The first Welsh Questions in the Commons looked different but that's about it

It was all change in the Commons for the first Welsh questions of the new administration. The Labour MPs, who romped to victory in July’s general election, switched to the government benches after years in opposition.

Jo Stevens, promoted from shadow Welsh secretary to Welsh secretary stood at the despatch box opening her half-hour session by telling the Commons: "This is my first oral questions session as Welsh Secretary". She managed to slip in a dig at the Conservative too. "I congratulate and welcome all Members elected to represent Welsh constituencies, particularly the 84% of those members who sit on the Labour benches."

Joining her on the front bench was Nia Griffiths and Anna McMorrin, junior minister, the new Clwyd East MP Becky Gittins behind.

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Welsh Questions is rarely the biggest ticket item on the agenda paper, but it does benefit from a boost in that it precedes Prime Minister's Questions. The Labour benches were fuller than has historically been the case, but those keen to grab a seat for that made sure they were there early. Any remaining green of the empty benches fully disappeared, as MPs came in to see Sir Keir Starmer, it was in fact, his arrival that prompted the largest cheer of the session.

Lots was said by Labour about "change" in the build-up to their electoral romp in July, and yet today at Welsh Questions, minus the change in personnel, it was business as usual because while the administration in London may have changed the issues in Wales haven't.

The topics were trains, broadband and health. Despite the one woman attempt via Conservative Virginia Crosbie to talk about Wylfa in every session of the last parliament, Llinos Medi, Plaid's new MP for the island got it on the agenda too, asking Jo Stevens for a concrete plan.

Universities, HS2, broadband - the evergreen list of demands and wishes from Wales was spelt out again for the benefit of Hansard.

Despite almost everyone knowing a statement on Tata was imminent, there were also questions about that, from MPs representing the places impacted and beyond. Labour voices only too happy to promote that they'd been the ones to sign the deal.

All in all, Labour has settled into its rhythm within just a few weeks. Announcements are coming, policy being announced and parliamentarians learning the best place to get their lunch. The election result wasn't a surprise, Jo Stevens' appointment wasn't either, and that showed in her performance.

Now an established parliamentarian, Jo Stevens was calm, professional and friendly to those of all colours who rose to ask her a question. The combative attack lines of the days pre-July had gone. Even when the speaker pointed out one she had failed to follow one of the many procedural quirks of the Commons, she apologised, and quickly regrouped.

Instead of in months gone by where she has had to talk about life in the shadow cabinet and the complaints about a lack of access to ministers, today the secretary of state could drop into conversation the meetings she's had with her cabinet colleagues about things like transport. "Last week I met the transport secretary," came out more than once.

Such was the decimation of the Tories at the general election in July, there is not one Tory MP left. In fact, they had to turn to the House of Lords to find someone to be shadow secretary of state. Byron Davies did not, as far as I could see, take up the option of a seat on the designated bench for Lords in the Commons to watch proceedings. Jo Stevens did not rise to the dig from Jerome Mayhew, the Conservative MP for Broadland and Fakenham, about why Keir Starmer stopped calling Wales his "blueprint".

Swansea West MP Torsten Bell won the prize for trotting out the most commonly uttered line between the two administrations currently about "working together". But there's a serious message behind all this. Labour has spoken about change, while glossing over the fact that in Wales, the status quo is Labour. Now, that pledge its new Swansea MP brought up has to work. Because the issues haven't changed. Wales needs more money to deliver on transport, on broadband. Depending on which stats you look at, health in Wales is no better than in England.

Wales' First Minister Eluned Morgan has said she has made it clear to Keir Starmer that things need to change, or it will be on her head that Labour is wiped out for the first time in 25 years in Wales. The blame game about the Tories may work now, but it won't last not with such a long to do list.