Tag: Nia Griffith

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nia Griffith on 2016-01-19.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills on the potential effect of current policy on compensation to energy-intensive industries on the steel industry in Wales.

Stephen Crabb

The steel industry is facing unprecedented challenges at present and I am determined to do everything I can to support the industry and those affected. I have regular discussions regarding the steel industry in Wales with ministerial colleagues including the Prime Minister,Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills and the Minister for Small Business, Industry and Enterprise.

The Government is committed to providing compensation to Energy Intensive Industries. On 17 December, we secured state aid clearance to pay further compensation to energy intensive industries – including steel – for renewable policy costs.

The Government has published guidance and forms for claiming compensation. The first compensation payments will be made as soon as possible after eligible companies have submitted applications and backdated to December 2015.

As announced at Autumn Statement 2015, we are committed to transitioning from a compensation scheme to an exemption, with the aim of this being in place in 2017. Compensation will continue to be paid to the industry until the permanent exemption is in place.

This policy will save the industry hundreds of millions of pounds and will give the steel industry all across the UK greater certainty around energy costs for the life of the parliament.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nia Griffith on 2015-11-23.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether it is his policy to allow members of the public to make an application for a cremation in Welsh.

Caroline Dinenage

The Cremation (England and Wales) Regulations 2008 require that, in order for a cremation to proceed, the crematorium medical referee must scrutinise the application and associated medical or coroner forms before authorising a cremation.

An application made in Wales may be for a cremation in Wales or a cremation in England. A medical referee in Wales may not be a Welsh speaker, and a medical referee in England will almost certainly not be a Welsh speaker.

Applications in Wales must therefore be made in English, to make sure that the medical referee can understand and authorise the cremation in a timely manner wherever the cremation is to take place.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nia Griffith on 2016-04-20.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, when she expects the Government’s review of the case for the Swansea Bay tidal lagoon to be completed.

Andrea Leadsom

The timeframe depends on a number of factors, many of which would be outside the control of the Department. Talks between Government and the developer are on-going and will be fed into the independent review of tidal lagoons for consideration. The independent review will be completed as soon as possible.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nia Griffith on 2015-11-23.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when his Department plans to publish its proposed reforms to the Electronic Communications Code.

Mr Edward Vaizey

The Government remains committed to delivering a reformed Electronic Communications Code that is clear, fit for purpose, and supports a UK network that provides consumers with a choice of high quality telecommunications services. We will update Parliament on plans in due course.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nia Griffith on 2016-04-20.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, when he plans to publish the draft Wales Bill.

Alun Cairns

On 29 February, my predecessor announced the Government’s intention to introduce the Wales Bill early in the second session.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nia Griffith on 2015-11-23.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions he has had with Ofcom on its proposals to open up BT fibre for business lines in Wales.

Mr Edward Vaizey

Ofcom has proposed that competitors be granted access to BT’s fibre network in Wales and across the UK. It has consulted on this proposal and expects to publish its decision in early 2016. This is a matter on which the regulator must decide.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nia Griffith on 2016-04-20.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what recent discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the devolution of Air Passenger Duty to Wales.

Alun Cairns

The Government is considering the case and options for devolving Air Passenger Duty to Wales, informed by a review of options to support English regional airports from potential impacts caused by its devolution.

As part of this review, HM Treasury published a discussion paper at Summer Budget 2015 exploring a number of options. HM Treasury is carefully considering the evidence received from stakeholders on an ongoing basis.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nia Griffith on 2015-12-03.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of the forms on her Department’s website is available in Welsh.

James Brokenshire

The Home Office currently provides 336 forms in total on GOV.UK, of which 5 are published in the Welsh language, representing 1.5% of the total.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nia Griffith on 2016-04-20.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change on the Government’s review of the case for a Swansea Bay tidal lagoon.

Alun Cairns

My office remains in close contact with the Department of Energy and Climate Change on both the independent review of tidal lagoons and the potential development of a tidal lagoon in Swansea Bay. Talks between the UK Government and the developer are continuing on a possible Contract for Difference and the conclusion of these discussions will be fed into the independent review for consideration.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nia Griffith on 2015-12-03.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what proportion of the forms on his Department’s website is available in Welsh.

Mike Penning

There are 60 Ministry of Justice forms published on gov.uk. Of these, three are translated into the Welsh language, which is five percent of the total. This does not include forms from agencies or arms’ length bodies of the Ministry of Justice. We are committed to providing our forms in the Welsh language where it is clear there is demand.

Guidance for departments on the translation of documents for the Government website is provided by the Government Digital Service and can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/content-design/welsh-language-on-gov-uk

“