Siambr · Paul Davies
Written questions
183 written questions on record from the Seventh Senedd on, newest first. Page 4 of 4.
WQ98655 · Tabled · Answered
Further to WQ98519, what steps will the Welsh Government take to move away from a ‘farming by calendar’ approach?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability
Our Manifesto set out our commitment to implement a new science-led, outcomes based and risk-proportionate approach to managing nitrate vulnerability across catchments – moving beyond the outdated ‘farming by calendar’ approach and supporting farmers to adopt new technologies and practices to reduce agricultural water pollution. We need to understand all our options and come to a sustainable solution that is outcome focused, delivering both flexibility for farmers and better environmental outcomes for our river and marine ecosystems.
WQ98654 · Tabled · Answered
How is the Welsh Government working with local authorities to scrap car parking charges in towns in west Wales?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning
The development and implementation of local parking policies and strategies is the responsibility of local authorities and does not involve the Welsh Government.
WQ98525 · Tabled · Answered
What is the Welsh Government doing to improve water quality in west Wales?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability
Our manifesto sets out our ambition to improve water quality. We will also seek to collect more and better data on pollution incidents and ensure improvements in water quality across Wales, including west Wales. Alongside this, we will review the response to the Green Paper on the future of water governance in Wales, to develop our approach for delivering a new water regulator. We will work with existing regulators, Ofwat and NRW, and the water companies, making clear our expectation for stronger accountability, improved monitoring, and more effective enforcement. This will help Welsh communities have greater confidence that water quality will improve.
WQ98524 · Tabled · Answered
What is the Welsh Government’s house building target for the Pembrokeshire local authority area and the Ceredigion local authority area in this Senedd?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning
The Welsh Government has not set any house building targets by local authority area in this Senedd.
WQ98523 · Tabled · Answered
How will the Welsh Government ensure rural local authorities are given a fairer allocation of funding from the Welsh Government in the future?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning
We recognised in our manifesto that over 80% of Wales is rural. We will review the funding formula for local government so that it better reflects the real cost of delivering services in different parts of Wales. We will set out further details on our proposals in due course.
WQ98522 · Tabled · Answered
What urgent discussions is the Welsh Government having with planning authorities to ensure that developments can go ahead, following ongoing concerns in relation to river nitrates?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning
Planning guidance has been issued; including a clarification note on “Applying the Tests of Soundness to Local Development Plans (LDPs) where additional nutrients may impact on Special Areas of Conservation (SACs)”.
Officials continue to engage with local authorities affected by nutrient issues to provide support, and monitor and assess how guidance is being implemented to ensure that developments can go ahead.
WQ98521 · Tabled · Answered
What support will the Welsh Government provide the shooting sector?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability
This Government recognises the contribution shooting makes to the conservation ecosystem in Wales. We also value its economic and cultural importance to our rural communities.
Our plans for rural resilience have been set out in our First 100-day plan and in For Wales, our 2026 Manifesto. We will work at pace to tackle the things that matter to people in their everyday lives, delivering change that everyone can feel and restoring trust in government.
WQ98520 · Tabled · Answered
What support will the Welsh Government offer to households in rural communities who rely on off-grid gas and heating oil?
Answered by Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Minister for Social Justice and Equality
Substantive response
WQ98519 · Tabled · Answered
Does the Welsh Government intend to review the Water Resources (Control of Agricultural Pollution) (Wales) Regulations 2021?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability
Our Manifesto sets out our commitment to implement a new science-led, outcomes based and risk-proportionate approach to managing nitrate vulnerability across catchments – moving beyond the outdated ‘farming by calendar’ approach and supporting farmers to adopt new technologies and practices to reduce agricultural water pollution.
WQ98518 · Tabled · Answered
What plans does the Welsh Government have to tackle Bovine TB holistically in the wildlife reservoir?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability
The Welsh Government intend to draw on the advice of the TB Technical Advisory Group, Programme Board and others in implementing a new approach to managing bovine TB.
WQ98517 · Tabled · Answered
How will the Welsh Government ensure parity between academic and vocational education?
Answered by Deputy Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education
Substantive response
WQ98516 · Tabled · Answered
How will the Welsh Government protect parental choice so that children can learn through the medium of English or Welsh?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
Our priority is to ensure that all learners have the opportunity to become bilingual through the education system, gaining strong skills in both Welsh and English. Welsh-medium education is an effective way of achieving this, enabling learners to develop high standards in both languages.
