Siambr · Llŷr Powell
Written questions
49 written questions on record from the Seventh Senedd on, newest first. Page 1 of 1.
WQ100235 · Tabled · Answered
How is the Welsh Government providing updates to local communities regarding wildfires in Blaenau Gwent Caerffili Rhymni?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning
The primary responsibility for public communication during emergencies lies with local authorities, emergency responders and other agencies such as Public Health Wales. During major incidents, including the recent wildfires, the Welsh Government plays a co-ordinating role in this activity to ensure consistency of national messaging.
WQ100234 · Tabled · Answered
What financial support will the Welsh Government make available to those impacted by wildfires in Blaenau Gwent Caerffili Rhymni?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Finance
The Welsh Government is working with local authorities and other partners to understand the impacts of the recent wildfires on communities across Wales, including those in Blaenau Gwent Caerffili Rhymni.
Local authorities may be able to seek support through the Emergency Financial Assistance Scheme (Bellwin) in respect of exceptional costs arising from an emergency. Officials are in contact with local authorities to understand whether authorities wish to submit claims under the scheme.
Individuals experiencing severe financial hardship as a result of a crisis situation may also be eligible for support through the Welsh Government's Discretionary Assistance Fund, including Emergency Assistance Payments to help meet essential costs.
WQ100233 · Tabled · Answered
What action is the Welsh Government taking to tackle wildfires in Blaenau Gwent Caerffili Rhymni?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning
Operational response to wildfires is a matter for the Fire and Rescue Services, who are best placed to determine the tactics, resources and specialist capabilities required to protect communities and bring incidents under control.
In response to the recent spate of wildfires across its area, South Wales Fire and Rescue Service identified a need for additional support. This included Welsh Government-funded Army personnel assisting ground-based operations by cutting firebreaks to contain fires and prevent further spread. There was also support from other UK fire and rescue services through established mutual aid arrangements, all of which has been highly effective.
WQ100066 · Tabled · Answered
How many Welsh Government policies introduced since 2021 have not been subject to a published impact assessment?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Government Effectiveness & the Constitution
The information you requested is not held centrally by the Welsh Government.
WQ100065 · Tabled · Answered
How many arms-length bodies receive Welsh Government funding and what is the annual cost of maintaining them?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Finance
The list of current arm’s length bodies is available on gov.wales at https://www.gov.wales/register-devolved-public-bodies: this also includes local authorities and NHS bodies. The Welsh Government awards funding to arm’s length bodies and statutory office holders to deliver against ministerial commitments, including support for running costs as necessary, as shown in the budget documents also on gov.wales at https://www.gov.wales/welsh-government-budgets.
WQ100064 · Tabled · Answered
How much has each health board spent on agency staff in each of the last five years?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
The annual agency cost spend for each of the 7 Health Boards is publicly available in note 9.1 of the LHB Annual Report and Accounts, for the financial years between 2021-22 and 2025-26.
WQ100063 · Tabled · Answered
What was the total cost of delayed hospital discharges to NHS Wales in the last financial year?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
We do not currently hold a defined estimate of the total costs of delayed hospital discharges. While NHS bed-day costs are occasionally cited as a possible estimated cost of discharge delays, these estimates vary considerably and include a wide range of direct and indirect costs, making them unsuitable for providing a robust estimate of the total cost of discharge delays.
Additionally, these estimates would likely be fully absorbed, including an element of all overhead and indirect costs relevant to Inpatient services, as well as direct costs from the cost of senior staff down to consumables and direct staffing. This could be via services that support patient assessment and transitional arrangements such as residential assessment and reablement discharge beds or ‘hotel’ services. As such, these could be an indicator of resource use, but a poorer indicator of total costs or any potential cost savings.
Regardless of the precise cost, addressing delayed hospital discharges through our ambitious National Care Service programme to strengthen the social care sector is a key priority for this Government, and we will be setting out further details of this work in the autumn.
WQ100062 · Tabled · Answered
What discussions has the Cabinet Minister had with TfW regarding overcrowding on commuter routes, including services operating above advised capacity?
Answered by Deputy Minister for Transport
The Welsh Government and Transport for Wales are delivering a substantial programme of fleet renewal and network enhancement across the Wales and Borders rail network. Since 2023, more than 90 new trains have entered service, with further vehicles due to be introduced over the coming year. Once all the new trains have been delivered, TfW will have 485 carriages available compared to the 270 inherited from Arriva Trains Wales.
