Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have held with the Farmer's Union of Wales regarding the likely impact of changes to inheritance tax on farming in Wales.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

Ministers from several Government departments have met with organisations including NFU Cymru and the Farmers’ Union of Wales.

The Government believes its reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief from 6 April 2026 get the balance right between supporting farms and businesses, fixing the public finances, and funding public services. The reforms reduce the inheritance tax advantages available to owners of agricultural and business assets, but still ensure those assets will be taxed at a much lower effective rate than most other assets. Despite a tough fiscal context, the Government will maintain very significant levels of relief from inheritance tax beyond what is available to others and compared to the position before 1992. Where inheritance tax is due, those liable for a charge can pay any liability on the relevant assets over 10 annual instalments, interest-free.

As announced at Budget 2025, any unused £1 million allowance for the 100% rate of agricultural property relief and business property relief will be transferable between spouses and civil partners, including if the first death was before 6 April 2026.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many mainline railway stations in London currently have full step-free access for passengers, and what plans they have to guarantee step free access in those stations.

Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

Based on data from a 2023 national accessibility stations audit, there are 138 mainline railway stations in London that currently provide full step-free access for passengers. This is out of a total of 335 mainline stations within the Greater London Authority area.

The Department continues to work closely with Network Rail, train operators and local authorities to improve step-free access at stations in London. For example, a major upgrade to deliver step free access at Hither Green station is forecast to open to passengers in 2027.

Where step-free access is not available, train operators are required to provide alternative transport at no additional cost to the passenger.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with universities and other higher and further education institutions in north west Wales regarding the skills and training that the local workforce will need in order to obtain employment at the proposed nuclear facility at Wylfa.

Answered by Lord Vallance of Balham - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Great British Energy – Nuclear’ s small modular reactor project at Wylfa on Anglesey is expected to generate around 3,000 on-site jobs at peak construction, along with thousands more across the supply chain. The industry-led Nuclear Skills Plan will support this workforce growth and strengthen partnerships with stakeholders in Wales by launching a Wales Regional Skills Hub in 2026. Bangor University are also part of the Nuclear Energy Futures Centre for Doctoral Training which through the Nuclear Skills Plan we have provided funding to recruit an additional cohort of PhD students in this academic year.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what is their most recent estimate of the total number of positions in the home civil service; and how many of these posts fall under the UK Government, the Scottish Government, the Welsh Government, and the Northern Ireland executive respectively.

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

The table below shows the number of home civil servants on a headcount and FTE basis as at 30 June 2025 by UK central government departments, Scottish Government and Welsh Government. The Northern Ireland Executive is supported by the Northern Ireland Civil Service which is not part of the home civil service.

Source: Public Sector Employment Statistics, ONS

Notes:

Numbers may not sum to total due to rounding

Figures include Diplomatic Service.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to rejoin the EU’s Erasmus+ Programme.

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

At the UK-EU Summit in May, the UK agreed to work towards association to the Erasmus+ programme on financial terms to be mutually agreed, which should ensure a fair balance as regards the contributions of and benefits to the UK. Negotiations are ongoing, and the timelines for any association are subject to further discussion.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will allow representatives of political parties from Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland to discuss their legislative programmes with UK civil servants in the event that there is a realistic prospect of those parties entering government in their respective devolved administrations.

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

The approach to any discussions between opposition parties and officials of the devolved governments of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland is a matter for those governments. The Cabinet Manual sets out that it is for the Prime Minister to authorise contact between UK Government civil servants and opposition parties ahead of a general election.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government when they will appoint a commissioner responsible for giving advice about Wales under the provisions of the Crown Estate Act 2025.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

The recruitment campaign launched on 16 October with a view to making an appointment by early 2026. It closed to new applications on 12 November and continues to progress in accordance with the Governance Code for Public Appointments.

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the Welsh Government regarding the construction of a plant for the production of medical radio isotopes at the Trawsfynydd nuclear site and what plans they have to collaborate with the Welsh Government to construct the plant.

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

The UK Government has regular discussions with the Welsh Government on a range of issues, including the Welsh Government’s project to establish a public sector laboratory for the supply of medical radioisotopes at the Trawsfynydd site in Gwynedd.

The UK Government continues to engage with the Welsh Government on the opportunities this proposal could create for Wales.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government, in the light of the three-paper series concerning the health dangers associated with ultra-processed food, published in <em>The Lancet</em> on 18 November, what plans they have to review the safety standards for such foods.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Department acknowledges the three-paper series on ultra-processed food published in The Lancet on 18 November. The Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) considered the evidence on the impact of processing on health, including mental health, in 2023 and 2025.

The SACN concluded that the observed associations between higher consumption of processed and ultra processed foods and adverse health outcomes are concerning. The SACN recommends that on balance, most people are likely to benefit from reducing their consumption of processed foods high in energy, saturated fat, salt, and free sugars, and which are low in fibre. The SACN’s recommendations align with existing policies for supporting healthier diets and our advice to consumers.

The SACN has made a number of research recommendations to help understand whether processing is a risk factor, over and above the nutrients and energy intake. The SACN will keep the topic of processed foods under annual review and will consider it again in 2026.

All food additives used in the United Kingdom are subject to rigorous safety assessments before they are approved for use. These assessments consider how the additive will be used, the types of foods it can be added to, and the maximum permitted levels to ensure consumer safety. Current evidence indicates that these limits are set at levels designed to protect people’s health.

