Written questions by Davies.

With reference to the press release entitled Prime Minister announces seven new stations and major rail funding commitment, of 17 February 2026, how much her Department is contributing to the rail infrastructure projects in Wales by financial year.

The 2025 Spending Review allocated £302 million from the Rail Network Enhancements Pipeline (RNEP) for rail enhancement investment in Wales, directly overseen by the Department for Transport. This forms part of the overall £445 million set aside for rail improvements in Wales as part of the Spending Review and Infrastructure Strategy.The £302m RNEP funding will be distributed over financial years 2026/27 to 2029/30, with annual budgets currently being finalised in collaboration with the rail industry in Wales. Further UK Government funding allocations will be confirmed at future Spending Reviews.

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 that announcement forms part of the transport funding from the Spending Review.

At least £445 million has been set aside for rail improvements in Wales as part of the 2025 Spending Review and Infrastructure Strategy.This investment marks the beginning of a long-term UK Government commitment, announced by the Prime Minister, to modernise Welsh railways.The Prime Minister has pledged that the UK Government will collaborate with the Welsh Government to deliver all the projects outlined in Transport for Wales’ vision for rail across Wales and the Borders as quickly as possible.Further UK Government funding allocations beyond the £445m already announced, will be confirmed at future Spending Reviews.

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

Whether her Department has received any written representations or invitations to meet from Councillor Gareth Owen-Williams (Crowborough Jarvis Brook) of Wealden District Council relating to the accommodation of asylum seekers at the Crowborough Training Camp.

The Home Office has met regularly with Wealden District Council and has not received written representations or invitations to meet from Councillor Gareth Owen-Williams.

Communities and Local Government, what steps the Government is taking to help ensure that local planning authorities in West Sussex have sufficient skills and capacity to process telecommunications planning applications swiftly.

I refer the hon. Member to the answers given to Questions UIN 95326 and UIN 99031 both on 5 January 2026.

Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to ensure local planning authorities have sufficient skills and capacity to process telecommunications planning applications in a timely manner in East Sussex.

I refer the hon. Member to the answers given to Questions UIN 95326 and UIN 99031 both on 5 January 2026.

Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to ensure local planning authorities have sufficient skills and capacity to process telecommunications planning applications swiftly.

I refer the hon. Member to the answers given to Questions UIN 95326 and UIN 99031 both on 5 January 2026.

Innovation and Technology, with reference to her Department's consultation entitled Reforming planning rules to accelerate deployment of digital infrastructure, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of increasing the permitted width upgrades to existing ground-based mobile masts.

The call for evidence, “Reforming planning rules to accelerate deployment of digital infrastructure”, closed on 26 February and was led jointly by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.The call for evidence sought evidence and information on how targeted reforms to the planning framework, including potentially expanded permitted development rights, could better support the rollout of fixed and mobile digital infrastructure in England.We are currently reviewing the responses and supporting evidence received through the call for evidence. This includes evidence on proposals relating to ground‑based masts, including taller monopoles, alongside other planning measures aimed at accelerating rollout of digital infrastructure while ensuring sufficient safeguards are in place.Subject to the evidence, we will determine next steps. This may include consulting on draft measures and—where appropriate—bringing forward legislation in the future.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of (a) onshore oil developments in the UK on areas of significant housing growth such as the Ardingly Reservoir catchment and (b) those developments on drinking water.

Local planning authorities and the Environment Agency are responsible for assessing the impact of onshore oil and gas developments on housing and drinking water respectively. The North Sea Transition Authority regulates exploration and development licensing for England’s onshore oil and gas resources on behalf of the Secretary of State. Licence holders require further consents and permits before any operations take place.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that businesses affected by the water outage receive suitable compensation in East Grinstead and Uckfield constituency.

