Asked by: Gerald Jones (Labour - Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, when a Minister in his Department last made an official visit to Neath constituency.
Answered by David T C Davies - Secretary of State for Wales
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State and I both live in Wales and serve Welsh constituencies. We have a consistent presence in Wales as we conduct many visits, events and meetings in Wales on a regular basis.
Details of Ministerial visits and meetings are published on the Office of the Secretary of State for Wales’ website and in Quarterly Ministerial Transparency Returns. In addition, visits and meetings conducted in support of the Wales Office priorities are published in the Office of the Secretary of State for Wales Annual Report and Accounts.
The UK Government has provided extensive support to Neath. A typical household in Wales has received almost £2000 in UK Government support to help with the cost of living. This includes over 205,000 payments delivered in Neath through the Energy Bills Support Scheme. During the Covid-19 pandemic around 10,000 jobs were supported through the furlough scheme, around £21 million was claimed through the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme and around £34 million was given to businesses through government-backed business loans
The UK Government has also supported innovation within Neath with around £66,000 awarded by Innovate UK since April 2019. The UK Government has also provided £28 million towards the development of the Global Centre of Rail Excellence, a rail innovation facility which will benefit Neath. £15 million in UK Government funding has also been awarded to a group of universities to establish a research and innovation centre at GCRE.
In addition, Neath Port Talbot, the local authority for the Neath constituency, is receiving over £34 million from the UK Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund. Neath is also receiving over £17 million from the Levelling Up Fund to restore the historic estate in the Vale of Neath. The Neath constituency also benefits from the £235 million Swansea Bay City Deal, including £47.7 million invested in the Supporting Innovation and Low Carbon Growth (SILCG) programme.
This Government is investing in Wales like never before; over £790 million in four City and Regional Growth Deals covering the whole of Wales, £585 million for local authorities to invest through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, including over £100 million for the Multiply adult numeracy programme, £330 million in capital investment through the Levelling Up Fund and £3.2 million to preserve community assets through the Community Ownership Fund. Wales will benefit from two Freeports backed by £52 million, the British Business Bank’s new £130m Regional Investment Fund, and from Project Gigabit which will enable hard to reach communities to access lightning-fast gigabit capable broadband.
Asked by: Gerald Jones (Labour - Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, when a Minister in his Department last made an official visit to Newport East constituency.
Answered by David T C Davies - Secretary of State for Wales
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State and I both live in Wales and serve Welsh constituencies. We have a consistent presence in Wales as we conduct many visits, events and meetings in Wales on a regular basis.
Details of Ministerial visits and meetings are published on the Office of the Secretary of State for Wales’ website and in Quarterly Ministerial Transparency Returns. In addition, visits and meetings conducted in support of the Wales Office priorities are published in the Office of the Secretary of State for Wales Annual Report and Accounts.
The UK Government has provided extensive support to Newport East. A typical household in Wales has received almost £2000 in UK Government support to help with the cost of living. This includes around 218,000 payments delivered in Newport East through the Energy Bills Support Scheme. During the Covid-19 pandemic around 14,000 jobs were supported through the furlough scheme, around £23 million was claimed through the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme and over £72 million was given to businesses through government-backed business loans.
The UK Government has also supported innovation within Newport East with over £3 million awarded by Innovate UK since April 2019. Newport East has also received around £9,000 through the Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities Programme to level up local sports facilities.
Our Semiconductor Strategy targets UK strengths, including compound semiconductors. As the home of the world's first compound semiconductor cluster, South East Wales, including Newport East, is well placed to benefit from the Semiconductor strategy and the funding announced.
In addition, Newport and Monmouthshire, the local authorities for the Newport East constituency, are receiving over £32 million and over £7 million respectively, from the UK Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund. Newport East also benefits from the £1.2 billion Cardiff Capital Region City Deal, including £1.5 million invested in the Severn Tunnel park and ride facility.
This Government is investing in Wales like never before; over £790 million in four City and Regional Growth Deals covering the whole of Wales, £585 million for local authorities to invest through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, including over £100 million for the Multiply adult numeracy programme, £330 million in capital investment through the Levelling Up Fund and £3.2 million to preserve community assets through the Community Ownership Fund. Wales will benefit from two Freeports backed by £52 million, the British Business Bank’s new £130m Regional Investment Fund, and from Project Gigabit which will enable hard to reach communities to access lightning-fast gigabit capable broadband.
Asked by: Gerald Jones (Labour - Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, when a Minister in his Department last made an official visit to Newport West constituency.
Answered by David T C Davies - Secretary of State for Wales
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State and I both live in Wales and serve Welsh constituencies. We have a consistent presence in Wales as we conduct many visits, events and meetings in Wales on a regular basis.
