Siambr · Mike Hedges
Written questions
29 written questions on record from the Seventh Senedd on, newest first. Page 1 of 1.
WQ101017 · Tabled · No answer published
How will Welsh Government help health boards address concerns related to neonatal and maternity services?
To be answered by: Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
WQ101016 · Tabled · No answer published
Has the Welsh Government reviewed the funding formula for revenue and capital expenditure for health boards to ensure equity across rural and urban areas?
To be answered by: Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
WQ101015 · Tabled · No answer published
Is the risk of capital restraints facing health boards recorded on the Welsh Government risk register and the NHS risk register?
To be answered by: Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
WQ100995 · Tabled · No answer published
What action is the Cabinet Minister taking to improve COPD diagnosis and care in light of the fact that Asthma + Lung UK Cymru states that fewer than 7 per cent of patients receive all elements of recommended care and three quarters of patients are not properly diagnosed according to NICE guidelines?
To be answered by: Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
WQ100934 · Tabled · Answered
Has the NHS Wales optical voucher value for children’s glasses been reduced, and if so, why?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
The NHS optical voucher entitlement for children in Wales has not been reduced.
WQ100933 · Tabled · Answered
Will the Welsh Government ensure that parents of children with significantly reduced vision are not required to pay extra for thinner lenses, when opticians advise that these lenses are necessary?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
Following reforms introduced in 2023, all eligible children in Wales are offered an appropriate pair of spectacles fully covered by their NHS optical vouchers. Parents are not required to pay an additional charge.
Recognising concerns about costs for clinically recommended thinner lenses changes were made to the optical voucher arrangements to provide additional enhanced support for children with higher prescriptions where specialist lenses are required.
WQ100930 · Tabled · Answered
Will the Cabinet Minister confirm what actions the national assurance assessment of maternity and neonatal care and services oversight group have taken and what progress has been made in implementing the recommendations to address serious failings in care provision?
Answered by Deputy Minister for Social Care, Mental Health and Women’s Health
The Welsh Government accepted the recommendations of The Path to Safer Beginnings in Wales and established a National Maternity and Neonatal Programme Board in June 2026 to oversee their implementation. The Board brings together Welsh Government officials, NHS Wales leaders, professional representatives and service-user representatives to monitor delivery, scrutinise risks and hold workstreams to account. It reports directly to the Healthcare Quality Improvement Board, jointly chaired by the Chief Medical Officer and Chief Nursing Officer.
The Programme Board has focused on ensuring that the recommendations are translated into a coordinated national improvement programme, with clear accountability, milestones and assurance arrangements. Progress is routinely monitored, with risks and delivery concerns escalated through the established governance framework where required.
Since the report was published, significant progress has been made across a number of priority areas. This includes work to strengthen workforce planning and sustainability, improve maternity and neonatal data and safety surveillance systems, develop national approaches to maternity triage and induction of labour, and review neonatal capacity and service resilience. Further progress has also been made in strengthening bereavement care services and ensuring the voice and experience of women, families and service users are central to service improvement.
The programme is also taking forward the development of a national maternity and neonatal dashboard, improved safety monitoring arrangements, and actions to support consistent standards of care across Wales. In parallel, learning from major maternity inquiries and reviews, including Ockenden and Amos is being incorporated into the programme to ensure that lessons are embedded systematically across NHS Wales.
With strong governance arrangements now in place and delivery underway against the report's recommendations, the focus is now on maintaining momentum, accelerating implementation and ensuring that improvements result in safer, higher-quality care and better outcomes for women, babies and families across Wales. The Welsh Government will continue to hold the NHS to account for delivering these improvements and will maintain close oversight of progress through the National Programme Board and wider national assurance arrangements.
