Wales Office

I have regular discussions with stakeholders, including those from the seafood sector on maximising opportunities from the UK-EU Trade and Co-operation Agreement.

Under the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement, the UK has secured tariff-free access for fisheries products and a substantial transfer of quota from the EU benefitting fishing communities across the UK including those in Wales. The transfer is equivalent to 25% of the value of the EU’s historic catch in UK waters worth £146 million delivered over 5 years. All fisheries administrations will have regulatory control, giving the Welsh Government powers over part of the UK's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) adjacent to Wales.

I have regular discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport about a wide range of issues including broadcasting matters and the funding settlement for S4C. Furthermore, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State and I have had a number of constructive discussions about the licence fee settlement for S4C with the Minister of State for Media and Data.

S4C is the only Welsh language TV channel in the world and the UK Government understands this incredibly distinctive position.

DCMS has received S4C’s submission of need and negotiations are ongoing.

As has been the case under successive Administrations, it is not government policy to comment on security procedures in government buildings.

The Office of the Secretary of State for Wales has referred requests to the Cabinet Office Clearing House where appropriate and in line with the published criteria which is available on gov.uk here - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cabinet-office-and-freedom-of-information.

I refer the Hon. Member to the Cabinet Office guidance to departments on use of private emails. www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-departments-on-private-email-use

I refer the Hon. Member to the Cabinet Office guidance to departments on use of private emails. www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-departments-on-private-email-use

It is government policy not to comment on specific technical security controls; however, the incidental personal use of private email accounts from departmental systems is subject to our ‘Acceptable Use’ policy, in spare time.

I have regular discussions with Cabinet Colleagues on how to support Welsh Businesses build back better from the pandemic.

The UK Government has provided 3 billion pounds in direct support to businesses in Wales, in addition to the extra 8.6 billion pounds given to the Welsh Government to tackle the pandemic.

I have regular discussions with my Rt. Hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on our financial support to people affected by the Covid-19 outbreak.

We have provided the Welsh Government with an extra 8.6 billion pounds to tackle the pandemic, that’s over £2,700 per person in Wales. That is on top of 7.4 billion pounds of additional UK Wide support through the welfare system.

This Government has been clear that we expect employers to treat their employees fairly and in the spirit of partnership. Using threats about firing and rehiring as a negotiation tactic is unacceptable. We expect employers and employees to negotiate new terms and conditions and there are laws around how this must be done, and legal protections in place when firms are considering redundancies. The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy asked Acas to conduct an evidence-gathering exercise to improve our evidence base. We welcome Acas’ report on this work which was published on 8 June.

The Acas report demonstrated that there are different views on whether the practice can ever be justified. It finds general agreement that fire and rehire should only be used in limited circumstances – such as to prevent job losses when other options have been exhausted. Acas have been asked to produce clearer and more comprehensive guidance to help employers explore all the options before considering ‘fire and rehire’.

I have had a number of discussions with the COP26 President Designate about the opportunities that exist in Wales to support the drive to net zero, including as part of the COP26 Devolved Administrations Ministerial Group, which I last attended on 10 June.

The UK Government is actively progressing plans to deliver a Green Industrial Revolution that drives the transition to net zero and levels up across the UK. The Prime Minister set out his ambitious 10 Point Plan back in November, which will mobilise £12 billion of UK Government investment to create and support up to 250,000 highly-skilled green jobs across the UK, and spur over three times as much private sector investment by 2030.

As I set out in the UK Government’s Plan for Wales, Wales is at the heart of this agenda. We have backed the South Wales Industrial Cluster with £21.5 million to develop detailed plans to support the region’s net zero transition. We are supporting floating offshore wind, which has the potential to deliver significant supply chain benefits to South Wales and beyond, with a range of policy measures. In addition, we have committed £15.9 million to pioneer low-carbon transport technologies in Cwmbran.

We recognise there is more to do and will bring forward a Net Zero Strategy and plans to decarbonise buildings and transport later this year, which will present further opportunities to the people of Newport West, wider South East Wales and beyond.

The Government recognises the important role science and research will play in levelling up across the UK. That is why the UK Government is investing record amounts across the UK and is committed to reaching a target spend of 2.4% of GDP on research and development by 2027.