The Government recognises the disruption that consumers have suffered and takes the need for appropriate compensation to customers seriously. The Government is clear that it is the responsibility of the water company to provide compensation that is commensurate with the scale of the disruption. The Guaranteed Standards Scheme (GSS) sets the minimum standards of service for all customers of water companies. Where a company fails to meet any of the standards, it is required to make a specified payment to the affected household or business customer. The Government announced a major update to the GSS as part of its initial package of water sector reforms in July 2025. The updates reformed the GSS, improving consumer protections by further protections for customers – increasing the payment values, to double or more, and by expanding the scope to include additional standards. South East Water must make mandatory payments to affected customers in line with the GSS following the water outages in East Grinstead and Uckfield.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to ensure businesses affected by the water outage receive suitable compensation in Sussex.

The Government recognises the disruption that consumers have suffered and takes the need for appropriate compensation to customers seriously. The Government is clear that it is the responsibility of the water company to provide compensation that is commensurate with the scale of the disruption. The Guaranteed Standards Scheme (GSS) sets the minimum standards of service for all customers of water companies. Where a company fails to meet any of the standards, it is required to make a specified payment to the affected household or business customer. The Government announced a major update to the GSS as part of its initial package of water sector reforms in July 2025. The updates reformed the GSS, improving consumer protections by further protections for customers – increasing the payment values, to double or more, and by expanding the scope to include additional standards. South East Water must make mandatory payments to affected customers in line with the GSS following the water outages in East Grinstead and Uckfield.

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.

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.

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.

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.

How many asylum seekers have been (a) moved from the Copthorne Hotel since 22 January and (b) are still located at the site.

This Government inherited a broken asylum system, with tens of thousands stuck in a backlog and claims not being processed, wasting millions in taxpayer money. We will empty asylum hotels as soon as possible, and by the end of this Parliament. That is a complex process that must be delivered through a controlled, managed and orderly plan of work.For the safety, security, and wellbeing of those we accommodate, we do not publicly comment on individual hotels which may or may not be utilised by the Home Office, nor do we provide details of those we accommodate at any site.The latest published Immigration Statistics detail the number of supported asylum seekers accommodated in each local authority area. These statistics can be found at Immigration system statistics data tables - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

How many asylum seekers at the Copthorne Hotel London Gatwick are (a) single males and (b) family groups for which the latest data is available.

This Government inherited a broken asylum system, with tens of thousands stuck in a backlog and claims not being processed, wasting millions in taxpayer money. We will empty asylum hotels as soon as possible, and by the end of this Parliament. That is a complex process that must be delivered through a controlled, managed and orderly plan of work.For the safety, security, and wellbeing of those we accommodate, we do not publicly comment on individual hotels which may or may not be utilised by the Home Office, nor do we provide details of those we accommodate at any site.The latest published Immigration Statistics detail the number of supported asylum seekers accommodated in each local authority area. These statistics can be found at Immigration system statistics data tables - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

When will the Copthorne Hotel Gatwick Airport cease to provide asylum accommodation.

This Government inherited a broken asylum system, with tens of thousands stuck in a backlog and claims not being processed, wasting millions in taxpayer money. We will empty asylum hotels as soon as possible, and by the end of this Parliament. That is a complex process that must be delivered through a controlled, managed and orderly plan of work.For the safety, security, and wellbeing of those we accommodate, we do not publicly comment on individual hotels which may or may not be utilised by the Home Office, nor do we provide details of those we accommodate at any site.The latest published Immigration Statistics detail the number of supported asylum seekers accommodated in each local authority area. These statistics can be found at Immigration system statistics data tables - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

How many asylum seekers have absconded from the Copthorne Hotel Gatwick Airport to date.

This Government inherited a broken asylum system, with tens of thousands stuck in a backlog and claims not being processed, wasting millions in taxpayer money. We will empty asylum hotels as soon as possible, and by the end of this Parliament. That is a complex process that must be delivered through a controlled, managed and orderly plan of work.For the safety, security, and wellbeing of those we accommodate, we do not publicly comment on individual hotels which may or may not be utilised by the Home Office, nor do we provide details of those we accommodate at any site.The latest published Immigration Statistics detail the number of supported asylum seekers accommodated in each local authority area. These statistics can be found at Immigration system statistics data tables - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).