Asked by: Llinos Medi (Plaid Cymru - Ynys Môn)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the 10 per cent tariff introduced by the United States on the level of exports from Wales to that country.
Answered by Gareth Thomas - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
We continue to work closely with the Welsh Government to monitor the impacts, and to support Welsh exporters. Additionally on 3 April, we launched a Request for Input from businesses, to help inform the UK’s response to US tariffs.
We continue to support businesses of all sizes to grow and export globally, including to the US. Through Great.gov.uk, businesses can access export support programmes including the Export Academy, International Markets Network, Growth Hubs and Help to Grow: Management scheme.
Asked by: Llinos Medi (Plaid Cymru - Ynys Môn)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an estimate of the potential impact of technical issues associated with the (a) Customs Handling of Import and Export Freight, (b) common health entry document and (c) Cargo Community Systems for the UK on costs incurred by exporters since January 2024.
Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
HMRC’s Customs Handling of Import and Export Freight (CHIEF) system is no longer in use. No new declarations have been made on CHIEF since July 2024, and the system was fully decommissioned in December 2024. HMRC’s customs systems, including CHIEF prior to its decommissioning, have remained resilient, and in the unlikely event of system issues HMRC has contingency processes to maintain the flow of goods.
Common health entry documents (CHEDs) for UK exporters are a requirement of EU member states that they are exporting to, and the associated systems and processes are outside the control of UK Government. CHEDs for UK imports are issued by the Import of Products, Animals, Food, and Feed System (IPAFFS) and system reliability to enable CHEDs to be issued to traders has generally been good.
Cargo Community Systems for the UK is a recognised Community System Provider but is a private sector entity responsible for its own systems and processes, including resolution of technical issues.
Asked by: Llinos Medi (Plaid Cymru - Ynys Môn)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of US tariffs on UK automotive exports on (a) levels of unemployment in Wales and (b) level of exports from Wales to the United States.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
We know that this is a concerning time for automotive businesses in Wales. Last year, Wales exported £89 million worth of road vehicles to the US, which accounted for 14% of its total road vehicle exports. That is why the government has been focused on negotiating an economic deal with the US, and we remain committed to these discussions.
We are resolute in our support for industry across the whole of the UK, and we will continue to engage with businesses to assess and understand the impact of these tariffs. In addition, on 3 April the government launched a Request for Input from businesses to help inform the UK's response to US tariffs.
Asked by: Llinos Medi (Plaid Cymru - Ynys Môn)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people the Crown Estate employs in the United Kingdom.
Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The average number of staff during the year 2023-24 was 642, as set out in Table 7 Staff Costs of The Crown Estate Integrated Report and Accounts 2023/24. The figure will be updated in The Crown Estate’s annual report for 2024-25, which is due for publication in the summer.
Asked by: Llinos Medi (Plaid Cymru - Ynys Môn)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether the Government plans to provide financial support for the decommissioning of (a) nuclear projects, (b) Wylfa and (c) Trawsfynydd in (i) the 2026-27 financial year and (ii) future financial years.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
HM Government remains committed to the decommissioning of nuclear power stations across the UK. The nuclear decommissioning projects including those at Wylfa and Trawsfynydd are carried out by Nuclear Restoration Services (NRS) on behalf of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA). The NDA are publicly funded through the Department (DESNZ) and in the future from the Nuclear Liabilities Fund for the Advanced Gas Reactors (AGR) stations.. Funding for 2026-27 and beyond is currently in discussion with the Department as part of the ongoing Spending Review process.
Asked by: Llinos Medi (Plaid Cymru - Ynys Môn)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to the Answer of 7 January 2025 to Question 21108 on Wylfa Power Station, whether his Department has finished examining the previous Government's plans for Wylfa.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
I refer the hon Member to the answer I gave to her on 7 January 2025 to Question UIN 21108. No decisions have been taken on any projects and technologies to be deployed at sites owned by Great British Nuclear. We will set out our plans in due course.
Asked by: Llinos Medi (Plaid Cymru - Ynys Môn)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions he has had with the (a) the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, (b) Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport and (c) Welsh Government on ensuring that (i) local authorities are prepared for the Public Switched Telephone Network migration and (ii) no vulnerable people are missed in that migration.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) migration is industry-led. The Department works closely with other departments, including the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government and the Welsh Government, to ensure that local authorities and vulnerable customers are protected and prepared for the migration.
On 18 November 2024, the Government published guidance for local authorities on the migration. Local authorities have been asked to sign data sharing agreements with communication providers on telecare and vulnerable customers. Over 85% of local authorities that provide telecare have an agreement with at least one communication provider.
Industry are leading and funding a National Telecare Campaign to support identifying vulnerable customers. Welsh language will be used in broadcast and printed adverts.
Asked by: Llinos Medi (Plaid Cymru - Ynys Môn)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of participating in the EU4Health programme as a third country.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
A closer, more cooperative relationship with the European Union is in the United Kingdom’s national interest, and we are working to identify areas where we can strengthen cooperation for mutual benefit. However, the UK currently has no plans to join the EU4Health programme as an associated third country.
Asked by: Llinos Medi (Plaid Cymru - Ynys Môn)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will take steps to develop a rural economic strategy that provides regional funding for rural communities.
Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The UK Government is committed to supporting economic growth across the UK, including in our rural communities. Through the Plan for Change programme, we are working closely with the Welsh Government to ensure Wales can benefit from future investment and support. Our focus will be on working closely with the Welsh Government to inform their strategies and plans for rural communities in Wales. The UK Government is supporting through programmes like the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), Freeports and Investment Zones, which collectively aim to target growth and investment across Wales.
Asked by: Llinos Medi (Plaid Cymru - Ynys Môn)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the Crown Estate charges private businesses (a) lease fees and (b) royalty fees on profits.
Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Crown Estate as a landowner charges occupiers/tenants, which can be private businesses, rent in accordance with their lease agreements.
In some cases, the rent structure under The Crown Estate’s leases can include a turnover rent element whereby the amount of rent charged is either a percentage of the occupier/tenant’s turnover made at the leased property or the higher of fixed rent and a percentage of the occupier/tenant’s turnover at the leased property. These rent structures are commonly used in the retail market. Royalty fees are used in certain specific situations within a lease structure.