Ben Lake MP: written questions
164 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Apprenticeship Levy: WalesTreasuryTabled 14 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 91151More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much funding was raised by the Apprenticeship Levy from employers primarily based in Wales in each of the past five years.
Answer: UIN 91154 - While the Apprenticeship Levy is UK wide, apprenticeship policy and spending is devolved. This means that the devolved governments receive funding through the Barnett formula in relation to English apprenticeship spending as part of their bloc...
Answered 19 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordMotor Vehicles: Excise DutiesTreasuryTabled 12 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90314More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of exempting search and rescue vehicles from Vehicle Excise Duty.
Answer: The Government annually reviews the rates and thresholds of taxes and reliefs to ensure that they are appropriate and reflect the current state of the economy. The Chancellor makes decisions on tax policy at fiscal events in the context of the public fina...
Answered 17 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordBroadband: Rural AreasDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 12 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90313More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that pricing mechanisms for infrastructure access do not adversely impact private investment in rural gigabit rollout.
Answer: As the independent regulator for telecommunications, Ofcom is responsible for making regulatory decisions in the fixed telecoms sector, including on the Physical Infrastructure Access (PIA) product.In July, we published our draft Statement of Strategic Pr...
Answered 17 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordPublic ExpenditureTreasuryTabled 5 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 88306More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference her Department's policy paper entitled Finance: Interministerial Standing Committee – 17 October 2025, what options were discussed for enhancing the fiscal flexibilities available to devolved Governme
Answer: It is important that the Finance: Interministerial Standing Committee remains a space for confidential discussions between governments, so it would not be appropriate to comment on the detail of those discussions. I look forward to continued engagement wi...
Answered 12 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordDeposit Return Schemes: VATTreasuryTabled 5 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 88305More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 9 April 2025 to Question 43325 on Deposit Return Schemes: VAT, for what reason her Department is considering applying VAT to unredeemed deposits in the deposit return scheme in the context
Answer: The Deposit Returns Scheme (DRS) will launch in the UK in October 2027, introducing mandatory refundable deposits on drinks containers with the aim of increasing recycling. VAT is a broad-based tax on consumption, and the 20 per cent standard rate applies...
Answered 17 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordEmployers' Contributions: Welsh GovernmentTreasuryTabled 5 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 88304More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 3 April 2025 to Question 42630 on Employers' Contributions: Welsh Government, what mechanism her Department will use to provide compensation for public services in Wales for the increase in
Answer: The Welsh Government’s budget is growing in real terms between 2024-25 and 2028-29 and their Spending Review settlement is the largest in real terms since devolution in 1998. At Autumn Budget 2024, the Chancellor agreed to provide funding to the public se...
Answered 11 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordEmployers' Contributions: WalesTreasuryTabled 4 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 87820More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether future compensation funding provided to the Welsh Government for increased National Insurance contributions costs for the public sector in Wales will cover this cost in full.
Answer: The Welsh Government’s budget is growing in real terms between 2024-25 and 2028-29 and their Spending Review settlement is the largest in real terms since devolution in 1998. At Autumn Budget 2024, the Chancellor agreed to provide funding to the public se...
Answered 11 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordDigital Services TaxTreasuryTabled 4 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 87819More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of increasing the level of the Digital Services Tax.
Answer: Decisions on tax are a matter for the Chancellor and any changes will be announced at the budget in the usual way. The Digital Services Tax is an interim solution to widely held concerns with the international corporate tax framework, and the UK remains c...
Answered 11 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordBroadband: Rural AreasDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 3 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 87372More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 22 October to Question 82973 on Broadband: Rural Areas, if she will make her policy to include direction to Ofcom on revising the Physical Infrastructure Acces
Answer: In July, DSIT published a consultation on the draft Statement of Strategic Priorities for telecommunications, the management of radio spectrum, and postal services that sets out the Government’s view on infrastructure sharing in the fixed telecoms sector....
Answered 11 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordFuel Poverty: WalesTreasuryTabled 30 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 86700More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of reducing VAT on domestic energy bills on fuel poverty in Wales.
Answer: The Government believes that we need to support households who are struggling with energy bills now whilst we transition to cheaper clean power by 2030. We are providing targeted support that reaches low income households directly across Great Britain, in...
Answered 4 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordPublic Expenditure: WalesTreasuryTabled 30 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 86699More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate she has made of the total amount of funding to be allocated to the Welsh Government through the Barnett Formula following the the full rollout of free childcare in England.
Answer: The Barnett formula is applied when departmental budgets change – not when departments announce how they are spending their budgets or when policy is delivered. The Barnett formula was applied in the usual way following Spending Review 2025The published B...
Answered 4 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordLocal Housing Allowance: WalesDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 30 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 86698More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment he has made of the potential impact of the freeze on local housing allowance on levels of homelessness in Wales.
Answer: The causes of homelessness are multi-faceted and often complex; they interact dynamically making it very difficult to isolate the relative importance of individual factors. Responsibility for housing and homelessness is devolved to the Welsh Government, w...
