Oral Answers to Questions

Lindsay Hoyle Excerpts

Wednesday 4th November 2026 Commons Chamber

[Stephen Kinnock]

I genuinely do not know where Plaid Cymru is getting these numbers from. This Budget provides the Welsh Government with an additional £450 million for public services, meaning that the Welsh Government settlement continues to grow in real terms over the spending review period. In addition, the UK Government are providing a £6.5 billion increase in Welsh Government spending power as a result of changes to the fiscal framework, additional funding through the Barnett formula and the largest settlement in the history of devolution. This generational increase in 2025 was the largest settlement for Wales since devolution began in the late 1990s.

[Mr Speaker]

I call the Chair of the Welsh Affairs Committee.

[Ruth Jones (Newport West and Islwyn) (Lab)]

I greatly welcome the Chancellor’s announcement of a further £30 million for the delivery of a new station at Cardiff Parkway, in a constituency that neighbours mine. Does the Secretary of State agree that this investment stands in stark contrast to the approach of the Plaid minority Government at Cardiff Bay, who are threatening to close numerous junctions of the M4, worsening air and noise pollution for my constituents?

[Stephen Kinnock]

I share my hon. Friend’s frustration. The Welsh Government must recognise that only a relief road will address the needs of the people, the economy and the environment of south-east Wales. What local people do not need is disruption and junction closures. I was pleased to see the Senedd support Welsh Labour’s motion to rule out closures and to begin work on an appropriate relief road for the M4, and I urge Plaid Cymru to work with Newport council and to reconsider its position.

[Mr Speaker]

I call the shadow Secretary of State.

[Mims Davies (East Grinstead and Uckfield) (Con)]

It was a damp squib Budget that largely forgot Wales. It had nothing on upgrading the A55 or the M4 bypass. The previous Welsh Government were offered the finance by the previous Conservative Government to unclog the Brynglas tunnels, but the Minister’s Labour Senedd colleagues—as we have heard—had the hide last month to call for an M4 relief road, despite being in power for 27 years. Can the Secretary of State explain why Labour is now making calls on projects it could and should have delivered when in power, or do they prefer to be the ones shouting from the hard shoulder?

--- Later in debate ---

[Stephen Kinnock]

The hon. Lady talked about the Budget. I remind her of what the Budget does for drivers: it extends the temporary 5p per litre fuel duty cut for a further six months; it makes permanent the 55p per mile tax-free mileage rate for the first 10,000 business miles, which will save a worker travelling 6,000 business miles at least £120 a year in tax from 2027-28; and it extends the 3.7p cut to red diesel duty to 1 July 2027. I respectfully suggest to the hon. Lady that she has another look at the Budget and comes back when she has got her facts right.

[Mr Speaker]

I call the Liberal Democrat spokesperson.

[David Chadwick (Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe) (LD)]

Communities across Wales are desperate to see economic growth and new jobs, and that is why the Welsh Liberal Democrats believe that Wales needs more powers, including powers over borrowing, full powers over rail infrastructure and full powers over the Crown estate. Does the Secretary of State agree and, if so, will Wales get more powers during this Parliament?

--- Later in debate ---

[Anna McMorrin]

The hon. Member makes a very good point. General Dynamics is a very important company, and I have had many conversations with it about its investment and the continuation of the Ajax programme. We know about the challenges that the programme has encountered, but considerable efforts have been made to resolve them and drive forward the programme. That organisation invests hugely in the local community, delivering high-quality jobs, and part of our £50 million defence growth deal is to ensure that this will continue well into the future.

[Mr Speaker]

I call the shadow Minister.

[Charlie Dewhirst (Bridlington and The Wolds) (Con)]

The Welsh defence industry supports 20,000 jobs and is absolutely vital to the national security of the United Kingdom, yet defence firms face growing uncertainty over the UK Government’s failure to set out a detailed plan to meet the 3% of GDP target on defence spending and Plaid Cymru’s proposed defence ethical investment framework in Wales, which are both creating serious concern for businesses looking to invest, expand and protect jobs. Therefore, what discussions has the Minister had with defence companies about these concerns, and what is she doing to give the industry the certainty it desperately needs?