Asked by: Ann Davies (Plaid Cymru - Caerfyrddin)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reason a non-metropolitan county council in England is defined as exempt accommodation under housing benefit regulation.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Housing Benefit regulations contain a landlord definition used to determine whether supported housing and supported living qualifies as specified accommodation. Non-metropolitan county councils in England were included in the definition because these authorities were the only ones who did not administer Housing Benefit.
We continue to keep this under review and are considering ways in which this definition could be improved as we progress work with MHCLG to implement the Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act. Any future decision on whether the definition should be changed will be considered in the context of the Government’s missions, including Local Government Reorganisation, as well as goals on housing and the financial environment.
Asked by: Ann Davies (Plaid Cymru - Caerfyrddin)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department plans to introduce alternative methods of calculating the minimum income floor for self-employed people.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The government has committed to reviewing Universal Credit. I have spoken to many stakeholders on many different parts of UC, including how the system supports self-employed customers. We have engaged extensively with stakeholders, frontline staff and customers, including a large-scale survey of nearly 10,000 Universal Credit customers.
Asked by: Ann Davies (Plaid Cymru - Caerfyrddin)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reason supported living provided by local authorities in Wales is not recognised as exempt accommodation for the purposes of housing benefit.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Housing Benefit regulations contain a landlord definition used to determine whether supported housing and supported living qualifies as specified accommodation. Exempt accommodation is one of four categories of specified accommodation. Exempt accommodation can only be provided by non-metropolitan county councils in England, housing associations, registered charities and voluntary organisations where that body, or person acting on its behalf, also provides the claimants with care, support or supervision. Non-metropolitan county councils in England were included in the definition because these authorities were the only ones who did not administer Housing Benefit.
We continue to keep this under review and are considering ways in which this definition could be improved as we progress work with MHCLG to implement the Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act. Any future decision on whether the definition should be changed will be considered in the context of the Government’s missions, including Local Government Reorganisation, as well as goals on housing and the financial environment.
Asked by: Ann Davies (Plaid Cymru - Caerfyrddin)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the Minimum Income Floor for self‑employed Universal Credit claimants with caring responsibilities.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Universal Credit for self-employed individuals aims to encourage sustainable work choices and support self-employment where it is a realistic route to financial self-sufficiency.
The Minimum Income Floor is designed to encourage low-earning customers to increase their earnings and grow their business. The level of the Minimum Income Floor is calculated using the number of hours per week that a customer is expected to work, tailored specifically to customers individual circumstances, including for health conditions and caring responsibilities. It is set at a maximum of 35 hours for individuals with no limitations on their expected working hours.
To align with the offer of 30 hours of free childcare for working parents, self-employed individuals with children aged 3-12 typically have their Minimum Income Floor set using a maximum of 30 hours per week.
Asked by: Ann Davies (Plaid Cymru - Caerfyrddin)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made with Cabinet colleagues of the potential impact of the conflict between the US and Iran on (a) the cost and (b) supply of fertilizer to farmers in Wales.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
This is a devolved matter and the information provided therefore relates to England only.
The fertiliser market is a global market, and while there is no immediate risk to UK supply, the market price in the UK is strongly influenced by international prices for fertiliser and by the value of the pound.
The Government is aware of the current price increase for fertiliser due to the conflict in the Gulf. Defra is in close contact with domestic fertiliser suppliers and is monitoring overall supply to the UK. The Government remains ready to support businesses as effectively as possible in these challenging times.
Asked by: Ann Davies (Plaid Cymru - Caerfyrddin)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether address‑level coverage data will be published for the rollout of Project Gigabit Type C contracts in Caerfyrddin.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
Building Digital UK publishes data providing premises-level information on the premises included in Project Gigabit contracts every four months. Approximately 5,600 premises in the Caerfyrddin constituency are currently included in the scope of Project Gigabit contracts being delivered by Openreach. These contracts are expected to complete by 2030.
On 13 March, we also launched the gigabit broadband availability checker on GOV.UK, which allows residents and businesses in England and Wales to see whether gigabit-capable broadband is available at, or planned for, their address, including through Project Gigabit.
While this data provides transparency on which premises are included in subsidised plans, Project Gigabit suppliers are responsible for determining local delivery schedules. Communities are therefore encouraged to register their details with suppliers to receive the latest updates as build progresses.
Asked by: Ann Davies (Plaid Cymru - Caerfyrddin)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how reforms to the electricity connections process will take account of the wider social, economic and community value of Welsh community energy projects, particularly in rural areas, when assessing readiness and need.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Reforms to the electricity connections process are designed to connect viable projects that align with our Clean Power mission, including Welsh community energy schemes in rural areas. The reformed process has objective and transparent criteria for assessing projects, approved by Ofgem, with the focus on meeting our decarbonisation goals.
The Department does also recognise that community energy projects in Wales may need greater support in the connections process.
DESNZ is working alongside Ofgem, GBE, NESO, network operators and community energy stakeholders to explore grid connection regulatory and policy initiatives that will improve the experience of connecting customers, including community energy projects.
Asked by: Ann Davies (Plaid Cymru - Caerfyrddin)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to ensure that any community energy (a) definition and (b) register developed for England does not prevent Distribution Network Operators from prioritising grid connections for Welsh community energy projects that contribute to Welsh Government targets for locally owned energy.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department is in the process of creating a definition of ‘Community Energy Group’ to provide clarity for communities seeking to form community energy groups and prevent the misuse of the designation.
The Department also recognises that community energy projects may need greater support in the connections process.
DESNZ is working alongside Ofgem, Great British Energy, the National Energy System Operator (NESO), network operators and community energy stakeholders to explore grid connection regulatory and policy initiatives that will improve the experience of connecting customers, including community energy projects across the UK.
Asked by: Ann Davies (Plaid Cymru - Caerfyrddin)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to answer to the question 118015, what are the timescales for the publication of the government commissioned study on the costs of innovative undergrounding methods for transmission lines over distances of 20km to 50km.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The study on costs of innovative undergrounding methods for transmission lines is being prepared for publication shortly and in line with Cabinet Office May 2026 pre-election guidance.
Asked by: Ann Davies (Plaid Cymru - Caerfyrddin)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the extent to which the current requirement for Distribution Network Operators to treat all connection applicants identically limits their ability to support Welsh community energy projects; and whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of a defined community energy status on creating a lawful basis for different treatment.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
DESNZ is working with Ofgem, Great British Energy, NESO, network operators and community energy stakeholders to explore regulatory and policy initiatives that will improve the experience of connecting customers to the grid, including community energy projects. These reforms will support community schemes where they are viable and aligned with our Clean Power 2030 ambitions.
While we must ensure fair access for all projects, our focus is on creating a system that delivers the greatest overall contribution to decarbonisation. For now, defining community energy aims to give communities clarity and prevent misuse of the designation rather than prioritisation.