Details of Ministerial visits and meetings are published on the Office of the Secretary of State for Wales’ website and in Quarterly Ministerial Transparency Returns. In addition, visits and meetings conducted in support of the Wales Office priorities are published in the Office of the Secretary of State for Wales Annual Report and Accounts.
The UK Government has provided extensive support to Newport West. A typical household in Wales has received almost £2000 in UK Government support to help with the cost of living. This includes over 240,000 payments delivered in Newport West through the Energy Bills Support Scheme. During the Covid-19 pandemic over 13,000 jobs were supported through the furlough scheme, around £24 million was claimed through the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme and around £68 million was given to businesses through government-backed business loans.
The UK Government has also supported innovation within Newport West with over £10.5 million awarded by Innovate UK since April 2019. Newport West will also benefit from UK Government funding to refurbish public tennis courts across the UK.
Our Semiconductor Strategy targets UK strengths, including compound semiconductors. As the home of the world's first compound semiconductor cluster, South East Wales, including Newport West, is well placed to benefit from the Semiconductor strategy and the funding announced.
In addition, Newport City Council, the local authority for the Newport West constituency, is receiving over £32 million from the UK Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund. Newport West also benefits from the £1.2 billion Cardiff Capital Region City Deal, including almost £38 million invested in the semi-conductor cluster.
This Government is investing in Wales like never before; over £790 million in four City and Regional Growth Deals covering the whole of Wales, £585 million for local authorities to invest through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, including over £100 million for the Multiply adult numeracy programme, £330 million in capital investment through the Levelling Up Fund and £3.2 million to preserve community assets through the Community Ownership Fund. Wales will benefit from two Freeports backed by £52 million, the British Business Bank’s new £130m Regional Investment Fund, and from Project Gigabit which will enable hard to reach communities to access lightning-fast gigabit capable broadband.
Asked by: Gerald Jones (Labour - Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, when a Minister in his Department last made an official visit to Ogmore constituency.
Answered by David T C Davies - Secretary of State for Wales
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State and I both live in Wales and serve Welsh constituencies. We have a consistent presence in Wales as we conduct many visits, events and meetings in Wales on a regular basis.
Details of Ministerial visits and meetings are published on the Office of the Secretary of State for Wales’ website and in Quarterly Ministerial Transparency Returns. In addition, visits and meetings conducted in support of the Wales Office priorities are published in the Office of the Secretary of State for Wales Annual Report and Accounts.
The UK Government has provided extensive support to Ogmore. A typical household in Wales has received almost £2000 in UK Government support to help with the cost of living. This includes over 207,000 payments delivered in Ogmore through the Energy Bills Support Scheme. During the Covid-19 pandemic over 12,000 jobs were supported through the furlough scheme, over £22 million was claimed through the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme and over £41 million was given to businesses through government-backed business loans
The UK Government has also supported innovation within Ogmore with over £2.4 million awarded by Innovate UK since April 2019. Ogmore has also received over £4,000 through the Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities Programme to level up local sports facilities.
In addition, Bridgend, the local authority for the Ogmore constituency, is receiving over £23 million from the UK Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund. The constituency also benefits from the £1.2 billion Cardiff Capital Region City Deal, including the £50 million region-wide sites and premises fund.
This Government is investing in Wales like never before; over £790 million in four City and Regional Growth Deals covering the whole of Wales, £585 million for local authorities to invest through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, including over £100 million for the Multiply adult numeracy programme, £330 million in capital investment through the Levelling Up Fund and £3.2 million to preserve community assets through the Community Ownership Fund. Wales will benefit from two Freeports backed by £52 million, the British Business Bank’s new £130m Regional Investment Fund, and from Project Gigabit which will enable hard to reach communities to access lightning-fast gigabit capable broadband.
Asked by: Gerald Jones (Labour - Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, when a Minister in his Department last made an official visit to Pontypridd constituency.
Answered by David T C Davies - Secretary of State for Wales
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State and I both live in Wales and serve Welsh constituencies. We have a consistent presence in Wales as we conduct many visits, events and meetings in Wales on a regular basis.
Details of Ministerial visits and meetings are published on the Office of the Secretary of State for Wales’ website and in Quarterly Ministerial Transparency Returns. In addition, visits and meetings conducted in support of the Wales Office priorities are published in the Office of the Secretary of State for Wales Annual Report and Accounts.
The UK Government has provided extensive support to Pontypridd. A typical household in Wales has received almost £2000 in UK Government support to help with the cost of living. This includes around 216,000 payments delivered in Pontypridd through the Energy Bills Support Scheme. During the Covid-19 pandemic around 13,000 jobs were supported through the furlough scheme, around £29 million was claimed through the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme and around £62 million was given to businesses through government-backed business loans. The UK Government has also supported innovation within Pontypridd with over £4.3 million awarded by Innovate UK since April 2019.