WQ100911 · Tabled · Answered
What plans does the Welsh Government have to give tenants in rented social accommodation a legal right to request a pet?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning
A social housing tenant in Wales currently can ask for permission to keep a pet under the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016, but does not have a right to have that request considered or granted. The situation is similar for private rented sector tenants. The First Minister’s statement on 14 July set out our legislative ambition, which focuses primarily on the strengthening rights and raising standards in the private rented sector. Whilst our focus is primarily aimed at reforming the private rented sector, some areas of provision may interact with the social rented sector. We are currently exploring which additional renters’ rights and protections are required in Wales, including considering provisions in relation to pets, in doing so due consideration will be given to both the private and social rented sector.
WQ100850 · Tabled · Answered
What consideration has the Cabinet Minister given to the workforce needed to support the proposed new surgical hubs, including anaesthetists and their broader perioperative care role?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
I recognise that a sustainable workforce is fundamental to the successful delivery of elective care hubs. Workforce requirements, including the availability of anaesthetists and the wider perioperative workforce, are being considered as an integral part of elective care hub development.
The NHS Wales Elective Care Task and Finish Group has been asked to assess the workforce models required to support elective care hubs across Wales, including how best to maximise existing capacity through service redesign, improved productivity and multidisciplinary working.
The Group will provide recommendations on the workforce requirements needed to support safe, sustainable and effective elective care services as part of its advice to Welsh Government on the future delivery of elective care hubs.
WQ100849 · Tabled · Answered
What consideration has the Cabinet Minister given to increasing the number of anaesthetic training posts within the forthcoming long term workforce strategy in light of the Royal College of Anaesthetists State of the Nation Report?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
Through Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW), the Welsh Government supports workforce supply through investment in education and training. Since 2020, HEIW has increased the number of anaesthetic training posts in Wales, including additional posts within the Acute Care Common Stem Emergency Medicine training pathway. HEIW continues to explore opportunities to expand anaesthetic training capacity further, taking account of workforce demand, service requirements and training capacity within NHS Wales.
The forthcoming NHS Wales Long-Term Workforce Strategy will set out a clear and sustainable approach to developing the workforce needed to meet future patient demand and support service transformation. A key priority will be strengthening the alignment between workforce planning, education commissioning and future service requirements, so that education and training investment reflects the workforce needed by NHS Wales, including in specialities such as anaesthetics.
WQ100222 · Tabled · Answered
Will the Government provide an update on plans for the Welsh Housing Survey in 2027-28?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning
We continue to consider how best to meet housing evidence needs, including through a future Welsh Housing Survey. My officials have engaged with key stakeholders on the potential content and design of a survey. Decisions on future survey delivery will be taken in the context of wider budget considerations and our commitment to delivering our forthcoming Programme for Government.
WQ100221 · Tabled · Answered
What plans does the Welsh Government have for the future development of the Housing Leasing Scheme Wales?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning
Leasing Scheme Wales was launched in January 2022 as a five-year grant funded scheme and is scheduled to formally close in March 2027. The Welsh Government has no plans to extend the scheme beyond this date.
As the programme comes to an end, we are considering the lessons learned and how these can inform future policy interventions, including our commitment to bring more empty properties back into use for social rent.
WQ100163 · Tabled · Answered
How is the Welsh Government working with the UK Government to improve digital infrastructure, widen access to AI support schemes, and ensure that AI growth zones deliver tangible benefits for SMEs?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy
We are working closely with the UK Government to ensure the AI Growth Zones deliver benefits across the whole of Wales.
Our ambition goes well beyond new data centre investment. We want to create opportunities for Welsh businesses, researchers and communities.
The AI Growth Zones will help attract investment in AI innovation, research and skills. They will support the growth of new businesses and strengthen existing firms. This includes opportunities for Welsh SMEs.
Each UK AI Growth Zone will receive up to £5 million for innovation, research, skills and development activity. We are working with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on delivery plans.
We are also taking a joined-up approach across north and south Wales. This will help maximise opportunities and spread the benefits more widely.
Alongside this, we are building partnerships with leading organisations, including NVIDIA. These partnerships will support AI adoption, encourage collaboration with universities and help businesses make greater use of AI technologies.
