Siambr · Iain McIntosh
Written questions
65 written questions on record from the Seventh Senedd on, newest first. Page 1 of 2.
WQ100937 · Tabled · No answer published
What consideration did the Government give to the findings of its January 2025 evaluation that some alcohol-dependent individuals prioritised purchasing alcohol over food and essential bills before deciding to increase the minimum unit price of alcohol to 65p, and what safeguards are in place to prevent the increase from worsening financial hardship?
To be answered by: Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
WQ100936 · Tabled · No answer published
Further to WQ100802, will the Cabinet Minister specify the clinical indicators, baseline data, evaluation methodology and publication timetable that will be used to measure whether increasing minimum unit pricing to 65p reduces alcohol dependence, as distinct from changes in purchasing behaviour or modelled consumption?
To be answered by: Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
WQ100802 · Tabled · Answered
What measurable evidence will the Welsh Government use to determine whether increasing minimum unit pricing from 50 pence to 65 pence has reduced alcohol dependence, rather than only reducing alcohol purchasing or modelled harmful consumption?
Answered by Deputy Minister for Public and Preventative Health
Minimum Unit Pricing for alcohol was introduced with the aim of making an important contribution towards tackling the health risks associated with excessive alcohol consumption by reducing the availability of cheap, high-strength alcohol among hazardous and harmful drinkers. The policy has been successful in reducing these harms as highlighted by the independent evaluation of the legislation noting that the availability of very cheap, high-strength alcohol has reduced.
The intended effect of this legislation was and continues to be to tackle alcohol-related harm, including alcohol-attributable hospital admissions and alcohol-specific deaths in Wales, by reducing alcohol consumption in hazardous and harmful drinkers. However, it is just one of a multitude of health policies implemented to help tackle inequality and improve health outcomes.
The latest ONS data shows there were 538 alcohol-specific deaths in Wales registered in 2024, a decrease of 24 deaths since 2023 (4%). This is a positive step in the right direction and is something we will be monitoring closely in the future.
The Health and Social Care Committee as part of its report on the implementation of MUP in June 2025, recognised its preventative potential in reducing the likelihood of future alcohol dependency. The committee reported that the independent evaluation of minimum unit pricing, published in January 2025, provided reassurance any further price increase would require ongoing monitoring and a more robust and comprehensive evaluation after any price increase.
The Sheffield Addictions Research Group (SARG), University of Sheffield were commissioned to provide modelling work setting out updated evidence for Wales about the likely impacts of continuing with minimum unit pricing beyond 2026. Over a 20 year period, the increase is estimated to prevent 902 all cause deaths and 628 alcohol specific deaths in Wales. As Minimum Unit Pricing is targeted mainly at hazardous and harmful drinkers, over the same time period, it is estimated to reduce hazardous drinkers by approximately 6,363 and harmful drinkers by approximately 4,906.
Any future evaluation of MUP will consider key outcomes such as alcohol-related hospital admissions, deaths and impacts on dependent drinkers, providing a stronger evidence base for assessing the effectiveness of the policy beyond changes in purchasing behaviour alone.
We will continue our efforts to support dependent drinkers through the support we provide to our Area Planning Boards (APBs), who commission Substance Misuse Services.
WQ100704 · Tabled · Answered
What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the value for money for taxpayers and learners of the £19.6 million spent on supply staff over a four-year period in Powys, including £12.5 million through agencies?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
There will always be a need for a flexible and skilled supply workforce to support and maintain continuity of learning in our schools. Under the regulatory framework and local management of schools’ arrangements, it is for schools to decide what cover they need and how it is sourced. Where schools use supply agencies, this is supported by a National Supply Agency Framework agreement which requires fixed and transparent agency fees, supporting schools to achieve value for money. It is for schools in Powys, working with the local authority, to assess the value for money of their spend on supply staff.
WQ100664 · Tabled · Answered
What action will the Welsh Government take to address any inequalities in the business rates system and prevent more long-established small businesses from being forced to close in the future, following the announced closures of the long-established Bonmarché Haberdashery and J and J Interiors businesses in Llandrindod Wells?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Finance
The Welsh Government is delivering our commitment to rebalance the non-domestic rates system to better support high street businesses in hospitality, leisure and retail, as set out in my oral statement on 15 September. In addition, over half of properties in the tax-base will continue to attract Small Business Rates Relief on a permanent basis.
