Siambr · Paul Davies
Written questions
183 written questions on record from the Seventh Senedd on, newest first. Page 3 of 4.
WQ99175 · Tabled · Answered
What new measures will the Welsh Government be introducing to support and improve children and young people’s mental health?
Answered by Deputy Minister for Social Care, Mental Health and Women’s Health
The Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy sets out the actions we are taking across the Welsh Government and with partners to improve mental health and wellbeing, and to improve mental health services. The Strategy includes a range of measures that we will use to track our progress.
The Welsh Government is using our NYTH/NEST framework to bring a partnership approach to mental health and wellbeing support for babies, children and young people. We are introducing a new young person’s engagement resource to support settings to gather children, and young people’s views on mental health and wellbeing services so their voices are informing improvement and change to services. We are also publishing podcasts discussing good practice in delivering mental health and wellbeing support.
Children and young people should get the support they need, when they need and we believe there should be no wrong door for mental health support. We are transforming mental health services to provide same-day access, ensuring people of all ages can access the most appropriate form of support at the right time, without delay.
We support a number of third sector organisations who provide a range of specialist services and helplines, and these are advertised in schools, youth clubs and online to ensure young people know about the support available. Health boards also commission a range of third sector organisations to deliver support as part of local mental health services. Health boards also have local arrangements to raise awareness of services, support and how to access them.
We have also published information for schools about services available in each region and the Dewis website offers a comprehensive list of support services searchable by area and specialism. Part of ensuring children and young people are aware of what support is available to them is ensuring that support is joined up and the system is easy to navigate and access. Work is also underway through our NEST framework to achieve a joined-up system. To drive this change, we are developing a No Wrong Door checklist for regions to structure their no wrong door approach and ensure families have easy access to expertise.
WQ99174 · Tabled · No answer published
What is the Welsh Government doing to support small community-based mental health charities?
To be answered by: Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
WQ99173 · Tabled · Answered
When will stereotactic ablative radiotherapy be made available to men in Wales with prostate cancer?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
Stereotactic Ablative Radiotherapy (SABR) is a highly precise form of radiotherapy that delivers high doses of radiation directly to a tumour while minimising exposure to surrounding healthy tissue. Using advanced imaging and treatment techniques, SABR is typically delivered in a small number of fractions, providing an effective and targeted treatment option for selected patients.
The NHS Wales Joint Commissioning Committee (NWJCC) is responsible for commissioning SABR for a range of cancer types and has worked with the three regional cancer centres in Wales to support equitable access to this technique, where clinically appropriate.
SABR is not routinely commissioned for localised prostate cancer in Wales at present. Instead, the NHS in Wales offers extreme hypofractionated radiotherapy (EHFRT), typically delivered in five or seven fractions, in line with Health Technology Wales advice supporting its effectiveness and cost‑efficiency.
Emerging evidence, including findings from the PACE trial and recent commissioning developments in other parts of the UK, suggests that five‑fraction SABR may offer comparable clinical outcomes for selected patients with prostate cancer. The NHS in Wales will continue to keep this evidence under review to inform future commissioning decisions.
WQ99172 · Tabled · Answered
What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the effectiveness of stereotactic ablative radiotherapy in treating prostate cancer?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
Stereotactic Ablative Radiotherapy (SABR) is a highly precise form of radiotherapy that delivers high doses of radiation directly to a tumour while minimising exposure to surrounding healthy tissue. Using advanced imaging and treatment techniques, SABR is typically delivered in a small number of fractions, providing an effective and targeted treatment option for selected patients.
The NHS Wales Joint Commissioning Committee (NWJCC) is responsible for commissioning SABR for a range of cancer types and has worked with the three regional cancer centres in Wales to support equitable access to this technique, where clinically appropriate.
SABR is not routinely commissioned for localised prostate cancer in Wales at present. Instead, the NHS in Wales offers extreme hypofractionated radiotherapy (EHFRT), typically delivered in five or seven fractions, in line with Health Technology Wales advice supporting its effectiveness and cost‑efficiency.
Emerging evidence, including findings from the PACE trial and recent commissioning developments in other parts of the UK, suggests that five‑fraction SABR may offer comparable clinical outcomes for selected patients with prostate cancer. The NHS in Wales will continue to keep this evidence under review to inform future commissioning decisions.
WQ99026 · Tabled · Answered
What assessment has the Welsh Government has made of the impact on Wales of the information and conclusions in the MBRRACE-UK report Saving Lives, Improving Mothers' Care?