Our goal is clear. We want Welsh businesses, including SMEs, to have the skills, support and opportunities they need to benefit from growth in artificial intelligence.
Responsibility for improving broadband and mobile phone connectivity in Wales rests with the UK Government. They expect 99% of premises to have access to a gigabit-capable connection by 2032 and is delivering in Wales through its Project Gigabit investment programme. My officials meet regularly with their counterparts in the UK Government to discuss improving digital infrastructure in Wales and have worked with them to identify those premises that do not have access to fast and reliable broadband. We plan to invest where there are gaps in both commercial and UK-led public sector schemes – including Project Gigabit – to ensure that every home and business in Wales has access to at least superfast broadband. We are undertaking a further review of broadband connectivity to identify those premises with the slowest broadband speeds and where there are no plans for improvements in the next three years.
The UK Government and the mobile phone industry are working to improve 4G coverage across the UK through the Shared Rural Network programme. My officials work closely with them on the programme and have established a joint working group to support its delivery in Wales.
WQ100162 · Tabled · Answered
What steps is the Welsh Government taking to ensure that SMEs are involved in shaping the AI and digital skills provision they need to grow?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy
The Welsh Government is ensuring SMEs help shape AI and digital skills provision through Business Wales, direct employer engagement, Regional Skills Partnerships and social partner networks. Business Wales supports businesses to strengthen digital capability and is developing activity to increase AI awareness among SMEs.
An AI skills pilot for SMEs, delivered through the Flexible Skills Programme, is also helping businesses adopt AI and providing evidence to inform future policy and provision. The pilot was developed with employers and industry partners, including the Federation of Small Businesses, and has been extended to the end of the current financial year.
The Future Skills Summit on 8 October 2026 will bring together partners from education, business, representative bodies and key sectors to help shape a shared vision and future strategy for Wales’ skills system and its funding. It will support practical outcomes, help address future workforce needs and strengthen education-to-employment pathways.
WQ100158 · Tabled · Answered
How will the new Welsh development agency provide practical support to help SMEs adopt productivity-enhancing technologies safely and confidently?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy
I have set out my intention to establish a new national development agency as a key driver in meeting our productivity target. I have announced that we are establishing an expert panel to make recommendations on the remit and functions of the new agency and I look forward to receiving their advice, including on how the agency can support and spread innovation.
WQ100080 · Tabled · Answered
What funding has been earmarked for training staff to deliver the school swimming and water safety programme?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
Training for swimming teachers is built into the £2m budget for 2026-27 to deliver the programme. Swim Wales will work with local authority and leisure provider partners to support the training, upskilling and professional development of swimming teachers delivering the programme.
WQ100021 · Tabled · Answered
What is the total estimated cost and estimated staffing cost of carrying out the Welsh Government’s audit of community and regional sporting facilities?
Answered by Trefnydd, Chief Whip and Cabinet Minister for Culture and Sport
Sport Wales have been commissioned to undertake the initial phases of the sports facilities audit as part of its ongoing programme of work. Future requirements will be considered in light of the findings from the initial work.
WQ100020 · Tabled · Answered
What is the total estimated cost of the Welsh Government’s review of opportunities for investment in culture, the arts and sport?
Answered by Trefnydd, Chief Whip and Cabinet Minister for Culture and Sport
The review of opportunities for investment in culture, the arts and sport is underway and there have been no additional costs associated with this work so far. Decisions on any associated expenditure will be considered as the work progresses and in line with the Welsh Government’s normal processes.
WQ100019 · Tabled · Answered
What is the total estimated cost of the Welsh Government’s consultation on a new culture strategy?
Answered by Trefnydd, Chief Whip and Cabinet Minister for Culture and Sport
The costs associated with the consultation on a new Culture and Sport Strategy are still being determined. Decisions on any associated expenditure will be considered as the work progresses and in line with normal Welsh Government processes.