WQ100507 · Tabled · Answered
Will the Cabinet Minister explain why the Welsh Government believes UK tourists, visitors and workers staying overnight in Wales should pay an additional visitor levy towards local services when they already contribute to funding public services through existing UK and Welsh taxation?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Finance
The visitor levy empowers local authorities to raise additional funding from overnight stays in their area if they decide it is appropriate to do so. Where used, the revenues must be invested back into the area, supporting and improving the local tourism offer.
WQ100298 · Tabled · Answered
Will the Cabinet Minister set out what processes, accessibility assessments and equality impact considerations the Welsh Government applies when designing bilingual external communications to ensure that neither language presentation, document layout nor publication format disadvantages non-Welsh speakers or people with disabilities?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Government Effectiveness & the Constitution
The Welsh Government considers all relevant equality and accessibility standards in designing bilingual external communications. These considerations include fonts, colour contrast, document layout and formats. We also ensure that the Welsh language is treated no less favourably than English in line with the Welsh Language standards. These processes are built into our development of channels, content and documents on an ongoing basis.
WQ100311 · Tabled · Answered
Will the Welsh Government confirm whether it considers itself a “supporter” of Nation.Cymru, as stated on the publication’s website, and provide a breakdown of all public funding or other financial support Nation.Cymru has received, directly and indirectly, including through the Books Council of Wales, in each year since its establishment?
Answered by Trefnydd, Chief Whip and Cabinet Minister for Culture and Sport
The previous Welsh Government administration supported Nation.Cymru with a grant of £50,000 from the Creative Wales Public Interest Journalism Fund in 2025-26. No further direct funding has been awarded to Nation.Cymru in this financial year.
Indirect funding totalling £25,650 has been awarded through the arm’s length Journalism Fund administered by PING! CIC and the Books Council of Wales (BCW).
Nation.Cymru received £25,000 from the BCW’s English language publications – support for magazines programme in 2025. In March 2026, additional support was also provided to the BCW to distribute to publishers across Wales to improve digital infrastructure; details of recipient publishers reside with the BCW. Information on funding awarded to Nation.Cymru from the BCW prior to this is publicly available in its annual reports, published on the BCW website.
This Government is committed to building on existing public support for journalism to protect high-quality news provision across Wales.
WQ100299 · Tabled · Answered
Will the Cabinet Minister publish any criteria, guidance or approved procurement frameworks used in the selection of books for schools receiving support under the primary school library rollout programme?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
The Curriculum for Wales guidance states all learners should benefit from access to a wealth of literature which is rich and substantial and engages learners intellectually and emotionally. It should also include a range of contemporary literature and literature from different periods in the past. This allows them to encounter a wide range of authors, experiences and viewpoints and helps them develop empathy, critical thinking and a lifelong enjoyment of reading.
The Welsh Government has committed to ensuring that every primary school in Wales has a library space by 2030, giving children access to a dedicated environment for reading in both Welsh and English. To understand the level of investment required to deliver this commitment, officials will be working with local authorities over the coming months to assess existing provision and ensure that every primary school in Wales receives the right level of support for this commitment.
To be clear, Education is devolved. The Welsh Government’s commitment reflects the priorities of Curriculum for Wales and the needs of learners in Wales and is separate from the primary school libraries programme being delivered by the National Literacy Trust in England.
WQ100275 · Tabled · Answered
What action is the Welsh Government taking to increase the supply and availability of bluetongue vaccines, and to increase laboratory and diagnostic capacity to ensure suspected cases can be confirmed as quickly as possible during the current outbreak?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability
The Welsh Government is part of the GB Bluetongue Vaccine Taskforce and is working closely with industry, vaccine manufacturers and wholesalers to monitor Bluetongue vaccine availability and support continuity of supply.
The Pirbright Institute is the National Reference Laboratory for Bluetongue diagnosis. As its capacity is being stretched by the current outbreak, additional surge testing is being undertaken at the APHA laboratory in Weybridge.
WQ100229 · Tabled · Answered
What assessment has the Cabinet Minister made of the impact of Welsh Government agricultural and environmental policies on grazing levels, vegetation management and the maintenance of firebreaks on uplands in light of recent wildfires, and what consideration has been given to reviewing these policies?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability
Recent wildfires have highlighted the importance of effective land management in building resilience to wildfire risk across Wales' uplands. This includes the potential for appropriate grazing to help reduce the accumulation of combustible vegetation and therefore lower wildfire risk. The maintenance of vegetation through active land management can also support the effectiveness of natural and managed firebreaks.
Welsh Government agricultural and environmental policies are designed to support the sustainable management of land while balancing a range of objectives, including biodiversity enhancement, climate resilience and food production. We continue to engage with farmers, land managers and other stakeholders to understand how these policies operate in practice and how they can best support the management of wildfire risk in the future.