Answered by Deputy Minister for Social Care, Mental Health and Women’s Health
As a government, we recognise the profound grief which will face parents who lose a baby at any stage. The latest MBRRACE UK report, published on 11 June 2026, shows that rates of stillbirth and neonatal death are falling across the UK, including Wales. While this reflects welcome progress over time, we are acutely conscious that Wales still has the highest combined rates of neonatal and stillbirth deaths of all the UK nations. This underlines the need for further action, and as a new Welsh Government we are determined to improve the safety of midwifery services. As a first step, we are convening a graduate summit to address longstanding issues in the availability of employment posts for medical graduates, including in the current midwifery cohort. Our new NHS workforce plan, the first iteration of which will be published in the autumn, will also set out the longer-term approach to sustaining safe levels of staffing. This is being undertaken in conjunction with the work to implement the recommendations set out in the Path to Safer Beginnings report, published February 2026, which sets out clear actions to improve maternity safety. We are also exploring ways of improving data collection in this area so that service performance can be more effectively monitored. These actions are being taken forward through a structured improvement programme over the next three years, providing a clear and disciplined framework to support safe, sustainable and long-term change. This phased approach will support maternity and neonatal services to embed meaningful improvements while maintaining a strong focus on quality and safety. Welsh Government will continue to monitor progress to inform policy development.
It is worth noting that in Wales, year to year variation in rates can be more pronounced due to smaller numbers of births. It is therefore important to consider longer term trends, which demonstrate overall improvement. The MBRRACE UK report shows that babies in the most deprived areas and those from Black and Asian ethnic groups are still at higher risk of death.
WQ99032 · Tabled · Answered
Does the Welsh Government plan to introduce air pollution checks around landfill sites to monitor the impact of operations on local communities?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability
Regulation of landfill sites in Wales is the responsibility of Natural Resources Wales, which monitors compliance with environmental permits and takes action where standards are not met. We expect Natural Resources Wales and operators to take all necessary steps to minimise impacts on nearby communities and to respond appropriately where concerns are raised.
We are working closely with Natural Resources Wales to explore how odour monitoring could be taken forward in practice. As part of this, we have allocated funding to support further work on enhanced odour monitoring at landfill sites in Wales.
This work will assess the feasibility and practical application of automated monitoring, how it could operate on the ground, how the data would inform regulatory decision-making, and the infrastructure and resources required. It will help ensure that any future approach to odour monitoring is both technically robust and proportionate, and that it strengthens the ability of regulators to respond effectively to community concerns.
We will continue to work with Natural Resources Wales and other partners to assess the outcomes of this feasibility work and consider next steps in light of the findings.
WQ99031 · Tabled · Answered
What are the Welsh Government’s priorities for improving waste services?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability
The Welsh Government’s priorities for improving waste services are to reduce waste, keep materials in use for longer and continue improving recycling performance.
We are proud that Wales is already the second highest performing nation worldwide for municipal recycling. We will continue to work in partnership with Local Authorities to further improve and decarbonise recycling services, supported by the provision of capital funding for infrastructure improvement and expert advice.
We are also committed to the ‘polluter pays’ principle and its role in encouraging the collection of more useful materials to feed back into our economy. Our continuing work on the Deposit Return Scheme and our ongoing collaboration with the UK Government in relation to the packaging extended producer responsibility scheme are good examples of this as we move towards a more circular economy.
WQ99030 · Tabled · Answered
Does the Welsh Government have any plans to reduce the amount of distance that waste must travel to landfill sites?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability
The Welsh Government’s priority is to reduce reliance on landfill and the overall amount of waste managed in Wales by moving waste up the hierarchy through prevention, reuse and recycling.
The Welsh Government is committed to keeping materials in use for as long as possible and minimising waste. On this, Wales has made significant progress, with only 0.7% of municipal waste sent to landfill in 2024–25. Our focus is on continuing this transition to reduce the need for disposal and treatment.
We are supporting this through investment in infrastructure so waste can be managed more sustainably and closer to where it is produced, helping to reduce unnecessary transport and improve local resource efficiency. A range of regulatory and fiscal measures underpin this approach, including landfill tax and the Workplace Recycling Regulations, which increase recycling and reduce residual waste.
Our focus is therefore on reducing the need for all waste treatment, wherever waste originates. Through our ongoing policy development and investment in infrastructure, we are supporting a more self-sufficient circular economy in Wales. We are also introducing digital waste tracking to improve transparency across the waste chain.
Decisions about the sourcing and acceptance of waste at landfill sites are matters for operators within their permit conditions. Natural Resources Wales is responsible for regulating and enforcing those permits to ensure compliance with environmental requirements.
The movement of waste, including imports from other parts of the UK and internationally, operates within a wider regulatory and market framework. Waste can only be transported and managed where operators are appropriately authorised and where strict legal controls are met. These arrangements are governed in part by UK‑wide and international rules, which limit the extent to which the Welsh Government can directly control the origin of waste entering Wales.
WQ99029 · Tabled · Answered
What plans does the Welsh Government have to reduce the amount of waste that Wales takes in from other countries?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability
The Welsh Government’s priority is to reduce reliance on landfill and the overall amount of waste managed in Wales by moving waste up the hierarchy through prevention, reuse and recycling.
The Welsh Government is committed to keeping materials in use for as long as possible and minimising waste. On this, Wales has made significant progress, with only 0.7% of municipal waste sent to landfill in 2024–25. Our focus is on continuing this transition to reduce the need for disposal and treatment.
