Written questions by Chadwick.

What estimate his Department has made of the total rail enhancement planned to spent in Wales to 2040.

In June 2025 the Chancellor announced investment plans covering the period from 2026/27 to 2029/30. For this period £350 million has been allocated to rail enhancements in Wales. The Chancellor also confirmed that a further allocation of at least £95 million would be made in future years. The total amount of rail enhancement funding to be allocated up to 2040 will be confirmed at future Spending Reviews Plans for rail investment in Wales will be made in close consultation with the Welsh Government. The Wales Rail Board has been established to provide joint strategic direction for schemes in Wales, with representation from the Department for Transport, the Wales Office, Network Rail, the Welsh Government and Transport for Wales. It will be consulted ahead of the next Spending Review so that Wales’s long-term rail infrastructure needs continue to be recognised.

Will the Government will make it its policy fully devolve heavy rail policy to Wales.

The Department for Transport and the Welsh Government have been working collaboratively on the approach to rail reform in Wales, building on recent progress with devolution of the Core Valley Lines and the announcement at the Spending Review that at least £445m will be made available to enhance the railway in Wales. As announced on 5 November, a joint Memorandum of Understanding is expected to be published in Spring 2026 and will be supported by a partnership agreement between Great British Railways and Transport for Wales. This will ensure we are working towards jointly agreed shared objectives for Wales and Borders rail services and UK services serving destinations in the Wales and Borders geography. This Memorandum of Understanding will set out the intended working arrangements between the two governments for the management of rail infrastructure in Wales.

If he will take steps to ensure that the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme’s Investment Reserve is returned to members before the Autumn Budget 2025.

The Government is aiming to reach agreement on an outcome that can be implemented later this year which will benefit scheme members.

What formal representation (a) Welsh Ministers and (b) Transport for Wales will have in the governance structure of Great British Railways.

There will be a statutory requirement for Welsh Ministers and the Secretary of State to agree a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).The contents of this MoU have been outlined in Written Ministerial Statements by the Secretary of State for Transport in the UK Parliament and Ken Skates, Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales, in the Senedd, accompanying the Railways Bill. These statements reinforce our commitment to collaborative governance, outlining shared ministerial intentions across areas such as track and train integration, cross-border service oversight, and the establishment of a dedicated GBR Wales and Borders Business Unit.The final MoU will be published in due course as committed to within the Bill.

How much funding was allocated to the steel innovation grant scheme.

We are committed to providing up to £2.5bn for the steel sector, which is being delivered in part through the National Wealth Fund. The NWF has £5.8bn to invest across clean energy and advanced manufacturing sectors, including steel, and is engaging with firms on opportunities aligned with its investment principles.No funding has been allocated to a competitive steel grant fund.

Whether she will review the Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations which limiting local authorities ability to offer paid seats on non-compliant vehicles with more than 22 seats for school transport.

The Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations 2000 (PSVAR) set minimum accessibility standards for physical features on buses and coaches designed to carry over twenty-two passengers and used on local or scheduled services. Introduced to help disabled people, including children and young people to travel safely and in reasonable comfort, the Regulations have applied to certain home-to-school (HTS) services for 25 years. In recognition of the shortfall of compliant vehicles and to enable essential services to keep operating, including HTS where spare capacity is sold, the Department has offered medium-term exemptions. These exemptions are due to expire on 31 July 2026.In 2023 the previous Government began a review of PSVAR, including inviting feedback from local authority commissioners, providers and users of transport services, through a Call for Evidence, with a view to understanding the extent to which the Regulations remained appropriate and continued to serve disabled passengers. We continue to consider the Review findings and potential future action, and we will announce any next steps on PSVAR in due course.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether negotiations on a Common Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Area with the EU has begun.

The UK is ready to move forward quickly to implement the outcomes agreed at the UK-EU summit. We are already in discussions in some areas – Security Action for Europe (SAFE), Erasmus, Electricity linking - and in others (Sanitary and Phytosanitary / Emissions Trading Scheme) the EU is agreeing to their mandates. We stand ready to start talks as soon as those mandates are agreed.

What assessment the Health and Safety Executive has made of its proposals to replace expiry dates for biocidal active substance approvals with a mechanism to ‘call in’ these substances for review on (a) the safety of active substances on the market and (b) their impact on (i) health and (ii) the environment.

