Latest news with #WalesOffice
ITV News
5 days ago
- Business
- ITV News
What the UK-India trade deal means for Wales
Sir Keir Starmer and India's Narendra Modi are set to agree a trade deal which is understood to be the largest of its kind for its economic impact on Britain. The UK-India trade deal is worth £6 billion in investment for the British economy and will be signed off on Thursday (July 23). It's set to deliver an £80 million boost to Wales's as part of the Plan for Change, with Welsh food and drink, renewable energy and creative sectors set to benefit following a reduction or elimination of tariffs. Secretary of State for Wales Jo Stevens said: 'Key industries in Wales, such as the renewable energy sector, the creative industries and food and drink producers will see immediate benefits. "On many goods tariffs will be reduced or eliminated. And Welsh businesses will also benefit from access to India's huge procurement market with increased protections so they can confidently export goods and services." According to the Wales Office, 256 Welsh businesses exported goods worth £226 million to India last year. Among those goods is Welsh lamb, which will be able to enter the Indian market duty free from day one, removing a 33% tariff. Gareth Parry, Head of Policy at Farmers Union of Wales, said: "It's really important that we do open up these market opportunities in Asia, the Middle East and other countries across the world. "But we also have to acknowledge how important our nearest trading partners are for the operation of our food system, such as the European Union. We've maintained throughout, ever since the Brexit referendum, that we support maintaining how strong the relationship with our EU partners is, particularly for the trading of Welsh agricultural goods." 'Developing market' for whisky producers Whisky tariffs will be slashed in half, according to the Government, and will fall further over successive years, while other industries including soft drinks, cars and cosmetics are also expected to see cheaper duties. Stephen Davies, Chief Executive of Penderyn Distillery, said: "We are developing our business and brand awareness in both domestic and travel retail sectors in India. It's an exciting and developing market for us. "The agreement to reduce tariffs will provide a better platform for us and our industry to develop links and build business over the next five years. These are exciting times." For Wales' energy sector, the deal will see lower tariffs and unprecedented access to India's public procurement market. The UK already imports £11 billion in goods from India but liberalised tariffs on Indian goods will make it easier and cheaper to buy their best products. The creative sector in Wales will also benefit from increased copyright protections.
Wales Online
18-06-2025
- Business
- Wales Online
Eluned Morgan says she will hold UK Government's feet to fire on funding promise
Eluned Morgan says she will hold UK Government's feet to fire on funding promise The First Minister says she has received categorical assurances that control of post EU funding will return to Wales First Minister Eluned Morgan. (Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne ) First Minister Eluned Morgan said she will hold the UK Government's 'feet to the fire' after receiving what she said are categorical assurances that Sir Keir Starmer will follow through on a manifesto pledge of returning the running of post EU structural funding to the Welsh Government. What became the Shared Prosperity Fund, which will from next year will be known as the Local Growth Fund, was established by the former Tory Government of Boris Johnson as a replacement for the loss of structural funding from the EU following Brexit to some of the most deprived communities in the UK, including the Valleys and west Wales. EU structural funding was administered by the Welsh Government via the Welsh European Funding Office (WEFO). With lobbying from then Welsh Secretary, Alun Cairns, the decision was taken that the post EU funding would bypass the Welsh Government and go straight to local authorities who were able to bid for funding for local based projects. Sir Keir Starmer first pledged a return of control to the Welsh Government when addressing the Welsh Labour's annual conference in 2023. It was also confirmed in the party's General Election manifesto last year. Confusion over the role of the Welsh Government in running of the fund was created in the spending review documentation last week from Chancellor Rachel Reeves setting out UK Government departmental spending settlements for the next three financial years starting next April. It clearly highlighted a role for the Wales Office and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) in partnership with the Welsh Government on post EU structural funding. Article continues below It says: 'As one of the representatives for the nations, the Wales Office will work with the MHCLG to implement the new local growth fund, working in partnership with the Welsh Government. This will ensure that this funding is spent on projects that matter to the people of Wales and will drive growth across the country.' Similar language was also used in the documentation for Scotland nod Northern Ireland. Over the last week the Welsh Government has been seeking clarification, with the First Minister now saying she has received assurances from the Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens and Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones - although she didn't mention Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government Angela Rayner. At a meeting of the Senedd committee for culture, communications, Welsh language, sport and international relations, Blaenau Gwent Labour MS Alun Davies said the spending review reference had seemingly broken the manifesto pledge by the Prime Minister on repatriating powers back to Wales. In response Ms Morgan said:'Just to make it clear I am not accepting what was put in there (spending review) in the way it has been interpreted. I have had a categorical assurance from the Secretary of State for Wales that this will be decided and managed by the Welsh Government. "This was a commitment by the Prime Minister on the stage of the Labour Party conference and I have made it absolutely clear that we will be holding their feet to the fire on this. And I am actually more confident that we are going to get to the place that I want to be, because I have been given those reassurances and it is something I also made clear in a meeting last week in front of the First Secretary to the Treasury (Darren Jones). In response Mr Davies said he very much welcomed the clarification. In the spending review it was confirmed that Wales will get an allocation of £630m over a three year period from April next year from the MHCLG's local growth fund. Wales getting a 22% allocation of the total funding available. If it was allocated to Wales under the Barnet Formula it would only receive around 5%. A UK Goverment source said 'Wales got the best deal on growth funding of any U nation. Every penny and the overall share of Wales' fund was protected. We are wholly committed to delivering Keir Starmer's pledge to restore the decision making role to Welsh Goverment.' Article continues below If the Welsh Government is to control the fund it will need to set up a delivery team as well as setting priorities for investment. A Welsh Government spokesman said; 'We will ensure this £630m funding has greater impact than the legacy Shared Prosperity fund. "We will continue to discuss the detail of this funding with the UK Government and will decide how it is used to support our economic ambitions and bring prosperity to all parts of Wales.'