WQ100022 · Tabled · Answered
What is the total estimated cost of the Welsh Government's review of the funding formula for local government?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning
The Welsh Government currently estimates the cost of its review of the local government funding formula to be approximately £450 thousand over three years, based on current assumptions. This estimate is based on the employer costs of the dedicated Welsh Government review team and assumes the review is delivered broadly in line with the current planned timetable.
The estimate excludes the contribution of wider Welsh Government officials, local government representatives and partner organisations supporting the review as part of their wider roles. It also excludes any future specialist external analytical support that may be commissioned as the review progresses, as the scope and costs of such work have not yet been determined.
Outside of the costs outlined above, the review includes work being undertaken in partnership with the Wales Centre for Public Policy (WCPP) through an annual programme of work under an existing Welsh Government contract valued at £441 thousand per year. The project will be delivered within the scope of this existing arrangement and therefore does not incur any additional cost.
The review supports the formula used to distribute around £6.5 billion of core, unhypothecated funding to local authorities each year.
WQ99894 · Tabled · Answered
What plans does the Welsh Government have to improve accountability and national oversight of stillbirth and neonatal mortality rates in Wales?
Answered by Deputy Minister for Social Care, Mental Health and Women’s Health
The Welsh Government is strengthening national oversight and accountability for stillbirth and neonatal mortality through the three-year improvement programme responding to the findings and recommendations in The Path to Safer Beginnings in Wales. This includes a National Strategic Oversight Board, improved use of data and intelligence, and work to develop real-time safety monitoring across maternity and neonatal services.
We will continue to use established national mechanisms, including MBRRACE-UK surveillance and benchmarking to identify trends, share learning and support improvement. Health boards remain accountable for the safety and quality of their services, with the Welsh Government maintaining oversight through the improvement programme and existing NHS performance and quality arrangements.
WQ99875 · Tabled · Answered
What discussions has the Welsh Government had with Young Lives vs Cancer regarding the charity's proposal for a travel fund to support children and young people with cancer, following the recent commitment to a travel fund by UK Government?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
The Welsh Government’s 100-day plan commits to the introduction of a Travel and Accommodation Fund for people affected by cancer. My officials have undertaken an options appraisal of the eligibility criteria and delivery methods.
The next steps include engagement with stakeholders such as the NHS Business Services Authority and Young Lives Versus Cancer. My officials have also discussed with the UK Government its commitment to a cancer travel fund, and a follow up meeting has been scheduled.
The Welsh Government does not routinely collect data on the number, conditions, or age range of claims made under the NHS travel reimbursement scheme.
WQ99874 · Tabled · Answered
How many cancer patients under the age of 25 received reimbursement through the healthcare travel costs scheme in each of the last five years, and what was the average claim?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
The Welsh Government’s 100-day plan commits to the introduction of a Travel and Accommodation Fund for people affected by cancer. My officials have undertaken an options appraisal of the eligibility criteria and delivery methods.
The next steps include engagement with stakeholders such as the NHS Business Services Authority and Young Lives Versus Cancer. My officials have also discussed with the UK Government its commitment to a cancer travel fund, and a follow up meeting has been scheduled.
The Welsh Government does not routinely collect data on the number, conditions, or age range of claims made under the NHS travel reimbursement scheme.
WQ99589 · Tabled · Answered
What assessment has the Welsh Government made on whether boiling decapod crustaceans alive is compatible with the Welfare of Animals at the Time of Killing (Wales) Regulations 2014, following the UK Government recognising that boiling lobsters alive is incompatible with current welfare law?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability
The boiling of animals alive is not considered an acceptable method of slaughter. Officials have been working with Defra, the Devolved Governments and industry stakeholders to develop guidance on the humane killing of lobsters and other decapod crustaceans, drawing on practical experience and the latest scientific evidence.
We will continue to keep the evidence base under review and will consider whether any legislative changes are necessary considering emerging evidence, in line with normal policy development processes.