The First Minister will convene a wildfire summit later this year to consider the actions needed to reduce wildfire risk in the short, medium and long term. This will include the role that appropriate land management in the uplands should play and will include lessons learned from the recent wildfires.
WQ100097 · Tabled · Answered
What plans does the Welsh Government have to implement the standards of care and service delivery outlined in the quality statement for neurological conditions?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
The Welsh Government’s aim is to ensure that people of all ages living with or affected by a neurological condition, have timely and equitable access to high-quality services to enable them to live their best lives. We set out our aims in the Quality Statement for neurological conditions.
Health boards and NHS trusts are expected to use Quality Statements to underpin the planning and delivery of high-quality services in line with clinical standards and guidelines, including from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).
Health boards and trusts are supported nationally by NHS Wales Performance and Improvement to implement these standards across care pathways.
WQ100096 · Tabled · Answered
What representations has the Welsh Government made to NHS Wales Performance and Improvement to ensure all people with Huntington’s disease are able to access mental health services?
Answered by Deputy Minister for Social Care, Mental Health and Women’s Health
Substantive response
WQ99952 · Tabled · Answered
What immediate action is the Welsh Government taking to ensure self-catering accommodation businesses affected by recent wildfires are not unfairly disadvantaged by the 182-day occupancy threshold for non-domestic rates, and will exceptional circumstances will be reflected in the ongoing review of the threshold?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Finance
The criteria used to classify self-catering properties for local tax purposes are prescribed in legislation. Refinements to the application of the 182-day letting threshold were confirmed and introduced by the previous Welsh Government earlier this year. An average of the days let over the past two of three years may now be taken as evidence of compliance, where 182 days letting is not achieved in the latest year. This provides flexibility for operators and supports stability for those who may occasionally fall short by a narrow margin (e.g. due to a temporary drop in demand resulting from circumstances beyond their control).
I have also published a statement and consultation on our approach to reviewing the 182-day threshold and proposed exemptions.
WQ99768 · Tabled · Answered
What representations has the Welsh Government made to the UK Government and the Infected Blood Compensation Authority regarding delays in compensation payments to infected blood victims and their families, and what action is being taken to help accelerate the process?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
I am aware of concerns raised regarding delays in the compensation process and aspects of claim administration and I recently wrote to the then Minister for the Cabinet Office, Nick Thomas-Symonds to raise these matters. We understand the frustration of those who have already waited decades for recognition and redress. Where concerns are raised with us, they are shared with the UK Government, including IBCA, at officials’ regular meetings to ensure that claimants’ experiences inform the continuing development of the scheme.
I, along with officials, have also met with Haemophilia Wales, where I was able to discuss first hand the issues that those infected and their families are facing as a result of these delays.
You will also be aware of the written statement I issued to members on the 16 July detailing action taken on this matter.
WQ99633 · Tabled · Answered
What consideration has the Cabinet Minister given to introducing measures equivalent to England's new "Benedict's Law" allergy guidance for schools, including whole-school allergy policies, staff allergy awareness training, individual healthcare plans for pupils with allergies, and emergency spare adrenaline auto injectors?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
The Welsh Government is aware of developments in England regarding ‘Benedict’s Law’ and is currently reviewing relevant statutory and supplementary guidance, including guidance on the use of emergency adrenaline auto-injectors in maintained schools. We will consider Benedict’s Law, alongside wider developments across the UK, to inform future policy in Wales.
In the meantime, Welsh Government sets out clear expectations for maintained schools and local authorities through its statutory guidance, supporting learners with healthcare needs in schools statutory guidance.
We have also published specific guidance for schools on the use of emergency adrenaline auto-injectors to treat anaphylaxis, supporting schools to respond effectively to allergic reactions and help keep learners safe.
WQ99481 · Tabled · Answered
What is the Welsh Government's policy on whether people should be able to fly Union flags in Wales, and what action is the Welsh Government taking to prevent their removal by pro-independence campaigners?
Answered by First Minister
Freedom of expression is protected under the Human Rights Act, as is the right to peaceful protest. Any flag flying must be compliant with the law as should the actions of those who chose to protest against them.
WQ99531 · Tabled · Answered
Further to WQ98670 and WQ99319, given that the Welsh Government considers an impartial media industry to be essential, but does not assess the impartiality of media organisations receiving public funding, what safeguards are in place to ensure public money is not being provided to organisations displaying political bias?