We are supporting this through investment in infrastructure so waste can be managed more sustainably and closer to where it is produced, helping to reduce unnecessary transport and improve local resource efficiency. A range of regulatory and fiscal measures underpin this approach, including landfill tax and the Workplace Recycling Regulations, which increase recycling and reduce residual waste.
Our focus is therefore on reducing the need for all waste treatment, wherever waste originates. Through our ongoing policy development and investment in infrastructure, we are supporting a more self-sufficient circular economy in Wales. We are also introducing digital waste tracking to improve transparency across the waste chain.
Decisions about the sourcing and acceptance of waste at landfill sites are matters for operators within their permit conditions. Natural Resources Wales is responsible for regulating and enforcing those permits to ensure compliance with environmental requirements.
The movement of waste, including imports from other parts of the UK and internationally, operates within a wider regulatory and market framework. Waste can only be transported and managed where operators are appropriately authorised and where strict legal controls are met. These arrangements are governed in part by UK-wide and international rules, which limit the extent to which the Welsh Government can directly control the origin of waste entering Wales.
WQ99028 · Tabled · Answered
What is the Welsh Government doing to ensure waste operators comply with all environmental obligations?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability
The Welsh Government expects all waste operators to meet their environmental obligations in full and takes compliance very seriously.
Responsibility for regulating the waste sector in Wales rests with Natural Resources Wales (NRW). NRW undertakes risk‑based permitting, monitoring and enforcement of waste activities, and responds to any incidents that may pose a risk to people or the environment. Where standards are not met, NRW applies a proportionate approach to enforcement, ranging from advice and guidance through to formal action, including prosecution in the most serious cases.
We continue to support NRW in this important role by ensuring it has the powers and resources it needs to take effective action. This includes providing additional funding to strengthen regulatory capacity and support targeted work to tackle waste crime, alongside the use of intelligence-led approaches and new technologies to identify and disrupt illegal activity.
We are also working closely with partners across Wales and the UK to improve compliance across the waste chain. This includes collaboration through the Joint Unit for Waste Crime and joint working with organisations such as HMRC and the Welsh Revenue Authority to address issues such as the misdescription of waste and tax evasion.
Alongside this, we are introducing digital waste tracking. This will increase transparency and help us identify and address non‑compliance more quickly.
Taken together, this package of regulatory oversight, enforcement activity and system reform helps ensure that waste is managed safely and legally in Wales, while supporting our wider environmental and circular economy ambitions.
WQ99027 · Tabled · Answered
Will the Welsh Government introduce targets to reduce rates of stillbirths and neonatal deaths in Wales?
Answered by Deputy Minister for Social Care, Mental Health and Women’s Health
The Welsh Government recognises the deeply distressing impact of losing a baby at any stage of pregnancy. While the latest MBRRACE UK report, published on 11 June 2026, reflects some welcome progress in terms of reductions in overall stillbirth and mortality rates, we are acutely aware of the need for further action to improve outcomes for babies and parents in Wales. This is a key priority for the Welsh Government, and in this respect we are reviewing how service performance is monitored. This includes improving data collection in this area.
WQ99025 · Tabled · Answered
What is the Welsh Government doing to reduce the number of stillborn and neonatal deaths in Wales?
Answered by Deputy Minister for Social Care, Mental Health and Women’s Health
The Welsh Government recognises the deeply distressing impact of losing a baby at any stage of pregnancy. Improving outcomes for babies and reducing stillbirths and neonatal deaths remain key priorities. We are committed to driving continuous improvement in the safety and quality of maternity and neonatal services across Wales. This commitment is underpinned by the Quality Statement for Maternity and Neonatal services which sets out our national vision for safe, equitable, and high-quality care. It supports the delivery of consistent standards across Wales, with a strong focus on reducing avoidable harm, including stillbirth and neonatal deaths, by promoting evidence-based practice and continuous improvement within every health board.
Alongside the quality statement, the Path to Safer Beginnings report, published in February 2026, provides an objective and comprehensive assessment of maternity and neonatal services. The recommendations from the report are being taken forward through a structured improvement programme over the next three years, providing a clear and disciplined framework to support safe, sustainable and long-term change. This phased approach will support services to embed meaningful improvements while maintaining a strong focus on quality and safety.
WQ99024 · Tabled · Answered
What engagement is the Welsh Government having with organisations like Movember to discuss men’s health?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
Substantive answer
WQ99023 · Tabled · Answered
Will the Welsh Government introduce a men’s health strategy in this Senedd?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
Substantive answer
WQ99022 · Tabled · Answered
Will the Cabinet Minister confirm how many operations have been cancelled in the last month due to a shortage of anaesthetists at Bronglais hospital?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
Under the National Health Service (Wales) Act 2006, Local Health Boards are responsible for planning and delivering services to meet the needs of their local populations, including managing workforce capacity and the scheduling of operations. As such, this level of operational detail sits with Hywel Dda University Health Board, which manages Bronglais Hospital.
