Written questions by Chadwick.

With reference to the Spring Statement and the Spending Review 2025, what is the expected completion date of each of the five new railways stations to be built in south east Wales.

Based on the work of the South East Wales Transport Commission and subsequent development activity, new stations are proposed at Newport Road (Cardiff), Newport West, Somerton, Llanwern, and Magor & Undy. The funding announced in the Spending Review will support the further development of options for these stations, allowing the programme and expected completion date of each station to be confirmed in due course by the two governments, supported by our industry partners.

What steps she is taking with Great British Railways to help ensure the operation of train services stopping at (a) Wrexham, (b) Shrewsbury and (c) London.

This Government’s bold vision for the railways will see a unified and simplified rail system that relentlessly focuses on improved services for passengers and better value for taxpayers, ending years of fragmentation and waste. Great British Railways (GBR) will be the directing mind for the network to provide the best balance between local, regional and national services to deliver a better performing railway for passengers, freight and taxpayers. GBR will have the ability to plan its future service patterns in accordance with market demand, revenue forecasting, and stakeholder expectations, including train services between Wrexham, Shrewsbury and London.

What steps she is taking to help (a) tackle infrastructure congestion and (b) improve (i) timetable capacity and (ii) passenger numbers to support open access plans for the Wrexham, Shropshire & Midlands Railway.

The delivery of HS2 will almost double long-distance rail capacity between London and the West Midlands, significantly improving the heavily congested southern section of the West Coast Main Line and releasing capacity for other services on the route. We are also investing to increase power supply on the southern end of the West Coast Main Line to enable the introduction of new electric services and support future growth and performance improvements on the route.Further, my Department remains committed to a role for Open Access where it provides genuine benefits to passengers without disproportionately impacting taxpayers, which is why we provided support for Wrexham, Shropshire & Midlands Railway’s application. However, we must equally ensure that Open Access does not have detrimental impacts upon the performance of the network. It is the role of the regulator to take access decisions informed by assessments of capacity.

Whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of reconnecting Brecon to the rail network.

The Wales Rail Board is responsible for assessing and recommending rail investments to support new and improved services in Wales. No credible scheme to restore a direct rail connection to Brecon has been identified to date. The UK and Welsh Governments are collaborating on their respective bus reform agendas. In Wales, this supports Transport for Wales’ vision for a fully integrated transport network providing improved connectivity to places not served by the existing rail network. For Brecon specifically, a new bus timetable and fare structure has recently been launched, offering greater flexibility and value for passengers.

What is the total allocated budget for each of the five new railway stations to be built in south east Wales.

The government’s recent Spending Review and Infrastructure Strategy has recognised Wales’ long-term infrastructure needs and will deliver at least £445 million of rail enhancements to realise them. The exact proportion of funding required to support individual enhancement schemes will be confirmed through further development activity currently underway by industry partners.

When she will announce the locations of the five new railway stations to be built in south east Wales.

Based on the work of the South East Wales Transport Commission and subsequent development activity, new stations are proposed at Newport Road (Cardiff), Newport West, Somerton, Llanwern, and Magor & Undy. The funding announced in the Spending Review will support the further development of options and confirm the exact locations for the stations. The programme for this will be confirmed in due course by the two governments, supported by our industry partners.

With reference to the recent review of the Disabled Facilities Grant upper limit, when his Department will publish (a) the results of the review and (b) a report on next steps; and what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the DFG system for people living with motor neurone disease.

In England, the Government continues to fund the locally administered Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) which helps eligible older and disabled people on low incomes to adapt their homes. This includes people living with motor neurone disease.We have provided an additional £172 million across the current and previous financial years to uplift the DFG, which could provide around 15,600 home adaptations to give older and disabled people more independence in their homes. This brings the total funding for the DFG to £711 million in 2024/25 and 2025/26.We continue to keep all aspects of the DFG under consideration. Recently, we carried out a review of the upper limit for the DFG. This was an internal review and will not be published. We are currently considering the findings.

How many people in receipt of Universal Credit welfare payments have (a) undergraduate and (b) post-graduate degrees in Wales.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. A response to the Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 29th August is attached.

If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of giving teachers an emergency covid booster.