Answered by Trefnydd, Chief Whip and Cabinet Minister for Culture and Sport
A politically impartial media is critical to a functioning democracy, but in ensuring impartiality, it is not for the Welsh Government to determine what constitutes deviation from political neutrality by a media organisation or assess their impartiality.
Whilst we expect all media outlets in receipt of Welsh Government funds to adhere to this principle, formal concerns and safeguarding against any perceived bias of output by member print and online newspapers are handled by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO).
WQ99530 · Tabled · Answered
What is the Welsh Government's policy on the use of 'Cymru' rather than 'Wales' as the English-language name of the country?
Answered by First Minister
The Welsh Government’s view is that anyone has the right to use ‘Cymru’ or ‘Wales’ for our country.
WQ99347 · Tabled · Answered
Will the Cabinet Minister confirm whether the Welsh Government intends to review the local government funding formula to better reflect the additional costs of service delivery in large, rural counties such as Powys?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Finance
The Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing, and Planning is taking forward a review of the local government funding formula, in partnership with local government.
This involves reviewing indicators of relative need, including those based on population sparsity, to ensure the formula continues to reflect the differing costs of delivering services across all parts of Wales.
WQ99319 · Tabled · Answered
Further to WQ98670, what assessment has the Cabinet Secretary made of the impartiality of Nation.Cymru?
Answered by Trefnydd, Chief Whip and Cabinet Minister for Culture and Sport
It is not for the Welsh Government to assess the impartiality of, or determine what constitutes political neutrality by, a media organisation. I reiterate the Welsh Government’s position as set out in WQ98670.
WQ99286 · Tabled · Answered
Will the Cabinet Minister confirm whether the Visitor Accommodation (Register and Levy) (Wales) Act 2025 requires the visitor levy to be charged for babies and infants staying in visitor accommodation, and what assessment has been made of the possible impact this will have on family tourism in Wales?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Finance
In areas that choose to use a levy, there will be no liability incurred for visitor accommodation providers for those individuals under the age of 18 staying overnight in tents at campsites, hostels, or other shared accommodation. All persons are included in the chargeable rate for all other visitor accommodation types. This approach keeps the levy below the average rates charged across Europe and ensures fairness for those accessing visitor accommodation at a lower price point.
Like other indirect taxes on providers, visitors are not liable to pay the visitor levy, it is the visitor accommodation provider who is liable. Visitor accommodation providers may choose to pass this cost on to visitors but are not compelled to do so. Where providers pass the costs on to visitors, the costs will be incurred by the visitor who is paying for the accommodation.
WQ99148 · Tabled · Answered
Will the Cabinet Minister confirm what proportion of the Barnett consequentials arising from additional SEND funding in England will be allocated directly to schools and local authorities for additional learning needs provision in Wales?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Finance
Funding arising from changes to UK Government spending in England is applied to the Welsh block grant as a whole and forms part of the overall resources available to the Welsh Government. As such, it is not possible to identify a direct or proportionate allocation of specific Barnett consequentials, including those arising from additional SEND funding in England, to individual programmes, local authorities or schools in Wales.
It is an important principle of devolution that consequential funding is not ring-fenced for similar purposes in devolved governments but is used where it can have the greatest impact, taking into account the specific circumstances, pressures and priorities in Wales. These decisions are taken through the Welsh Government’s annual budget process.
Supporting learners with additional learning needs is a priority for this Government. As a Government, we will take action to begin restoring the system’s long-term sustainability after years of severe and sustained pressure.
WQ99145 · Tabled · Answered
Will the Cabinet Minister commit to establishing and routinely publishing a comprehensive diagnostic imaging dataset for NHS Wales, including core modalities such as plain film X-ray, CT, and MRI, in order to support accountability, transparency, and effective workforce capacity and demand planning?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
Published diagnostics services data is available on StatsWales in the Health and social care section, under Performance and waiting times.
WQ99144 · Tabled · Answered
Will the Cabinet Minister respond to the Royal College of Radiologists' 2025 clinical radiology census report that found 100 per cent of radiology department leaders in Wales are concerned about backlogs and delayed treatment due to workforce shortages, and 100 per cent have seen patients' conditions worsen as a result?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
I recognise that workforce capacity across radiology, inclusive of radiologists, is strategically important to the delivery of key policy priorities, including diagnostics, cancer care, stroke services and planned care recovery.
The findings of the Royal College of Radiologists 2025 clinical radiology census report reflect the record of the previous Welsh Government with respect to the workforce. The new Welsh Government is responding by committing to the development of a new national workforce strategy for the NHS, the first iteration of which will be published in the autumn and will include a specific focus on addressing staff shortages and strengthening retention.