The concerns regarding the packaging of ultra-processed foods containing chemicals such as phthalates, bisphenols, and per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAs) are indeed legitimate. These compounds have been linked to potential health risks, including endocrine disruption and reduced fertility. All materials and articles intended for contact with food must adhere to a comprehensive legal framework. This framework includes specific regulations for different material types, which are enforced under the Materials and Articles in Contact with Food Regulations.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government how much money they estimate will be allocated to (1) Wales, (2) Scotland, and (3) Northern Ireland, as part of the Budget 2025.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

As a result of decisions at Autumn Budget 2025, through the operation of the Barnett formula:

(1) The Welsh Government will receive an additional £320 million RDELex and £185 million CDEL.

(2) The Scottish Government will receive an additional £510 million RDELex and £310 million CDEL.

(3) The Northern Ireland Executive will receive an additional £240 million RDELex and £130 million CDEL.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government what recent assessment they have made of the annual reduction in taxation revenue due to the decision to leave the European Union.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Treasury does not publish forecasts of the economy or the public finances. Forecasts of future tax receipts are produced by the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) as part of its Economic and Fiscal Outlook (EFO).

The OBR has set out how the UK's exit from the European Union (EU) has affected its forecast. The OBR assessed the impact of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement on UK trade in Box 2.4 of the March 2024 EFO and reconfirmed that assessment in the latest EFO, which is available here: https://obr.uk/efo/economic-and-fiscal-outlook-november-2025/

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government what latest estimate they have made of the amount of money from the activities of the Crown Estate that will accrue to (1) the UK Government, (2) the Scottish Government, (3) the Welsh Government, and (4) the Northern Ireland Executive.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Crown Estate operates across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The management of assets held by The Crown Estate was devolved to Scotland in 2016 and, as such, Crown Estate Scotland operates as a distinct entity from The Crown Estate and is governed by Scottish legislation.

In accordance with the Crown Estate Act 1961, The Crown Estate returns its net revenue profits to the UK Consolidated Fund - a combined total of more than £5 billion over the last decade. This money is used to fund vital public services across the UK in reserved areas. When the UK Consolidated Fund is spent in England, in areas which are devolved, the devolved governments also receive funding through the operation of the Barnett formula.

Details of The Crown Estate's revenues are outlined in its annual report and accounts.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to compulsorily purchase substandard housing in England and bring it to an acceptable standard for occupation.

Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Government has no plans to compulsorily purchase substandard housing in England directly. However, it has included measures in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill to improve and speed-up how authorities can take possession of substandard housing through compulsory purchase.

The Bill also makes the home loss payments regime fairer in relation to the compulsory purchase of substandard housing.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate have they made of the effect of the agreement recently concluded between the UK and USA as part of the Economic Prosperity Deal on the cost of purchasing drugs for the NHS for each of the financial years 2025/26, 2026/27, 2027/28, and 2028/29; and whether any such costs were included in planning for the recent Budget 2025.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

Every patient deserves access to the best possible treatment. This deal is a vital investment that builds on the strength of our National Health Service and world leading life sciences sector.

Costs will start smaller but will increase over time as the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) approves more life improving and lifesaving medicines. Total costs over the Spending Review period are expected to be approximately £1 billion. But the final costs will clearly depend on which medicines NICE decides to approve and the actual uptake of these. This is not something that we can pre-empt at this time as it depends on which drugs come to market, and which are assessed as approved for use on the NHS accordingly.

At the Spending Review we delivered a record real terms increase for day-to-day spending for the NHS in England up to April 2029. This deal will be funded by allocations made at the Spending Review, where front line services will remain protected through the record funding secured. Future year funding will be settled at the next Spending Review.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they have received from small businesses in Wales concerning the impact of their legislative programme and budget proposals.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

HM Treasury engages regularly with businesses and representative organisations in Wales. HMT also runs a stakeholder representations process ahead of fiscal events where the public and businesses can submit their representations. This allows us to consider the views of a wide range of small businesses and their representative organisations. We continue to encourage businesses in Wales to engage with this process at future fiscal events to help inform policy.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill on 9 December (HL12329), when they plan for Euston station to be equipped with full step-free access for passengers.

Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

Work is continuing with delivery partners to develop affordable, integrated plans for Euston Station, which will include the new HS2 terminus, along with upgrades to the existing Network Rail and London Underground stations and local transport facilities. The development of these plans will include provision of step free access for passengers. The Department will set out more details in due course as the plans for Euston Station are progressed.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what percentage of radioisotopes used by the NHS in England are imported; and what plans they have to enable radioisotopes to be manufactured in the UK.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

Medical radioisotopes can be produced in different ways, and the United Kingdom has a comprehensive network of cyclotrons used for radioisotope manufacture. These tend to be placed close to point of use due to the short half-life of these products. The radioisotopes manufactured in these cyclotrons are not suitable for all use and hospitals and trusts in England use a significant number of isotopes manufactured in research reactors. There are currently no reactors in the UK that manufacture medical isotopes, and therefore all of these are imported.

The Government has made up to £520 million available through the Life Sciences Innovative Manufacturing Fund to support the UK manufacture of medicine and medical technology products. This includes applications looking to establish, expand, or improve the UK-based manufacture of medical radioisotopes for diagnostic or therapeutic applications.

The Government also recently announced a £54 million funding package for eight innovative research and development projects, including £9.9 million earmarked for Project Alpha to explore how to make medical treatments from legacy nuclear material. Something that could unlock the UK’s potential to develop promising new cancer therapies.