Committee publication · Estimate memoranda · 13 May 2026
Wales Office - Main Estimates Memorandum 2026-27
From: Welsh Affairs Committee
Summary
The Wales Office seeks parliamentary approval for Main Estimates 2026-27 totalling £21.868 billion in payments to the Welsh Consolidated Fund plus £6.737 million for Wales Office running costs. Resource DEL increases 3.67% year-on-year; administration costs decrease 21% to £5.295 million following the Prime Minister's commitment to frontline spending focus. The estimate includes depreciation reclassification from DEL to AME.
Key findings
- Wales Office Resource DEL increases £0.247m (3.67%) to £6.737m; administration costs cut £1.136m (21%) to £5.295m reflecting spending restraint
- Cash grant to Welsh Consolidated Fund rises £1.001m (4.80%) to £21.868m, driven by Barnett consequentials from Spending Review 2025 Phase 2
- Welsh Government block grant (DEL) set at £22.559m with Resource DEL of £18.952m and Capital DEL of £3.607m
- Capital DEL declines £0.945m (-3150%) from prior year; depreciation reclassified from Resource DEL to Resource AME (£0.370m)
- Wales Office consolidating back-office functions with Scotland and Northern Ireland Offices, including shared parliamentary and FOI teams
Tone
ProceduralTopics
Key actors
Wales Office, Secretary of State for Wales, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Wales, Welsh Government, HM Treasury, Ciarán Hayes, House of Commons Scrutiny Unit, Senedd Cymru
Notable line
“The administration costs for 2026-27 have decreased by £1.176m from the 2025-26 Supplementary Estimates. The decrease is mainly due to reductions in the administration budget to meet the Prime Ministers commitment to focus spending on frontline delivery and the reclassification …”
Key Quotes
“The Wales Office supports the Secretary of State for Wales and the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in promoting the best interests of Wales within a stronger United Kingdom …”
“The administration costs for 2026-27 have decreased by £1.176m from the 2025-26 Supplementary Estimates. The decrease is mainly due to reductions in the administration budget to meet the Prime Ministers commitment to focus spending on frontline delivery and the reclassification of depreciation from DEL to AME.”
“The Office continues to work with the other Offices of the Nations to share back-office services and to strengthen our resilience. We share many key back-office functions, including a parliamentary team shared between the three Offices of the Nations and an FOI team shared with the Northern Ireland Office.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