The Welsh Language and Education (Wales) Act, passed unanimously in the Senedd last year, provides a clear framework to achieve this, and alongside the Curriculum for Wales, will enable all learners to make progress in Welsh regardless of their school language category. Local authorities are responsible for the planning of school places. They are also responsible for improving the planning and provision of Welsh-medium education through their Welsh in Education Strategic Plans. We’ve committed to use the full powers of the Welsh Language and Education (Wales) Act to ensure all learners are given a fair chance of becoming bilingual in both Welsh and English by the time they leave school.
WQ98515 · Tabled · Answered
How does the Welsh Government intend to reduce absenteeism in schools?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
The Welsh Government is committed to reducing absenteeism through a coordinated, whole-system approach that addresses its underlying causes and impact on learners.
We will fully consider a range of approaches over the coming months, including bringing forward plans to develop a national framework to strengthen collaboration between services, ensuring pupils and families receive timely, coordinated support to improve engagement and attendance.
We will also improve consistency across the system by sharing best practice more systematically between schools at local and national levels, supported by clearer and more consistent arrangements for recording and reporting attendance and behaviour incidents.
WQ98514 · Tabled · Answered
How will the Welsh Government ensure that any active travel schemes it supports do not disadvantage people with vision impairment or put them at risk?
Answered by Deputy Minister for Transport
The Welsh Government requires local authorities to ensure that active travel schemes are safe and inclusive for all users, including people with vision impairment. This is supported through the Active Travel Act Guidance (ATAG), additional Welsh Government guidance on inclusive engagement, and the “Travel for All” principles, which emphasise a transport network accessible for all in Wales.
Highway Authorities developing new active travel routes must undertake meaningful, inclusive engagement in line with the ABC principles (Accessible, Broad and Clear), as set out in ATAG, ensuring that the needs and lived experiences of visually impaired people inform scheme development and design.
In the recent Active Travel Act Guidance draft consultation, the concerns raised about legibility for blind and partially sighted users, and about potential conflict between people walking, wheeling and people cycling, led directly to design changes, which have strengthened our guidance.
In the case of cycle and pedestrian interactions at bus stops, the concerns raised led to strengthened designs that improve legibility and safety for blind and partially sighted users. This included clearer tactile delineation between walking and cycling spaces, more defined routes to key features such as bus stops, and measures to reduce pedestrian–cyclist conflict. Across the options, this includes enhanced use of tactile paving, clearer spatial separation, and features to slow cyclists in higher‑risk areas.
As part of the next steps, Welsh Government is looking to undertake further targeted engagement with blind and partially sighted people to ensure their feedback is fully reflected in the final guidance. We will also continue targeted engagement, supported by forums such as the Inclusive Active Travel Advisory Group and the Transport for Wales Access and Inclusion Panel.
WQ98513 · Tabled · Answered
What plans does the Welsh Government have to improve bus services in west Wales?
Answered by Deputy Minister for Transport
Welsh Government is providing around £16.9 million this year through Bus Network Grant and Bus Service Support Grant to support bus services in South West Wales.
A fleet of new cleaner buses have been deployed on the TrawsCymru T5 route which links Haverfordwest and Aberystwyth, and the frequency of service has been improved.
Longer term, we are moving forward with plans to franchise local bus services. South West Wales will be the first region to be franchised, and Transport for Wales has carried out an extensive public engagement campaign and held workshops with operators and community transport operators in the region. A public report on the findings from the public engagement campaign and next steps has been published.
WQ98512 · Tabled · Answered
What plans does the Welsh Government have to dual the A40 in Pembrokeshire?
Answered by Deputy Minister for Transport
The Welsh Government has no plans to dual the A40 in Pembrokeshire.
WQ98511 · Tabled · Answered
Will the Welsh Government provide an update on the Celtic Freeport?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy
Since the announcement of the Celtic Freeport as a successful bidder, partners have continued to make steady progress in developing governance arrangements, delivery plans, and refining the investment propositions that will underpin the Freeport. While there are still areas requiring further development, the programme is moving forward, with a clear focus on clean energy, advanced manufacturing, and decarbonisation.
Following the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between UK Government, Welsh Government, Neath Port Talbot Council, Pembrokeshire County Council and the Celtic Freeport, officials are working closely with the Freeport consortium to move toward the release of both UK and Welsh Government support for local projects. This work is helping to strengthen the overall proposition and ensure alignment with wider policy objectives.
Further milestones are expected in the coming months as the Celtic Freeport projects are progressed. We will maintain constructive engagement with partners to support delivery, maximise opportunities, and ensure the Freeport contributes to our broader economic and net zero ambitions for Wales.