WQ99143 · Tabled · Answered
What assessment has the Cabinet Minister made of the impact on Welsh Government policies of a 27 per cent workforce shortfall of interventional radiologists across Wales, as highlighted by the Royal College of Radiologists' 2025 clinical radiology census report?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
I recognise that workforce capacity across radiology, inclusive of radiologists, is strategically important to the delivery of key policy priorities, including diagnostics, cancer care, stroke services and planned care recovery.
The findings of the Royal College of Radiologists 2025 clinical radiology census report reflect the record of the previous Welsh Government with respect to the workforce. The new Welsh Government is responding by committing to the development of a new national workforce strategy for the NHS, the first iteration of which will be published in the autumn and will include a specific focus on addressing staff shortages and strengthening retention.
WQ99035 · Tabled · Answered
Will the Cabinet Minister confirm how the Welsh Government recognises the work of Coeliac UK in developing its policy and guidance on coeliac disease?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
The Welsh Government expects NHS Wales organisations to take account of relevant national and international clinical guidelines, including those produced by the British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG), when developing and delivering services.
Implementation of BSG guidance is undertaken at a local level through health boards, which are responsible for ensuring that clinical practice is informed by the best available evidence and aligned with national priorities. This includes embedding guidance within clinical pathways, service specifications, and quality improvement programmes.
At a national level monitoring and support is provided through NHS Wales Performance and Improvement, national clinical networks, and value-based healthcare approaches, which promote consistency, reduce unwarranted variation, and ensure patients receive high-quality, evidence-based care across Wales.
There are no plans to develop a specific pathway for coeliac disease at this time, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) have clinical guidelines on best practice in the recognition and assessment of coeliac disease and in the care of children and adults who are undergoing the diagnostic process for coeliac disease. I expect all health boards to take full account of NICE guidance in the planning and delivery of these services across Wales.
Welsh Government recognises and values the important contribution of third sector organisations, including Coeliac UK, in supporting people living with coeliac disease and informing policy development.
Coeliac UK provides evidence-based resources, professional education, and patient support services which are widely used across NHS Wales. Their expertise is also considered through stakeholder engagement processes, including consultations and collaborative work with clinicians and health boards.
We will continue to engage with Coeliac UK and other partners to ensure that policy and guidance in Wales reflects the needs of patients and is informed by the latest evidence and best practice.
WQ99034 · Tabled · Answered
Will the Cabinet Minster commit to developing a unified clinical pathway for coeliac disease, with more than 22,000 people across Wales at risk of health complications as a result of undiagnosed coeliac disease?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
The Welsh Government expects NHS Wales organisations to take account of relevant national and international clinical guidelines, including those produced by the British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG), when developing and delivering services.
Implementation of BSG guidance is undertaken at a local level through health boards, which are responsible for ensuring that clinical practice is informed by the best available evidence and aligned with national priorities. This includes embedding guidance within clinical pathways, service specifications, and quality improvement programmes.
At a national level monitoring and support is provided through NHS Wales Performance and Improvement, national clinical networks, and value-based healthcare approaches, which promote consistency, reduce unwarranted variation, and ensure patients receive high-quality, evidence-based care across Wales.
There are no plans to develop a specific pathway for coeliac disease at this time, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) have clinical guidelines on best practice in the recognition and assessment of coeliac disease and in the care of children and adults who are undergoing the diagnostic process for coeliac disease. I expect all health boards to take full account of NICE guidance in the planning and delivery of these services across Wales.
Welsh Government recognises and values the important contribution of third sector organisations, including Coeliac UK, in supporting people living with coeliac disease and informing policy development.
Coeliac UK provides evidence-based resources, professional education, and patient support services which are widely used across NHS Wales. Their expertise is also considered through stakeholder engagement processes, including consultations and collaborative work with clinicians and health boards.
We will continue to engage with Coeliac UK and other partners to ensure that policy and guidance in Wales reflects the needs of patients and is informed by the latest evidence and best practice.
WQ99033 · Tabled · Answered
Will the Cabinet Minister outline how all British Society of Gastroenterology guidelines will be implemented and incorporated into clinical practice across Wales?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
The Welsh Government expects NHS Wales organisations to take account of relevant national and international clinical guidelines, including those produced by the British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG), when developing and delivering services.
Implementation of BSG guidance is undertaken at a local level through health boards, which are responsible for ensuring that clinical practice is informed by the best available evidence and aligned with national priorities. This includes embedding guidance within clinical pathways, service specifications, and quality improvement programmes.