This includes the introduction of additional Class 197 trains on the Cambrian Line and 36 new tram-trains for the South Wales Metro. These investments will enable longer trains on key routes, increase capacity at the busiest times, and support more frequent services across the network.
The introduction of tram-trains onto the Treherbert, Aberdare and Merthyr routes over the next year will increase capacity on these routes and allow longer modern trains with level boarding to be moved to the Rhymney, Ebbw Vale and Cheltenham services. These changes will see the capacity virtually doubled on the 15.40 Bridgend to Rhymney train, which was recently listed by DfT as one of the ten most overcrowded trains in the UK in 2025.
Alongside these fleet improvements, TfW is continuing to explore further opportunities to increase capacity where demand is greatest. Our investment is delivering more modern, reliable and accessible trains, improving passenger comfort and helping to meet growing demand for rail travel across Wales.
WQ100061 · Tabled · Answered
Will the Welsh Government publish a map of inclusive playground provision and ensure that every local authority area has at least one fully accessible playground?
Answered by Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Minister for Social Justice and Equality
Local authorities are responsible for assessing and, as far as reasonably practicable, securing sufficient play opportunities in their areas under the Children and Families (Wales) Measure 2010. The Welsh Government has no current plans to publish a national map of inclusive playground provision, however local authorities’ assessments must take account of inclusive and accessible playgrounds, play areas and other play spaces, in line with the most recent statutory guidance, Wales – a Play Friendly Country.
WQ99565 · Tabled · Answered
What consideration has the Cabinet Minister given to the findings of Williams Commission in 2014 regarding reducing the number of local authorities in Wales?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning
Reorganisation of the principal local authorities is not a priority for this government. Our priority is working with councils within existing structures to support and enable them to find their own and shared solutions to support long-term sustainability, collaboration and effective service delivery to ensure they are in the strongest position possible to provide the services on which we all depend. This includes ongoing discussions about regional arrangements and how they can best support local, regional and national priorities.
WQ98801 · Tabled · Answered
What assessment has the Cabinet Minister made of the long-term financial sustainability of the Welsh Government's current housing policy?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning
We keep the long-term financial sustainability of housing policy under regular review through budget setting processes, spending reviews, and the assessment of housing need and market conditions. Current investment plans are designed to balance the delivery of social housing, homelessness prevention and housing quality and decarbonisation improvements. Our manifesto set out an ambitious programme that I am committed to working in partnership with local authorities, RSLs, the third sector, community groups and other homebuilders to deliver. I am working with my Cabinet colleagues to deliver a budget that will support our key priorities.
WQ98691 · Tabled · No answer published
What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the impact of its second home policies on tourism economies in rural Wales?
To be answered by: Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning
WQ98690 · Tabled · Answered
What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the reasons for falling literacy and numeracy standards in Welsh schools?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
We consider a wide range of relevant evidence, research and evaluation as well as quantitative data to assess literacy and numeracy standards in Wales. Improving standards remains an urgent challenge facing our education system.
Our new Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Plan, rooted in evidence and international best practice, will be published in September. It will introduce a clear approach to national, school and individual targets for learners, to support improvement and to ensure we can monitor progress nationally.
WQ99411 · Tabled · Answered
What definition of women does the Welsh Government use in its legislation and policy, and how does it ensure that this aligns with relevant UK law?
Answered by Counsel General
The Welsh Government does not set a single definition of "female" and "male", instead using the definitions set out in relevant legislation or policy. Our priority is to ensure the law is applied consistently, meets our legal duties and upholds our Welsh values.
WQ99414 · Tabled · Answered
What meetings has the Welsh Government held with the Welsh Rugby Union regarding the structure of regional rugby, and what is the Welsh Government current position on maintaining four professional regions?
Answered by Trefnydd, Chief Whip and Cabinet Minister for Culture and Sport
A formal meeting with WRU representatives is being arranged, following initial discussions.
Whilst I am clear of the need for meaningful engagement with all parties on the future of Welsh rugby and the need to consider the long-term impact, decisions on the future of the game in Wales are a matter for the WRU.
WQ99413 · Tabled · Answered
What plans does the Welsh Government have to upgrade railway stations in Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly and Rhymney and what is the anticipated timeline for improvements?