WQ98510 · Tabled · Answered
How is the Welsh Government supporting the development of floating offshore wind projects in west Wales?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy
Welsh Government is working directly with the two South Wales port operators to refine their approach and fine tune their business offering to the sector. This work will deliver a Celtic Sea Ports Investment Prospectus which will be used as a business development tool by the port operators and Welsh Government officials to attract high value investment to Wales.
Welsh Government is also actively pursuing discussions with the Crown Estate to gain early sight of future seabed leasing rounds, helping to create a commercially viable pipeline for the Celtic Sea. This is being taken forward alongside ongoing engagement with the National Wealth Fund and Great British Energy to unlock infrastructure and supply chain investment across the region.
WQ98509 · Tabled · Answered
When will the Welsh Government be reviewing the 182-day letting vacancy threshold policy introduced by the previous Government?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Finance
Our manifesto included a commitment to keep the 182-day letting threshold under review and create clear and reasonable new exemptions where self-catering accommodation would not qualify as a private home. We will set out further details on our proposals in due course.
WQ98508 · Tabled · Answered
What are the Welsh Government’s immediate plans for supporting live music organisations and events across Wales?
Answered by Trefnydd, Chief Whip and Cabinet Minister for Culture and Sport
The Welsh Government is committed to supporting live music organisations and events across Wales and understand the pressures they are facing currently. This commitment will be embedded in the work undertaken in the first 100 days on a new culture strategy, with a specific focus on exploring what support is needed from the Government to secure their economic viability and sustainability.
To fully realise this, we will adopt a cross-government, partnership approach to this work.
Creative Wales provides advice, guidance and financial support to music organisations, while Events Wales supports events ranging from those staged across multiple small music venues to large outdoor and through our funding to cultural arms-length bodies. As part of our review of Creative Wales, we will evaluate the success of this approach and whether changes need to be made.
WQ98507 · Tabled · Answered
Will the Welsh Government provide additional funding to the arts sector to address cost-of-living pressures?
Answered by Trefnydd, Chief Whip and Cabinet Minister for Culture and Sport
An allocation of £33.6m revenue and £900k capital has been awarded to the Arts Council of Wales in 2026-27 via grant in aid.
This Welsh Government will be taking a new approach to the arts sector by implementing a new Culture Strategy with a commitment to year-on-year funding increases. The strategy will look at the viability of the arts sector in Wales to ensure it can achieve its creative and economic potential.
WQ98506 · Tabled · Answered
How is the Welsh Government supporting community organisations to take over and reopen sports facilities?
Answered by Trefnydd, Chief Whip and Cabinet Minister for Culture and Sport
The Welsh Government is supportive of community owned and community run assets. We know where community assets are operated by the communities they serve, it can help those communities feel empowered. Many community assets act as a focus for community activity, create jobs and volunteering opportunities and improve health and wellbeing.
The Welsh Government’s own research (Community Asset Transfer | GOV.WALES) advocates public bodies and transferees working together to improve the process and increase the likelihood of success. It found that transfers are more likely to be successful where the transferring authority provides support during and after the transfer process.
The Welsh Government will look at strengthening its support for community owned and community run assets across sport and culture – how we do this will be considered as part of engaging on the development of a new culture strategy.
WQ98505 · Tabled · Answered
What is the Welsh Government’s position on the Barnett formula?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Finance
The Barnett formula is outdated and unfair. It should be replaced with a new formula to ensure that Wales receives our fair share of funding according to our needs.
WQ98504 · Tabled · Answered
What new initiatives will the Welsh Government introduce to improve access to NHS dentistry in west Wales?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
We are committed to improving access to NHS dentistry across Wales and will do so by expanding the dental workforce.
We will monitor the new NHS dental contract arrangements to identify opportunities to improve access further.
WQ98503 · Tabled · Answered
How will the Welsh Government improve waiting times for an autism diagnosis in the Hywel Dda University Health Board area?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
The Welsh Government is taking sustained action to reduce waiting times for autism and other neurodevelopmental assessments across Wales, including within Hywel Dda University Health Board. Since 2022, we have invested significantly to expand assessment capacity, improve service models, and strengthen pre‑diagnostic support to ensure individuals can access help while awaiting diagnosis.
Children’s waiting times: Progress is being closely monitored at a national level. The NHS Performance and Improvement team meets monthly with all local health boards, including Hywel Dda University Health Board, to monitor children’s waiting times and track delivery against improvement plans. This provides regular challenge and support to ensure services are improving at pace.