I have regular discussions with BEIS and UKRI on a wide range of subjects, including science and research within Wales. My Department is working across government to ensure our ambitions deliver for the whole of the UK and utilise Wales’ creativity, determination and distinctive innovation expertise as we build back greener. UKRI has invested £84.8m in Wales through the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund to address current and future societal challenges being faced by businesses. In addition, the Compound Semiconductor Cluster has received £25m through the Strength in Places Fund, and we have provided £20m to the South Wales Industrial Cluster to explore routes to decarbonisation.

I have regular discussions with the Welsh Government on a wide range of subjects including the EU settlement scheme (EUSS).

As of May 2021, the Home Office received 92,700 applications through the EU Settlement Scheme from EEA citizens living in Wales.

I have regular discussions with the Home Secretary on a wide range of subjects including the EU settlement scheme (EUSS).

There are no plans to extend the 30 June 2021 deadline for applications to the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) by those EU citizens and their family members resident in the UK by the end of the transition period.

For those who are eligible who have not applied before 30 June, this Government will not simply turn off support for people.

We understand there will be valid reasons why a small proportion of those eligible have not applied before the deadline, as we have set out in our reasonable ground guidance. It is our priority to ensure we continue to support people who are eligible to apply and anyone who is eligible who has still not applied should make a late application as soon as possible.

The end of the grace period will mean fundamental changes, for both EU citizens living in the UK and vice versa. The UK Government is committed to supporting our EU friends, family and neighbours wishing to remain in the UK after 30 June through these changes.

I have regular discussions with Welsh Ministers on a wide range of subjects pertaining to the environment, like air quality.

Air quality is a largely devolved policy area. The UK Government, the Scottish Government, the Welsh Government and Northern Ireland Executive have provisionally agreed a UK-wide ‘Air Quality Common Framework’. This framework outlines how the four administrations will effectively work together to improve air quality, in line with our current and future obligations, following the UK’s exit from the EU. The framework sets out governance arrangements including mechanisms for joint decision-making, dispute resolution and strategic direction. The ‘common framework working group’, meets regularly in line with the commitment for all four administrations to engage with each other at the earliest opportunity on any development in AQ policy, including the Welsh Government’s Clean Air Plan.

The UK-wide National Air Pollution Control Programme (NAPCP) sets out the proposed measures and technical analysis, which demonstrate how the legally binding 2020 and 2030 emission reduction commitments for five damaging pollutants can be met across the UK. The UK government and the devolved administrations work collaboratively and consult at UK level on actions needed to improve air quality under the NAPCP.

I have regular discussions with Welsh Ministers on a wide range of subjects pertaining to the environment, like air quality.

As air quality is a largely devolved policy area, the UK Government, the Scottish Government, the Welsh Government and Northern Ireland Executive (NIE) have provisionally agreed a UK-wide ‘Air Quality Common Framework’. This framework outlines how the four administrations will work together to improve air quality, in line with our current and future obligations, following the UK’s exit from the EU. The governance arrangements under the framework set a commitment for all administrations to engage with each other on any development in AQ policy, including the Welsh Government’s Clean Air Plan.

I attend weekly meetings chaired by my Rt Hon Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster with all three First Ministers and the deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland to discuss the UK-wide response to Covid-19. This is just one example of the vast number of meetings that take place between UK Government Ministers and officials and their counterparts in the Welsh Government.

I have regular discussions with the Home Secretary on a wide range of subjects including the EU settlement scheme (EUSS).

In addition, my officials are in regular contact with colleagues in the Home Office about how they can best support their efforts.

UK Government has worked extensively to promote awareness of the EUSS. The Home Office has already spent a total of £4.6 million on marketing campaigns to encourage those EU citizens and their family members who have not yet applied to do so. The Home Office recently launched a new £1.5 million wave of UK-wide advertising to ensure EU citizens and their family members are aware of the deadline and know they need to apply.

As of May 2021, the Home Office received 92,700 applications through the EU Settlement Scheme from EEA citizens living in Wales.

The UK Government is committed to making sure everybody eligible for the EUSS can apply, including those who are vulnerable or need extra support. Since April 2019, £17 million has been awarded by the UK Government in grant funding to a network of 72 organisations, who provide a wide range of invaluable support across the UK, ensuring those most at-risk continue to get the help they need.