The Health and Safety Executive's (HSE) legislative reforms aim to provide greater flexibility to the regulator while maintaining the current high standards offered by chemicals regulatory regimes, including the Great Britain Biocidal Products Regulation (GB BPR), to human health and the environment. The proposal to remove fixed expiry dates and introduce a risk-based 'call-in' system for active substance reviews would permit HSE to focus evaluation work where it would have the greatest impact particularly on addressing initial assessments that are required as part of the GB Active Substance Review Programme. Active substances requiring initial evaluation will as yet have had no evaluation, consequently risks are much less well understood than active substances (biocidal approvals) that have already been thoroughly evaluated and deemed acceptable. This proposed change of approach will enable HSE to continue to make efficient and effective regulatory decisions to address risks to people’s safety, health and the environment. All decisions on these proposals are subject to an analysis of the consultation responses, which is currently underway, and all final decisions are subject to parliamentary scrutiny.

If the Health and Safety Executive will take steps to align with (a) EU mandatory hazard classifications (under EU Classification, Labelling & Packaging Regulation) and (b) EU decisions to (i) approve, (ii) not to approve, (iii) restrict and (iv) ban biocide active substances.

In Great Britain (GB) chemicals are regulated under a framework that was largely inherited from the EU system including the GB Classification, Labelling and Packing Regulation (GB CLP) and the GB Biocidal Products Regulation (GB BPR). GB CLP like EU CLP adopts the United Nations Globally Harmonized System of classification and labelling of chemicals (‘the UN GHS’); a voluntary internationally agreed system, upon which the classification and labelling provisions of GB CLP are based. Divergence between mandatory hazard classifications for chemicals (GB mandatory classification and labelling (GB MCLs)) and EU mandatory hazard classifications has been minimal to-date. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) conducted a public consultation between 23 June and 18 August 2025 on proposals for reforming both GB CLP and GB BPR. The GB BPR proposals included a proposal to adopt approvals from recognised jurisdictions. It is anticipated that the EU would be a recognised jurisdiction which would make it easier to adopt EU decisions where appropriate for GB. The analysis of the consultation responses is underway, and all final decisions including any decisions to align with the EU on GB CLP and GB BPR are subject to parliamentary scrutiny.

Whether he has held discussions with the European Commission on mitigating the potential impact of proposed EU steel import quotas on UK steel exports.

We are in active dialogue with the European Commission on this issue. The Secretary of State spoke about it with Maroš Šefčovič, European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, on 20 October. We will continue to take a cool-headed approach to any possible tariffs and remain prepared to defend the UK’s national interest where it is right to do so.

Whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing steel import quotas to ensure that 60 per cent of steel used in the UK is made by domestic producers.

Steel is a top priority for this Government and we recognise the continuing challenges facing the UK steel industry – driven by global overcapacity and with a changing landscape on international trade.This Government is developing a steel strategy to be published in 2025 that will set out a long-term vision for a bright and sustainable steel sector in the UK and the actions needed to get there. Moreover, we will will ensure there is a plan in place for the UK steel industry in light of the expiry of the global safeguard measure on certain steel imports next year.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of changes in the UK's steelmaking capacity on the UK's (a) defence and (b) critical infrastructure.

The UK steel sector provides vital support to the UK’s defence capabilities including specialist cast and forged steel components for a range of UK defence programmes such as submarines, surface vessels and artillery barrels. An initial assessment of the impact of changes in UK Steelmaking capacity on the UK’s (a) defence and (b) critical infrastructure is deemed low. Steel used in our major Defence programmes is sourced by our prime contractors from a range of UK and international suppliers, as programmes may often have requirements for specialist steel which cannot be sourced in the UK. The amount and origins of steel procured for Defence programmes is included in the Department for Business and Trade’s annual Steel Public Procurement report which can be found on the gov.uk website: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/steel-public-procurement This Government is producing a steel strategy that will consider implications for Defence and Critical infrastructure and create the right conditions in the UK for a competitive and sustainable steel industry.

What recent discussions she has had with (a) the Secretary of State for Business and Trade and (b) representatives of the Welsh steel industry on the potential impact of proposed EU steel import quotas on (i) steel production and (ii) employment in Wales.