Answered by Deputy Minister for Transport
We are supporting the delivery of Caerphilly interchange creating a modern, fully integrated multimodal hub, connecting rail, bus and active travel. We are providing over £15m over the next three years to Caerphilly for the delivery of this scheme. The improvements will deliver seamless interchange between public transport and active travel modes, alongside improved accessibility and passenger facilities.
Transport for Wales (TfW) is working closely with Caerphilly County Borough Council on the delivery of Caerphilly interchange. As part of the South Wales Metro transformation, TfW has already completed a programme of station upgrades across the Rhymney Line to enhance the customer experience. These works include the installation of new shelters, signage, customer information screens and bike storage hoops.
TfW is also planning to renew existing CCTV cameras across the Core Valley Lines (CVL) over the next two to three years, including at stations on the Rhymney Line.
WQ99410 · Tabled · No answer published
What evidence does the Welsh Government hold to demonstrate that its overseas offices provide value for money, and will the First Minister publish any cost-benefit analyses?
To be answered by: First Minister
WQ99409 · Tabled · Answered
What capital funding has been allocated, or is being considered, for upgrades to Ysbty Ystrad Fawr?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
I refer you to the answer I gave on 3 June (WQ98682 and WQ98741).
WQ99408 · Tabled · Answered
What discussions, if any, are taking place within the Welsh Government regarding the future structure of local Government in Wales, including reorganisation?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning
Reorganisation of the principal local authorities is not a priority for this government. Weare committed to working closely and positively with local government to ensure our local authorities are in the strongest position possible to provide the services on which we all depend.
We want to support and enable councils to find their own and shared solutions to long term sustainability by looking at how things can be done differently within existing structures, working with them and listening to them to understand what works. This includes continuing discussions on how regional arrangements are operating in practice, what further support may be needed, and how regional collaboration can support the delivery of local, regional and national priorities.
WQ99407 · Tabled · Answered
How is the Cabinet Minister measuring progress on ensuring equitable access to talking therapies across all health boards?
Answered by Deputy Minister for Social Care, Mental Health and Women’s Health
Health boards provide a range of interventions, including talking therapies. A key aim for our Strategic Programme for Mental Health is to reduce variation between health boards.
To ensure equitable access, we are moving to open access mental health services. The aim is a consistent, person-centred approach across all health boards and we are currently testing the model with a range of demonstrator pilots.
Our Quality Statement for Mental Health sets out the outcomes and standards that define high quality mental health services, and our aim is for this to be delivered consistently across Wales.
WQ99074 · Tabled · Answered
Will the Cabinet Minister confirm whether any performance targets, financial incentives, or other measures are linked to reductions in waiting list numbers in the NHS?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
There are no financial incentives linked to reductions in NHS waiting list numbers in Wales.
Instead, the approach is based on a national planning and performance framework, supported by oversight and escalation arrangements.
NHS organisations are set clear performance measures and targets, including in relation to waiting times and access to care.
The NHS Wales Performance Framework includes a number of measures linked to waiting lists NHS Wales Performance Framework 2026-2027
These measures are used to monitor delivery and drive improvement.
In addition, the NHS Wales Planning Framework sets specific national expectations and targets, for example:
Performance against these targets is managed through the Oversight and Escalation Framework, which provides structured assurance and intervention where needed
This framework includes escalating levels of oversight, from routine monitoring through to enhanced intervention or special measures if performance falls short.
WQ99017 · Tabled · Answered
Will the Cabinet Minister set out a) how many patients were manually removed from waiting lists in the last five years, and b) what guidance is issued to NHS organisations regarding the removal of patients from waiting lists?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
The Welsh Government does not hold centrally collected or routinely published data on the number of individual patients manually removed from NHS waiting lists over the last five years.
Specifically, it does not collect this information:
Published Referral to Treatment (RTT) statistics record “closed pathways”, which include all cases where a pathway ends (including removal), but these are not the same as counting individual patients removed
Guidance is set out in the Planned Care Waiting Times Guidance (April 2025). This allows patients to be removed from waiting lists (i.e. pathways closed) for legitimate reasons, including:
The guidance also requires that:
WQ99018 · Tabled · Answered
What assessment the Welsh Government has made of the political impartiality of Nation.Cymru in light of the Welsh Government funding received by the organisation, and what safeguards are in place to ensure that public funds are not used to support politically partisan journalism?
