Ceredigion Preseli MP Ben Lake has called for ‘clear and consistent figures’ after Secretary of State failed to explain claim on Barnett consequential for Wales

Plaid Cymru has criticised a “lack of transparency” from the UK Government over how Wales is funded, after the Secretary of State for Wales failed to clarify a claim regarding £200 million of transport-related consequential funding to Wales.

The party’s Treasury spokesperson, Ben Lake MP, has raised concerns after the Secretary of State for Wales, Jo Stevens, told the Welsh Affairs Committee last week that Wales would receive “just over £200 million” in Barnett consequentials from recent transport announcements in England – on top of the £445 million already allocated in the 2025 Spending Review.

However, in response to a written question tabled by Mr Lake, the Treasury contradicted this claim, stating that it is "not possible to identify specific Barnett consequentials arising from individual programmes" such as the Transport for City Regions funding announced on 4 June.

Speaking during Wales Questions in the House of Commons on 16 July, Plaid Cymru Treasury spokesperson Ben Lake MP asked the Secretary of State to explain whether her earlier claim that Wales would receive a £200 million Barnett consequential referred specifically to the Transport for City Regions funding announced on 4 June. The Secretary of State simply repeated the claim.

Mr Lake said that the “discrepancy” between the Wales Office and UK Treasury’s answers “underlines the lack of transparency in the way Wales is funded through the Barnett formula”, and called for “clear and consistent figures”.

Ben Lake MP asked: “I was pleased to hear the Secretary of State, in evidence to the Welsh Affairs Select Committee last week, explain that Wales will receive a Barnett consequential of some £200m as a result of transport announcements for English mayoral combined authority areas made in the lead-up to the spending review.

“Could the Secretary of State clarify whether she was referring to the Transport for City Regions funding which was announced on 4 June, for the Chief Secretary to the Treasury has stated in an answer to a written question that it is not possible to identify the specific Barnett consequential arising from that programme?”

Secretary of State for Wales, Jo Stevens MP, responded: “My understanding is that the just over £200 million that I referred to in my evidence to the Welsh Affairs Select Committee relates to the combined Mayoral Authority announcement that was made prior to the spending review.”

Speaking after the session, Ben Lake MP added: “The discrepancy between the answers provided by the Wales Office and UK Treasury underlines the lack of transparency in the way Wales is funded through the Barnett formula, and strengthens calls for it to be reviewed.

“Without clear and consistent figures from the UK Government, it is impossible to assess whether the funding provided is adequate or indeed fair.

“Ultimately, the Barnett formula is not fit for purpose and requires fundamental reform.”