Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the Celtic Sea Floating Offshore Wind Leasing Round 5 on economic regeneration in Neath Port Talbot.

Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales

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.

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what proportion of (a) tableware and (b) crockery used in her Department is made by a British manufacturer.

Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales

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.

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what recent discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on support for clean energy projects in Wales.

Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales

This government is supporting clean energy projects right across Wales – from tidal stream on Anglesey to floating wind in the Celtic Sea - which will create jobs, deliver regional growth and accelerate our drive towards lower bills for households and businesses.

Our new Clean Energy Jobs Plan sets out how we will at least double the number of jobs supported by clean energy industries in Wales by the end of the decade.

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what recent discussions she has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on fiscal steps to reduce the cost of living in Wales.

Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales

The Welsh and UK Labour Governments are determined to boost living standards for families right across Wales.

It’s why we secured a record wage increase to the National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage for up to 160,000 workers.

It’s why we are creating thousands of new jobs in our green industries, our freeports and investment zones.

And it’s why, just two weeks ago, we confirmed a second year of funding for our three economic inactivity trailblazers across Wales – to help people into good, well-paid jobs.

Labour is the only party on the side of working people in Wales and across the UK.

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what discussions she has had with the Welsh Government on strengthening the Union.

Answered by Anna McMorrin - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (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.

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what discussions she has had with the Welsh Government on strengthening the Union.

Answered by Anna McMorrin - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (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.

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on the potential for the development of offshore wind in Wales.

Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales

This government is supporting offshore wind projects in Wales which will deliver jobs, boost economic growth and clean power.

Under this government, the 1.5GW Mona offshore wind farm off the North Wales coast was awarded development consent, with the potential to support over 3,000 jobs.

And Floating Offshore Wind projects are progressing in the Celtic Sea, which could support over 5,000 new jobs and deliver a £1.4 billion-pound boost to the UK economy.

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of increased defence spending on Wales.

Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales

The Defence Industrial Strategy will ensure that defence is an engine for growth across the UK, including Wales.

Wales’s thriving defence sector will benefit from its own Defence Growth Deal backed by a share of £250m.

The deal will harness Wales’s strengths in autonomy and aerospace, unlocking growth, innovation, and jobs across defence and the wider advanced manufacturing sector.

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what recent discussions she has had with (a) the Secretary of State for Business and Trade and (b) representatives of the Welsh steel industry on the potential impact of proposed EU steel import quotas on (i) steel production and (ii) employment in Wales.

Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales

I met with the Minister for Industry to discuss the potential impact of proposed EU steel proposals and continue to work closely with cabinet colleagues as Government responds to protect our domestic steel industry. I remain in close contact with all Welsh steelmakers and have had numerous discussions with Tata Steel UK and steel unions to understand the potential impact on individual businesses. As Chair of the Port Talbot Transition Board, I also discussed this with members at the October meeting.

We recognise that global trading conditions remain challenging for the steel industry as global overcapacity, trade diversion and weak demand continue to put downward pressure on prices. To address these conditions, the Government intervened earlier this year to strengthen the current steel safeguard measures. This Government will continue to review stronger trade measures to protect steel producers in South Wales and across the UK.

We are actively engaging at all levels with the European Commission, and key Member States, with the aim of securing a positive outcome for the UK. We will always defend our critical steel industry, which is vital for the UK.

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure that critical services continue to run in the event of a major internet outage.

Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) provides IT services, including cyber security to my Department.

The government has a robust set of policies in place to ensure there are well-defined and tested incident management processes in place, and to ensure continuity of essential functions in the event of system or service failure.

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology will publish the Government Cyber Action Plan this Winter, which will set out a clear approach for the Government and the Wider Public Sector to manage cyber security and resilience incidents.

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what recent discussions she has had with the Welsh Language Commissioner (a) on the topic of Welsh Language Standards and (b) in general.

Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales

The then Parliamentary Under Secretary of State met with the Welsh Language Commissioner earlier this year at the Urdd Eisteddfod where among other matters, they discussed the topics of Welsh Language Standards and Welsh Language Schemes. The now Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Minister McMorrin, looks forward to meeting the Welsh Language Commissioner this month and my officials also continue to engage with the Welsh Language Commissioner’s Office regularly.