The Government is committed to protecting those most vulnerable to serious disease from COVID-19 through vaccination, as guided by the independent Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).The JCVI has advised that since 2020, population immunity to COVID-19 has been increasing. COVID-19 is now a relatively mild disease for most people, with rates of hospitalisation and death from COVID-19 having reduced significantly since the disease first emerged. The currently available COVID-19 vaccines provide limited protection against transmission and mild disease.On 13 November 2024, the JCVI published advice on the COVID-19 vaccination programme for spring 2025, autumn 2025, and spring 2026. This advice is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-vaccination-in-2025-and-spring-2026-jcvi-advice/jcvi-statement-on-covid-19-vaccination-in-2025-and-spring-2026On 26 June 2025, the Government accepted the JCVI’s advice that in autumn 2025, a COVID-19 vaccination should be offered to adults aged 75 years old and over, residents in care homes for older adults, and the immunosuppressed aged six months old and over.There are no plans to offer an emergency COVID-19 vaccination to any group. In line with JCVI advice, teachers as a group will not be eligible for COVID-19 vaccination. Teachers who are otherwise eligible, for example because of their own health conditions, will be offered the vaccine as part of the autumn 2025 vaccination programme.

Whether she has made an assessment of the adequacy of the accessibility of the civil justice system for litigants in person.

This Government is committed to ensuring access to justice for all, whether people have legal representation or not. The Ministry of Justice is providing over £6 million of grant funding in 2025-26 to 60 organisations to improve access to free legal support and information, both in-person and online. This includes support for Litigants in Person (LiPs) to help them navigate the justice system effectively, including preparation for court and support at court.Judges have a duty to ensure a fair trial by giving LiPs assistance, helping to ensure that LiPs are treated equally before the law. Guidance and rules sets out how the judiciary engage with LiPs, including the Equal Treatment Bench Book and Practice Direction 1A of the Civil Procedure Rules. LiPs can request supportive measures including reasonable adjustments, and interpreters at court. They can request to bring their own supporter such as a friend/family member. New digital services built under the Reform programme have been designed to be simple, accessible, and easy to use for LiPs.The Government will continue to take steps to understand and improve LiPs’ experience of the civil justice system through Public User engagement Groups, research and feedback surveys.

What estimate her Department has made of the potential economic impact of changes to the thresholds for the Soft Drinks Industry Levy on the level of food inflation.

An assessment of economic and other impacts are included as part of the ‘Strengthening the Soft Drinks Industry Levy’ consultation document. This is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/strengthening-the-soft-drinks-industry-levy. The direct impact of the proposed changes on CPI inflation is expected to be negligible, less than 0.01 percentage points. The proposed changes were subject to a consultation, which was open until 21 July 2025 and will inform decisions at a future Budget. If the Government decides to make changes to the levy, it will publish a tax information and impact note (TIIN) to give account of the confirmed policy’s impacts.

On what date the decision was taken to re-classify East-West Rail as an England and Wales project.

As rail infrastructure projects have not been devolved to Wales the categorisation of these projects is in line with wider devolution policy managed by Treasury. Every Government funded rail project in Wales or England are always categorised as England and Wales investment projects. The categorising of East West Rail as an England and Wales project does not mean that Wales is disadvantaged in any way.

What assessment he has made of the trends in the level of skilled workers to complete rail electrification of the (a) North and (B) South Wales main lines.

Network Rail, as the infrastructure manager for Great Britain’s railways, is responsible for considering the skills and workforce requirements for infrastructure projects such as electrification schemes. It is assisted in this by the National Skills Academy for Rail, which supports the rail industry in acquiring, maintaining and developing the workforce it needs.

Whether her Department has taken steps to implement two services an hour on the Shrewsbury-Wrexham-Chester Line.

Services on this route are provided by Transport for Wales in accordance with its Train Service Requirement which is agreed with the Department in respective of services at stations in England. There are no active proposals to increase services on this route.

What steps his Department is taking to help reduce levels of consumption of highly processed foods.

