Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when the decision was made to reclassify the Oxford-Cambridge line from an England-only project to an England and Wales project.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

As rail infrastructure projects have not been devolved to Wales the categorisation of these projects is in line with wider devolution policy managed by Treasury.

Every Government funded rail project in Wales or England are always categorised as England and Wales investment projects.

The categorising of East West Rail as an England and Wales project does not mean that Wales is disadvantaged in any way.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to improve the (a) frequency and (b) capacity of passenger rail services on the (i) Heart of Wales Line and (ii) Cambrian Line.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Services on these routes are provided by Transport for Wales (TfW). Capacity on the Cambrian Line will improve with the introduction of new trains in the next couple of years and TfW is preparing to introduce a fifth through service per day on the Heart of Wales line from December 2025.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has taken steps to implement two services an hour on the Shrewsbury-Wrexham-Chester Line.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Services on this route are provided by Transport for Wales in accordance with its Train Service Requirement which is agreed with the Department in respective of services at stations in England. There are no active proposals to increase services on this route.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department plans to electrify the North Wales main line.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Together with industry partners, we have identified a number of improvements on the North Wales Main Line which will deliver more immediate passenger benefits, including increasing the frequency of services in 2026, which will serve to strengthen the business case for future electrification. Following the Spending Review, we are funding these improvement works as part of the wider £445 million investment to enhance rail infrastructure across Wales — unlocking economic potential, improving connectivity, and supporting communities.

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.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help reduce levels of consumption of highly processed foods.

Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

As set out in our 10-Year Health Plan, we will take decisive action on the obesity crisis, easing the strain on our National Health Service and creating the healthiest generation of children ever. In relation to reducing the consumption of foods and drinks high in calories, saturated fat, salt, and sugar, many of which would be considered as highly processed, work is progressing through the following:

• in a world-first, all large food businesses will be mandated to report against standardised metrics on healthier food sales by the end of this Parliament. Using that reporting, we will set new targets to increase the healthiness of sales in all communities;
• current food, advertising, and promotion restrictions use the 2004 Nutrient Profile Model to categorise which foods are more or less healthy. This is plainly out of date, and we will update these standards. We will consult on implementation in 2026; and
• we will also fulfil our commitments to restrict junk food advertising targeted at children and will ban the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to under 16 year olds. We have already given local councils stronger powers to block new fast-food outlets near schools and are taking steps to ensure the Soft Drink Industry Levy remains fit for purpose.

To support those in greatest need, we will uplift the value of the weekly payments delivered by the Healthy Start scheme by 10%, boosting the ability to buy fruit and vegetables for those families who need it most.

The Government’s Eatwell Guide already advises that people should eat more fruit and vegetables and wholegrain or higher-fibre foods, as well as less processed meat and food and drink that is high in sugar, calories, saturated fat, and salt.

The Eatwell Guide principles are communicated through a variety of channels, including the NHS.UK website and Government social marketing campaigns. For example the Better Health Healthier Families website and the Healthy Steps email programme, which aims to help families with primary aged children in England to eat well and move more.

A range of actions that have already been taken to create a healthier environment to help reduce consumption of processed foods that are high in energy, saturated fat, salt, and free sugars include:

• the Healthy Start scheme, which supported over 358,000 in June 2025;
• the Nursery Milk Scheme, which provides a reimbursement to childcare providers in England and Wales for a daily 1/3 pint portion of milk to children and babies; and
• the School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme, which provides approximately 2.2 million children in Key Stage 1 with a portion of fresh fruit or vegetables per day at school.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the trends in the level of skilled workers to complete rail electrification of the (a) North and (B) South Wales main lines.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Network Rail, as the infrastructure manager for Great Britain’s railways, is responsible for considering the skills and workforce requirements for infrastructure projects such as electrification schemes. It is assisted in this by the National Skills Academy for Rail, which supports the rail industry in acquiring, maintaining and developing the workforce it needs.

UK-based medical charities in Palestine

Police officers

Reform of the special educational needs and disabilities system

Cool hubs

Loan Charge and settlement terms offered to large companies and individuals

Pavement parking

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Ruth Jones (Chair); David Chadwick; Ann Davies; Gill German; Simon

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Ruth Jones (Chair); David Chadwick; Gill German; Simon Hoare; Claire

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Ruth Jones (Chair); David Chadwick; Ann Davies; Gill German; Ben

Found: Darling Rachel Gilmour Siân Berry Carla Denyer Ellie Chowns Marie Goldman Dr Danny Chambers David Chadwick

Found: Darling Rachel Gilmour Siân Berry Carla Denyer Ellie Chowns Marie Goldman Dr Danny Chambers David Chadwick

Found: Darling Rachel Gilmour Siân Berry Carla Denyer Ellie Chowns Marie Goldman Dr Danny Chambers David Chadwick

Found: Taylor Mr Joshua Reynolds Calum Miller Tom Morrison Edward Morello Sarah Olney Anna Sabine David Chadwick

Found: Taylor Mr Joshua Reynolds Calum Miller Tom Morrison Edward Morello Sarah Olney Anna Sabine David Chadwick

Found: Taylor Mr Joshua Reynolds Calum Miller Tom Morrison Edward Morello Sarah Olney Anna Sabine David Chadwick

Found: Darling Rachel Gilmour Siân Berry Carla Denyer Ellie Chowns Marie Goldman Dr Danny Chambers David Chadwick

Found: Darling Rachel Gilmour Siân Berry Carla Denyer Ellie Chowns Marie Goldman Dr Danny Chambers David Chadwick