Written questions by Davies.

If she will make an assessment of the adequacy of levels of funding provided by the UK Government for railways in Wales.

The level of investment across the different parts of the railway network is determined by the needs of the network, value for money and meeting the Government’s priorities. The benefits of this spend can accrue in geographically distant locations. The funding for the day-to-day running and renewal of the railway was determined via the comprehensive regulatory processes led by the independent regulator, the Office of Rail and Road. Network Rail spending on operations, maintenance, and renewals in Wales for the five years between 2024 and 2029 is forecast to be £2.5 billion. This will be used to address climate effects, improve train performance from current levels, and invest in the areas that matter most to passengers and freight users. The Government had made a further commitment of at least £445 million of rail enhancements funding for Wales, and plans for future rail investment in Wales will be made in close consultation with the Wales Rail Board. This will be consulted ahead of the next Spending Review so that Wales’ long-term infrastructure needs continue to be recognised.

Whether she has made an estimate of the relative level of per head spending on railway infrastructure in (a) Wales and (b) England.

This Government believes in the importance of rail investment to support economic growth and bring connections to people all across the country. The level of investment is determined by the needs of the network, value for money and meeting the Government’s priorities, not by population count. We work with the Office of Rail and Road to provide funding to Network Rail that supports the safe and effective operation of railways across England and Wales and, through the Spending Review and Infrastructure Strategy, have also provided the significant commitment to at least £445 million of rail enhancements funding for Wales. This is to address the country’s long-term infrastructure needs and meet the Wales Rail Board’s top priorities.

If she will take steps to ensure that areas in Wales that will not receive rail funding from the £445 million announced at the Spending Review 2025 receive rail investment from the UK Government.

Through the Wales Rail Board, the priorities for rail investment across all regions of Wales are discussed and agreed with the Welsh Government and Transport for Wales. The Wales Rail Board includes representation from the Department for Transport, Network Rail, the Welsh Government and Transport for Wales, and has been established to provide joint strategic direction for rail service development in Wales. It will continue to be consulted ahead of future Spending Reviews so that Wales’ long-term infrastructure needs continue to be recognised. In addition to the £445 million rail enhancements funding committed to Wales, Network Rail is forecast to spend £2.5 billion on rail operations, maintenance, and renewals across the whole of Wales in the five years between 2024 and 2029. This will be used to address climate effects, improve train performance from current levels, and invest in the areas that matter most to passengers and freight users.

Whether the Welsh Government have made a formal request for the devolution of heavy rail infrastructure to Wales.

The Government committed to invest £445 million to enhance rail infrastructure across Wales at the Spending Review. Through the Wales Rail Board, the UK and Welsh Government are collaborating to make sure this investment delivers the greatest passenger benefits, drives economic growth, promotes social mobility, and tackles inequality. Great British Railways will have a close and collaborative relationship with Transport for Wales, underpinned by objectives set jointly by UK and Welsh Ministers, to ensure the railway better serves passengers and freight.

Whether the Welsh Government have made a request for Northern Powerhouse rail to be designated as an England only project.

We are working closely with the Welsh Government following our major commitment to the NPR programme. Territorial classification of specific programmes depends on whether the policy area is devolved to the relevant devolved government in each nation or reserved to the UK Government. Heavy rail is reserved to the UK Government in England and Wales.

Media and Sport, whether expert working groups on copyright and AI include representatives from (a) Wales and (b) of Welsh-language interests.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology held successful working groups to bring together representatives from both the creative and AI sectors. The working groups worked with a wide range of different representatives, including companies that have operations in Wales and organisations representing creatives across the UK, including Wales. DCMS officials met with Welsh government officials to discuss the creative sector and AI, and will continue to identify areas of collaboration going forward.

Food and Rural Affairs, what plans she has for protected funding for UK fruit and vegetable growers, following the closure of the Fruit and Vegetable Aid Scheme.

The Government is committed to our excellent horticulture sector and the vital role that it plays in strengthening food security by ensuring a reliable and sustainable supply of fresh home-grown produce. Future support for the horticulture sector is being considered alongside Defra’s work to simplify and rationalise agricultural grant funding, ensuring that grants deliver the most benefit for food security and value for money for the taxpayer. We are already doing a great deal to support the sector. Of at least £200 million allocated to The Farming Innovation Programme (FIP) through to 2030, to date nearly £40 million—representing 26% of total awards—has been granted to research projects benefiting the sector offering targeted opportunities for fruit and vegetable businesses to become more profitable, resilient, and sustainable. Further opportunities for farmer and grower led trials to test ideas and solutions are also now available in FIP via ADOPT grants. Wider Government support includes: our five-year extension to the Seasonal Worker visa route, providing much needed stability and certainty to businesses; as well as extending the easement on import checks on medium risk fruit and vegetables ahead of the new SPS agreement deal with the EU.

What discussions her Department has had with the Welsh government regarding the drafting of the Railways Bill.

The Department for Transport has worked closely with the Welsh Government throughout the development of the Railways Bill. This engagement has included both ministerial and official-level meetings to ensure constructive and collaborative development of provisions enabling a responsive railway in the Wales and borders area.

With reference to the Budget Statement on 26 November 2025, whether the full investment reserve amount of £2.3bn will be transferred to BCSSS trustees.

The transfer of the full reserve of £2.3bn to BCSSS Trustees has been implemented and the required amendments to the scheme rules agreed and signed.

What assessment he has made of the potential merits of removing the benefit cap alongside the removal of the two child cap announced in the Budget Statement on 26 November 2025.