At a local level, Hywel Dda University Health Board has a clear trajectory for improvement. The Health Board is working towards eliminating all three‑year waits for children’s neurodevelopmental assessments by March 2027, supported by continued service transformation and workforce development.
These actions form part of the wider Neurodivergence Improvement Programme, which focuses on improving access to timely assessment, enhancing support pathways, and ensuring more consistent service delivery across Wales.
Adult waiting times: While funding has not been directly targeted at reducing adult waiting times, the Neurodivergence Improvement Programme (NDIP) is working with health boards and Regional Partnership Boards (RPBs) to drive improvements in adult neurodivergence services. This includes applying learning from pathway redesign and transformation within children’s services to adult models.
In July 2025, the then Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing, Sarah Murphy, hosted a roundtable to explore practical solutions to improving adult ADHD assessment pathways and wider support. Building on this, Welsh Government continues to work closely with health boards and RPBs to support system improvement, strengthen oversight, and progress longer-term transformation of adult services.
WQ98502 · Tabled · Answered
What action will the Welsh Government take to protect stroke services at Bronglais hospital?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
A final decision has not yet been reached by the health board. I understand that, on 28 May 2026, the Board agreed to initiate a further phase of consultation on the updated options for the future configuration of stroke services across the health board. This provides an additional and important opportunity for stakeholders to review the proposals in detail and to raise any concerns or provide further feedback.
Health boards hold responsibility for the planning and delivery of services for their local population. In fulfilling this role, I expect health boards to carry out rigorous assessments for any proposed changes, and to engage with their communities in line with national guidance. I also expect health boards to undertake robust impact assessments and set out clear mitigation measures for any potential risks.
Welsh Government continues to engage regularly with each health board, and established governance mechanisms are used to monitor the performance, quality, safety and outcomes of the services that health boards provide.
WQ98501 · Tabled · Answered
What action will the Welsh Government take to stop Hywel Dda University Health Board from removing emergency general surgery at Withybush hospital?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
This decision has already been taken by the health board. It holds responsibility for the planning and delivery of services for its local population. In fulfilling this role, I expect health boards to carry out rigorous assessments for any proposed changes, and to engage with their communities in line with national guidance. I also expect the health board to undertake robust impact assessments, and set out clear mitigation measures for any potential risks.
Whilst Hywel Dda has already taken a decision on emergency general surgery, the change will not be implemented overnight and is expected to take up to two years.
Welsh Government continues to engage regularly with each health board. Established governance mechanisms will be used to ensure the service change results in improved performance and patient outcomes.
WQ98500 · Tabled · Answered
What are the Welsh Government’s tax plans for this Senedd?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Finance
The Welsh Government will outline our tax plans for this Senedd within our Programme for Government and future budgets.
WQ98499 · Tabled · Answered
How will the Welsh Government rural-proof Government spending so that rural areas are given a fair distribution of funding from any new Government initiatives?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Finance
The Welsh Government is committed to ensuring the needs of rural communities are considered in public spending decisions. All new policies are subject to an Integrated Impact Assessment, which explicitly includes rural proofing as a core component. This ensures that the potential impacts on rural areas are identified and addressed at an early stage of policy development.
We recognise, however, that more can be done to strengthen and make this approach more consistent across Government. Over 80% of Wales is rural, and as a Government we are determined to ensure that the needs of these communities are fully reflected in how funding is allocated.
In line with our manifesto commitment, we will explore how we can strengthen rural proofing across spending plans and policy programmes, including considering how to place this on a more robust and systematic footing. We will continue to strengthen our use of evidence and engagement to inform budget decisions and to support thriving rural communities across Wales.
WQ98498 · Tabled · Answered
What plans does the Welsh Government have to review the business rates system?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Finance
Our manifesto included a range of specific commitments related to the reform of the non-domestic rates system. I will set out further details on our proposals in due course.
WQ98497 · Tabled · Answered
What steps will the Welsh Government take to protect the rights of women and girls?
Answered by Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Minister for Social Justice and Equality
Substantive response
WQ98496 · Tabled · Answered
How does the Welsh Government intend to close the disability pay gap?
Answered by Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Minister for Social Justice and Equality
Substantive response
WQ98495 · Tabled · Answered
What new initiatives will the Welsh Government introduce to tackle rural poverty?
Answered by Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Minister for Social Justice and Equality
Substantive response
Official verbatim record: each question and answer as the Record prints it. Answers are signed with a job title, as published.