Answered by Trefnydd, Chief Whip and Cabinet Minister for Culture and Sport
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.
An impartial media is critical to a functioning democracy and we* expect media outlets in receipt of Welsh Government funds to operate without political bias.
The Welsh Government does not directly support the provision of news content by media outlets.
WQ99016 · Tabled · Answered
What assessment has the Cabinet Minister made of the impact of patient removals on reported waiting time and waiting list statistics?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
The Welsh Government has not made a specific assessment of the impact of patient removals on reported waiting time and waiting list statistics.
This is because routine published statistics are based on patient pathways, rather than individual patients. Referral to Treatment (RTT) data—published monthly—covers both:
As activity is measured in pathways rather than people, changes to waiting time performance cannot be directly attributed to “patient removals” in isolation. Further explanation of the difference between pathways and patients is available in the Welsh Government Chief Statistician’s blog. https://digitalanddata.blog.gov.wales/2022/03/22/chief-statisticians-update-explaining-nhs-activity-and-performance-statistics/
Patient removals data
The Welsh Government does not hold centrally collected, routinely published data on the number of individual patients removed from NHS waiting lists without receiving treatment or an appointment, broken down by:
As a result, the information requested for the last five years cannot be provided in the format requested.
However, RTT statistics do include information on closed pathways, which encompass all reasons a pathway ends and can be accessed at NHS waiting lists: closed referral to treatment pathways, September 2011 onwards | StatsWales
How patients are removed from waiting lists
Guidance to NHS organisations on managing waiting lists and removing patients is set out in the Planned Care Waiting Times Guidance (April 2025). Planned care waiting times guidance: April 2025
Under this guidance, a pathway may be closed (and therefore removed from RTT waiting list statistics) for a number of legitimate reasons, including:
The guidance makes clear that removal from a waiting list must:
Health boards are responsible for applying this guidance locally and ensuring appropriate governance and oversight arrangements are in place.
WQ99015 · Tabled · Answered
Will the Cabinet Minister provide details of the number of patients removed from NHS waiting lists in Wales without receiving the treatment or appointment for which they were waiting in each of the last five years, broken down by local health board and reason for removal?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
The Welsh Government has not made a specific assessment of the impact of patient removals on reported waiting time and waiting list statistics.
This is because routine published statistics are based on patient pathways, rather than individual patients. Referral to Treatment (RTT) data—published monthly—covers both:
As activity is measured in pathways rather than people, changes to waiting time performance cannot be directly attributed to “patient removals” in isolation. Further explanation of the difference between pathways and patients is available in the Welsh Government Chief Statistician’s blog. https://digitalanddata.blog.gov.wales/2022/03/22/chief-statisticians-update-explaining-nhs-activity-and-performance-statistics/
Patient removals data
The Welsh Government does not hold centrally collected, routinely published data on the number of individual patients removed from NHS waiting lists without receiving treatment or an appointment, broken down by:
As a result, the information requested for the last five years cannot be provided in the format requested.
However, RTT statistics do include information on closed pathways, which encompass all reasons a pathway ends and can be accessed at NHS waiting lists: closed referral to treatment pathways, September 2011 onwards | StatsWales
How patients are removed from waiting lists
Guidance to NHS organisations on managing waiting lists and removing patients is set out in the Planned Care Waiting Times Guidance (April 2025). Planned care waiting times guidance: April 2025
Under this guidance, a pathway may be closed (and therefore removed from RTT waiting list statistics) for a number of legitimate reasons, including:
The guidance makes clear that removal from a waiting list must:
Health boards are responsible for applying this guidance locally and ensuring appropriate governance and oversight arrangements are in place.
WQ98826 · Tabled · Answered
How will the Government work with local authorities and other associated agencies to ensure the Armed Forces Covenant is fulfilled in Wales?
Answered by Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Minister for Social Justice and Equality
This Government is committed to upholding the principles of the Armed Forces Covenant and ensuring fair access to services including healthcare, housing, employment, and education, skills and training for veterans and their families. We are working with local authorities and other associated agencies to raise awareness and understanding of the Armed Forces Covenant.
We are in contact with the Ministry of Defence within UK Government as they develop plans through the Armed Forces Bill 2026 to broaden the Armed Forces Covenant including placing a legal duty of due regard for the Covenant on Welsh Government. We are raising awareness and understanding of the Armed Forces Covenant and how it will impact Welsh Government and across the Armed Forces community in Wales. We are also in contact with the Ministry of Defence as they develop plans for the Statutory Guidance to accompany the anticipated new legislation.
