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Written Question
Cost of Living and Food Poverty: Wales
Friday 26th January 2024

Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West)

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, whether he has had recent discussions with the Trussell Trust on (a) the cost of living and (b) food poverty in (i) Newport West constituency and (ii) Wales.

Answered by David T C Davies - Secretary of State for Wales

I have not had any recent discussions with the Trussell Trust on these topics. However, in my role as Secretary of State for Wales, I regularly meet with stakeholders to discuss a wide range of issues such as the cost of living.

The UK Government has provided extensive support to Newport West. This includes Cost of Living payments for around 13,100 eligible households totalling up to £900 per household. Furthermore, around 240,000 payments have been delivered in Newport West through the Energy Bills Support Scheme.

The UK Government recognises the challenges posed by cost of living pressures and consequently has provided unprecedented levels of support to families across the UK. Measures announced at the Autumn Statement mean the UK Government will spend £104 billion between 2022 and 2025 to help families with the cost of living, which is an average of £3,700 per UK household. Owing to the cut in National Insurance from January 2024, 1.2 million workers in Wales will benefit from an annual gain of £324 back.

Moreover, the National Living wage will increase by 9.8% to £11.44 per hour for workers over 21 and the National Minimum wage will increase by 14.8% to £8.60 per hour for people aged 18-20. This will benefit 140,000 people in Wales and is further evidence of the support the UK Government is providing to help people with the cost of living.

Although housing is a devolved matter, the UK Government is supporting low-income households by increasing the Local Housing Allowance (LHA). From April 2024, the UK Government will be investing £1.2 billion increasing LHA rates to cover the lower 30% of local rents. Around 1.6 million private renters in receipt of Housing Benefit or Universal Credit will gain nearly £800 per year on average in additional help towards their rental costs in 2024/25. In Wales, around 82,500 households are set to benefit from the boost.


Written Question
Cost of Living and Food Poverty: Wales
Friday 26th January 2024

Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West)

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what recent discussions he has had with the Welsh Government on (a) the cost of living and (b) food poverty in (i) Newport West constituency and (ii) Wales.

Answered by David T C Davies - Secretary of State for Wales

I have regular discussions with Cabinet colleagues and Welsh Government Ministers on a wide range of issues, including the cost of living.

The UK Government has provided extensive support to Newport West. This includes Cost of Living payments for around 13,100 eligible households totalling up to £900 per household. Furthermore, around 240,000 payments have been delivered in Newport West through the Energy Bills Support Scheme.

The UK Government recognises the challenges posed by cost of living pressures and consequently has provided unprecedented levels of support to families across the UK. Measures announced at the Autumn Statement mean the UK Government will spend £104 billion between 2022 and 2025 to help families with the cost of living, which is an average of £3,700 per UK household. Owing to the cut in National Insurance tax from January 2024, 1.2 million workers in Wales will benefit from an annual gain of £324.

Moreover, the National Living wage will increase by 9.8% to £11.44 per hour for workers over 21 and the National Minimum wage will increase by 14.8% to £8.60 per hour for people aged 18-20. This will benefit 140,000 people in Wales and is further evidence of the support the UK Government is providing to help people with the cost of living.

Although housing is a devolved matter, the UK Government is supporting low-income households, by increasing the Local Housing Allowance (LHA). From April 2024, the UK Government will be investing £1.2 billion increasing LHA rates to cover the lower 30% of local rents. Around 1.6 million private renters in receipt of Housing Benefit or Universal Credit will gain nearly £800 per year on average in additional help towards their rental costs in 2024/25. In Wales, around 82,500 households are set to benefit from the boost.


Written Question
Cost of Living: Wales
Friday 26th January 2024

Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West)

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the cost of living in (a) Newport West constituency and (b) Wales.

Answered by David T C Davies - Secretary of State for Wales

I have regular discussions with Cabinet colleagues and Welsh Government Ministers on a wide range of issues, including the cost of living.

The UK Government has provided extensive support to Newport West. This includes Cost of Living payments for around 13,100 eligible households totalling up to £900 per household. Furthermore, around 240,000 payments have been delivered in Newport West through the Energy Bills Support Scheme.

The UK Government recognises the challenges posed by cost of living pressures and consequently has provided unprecedented levels of support to families across the UK. Measures announced at the Autumn Statement mean the UK Government will spend £104 billion between 2022 and 2025 to help families with the cost of living, which is an average of £3,700 per UK household. Owing to the cut in National Insurance tax from January 2024, 1.2 million workers in Wales will benefit from an annual gain of £324.

Moreover, the National Living wage will increase by 9.8% to £11.44 per hour for workers over 21 and the National Minimum wage will increase by 14.8% to £8.60 per hour for people aged 18-20. This will benefit 140,000 people in Wales and is further evidence of the support the UK Government is providing to help people with the cost of living.

Although housing is a devolved matter, the UK Government is supporting low-income households, by increasing the Local Housing Allowance (LHA). From April 2024, the UK Government will be investing £1.2 billion increasing LHA rates to cover the lower 30% of local rents. Around 1.6 million private renters in receipt of Housing Benefit or Universal Credit will gain nearly £800 per year on average in additional help towards their rental costs in 2024/25. In Wales, around 82,500 households are set to benefit from the boost.


Written Question
Windrush Compensation Scheme: Wales
Tuesday 23rd January 2024

Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West)

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what recent discussions he has had with the Home Secretary on the time taken to process claims to the Windrush Compensation Scheme from people in Wales.

