Written questions by Davies.

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

I have regular discussions with Cabinet colleagues on a range of matters. The lead department on this matter, DCMS, established the Future of TV Distribution stakeholder forum which took views from a range of broadcasters active in Wales, including S4C, the BBC and ITV. The forum also benefitted 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.

What discussions she has had with the Welsh Government on the use of cross-border treatments to reduce waiting times for glaucoma care and the associated risk of irreversible sight loss.

Whilst Health is a devolved matter, I have regular engagement with colleagues from the Department of Health and Social Care and Welsh Government. Ministers and officials work closely with their counterparts through established intergovernmental structures, including the Interministerial Group for Health. Both the UK and Welsh Governments support improvements in patient access and drive down waiting lists as a key priority. NHS England and Wales jointly published a Statement of Values and Principles for cross-border healthcare which sets a clear expectation that patients living in defined border areas should receive care without delay or administrative burden, with the aim of delivering faster, improved and more equitable health outcomes for all patients.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of patient travel requirements for cross-border ophthalmology care on levels of treatment refusal and delayed care.

Whilst Health is a devolved matter, I have regular engagement with colleagues from the Department of Health and Social Care and Welsh Government. Ministers and officials work closely with their counterparts through established intergovernmental structures, including the Interministerial Group for Health. Both the UK and Welsh Governments support improvements in patient access and drive down waiting lists as a key priority. NHS England and Wales jointly published a Statement of Values and Principles for cross-border healthcare which sets a clear expectation that patients living in defined border areas should receive care without delay or administrative burden, with the aim of delivering faster, improved and more equitable health outcomes for all patients.

With reference to the press release entitled Prime Minister announces seven new stations and major rail funding commitment, of 17 February 2026, what the source of the funding is for the construction of the new railway stations; and what proportion is being provided by (a) the UK Government, (b) the Welsh Government, (c) Transport for Wales and (d) other bodies.

Transport for Wales published the Wales Rail Board’s vision for rail enhancements on 18 February. Transport for Wales estimates that the total cost of schemes under consideration to be up to £14 billion, and the UK Government has endorsed this vision. This joint plan with the Welsh Government establishes a framework for a comprehensive pipeline of enhancements and confirms the UK Government and Welsh Government will work in partnership to deliver these schemes as quickly as possible. This is a generational commitment to modernise Welsh rail and further UK Government funding allocations will be confirmed at future Spending Reviews.This commitment began at the Spending Review in June 2025, when the Chancellor announced that the UK Government will allocate at least £445 million to rail enhancements in Wales, the vast majority of which will be spent during this Spending Review period. This will mean new stations, more and faster trains on the key lines across North and South Wales, including five of the Burns Stations - connecting people with the new, well-paid jobs we are creating across Wales. This includes £48 million for the Welsh Government to deliver upgrades on the Core Valley Lines.With regard to Cardiff Parkway, the UK Government has agreed an approach with the Welsh Government and private investors to take the project forward, with additional UK Government funding made available to deliver the station. The exact funding contribution from each partner and timeline for the station’s delivery will depend on subsequent development work.UK and Welsh Government have worked with the North Wales Growth Deal, Ambition North Wales, who have agreed to co-fund the improvements to the main line arrangements into the Padeswood cement works freight facility. This will provide a seamless movement for freight trains off the main line and into the cement works rather than the time-consuming current movements. This funding will enable UK Government to use its existing funding agreed at the Spending Review to take forward further schemes on this line, including an additional station to service Deeside Industrial Park, and safety, capacity and line speed improvements at Buckley.Further information can be found on GOV.UK at: Prime Minister announces seven new stations and major rail funding commitment - GOV.UK

With reference to the press release entitled Prime Minister announces seven new stations and major rail funding commitment, of 17 February 2026, what discussions she has had with the Welsh Government and Transport for Wales on risk and delivery responsibility for the seven new stations.

The Wales Rail Board has developed its long-term vision for rail enhancement investment in Wales, which was published last week by Transport for Wales as part of its document titled ‘Today, Tomorrow, Together: A Vision for Wales across Wales and Borders’.The Wales Rail Board is an intergovernmental board that will oversee the delivery of this pipeline of projects. Its membership includes the Wales Office, Department for Transport, Network Rail, Welsh Government and Transport for Wales.Further information can be found on GOV.UK at: Prime Minister announces seven new stations and major rail funding commitment - GOV.UK

With reference to the press release entitled Prime Minister announces seven new stations and major rail funding commitment, of 17 February 2026, what her planned timeframe is for the expenditure of the funds allocated to the new Welsh rail stations; and by what financial year each tranche of funding will be spent.