As set out in our 10-Year Health Plan, we will take decisive action on the obesity crisis, easing the strain on our National Health Service and creating the healthiest generation of children ever. In relation to reducing the consumption of foods and drinks high in calories, saturated fat, salt, and sugar, many of which would be considered as highly processed, work is progressing through the following:in a world-first, all large food businesses will be mandated to report against standardised metrics on healthier food sales by the end of this Parliament. Using that reporting, we will set new targets to increase the healthiness of sales in all communities;current food, advertising, and promotion restrictions use the 2004 Nutrient Profile Model to categorise which foods are more or less healthy. This is plainly out of date, and we will update these standards. We will consult on implementation in 2026; andwe will also fulfil our commitments to restrict junk food advertising targeted at children and will ban the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to under 16 year olds. We have already given local councils stronger powers to block new fast-food outlets near schools and are taking steps to ensure the Soft Drink Industry Levy remains fit for purpose.To support those in greatest need, we will uplift the value of the weekly payments delivered by the Healthy Start scheme by 10%, boosting the ability to buy fruit and vegetables for those families who need it most.The Government’s Eatwell Guide already advises that people should eat more fruit and vegetables and wholegrain or higher-fibre foods, as well as less processed meat and food and drink that is high in sugar, calories, saturated fat, and salt.The Eatwell Guide principles are communicated through a variety of channels, including the NHS.UK website and Government social marketing campaigns. For example the Better Health Healthier Families website and the Healthy Steps email programme, which aims to help families with primary aged children in England to eat well and move more.A range of actions that have already been taken to create a healthier environment to help reduce consumption of processed foods that are high in energy, saturated fat, salt, and free sugars include:the Healthy Start scheme, which supported over 358,000 in June 2025;the Nursery Milk Scheme, which provides a reimbursement to childcare providers in England and Wales for a daily 1/3 pint portion of milk to children and babies; andthe School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme, which provides approximately 2.2 million children in Key Stage 1 with a portion of fresh fruit or vegetables per day at school.

When the decision was made to reclassify the Oxford-Cambridge line from an England-only project to an England and Wales project.

As rail infrastructure projects have not been devolved to Wales the categorisation of these projects is in line with wider devolution policy managed by Treasury. Every Government funded rail project in Wales or England are always categorised as England and Wales investment projects. The categorising of East West Rail as an England and Wales project does not mean that Wales is disadvantaged in any way.

What steps she is taking to improve the (a) frequency and (b) capacity of passenger rail services on the (i) Heart of Wales Line and (ii) Cambrian Line.

Services on these routes are provided by Transport for Wales (TfW). Capacity on the Cambrian Line will improve with the introduction of new trains in the next couple of years and TfW is preparing to introduce a fifth through service per day on the Heart of Wales line from December 2025.

Whether her Department plans to electrify the North Wales main line.

Together with industry partners, we have identified a number of improvements on the North Wales Main Line which will deliver more immediate passenger benefits, including increasing the frequency of services in 2026, which will serve to strengthen the business case for future electrification. Following the Spending Review, we are funding these improvement works as part of the wider £445 million investment to enhance rail infrastructure across Wales — unlocking economic potential, improving connectivity, and supporting communities.

What proposals put forward for new rail investment in Wales as part of the Spending Review 2025 were rejected by the Treasury.

The Chancellor set out that the UK Government will commit at least £445 million investment into Welsh rail infrastructure upgrades at the Spending Review in June.For too long, Wales’s long-term infrastructure needs have not been recognised. This government is taking a different approach, delivering at least £445 million of rail enhancements funding for Wales. UK Government does not comment on Spending Review discussions, however we are delivering the maximum number of projects the sector can deliver in the next few years.My top priority in advance of the Spending Review was to tackle historic underfunding in Wales’ rail infrastructure. This funding will mean new stations, more and faster trains on the key lines across North and South Wales - connecting people with the new, well-paid jobs we are creating across Wales.Through the Wales Rail Board, we will work in collaboration with the Welsh Government to agree and develop future rail service improvements, delivering a sustainable pipeline of investment.

Whether he has had discussions with Ofgem on the level of additional support provided by energy companies to assist people on the Priority Services Register with meter readings.

Vulnerable customers who need extra support are able to sign up for the Priority Services Register for free. This allows energy suppliers to provide extra help for vulnerable consumers, such as help taking their meter readings, advanced noticed of power cuts, and making sure their phone calls are a priority. Eligible individuals include those at or above State Pension age, those with a disability or medical condition, and people with children under the age of 5. I have regular discussions with Ofgem, energy suppliers, and other stakeholders to ensure that vulnerable consumers are supported, including using the Priority Services Register to help assist eligible individuals.