WQ99734 · Tabled · Answered
What is the Welsh Government's position on the restoration of Eurasian beavers to Wales, including whether the Welsh Government supports the reintroduction of beavers into suitable catchments?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability
Welsh Government are working with Natural Resources Wales to develop a Welsh Beaver Strategy and framework for the managed reintroduction of beavers, with expert input from Fforwm Afancod Cymru (Wales Beaver Forum), which brings together a wide range of stakeholders.
Welsh Government introduced The Beavers (Wales) Order 2026 which came into force on the 4 March 2026 bringing forward legal protection for Eurasian beavers in Wales ensuring that activities which could disturb Eurasian beavers or damage their habitats are regulated. Eurasian beavers are also included on the updated section 7 list as a priority species.
Under section 6 and 7 of the Environment (Wales) Act 2016, Welsh Ministers must take all reasonable steps to maintain and enhance priority species and encourage others to take such steps.
WQ99593 · Tabled · Answered
Will the Cabinet Minister provide an update on early steps to implement the British Sign Language (Wales) Act 2026, and set out timeframes for meeting key duties within the Act, including a) publishing the national strategy, b) guidance for public bodies, and c) the appointment of a national adviser?
Answered by Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Minister for Social Justice and Equality
The British Sign Language (BSL) (Wales) Act requires Welsh Ministers to publish a national BSL strategy and guidance by 29th October 2027, within 18 months of the Act coming into force. Early implementation work on both is already underway, including engagement with the Welsh Government BSL Stakeholder Group. We are beginning preparatory work to support the development of statutory guidance for public bodies. The Act requires Welsh Ministers to appoint a BSL adviser and we are expecting to appoint the adviser by early 2027, so that they can support the development and implementation of duties under the Act.
WQ99380 · Tabled · Answered
Will the Cabinet Minister write to all local authorities asking them to implement new fast track passports to improve the speed of support for people diagnosed with motor neurone disease?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
The Welsh Government is committed to ensuring that people of all ages living with, or affected by, neurological conditions, including motor neurone disease (MND), have timely and equitable access to high-quality services. This commitment is set out in the Quality Statement for neurological conditions.
Conditions such as MND have a significant impact on individuals, their families and communities. Our priority is to support people to remain at home, with access to the care and support they need.
The Welsh Government continues to invest £60 million to speed up and expand home adaptations, on top of funding local authorities to deliver Disabled Facilities Grants to local residents. In addition, the Welsh Government-funded Managing Better service, delivered by Care & Repair Cymru and partner organisations, provides practical support, advice and home-based interventions for people with complex needs.
The Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 Codes of Practice already enable local authorities to respond quickly where a person has a rapidly deteriorating condition. Under the Part 3 Code of Practice, assessments must be proportionate to the person’s circumstances and needs, supporting the principle of the right care, at the right time, in the right place.
WQ98582 · Tabled · No answer published
What are the Welsh Government's plans to improve awareness and understanding of Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) among healthcare professionals?
To be answered by: Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
WQ98581 · Tabled · Answered
What is the proposed date for the publication of the primary care pathway for Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS) and hypermobility spectrum disorders (HSD) in Wales?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
We recognise the challenges experienced by people living with Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes (EDS) and Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders (HSD), and the importance of ensuring they can access consistent, high-quality support.
A Community Health Pathway for EDS and HSD has been developed by a multidisciplinary team, including clinical experts and patient representation. It is important that any pathway reflects current practice and is supported by clinical experts across the system to ensure it is safe, effective, and deliverable for those living with these conditions. As a national pathway, it must therefore be agreed through robust national governance arrangements with primary care representatives before it can be published.
As a result, there is no confirmed publication date at this stage. Work is continuing to secure the necessary agreement so that a pathway can be published with appropriate clinical endorsement.
Official verbatim record: each question and answer as the Record prints it. Answers are signed with a job title, as published.