Transport for Wales published the Wales Rail Board’s vision for rail enhancements on 18 February. Transport for Wales estimates that the total cost of schemes under consideration to be up to £14 billion, and the UK Government has endorsed this vision. This joint plan with the Welsh Government establishes a framework for a comprehensive pipeline of enhancements and confirms the UK Government and Welsh Government will work in partnership to deliver these schemes as quickly as possible. This is a generational commitment to modernise Welsh rail and further UK Government funding allocations will be confirmed at future Spending Reviews.This commitment began at the Spending Review in June 2025, when the Chancellor announced that the UK Government will allocate at least £445 million to rail enhancements in Wales, the vast majority of which will be spent during this Spending Review period. This will mean new stations, more and faster trains on the key lines across North and South Wales, including five of the Burns Stations, connecting people with the new, well-paid jobs we are creating across Wales. With regard to Cardiff Parkway, the UK Government has agreed an approach with the Welsh Government and private investors to take the project forward, with additional UK Government funding made available to deliver the station. The exact funding contribution from each partner and timeline for the station’s delivery will depend on subsequent development work.UK and Welsh Government have worked with the North Wales Growth Deal, Ambition North Wales, who have agreed to co-fund the improvements to the main line arrangements into the Padeswood cement works freight facility. This will provide a seamless movement for freight trains off the main line and into the cement works rather than the time-consuming current movements.This funding will enable UK Government to use its existing funding agreed at the Spending Review to take forward further schemes on this line, including an additional station to service Deeside Industrial Park, and safety, capacity and line speed improvements at Buckley.Further information can be found on GOV.UK at: Prime Minister announces seven new stations and major rail funding commitment - GOV.UK

With reference to the press release entitled Prime Minister announces seven new stations and major rail funding commitment, of 17 February 2026, whether the funding for new Welsh rail stations will require additional Barnett consequentials for the Welsh Budget.

Heavy rail is reserved in Wales, so Barnett consequentials do not apply to its funding.The UK Government is working in partnership with the Welsh Government and industry stakeholders to fund and deliver improvements to rail in Wales as quickly as possible.Transport for Wales published the Wales Rail Board’s vision for rail enhancements on 18 February. Transport for Wales estimates that the total cost of schemes under consideration to be up to £14 billion, and the UK Government has endorsed this vision. This joint plan with the Welsh Government establishes a framework for a comprehensive pipeline of enhancements and confirms the UK Government and Welsh Government will work in partnership to deliver these schemes as quickly as possible. This is a generational commitment to modernise Welsh rail and further UK Government funding allocations will be confirmed at future Spending Reviews.Further information can be found on GOV.UK at: Prime Minister announces seven new stations and major rail funding commitment - GOV.UK

Whether the investment announced for Welsh railways forms part of a multi-year funding settlement; and how much of the investment is guaranteed beyond 2025–26, including planned spend in 2026–27 and 2027–28.

The UK Government has announced at least £445 million for rail enhancements in Wales, to right years of underfunding by previous Conservative Governments and unleash Wales’ economic potential. The vast majority of this investment will be spent in this Spending Review period.This investment 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.The UK Government will set out more detail on the pipeline of projects that we will deliver very shortly.

What discussions she has had with her counterpart in the Welsh Government on how much of the £445 million funding for Welsh railways will be spent on (a) electrification, (b) railway station development, (c) railway station development and track upgrade and (d) any other category of expenditure.

I have regular discussions with Welsh Government Ministers on a range of issues, including this Government’s historic investment in Welsh rail.The UK Government has announced at least £445 million for rail enhancements in Wales, to right years of underfunding by previous Conservative Governments and unleash Wales’ economic potential.This 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.The UK Government will set out more detail on the pipeline of projects that we will deliver very shortly.

What discussions she has had with her counterpart in the Welsh Government on how much and what proportion of the £450 million investment in Welsh railways will be spent in the current spending review period; and whether her Department has issued guidance to Network Rail on the expected delivery schedule for that funding.

The UK Government has announced at least £445 million for rail enhancements in Wales, to right years of underfunding by previous Conservative Governments and unleash Wales’ economic potential.The vast majority of this investment will be spent in this Spending Review period, with a small amount profiled beyond this Spending Review period to help the development of the next set of projects.This 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.The UK Government will set out more detail on the pipeline of projects that we will deliver very shortly.