The UK Government has two grant funded organisations; Tros Gynnal Plant and Newport Mind who operate and provide a wide range of support services to vulnerable and hard to reach EU citizens across Wales.

The UK Government has committed a further £4.5 million of grant funding for the period 1 April to 30 September this year to fund the current network of 72 organisations to continue to provide a range of support across the UK well beyond the 30 June deadline.

Where it is appropriate, the Office of the Secretary of State for Wales has approached the Cabinet Office Clearing House for advice on Freedom of Information requests.

The Office of the Secretary of State for Wales has made no assessment of artificial intelligence in respect of its responsibilities.

The Office of the Secretary of State for Wales works to answer Freedom of Information requests within the timescales set out in the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and does not operate a red, amber and green rating system in doing so.

The Office of the Secretary of State for Wales does not use artificial intelligence in the implementation of its policies. There has been no expenditure incurred by the Office on artificial intelligence.

I work closely with my colleagues in the Department for International Trade to ensure that businesses and consumers across Wales feel the benefits of our world-class Free Trade Agreements and take advantage of new opportunities as we unlock access to new markets. The Government carried out preliminary scoping assessments for each FTA negotiation with a full impact assessment published prior to implementation.

The Trade and Investment Hubs are central to promoting British exports from all parts of the UK, to help level up the country and build back better. The hub in Cardiff will be home to export and investment specialists who will provide businesses with expert support and advice to maximise export potential, boost trade in new markets overseas, and help businesses feed directly into the free trade agreements programme.

Levelling up is at the heart of the Government’s agenda and the commitments in the Plan for Wales to build back better and drive jobs, growth and prosperity. This includes making £27 billion available through the Levelling Up Fund, UK Community Renewal Fund and UK infrastructure Bank as well as investment in critical broadband, mobile and transport connectivity.

At Spending Review 2020, all Departments agreed provisional priority outcomes across all of the UK, along with metrics for measuring progress against these outcomes. The full list can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/spending-review-2020-documents.

The Government will be looking at additional mechanisms for measuring progress on its levelling up ambitions as part of the forthcoming Levelling Up White Paper.

We are backing the North Wales Growth Deal with £120m including for innovative net zero projects such as the Morlais tidal energy test facility. We are seeing a further 2 gigawatts of offshore wind in development. And we are also providing close to £5m for the Holyhead Hydrogen Hub.

We are backing the North Wales Growth Deal with £120m including for innovative net zero projects such as the Morlais tidal energy test facility. We are seeing a further 2 gigawatts of offshore wind in development. And we are also providing close to £5m for the Holyhead Hydrogen Hub.

None. Devolution of the benefits system is not an issue that is raised on the doorsteps of Wales and even the Welsh Government has not asked for powers equivalent to Scotland.

This Government is clear in our commitment to the Union as an unparalleled and successful partnership between our four great nations.

My Department and I are working across Whitehall to deliver strategic priorities for Wales that will level up communities, improve infrastructure, create jobs and economic growth.

Freeports will increase trade, create employment and attract investment. We want to ensure that the whole of the UK can benefit, and remain committed to establishing at least one Freeport in Wales as soon as possible.

I have had no discussions with the Welsh Government on a Welsh independence referendum.

The value to Wales of being part of a strong United Kingdom has been clearly demonstrated by the UK Government’s actions during the Covid-19 pandemic. We have safeguarded Welsh jobs through employment support schemes like the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and Self-Employment Income Support Scheme, and reduced transmission of Covid-19 through the successful rollout of the vaccine programme.

We have protected Welsh jobs and businesses by ensuring trade continues to flow freely throughout the United Kingdom by virtue of the UK Internal Market Act 2020, and our programme of City and Growth Deals together with our local growth funds are helping to level up communities across the UK.

Furthermore, the Government is progressing our ambitious plans to establish Freeports across the UK and, under the Union Connectivity Review, boost transport links between the nations of the UK.

