National Assembly for Wales

This is not a matter for the Welsh Government.

This year’s summer show programme reached a combined audience of 117,521 across multiple channels.

Total costs include trade stand, stand design, tickets, any sponsorship, digital advertising, wifi, travel / subsistence and any overtime claimed for staff. Costs are inclusive of VAT where applicable.

·       URDD Eisteddfod - £32,257.35

·       Pride Cymru - £1,319.38

·       Urban Games - £277.20

·       Royal Welsh Show - £1,057.32

·       National Eisteddfod - £41,535.96

·       Butetown Carnival - £783.90*

The cost per engagement was approximately 0.66p and we will be using the evaluation and insight to continually review our summer show programme.

*This does not include final costs such as staff overtime as these are still being finalised.

The Cathays Park office is part of the Welsh Government’s administrative estate. The maintenance of this estate is provided via a national contract, which includes planned and reactive maintenance. The costs for the last five years are set out in the table below:

Repair/Maintenance Cathays Park
  
Year       Cost
2018-19   £1,296,108
2019-20  £1,627,839
2020-21  £1,800,361
2021-22  £2,086,503
2022-23  £2,111,727
                £8,922,538 

Through our work to nurture the Foundational Economy, we have focussed on activity regarding the community wealth building pillars of progressive procurement, employment and enabling democratic ownership of the economy.

Our work on procurement has specifically supported NHS Wales to integrate social value into its contract award decisions. This has resulted in £54m, which previously flowed out of Wales, being returned to local businesses. We are taking this learning to inform approaches to procurement across the wider Welsh public sector.

Welsh Government’s progressive community benefits policy has been applied and measured across almost £3bn of expenditure, with 84% of this providing revenue to Welsh based businesses and helping more than 3,300 disadvantaged people into work.

Anchor employers have adopted approaches to provide routes into employment for people within local communities. The Hywel Dda approach to building local skills has seen 100 apprentices taken on with a pledge to deliver 1,000 apprenticeships by 2030. This has led to job progression for local people and supported provision of better health care. A Sustainable Food Recruitment Campaign, building on the Food Skills Cymru website, saw 284 vacancies advertised on the notice board with nearly 200 being filled. Cyfle Building Skills has been supported to engage with major contractors to provide onsite placement opportunities for 60 Electrical and Plumbing learners, 90% of whom have gone into full time employment or apprenticeships.

Since establishing the new Social Business Wales service in April, we have assisted 17 new-start social enterprises and cooperatives. Our support for worker buyouts has seen seven businesses transition to employee owned with a further 82 individuals provided with support to consider setting up a social enterprise or cooperative.

The Development Bank of Wales is aligned with Welsh Government’s aim of supporting co-operatives and employee-owned businesses through its remit letter and has assisted a total of four employee buyouts.

The budget and payment details for the interim agri-environment scheme will be confirmed prior to the application window opening.

Current air quality legislation makes provision for 'limit values', rather than targets, for NO2. Ministers must ensure levels do not exceed the limits set out in Schedule 1 of the Air Quality Standards (Wales) Regulations 2010 in any zone. Where levels are in exceedance, Ministers must draw up and implement an air quality plan to achieve limits in that zone. Such a plan must ‘include measures intended to ensure compliance with any relevant limit value within the shortest time possible’.

Our monitoring has revealed that annual mean concentrations last year continued to remain below the limit of 40 micrograms per cubic metre of air at A494 Deeside and A483 Wrexham in the North Wales air quality zone. No further exceedances in the zone since 2020 have been identified, however we continue to monitor air quality at these sites to ensure long-term compliance.

We have also seen improvement in the South Wales air quality zone, although a number of uncertainties remain as to how sustained compliance can be achieved. We continue to work with consultants to develop our understanding of the issues and further potential mitigations. 

We will shortly be publishing our Welsh Government update to our supplemental plan for tackling roadside nitrogen dioxide concentrations 2017, describing the progress that has been made. Alongside this we will consult on Welsh Transport Appraisal Guidance Stage 2 appraisals of shortlisted measures to tackle more recently identified exceedances on the M4 between Llandarcy and Lon-las, and on the A470 between Coryton and Nantgarw.

No-one should be forced to sleep rough in Wales, which is why on 18 October 2022 we took through regulations to create an 11th category of Priority Need for those who are ‘street homeless’, to ensure the continuation of our ‘no-one left out’ approach ahead of wider legislative reform.   

Welsh Government continues to work closely with local authorities to ensure accommodation and support is provided for everyone who needs it. Rough sleeping is a complex issue and highlights the importance of person-centred assertive outreach, not only to support people into accommodation, but to help them sustain and thrive in accommodation.

We have not made any assessment of the impact of Ffos-y-Frân on coal imports into the United Kingdom. From the grant of planning permission for coal extraction at Ffos-y-Frân in 2005, the expiry of that permission was always due to occur by 2022. This was transparent and well known and there is therefore no need for any impact assessment now. Our Coal policy issued in March 2021 is clear: we wish to bring the extraction and use of coal to a managed end.

The current Welsh Government costs to date for the A465 Sec 5 Dowlais Top to Hirwaun are £90.16m (since 2013 - July 2023) and the estimated completion date is Summer 2025.