WQ98805 · Tabled · Answered
What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the impact of large numbers of similar small businesses, including barber shops, vape shops, and hand car washes, on the diversity and sustainability of local high streets?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning
The Welsh Government has not undertaken a specific national assessment of how concentrations of certain types of small businesses affect the diversity and sustainability of local high streets. Decisions on mix of uses on the High Street are primarily for the local planning authorities.
The Welsh Government is establishing a Town Centre Taskforce, recognising the challenges facing high streets, to support their ongoing evolution into vibrant, mixed-use places, alongside wider regulatory measures and through current programmes such as Transforming Towns.
WQ98802 · Tabled · Answered
What discussions has the Welsh Government had with HMRC, Trading Standards Wales, local authorities and Welsh police forces regarding concerns about potential tax evasion, money laundering, labour exploitation or other criminal activity associated with hand car washes, barber shops and vape retailers operating in Wales?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning
The Welsh Government works with HMRC, Trading Standards, local authorities and police forces through established intelligence-sharing with the Wales Government Agency Intelligence Network (GAIN). These partnerships support the identification and disruption of organised criminality, including tax evasion, money laundering and labour exploitation linked to cash-intensive businesses.
The WG Head of Counter Fraud, is communicating with UK Home Office on a new High Street Organised Crime Unit, to strengthen response to economic crime. Welsh partners are aware of this initiative, including opportunities for collaboration and funding to support enforcement.
WQ98764 · Tabled · Answered
How many people are currently housed in temporary accommodation across Wales?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning
The Welsh Government collects data on the number of individuals in temporary accommodation. The latest available data is published here: Homelessness accommodation provision and rough sleeping | GOV.WALES.
As at 31 March 2026, there were 10,509 individuals in temporary accommodation.
WQ98767 · Tabled · Answered
What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the levels of business confidence in Wales, particularly among small and medium-sized enterprises?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy
The Welsh Government continually monitors business confidence in Wales, drawing on a range of quantitative and qualitative sources, including the ICAEW Business Confidence Monitor for Wales, ONS Business Insights and Conditions Survey, intelligence from Business Wales, the Development Bank of Wales (including its Economic Intelligence Wales publication), local authorities, and regular engagement with business representative bodies.
Taken together, these sources suggest that global economic conditions are weighing on business confidence in Wales, and across the UK - particularly among smaller firms. These businesses tend to have less capacity to absorb higher financing and energy costs. However, the evidence also points to areas of resilience, including continued trading activity, improved sales growth, positive expectations among a proportion of Welsh businesses, and ongoing demand for external finance.
The Welsh Government will continue to monitor these indicators closely and use them, alongside direct engagement with SMEs, to inform our approach to supporting a resilient and competitive economy in Wales.
WQ98766 · Tabled · Answered
What discussions has the Welsh Government held with representatives of the farming sector regarding concerns over proposed land-use targets and sustainable farming requirements?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability
Officials regularly discuss matters such as development of the Sustainable Farming Scheme, and wider ambitions for rural resilience and sustainability with representatives of the farming sector, including the farming unions. This may be through bilateral discussions or stakeholder groups.
WQ98765 · Tabled · Answered
What steps is the Welsh Government taking to improve transparency and accountability in the awarding of public sector contracts?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Finance
Public sector contract awards in Wales are governed by the Procurement Act 2023 and the Social Partnership and Public Procurement (Wales) Act 2023. Together, these require greater openness across the procurement lifecycle, including publication of notices, pipelines, contract awards and, for higher value contracts, performance information. Sell2Wales provides a single platform for publishing this information, improving visibility for suppliers, citizens and oversight bodies. In addition, certain public bodies in Wales must publish contracts registers, procurement strategies, objectives and annual reports, helping to strengthen accountability for how public money is spent.
WQ98763 · Tabled · Answered
How much Welsh Government funding has been awarded to third-sector organisations in each of the last three years, and what accountability measures are attached to those grants?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Finance
Details of what grant funding has been allocated to third sector organisations in each of the last 3 years is provided below:
2022-23
2023-24
2024-25
£578m
£640m
£556m
· Figures are from Welsh Government consolidated published accounts
· 2025-26 accounts currently in preparation, not yet published
As part of accepting grant funding from Welsh Government, organisations sign up to the standard grant funding award letter with legally binding terms and conditions. These include details of the purposes, monitoring arrangements, targets as well as the timescales associated with the delivery of the grant. These can vary depending on the value, complexity/size of the grant and the conditions would vary in accordance. Grant managers are responsible for ensuring the appropriate conditions are in place and adhered to.