No assessment has been made The benefit cap aims to incentivise work as, where possible, it is in the best interest of children to be in working households. Being in work substantially reduces the chance of poverty: the poverty rate of children living in households where all adults work is 17% compared to 65% for children who live in households where no adults work. Returning to employment, or increasing the number of hours worked, significantly increases the likelihood of a household not being affected by the cap. People who are working and earning at least £846 each month are exempt from the benefit cap. There is also protection for the most vulnerable as those who are caring or are severely disabled are exempt from the benefit cap. The Government is committed to helping people move into and progress in work and we are delivering a step-change in employment and skills support for parents, enabling parents to balance work and caring responsibilities through high quality, flexible jobs, and improving access to childcare so parents are better able to work.

What assessment has he made of the number of households that will be affected by the removal of the two child cap but subjected to the benefit cap following changes announced in the Budget Statement on 26 November in (a) Wales and (b) across the UK.

The requested information is not available.

What assessment he has made of the impact of not uprating Local Housing Allowance on homelessness in Wales.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State confirmed in his Written Ministerial Statement (HCWS1101) that Local Housing Allowance rates and the benefit cap will not be increased for 2026-27. He considered a range of factors, including the rentals levels across Great Britain, the wider fiscal context and welfare priorities. This included the decision to prioritise removing the two child limit, which will lift 450k children out of poverty.Responsibility for housing and homelessness is devolved to the Welsh Government, while social security is reserved to the UK Government.Discretionary Housing Payments are available from local authorities for those who face a shortfall in meeting their housing costs.

What discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on the potential impact of not uprating Local Housing Allowance on homelessness in Wales.

I have discussions with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on a regular basis and on a range of issues. My officials work closely with DWP, MHCLG and other departments, including regarding Local Housing Allowance (LHA). The Government is taking action to support low-income households, including removing the two-child limit to reduce child poverty, benefitting 69,000 children in Wales. In addition, we are increasing the National Living Wage and the National Minimum Wage building on April 2025 increases that already helped up to 160,000 workers in Wales, cutting household energy bills by £150 per year and uprating the Universal Credit Standard Allowance by over 6%. This is the first ever sustained real terms increase in the Standard Allowance, directly benefitting 320,000 households in Wales. Discretionary Housing Payments are available from local authorities for those who face a shortfall in meeting their housing costs and need further support.

What assessment has he made of the number of FAS and PPF members whose original pension scheme did not provide for specified pre-1997 indexation and will therefore not be included in the Government’s plans announced in the Budget on 26 November.

At the Budget, the Chancellor announced that the Government will introduce pre-1997 indexation in the Pension Protection Fund (PPF) and the Financial Assistance Scheme (FAS), for members whose original schemes provided this. Compensation payments from these schemes on pensions built up before 6 April 1997 will be CPI-linked (capped at 2.5%), and this will apply prospectively. The PPF have made an assessment that around 165,000 PPF members and 91,000 current FAS members have some pre-97 benefits where their former schemes provided mandatory indexation. The remaining members will not fall within the scope of our reforms, either because these members had no mandatory pre-97 indexation in their original schemes, or no pre-97 service.

What discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on steps to ensure that that fossil fuel companies fund the costs of climate recovery in the UK.

My Rt hon Friend the Secretary of State has regular discussions with Ministerial Colleagues on a number of issues.

Whether her Department plans to maintain tax relief on pension contributions.

Pensions tax relief is one of the most expensive reliefs in the personal tax system, costing £78.2 billion in 2023/24. The Government remains committed to encouraging pension saving, to help ensure that people have an income, or funds on which they can draw, throughout retirement.

What recent assessment she has made of the impact of frozen personal tax thresholds on pensioners’ disposable incomes.

The previous government made the decision to freeze the income tax Personal Allowance at its current level of £12,570 until April The previous government published a Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN) setting out the impacts.

What plans he has to review the criteria used to determine the State Pension age to reflect regional inequalities in healthy life expectancy.

The Government launched the third Government Review of State Pension age on 21 July.This Review will consider a wide range of evidence including the latest ONS life expectancy and healthy life expectancy projections, findings from the Government Actuary on adult life in retirement, and an independent report led by Dr Suzy Morrissey, which will consider which facts are most relevant in setting State Pension age.

With reference to the oral contribution of the Minister of State for Energy during the Westminster Hall debate on Coal Tip Safety and Prohibition of New Coal Extraction Licences on 22 October 2025, whether the further work which has been done on mapping coal tips since 2020 has produced a new provisional figure for the cost of remediating coal tips in Wales.

Coal tips are a devolved matter and it would be for the Welsh Government to produce any updated estimate of the cost of remediating coal tips in Wales. The Welsh Government has done a considerable amount of work mapping recorded coal tips and they believe that £118m, which they have received from the UK Government and is additional to the funding they have already committed to coal tip safety, is a sufficient amount of funding that can be used to protect and help communities living near coal tips.

What discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on (a) the ‘Future of TV Distribution’ stakeholder forum and (b) the potential impact of its decision making on Wales.

I have regular discussions with Cabinet colleagues on a range of matters. In July, the then Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Wales met with Broadcast 2040+ to understand their perspectives on the long-term future of terrestrial TV in Wales. The lead department on this matter, DCMS established the Future of TV Distribution stakeholder forum which takes views from a range of broadcasters active in Wales, including S4C, the BBC and ITV. The forum also benefits from the perspectives of a number of groups representing the interests of Welsh and UK-wide audiences, such as Voice of the Listener and Viewer, Digital Poverty Alliance and Silver Voices. Before any decisions are made, including in relation to Wales, close consideration will be given to how any changes would impact audiences, and especially those who rely on digital terrestrial television as their primary means of watching television.