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Written Question
Physician Associates: Wales
Friday 2nd February 2024

Asked by: Virginia Crosbie (Conservative - Ynys Môn)

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, whether he has had recent discussions with representatives of the Welsh Government on the levels of public awareness of (a) the role and (b) competencies of physician associates in the NHS in Wales.

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

I have regular discussions with Welsh Government Ministers on a wide range of issues. As a devolved matter, it is for the Welsh Government to consider the operational deployment of the role of physician associates (PAs) within the NHS workforce in Wales.

The UK Government greatly values the work of physician associates (PAs) and is introducing regulation as part of our commitment to the roles and to their place in the multi-disciplinary workforce.

The regulation of PAs which is a reserved matter has been subject to extensive public consultation over several years. Throughout the project, UK Government officials have engaged thoroughly with stakeholders including regulators, the devolved administrations, the Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care, representative bodies and service users in developing the policy behind this legislation. This engagement has been crucial in shaping both UK Government policy intention and the resultant legislation, to ensure that it remains a practical piece of legislation for the benefit of patient safety and registrants.

Regulation will give the GMC responsibility and oversight of PAs, allowing it to take a holistic approach to education, training, and standards. Once regulation commences, GMC guidance will apply to PAs.


Written Question
UK Shared Prosperity Fund: Wales
Tuesday 2nd May 2023

Asked by: Virginia Crosbie (Conservative - Ynys Môn)

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what information his Department collects on how the Shared Prosperity Fund has been spent by local authorities; whether his Department has input into the way Welsh local authorities spend that funding; what audits have taken place on the expenditure by local authorities from the Shared Prosperity Fund; and whether Welsh local authorities are required to display UK Government branding on projects funded through the Shared Prosperity Fund.

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

Wales will receive £585 million through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) in the current SR period, replacing in full the amount Wales received in EU Structural Funds (ERDF and ESF).

The Fund empowers communities to identify and build on their own strengths and needs at a local level. Local leaders, informed by their regional investment plans and working with local partners, decide how to spend UKSPF funding to create jobs, improve their local areas and support levelling up in Wales.

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) administer the fund. Lead local authorities provide DLUHC with regular progress reports, outlining how UKSPF is being delivered across their region. These include total expenditure, updates on the delivery of individual programmes, and performance metrics with details on the outputs and outcomes generated. Projects funded under UKSPF are required to display UK Government branding.

Information on the performance of UKSPF, and branding guidance for the Fund, is set out online at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/uk-shared-prosperity-fund-additional-information.

I intend to ensure that UKSPF delivers its objectives in all parts of Wales. I shall keep a close eye on how the Fund is being spent and what it is delivering. UKSPF will also be a standing item for my regular meetings with local leaders in Wales.


Written Question
High Speed 2 Line: North Wales
Friday 17th March 2023

Asked by: Virginia Crosbie (Conservative - Ynys Môn)

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will make an assessment with Cabinet colleagues of the potential impact of the timing of the construction of HS2 between Birmingham and Crewe on the economy of north Wales.

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

I have regular discussions with my Cabinet colleagues on a range of transport matters relating to Wales, including HS2.

The Department for Transport expects to re-phase construction of Phase 2a (West Midlands to Crewe) by two years. We aim to deliver high-speed services to Crewe, providing connections with the North Wales Coast Line as soon as possible after accounting for the delay in construction.

The Government will continue to provide updated economic assessments of HS2 at key decision points for the programme, as has been done to date. Updated analysis will consider any impacts caused by inflationary and cost pressures.


Written Question
Freeports: Wales
Wednesday 1st March 2023

Asked by: Virginia Crosbie (Conservative - Ynys Môn)

Question to the Wales Office:

What recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the delivery of freeports in Wales.

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

I have regular discussions with Cabinet colleagues on the delivery of freeports in Wales and I am pleased that the assessment process is underway. The UK and Welsh Governments are working collaboratively to achieve positive outcomes for Wales.


Written Question
Freeports: Wales
Wednesday 22nd February 2023

Asked by: Virginia Crosbie (Conservative - Ynys Môn)

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of each Welsh freeport bid on retaining Welsh language speakers within each prospective freeport's region.