WQ98908 · Tabled · Answered
Further to WQ98788, will the Cabinet Minister provide a breakdown of the actions being taken to implement the remaining 24 recommendations in the Commission for Welsh-speaking Communities report 'Empowering communities, strengthening the Welsh language'?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
Substantive response
WQ98907 · Tabled · Answered
What discussions is the Welsh Government having about increasing the number of banking hubs across Wales?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy
Financial services are reserved matters. Banking hub provision, local access to cash reviews are undertaken independently by LINK, with recommendations for the introduction of banking hubs passed to Cash Access UK who operates on behalf of participating banks to delivery hubs.
The network of shared banking hubs across Wales continues to expand - there are now 15 shared banking hubs open in Wales with 3 further in the process of being established.
WQ98906 · Tabled · Answered
What is the Welsh Government doing to improve access to banking facilities in west Wales?
Answered by Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Minister for Social Justice and Equality
Financial services are reserved matters. Banking services, including the provision of shared banking hubs, are led at a UK level and Welsh Government is not directly involved in their delivery or funding. The Welsh Government recognises the impact of bank branch closures on communities across Wales and is engaged with the regulator (FCA) and responsible UK Government Ministers in relation to these matters, and we will engage with the recently announced UK Government-led independent review into access to in‑person banking services.
WQ98905 · Tabled · Answered
Further to WQ98794, will the Cabinet Minister confirm when will the Welsh Government be holding a consultation on the use of permitted development rights?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning
Substantive response
WQ98904 · Tabled · Answered
What support does the Welsh Government provide to men diagnosed with prostate cancer?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
The NHS offers men a comprehensive package of care and support for the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer in line with NICE recommended clinical practice (Overview | Prostate cancer: diagnosis and management | Guidance | NICE).
Our national approach focuses on improving the timeliness of investigation and treatment, as measured by the cancer waiting time.
We have made a commitment to introduce a new Cancer Plan for Wales, including a focus on early detection, and preparatory work is already underway to take this forward.
WQ98903 · Tabled · Answered
Does the Welsh Government have any plans to introduce a national screening programme for prostate cancer in Wales?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
Following its consideration of the available evidence the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) has recommended a nationally managed approach to biennial targeted prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening should be implemented for men aged 45 to 61 who have a pathogenic germline BRCA2 variant, and have a family history of breast, ovarian, pancreatic or prostate cancer.
The UK NSC has not recommended population‑wide prostate cancer screening or screening for men without a pathogenic BRCA2 variant, including those with family history alone or black men without a BRCA2 variant, due to insufficient evidence and because the potential harm outweighs the benefits for most men. Further research is planned to address current evidence gaps and the UK NSC will consider new evidence as it becomes available.
The Welsh Government will carefully consider the UK NSC recommendation and its implications for Wales before any decisions are taken on implementation. This will involve working with the NHS in Wales and third sector. Anyone with symptoms of, or concerns about, prostate cancer should contact their GP.
WQ98902 · Tabled · Answered
What plans does the Welsh Government have to increase rail services in Ceredigion Penfro?
Answered by Deputy Minister for Transport
Transport for Wales are considering options for increasing the frequency of services on the Pembroke Dock line and Milford Haven alongside the Swansea Bay and West Wales Metro proposals. Transport for Wales run additional services on the Cambrian Line in the summer months and will be introducing their new CAF trains on the line later this year which is an essential component of delivering any further increase in services.
WQ98901 · Tabled · Answered
What is the Welsh Government doing to improve rail services to and from Welsh ports?
Answered by Deputy Minister for Transport
High quality rail connections to our ports are important for providing sustainable transport options for passengers. Transport for Wales have already improved rail connectivity at Holyhead with the extension of the hourly service direct service to Manchester Airport, enabling passengers across North Wales and Northern Western England to have improved direct rail connectivity to the port. Transport for Wales are also considering options for increasing the frequency of services on the Pembroke Dock line and Milford Haven alongside the Swansea Bay and West Wales Metro proposals.
WQ98900 · Tabled · Answered
What is the Welsh Government doing to ensure that new direct train services will be delivered between west Wales and Bristol?
Answered by Deputy Minister for Transport
I am committed to improving connectivity for people across Wales and the borders as part of a modern integrated transport network. Transport for Wales have developed a proposal for direct rail service between West Wales and Bristol that will be economically beneficial for South Wales and the South West of England and will enable more opportunities for commuting, leisure and tourism journeys by rail. I will be raising the importance of this new service proposal with the UK Government when I meet with Rail Minister in the coming weeks.
WQ98899 · Tabled · Answered
What consideration has the Welsh Government given to replacing the Salmon and Sea Trout licence with an all-species Fresh Water Fishing licence?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability
Natural Resources Wales (NRW), in line with its statutory duties is responsible for the management of salmon, sewin and freshwater fisheries in Wales. This includes provisions relating to fishing licences which are issued on an England and Wales basis, with licence holders able to fish in either country.
NRW currently have no plans to review the structure of fishing licences.
WQ98796 · Tabled · Answered
When does the Cabinet Minister intend to publish the Welsh Government’s culture strategy?
Answered by Trefnydd, Chief Whip and Cabinet Minister for Culture and Sport
Our commitments for our first 100 days in office include a promise to launch a consultation on the new strategy, and work has already begun to progress this work.