Answered 4 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordPublic Expenditure: WalesTreasuryTabled 30 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 86697More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment she made has made of the potential impact of providing compensation to local authorities in Wales via the Barnett Formula on the adequacy of funding to cover the additional Employer National I
Answer: At Autumn Budget 2024, the Chancellor agreed to provide funding to the public sector to support with the changes to employer National Insurance.The devolved governments received funding through the Barnett formula in 2025-26, including on this support. Th...
Answered 4 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordIron and Steel: WalesDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 30 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 86696More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has received representations from the Welsh Government on the amount of funding to allocated to Wales from the steel fund.
Answer: The UK Government has committed up to £2.5 billion to support the steel industry, which is being delivered in part through the National Wealth Fund. This is in addition to £500 million towards Tata’s transformation of Port Talbot steelworks. The National ...
Answered 4 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordPublic Expenditure: WalesTreasuryTabled 29 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 86279More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions her Department has had with the Welsh Government on (a) Wales’s comparability factor for transport and (b) the impact of that factor on funding for the Welsh Government.
Answer: HM Treasury ministers and officials regularly engage with Welsh Government counterparts, including through forums such as the Finance: Interministerial Standing Committee (F:ISC), to discuss a range of issues affecting Wales. The most recent F:ISC was on ...
Answered 3 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordUK Research and Innovation: WalesTreasuryTabled 29 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 86278More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of levels of UK Research and Innovation funding allocated to Wales.
Answer: This Government is investing in Wales to help create jobs and drive economic growth. UKRI has recently launched the Local Innovation Partnerships Fund (LIPF) - a new programme that will empower innovation leadership through local ‘triple helix’ partnershi...
Answered 3 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordPride in Place ProgrammeMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 29 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 86277More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of lowering the population thresholds of the Pride in Place programme to include smaller rural communities in the eligibility
Answer: On 25 September, the Government launched its overarching Pride in Place Strategy, committing up to £5 billion in funding and support to 339 communities. The flagship Pride in Place Programme will provide up to £20 million in flexible funding and support t...
Answered 3 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordPublic Expenditure: WalesTreasuryTabled 29 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 86276More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions she has had with the Welsh Government on a formal review of Wales’s fiscal framework.
Answer: We have ongoing discussions with the Welsh Government about funding flexibilities and updating their Fiscal Framework and remain committed to working in partnership to ensure the smooth delivery of their funding settlement.HM Treasury ministers regularly ...
Answered 3 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordBudget November 2025: WalesTreasuryTabled 29 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 86275More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions she has had with the Welsh Government on the Autumn Budget 2025.
Answer: There have been regular discussions with the Welsh Government on the Budget. This ensures that we are taking account of their views to ensure that we are delivering for the people of Wales. The Chancellor met with the First Minister for Wales on the 7th o...
Answered 3 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordWestern Sahara: Armed ForcesForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 24 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 84939More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has considered the findings of the UN Secretary-General’s report to the UN Security Council entitled Situation concerning Western Sahara, published on September 3
Answer: The UK Government consistently urges all states to uphold international law, and we continue to encourage constructive engagement with the political process led by the Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary-General Mr Staffan de Mistura in support of finding ...
Answered 29 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordWestern Sahara: Politics and GovernmentForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 24 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 84938More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has considered the findings of the UN Secretary-General’s report to the UN Security Council entitled Situation concerning Western Sahara, published on September 3
Answer: The UK Government consistently urges all states to uphold international law, and we continue to encourage constructive engagement with the political process led by the Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary-General Mr Staffan de Mistura in support of finding ...
Answered 29 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordCost of Living: WalesWales OfficeTabled 21 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 905997More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what recent discussions she has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on fiscal steps to reduce the cost of living in Wales.
Answer: The Welsh and UK Labour Governments are determined to boost living standards for families right across Wales.It’s why we secured a record wage increase to the National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage for up to 160,000 workers.It’s why we are creatin...
Answered 29 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordProject GigabitDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 20 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 83385More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of reforming physical infrastructure access pricing for Project Gigabit to reduce rural build costs for alternative netwo
Answer: As the independent regulator for telecommunications, Ofcom is responsible for making regulatory decisions in the fixed telecoms sector, including on the Physical Infrastructure Access (PIA) product.For this reason, while my officials are engaging with Ofc...
Answered 23 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordBroadband: Rural AreasDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 17 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 82974More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing fiscal incentives to support private investment in rural broadband networks, in the context of the Physical Inf
Answer: As the independent regulator for telecommunications, Ofcom is responsible for making regulatory decisions in the fixed telecoms sector, including on the Physical Infrastructure Access (PIA) product.For this reason, while my officials are engaging with Ofc...
Answered 22 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordBroadband: Rural AreasDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 17 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 82973More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if she will hold discussions with Ofcom on revising the Physical Infrastructure Access pricing model to ensure consistent competitive conditions between (a) national ISPs and (b) altern
Answer: As the independent regulator for telecommunications, Ofcom is responsible for making regulatory decisions in the fixed telecoms sector, including on the Physical Infrastructure Access (PIA) product.For this reason, while my officials are engaging with Ofc...
Answered 22 Oct 2025
Original Parliament record
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