WQ98742 · Tabled · Answered
Will the Cabinet Minister outline what specific measures the Welsh Government is taking to reduce the treatment backlog in the Welsh NHS?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
Tackling the treatment backlog is a top priority in our 100-day plan. As I outlined in my Oral Statement to the Senedd on my priorities, the waiting list backlog inherited from the previous Government is utterly unacceptable and is imposing significant strains on patients and staff alike. We will be putting measures in place not only to address these immediate pressures, but also to more sustainably incorporate elective care demand within regular NHS activity to ensure we are never in this position again
In response, the Welsh Government is taking specific measures:
• Clear national priority to eliminate all two-year waits, with a clinically-led focus on treating those waiting longest first.
• A shift to stronger national direction and oversight, ensuring consistent delivery across all health boards.
• Ringfencing elective care capacity and making better use of resources across Wales, alongside targeted additional provision where gaps exist.
• Progressing plans for dedicated surgical and diagnostic capacity, including establishing up to 10 new elective care hubs across Wales,which will strengthening local capacity (and therefore reduce reliance on external capacity), and provide vital training opportunities for medical graduates.
• Improving patient flow through earlier clinical decision-making, fewer unnecessary follow-ups, and expanded community and one-stop care.
• Strengthening grip on waiting lists through improved validation, active management and clearer prioritisation based on clinical need.
• Enhanced national coordination in high-volume specialties and better data to track progress.
Alongside immediate actions, the approach is focused on longer-term system change - addressing bottlenecks, improving pathways and ensuring long waits do not return. Through these measures, we will eliminate two year waits within a matter of months, and reduce the total backlog to pre-pandemic levels by the end of the Senedd term.
WQ98741 · Tabled · Answered
What discussions have taken place between the Welsh Government and local health boards regarding future investment in facilities, infrastructure, staffing capacity, and patient services at Ysbyty Ystrad Fawr Hospital?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
Ysbyty Ystrad Fawr is one of the key hospital sites delivering healthcare services across the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board area. The most recent capital scheme on the site has been the Breast Care Unit which opened in February 2024 following an £11m investment.
In addition to the Breast Care Unit, the Health Board received £0.750m of Welsh Government funding for a lift upgrade and improvements to the chillers at the site across 2025-26 and 2026-27.
Welsh Government officials continue to have bi-monthly meetings with Health Board staff where on-going and proposed capital schemes across the whole estate are discussed. Any capital proposals put forward to the Welsh Government for funding support would need to include the associated staffing impacts. Any further investment in the NHS estate must be considered within the context of the substantial maintenance backlog inherited from the previous Government. Ensuring that this is addressed in a timely and strategic manner is a key priority of the new Welsh Government.
WQ98697 · Tabled · Answered
Has the Welsh Government considered establishing an official residence for the First Minister and what discussions, if any, have taken place regarding the potential costs and benefits of such a proposal?
Answered by First Minister
No consideration has been given to an official residence.
WQ98696 · Tabled · Answered
What steps is the Welsh Government taking to ensure people who hold gender critical views working in the public sector are protected in the workplace?
Answered by Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Minister for Social Justice and Equality
Substantive response
WQ98695 · Tabled · Answered
What estimate has the Welsh Government made of the total cost to taxpayers of achieving net zero targets in Wales?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Finance
The most recent cost-benefit analysis (carried out in 2025, under the previous Welsh Government) of Wales achieving net zero in 2050 estimates a net undiscounted financial cost of £10 billion which would be met by the Welsh and UK governments, businesses and citizens. However overall, the discounted net benefit to Wales would be £56.5 billion, due to savings from avoiding climate damages, cheaper operational costs, and other benefits, such as improved air quality. This clearly shows the overwhelming benefit of taking action to tackle climate change and achieve net zero.
The exact cost of meeting net zero targets will depend on many factors, including the measures chosen by the Welsh and UK governments, the development and cost of various technologies, and the actions of businesses and citizens.