In addition, Rhondda Cynon Taf, the local authority for the Pontypridd constituency, is receiving over £45 million from the UK Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund. Rhondda Cynon Taf is also receiving over £16 million from the Levelling Up Fund for transport improvements and for refurbishment of the Muni Arts Centre in Pontypridd. The constituency also benefits from the £1.2 billion Cardiff Capital Region City Deal, including the £31 million region-wide housing viability gap fund.
This Government is investing in Wales like never before; over £790 million in four City and Regional Growth Deals covering the whole of Wales, £585 million for local authorities to invest through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, including over £100 million for the Multiply adult numeracy programme, £330 million in capital investment through the Levelling Up Fund and £3.2 million to preserve community assets through the Community Ownership Fund. Wales will benefit from two Freeports backed by £52 million, the British Business Bank’s new £130m Regional Investment Fund, and from Project Gigabit which will enable hard to reach communities to access lightning-fast gigabit capable broadband.
Asked by: Gerald Jones (Labour - Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Transport on the impact of the Integrated Rail Plan on Wales.
Answered by Robert Buckland
I have regular discussions with Cabinet colleagues about transport infrastructure in Wales. The UK Government has already invested over £340 million in rail infrastructure in Wales, including the electrification of the Severn Tunnel and improvements to Cardiff Central Station.
By improving regional connectivity, the Integrated Rail Plan will unify labour markets, so that people can access a much wider range of jobs; bring businesses closer together; and improve access to key international gateways and markets so they become even more attractive locations for business investment. Crewe Northern Connection would improve connections from North Wales to the HS2 network, potentially bringing many passengers within 2 hours 15 minutes of London.
The Hendy Review also recommended a number of connectivity improvements for Wales. The UK Government is considering these recommendations carefully and will respond later this year.
Asked by: Gerald Jones (Labour - Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the adequacy of funding for Safer Streets Fund projects in Wales; and what assessment the Government has made of the impact of that funding on levels of reported crime in Wales.
Answered by Robert Buckland
In total, Wales have been awarded approximately £9 million through the first 4 rounds of the Safer Streets Fund to take forward a variety of interventions aimed at targeting neighbourhood crime, violence against women and girls in public, and anti-social behaviour. On 29 July 2022, we announced that 7 bids from Welsh Police and Crime Commissioners were successful in Round 4, totalling £4.1 million investment. Further details of the funding can be found below.
Dyfed PCC | Wales | £292,761.00 | 1 project |
Gwent PCC | Wales | £746,706.00 | 1 project |
North Wales PCC | Wales | £1,568,917.35 | 3 projects |
South Wales PCC | Wales | £1,497,668.35 | 2 projects |
All rounds of the Safer Street Fund are subject to independent evaluation to ensure we learn lessons about what works in preventing crime and informing future government policy and funding. The evaluation of Round One of the Fund is now complete, and we intend to publish in due course.
Asked by: Gerald Jones (Labour - Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, with reference to the Written Ministerial Statement of 17 May 2022 on Ratification of the Istanbul Convention, HCWS34, and the decision to apply a reservation to Article 59 of that Convention, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the adequacy of safeguards for protecting migrant women in Wales from gender-based violence.
Answered by Robert Buckland
On 21 July, the UK Government ratified the Istanbul Convention, sending a strong message across the UK, and around the world, that this Government is committed to tackling violence against women and girls.
As outlined in the Written Ministerial Statement of 17 May 2022, we decided to apply a reservation to Article 59, which relates to residence permits for migrant victims of domestic abuse, to enable us to ratify, pending the evaluation findings of the Support for Migrant Victims (SMV) scheme pilot. We will carefully consider the findings of the SMV pilot to inform any future policy decisions as soon as is practicable.
We are committed to supporting all victims of domestic abuse, regardless of immigration status. £1.4 million of funding has been allocated in 2022-23 to continue to fund support for migrant victims of domestic abuse.
Asked by: Gerald Jones (Labour - Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Transport on the waiting time for driving licence applications for people in Wales.
Answered by Robert Buckland
I understand that concerns have been expressed with regards to waiting times for driving license applications. I would like to refer the honourable Member to the response provided by the Department for Transport’s Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State on this matter on 14 June 2022 (UIN 13126).
Asked by: Gerald Jones (Labour - Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Transport on the impact of the waiting time for driving licence applications on people with long-term medical conditions in Wales.
Answered by Robert Buckland
The length of time taken to deal with an application for a driving licence where a medical condition must be investigated depends on the condition(s) involved and whether further information or clinical tests are required from medical professionals.
To reduce waiting times for customers, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has recruited more staff and opened new customer service centres in Swansea and Birmingham which are focused on medical applications. DVLA staff also continue to work overtime at evenings and weekends. These measures are having a positive impact and the DVLA expects to return to pre-pandemic levels for medical applications in September.