Economic Growth 2026-03-04

2026-03-04

TAGS
Response quality

Questions & Answers

Q1 Direct Answer
Adam Jogee Lab
Newcastle-under-Lyme
Context
The MP asked about recent discussions on increasing economic growth in Wales.
What recent discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on increasing economic growth in Wales?
I have regular discussions with Cabinet colleagues on a wide range of issues, including economic growth and increasing economic growth in Wales. We are creating thousands of jobs across Wales, supported by our investment in nuclear power in Wylfa, two artificial intelligence growth zones, two freeports, two investment zones, rail enhancements across the country and a defence growth deal, to name a few.
Assessment & feedback
null
Response accuracy
Q2 Partial Answer
Calvin Bailey Lab
Leyton and Wanstead
Context
The MP inquired about the Government's steps to support space SMEs in accessing finance and continuing to grow in Wales.
What steps are the Government taking to support space SMEs in accessing finance, and in continuing to grow here, where they can create jobs for my air cadets, rather than relocating to the United States?
Our £50 million defence growth deal will harness Wales's unique strengths in autonomy. It is focused on supporting the growth of dual-use industry right across Wales, so that the benefits will be felt beyond the defence sector. This deal is another example of the choice facing Wales at the Senedd election in May.
Assessment & feedback
specific steps to support space SMEs
We Are Creating Thousands Of Jobs Across Wales Choice Facing Wales At The Senedd Election
Response accuracy
Q3 Direct Answer
Peter Swallow Lab
Bracknell
Context
The MP welcomed the announcement of devolving powers to create a vacant land tax to the Welsh Government.
Does she agree that the devolving powers to create a vacant land tax will prevent land banking, and will lead to more houses being built in Wales?
I was pleased to announce last month that this Government plan to devolve powers to the Welsh Government to introduce a vacant land tax, subject to consultation. This will help the Welsh Government to encourage even more house building, fuelling construction jobs and economic growth.
Assessment & feedback
null
Response accuracy
Q4 Partial Answer
Tristan Osborne Lab
Chatham and Aylesford
Context
The MP welcomed the Secretary of State opening the London stock exchange and asked about steps to ensure economic growth is spread across the country.
What steps is the Secretary of State taking to ensure that economic growth is spread across the country, for my constituents and for Wales?
I did indeed have the privilege of opening the London stock exchange this morning to mark St David's day and Wales Week. We are also building small modular reactors in Wylfa, wind farms in the Celtic sea, new train stations in north and south Wales, and a stronger Welsh economy through our AI growth zones, investment zones and freeports.
Assessment & feedback
specific steps to ensure economic growth is spread
Opening The London Stock Exchange Investment Zones And Freeports
Response accuracy
Q5 Partial Answer
Katrina Murray Lab
Cumbernauld and Kirkintilloch
Context
The MP welcomed the Government's decision to invest over £2 billion in creating Britain's first fleet of small modular reactors in Anglesey.
Does the Secretary of State agree that the Scottish Government should join the Welsh Government in welcoming the thousands of jobs and significant economic growth that nuclear developments can bring?
My hon. Friend makes an important point. When we made the £2.5 billion nuclear investment announcement at Coleg Menai, I saw the difference it will make to people in the area. I met students who will be able to learn and earn, and will not have to leave their family and community to get on in life.
Assessment & feedback
specific agreement on Scottish Government's stance
£2.5 Billion Nuclear Investment Announcement Students Who Will Be Able To Learn And Earn
Response accuracy
Q6 Partial Answer
Adam Jogee Lab
Newcastle-under-Lyme
Context
The MP welcomed the recent rail announcement from the Labour Government and asked for reassurance on economic benefits for Staffordshire.
Can the Secretary of State reassure me that this investment will deliver real economic benefits for Staffordshire, England and Wales?
I thank my hon. Friend for recognising the scale of our Welsh rail announcement, and its benefits for cross-border travel. Our two Labour Governments have agreed a long-term plan for Welsh rail that we are committed to delivering as quickly as possible.