Although the Welsh Language is a devolved matter, the UK Government has a role to play in supporting the Welsh Government’s Cymraeg 2050 strategy. This is most notably through ensuring that S4C as a public service broadcaster continues to promote the use of a thriving Welsh language.

The UK Government’s overarching goal is to continue to develop and expand Welsh language use and delivery. For example, we coordinate the officials led cross-Government Welsh Language Forum, which last met in September and was attended by a representative of the Welsh Language Commissioner’s Office. We publish content (graphics and videos) in both Welsh and English and all four social media channels operated by the Wales Office - X, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. The Commissioner's office also regularly engages with individual UK Government departments to assist them in delivering their services in Wales through the medium of Welsh.

It is for the Welsh Ministers to specify, in regulations under the Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011, the bodies to which the Welsh Language Commissioner may be required to comply with Welsh language standards. Where the Welsh Ministers seek to provide for standards to be specifically applicable to a Minister of the Crown, they must obtain the consent of the relevant Secretary of State.

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what assessment has she made of the extent to which Welsh language rights are fully respected in (a) government and (b) crown bodies operating in Wales.

Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales

The then Parliamentary Under Secretary of State met with the Welsh Language Commissioner earlier this year at the Urdd Eisteddfod where among other matters, they discussed the topics of Welsh Language Standards and Welsh Language Schemes. The now Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Minister McMorrin, looks forward to meeting the Welsh Language Commissioner this month and my officials also continue to engage with the Welsh Language Commissioner’s Office regularly.

Although the Welsh Language is a devolved matter, the UK Government has a role to play in supporting the Welsh Government’s Cymraeg 2050 strategy. This is most notably through ensuring that S4C as a public service broadcaster continues to promote the use of a thriving Welsh language.

The UK Government’s overarching goal is to continue to develop and expand Welsh language use and delivery. For example, we coordinate the officials led cross-Government Welsh Language Forum, which last met in September and was attended by a representative of the Welsh Language Commissioner’s Office. We publish content (graphics and videos) in both Welsh and English and all four social media channels operated by the Wales Office - X, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. The Commissioner's office also regularly engages with individual UK Government departments to assist them in delivering their services in Wales through the medium of Welsh.

It is for the Welsh Ministers to specify, in regulations under the Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011, the bodies to which the Welsh Language Commissioner may be required to comply with Welsh language standards. Where the Welsh Ministers seek to provide for standards to be specifically applicable to a Minister of the Crown, they must obtain the consent of the relevant Secretary of State.

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of placing Welsh Language Standards on all Crown bodies.

Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales

The then Parliamentary Under Secretary of State met with the Welsh Language Commissioner earlier this year at the Urdd Eisteddfod where among other matters, they discussed the topics of Welsh Language Standards and Welsh Language Schemes. The now Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Minister McMorrin, looks forward to meeting the Welsh Language Commissioner this month and my officials also continue to engage with the Welsh Language Commissioner’s Office regularly.

Although the Welsh Language is a devolved matter, the UK Government has a role to play in supporting the Welsh Government’s Cymraeg 2050 strategy. This is most notably through ensuring that S4C as a public service broadcaster continues to promote the use of a thriving Welsh language.

The UK Government’s overarching goal is to continue to develop and expand Welsh language use and delivery. For example, we coordinate the officials led cross-Government Welsh Language Forum, which last met in September and was attended by a representative of the Welsh Language Commissioner’s Office. We publish content (graphics and videos) in both Welsh and English and all four social media channels operated by the Wales Office - X, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. The Commissioner's office also regularly engages with individual UK Government departments to assist them in delivering their services in Wales through the medium of Welsh.

It is for the Welsh Ministers to specify, in regulations under the Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011, the bodies to which the Welsh Language Commissioner may be required to comply with Welsh language standards. Where the Welsh Ministers seek to provide for standards to be specifically applicable to a Minister of the Crown, they must obtain the consent of the relevant Secretary of State.

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