WQ98694 · Tabled · Answered
Will the Welsh Government provide details of subsidies or public financial support awarded to renewable energy projects since 2022?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy
Funding and subsidies for renewable generation is provided by the UK Government through measures like the Renewables Obligation and Contracts for Difference.
The previous Welsh Government funded locally owned renewable generation and funded targeted decarbonisation of the public sector in Wales. The principal delivery services supporting communities, small businesses and the public sector to develop renewable projects are listed below.
Table 1 – Core programmes and investment since 2022 supporting renewable energy projects in Wales.
Local Energy Loan Fund managed by Development Bank Wales for local energy projects
(Repayable loans at market rate)
Direct investment in strategic projects:
Marine Power Systems (Loan)
Marine Energy Programme -Tidal Stream
Investment Inyanga project and Menter Môn Morlais Ltd
8.000
10.000
[1] Ynni Cymru funded schemes Ynni Cymru: capital grants awarded | GOV.WALES
WQ98693 · Tabled · Answered
What plans does the Welsh Government have to increase the supply of affordable housing without increasing council tax burdens on residents?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning
We will work with local authorities and social landlords to deliver new, high-quality homes, and to bring empty properties back into use as social housing – delivering at least 20,000 new social homes by 2030. Council tax levels are a matter for individual local authorities.
WQ98692 · Tabled · Answered
What assessment has the Welsh Government made of local authority financial sustainability for the next three financial years?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning
The financial sustainability of each Local Authority over the next three years will depend on a range of factors, including inflation, service demand, funding levels, and decisions relating to service delivery and council tax. Each Authority’s position will also be dependent upon decisions taken in preceding years. The responsibility for managing a Local Authority’s budget including planning over the medium term lies with elected members and senior officers.
WQ98689 · Tabled · Answered
What assessment has the Cabinet Minister made of the relative per-pupil spending in Wales compared with England for each of the last five years?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
Decisions on the level of funding available to schools and to other services are made by each local authority, as part of their overall budget and council tax setting. The Welsh Government provides funding to local authorities to support their funding of pre-16 provision in schools in Wales mainly through the local government revenue settlement. The settlement is not ring-fenced; the funding allocated to each authority is available to the authority to spend as it sees fit across the range of services for which it is responsible, including schools.
There is a variation in funding levels between England and Wales when looked at on a per learner basis. However, as policy priorities in Wales and England have diverged since devolution, so too have the school funding arrangements. Direct funding comparisons have become increasingly misleading. The statistics for England and Wales are not made up in the same way because they include different elements of spend. Significant amounts of school expenditure in England are spent on matters not experienced by Welsh schools, with fees for professional services and other accommodation related expenses falling to some English schools.
The Institute for Fiscal Studies published a Public service spending and performance in Wales report in March which states that ‘School spending per pupil in Wales is expected to be £8,700 in 2025-26, slightly above the expected level of £8,600 for England. Both England and Wales saw a 14% real term rise in school spending per pupil between 2019-20 and 2025-26. In Wales, this more than reversed cuts of 5% during the 2010s and leaves spending per pupil about 10% higher in real terms than in 2009-10.’
The Welsh Government publishes annual statistics on spending for all maintained schools in Wales on the StatsWales website.
WQ98688 · Tabled · Answered
Will the Welsh Government set out the number of pupils regularly absent from school in each local authority area?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
The common definition of regular absence from school is known as ‘persistent absence’ and is defined as being absent for more than 10% of half day school sessions over an entire academic year. The latest available information for 2024/25 is in table 1 below:
Table 1: Persistent absence from maintained primary, middle and secondary schools, by local authority, 2024/25
LA code
Name
Number of pupils persistently absent
Total number of pupils
% of pupils persistently absent
660
Isle of Anglesey
2,141
7,813
27.4
661
Gwynedd
3,706
13,759
26.9
662
Conwy
3,415
12,336
27.7
663
Denbighshire
3,807
13,191
28.9
664
Flintshire
4,400
18,464
23.8
665
Wrexham
3,796
15,859
23.9
666
Powys
3,218
14,226
22.6
667
Ceredigion
1,901
7,568
25.1
668
Pembrokeshire
3,807
14,139
26.9
669
Carmarthenshire
7,049
22,263
31.7
670
Swansea
8,345
29,913
27.9
671
Neath Port Talbot
5,433
17,013
31.9
672
Bridgend
4,650
17,870
26.0
673
Vale of Glamorgan
4,469
18,569
24.1
674
Rhondda Cynon Taff
9,494
30,531
31.1
675
Merthyr Tydfil
2,332
7,480
31.2
676
Caerphilly
6,261
22,309
28.1
677
Blaenau Gwent
2,389
7,797
30.6
678
Torfaen
3,245
12,186
26.6
679
Monmouthshire
2,009
9,616
20.9
680
Newport
6,025
22,683
26.6
681
Cardiff
11,476
45,807
25.1
999
Wales
102,387
379,389
27.0
Source: Pupil Attendance Record, Welsh Government
WQ98687 · Tabled · Answered
Will the Welsh Government publish all external consultancy spending by department for the last three financial years?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Finance
Expenditure on external consultancy is included within overall expenditure totals published in the Welsh Government’s Accounts, which are available from the Welsh Government website. The accounts for 2025-26 are currently in progress and will be published once audited.