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

The UK Government (UKG) is wholly supportive of the ambition to reach 1 million Welsh speakers by 2050.

The Wales Freeport bidding prospectus asks bidders to set out how their proposals contribute to a vibrant culture and thriving Welsh language.

The Wales Freeport assessment process is still ongoing. The bids are being jointly assessed by officials from the UK and Welsh governments, with results to come out in due course.


Written Question
Railways: Wales
Thursday 8th September 2022

Asked by: Virginia Crosbie (Conservative - Ynys Môn)

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, whether he has had recent discussions with the Welsh Government on establishing a new Wales Rail Board to bring forward Welsh rail projects, including upgrading the North Wales mainline.

Answered by Robert Buckland

In response to a recommendation from the Welsh Affairs Select Committee, the UK and Welsh Governments agreed to establish a Wales Rail Board. The Board met for the first time in March and continues to meet regularly. It will establish a strategic programme with an agreed prioritisation for the future progression of rail schemes in Wales. This includes improvements to the North Wales main line for which we expect to receive an Outline Business Case from Network Rail early next year.


Written Question
High Speed 2 Line: North Wales
Wednesday 7th September 2022

Asked by: Virginia Crosbie (Conservative - Ynys Môn)

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, with reference to the paper entitled Integrated Rail Plan for the North and Midlands, CP 490, published on 18 November 2021, what recent assessment he has made of the potential economic merits of the proposed HS2 route to the north of Wales.

Answered by Robert Buckland

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 significantly improve connections from North Wales to the HS2 network, bringing many North Wales passengers within 2 hours 15 minutes of London.


Written Question
Free Zones: Wales
Wednesday 14th July 2021

Asked by: Virginia Crosbie (Conservative - Ynys Môn)

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what discussions he has had with the Welsh Government on the (a) process of, (b) timeframe for and (c) allocation of funding for the establishment of a freeport in Wales.

Answered by Simon Hart - Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury (Chief Whip)

Freeports will regenerate communities across the UK by attracting new businesses, spreading jobs, investment and opportunity to towns and cities up and down the country.

I have regular discussions with the Welsh Government on a range of issues, including Freeports. The UK Government remains committed to establishing at least one Freeport in Wales. We wrote to the Welsh Government on 11 July and I would welcome the support of the Welsh Government to ensure Freeports are introduced in Wales as soon as possible.

The Welsh Government is due to receive Barnett in the usual way and it should be for the Welsh Government to decide how much seed funding to provide to a Freeport in Wales. Through the application of the Barnett formula at the 2020 Spending Review, the Welsh Government is receiving around £123 per head in 2021-22 for every £100 head spent by the UK Government on devolved matters in England. However, it is important to recognise that the seed funding is only one part of the offer available to ports and businesses. There are a variety of benefits from Freeports, including on tax, customs, planning and innovation, many of these which will be delivered by the UK Government.


Written Question
Fisheries: UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement
Monday 5th July 2021

Asked by: Virginia Crosbie (Conservative - Ynys Môn)

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what discussions he has had with representatives of the Welsh fishing industry on the effect on that sector of the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement.

Answered by Simon Hart - Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury (Chief Whip)

I have regular discussions with stakeholders, including those from the seafood sector on maximising opportunities from the UK-EU Trade and Co-operation Agreement.

Under the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement, the UK has secured tariff-free access for fisheries products and a substantial transfer of quota from the EU benefitting fishing communities across the UK including those in Wales. The transfer is equivalent to 25% of the value of the EU’s historic catch in UK waters worth £146 million delivered over 5 years. All fisheries administrations will have regulatory control, giving the Welsh Government powers over part of the UK's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) adjacent to Wales.


Written Question
Free Zones: Ynys Môn
Wednesday 19th May 2021

Asked by: Virginia Crosbie (Conservative - Ynys Môn)

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of a freeport on Anglesey on (a) jobs and (b) employment opportunities (i) on Anglesey and (ii) in North Wales.

Answered by Simon Hart - Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury (Chief Whip)

Freeports will increase trade, create employment and attract investment. We want to ensure that the whole of the UK can benefit, and remain committed to establishing at least one Freeport in Wales as soon as possible.