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.

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.