Written questions by Chadwick.

What assessment her Department has made of the steps required to ensure that the improved Wi-Fi capacity enabled by recent investment in Low Earth Orbit connectivity can be delivered to passengers through compatible on-train equipment.

My officials produced a detailed business case as part of the Spending Review to deploy low earth orbit satellite connections on all mainline trains to improve on train wifi connectivity for passengers. The team is currently working through establishing the procurement and delivery model. We issued a preliminary market engagement notice on gov.uk to begin engaging with industry on how improvements can be delivered to passengers through compatible on-train equipment.

Whether Great British Railways will be required to procure sufficient mobile data capacity to meet passenger expectations for on-train Wi-Fi across the network.

While it is too early to confirm specific procurement requirements, improving Wi-Fi provision across the network will be a key part of future planning and engagement with industry partners.

What steps his Department is taking to help reduce administrative burdens on businesses moving goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland.

The Government announced at the Autumn Budget a £16.6m package of measures to support businesses to move goods within the UK internal market, including a comprehensive ‘one stop shop’ regulatory support service and additional funding for Intertrade UK. On 3 December, we announced with the EU that SPS identity checks on retail goods would now be reduced from 10% to 8%, further smoothing flows of trade. Looking ahead, the Government is also negotiating a new sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreement with the EU that is set to remove routine checks on animal and plant products moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland.

Pursuant to the Answer of 4 December 2025 to Question 95762 on Income Tax: Wales, what estimate her Department has made of the number of taxpayers residing in Wales that will (a) begin paying income tax, (b) enter the higher rate band and (c) enter the additional rate band due to the threshold freeze in each year until 2030-31.

The number of people forecast to pay tax by marginal rate can be found in Table 3.19 in the OBR’s November 2025 Economic and fiscal outlook – detailed forecast tables: receipts, linked below: https://obr.uk/download/november-2025-economic-and-fiscal-outlook-detailed-forecast-tables-receipts/?tmstv=1764165511 The previous Government made the decision to maintain income tax thresholds at their current levels from April 2021 until April 2028.

Whether her Department plans to include indirect emissions in the scope of the UK Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism before 2029.

The inclusion of indirect emissions within scope of the CBAM will be delayed until 2029 at the earliest. This is to reflect continued support for the Energy Intensive Industries Compensation Scheme.

What steps his Department is taking ahead of the 2026 review of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement to reduce non-tariff barriers affecting UK–EU goods movements.

We are committed to making trade with our largest and most important partner easier by removing unnecessary barriers to trade. We are negotiating with the EU on a number of issues that will slash red tape for businesses, including an SPS agreement to sweep away the majority of regulatory barriers for agrifood products, and tackle wider barriers to trade in organic products and key agri-food marketing standards. This agreement could increase the volume of UK exports of major agricultural commodities to the EU by 16%. We continue to engage the EU through established channels, including relevant UK-EU Trade Specialised Committees.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of improved on-train wi-fi services on discouraging less sustainable forms of travel.

As part of the Spending Review business case assessing the value for money of delivering improved passenger internet connectivity, we assessed the positive benefits that can arise from ‘modal shift’, arising where people choose to travel by train in preference to using their cars. We followed standard transport appraisal and passenger demand forecast handbook guidance in our assessments.

Whether he plans to introduce national standards for Electric Arc Furnace-grade steel scrap.

The Government recognises that the UK steel industry's shift towards electric arc furnaces will elevate the importance of high-quality scrap as a material for UK steelmaking. The UK’s abundant scrap supply offers domestic steelmaking a strategic advantage and this creates opportunities for both steelmakers and metal recyclers alike. No decisions have been taken at this stage on whether to introduce mandatory national standards for Electric Arc Furnace-grade steel scrap, but we are actively listening to the perspectives of all involved parties.

What progress the Government has made on delivering a UK Single Trade Window.

The Government is committed to minimising administrative burdens and frictions experienced by businesses trading internationally. While delivery of the single trade window (STW) was paused at the end of 2024, it remains the Government’s intention to deliver an STW, and we will use the pause to further engage with key border stakeholders to better understand their needs.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of ending the Energy Company Obligation on private sector investment in home energy efficiency in Wales.

To bring energy bills down for all, the decision has been made not to continue the Energy Company Obligation when the current scheme ends. We recognise that the decision will be unwelcome news to those working within the supply chain for these schemes. The government has instead committed to additional grant funding of £1.5bn to be directed to upgrading low-income households, benefitting those in fuel poverty. Details of this will be set out in the Warm Homes Plan. We also intend to implement the manifesto commitment to increasing minimum energy efficiency standards in the private and social rented sectors.

What estimate she has made of the number of Welsh taxpayers who will be brought into (a) paying income tax, (b) the higher rate band and (c) the additional rate band as a result of the threshold freeze to 2030–31.