We are working with key stakeholders and delivery partners to shape the new strategy, and our approach includes meaningful and inclusive dialogue with stakeholders across the arts, sport, culture, heritage and creative industries sectors.
Further details, including indicative publication timescales, will be set out in due Course.
WQ98795 · Tabled · Answered
What are the Welsh Government’s legislative priorities for the tourism sector in this Senedd?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy
Our legislative programme will be announced in due course.
WQ98794 · Tabled · Answered
What plans does the Welsh Government have to review article 4 planning restrictions?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning
Planning authorities can use a direction power under article 4 of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 to restrict the use of national permitted development rights for different types of development. We will be holding a consultation on the use of permitted development rights.
WQ98793 · Tabled · Answered
Will the Cabinet Minister confirm when he intends to review the role of Visit Wales?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy
We recognise the importance of a thriving tourism industry in Wales and of ensuring we have the right mechanisms in place to support it. We are preparing to review the role of Visit Wales, as pledged in our manifesto, and will update the Senedd in due course.
WQ98792 · Tabled · Answered
How does the Welsh Government intend to work with the private sector in relation to Welsh language standards?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
I am grateful to the private sector bodies that are already providing Welsh language services to their customers, and welcome the Welsh Language Commissioner’s work through the Cynnig Cymraeg scheme to increase the use of Welsh in the private sector.
Improving Welsh language services and giving Welsh speakers an opportunity to use the language across all sectors is a priority for us, including when dealing with bodies from the private sector. We are currently considering our priorities for introducing Welsh language standards to more sectors.
WQ98791 · Tabled · Answered
When will the Welsh Government publish its Welsh education workforce scheme?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
The current Welsh in Education Workforce Plan was published in May 2022. The Welsh Language and Education (Wales) Act 2025 places a duty on Welsh Ministers to prepare a National Framework for Welsh Language Education and Learning Welsh, which will include workforce planning. The National Framework is expected to be the subject of consultation in autumn 226.
WQ98790 · Tabled · Answered
What are the Welsh Government’s legislative priorities for the Welsh language in this Senedd?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
Legislating is an integral part of our work programme for the Welsh language. In addition to subordinate legislation to implement the Welsh Language and Education Act, the Government will consider how primary legislation can support Welsh-speaking communities, expand Welsh-language services and protect Welsh place names.
WQ98789 · Tabled · Answered
Will the Cabinet Minister provide an update on the implementation of the recommendations in the Commission for Welsh-speaking Communities report 'Cymraeg in every community, strengthening the Welsh language'?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
My intention is to provide a formal response to the report and recommendations, ‘Cymraeg in Every Community: Strengthening the Welsh Language,’ before the end of this year. We are already working across government to ensure that there is a plan for implementing the recommendations.
WQ98788 · Tabled · Answered
Will the Cabinet Minister provide an update on the implementation of the recommendations in the Commission for Welsh-speaking Communities report 'Empowering communities, strengthening the Welsh language'?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
The Commission's report contained 57 recommendations. 45 were referred to the Welsh Government with 12 directed towards other organisations. The Government was unable to accept 5 of the recommendations. The Government has already implemented 16 of the recommendations and work is ongoing on implement the remaining 24 recommendations.
WQ98787 · Tabled · Answered
Will the Welsh Government introduce a clear waiting time guarantee for epilepsy referrals?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
The Welsh Government want to ensure that all people living with chronic neurological conditions, including Epilepsy, have access to safe and high-quality services. This is at the heart of the Quality Statement for Neurological Conditions (the Quality Statement) published by Welsh Government in November 2022.
The Quality Statement Quality Statement for Neurological Conditions sets out our ambition and strategic direction for health services for people with neurological conditions, and the outcomes and standards we expect health boards to achieve in delivering those services. Whilst there is no specific target for epilepsy referrals in Wales, all Quality Statements reference the delivery of treatment in line with the extant evidence, and relevant clinical guidance and standards, including those published by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. We expect all NHS organisations in Wales to use the Quality Statement as the basis for planning how services for people with neurological conditions are developed and delivered.
All health boards are supported nationally to implement the Quality Statement through the National Strategic Clinical Network for Neurological Conditions (NSCNNC) in NHS Wales Performance and Improvement. The NSCNNC has being leading a number of areas of work regarding epilepsy, these include:
The NHS Wales workforce is supported through national education and training arrangements led by Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW). HEIW commissions pre-registration nursing education to sustain workforce supply and funds post-registration training, including advanced practice and independent prescribing, which underpin the development of specialist capabilities such as epilepsy care. While HEIW provides national leadership on education and workforce development, responsibility for workforce deployment and service configuration rests with health boards and trusts, who assess local population needs and ensure appropriate access to epilepsy expertise within their services. These considerations will also inform the development of the Welsh Governments new national workforce strategy for the NHS, to be published in the autumn.
