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 she has made of the potential merits of increasing the Housing Benefit earnings disregard from £5 to £57.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Department acknowledges there is a challenge presented by the interaction between Universal Credit and Housing Benefit for those residing in Supported and Temporary Accommodation and receiving their housing support through Housing Benefit. The department is considering the issue carefully in partnership with stakeholders.
As funding is required to allow a change, any future decisions will take account of the current fiscal context.
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, if she will undertake a review of the impact of changes implemented as part of the Pensions Act 2014 on the ability of widows to inherit a spouse's state pension entitlement.
Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
There are no current plans to carry out such a review.
The new State Pension, for people reaching State Pension age from 6 April 2016 onwards, is based on an individual's own National Insurance record. In general, it is not possible, as it was under the old State Pension system, for a person to increase their State Pension or to qualify for a State Pension based on their late spouse or civil partner's National Insurance record, although there is some protection under the transitional arrangements for the new State Pension.
The new State Pension modernised the State Pension system, moving away from an out-of-date model in the past where many women depended on their husbands for their State Pension entitlement. The new State Pension is rooted in the contemporary world, with people’s entitlement determined by their own National Insurance record.
The change on inheritance was one of a number of reforms which need to be seen in the round. These include much greater recognition for periods when women are outside the labour market, caring for children. These reforms have resulted in much improved State Pension outcomes for women. Women reaching State Pension age in the year to December 2024 on average received 99.1% of the amount received by men, with equalisation expected shortly. Under the previous system, on average, women receive 86% of the amount received by men.
Asked by: Ann Davies (Plaid Cymru - Caerfyrddin)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment has she made of the potential merits of using the certificate of sponsorship start date to start the qualifying period for care workers on skilled worker visas to apply for indefinite leave to remain.
Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The requirement to hold a certificate of sponsorship is part of the eligibility criteria of the skilled worker route and does not confer any permission to enter or stay in the UK. An applicant for settlement must show a period of lawful continuous residence.
The new Immigration Rules will end overseas recruitment for Care Workers and take effect on 22 July. Transitional arrangements will allow in country switching until 2028 and individuals will continue to be able to extend their permission. The qualification period for Indefinite Leave to Remain begins when the individuals first entered the UK in the Skilled Worker route.
The Immigration White Paper sets out proposed changes to settlement rules. We will consult on the details of the policy later this year. These are important changes, we recognise how important this is to people, and will listen to what people tell us in that consultation. We will provide further details of how the scheme will work after that.
Asked by: Ann Davies (Plaid Cymru - Caerfyrddin)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of introducing a concession for care workers in the qualifying time for indefinite leave to remain due to delays in UK visa and immigration processing times for skilled worker visas.
Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
There are no delays in processing straightforward Health and Care Worker visa applications.
Section 3C leave, as defined in Section 3C of the Immigration Act 1971, automatically extends a person’s immigration permission if they have submitted an application to extend or vary their permission before the person’s existing permission expires. Time spent on the skilled worker route under section 3C can be counted towards settlement.
We will be consulting on the earned settlement scheme later this year and further details on the proposed scheme will be provided at that time.
Asked by: Ann Davies (Plaid Cymru - Caerfyrddin)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to increase the level of exports from Welsh businesses to the EU before the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Agreemen is implemented.
Answered by Gareth Thomas
DBT hosts a wide range of events across all sectors to promote exports, including bringing over 100 businesses to Cardiff as part of the Made in the UK, Sold to the World tech roadshow in Cardiff.
We are also piloting Digital Trade Corridors to ease border processes and modernising export services to improve accessibility. These measures aim to reduce trade friction and help Welsh businesses grow their EU exports ahead of the SPS Agreement’s implementation.
My department hosted events for all UK food and drink businesses in July, attended by Welsh exporters Wrexham Lager, Village Bakery and the Lobster Pot.
Asked by: Ann Davies (Plaid Cymru - Caerfyrddin)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of reducing the Soft Drinks Industry Levy thresholds on consumers.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
An assessment of impacts – including health impacts for consumers – is enclosed within the ‘Strengthening the Soft Drinks Industry Levy’ consultation document. This is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/strengthening-the-soft-drinks-industry-levy.
The government welcomes feedback on the proposed changes as part of the consultation, which is open until 21 July 2025 and will inform decisions at a future Budget. If the government decides to make changes to the levy, it will publish a tax information and impact note (TIIN) to give account of the confirmed policy’s impacts.