The number of people forecast to pay tax by marginal rate can be found in Table 3.19 in the OBR’s November 2025 Economic and fiscal outlook – detailed forecast tables: receipts, linked below: https://obr.uk/download/november-2025-economic-and-fiscal-outlook-detailed-forecast-tables-receipts/?tmstv=1764165511 The previous Government made the decision to maintain income tax thresholds at their current levels from April 2021 until April 2028.

How much the average household in Wales is expected to save on energy bills as a result of the Budget’s Renewables Obligation measure, compared with households in England and Scotland.

At the Budget, the Chancellor announced an average £150 of costs off people’s energy bills from April next year. £88 of that comes from the decision to fund 75% of the domestic Renewables Obligation from the Exchequer. The measures announced at Budget apply to the whole of Great Britain, and a household in Wales will see the same level of benefit as an equivalent household in England or Scotland that consumes the same levels of electricity and gas.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the planned £4.9 billion in efficiencies and savings in 2030–31 on devolved governments’ budgets.

As a result of decisions at Budget 2025, the Welsh Government will receive an additional £320 million RDEL and £185m CDEL through the operation of the Barnett formula on top of the record settlement provided at Spending Review 2025. This means that the Welsh Government’s settlement continues to grow in real terms between 2024-25 and 2028-29.The Welsh Government are free to allocate Barnett consequentials as they see fit across their devolved prioritiesWhere policy changes will take effect in years beyond the existing Spending Review 2025 period, the Barnett formula will apply when departmental budgets change at the next Spending Review.

To publish a breakdown of the spending decisions in England that generated the £508 million of Barnett consequentials for Wales at the 2025 Autumn Budget.

As a result of decisions at Budget 2025, the Welsh Government will receive an additional £320 million RDEL and £185m CDEL through the operation of the Barnett formula on top of the record settlement provided at Spending Review 2025. This means that the Welsh Government’s settlement continues to grow in real terms between 2024-25 and 2028-29.The Welsh Government are free to allocate Barnett consequentials as they see fit across their devolved prioritiesWhere policy changes will take effect in years beyond the existing Spending Review 2025 period, the Barnett formula will apply when departmental budgets change at the next Spending Review.

What recent assessment she has made of the effect of higher-than-forecast inflation and pay growth on devolved governments’ capacity to fund public sector pay settlements.

Public sector pay is a devolved responsibility. This means it is for the devolved governments to decide how to allocate the funding they receive across their areas of responsibility, including public sector pay.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of front-loaded Barnett consequentials on the Welsh Government’s medium-term financial planning.

As a result of decisions at Budget 2025, the Welsh Government will receive an additional £320 million RDEL and £185m CDEL through the operation of the Barnett formula on top of the record settlement provided at Spending Review 2025. This means that the Welsh Government’s settlement continues to grow in real terms between 2024-25 and 2028-29.The Welsh Government are free to allocate Barnett consequentials as they see fit across their devolved prioritiesWhere policy changes will take effect in years beyond the existing Spending Review 2025 period, the Barnett formula will apply when departmental budgets change at the next Spending Review.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of planned reductions in departmental spending after 2028 on the Welsh block grant during the next Senedd term.

As a result of decisions at Budget 2025, the Welsh Government will receive an additional £320 million RDEL and £185m CDEL through the operation of the Barnett formula on top of the record settlement provided at Spending Review 2025. This means that the Welsh Government’s settlement continues to grow in real terms between 2024-25 and 2028-29.The Welsh Government are free to allocate Barnett consequentials as they see fit across their devolved prioritiesWhere policy changes will take effect in years beyond the existing Spending Review 2025 period, the Barnett formula will apply when departmental budgets change at the next Spending Review.

Innovation and Technology, how much and what proportion of funding allocated to AI and semiconductor growth zones will be spent in Wales; and over what timeframe.

The AI Growth Zones programme aims to attract billions of pounds in private investment into AI data centres and drive economic growth through job creation. The programme will create opportunities for skills development and apprenticeships, forge research and development partnerships with local universities, and enable British businesses to participate in major AI projects.We have announced four AI Growth Zones, two of which are Welsh sites, with one in Anglesey and another in South Wales. These sites will benefit from major private investment, including Vanguard's planned £10 billion investment in the South Wales AI Growth Zone. In addition to this private capital, we are providing £5 million for each AI Growth Zone through UK Research & Innovation (UKRI) to support skills development and AI adoption, ensuring that local communities benefit directly from the programme. This funding will be available from April 2026 for all AI Growth Zones.

If she will publish the Treasury’s analysis of how far the uplifts to Welsh Government borrowing and reserve limits restore the real-terms value of those limits since they were set a decade ago.

As announced at Autumn Budget 2025 there will be a 10% increase to annual and cumulative capital borrowing limits and the Wales Reserve overall and annual drawdown limits in 2026-27 which will increase the real value of the Welsh Government’s budget management tools.

Whether the proposed high-value property surcharge in England will generate Barnett-related consequentials for devolved administrations.

There were no changes to UK Government DEL budgets as a result of the High Value Council Tax Surcharge so this policy did not result in Barnett consequentials.