WQ98786 · Tabled · Answered
What is the Welsh Government doing to a) increase the number of epilepsy specialist nurses and b) ensure every health board has dedicated epilepsy experts?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
The Welsh Government want to ensure that all people living with chronic neurological conditions, including Epilepsy, have access to safe and high-quality services. This is at the heart of the Quality Statement for Neurological Conditions (the Quality Statement) published by Welsh Government in November 2022.
The Quality Statement Quality Statement for Neurological Conditions sets out our ambition and strategic direction for health services for people with neurological conditions, and the outcomes and standards we expect health boards to achieve in delivering those services. Whilst there is no specific target for epilepsy referrals in Wales, all Quality Statements reference the delivery of treatment in line with the extant evidence, and relevant clinical guidance and standards, including those published by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. We expect all NHS organisations in Wales to use the Quality Statement as the basis for planning how services for people with neurological conditions are developed and delivered.
All health boards are supported nationally to implement the Quality Statement through the National Strategic Clinical Network for Neurological Conditions (NSCNNC) in NHS Wales Performance and Improvement. The NSCNNC has being leading a number of areas of work regarding epilepsy, these include:
The NHS Wales workforce is supported through national education and training arrangements led by Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW). HEIW commissions pre-registration nursing education to sustain workforce supply and funds post-registration training, including advanced practice and independent prescribing, which underpin the development of specialist capabilities such as epilepsy care. While HEIW provides national leadership on education and workforce development, responsibility for workforce deployment and service configuration rests with health boards and trusts, who assess local population needs and ensure appropriate access to epilepsy expertise within their services. These considerations will also inform the development of the Welsh Governments new national workforce strategy for the NHS, to be published in the autumn.
WQ98785 · Tabled · Answered
What is the Welsh Government doing to improve epilepsy services in the Hywel Dda University Health Board area?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
The Welsh Government want to ensure that all people living with chronic neurological conditions, including Epilepsy, have access to safe and high-quality services. This is at the heart of the Quality Statement for Neurological Conditions (the Quality Statement) published by Welsh Government in November 2022.
The Quality Statement Quality Statement for Neurological Conditions sets out our ambition and strategic direction for health services for people with neurological conditions, and the outcomes and standards we expect health boards to achieve in delivering those services. Whilst there is no specific target for epilepsy referrals in Wales, all Quality Statements reference the delivery of treatment in line with the extant evidence, and relevant clinical guidance and standards, including those published by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. We expect all NHS organisations in Wales to use the Quality Statement as the basis for planning how services for people with neurological conditions are developed and delivered.
All health boards are supported nationally to implement the Quality Statement through the National Strategic Clinical Network for Neurological Conditions (NSCNNC) in NHS Wales Performance and Improvement. The NSCNNC has being leading a number of areas of work regarding epilepsy, these include:
The NHS Wales workforce is supported through national education and training arrangements led by Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW). HEIW commissions pre-registration nursing education to sustain workforce supply and funds post-registration training, including advanced practice and independent prescribing, which underpin the development of specialist capabilities such as epilepsy care. While HEIW provides national leadership on education and workforce development, responsibility for workforce deployment and service configuration rests with health boards and trusts, who assess local population needs and ensure appropriate access to epilepsy expertise within their services. These considerations will also inform the development of the Welsh Governments new national workforce strategy for the NHS, to be published in the autumn.
WQ98668 · Tabled · Answered
What support has the Welsh Government received from the UK Government’s creative industries strategy?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy
The Welsh Government recognises the creative industries as a key driver of growth, innovation and opportunity in the Welsh economy. We are pleased to see the UK Government’s focus on the creative industries in its industrial strategy through the Creative Industries Sector Plan. However, further action is needed to ensure the benefits of this strategy are being fully realised in Wales. We will therefore be working with the UK Government to reset the relationship to ensure this strategy meets the needs of the sector in Wales and is delivered in line with the devolution settlement.
WQ98667 · Tabled · Answered
What financial support does the Welsh Government intend to provide to local press and media outlets?
Answered by Trefnydd, Chief Whip and Cabinet Minister for Culture and Sport
As stated in our pre-election manifesto, this government is committed to building on existing public support for journalism in Wales, including the previous Public Interest Journalism Fund and dedicated Senedd reporter post. We will also continue to explore options for sustainable long-term funding mechanisms for the sector as well as training pathways and professional protection for journalists, details of which will be announced in due course.
WQ98666 · Tabled · Answered
What additional resources is the Cabinet Minister planning to make available for the a) arts and culture and b) sport sectors?
Answered by Trefnydd, Chief Whip and Cabinet Minister for Culture and Sport
Funded programmes across Government will be reviewed in as part of the budgetary planning process by the current Welsh Government.
This is a new Government with a clear mandate and ambitious priorities for the people of Wales. We came into office with a detailed programme for government and we are committed to delivering it.
As part of the budgetary process, we are now carefully reviewing both the level of funding required and how it can be targeted most effectively, to ensure every pound delivers the greatest possible benefit for the people of Wales.
These are early days for this Government, and we are working at pace. We will set out our approach to funding our priorities in due course, and we are committed to doing so in a transparent and responsible way.
