Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what (a) milestones and (b) deliverables were agreed for the health partnership with England announced on the 23 September 2024.
Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales
Both the UK and Welsh Governments know how important it is to strengthen our NHS and bring down waiting lists. That is why our two governments are working together in the spirit of genuine collaboration and partnership to do everything possible to cut waiting lists, collaborate and learn from each other.
That partnership begins with how the NHS is funded. At the Spending Review, we announced a record £22.4 billion per year on average for the Welsh Government between 2026-27 and 2028-29, to invest in public services and drive down waiting lists. This is the largest budget settlement in the history of devolution. This builds on what was announced at Autumn Budget which provided the Welsh Government with an additional £1.7 billion to invest in public services like the NHS. An extra £600 million in funding was invested by the Welsh Government for health and social care in their Budget for 2025/26. The record settlement we provided to the Welsh Government has helped to reduce NHS waiting lists and I was pleased to see that in the most recent health statistics that the over two years waiting lists are more than three quarters (87.6%) lower than the peak in March 2022.
Our governments are learning from each other by sharing best practice on health. The UK Government has learned from the Welsh Government’s reform to dentistry and GP practices, as the UK Government has shared its approach to rolling out extra elective capacity, including through new surgical hubs – an approach the Welsh Government is also taking.
A good example of our two Governments working together on health is the Interministerial Group (IMG) for Health and Social Care, which met on 25 September, chaired by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department of Health & Social Care (DHSC). The IMG brought together Ministers from DHSC and the Devolved Governments to discuss shared priorities across health in the UK, including innovation and elective recovery. There are also regular meetings between officials in UK Government and the Devolved Governments on a range health and social care matters.
Our two Governments are working together on ‘Exercise PEGASUS’ – a national exercise on the United Kingdom’s preparedness for a pandemic. This was the first of its kind in nearly a decade and the biggest in UK history.
There are long-standing arrangements for cancer care, renal services and mental health support that cross the border seamlessly. Furthermore, NHS England is working with NHS Wales to improve digital interoperability, especially through the shared care record and technical collaboration on the fast healthcare interoperability resources which allows systems from different manufacturers to exchange messages and data, regardless of the setting that care is delivered in.
In October, the chief information officers across governments agreed to begin working together on digital architecture and standards. This is intended to improve how the NHS across the border can share systems, standards and communicate more effectively. This partnership aims to improve the sharing of digital records in the short term and eventually to achieve a single patient record.
Around 30,000 people who live in England have a GP in Wales, and vice versa. That is why NHS Wales and NHS England have a Statement of Values and Principles that underpins the arrangements for treatment for patients living on the Wales England border. This supports better patient outcomes and avoids fragmentation of care for those people living either side of the border. Further detail on the statement is in the link below.
Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what recent discussions she has had with (a) the Secretary of State for Business and Trade and (b) representatives of the Welsh steel industry on the potential impact of proposed EU steel import quotas on (i) steel production and (ii) employment in Wales.
Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales
I met with the Minister for Industry to discuss the potential impact of proposed EU steel proposals and continue to work closely with cabinet colleagues as Government responds to protect our domestic steel industry. I remain in close contact with all Welsh steelmakers and have had numerous discussions with Tata Steel UK and steel unions to understand the potential impact on individual businesses. As Chair of the Port Talbot Transition Board, I also discussed this with members at the October meeting.
We recognise that global trading conditions remain challenging for the steel industry as global overcapacity, trade diversion and weak demand continue to put downward pressure on prices. To address these conditions, the Government intervened earlier this year to strengthen the current steel safeguard measures. This Government will continue to review stronger trade measures to protect steel producers in South Wales and across the UK.
We are actively engaging at all levels with the European Commission, and key Member States, with the aim of securing a positive outcome for the UK. We will always defend our critical steel industry, which is vital for the UK.
Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the Celtic Sea Floating Offshore Wind Leasing Round 5 on economic regeneration in Neath Port Talbot.
Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales
The UK Government recognises the major opportunities floating offshore wind presents for Wales and I am determined to ensure that we take full advantage of them.
Gwynt Glas (a joint venture between EDF Renewables and ESB) and Equinor have now entered into Agreements for Lease with The Crown Estate to develop two 1.5GW Floating Offshore Wind farms in the Celtic Sea through the Leasing Round 5 process, in addition to the five floating wind Test and Demonstration projects (totalling 432MW of capacity) already in development in the region. The Crown Estate has confirmed that work is underway on options to deliver a third 1.5GW lease area.
These new windfarms will be among the largest of their kind in the world and have the capacity to deliver enough power for more than four million homes. It is estimated this new industry will support over 5,000 new jobs and deliver a £1.4 billion-pound boost to the UK economy, it will also help deliver transformational change to places like Port Talbot. As part of the Comprehensive Spending Review, the UK Government has reconfirmed up to £80 million for port infrastructure investment in Port Talbot to supporting floating offshore wind and green growth in Wales.
Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, for what reason the value of the Local Growth Fund being provided to Wales was listed as £547 million on 10 October 2025 and as £633 million on 16 June 2025.
Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales
The Local Growth Fund will invest £547 million in Wales over the next three years, more than half a billion pounds of much needed investment in Wales. This funding will drive economic growth, create jobs and raise living standards as part of the UK Government’s mission to kickstart economic growth and break down barriers to opportunity.
The Local Growth Fund at £547 million is just one element of our wider package of targeted, long-term local growth funding referred to in June, which also includes the new Pride in Place initiative. Communities across Wales will benefit from the Pride in Place Programme and Pride in Place Impact Fund, supporting projects that will build stronger communities, create thriving places, and empower local people.
Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what proposals put forward for new rail investment in Wales as part of the Spending Review 2025 were rejected by the Treasury.
Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales
The Chancellor set out that the UK Government will commit at least £445 million investment into Welsh rail infrastructure upgrades at the Spending Review in June.
For too long, Wales’s long-term infrastructure needs have not been recognised. This government is taking a different approach, delivering at least £445 million of rail enhancements funding for Wales. UK Government does not comment on Spending Review discussions, however we are delivering the maximum number of projects the sector can deliver in the next few years.
My top priority in advance of the Spending Review was to tackle historic underfunding in Wales’ rail infrastructure. This funding will mean new stations, more and faster trains on the key lines across North and South Wales - connecting people with the new, well-paid jobs we are creating across Wales.
Through the Wales Rail Board, we will work in collaboration with the Welsh Government to agree and develop future rail service improvements, delivering a sustainable pipeline of investment.
Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many people in Wales will be impacted by welfare reform.
Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales
Information on the impacts of the Pathways to Work Green Paper will be published in due course, with some information already published alongside the Spring Statement. These publications can be found here Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper - GOV.UK.
There are currently 347,100 Universal Credit claimants in Wales, with 267,100 claimants of Personal Independence Payments. 89,000 claimants in Wales are receiving both Personal Independence Payments and Universal Credit. Overall, 15% of working age people in Wales receive a disability or incapacity benefit and around a quarter are neither in work nor looking for work.
To raise living standards in every corner of our country, we need to unleash the talents of people across the UK wherever they live. However, the system we inherited has left millions of people trapped on benefits, without the support they need to build a better life.
We know many sick and disabled people want to work, with the right help and support. They deserve the same rights, chances and choices to get good jobs as anybody else. That is why the government is fixing the social security system so that it gives those who could work the help they need, and those who can’t work the dignity and security they deserve.
The Department for Work and Pensions will continue to work with the Welsh government and other devolved governments, which will include looking at Welsh specific impacts to help support people back into work if they are able to, but also protect those who rely on our social security system.
Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what steps she is taking to improve productivity rates in Wales.
Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales
Growth is the number one mission of the government. Our new Industrial Strategy is central to that Growth Mission and our Plan for Change. The Industrial Strategy will channel support to eight growth-driving sectors – those in which the UK excels today and will excel tomorrow. The Strategy will play to Wales’s sectoral strengths, including Advanced Manufacturing, Clean Energy, Life Sciences and Creative Industries.
My department has been working closely across UK Government and the Welsh Government on the Industrial Strategy. I have also established the Welsh Economic Growth Advisory Group, a group that brings together business, industry, university and trade unions to discuss key economic issues across Wales.
Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what steps she is taking to reduce economic inactivity in Wales.
Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales
As set out in the Get Britain Working White Paper, we have committed £240m of investment towards sixteen trailblazers to test new and innovative ways to support people into work and tackle the root causes of inactivity, including one in Wales. My department has been working in close partnership with the Department for Work and Pensions and the Welsh Government to co-develop and deliver the trailblazer in Wales.
Since coming into government, I have worked with UK and Welsh Government colleagues to drive over £1.5 billion in private investment from Eren Holding and Kellogg’s, creating and sustaining over 400 jobs. Wales is also set to benefit from a £250 million investment from one of the world’s largest semiconductor manufacturers which is expected to support over 500 high value jobs and hundreds more through the wider supply chain. In addition, we will support tens of thousands of new jobs through our Welsh Investment Zones and Freeports.
Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, which towns in Wales were considered for funding through the Plan for Neighbourhoods; and on what evidential basis the successful towns were chosen.
Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales
I refer the Hon Member to the answer I gave on 17 March 2025 (UIN 37472).
Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what steps she is taking to help ensure electricity bills do not increase in Wales, in the context of proposals for zonal energy pricing.
Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales
No decision has been taken on Zonal or Reformed National pricing. The Government are currently conducting analysis to understand the impacts of zonal pricing on consumers, including those in Wales.
The Government will ultimately develop proposals that minimise costs and ensure a fair outcome for consumers, as part of our Plan for Change to lower bills and improve living standards.
The Government is working closely with the Welsh Government to understand how any potential review of electricity market arrangements (REMA) reforms could impact Welsh consumers and industry, and this will be taken into account as part of the final decision-making process.