At a national level monitoring and support is provided through NHS Wales Performance and Improvement, national clinical networks, and value-based healthcare approaches, which promote consistency, reduce unwarranted variation, and ensure patients receive high-quality, evidence-based care across Wales.
There are no plans to develop a specific pathway for coeliac disease at this time, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) have clinical guidelines on best practice in the recognition and assessment of coeliac disease and in the care of children and adults who are undergoing the diagnostic process for coeliac disease. I expect all health boards to take full account of NICE guidance in the planning and delivery of these services across Wales.
Welsh Government recognises and values the important contribution of third sector organisations, including Coeliac UK, in supporting people living with coeliac disease and informing policy development.
Coeliac UK provides evidence-based resources, professional education, and patient support services which are widely used across NHS Wales. Their expertise is also considered through stakeholder engagement processes, including consultations and collaborative work with clinicians and health boards.
We will continue to engage with Coeliac UK and other partners to ensure that policy and guidance in Wales reflects the needs of patients and is informed by the latest evidence and best practice.
WQ98972 · Tabled · Answered
What assessment has the Cabinet Minister made of how many homes need to be built in Wales by July 2029 for Wales to match the UK Government's target of delivering 1.5 million homes across the UK, and whether the Welsh Government expects to meet that target?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning
Targets set by the UK Government are not a matter for the Welsh Government. The Welsh Government has set a target of 20,000 new social homes by 2030, ensuring that they are of high quality and energy efficient.
WQ98886 · Tabled · Answered
What analysis has the Welsh Government undertaken of local authority spending on supply teacher agencies, and what steps are being taken to reduce reliance on agency staff in schools?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
In our manifesto, we committed to improving the terms and conditions for supply teachers and to working with schools, local authorities and social partners to develop sustainable alternatives to the current agency-led model. While local authorities retain responsibility for employment matters such as staffing, recruitment and pay at a local level under local management of schools’ regulations, the Welsh Government will be taking a more active role in shaping a consistent and sustainable workforce approach across Wales. Officials are working closely with key stakeholders, including through a dedicated sub-group of the Schools Social Partnership Forum, to collaboratively develop options for alternative models.
There is a National Supply Agency Framework agreement to help schools recruit temporary staff, which provides fairer pay and conditions, professional development opportunities and assurances to schools that agencies have met the minimum agreed requirements. We do not currently have the power to mandate the use of the framework. However, our analysis shows that 98% of agency spend in Wales for the provision of temporary workers in an education setting is now through the framework.
The current analysis of spending through the framework is as follows:
Date range
Supply framework total spend
2023-24
Approx £115m
(£114,713,913)
2024-25
Approx
(£136,672,801)
*2025-2026 data will be available from July 2026
WQ98800 · Tabled · Answered
Will the Cabinet Minister confirm whether the proposed NHS Wales primary care pathway for Ehlers-Danlos syndromes and hypermobility spectrum disorders has been completed and, if so, when it will be published for use across Wales?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
I can confirm that a Community Health Pathway for Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes (EDS) and Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders (HSD) has been developed through multidisciplinary collaboration, including clinical experts and patient representation.
All Community Health Pathways must be approved through established national governance arrangements, including with primary care representatives, before publication. This ensures they reflect current practice and are safe, effective, and deliverable across the system. The EDS and HSD pathway is progressing through this process and has not yet secured the clinical agreement required for publication. Work is ongoing with relevant partners to address outstanding issues and support final agreement. I am therefore unable to confirm a publication date at this stage.
WQ98799 · Tabled · Answered
Will the Cabinet Minister confirm whether the Welsh Government, in light of its stated commitment to supporting struggling high streets, will introduce business rates relief in Wales equivalent to that available in England in order to reduce costs for businesses and help prevent further high street decline?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Finance
Our manifesto included a range of specific commitments related to the reform of the non-domestic rates system, including to better support high street businesses. I will set out further details on our proposals in due course.
WQ98744 · Tabled · Answered
Will the Cabinet Minister confirm whether the Welsh Government has a minimum target or recommendation for school size for primary schools?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
The Welsh Government does not set a minimum target or recommendation for school sizes.
The responsibility for the planning of school places rests with local authorities. Local authorities must ensure there are sufficient schools providing primary and secondary education for their area. Schools are regarded as sufficient if they are sufficient in number, character and equipment to provide for all pupils the opportunity of appropriate education.
The School Organisation Code requires proposers to consider a range of factors when making school organisation proposals. These include educational standards, financial sustainability, demand for places and surplus capacity, and accessibility and community impact.