WQ98665 · Tabled · Answered
How much funding has the Welsh Government received as a result of the UK Government’s Youth Matters: Your National Youth Strategy?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
The UK Government’s ‘Youth Matters: Your National Youth Strategy’ includes a number of funding commitments across a wide range of interventions aimed at supporting young people. These interventions are being funded from within existing UK departmental budgets which will not lead to additional Barnett consequentials for the Welsh Government.
WQ98664 · Tabled · Answered
How much funding has the Welsh Government received as a result of the UK Government’s announcement of £1.5 billion funding for cultural organisations?
Answered by Trefnydd, Chief Whip and Cabinet Minister for Culture and Sport
The UK Government’s package to restore national pride is being funded from within existing UK departmental budgets which will not lead to additional Barnett consequentials for the Welsh Government. The Arts Everywhere Fund is an England only fund and therefore cultural organisations in Wales will not benefit from this funding.
WQ98663 · Tabled · Answered
How is the Welsh Government building an accurate picture of the occupational therapy workforce to improve workforce planning?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
The Welsh Government recognises the important role occupational therapists play within primary and community care, supporting prevention, rehabilitation and independent living.
Investment in the occupational therapy workforce is primarily delivered through our national education and training commissioning arrangements. Each year, Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW) provide advice to Welsh Ministers on the number of training places required across all professions, including occupational therapy, based on service need and workforce plans submitted by NHS organisations. This ensures commissioning decisions align with our ambition to strengthen primary and community care services, with an increasing focus on prevention, early intervention and care delivered closer to home.
These arrangements also underpin how we build and maintain an accurate picture of the occupational therapy workforce. Workforce plans submitted by NHS organisations, alongside wider service and population needs, inform HEIW’s advice and ensure that commissioning decisions are evidence-based and responsive to demand across primary and community services.
In recent years, we have supported growth in the occupational therapy workforce through sustained commissioning of training places. For 2026–27, there has been a reduction in commissioned training numbers. This reflects a planned, one‑year stabilising position following earlier expansion and is based on careful assessment of workforce demand, training capacity and placement availability. It is important that we balance supply with the system’s ability to train and employ graduates effectively.
As with all areas of public service, these decisions are taken within the context of the overall resources available, and we must ensure that investment in education and training is targeted where it will have the greatest impact in supporting service delivery.
Through this approach, we continue to support a sustainable pipeline of occupational therapists, with commissioning decisions reflecting the increasing need for rehabilitation, reablement and early intervention services delivered closer to home.
We will continue to keep both the workforce evidence base and commissioning levels under regular review, working with HEIW, NHS Wales and partners to ensure the occupational therapy workforce is appropriately sized and well positioned to support primary care and community services. We have been clear that NHS Wales needs a long-term workforce strategy, and we will publish this in the autumn.
WQ98662 · Tabled · Answered
What plans does the Welsh Government have to expand and invest in occupational therapists within primary care?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
The Welsh Government recognises the important role occupational therapists play within primary and community care, supporting prevention, rehabilitation and independent living.
Investment in the occupational therapy workforce is primarily delivered through our national education and training commissioning arrangements. Each year, Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW) provide advice to Welsh Ministers on the number of training places required across all professions, including occupational therapy, based on service need and workforce plans submitted by NHS organisations. This ensures commissioning decisions align with our ambition to strengthen primary and community care services, with an increasing focus on prevention, early intervention and care delivered closer to home.
These arrangements also underpin how we build and maintain an accurate picture of the occupational therapy workforce. Workforce plans submitted by NHS organisations, alongside wider service and population needs, inform HEIW’s advice and ensure that commissioning decisions are evidence-based and responsive to demand across primary and community services.
In recent years, we have supported growth in the occupational therapy workforce through sustained commissioning of training places. For 2026–27, there has been a reduction in commissioned training numbers. This reflects a planned, one‑year stabilising position following earlier expansion and is based on careful assessment of workforce demand, training capacity and placement availability. It is important that we balance supply with the system’s ability to train and employ graduates effectively.
As with all areas of public service, these decisions are taken within the context of the overall resources available, and we must ensure that investment in education and training is targeted where it will have the greatest impact in supporting service delivery.
Through this approach, we continue to support a sustainable pipeline of occupational therapists, with commissioning decisions reflecting the increasing need for rehabilitation, reablement and early intervention services delivered closer to home.
We will continue to keep both the workforce evidence base and commissioning levels under regular review, working with HEIW, NHS Wales and partners to ensure the occupational therapy workforce is appropriately sized and well positioned to support primary care and community services. We have been clear that NHS Wales needs a long-term workforce strategy, and we will publish this in the autumn.
WQ98661 · Tabled · Answered
What is the Welsh Government doing to support and develop the speech and language therapy workforce?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
The Welsh Government recognises the important contribution that speech and language therapists make in supporting people of all ages and is taking forward a range of actions to support and develop this workforce.
Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW), as the statutory body responsible for education and workforce planning, leads the commissioning of training places through its annual Education and Training Commissioning Plan. This is developed in partnership with NHS organisations and informed by workforce planning data, taking account of service need, education capacity, placement availability and funding.