South Wales Argus
13-06-2025
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Cardiff event to help boost Welsh tech exports in Wales
The Made in the UK, Sold to the World event aims to connect small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with key figures like commercial officers, international buyers, and export champions. There will be tailored advice, support, and discussions on real export opportunities at the event at Cardiff City Stadium. This includes exploring recent trade announcements with India, America and the EU. Wales Office minister Nia Griffith said: 'Wales is home to a huge number of successful small businesses with strengths in sectors that have been identified as having potential for growth. "This roadshow enables businesses leaders to access the support they need to expand their exports and grow their businesses. 'This comes just after the UK Government secured trade deals with the EU, India and USA which break down barriers for exporters and give them access to new markets."
South Wales Argus
26-05-2025
- Politics
- South Wales Argus
Newport MP leads calls for women's centre to be opened
The call comes after the Independent Sentencing Review recommended more sustainable and long-term funding for women's centres. The centres are said to "play a critical role in directing female offenders in the criminal justice system to valued practical and emotional help." Ruth Jones, chair of the Welsh Affairs Committee and Newport West & Islwyn MP, said: "Keeping women near to their families and loved ones is vital for successful rehabilitation and reducing reoffending. "Hearing the first-hand experiences of Welsh female offenders at HMP Eastwood Park in England made it undoubtedly clear how much a women's centre in Wales could change lives. "The Independent Sentencing Review highlighted the benefits of providing more sustainable and long-term funding to women's centres. "It's high time that Welsh women be afforded equivalent support within their communities as that provided to their English counterparts and the Government should move quickly to open the planned Swansea centre." Currently, there is no women's prison in Wales, meaning Welsh female offenders are often held in prisons that are a significant distance from family, friends, and community services. The committee intends to analyse the report's findings through the course of its prisons, probation, and rehabilitation inquiry. The Welsh Affairs Committee is responsible for scrutinising the expenditure, administration, and policies of the Wales Office, and the policies of the UK Government as a whole that have an impact in Wales.
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Tories want apology over Jo Stevens Budget tweet
The Welsh secretary should apologise for "politicising" civil servants in a post about the UK government's Budget on the Wales Office's X account, say the Conservatives. They complained to the cabinet secretary – the top civil servant at Westminster – after Jo Stevens' post said the Budget "delivered for Wales for the first time in a generation". The chief executive of the UK Government Communication Service agreed the post "could have been phrased better" and said he had spoken to the Wales Office. The Wales Office said the matter was discussed with its director to "ensure continued compliance with guidelines". Tories demand apology over Welsh secretary video Labour demand formal probe over Welsh Tory video Official resources should not be used for party political purposes, under the Civil Service Code. In her letter to the cabinet secretary, Conservative shadow secretary of state for Wales Mims Davies said: "I am sure you will agree we simply cannot have taxpayer-funded resources being misappropriated on these types of messages and your civil servants being actively political inside departments, and perhaps under pressure to message this way." She went on to ask for what was being done to investigate the secretary of state and her officials. In reply, Simon Baugh, chief executive of the Government Communication Service said: "In this particular case, while the text of the post echoed a short section of a HM Treasury press release, I acknowledge that it could have been better phrased, and I have discussed the matter with the Wales Office." In a statement following the exchange of letters Davies said: "We now need the secretary of state for Wales to step up and apologise for this conduct in politicising our impartial civil servants." This is not the first time that Conservatives have clashed with Jo Stevens over the use of social media. In October last year Davies's predecessor, Byron Davies, complained about a different social media post on the Wales Office account, which he said broke civil service code, and brought the government department into disrepute. The Wales Office said it had done "nothing improper in expressing regret about the previous administration". Earlier in the year, Stevens called for a formal investigation into the then Welsh Secretary David TC Davies and accused him of breaching rules of behaviour for ministers. She said he had recorded a video attacking plans to increase the size of the Senedd in his government office. The ministerial code says they should not generally be used for party or constituency activities. At the time a UK government source said that the video was recorded inside for security reasons. A Wales Office spokesperson said the government department "follows guidance set out by the Government Communication Service and mandatory training is undertaken on the use of social media on official government channels". "The post in question highlighted how the UK government is investing in Wales. "This matter has been discussed with the Wales Office director to ensure continued compliance with guidelines."