WQ98743 · Tabled · Answered
Will the Cabinet Minister confirm how many primary school closures in Wales are currently planned or proposed?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
From proposals notified to the Welsh Ministers, our records indicate that there are currently 19 planned closures of primary schools across Wales. Of these, 14 schools are proposed to amalgamate resulting in the establishment of 7 new primary schools.
In addition, our records show that a further 11 primary schools are subject to proposals progressing through the statutory process and are yet to be determined. One of these proposals involves the closure of a voluntary school to establish a new community school.
WQ98737 · Tabled · Answered
Will the Cabinet Minister confirm how many people in Wales have accessed food banks during the 2025-26 financial year?
Answered by Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Minister for Social Justice and Equality
Statistics on food bank usage are collected by the National Survey for Wales. These official statistics in development were most recently collected for April 2024 to March 2025. 4% of households in Wales used a foodbank in 2024-25.
WQ98734 · Tabled · Answered
What assessment has the Cabinet Minister made of the impact of rising energy prices on households during the 2025-26 financial year?
Answered by Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Minister for Social Justice and Equality
Substantive response
WQ98720 · Tabled · Answered
Will the Cabinet Minister confirm the total amount spent during the 2025-26 financial year on a) out-of-county and b) out-of-country care placements for Welsh residents?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
Information on the specific individual care publicly funded care or support packages and placements is not held centrally by the Welsh Government.
Local authorities and NHS Wales are responsible for assessing individual care needs and commissioning services accordingly. The cost of care packages varies significantly depending on the complexity of a person’s needs, including in a small number of cases where individuals require highly specialised or intensive support to meet significant and often life‑long needs.
Care provision spans a wide range of settings including domiciliary care, foster care, residential care, supported living arrangements and continuing healthcare. Costs are influenced by factors such as the type of care required, workforce inputs and local provider markets. These differences mean there is no single, comparable national dataset.
Welsh Government does collect and publish aggregate data on social care activity and expenditure. However, local authorities and health boards are not required to report individual care packages and so the information requested is not available in the format described.
WQ98718 · Tabled · Answered
Will the Cabinet Minister confirm the highest daily taxpayer funded care package cost paid for an individual in Wales during the 2025-26 financial year?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
Information on the specific individual care publicly funded care or support packages and placements is not held centrally by the Welsh Government.
Local authorities and NHS Wales are responsible for assessing individual care needs and commissioning services accordingly. The cost of care packages varies significantly depending on the complexity of a person’s needs, including in a small number of cases where individuals require highly specialised or intensive support to meet significant and often life‑long needs.
Care provision spans a wide range of settings including domiciliary care, foster care, residential care, supported living arrangements and continuing healthcare. Costs are influenced by factors such as the type of care required, workforce inputs and local provider markets. These differences mean there is no single, comparable national dataset.
Welsh Government does collect and publish aggregate data on social care activity and expenditure. However, local authorities and health boards are not required to report individual care packages and so the information requested is not available in the format described.
WQ98712 · Tabled · Answered
Will the Cabinet Minister confirm how many primary schools in Wales have closed since devolution?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
733 primary schools have closed since devolution, with 495 of these being part of an amalgamation with another school.
WQ98740 · Tabled · Answered
Will the Cabinet Minister confirm how many households in Wales are currently in rent arrears with social landlords?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning
The Welsh Government collects data on the number of households in Wales that are currently in rent arrears with social landlords. Please refer to this publicly available data source (for up to date and historic arrears levels for all social housing stock): Tenancies in arrears by local authority area, provider and duration | StatsWales
Welsh Government's Social Housing Regulator provides regular survey updates on tenant arrears for Registered Social Landlords only. That information is published here: Registered Social Landlord Quarterly Regulation Survey
WQ98739 · Tabled · Answered
What discussions has the Welsh Government had with supermarkets regarding food price inflation?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy
The Welsh Government engages with major food retailers through regular roundtables and structured meetings to advise and engage across the food chain. We also engage with UK Government, Devolved Administrations and representative bodies such as the Wales Retail Consortium, the Food and Drink Federation Cymru and key stakeholders.
Discussions have highlighted rising costs across the supply chain, including labour, energy and logistics, as a key driver of food price inflation. They have also covered global supply disruption, impacts on availability and the effects on household affordability.
WQ98738 · Tabled · Answered
What assessment has the Cabinet Minister made of the impact of council tax increases on households since May 2022?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Finance
The setting of local budgets and council tax levels every year is a matter for local councils and their elected members. Published information on council tax levels can be found at: Council tax levels by billing authority and band | Statswales
WQ98736 · Tabled · Answered
Will the Cabinet Minister confirm what measures the Welsh Government will introduce to reduce the financial burden on working households?
