Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Inflation and Public Spending

Wednesday 6 December 2023 · 5 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Beth Winter expressed concern over the Welsh budget being reduced by 900 million despite additional funding from the autumn statement.
  • The Minister disagreed with Winter's assessment, arguing that the Welsh Government mismanages services and that the 2021 spending review delivered a record settlement of 18 billion annually.
  • Hywel Williams raised concerns about a constituent who plans to marry his Brazilian partner but is unsure if they can due to changes in income rules affecting family visas.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Beth Winter
Economy Wales
Context

Inflation has outperformed expectations, and the Prime Minister promised to halve it. The Welsh Government will receive £305 million additional funding as announced by the Chancellor at the autumn statement.

Question

I am concerned about Tory inflation and austerity reducing the Welsh budget by £900 million compared to when set, despite the autumn statement's additional funding. The Institute of Welsh Affairs calls this 'a return to austerity' with tax cuts costing public service delivery in Wales. Will the Secretary of State urge the Chancellor to tax wealthy Londoners to better protect Welsh public services?

Answer from Fay Jones

The House will not be surprised to learn that I completely disagree with her assessment. It is not the amount but how Welsh Government mismanages services, and the 2021 spending review delivered a record settlement of £18 billion annually.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask about urging taxes on wealthy Londoners to protect public services was avoided

How: Disagreement, Blame Shifting

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Q2 Beth Winter
Transport Wales
Context

Glenys Kinnock passed away, and the Prime Minister promised to electrify north Wales main line. However, inflation and construction cost increases have raised concerns about the funding.

Question

I welcome her role and condolences for Baroness Kinnock's passing. The Prime Minister promised to electrify the north Wales main line at a cost of £1 billion. Construction costs increased by 7% annually due to government mismanagement, with no new cost assessment since 2015 making the scheme now worth between £1.5 and £1.8 billion.

Answer from Fay Jones

I join her comments about Kinnock family. This Government are the first to commit, unlike Labour who dismissed this priority.

Not addressed: The specific ask was not addressed, instead focusing on political blame

How: Political Blame

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Q3 Jo Stevens Lab Cardiff East
Economy Transport
Context

The previous question raised concerns about the project's cost increases and lack of progress since 2015.

Question

If it is such a priority, why has nothing been done since 2015 when the last assessment was made? The Government promised to electrify south Wales main line but did not do so. Will they fully fund electrification now?

Answer from Fay Jones

Again, my party dismissed this project as non-priority; we feel it is a priority for economic growth in north Wales.

Not addressed: The specific ask about full funding was not addressed

How: Political Blame

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Q4 Jo Stevens Lab Cardiff East
Immigration Social Care Wales
Context

Public services in Wales face challenges due to inflation and austerity, exacerbated by new migration policies raising the salary threshold for family visas.

Question

I add condolences for Kinnock's passing. Public services struggle with recruiting skilled migrants as the family visa threshold increases, affecting real people like my constituent Daniel Griffith planning to marry his Brazilian partner next year. The change will affect Welsh public services. What representations has she made to Home Secretary on this?

Answer from Fay Jones

The Secretary of State regularly discusses migration issues with Cabinet colleagues. The Home Secretary recently announced tough measures for sustainable migration levels.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific ask about representations to Home Secretary was not addressed in detail

How: Vague Reference

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Q5 Hywel Williams PC
Immigration Employment Wales
Context

Migration policies raising family visa threshold to £38,700, affecting earnings in Gwynedd where many earn less than this.

Question

The new salary threshold affects real people with families receiving care. My constituent Daniel Griffith plans to marry his Brazilian partner next year but is unsure if they can due to income rules changes. Why should he have to choose between wife and country?

Answer from Fay Jones

Some Labour policies put off investors, creating fewer jobs in Wales. Again, his colleagues need to look at their actions.

Not addressed: The specific ask about Daniel's situation was not addressed

How: Political Blame

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