Assessment & feedback
specific economic benefits for Staffordshire
Long-Term Plan For Welsh Rail Cross-Border Travel
Response accuracy
Q7 Partial Answer
Joe Robertson Con
Isle of Wight East
Context
Drinks producers warn that the UK Government's decision to allow Wales to include glass in a deposit return scheme may lead to up to 90% of products being removed from shelves. This could threaten jobs and consumer choice in the UK.
Drinks producers warn that, because of the UK Government's decision to allow Wales to include glass in a deposit return scheme, there is the threat of up to 90% of products being removed from shelves. Why have the Government taken the decision to allow a United Kingdom Internal Market Act 2020 exclusion that threatens jobs and consumer choice, and that will require unique Welsh labelling—all at a time when Wales already recycles 92% of glass at the kerbside?
We have worked closely with the devolved Governments on a UK-wide DRS, and now have alignment across the UK on including polyethylene terephthalate plastics and metals in a DRS with the launch date of October 2027, which is good news for business. We considered the Welsh Government's exclusion proposal, in line with our commitments under the 2025 review of the UK Internal Market Act, and in doing so engaged with businesses and environmental stakeholders across the UK. We believe that the Act exclusion that we have agreed, in response to the Welsh Government, is the most pragmatic way that we can protect trade and support growth in the UK.
Assessment & feedback
The specific ask about protecting the UK from the impact was not addressed
Response accuracy
Q8 Partial Answer
Jim Shannon DUP
Strangford
Context
The member wants to persuade people who are undecided about staying within the UK that it is better to be within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, highlighting economic growth and unity.
I thank the Minister for her answer. She and I know that when it comes to economic growth in Wales, or indeed in Northern Ireland, Scotland or England, we are better together. We are also better together historically and culturally. My Gaelic cousins on the Benches in front of me are my friends—I want them to stay in the United Kingdom. What can the Minister do to persuade people who are as yet undecided about what to do that it is better to be within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland? We are always better together.
The hon. Member has united a lot of us across the House. His Plaid friends sitting in front of him want separatism. They want to inflict an independence that will cost every single person in Wales—adults and children—£7,000 every single year. They want to build walls between us at a time when we should be standing together.
Assessment & feedback
The specific ask about persuading undecided individuals was not addressed
Response accuracy
Q9 Partial Answer
Mims Davies Con
East Grinstead and Uckfield
Context
The UK Spirits Alliance and the wider food and drink sector warn that the Welsh Government's decision to include glass in a deposit return scheme will disrupt supply chains, deter future investment and hamper growth. The scheme is considered unworkable and unenforceable.
Let us try this again: one of the UK's greatest strengths is the ability of all four nations to trade freely in a strong internal market. This Labour Government's choice to permit their colleagues in Cardiff Bay to include glass in their deposit return scheme risks sectors, livelihoods and market withdrawal. The UK Spirits Alliance and the wider food and drink sector warn that this will disrupt supply chains, deter future investment and hamper growth. Will the Secretary of State accept that the scheme is unworkable and unenforceable, and will she act to protect the United Kingdom from this separatism?
I do not recognise what the hon. Lady sets out, and refer her to my previous answer. We believe that the UKIM Act exclusion, which we have agreed in response to the Welsh Government, is the most pragmatic way for us to protect trade and support growth in the UK.
Assessment & feedback
The specific ask about acting to protect the UK was not directly addressed
Response accuracy
Q10 Partial Answer
Mims Davies Con
East Grinstead and Uckfield
Context
The Office for Budget Responsibility confirmed that the Chancellor's welfare spending will increase by a staggering £18 billion to £333 billion this year alone, up 5.8%. Wales has the highest unemployment and economic inactivity rates in the UK. The questioner seeks measures to boost economic growth in Wales and ensure that work pays.
Or the Government could just not do it, as we Conservatives say. Wales has the highest unemployment and economic inactivity rates in the UK. Following the spring forecast, the Office for Budget Responsibility confirmed that the Chancellor's welfare spending will increase by a staggering £18 billion to £333 billion this year alone, up 5.8%. In the light of those figures, what measure is the Secretary of State taking to jump-start confidence and boost economic growth in Wales, so that work pays, and people see that the Government are not just about welfare dependence and bankrupting the country?