The Government remains committed to ensuring that all businesses are able to seize the opportunities our new trading relationship with the EU brings. We have successfully agreed wide-ranging provisions that seek to facilitate trade by avoiding unnecessary regulatory, non-tariff, barriers between the two parties and continue to offer a wide range of support to businesses exporting to the EU. This includes the £20m SME Brexit Support Fund, which provides access to grants and practical support.

My ministerial colleagues and I across government have been speaking directly to businesses across the country through department-led roundtables and other engagement fora, to develop a shared understanding and plan for the future. These engagements have been integral in supporting businesses most affected by our new trading relationship with the EU, helping them to adjust and continue to successfully compete on a global stage.

I discuss a wide range of issues relating to the Coronavirus pandemic with Cabinet colleagues on a regular basis. However, The Office of the Secretary of State for Wales is not the lead UK Government Department responsible for the NHS Test and Trace database system policy. The lead department is the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC).

The Office of the Secretary of State for Wales is not the lead UK Government Department responsible for the NHS Test and Trace database system and does not therefore develop policy relating to the use of the system. The lead department is the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC).

The Office of the Secretary of State for Wales is not the lead UK Government Department responsible for the NHS Test and Trace database system and does not therefore develop policy relating to the use of the system. The lead department is the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC).

I have regular discussions with stakeholders, including those from the seafood sector on maximising opportunities from the UK-EU Trade and Co-operation Agreement.

Having left the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy, Welsh fishermen and women will be in a position to rebuild our fishing fleet and increase quotas in the coming years. That is why on 24 March, we announced how the additional quota secured as a result of leaving the EU would be shared between the four UK administrations this year. This approach was agreed with the Welsh Government and delivers uplifts for the Welsh industry in sole, plaice and other important stocks.

We recognised the disruption caused to seafood exporters by delays at the border in the early part of this year. To address this, we launched the £23m package of support to deliver the Seafood Disruption Scheme and Seafood Response Fund. This is designed to help UK fishing and shellfish aquaculture businesses that have been affected by the downturn of export and domestic markets for fish and shellfish due to the coronavirus pandemic and/or disruption to seafood exports earlier this year

The Government remains deeply disappointed with the BBC’s decision to restrict the over-75 licence fee concession to only those in receipt of pension credit. We recognise the value of free TV licences for over-75s across the UK, including those in the Newport West constituency and Wales as a whole and believe they should be funded by the BBC.

In the 2015 funding settlement, the government agreed with the BBC that responsibility for the concession would transfer to the BBC in June 2020. This reform was subject to public discussion and debated extensively during the passage of the Digital Economy Act 2017 through Parliament. This legislation provides that the future of the concession is the responsibility of the BBC, not of the government.

The Government has been clear that the BBC must ensure that it supports those affected by its decision, and it must look at how it uses its substantial licence fee income to support older people.

I have regular discussions with the Welsh Government and Cabinet colleagues on a wide range of climate change matters, including the preparations for COP26 to ensure an inclusive and ambitious COP26 for the whole of the UK. This includes when I recently met the Welsh Government Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs at the COP26 Devolved Administrations Ministerial Group on 22 March 2021.

The COP26 Devolved Administrations Ministerial Group brings together the COP26 President Designate, Territorial Secretaries of State and climate change ministers from the devolved administrations to ensure effective engagement and collaboration on COP26 and will meet quarterly in the run up to the summit. There is also ongoing official-level engagement with the Welsh Government on COP26.

The Government recognises the importance of supporting international research partnerships and supporting the UK research sector. The challenging financial situation we face due to the Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in a temporary reduction in the UK’s aid spending target from 0.7% of GNI to 0.5%. This means making difficult decisions when it comes to prioritising how we spend aid money to deliver the most impactful outcomes.

The Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy are currently working with UKRI, and all the Global Challenges Research Fund and Newton Fund Delivery Partners, to manage the financial year 2021/22 ODA allocations, including which projects will be going ahead. These Delivery Partners have communicated with award holders setting out the next stage of the review of ODA funding next year, and to explore options for individual programmes. Due to the ongoing nature of this process, until it is complete, we cannot share project-level details.

The responsibility for the management of pollution and assessments into the illegal discharge of sewage falls within the remit of the Welsh Government and Natural Resources Wales.