Answered by David T C Davies - Secretary of State for Wales

I have regular discussions with Home Office ministers on a range of issues and I recognise the contribution of the Windrush Generation to Wales. I was pleased to meet the Windrush Cymru Elders at the Mission Seafarers in Newport on 31 October 2023.

The Windrush Compensation Scheme is determined to ensure everyone who was affected receives every penny of the compensation to which they are entitled at the earliest point possible. The scheme is making significant progress towards achieving this aim. As of the end of November 2023, the scheme had paid over £75 million in compensation and over 78% of claims received had been given a final decision.

The time to allocate a claim for a substantive casework consideration has been reduced significantly, from 18 months to under 4 months. The 4 month period includes all essential eligibility checks, together with a Preliminary Assessment to make an initial payment of £10,000 wherever possible.

However, each person’s claim is deeply personal and deserves to be processed with the utmost care and sensitivity so that the maximum payment can be made to them.


Written Question
Mark Drakeford
Monday 16th October 2023

Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West)

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, when he last met the First Minister of Wales.

Answered by David T C Davies - Secretary of State for Wales

I last met with the First Minister of Wales on Thursday 12 October, 2023.


Written Question
Investment: Wales
Friday 8th September 2023

Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West)

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, whether the Government plans to hold a Wales investment conference.

Answered by David T C Davies - Secretary of State for Wales

The UK Government is committed to growing the economy of Wales, creating well-paid jobs and opportunity right across the country.

The second Global Investment Summit will be hosted by the Department for Business and Trade this Autumn, showcasing Welsh businesses to investors from around the world.

Day to day, the Office of the Secretary of State for Wales works closely with the Department for Business and Trade and the Office for Investment to support growth and investment. This has led to forty-seven new foreign direct investments in Wales during 2022/23, creating 3,062 new jobs (a five-year record).


Written Question
Flybe: Insolvency
Tuesday 7th February 2023

Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West)

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, whether he has had recent discussions with Cabinet colleagues on the potential impact of Flybe being placed in administration on people in (a) Newport West constituency and (b) Wales.

Answered by David T C Davies - Secretary of State for Wales

The Government acknowledges that this will be a difficult time for Flybe’s passengers and staff. Our immediate priority has been to support people travelling home and employees who have lost their jobs. Flybe hasn’t operated from Cardiff Airport since 2020 and we recognise the impact this has had on the airport in the years since.

Financial assistance to providers or air transport services is a devolved matter and therefore in the hands of the Welsh Government, although officials at the Department for Transport engage regularly with the Welsh Government on aviation policy.

With specific regard to Cardiff Airport, a robust strategy is urgently needed to ensure the sustainability of Cardiff Airport, having originally been bought by the Welsh Government for £52m in 2013 and has since (in 2021) been valued at just £15m.

This year marks a decade since the Welsh Government bought Cardiff Airport. We’ve seen warnings raised over the site’s future sustainability and have seen major airlines – such as Wizz Air and Flybe – ceasing all operations at the site. There are no signs of improvement. Annual passenger numbers have fallen since the pandemic, down from 1.6 million in 2019 to 812,000 in the year to November 2022.

It’s absolutely crucial that the Welsh Government publishes a comprehensive strategy to place the airport on a more sustainable footing, with a crucial aim of returning it to the commercial sector at the earliest opportunity. Doing so, I hope, would be of benefit to the people of Newport West, Wales and the rest of the UK.


Written Question
Foreign Investment in UK: Wales
Tuesday 6th December 2022

Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West)

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what discussions he has had with representatives of international businesses on inward investment into Wales; and if he will make a statement.

Answered by David T C Davies - Secretary of State for Wales

I regularly meet a range of stakeholders to discuss investment opportunities in Wales. Most recently I met with the Qatar Investment Authority in Doha, to discuss opportunities for Wales. I have also had meetings with representatives from companies like Ciner Glass and the Eren Group about their investments in Wales.

Wales has already seen the benefit of inward investment, with 43 new foreign direct investments in the 2021-2022 financial year, creating around 1,800 new jobs. Furthermore, the Department for International Trade’s dedicated Wales team has ensured Wales’ investment opportunities are promoted at the UK’s flagship international investment events, such as the recent Green Trade and Investment Expo in Gateshead and through opportunities for Wales as part of the GREAT campaign.

The UK Government is committed to supporting key sectors in Wales, while also creating an environment where businesses of the future can thrive, and inward investment is critical in this. Our Freeports programme has the potential to help Wales compete for global investment and trade, and further enhance Wales’ ability to attract investment and new businesses. The UK’s Free Trade Agreements will also bring new investment opportunities for Wales.


Written Question
Domestic Visits: Wales
Tuesday 6th December 2022

Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West)

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many ministerial visits to Wales have taken place in each of the last five years.

Answered by David T C Davies - Secretary of State for Wales

Since 1 November 2018, around 184 Ministerial visits have taken place by Wales Office Ministers.

At the time of answering, I have conducted 15 Governmental engagements in Wales in my capacity as Secretary of State for Wales.

The Department does not hold information on Ministers from other Department’s visits or engagements.


Written Question
Devolution: Wales
Monday 5th December 2022

Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West)

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many meetings he has held at (a) Downing Street and (b) the House of Commons with elected representatives from Wales since his appointment; and if he will make a statement.

Answered by David T C Davies - Secretary of State for Wales

As Secretary of State for Wales, I conduct the vast majority of Government businesses within the Wales Office, including meetings with elected representatives in Wales.

I have had meetings with elected representatives from Wales in Parliament and in Downing Street.