Written questions by Davies.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made with Cabinet colleagues of the potential impact of the conflict between the US and Iran on (a) the cost and (b) supply of fertilizer to farmers in Wales.

This is a devolved matter and the information provided therefore relates to England only. The fertiliser market is a global market, and while there is no immediate risk to UK supply, the market price in the UK is strongly influenced by international prices for fertiliser and by the value of the pound. The Government is aware of the current price increase for fertiliser due to the conflict in the Gulf. Defra is in close contact with domestic fertiliser suppliers and is monitoring overall supply to the UK. The Government remains ready to support businesses as effectively as possible in these challenging times.

How reforms to the electricity connections process will take account of the wider social, economic and community value of Welsh community energy projects, particularly in rural areas, when assessing readiness and need.

Reforms to the electricity connections process are designed to connect viable projects that align with our Clean Power mission, including Welsh community energy schemes in rural areas. The reformed process has objective and transparent criteria for assessing projects, approved by Ofgem, with the focus on meeting our decarbonisation goals. The Department does also recognise that community energy projects in Wales may need greater support in the connections process. DESNZ is working alongside Ofgem, GBE, NESO, network operators and community energy stakeholders to explore grid connection regulatory and policy initiatives that will improve the experience of connecting customers, including community energy projects.

Pursuant to answer to the question 118015, what are the timescales for the publication of the government commissioned study on the costs of innovative undergrounding methods for transmission lines over distances of 20km to 50km.

The study on costs of innovative undergrounding methods for transmission lines is being prepared for publication shortly and in line with Cabinet Office May 2026 pre-election guidance.

What steps he is taking to ensure that any community energy (a) definition and (b) register developed for England does not prevent Distribution Network Operators from prioritising grid connections for Welsh community energy projects that contribute to Welsh Government targets for locally owned energy.

The Department is in the process of creating a definition of ‘Community Energy Group’ to provide clarity for communities seeking to form community energy groups and prevent the misuse of the designation. The Department also recognises that community energy projects may need greater support in the connections process. DESNZ is working alongside Ofgem, Great British Energy, the National Energy System Operator (NESO), network operators and community energy stakeholders to explore grid connection regulatory and policy initiatives that will improve the experience of connecting customers, including community energy projects across the UK.

What assessment he has made of the extent to which the current requirement for Distribution Network Operators to treat all connection applicants identically limits their ability to support Welsh community energy projects; and whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of a defined community energy status on creating a lawful basis for different treatment.

DESNZ is working with Ofgem, Great British Energy, NESO, network operators and community energy stakeholders to explore regulatory and policy initiatives that will improve the experience of connecting customers to the grid, including community energy projects. These reforms will support community schemes where they are viable and aligned with our Clean Power 2030 ambitions. While we must ensure fair access for all projects, our focus is on creating a system that delivers the greatest overall contribution to decarbonisation. For now, defining community energy aims to give communities clarity and prevent misuse of the designation rather than prioritisation.

Whether he will take steps with the Welsh Government to define the term community energy for the specific purpose of enabling Distribution Network Operators to apply differentiated treatment in the grid connections process for genuinely community-owned projects in Wales.

DESNZ is working with Ofgem, Great British Energy, NESO, network operators and community energy stakeholders to explore regulatory and policy initiatives that will improve the experience of connecting customers to the grid, including community energy projects. These reforms will support community schemes where they are viable and aligned with our Clean Power 2030 ambitions. While we must ensure fair access for all projects, our focus is on creating a system that delivers the greatest overall contribution to decarbonisation. For now, defining community energy aims to give communities clarity and prevent misuse of the designation rather than prioritisation.

Whether any definition or register of community energy organisations established under the Local Power Plan will allow Distribution Network Operators to identify eligible Welsh community energy projects and apply proportionate flexibility in the connections pipeline without breaching existing licence obligations.

The Department is in the process of creating a definition of ‘Community Energy Group’ to provide clarity for communities seeking to form community energy groups and prevent the misuse of the designation. The Department also recognises that community energy projects may need greater support in the connections process. DESNZ is working alongside Ofgem, Great British Energy, the National Energy System Operator (NESO), network operators and community energy stakeholders to explore grid connection regulatory and policy initiatives that will improve the experience of connecting customers, including community energy projects across the UK.

With reference to the National Policy Statement for Electricity Networks Infrastructure (EN-5), on what evidential basis his Department has determined that overhead lines should be the strong starting presumption for electricity network developments in general.

The starting presumption for electricity network developments set out in EN-5 is based on several factors including cost, environmental and technical points. Overhead lines are quicker and easier to construct, cause less environmental disturbance during construction, are easier to maintain and repair, and are simpler to connect to existing circuits. Evidence indicates that overhead lines are significantly cheaper than undergrounding, with the Institution of Engineering and Technology (April 2025) estimating undergrounding costs around four and a half times more. As these costs are ultimately borne by electricity bill payers, overhead lines remain the Government’s starting presumption.

What estimate he has made of the costs of (a) undergrounding electricity transmission infrastructure and (b) developing overhead transmission lines.

Evidence published by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (April 2025) shows that the lifetime cost of underground transmission cables is around four and a half times higher than overhead lines. As costs are borne by the electricity bill payer, the Government’s starting presumption for new transmission infrastructure is overhead lines. In nationally designated landscapes, undergrounding is the starting presumption. A government commissioned study on the costs of innovative undergrounding methods for transmission lines over distances of 20km to 50km will be published in the near future.

Media and Sport, what discussions sha has had with the with the Welsh Government in developing the BBC Charter Review Green Paper.

