected to spend at least 60 per cent of their time in the office or on official business, which can include conducting site visits or meeting stakeholders.

Within a year of coming into government, we have secured three new trade deals with India, the EU and the US. Our Trade Strategy is unambiguous in pursuing quicker, more practical deals that deliver a real impact for Welsh businesses. That is why we have prioritised deals with Wales’s largest markets, including the US as our single largest country of destination with over 1000 businesses exporting from Wales.

In May, the UK concluded a landmark economic deal with the US. This deal protects jobs in the automotive, steel, aluminium, pharmaceutical and aerospace sectors - sectors that employ over 45,000 people across Wales.

The Government remains focused on making sure British businesses can feel the benefits of the deal as soon as possible.

The Government is continuing discussions on the UK-US Economic Prosperity Deal which will look at increasing digital trade, enhancing access for our world-leading services industries and improving supply chains.

My Department will continue to support the ongoing negotiations with the US, led by the Department for Business and Trade.

Decisions regarding the Border Control Post at Parc Cybi are a matter for the Welsh Government.

We will review and update policy wherever necessary to ensure it complies with the latest legal requirements. We aim to ensure appropriate facilities are available for all staff.

I meet with the First Minister of Wales regularly to discuss a range of issues, including health. We are working in a spirit of genuine collaboration to do everything possible to cut waiting lists and build an NHS fit for the future.

A good example of our two Governments working together on health is the Interministerial Group (IMG) for Health and Social Care, which met on 30 April, chaired by the Welsh Government Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care. The IMG brought together Ministers from the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and the Devolved Governments to discuss shared priorities across health in the UK.

I welcome the news that waiting lists, including long waits, have fallen in recent months. These improvements come after we provided the Welsh Government with an additional £1.7 billion to invest in public services like the NHS at the Autumn Budget. An extra £600 million in funding has now been announced by the Welsh Government for health and social care in their Budget for 2025/26. Furthermore at the Spending Review last week, we announced a record £22.4 billion per year on average for the Welsh Government between 2026-27 and 2028-29, to invest in public services and drive down waiting lists. This is the largest budget settlement in the history of devolution.

No staff network events took place in my Department in May 2025.

At the Spending Review, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced that HM Treasury would provide the Welsh Government with the funding it requested to continue its vital coal tip safety work. Ensuring coal tips across Wales remain safe is of the upmost importance and this is why the UK Government is committing £118 million over the three years of the Spending Review period (over financial years 2026/27-2028/29). This is in addition to the £25m provided at Autumn Budget last year, bringing the total UK Government investment in coal tip safety to over £140m. This is another example of how two governments working in partnership are delivering for the people of Wales.

No permanent Civil Servants in my Department had their contract of employment terminated as a result of poor performance in the 2022-23, 2023-24, or 2024-25 financial years.