Written questions by Davies.

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.

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.

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.

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.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of low levels of rail enhancement funding for railways in Wales on passenger numbers in Wales.

The 2025 Spending Review and Infrastructure Strategy acknowledged Wales’s ongoing infrastructure requirements, pledging at least £445 million towards rail improvements to meet these needs. These upgrades will deliver further passenger growth on rail routes across Wales, unlocking economic growth, better jobs, and housing.The government's collaborative approach to planning and investment alongside the Welsh Government is generating substantial passenger / patronage growth in Wales. Transport for Wales has recorded 31.7 million train journeys during the 2024/25 period, an increase of 17.8% on the previous year.

Whether she has made an estimate of how average journey times on railways in Wales compare to equivalent distances on the railways in (a) London and (b) the southeast of England.

Rail statistics published by the Department for Transport, the Office of Rail and Road, and the Office for National Statistics provide data on passenger journeys, punctuality, regional rail usage and access to stations, but do not include comparative journey time metrics by region.

Whether she has made an estimate of the relative level of per head spending on railway infrastructure in (a) Wales and (b) England.

This Government believes in the importance of rail investment to support economic growth and bring connections to people all across the country. The level of investment is determined by the needs of the network, value for money and meeting the Government’s priorities, not by population count. We work with the Office of Rail and Road to provide funding to Network Rail that supports the safe and effective operation of railways across England and Wales and, through the Spending Review and Infrastructure Strategy, have also provided the significant commitment to at least £445 million of rail enhancements funding for Wales. This is to address the country’s long-term infrastructure needs and meet the Wales Rail Board’s top priorities.

If she will make an assessment of the adequacy of levels of funding provided by the UK Government for railways in Wales.

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. The benefits of this spend can accrue in geographically distant locations. The funding for the day-to-day running and renewal of the railway was determined via the comprehensive regulatory processes led by the independent regulator, the Office of Rail and Road. Network Rail spending on operations, maintenance, and renewals in Wales for the five years between 2024 and 2029 is forecast to be £2.5 billion. This will be used to address climate effects, improve train performance from current levels, and invest in the areas that matter most to passengers and freight users. The Government had made a further commitment of at least £445 million of rail enhancements funding for Wales, and plans for future rail investment in Wales will be made in close consultation with the Wales Rail Board. This will be consulted ahead of the next Spending Review so that Wales’ long-term infrastructure needs continue to be recognised.

If she will take steps to ensure that areas in Wales that will not receive rail funding from the £445 million announced at the Spending Review 2025 receive rail investment from the UK Government.

Through the Wales Rail Board, the priorities for rail investment across all regions of Wales are discussed and agreed with the Welsh Government and Transport for Wales. The Wales Rail Board includes representation from the Department for Transport, Network Rail, the Welsh Government and Transport for Wales, and has been established to provide joint strategic direction for rail service development in Wales. It will continue to be consulted ahead of future Spending Reviews so that Wales’ long-term infrastructure needs continue to be recognised. In addition to the £445 million rail enhancements funding committed to Wales, Network Rail is forecast to spend £2.5 billion on rail operations, maintenance, and renewals across the whole of Wales in the five years between 2024 and 2029. This will be used to address climate effects, improve train performance from current levels, and invest in the areas that matter most to passengers and freight users.

Whether the Welsh Government have made a formal request for the devolution of heavy rail infrastructure to Wales.

The Government committed to invest £445 million to enhance rail infrastructure across Wales at the Spending Review. Through the Wales Rail Board, the UK and Welsh Government are collaborating to make sure this investment delivers the greatest passenger benefits, drives economic growth, promotes social mobility, and tackles inequality. Great British Railways will have a close and collaborative relationship with Transport for Wales, underpinned by objectives set jointly by UK and Welsh Ministers, to ensure the railway better serves passengers and freight.

Whether the Welsh Government have made a request for Northern Powerhouse rail to be designated as an England only project.

We are working closely with the Welsh Government following our major commitment to the NPR programme. Territorial classification of specific programmes depends on whether the policy area is devolved to the relevant devolved government in each nation or reserved to the UK Government. Heavy rail is reserved to the UK Government in England and Wales.