If she will provide a breakdown by operations, maintenance, renewals and enhancement of funding committed by the UK Government to Welsh railways between 2025–26 and 2028–29.

Estimated Operations, Maintenance and Renewals (OMR) expenditure for Wales during Control Period (CP) 7 is broken down as follows:2024-25 - £502 million2025-26 - £447 million2026-27 - £503 million2027-28 - £499 million2028-29 - £487 millionIn addition to this, the UK Government has announced at least £445 million for rail enhancements in Wales, to right years of underfunding by previous Conservative Governments and unleash Wales’ economic potential.This 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.The UK Government will set out more detail on the pipeline of projects that we will deliver very shortly.

Whether her Department has had it own ministerial car service since her appointment.

Since my appointment, the Wales Office has not had its own ministerial car service.

What meetings she has held with the victims and survivors of grooming gangs in Wales since January 2025.

As the lead department, the Home Office leads on engagement with victims and survivors of grooming gangs across Wales and England. On 16 June 2025, the then Home Secretary made a statement to Parliament confirming that the Government has accepted all of the recommendations made in Baroness Casey’s national audit on group-based child sexual exploitation and abuse, including a recommendation to commission a national inquiry. Baroness Casey specifically recommended that the national police operation and national inquiry should cover England and Wales. The Home Office has been working closely with partners to develop the Terms of Reference for the Inquiry, with early consultation already undertaken with victims and survivors. The National Working Group (NWG) charity has been coordinating the engagement with victims and survivors related to the inquiry set-up, including sessions attended by the Minister for Safeguarding and VAWG.

How much (a) revenue and (b) capital spending has been allocated to railways in Wales in each year of the Spending Review period; and (i) how much and (ii) over what period of time her Department plans to spend on railways in Wales outside of the Spending Review period.

I would refer the Honourable Member to the answer I provided to written question UIN 69339 on 2 September 2025.

Pursuant to her oral answer in response to the question from the hon. Member for Lichfield of 16 July 2025, Official Report, Column 282, over what period that £445 million covers; and what the allocated spending is in each financial year.

Following the Spending Review, the UK Government is investing at least £445m into Welsh rail infrastructure upgrades, with the vast majority of this funding to be spent within the Spending Review period.This investment will mean new stations and more and faster trains on the key lines across North and South Wales. The UK Government is working in collaboration with the Welsh Government, Network Rail and Transport for Wales, through the Wales Rail Board.

Pursuant to her oral answer in response to the question from the hon. Member for Lichfield of 16 July 2025, Official Report, Column 282, what the evidential basis is for her statement on historic underfunding.

I regret that the Hon. Member seems to refuse to accept or acknowledge the historic underfunding. When I gave evidence to the Welsh Affairs Committee in January, there was widespread agreement that this was the case and many others have expressed similar sentiments.The low levels of enhancement spending we have seen in recent years makes it more difficult to realise the modal shift needed to sustain a continuous enhancements pipeline. Denying that there has been underfunding is not the way address the problem. This government prefers to tackle the issue head on, starting with at least £445m of spending, front-loaded to support delivery of Wales' priorities for rail infrastructure during this next Spending Review period.

What discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on the (a) closure of Oakwood theme park and (b) potential impact of changes to employer National Insurance contributions on the (i) hospitality and (ii) tourism sectors in Wales.

I have regular discussions with Cabinet colleagues on a range of matters, including those affecting the Welsh economy.I was saddened to hear about the closure of Oakwood Theme Park. I understand this will be a concerning time for workers at the park and their families.  However, Wales's tourism and hospitality offering continues to be among the best in the world, and both the UK and Welsh Governments are committed to supporting these sectors.Regarding the impact of changes to National Insurance contributions on the sector, the UK Government has protected the smallest businesses by more than doubling the Employment Allowance to £10,500, ensuring over half of small and micro businesses pay less or no national insurance contributions. Small and Medium sized enterprises account for 99.3% of total enterprises in Wales.The UK Government is committed to supporting the Welsh tourism and hospitality sectors. In February, we announced a £15 million investment for Venue Cymru and the Newport Transporter Bridge. These are two key projects that will help boost the tourism and culture sectors in Wales.

Whether she has had discussions with Welsh farmers on changes to inheritance tax.

Yes.