While training places have increased in recent years, a lower number of places has been commissioned for 2026–27. This measured approach ensures priority programmes are sustained and provides a one-year stabilising position while the Welsh Government and HEIW undertake detailed scenario modelling and develop a strengthened, longer-term workforce planning and commissioning model. We have been clear that NHS Wales needs a long-term workforce strategy, and we will publish this in the autumn.
There are two speech and language therapy degree programmes in Wales, including provision which supports the development of Welsh-speaking therapists and improved access to services through the medium of Welsh.
The Welsh Government also provides core funding to HEIW to support wider workforce priorities, including improving retention, wellbeing and workforce planning across allied health professions.
We remain committed to working with partners to ensure the speech and language therapy workforce is sustainable and aligned to service need.
WQ98660 · Tabled · Answered
Does the Welsh Government have any plans to introduce a national pay scale for social workers?
Answered by Deputy Minister for Social Care, Mental Health and Women’s Health
We will work with Social Care Wales, local authorities and other partners to review the challenges facing the social worker workforce, including issues of pay, recruitment and retention.
We will use the range of work undertaken across the sector to explore greater consistency in pay and conditions, including work led by the Welsh Local Government Association and the All-Wales Pledge on agency social workers, which harmonised pay rates aimed at reducing movement from permanent to agency roles, and improving stability.
Alongside this, developments such as the voluntary Pay and Progression Framework are helping to build the evidence base on how more consistent pay levels and career structures can be supported over time. While currently focused on part of the social care workforce, there is an ambition for this work to evolve to include social workers.
This collective work provides a foundation, and as a new government we will use it to inform our future considerations on workforce policy, including approaches to pay.
WQ98659 · Tabled · Answered
How is the Welsh Government supporting the social care workforce?
Answered by Deputy Minister for Social Care, Mental Health and Women’s Health
The Welsh Government is committed to supporting our social care workforce in Wales.
As a government we have committed to social partnership with trade unions, employers and government to guide solutions to complex challenges.
We have committed to ensuring that the Real Living Wage is paid as a minimum to social care workers in Wales. An evaluation published in Autumn last year suggested 84% of the workforce are currently receiving the Real Living Wage and we will ensure that we target the 16% who aren’t. As well as introducing more stringent monitoring mechanisms, we will use the review of the National Commissioning Framework to strengthen this commitment.
A number of areas are currently under consideration, including the recently published voluntary Pay and Progression Framework, proposals relating to a Social Care Negotiating Body for Wales where evidence and stakeholder feedback are being reviewed to help inform possible next steps.
In addition, we are now considering the next iteration of the Social Care Workforce Delivery Plan to ensure that its priorities and actions remain the right focus for the social care workforce in Wales. This will include aligning the Delivery Plan with the emerging priorities of our new Welsh government.
A range of wider activity is in place to support the workforce, including support for overseas workers, and initiatives focused on recruitment, retention, skills development and career progression.
In addition, we want to support and promote innovation across the sector, particularly in how the workforce is planned and delivered. This includes supporting and expanding social enterprise and co‑operative models of care, which can provide more flexible and community‑based approaches.
Some smaller, community-based providers offer personalised care in ways that enable flexibility and responsiveness to people’s needs. We are working closely with stakeholders to ensure that these approaches continue to provide safe, high-quality care, while supporting innovation in how services are delivered.
Personal assistants also play a vital role in this landscape, providing direct, person‑centred support that enables people to have greater choice and control over their care.
Taken together, this work is helping to build a broader understanding of how best to support a stable, skilled and valued social care workforce in Wales, while informing future priorities.
WQ98658 · Tabled · Answered
What steps will the Welsh Government take to reduce sewage discharges in west Wales?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability
The Welsh Government is committed to improving water quality across Wales and reducing sewage discharges through a stronger, system-wide approach. We will prioritise targeted investment in wastewater infrastructure and drainage systems, including action to address storm overflows where they cause the greatest environmental harm.
WQ98657 · Tabled · Answered
What is the Welsh Government doing to support the road haulage industry in Wales?
Answered by Deputy Minister for Transport
The Welsh Government recognises the critical economic importance of the road haulage industry in Wales. I will progress the actions outlined in the Maritime & Logistics Plan and have asked officials to establish the new Maritime & Logistics Council for Wales as an immediate first step. I will also be welcoming representatives from the road haulage industry at introductory meetings over the coming weeks and look forward to developing effective working relationships with the logistics sector in Wales. These actions sit alongside this Government’s priority work on options for the Menai Straits crossings and the M4 around Brynglas - both critical points on our strategic road network and vital for resilient and reliable freight movements.
WQ98656 · Tabled · Answered
When will the Welsh Government publish a review of red tape and bureaucracy in Welsh agriculture?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability
I will commission a review of the bureaucratic burden on family farms within the first 100 days of government and I intend to make a statement on the leadership and scope of this review in due course.
Official verbatim record: each question and answer as the Record prints it. Answers are signed with a job title, as published.