WQ98686 · Tabled · Answered
Will the Welsh Government publish data on congestion levels before and after the implementation of the default 20mph policy?
Answered by Deputy Minister for Transport
There is currently no official pre-20mph congestion data available, which means that a pre- and post-implementation analysis of congestion levels cannot be carried out at this stage.
However, the default 20mph speed limit national monitoring report, published by TfW in July 2025, found that journey time reliability had improved on the roads they monitored, and generally more reliable journey times can be an indicator of less congestion.
WQ98685 · Tabled · Answered
What assessment has the Cabinet Minister made of NHS waiting times in Wales compared with England?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
Official NHS waiting times statistics for Wales and England are not directly comparable because of differences in the pathways in scope.
NHS Wales actively supports improvement through a range of benchmarking and comparative methods. These include:
• Internal benchmarking across Welsh health boards, allowing services to compare performance, identify variation and share best practice within Wales.
• Use of clinically-led specialty-level analysis, ensuring that differences in patient pathways and case mix are properly understood.
• Participation in UK-wide and international benchmarking where methodologies align, enabling learning while respecting statistical differences.
Regardless of how waiting times are compared between Wales and England, I have been clear that the extent of waits inherited from the previous Government is wholly unacceptable, which is why we are delivering an ambitious set of measures to drive down waits across the country, including through the implementation of a new national surgical hub programme.
WQ98684 · Tabled · Answered
Will the Cabinet Minister discuss with Valley Greyhounds the possibility of ceasing operation of the Stadium in Ystrad Mynach?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability
The Prohibition of Greyhound Racing (Wales) Act received Royal Assent on 27 April 2026, having been passed by the Senedd on 17 March 2026. When its provisions come into force between April 2027 and April 2030, the Act will prohibit the organisation of greyhound racing in Wales and the operation or use of any venues for that purpose.
The Welsh Government is engaging with Valley Greyhounds through the Greyhound Racing Implementation Group, which was established in July 2025 to support the transition to a ban.
The Group includes a representative from Valley Greyhounds, alongside local authorities, veterinary representatives and animal welfare organisations.
We will continue to work with industry through this Group, which will consider impacts and provide practical advice and guidance to ensure the transition away from racing is well managed and responsible.
WQ98683 · Tabled · Answered
What plans does the Government have for gender identity services for children and young people?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
Substantive response
WQ98682 · Tabled · Answered
Does the Government have plans to support or fund upgrades and improvements at Ysbyty Ystrad Fawr Hospital in Caerphilly County Borough?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
Ysbyty Ystrad Fawr is one of the key hospital sites delivering healthcare services across the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board area. The most recent capital scheme on the site has been the Breast Care Unit which opened in February 2024 following an £11m investment.
In addition to the Breast Care Unit, the Health Board received £0.750m of Welsh Government funding for a lift upgrade and improvements to the chillers at the site across 2025-26 and 2026-27.
Welsh Government officials continue to have bi-monthly meetings with Health Board staff where on-going and proposed capital schemes across the whole estate are discussed. Any capital proposals put forward to the Welsh Government for funding support would need to include the associated staffing impacts. Any further investment in the NHS estate must be considered within the context of the substantial maintenance backlog inherited from the previous Government. Ensuring that this is addressed in a timely and strategic manner is a key priority of the new Welsh Government.
Official verbatim record: each question and answer as the Record prints it. Answers are signed with a job title, as published.