The Government launched the BBC Charter Review on 16 December, including the publication of a Green paper.DCMS consulted the Welsh Government on the Terms of Reference for Charter Review, and had multiple discussions as the Green Paper was being developed. We are continuing to engage with the Welsh Government, and the other Devolved Governments, as we progress the Charter Review.

Whether travel fund for children and young people included in the National Cancer Plan for England will be available to any young cancer patients in Wales, in particular those who receive their cancer treatment in hospitals in England; and whether any Barnett formula consequentials will result from that funding.

The Department knows that the cost of travel is an important issue for many young cancer patients and their families across the United Kingdom. Through the National Cancer Plan, the Government is committing up to £10 million a year to a new fund open to all children and young people in England with cancer and their families regardless of income, to support them with the cost of travelling to and from principal treatment centres. This commitment sits alongside wider action to transform cancer care for children and young people. The Department is currently working with its partners in the health system to develop the scope and remit of the fund. Further details will be set out in due course. Health is predominately devolved. Devolved administrations receive funding through the Barnett Formula, and it is ultimately for them to allocate, prioritise, and manage their budgets. However, the Department does work closely with our counterparts in the devolved administrations to share expertise and identify new opportunities to improve health and social care delivery across the United Kingdom.

What discussions he had with the Welsh Government on the cross-border specialist healthcare network for children and young people with cancer and inequalities in access across the UK prior to the announcement of the travel fund for children and young people with cancer in the National Cancer Plan.

The Department knows that the cost of travel is an important issue for many young cancer patients and their families across the United Kingdom.Through the National Cancer Plan, the Government is committing up to £10 million a year to a new fund open to all children and young people in England with cancer and their families regardless of income, to support them with the cost of travelling to and from treatment. This commitment sits alongside wider action to transform cancer care for children and young people.Health is predominately devolved. However, the Department does work closely with our counterparts in the devolved administrations, including the Welsh Government, to share expertise and identify new opportunities to improve health and social care delivery across the UK.

With reference to her letter on 14 January 2025 to the Welsh Government's Cabinet Secretary for Transport, if she will publish the evidence used in her assessment that the railways in Wales have seen low levels of enhancement spending in recent years.

The Spending Review statement and the Infrastructure Strategy recognises Wales’ long-term infrastructure needs and will deliver at least £445 million of rail enhancements to realise them. The attached table shows the UK Government funded expenditure on enhancements of the railway in Wales for previous financial years.

In pursuant to the answer to question 109355, of the £2.5 billion forecast to be spent between 2024 - 2029, how much of this is OMR spending on the Wales Route and how much is other additional costs for the Wales Route.

£1.9 billion OMR funding has been allocated to the Wales and Borders route for the five years between 2024 and 2029. The remaining funding is expected to be spent on other costs associated with the route as well as infrastructure enhancements to invest in the areas that matter most to passengers and freight users.

If her Department will publish details of the structure, membership and operation of the Wales Rail Board.

The Wales Rail Board meets on a quarterly basis and includes representation from the Department for Transport, Network Rail, the Welsh Government and Transport for Wales. The Board provides strategic direction for enhancement schemes in Wales and ensures that long-term infrastructure needs are identified and developed. The Board played a key role in prioritising schemes for the recent Spending Review and will drive delivery of the record investment that has been made.

What is the Wales Route's percentage share of UK rail network.

The Wales Route share of passenger rail journeys is approximately 2% of the total rail usage for Great Britain. The level of investment across the different parts of the railway network is determined by the needs of the network, value for money and meeting the government’s priorities.

How much capital funding has the Welsh Government received for highway maintenance up to 2030.

The Department for Transport received additional funding for highway maintenance at Spending Review 2025, and the Barnett formula was applied in the usual way in line with the funding arrangements set out in the Statement of Funding Policy. At Spending Reviews, because the Barnett formula is not applied to the individual programmes driving the change in a UK department’s DEL budget, the Barnett consequentials associated with highway maintenance funding cannot be identified. The Block Grant Transparency publication includes a breakdown of changes in the devolved governments’ block grant funding. The most recent report was published in October 2025.

What recent discussions he has had with the Welsh Government on the inclusion of coal tips in the forthcoming coal license ban.

My Rt hon Friend regularly meets with the Welsh Government to discuss a range of issues. Official-level engagement with the Welsh Government has taken place and will continue as this policy develops.

Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with his EU counterparts on a future SPS agreement and the potential impact of this on the rollout of Bovine TB vaccines in the UK.

The Government has begun negotiations with the EU on an SPS agreement to make agrifood trade with our biggest market cheaper and easier, cutting costs and removing barriers to trade for British producers and retailers. While those negotiations are ongoing, Defra cannot comment further on the SPS agreement The Government is continuing to drive forward the development of a bovine TB cattle vaccine, which is at the forefront of innovative solutions to help eradicate this disease, including through ongoing field trials.

What percentage of UK Government rail (a) Enhancement and (b) Operations, Maintenance and Renewal spending does Wales receive.

For Control Period 7 (2024-2029) planned Operations, Maintenance, and Renewal spending in Wales comprises 5.5% of the UK total.For the Spending Review period from 2026 to 2030 planned Rail Network Enhancement Pipeline (RNEP) spending in Wales comprises 3.6% of the UK total.The majority of RNEP funding is allocated to delivery of pre-committed schemes. The government has recognised that for too long Wales’s long-term infrastructure needs have been overlooked, and within this Spending Review, Wales has received a larger commitment of rail enhancement funding for new schemes than England.