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, pursuant to the Answer of 23 April 2025 to Question 45439 on Personal Independence Payments and with reference to the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill, published on 18 June 2025, whether PIP claimants of pension age who (a) are subject to a planned award review and (b) request a change of circumstances review from November 2026 will be impacted by changes to eligibility requirements.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The vast majority of claimants over State Pension age are on ongoing awards, with a light-touch review scheduled for 10 years. This is because we know that, as people get older, their conditions tend to get worse rather than better, and as such we think that is sensible and proportionate to reduce reassessment burdens on people over the pensionable age.
These claimants will therefore not undergo a review of their PIP award at the 10-year light touch review point, unless they request one due to change in their circumstances.
In line with existing policy, if they do request a review – such as due to an improvement or deterioration in their condition – after the new rules come into effect in November 2026, the four-point criteria will apply.
There is a small number of claimants over State Pension age on fixed-term awards, often because they have a planned operation or treatment that is likely to make a significant difference to how their condition affects them. Case managers will consider these on a case-by-case basis.
Asked by: Ann Davies (Plaid Cymru - Caerfyrddin)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the average waiting time is for the DVLA to process applications from people that are reapplying for driving licenses following their disqualification (a) on medical grounds and (b) for a criminal offence.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) sends renewal reminders to drivers before their current licence is due to expire to prompt renewal applications to be made as early as possible.
Where the DVLA is made aware that a driving licence is required urgently for employment purposes the application will be processed as a priority. Most applicants will be able to continue driving while their application is being processed, providing they meet certain criteria as outlined in this guidance at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/inf1886-can-i-drive-while-my-application-is-with-dvla.
There are no delays in straightforward driving licence applications regardless of whether the driver was previously disqualified. These are being processed within normal turnaround times.
Driving licence applications where a medical condition(s) requires investigation can take longer as the DVLA is often reliant on information from third parties, including medical professionals, before a licence can be issued.
DVLA is continuing to make improvements to the services provided to drivers with medical conditions and is introducing a new strategic system to process cases. This will provide better services for customers and allow straightforward applications to be processed more quickly.
In the 2024/25 financial year, the average time to make a licensing decision in such cases was 44 working days, a significant reduction from 54 working days in the 2023/24 financial year.
Asked by: Ann Davies (Plaid Cymru - Caerfyrddin)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to help tackle DVLA delays in the processing of applications for driving licenses by people who are reapplying following a disqualification.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) sends renewal reminders to drivers before their current licence is due to expire to prompt renewal applications to be made as early as possible.
Where the DVLA is made aware that a driving licence is required urgently for employment purposes the application will be processed as a priority. Most applicants will be able to continue driving while their application is being processed, providing they meet certain criteria as outlined in this guidance at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/inf1886-can-i-drive-while-my-application-is-with-dvla.
There are no delays in straightforward driving licence applications regardless of whether the driver was previously disqualified. These are being processed within normal turnaround times.
Driving licence applications where a medical condition(s) requires investigation can take longer as the DVLA is often reliant on information from third parties, including medical professionals, before a licence can be issued.
DVLA is continuing to make improvements to the services provided to drivers with medical conditions and is introducing a new strategic system to process cases. This will provide better services for customers and allow straightforward applications to be processed more quickly.
In the 2024/25 financial year, the average time to make a licensing decision in such cases was 44 working days, a significant reduction from 54 working days in the 2023/24 financial year.
Asked by: Ann Davies (Plaid Cymru - Caerfyrddin)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to support people whose driving license expires whilst waiting for the DVLA to process their application for a renewal when this impacts their employment.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) sends renewal reminders to drivers before their current licence is due to expire to prompt renewal applications to be made as early as possible.
Where the DVLA is made aware that a driving licence is required urgently for employment purposes the application will be processed as a priority. Most applicants will be able to continue driving while their application is being processed, providing they meet certain criteria as outlined in this guidance at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/inf1886-can-i-drive-while-my-application-is-with-dvla.
There are no delays in straightforward driving licence applications regardless of whether the driver was previously disqualified. These are being processed within normal turnaround times.
Driving licence applications where a medical condition(s) requires investigation can take longer as the DVLA is often reliant on information from third parties, including medical professionals, before a licence can be issued.
DVLA is continuing to make improvements to the services provided to drivers with medical conditions and is introducing a new strategic system to process cases. This will provide better services for customers and allow straightforward applications to be processed more quickly.
In the 2024/25 financial year, the average time to make a licensing decision in such cases was 44 working days, a significant reduction from 54 working days in the 2023/24 financial year.