Question to the Wales Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the Welsh Government on the implementation of the recommendations of the Independent Commission on the Constitutional Future of Wales.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The UK Government has had regular discussions with the Welsh Government on a range of issues as part of our determination to reset relations with the devolved governments. We want to work collaboratively with the Welsh Government as we deliver our national missions and our manifesto commitments for Wales.

Many of the recommendations of the report are reflected in our manifesto commitments to Wales, including enhanced protection for Welsh devolution, strengthened intergovernmental working, better access to economic resources for Wales and enhanced powers for the Senedd and Welsh Government.

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 26 July (HL190), what specific plans they have to deliver better access to economic resources for Wales.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Government recognises that the Welsh Fiscal Framework is out of date and is committed to working in partnership with the Welsh Government to ensure that it delivers value for money. We will also restore decision-making over the allocation of structural funds to the representatives of Wales. The Secretary of State for Wales will work closely with HM Treasury and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government in taking these commitments forward.

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 26 July (HL190), what specific plans they have to deliver strengthened intergovernmental working.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The UK Government is resetting its relationship with the devolved governments to strengthen the UK through greater respect. This stronger intergovernmental working will be spearheaded by a new Council of the Nations and Regions, bringing together the Prime Minister, the First Ministers of Wales and Scotland, the First and deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland and the Mayors of Combined Authorities in England, to enable greater collaboration on shared challenges and opportunities.

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 26 July (HL190), what specific plans they have to deliver enhanced protection for Welsh devolution.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Government is fully committed to strengthening the Sewel Convention by setting out a new memorandum of understanding outlining how the nations will work together for the common good. We will work closely with the devolved governments in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, to reach consensus on matters regarding legislation in service of people across the United Kingdom.

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Lord Hermer on 23 July (HL Deb col 374) in relation to the devolution of employment support funding to Wales, what is the amount of that funding, and what services will be in scope.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The UK Government is resetting its relationship with the Devolved Governments to strengthen the UK through greater respect and collaboration.

We look forward to working closely with the Welsh Government to agree how we devolve employment support and ensure this complements existing provision and planned reforms to Jobcentre Plus services.

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 26 July (HL190), what specific plans they have to deliver enhanced powers for the Senedd and Welsh Government.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

As set out in our manifesto, the Government is committed to devolving employment support funding to the Welsh Government, to working with the Welsh Government to consider the devolution of youth justice, and to conducting a strategic review of probation governance, which will include considering the benefits of devolved models.

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what (a) statutory and (b) non-statutory direct ministerial appointments excluding special advisers she has made; and (i) who the appointee was and (ii) what the (A) remuneration, (B) title and (C) terms of reference was for each appointment.

Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales

Since my appointment as Secretary of State for Wales, I have not made any statutory or non-statutory direct ministerial appointments.

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what the cost to her Department was of ministerial severance payments in each year from 19 December 2019 to 30 May 2024; which Ministers received a severance payment in that period; and how much each Minister received.

Answered by Nia Griffith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Wales Office)

In accordance with the Ministerial and Other Pensions and Salaries Act 1991, paid Ministers below the age of 65 are entitled to a loss of office payment of one quarter of their claimed annual ministerial salary when they cease to hold office.

Details of ministerial severance payments can be found in the Wales Office annual report and accounts.

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many times the Prime Minister has met the First Minister of Wales.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Prime Minister has met with the First Minister of Wales once since taking office as part of his visit to Wales on the Monday following the election. The Prime Minister and the First Minister of Wales have also spoken twice on the phone, on day one and shortly after the First Minister announced his intention to stand down as the leader of Welsh Labour.

This is in addition to the Prime Minister’s day one calls with the First Minister of Scotland and the First and deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland, and meetings with them in person over the following Sunday and Monday.

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what discussions she has had with the Welsh Government on road building projects in Wales.

Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales

This government is committed to resetting the relationship and working collaboratively with the Welsh Government to improve transport infrastructure.

I am pleased to see the Welsh Government redesigning and delivering new road schemes like the Llanharan link road in a way that is cheaper, reduces embedded carbon, minimises impact on the environment, and delivers better public transport connectivity.

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many positions in her Department included (a) diversity, (b) inclusion, (c) equity and (d) equality in their job title in each of the last five years; and what the total cost of the salaries of each such job was in each of those years.

Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales

No positions in my Department had diversity, inclusion, equity, or equality in their job titles in the last five years, as such there were no related salary costs.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the cost to the public purse was of the winter fuel allowance in 2022/23; what estimate she has made of the savings to the public purse of only paying the winter fuel allowance o people claiming pension credit; how many excess winter deaths there were in each of the last three years; and what estimate she has made of the annual cost of administering a means-tested winter fuel allowance.