The Conservatives strangled the Welsh economy with over a decade of austerity and neglect. Labour's economic plan is working: wages are rising, inflation is falling and the economy is growing. The Conservatives presided over stagnant wages, insecure employment and a broken welfare system. We are investing in our infrastructure, creating jobs, growing wages and building an economy that works for the people of Wales.
Assessment & feedback
The specific ask about measures to boost economic growth was not addressed with concrete steps
Response accuracy
Q11 Partial Answer
David Chadwick Lib Dem
Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe
Context
A wind farm is planned near Fforest Fields in Radnorshire, a campsite and family business. The member wants to know if the Government or their colleagues in Cardiff have conducted any economic impact assessment on the damage this will do to the economy in Powys.
Tourism is one of our key economic sectors in mid Wales. Last year, I visited Fforest Fields in Radnorshire, a beautiful campsite and family business that has been built up over generations. However, Bute Energy plans on building a wind farm on the other side of the hill from the site, with turbines that will be nearly as big as the Shard. Have the Government, or their colleagues in Cardiff, conducted any economic impact assessment on the damage that that will do to the economy in Powys?
I think we have this discussion at every single Wales oral questions. We need to bring energy bills down, and we do that by investing in renewable infrastructure. In the process, we create jobs and secure Wales and the UK's energy independence. Bearing in mind the situation across the world at the moment, that is absolutely the right plan.
Assessment & feedback
The specific ask about conducting an economic impact assessment was not addressed
Response accuracy
Q12 Partial Answer
Liz Saville-Roberts PC
Dwyfor Meirionnydd
Context
The spring forecast revised economic growth downwards before the outbreak of war in Iran. The price of energy has spiked, with gas up almost 100%. The member seeks clarity on the Secretary of State's stance regarding the cost of prolonged conflict and its impact on Wales.
The spring forecast, which revised economic growth downwards, was produced before the outbreak of war in Iran. Now, the price of energy has spiked, with gas up almost 100%. If the war continues for even a few weeks, those costs will directly hit the pockets of people and businesses in Wales. Is the Secretary of State not astounded that Reform Members are cheerleaders for prolonging Trump's aggression in the Gulf, and does she agree that Wales cannot afford the cost of Reform?
Wales certainly cannot afford the cost of Reform; nor can it afford the cost of Plaid Cymru.
Assessment & feedback
The specific ask about agreeing with the cost of Reform was not addressed
Response accuracy
Q13 Partial Answer
Liz Saville-Roberts PC
Dwyfor Meirionnydd
Context
The Industrial Communities Alliance warns that the Government's 70:30 capital-to-revenue split for the local growth fund will have dire consequences. It will pull the rug out from under business support, training and employability services, and it will cost hundreds, if not thousands, of jobs across Wales, including at the fantastic Porthi Dre in Caernarfon, which tackles hunger, food waste and loneliness, but faces the loss of key staff members because of the Labour Government.
I expected something a little more thoughtful from the Secretary of State, especially when we consider the Welsh economy. The Industrial Communities Alliance warns that the Government's 70:30 capital-to-revenue split for the local growth fund will have dire consequences. It will pull the rug out from under business support, training and employability services, and it will cost hundreds, if not thousands, of jobs across Wales, including at the fantastic Porthi Dre in Caernarfon, which tackles hunger, food waste and loneliness, but faces the loss of key staff members because of the Labour Government. Will the Secretary of State therefore commit to allowing greater spending flexibility, to safeguard the very jobs that we need to boost employment?
The UK Government are investing more than half a billion pounds in Wales, through the new local growth fund, to help create jobs, growth and opportunity in communities right across Wales. That targeted long-term investment will drive economic growth, create jobs and put more money in people's pockets. I am proud that we have delivered our manifesto commitment to restore the Welsh Government's decision-making role over those funds.
Assessment & feedback
The specific ask about committing to greater spending flexibility was not directly addressed
Response accuracy