I met with the Minister for Industry to discuss the potential impact of proposed EU steel proposals and continue to work closely with cabinet colleagues as Government responds to protect our domestic steel industry. I remain in close contact with all Welsh steelmakers and have had numerous discussions with Tata Steel UK and steel unions to understand the potential impact on individual businesses. As Chair of the Port Talbot Transition Board, I also discussed this with members at the October meeting. We recognise that global trading conditions remain challenging for the steel industry as global overcapacity, trade diversion and weak demand continue to put downward pressure on prices. To address these conditions, the Government intervened earlier this year to strengthen the current steel safeguard measures. This Government will continue to review stronger trade measures to protect steel producers in South Wales and across the UK. We are actively engaging at all levels with the European Commission, and key Member States, with the aim of securing a positive outcome for the UK. We will always defend our critical steel industry, which is vital for the UK.

What steps his Department is taking to secure UK-specific country quotas for steel exports under the European Commission’s proposed import quota system.

The Government is actively assessing the potential impact of this proposal, and we are in active dialogue with the European Commission on the details of their proposal and next steps. We will continue to take a cool-headed approach to any possible tariffs and remain prepared to defend the UK’s national interest where it is right to do so.

Whether his Department has made an assessment of the legislative changes required to disestablish the Church of England.

The Church of England is by law the Established Church in England. The relationship between the Church and State is a core part of our constitutional framework that has evolved over centuries. The Government has no plans to disestablish the Church of England and therefore no assessment has been made of the legislative changes that would be required.

What recent discussions her Department has had with the European Commission on the timetable for implementing its proposals to replace the EU steel safeguard system; and whether the Government has sought transitional arrangements for UK-based producers.

We are in active dialogue with the European Commission on this issue. The Secretary of State spoke about it with Maroš Šefčovič, European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, on 20 October.We reserve the right to take any action in response to any changes to our trading relationships to protect steel jobs and defend our steel industry.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the European Commission’s proposal to reduce tariff-free steel import quotas and increase out-of-quota tariffs to 50% on UK steel exports; and what steps she is taking to negotiate UK-specific quotas for steel products.

The Government is actively assessing the potential impact of this proposal and we are in active dialogue with the European Commission on the details of their proposal and next steps.We reserve the right to take any action in response to any changes to our trading relationships to protect steel jobs and defend our steel industry.

If he will make an assessment of the potential impact of ensuring the continuation of domestic steel manufacturing on the UK’s (a) critical national infrastructure resilience and (b) emergency response capability.

We recognise the strategic importance of a secure and resilient steel supply, and the domestic steel sector has an important role to play in supporting our national infrastructure, defence capability and broader national resilience. This government will continue to support security of supply that protects our national resilience. These factors, among many others, will inform part of our wider approach to the sector ahead of the publication of the steel strategy later this year, and, as announced in the industrial strategy, steel will be a component of ongoing analysis conducted by the new Supply Chain Centre.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the Celtic Sea Floating Offshore Wind Leasing Round 5 on economic regeneration in Neath Port Talbot.

The UK Government recognises the major opportunities floating offshore wind presents for Wales and I am determined to ensure that we take full advantage of them.Gwynt Glas (a joint venture between EDF Renewables and ESB) and Equinor have now entered into Agreements for Lease with The Crown Estate to develop two 1.5GW Floating Offshore Wind farms in the Celtic Sea through the Leasing Round 5 process, in addition to the five floating wind Test and Demonstration projects (totalling 432MW of capacity) already in development in the region. The Crown Estate has confirmed that work is underway on options to deliver a third 1.5GW lease area.These new windfarms will be among the largest of their kind in the world and have the capacity to deliver enough power for more than four million homes. It is estimated this new industry will support over 5,000 new jobs and deliver a £1.4 billion-pound boost to the UK economy, it will also help deliver transformational change to places like Port Talbot. As part of the Comprehensive Spending Review, the UK Government has reconfirmed up to £80 million for port infrastructure investment in Port Talbot to supporting floating offshore wind and green growth in Wales.

Whether her Department plans to introduce new UK steel import safeguards to replace the current regime when it expires in 2026.

Steel is a top priority for this Government and we recognise the continuing challenges facing the UK steel industry – driven by persistent global overcapacity and with a changing landscape on international trade.We will ensure there is a plan in place for the UK steel industry in light of the expiry of the global safeguard measure on certain steel imports next year. That is why we launched a Call for Evidence on Steel Trade Measures on the 26th of June to inform the design of any potential trade measures, including appropriate tariff rates and quota levels.