Asked by: Liz Saville Roberts (Plaid Cymru - Dwyfor Meirionnydd)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what formal requests for the devolution for further powers has the Welsh Government made since July 2024.
Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales
Labour is the party of devolution in Wales and Westminster. I and all UK Government ministers engage with the Welsh Ministers frequently on a wide range of issues, including the future of devolution in key policy areas. This engagement is part of our reset relationship with the Welsh Government based on co-operation and partnership, through which we can achieve and deliver more for people in Wales.
Asked by: Rupert Lowe (Independent - Great Yarmouth)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what the cost to the public purse was of feasibility studies conducted by their Department for projects that did not proceed in the last five years.
Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales
The cost to the public purse is zero as the Department has not undertaken any feasibility studies in the last five years.
Asked by: Rebecca Smith (Conservative - South West Devon)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, whether she has had discussions with the Welsh Government on the potential impact of the proposed visitor levy on the Welsh economy.
Answered by Anna McMorrin - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Wales Office)
The Welsh Government’s Visitor Levy could raise up to £33 million a year to reinvest in local communities and support tourism, reflecting the strength of the sector.
We have announced that a similar overnight levy will be introduced in England, building on the example set by Wales.
Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - Arbroath and Broughty Ferry)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what discussions she has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the potential impact of her policies on the cost of living in Wales.
Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales
I have regular discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the cost of living in Wales. We took decisive action in the budget by scrapping the Two Child Limit, extending the fuel duty freeze, uprating the Universal Credit Standard Allowance and increasing the State Pension.
This was a Labour budget, with Labour values at its heart. We are determined to do whatever it takes to improve the cost of living for families across Wales.
Asked by: Connor Naismith (Labour - Crewe and Nantwich)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what recent discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on increasing economic growth in Wales.
Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales
This Government is investing to unlock growth, create jobs and improve the cost of living.
We are creating thousands of jobs in every corner of Wales. This includes huge investment into new nuclear power in Wylfa, two new AI Growth Zones, a Defence Growth Deal, two Freeports, two Investment Zones, and investment into our semiconductor sector in South Wales.
Asked by: Jerome Mayhew (Conservative - Broadland and Fakenham)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the Autumn Budget 2025 on family farms in Wales.
Answered by Anna McMorrin - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Wales Office)
Family farms and the wider agricultural sector play a vital role across our communities. I'm pleased that this Government has been able to deliver the largest funding settlement to Welsh Government to enable them to support our farming communities.
Asked by: Carolyn Harris (Labour - Neath and Swansea East)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what assessment she has undertaken with Cabinet colleagues on the potential impact of granting the Welsh Government’s proposed UK Internal Market Act exemption on the Deposit Return Scheme on (a) businesses and (b) consumers.
Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales
The Government is following the process to assess the Welsh Government’s proposal for an exclusion from the UK Internal Market Act as set out in the UK Internal Market Act Review published in July 2025. The Government has been engaging with stakeholders to gather evidence and feedback on the impact of the proposal on the UK internal market in order to inform its response to the Welsh Government’s proposal. The Government is working at pace to be able to communicate its position within the Resources & Waste Common Framework, in line with the processes set out in the 2025 Review.
Asked by: David Davis (Conservative - Goole and Pocklington)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, by how much they plan to reduce their Department's budget to help fund the digital ID scheme.
Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales
Digital Identity policy is in development, with a dedicated team inside the Cabinet Office working to develop the proposals.
Costs in this Spending Review period will be met within the existing Spending Review settlements.
We are inviting the public to have their say in the upcoming consultation as we develop a safe, secure, and inclusive system for the UK. No final decisions will be made until after the consultation.
Asked by: Lee Anderson (Reform UK - Ashfield)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how much their Department has spent on (a) advertising and (b) marketing in each of the last three years.
Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales
Over the last three financial years, the department spent the following on advertising:
2023-24: Nil
2024-25: £20,248.40
2025-26 to date: £26,751.60
The advertising spend was on the UK Government campaign to promote the availability of the UK Government and Tata Steel Transition Board funding. The campaign aimed to raise awareness of the support available to steelworkers affected by the decarbonisation transition at Tata Steel UK in Port Talbot, including access to skills funding for those leaving the business. It also highlighted funding opportunities for local businesses impacted by the transition.
There has been no spend on marketing during this period.
Asked by: Adam Jogee (Labour - Newcastle-under-Lyme)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to increase trade and business co-operation between Wales and a) Newcastle-under-Lyme and b) Staffordshire.
Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales
My Department supports growth by working closely with the Department of Business and Trade and the Welsh Government to attract private investment, helping business to grow and export, creating jobs and opportunities across Wales. Many businesses supported by this Government in Wales operate across Wales and England, particularly in border areas including Staffordshire and Newcastle-under-Lyme.
The recently expanded Office for Investment works with local areas, leveraging public finance from institutions like the National Wealth Fund and the British Business Bank, to deliver strategic investments, aligned with the 10-year Infrastructure and Industrial strategies.
This Government is investing in the infrastructure needed to boost growth across the Wales/England border region, including the approval of the M54-M6 link road.