NHS funding decisions in Wales are devolved to the Welsh Government. The UK Government has provided the Welsh Government with an extra £7.3bn to tackle the pandemic; that is over £2,300 per person in Wales. Including a £5.2bn funding guarantee, £650m flexible funding and an additional £1.5bn announced at the Spending Review and Budget

We are also buying vaccines on behalf of the Devolved Administrations and so far, have provided over 60% of Covid tests in Wales.

Departmental social media advertising spend since January 2020 is shown below:

• Date: December 2020, Campaign: EU Transition, Platform/Outlet: Twitter, Cost: £241.94;
• Date: December 2020, Campaign: Covid-19 business support, Platform/Outlet: Twitter, Cost: £201.26;
• Date: December 2020, Campaign: Covid-19 business support, Platform/Outlet: Facebook, Cost: £500.

The above figures relate to direct Wales Office spend only and do not include spending in Wales on advertising by other UK Government departments.

Departmental advertising spend since January 2020 is shown below:

• Date: November 2020, Campaign: EU Transition, Platform/Outlet: Business News Wales print publication, Cost: £6,000;
• Date: November 2020, Campaign: EU Transition, Platform/Outlet: Reach PLC x 3, Cost: £73,840.33 (£30,000 + £30,000 + £13,840.33);
• Date: December 2020, Campaign: EU Transition, Platform/Outlet: Twitter, Cost: £241.94;
• Date: December 2020, Campaign: Covid-19 Business Support, Platform/Outlet: Twitter, Cost: £201.26;
• Date: December 2020, Campaign: EU Transition, Platform/Outlet: Reach PLC, Cost: £5,937.25;
• Date: December 2020, Campaign: Covid-19 business support, Platform/Outlet: Facebook, Cost: £500;
• Date: January 2021, Campaign: EU Transition, Platform/Outlet: Reach PLC, Cost: £9,602.70.

The above figures relate to direct Wales Office spend only and do not include spending in Wales on advertising by other UK Government departments.

The Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Wales and I have regular discussions with Ministerial colleagues about connectivity within Wales and between Wales and the rest of the United Kingdom, which is one of my top priorities. In addition, earlier this month the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Wales participated in a cross-border transport forum involving representatives from North Wales and North West England and, separately, met with Sir Peter Hendy, the Chair of the Union Connectivity Review.

On 10 March, the UK Government published the Interim Report of the Union Connectivity Review. The report highlights the strategic importance of cross-border travel to and from Wales and draws attention to four Welsh transport routes in particular which will be further considered as part of the development of the Final Report. Wales will benefit from some of the £20m committed on the back of the Interim Report to explore the development of potential projects.

I have regular discussions with Cabinet colleagues on a wide range of subjects including how we can best support the Welsh creative industry sector.

Leaving the EU has always meant that there would be changes to how touring musicians and performers from the UK operate in the EU. The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has engaged with the sector extensively throughout negotiations and since the announcement of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement to understand the diverse circumstances of companies, organisations and individual practitioners and how they may need to adapt as they plan activity across the European Union.

DCMS has established a Working Group to bring together sector representatives, other key government departments and the devolved administrations. The Group will work together to provide clarity regarding the practical steps that need to be taken by creative sector professionals when touring the EU. It will explore how these sectors can be supported to work and tour in the EU with confidence.

Going forward DCMS will continue to work closely with the sector and the devolved administrations to ensure businesses and individuals have the advice and guidance they need to meet new requirements.

There has been a steady, continual increase in the roll-on roll-off freight flow through the port of Holyhead since the start of the year. Freight flows have increased each week since the start of the year and data for the last week in February showed there was almost double the number of HGVs travelling via Holyhead compared to the first week of January. However, freight volumes at Holyhead remain below 2020 levels.

I am having regular discussions with Cabinet colleagues about traffic levels at the Welsh ports and the effects of increased direct ferry links between Ireland and continental Europe on the land bridge route. The Government is confident in the prospects for Welsh ports over the medium to long-term. We are clear that the land bridge continues to be the most advantageous route for hauliers travelling between Ireland and much of mainland Europe in terms of costs and time. We are continuing to work with hauliers in the UK and the EU to ensure they fully understand the new systems and processes following the end of the Transition Period.