Answered by Emma Reynolds - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

In 2022/23, 11.4 million people in 8.4 million households in Great Britain received a Winter Fuel Payment, at a total cost of £2 billion. The Government estimates that linking entitlement to receipt of Pension Credit and other relevant DWP income-related benefits will reduce expenditure by around £1.4 billion in 2024/25 and £1.5bn in 2025/26.

In terms of administrative costs, in 2022/23 the Department for Work and Pensions spent £2.6m on the administration of Winter Fuel Payments. It is currently assessing the delivery costs for future years. Details of excess winter deaths in England and Wales can be found at: Winter mortality in England and Wales - Office for National Statistics (ons.gov.uk).

The Government is determined to ensure that the poorest pensioners get the support they need. As part of the Pension Credit Week of Action, we joined forces with national charities, broadcasters and local authorities to encourage pensioners to check their eligibility and make a claim.

From 16 September, we will be running a national marketing campaign on a range of channels. The campaign will target potential pension-age customers, as well as friends and family who can encourage and support them to apply.

Our future campaign messaging will also focus on encouraging pensioners to apply for Pension Credit before the 21 December 2024, which is the last date for making a successful backdated claim for Pension Credit in order to receive a Winter Fuel Payment.

We will work with external partners, local authorities and the Devolved Governments to boost the take-up of Pension Credit.

Our continued commitment to the triple lock means the full new state pension is forecast to increase by a further £1,700 over this course of the parliament.

We are also providing support through our Warm Homes Plan which pensioners will benefit from. This will support investment in insulation and low carbon heating – upgrading millions of homes over this Parliament. Our long-term plan will protect billpayers permanently, reduce fuel poverty, and get the UK back on track to meet our climate goals.

Our other steps include cutting waiting times in the NHS which will help many pensioners currently waiting in pain and discomfort for treatment, and delivering the economic stability which is so crucial for pensioners.

Found: Wales The Wales Office Main Estimate authorises: • The cash grant to the Government of Wales.

Found: • Northern Ireland Office • Wales Office . Public consultation 13.

Found: Wales Office, 2024-25Wales OfficeEstimateNet resources authorised for current purposesNet resources authorised

Found: government departments; receipts from other government departments and other miscellaneous receipts.62 Wales

Found: Office Estimate Net resources authorised for current purposesNet resources authorised for capital

Found: Office TOTAL NON-BUDGET NON-BUDGET Wales Office X091A004 X091A004-WALES OFFICE (NON-BUDGET/VOTED) U101

Found: for Transport , £32.1 bn (£28.5bn)Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Gov , £25.6 bn (£20.1bn)Wales

Found: Leadbeater MP Department for Culture, Media & Sport Matt Rodda MP Northern Ireland Office Becky Gittins MP Wales

Found: in the year ending December 2021.14 14 Crime in England and Wales

Found: Office.

Found: - Office for National Statistics (ons.gov.uk) - Data reflects information available as at April

Found: to cover costs of Special Advisors and Public Appointments Digital Service1044=SUM(C63:D63)From the Wales

Found: Prior to that, he was Member of Parliament for Aberconwy for a decade and served as a Minister in the Wales

Found: attempts) in the last year were male. 30 30 Sexual offences victim characteristics, England and Wales

Found: methodological note ‘Presentational changes to National Statistics on police recorded crime in England and Wales

Found: overall 0.002 0.014 -0.157 0.0 0.552 0.688 0.467 0.688 0.533 0.4 Office of the Secretary of State for Wales

Found: of State for Wales Office of the Secretary of State for Wales overall 0 0 0 0 0 0 20 0 0 30 0 0 0 0 50

Found: • Northern Ireland Office • Wales Office . Public consultation 13.

Found: Overcrowding and under -occupancy by household char acteristics, England and Wales – Office for National

Found: Available at : Health state life expectancies in England, Northern Ireland and Wales - Office for National

Found: 78,589 Wales Welsh Government(1)242 242 - - 2 1,502 279 25 - 494 704 195 546 10,333 160 1,408 352 14,740 Wales

Found: and Net Zero Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Department for Health and Social Care Wales

Found: • Northern Ireland Office • Wales Office . Public consultation 13.

Found: heritage. 05101520 UK Benchmark 2023 2022 2021 10% 10% 9% 18.3% Source: Ethnic group, England and Wales

Found: – Office for National Statistics (ons.gov.uk) Disability in the workforce The percentage of our workforce

Found: Office.

Found: Under-Secretary of State for Wales Dr James Davies MP gave evidence as part of regular session on the work of the Wales

Found: Impacts to the Envi ronment 39 Ethnic group by age and sex in England and Wales - Office for National

Found: - Office for National Statistics (ons.gov.uk) 7 Ethnic group by age and sex in England and Wales -