Answered by Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Minister for Social Justice and Equality
Substantive response
WQ98735 · Tabled · Answered
Will the Cabinet Minister confirm how many pensioners are currently eligible for means tested financial support towards energy costs?
Answered by Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Minister for Social Justice and Equality
The UK Government provides means tested financial support for the cost of electricity and gas through the annual Warm Homes Discount. Statistical information on this can be found at Warm Home Discount statistics, 2024 to 2025 - GOV.UK and policy questions on the scheme should be directed to the UK Government’s Minister for Energy Consumers.
The Welsh Government is providing £200 of financial support through the Off Grid Heating Fuel Support Scheme, which is available to pensioners who are eligible for the Council Tax Reduction Scheme and rely on heating oil or LPG. We estimate a total of approximately 20,000 – 25,000 households may be eligible including pensioners in receipt of pension credit.
Wider support for pensioners in Wales on means tested benefits or low incomes is available through our Warm Homes Nest scheme. Nest can provide eligible households with fully funded packages of energy‑efficiency and low‑carbon to help lower energy bills and improve thermal comfort.
WQ98733 · Tabled · Answered
What assessment has the Cabinet Minister made of the economic impact of poor broadband and mobile connectivity on rural businesses?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy
I appreciate the economic impact of poor broadband and mobile connectivity on rural businesses. Digital connectivity, including mobile and broadband, is essential to modern society and the economy of Wales, allowing businesses to reach customers, adopt digital technologies and compete effectively in domestic and global markets.
Several publications have looked at the economic impact of broadband and mobile connectivity. The National Infrastructure for Wales’s “Wales Infrastructure Assessment 2026 Digital and Communications” states that “digital connectivity is of critical importance to the rural communities of Wales” and that “in rural areas, digital connectivity can enable remote working and provide rural businesses with an important route to market.” The assessment further states that “Digital solutions can contribute enormously to the economy and prosperity of Wales (c£10Bn to 2030 based on estimates from Vodafone and Openreach).”
WQ98732 · Tabled · Answered
How much Welsh Government funding has been spent each financial year since 2021 to improve broadband and mobile connectivity in rural Wales?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy
The following Welsh Government funding has been spent each financial year since 2021 to improve broadband and mobile connectivity in Wales. This information is not recorded by rurality.
2021/22 - £22,932,954 – (This includes £12 million from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport as part of the Local Full Fibre Network programme.)
2022/23 - £22,272,033
2023/24 - £1,239,258
2024/25 - £8,540,873
2025/26 - £4,520,206
WQ98731 · Tabled · Answered
What assessment has the Cabinet Minister made of the economic impact of the Welsh Government's environmental policies on family farms?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability
Impact assessments have informed the development of Welsh Government environmental policies, including their potential economic impact on farms. We will continue to build on this evidence base, working closely with stakeholders. This includes taking forward our manifesto commitment to review the cumulative bureaucratic burden on farming businesses.
WQ98730 · Tabled · Answered
What percentage of rural properties are still unable to access reliable mobile phone coverage from any of the four major networks, and what measures are in place to achieve 100 per cent coverage throughout Wales?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy
According to the latest data from Ofcom in its Connected Nations Update Spring 2026, 4G coverage in rural Wales from at least one mobile network operator is at 100 per cent for premises(outdoor) and 97 per cent for premises(indoor).
Telecommunications is not a devolved matter and responsibility for improving mobile phone connectivity in Wales rests with the UK Government. Officials have engaged with the UK Government on the Shared Rural Network (SRN) programme and established a joint working group to support the delivery of the programme in Wales. Through the SRN programme the Mobile Network Operators are required to meet binding coverage obligations.
WQ98729 · Tabled · Answered
How many properties in Wales remain unable to access broadband speeds above 30Mbps, and what measures are in place to provide improved internet connectivity solutions?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy
According to the latest data from Ofcom in its Connected Nations Update Spring 2026, 4% of premises in Wales remain unable to access broadband speeds above 30Mbps.
A 2022 review undertaken by the Welsh Government identified around 84,000 premises that could not access superfast download speeds (at least 30Mbps), and that are not in any plans to be addressed commercially. The number of premises has likely reduced as consequence of commercial public funded deployments, and we currently estimate that the number of premises is now in the region of 25,000-30,000.
Responsibility for improving broadband connectivity in Wales where the market does not reach, rests with the UK Government.
Official verbatim record: each question and answer as the Record prints it. Answers are signed with a job title, as published.