I have regular discussions with Transport for Wales, including about performance. I am aware of cancellations and delays on the Heart of Wales over the summer period. Transport for Wales are aware that the service passengers have received has not been as good as it should be recently, largely due to challenges with rolling stock alongside some infrastructure failures which are the responsibility of Network Rail. Transport for Wales are committed to delivering improved performance which will be achieved with the increasing roll out of brand new trains across the network.

I have asked Transport for Wales to improve their communication with passengers when services are disrupted. This is especially important on rural routes, such as the Heart of Wales line, with many unstaffed stations, and when bus replacement services may take some time to arrive.

I welcome the development of this new technology and will keep a watching brief as this technology evolves to see if it can be facilitated across Welsh Ports and used by the shipping companies which access our Ports.

The Cargill Pyxis Ocean project is part of a €10 million EU Horizon 2020 project called CHEK with Bar Technology, Sliverstream and Lloyd's Register being UK partners. This international collaboration illustrates the benefits of participation in EU programmes.

After two and a half years of delay, it is vital that the UK and the EU conclude negotiations on the UK’s association to the Horizon Europe programme. A series of EU information days will take place this autumn; it would be a boost to the UK for our status in the programme to be resolved well before then. In 2024 there will be over €1 billion EU funding available for green and digital transitions to achieve climate neutrality.

As you are aware the shipping industry is a highly competitive global industry and the manufacturers of vessels and the business who use them will dictate which new technology the market decides to use in the future.

Most of the shipping industry is reserved to the UK Government. Wales’s maritime emissions consist of both domestic shipping emissions and a share of international shipping emissions based on the amount of fuel taken from bunkers to support international shipping. Domestic shipping vessels standards are a reserved UK Policy lead but port infrastructure and planning has a strong devolved element.

We will continue to look to support projects that deliver sustainable ports infrastructure and ensure we work with the Welsh Ports Group and other partners on a Welsh Ports and Maritime Strategy for Wales which is aligned to our net zero targets.  Under the Climate Change (International Aviation and International Shipping) (Wales) Regulations 2018, international aviation and shipping emissions are subject to the overall targets set out in the 2016 Environment (Wales) Act.  

We continue to work closely with the UKG to ensure that Welsh based businesses and academia have a fair share and access to the UK Clean Maritime program delivered by Innovate UK, to invest millions in innovation projects to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from shipping.

We have awarded £3.6m in Local Transport Fund to Torfaen County Borough Council between 2018 and 2021, to support the development of Pontypool and New Inn Station. The construction is due to be completed later this month.

Welsh Government is aware of concerns around a potential increase in evictions, however it is difficult to get clear evidence of this as published court possession statistics only make up a small proportion of evictions, but we will continue to monitor the situation, with a view to taking supportive action with partners if appropriate.

The Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016, which commenced in December, ended the ability of landlords to serve “no fault” eviction notices under section 21 of the Housing Act 1988. These notices had a minimum notice period of two months.

Tenants now have far improved security of tenure under the 2016 Act. Notice periods have been increased from the previous two months to six months, with the added protection of such a notice not being able to be served within the first six months of occupation. This ensures a minimum period of security of tenure of 12 months for each tenant under a periodic contract. In addition, the 2016 Act removes the ability of a landlord to serve a “no fault” eviction notice during a fixed-term contract.

Self-Build Wales creates an affordable opportunity for people to build their own home that meets their needs by removing the barriers typically encountered such as finding a plot, planning and finance. A £40m investment has been provided to the Development Bank of Wales (DBW) to deliver the scheme on behalf of Welsh Government. The total net spend of the scheme to date is £1.85million. We are pleased that the first home through the scheme will be completed this year.

There is strong interest in the scheme and to support delivery we are continuing to work with Local Authorities, Registered Social Landlords and private landowners to identify and provide sites for the scheme. Also, in response to demand we are expanding the scheme to include self-builders who have identified land outside of the scheme and wish to build their own home but require a loan for the land purchase and build.

Substantive response

Substantive response

The number of Welsh students has been generally increasing due to increased participation in higher education. However, the main reason for the increase is the annual uplifts to student support. The Welsh Government reviews the amount of maintenance support it provides to higher education students each year, raising rates in line with established policy. Maintenance support is linked to the value of the National Living Wage, so recognising the importance of living cost support to students.

We are currently consulting with a range of stakeholder groups, including NUS Cymru, on a Green Paper Call for Evidence on Fair Rents. This will inform the development of the White Paper, within this government term, on new approaches to affordable rents and access to adequate housing – this forms part of the Cooperation Agreement with Plaid Cymru.

Substantive response

Substantive response

In April 2021, we opened ‘Uned Gobaith’ in the Swansea Bay University Health Board area. This marked a significant step in providing improved perinatal mental health support for mothers in Wales and is improving the experience of new mothers as they can get the specialist support, they need for themselves and their babies closer to home.

As in the development of any service, it is important to review ongoing demand, and the Welsh Health Specialised Services Committee (WHSSC) undertook an initial review of the unit, and this is now available on their website. This concluded that we continue to support the current service, and to review on an ongoing basis. The scale of the service must be evidence based to meet the needs of the population and demand is assessed on an ongoing basis.

We are considering longer term capacity and demands which is being done in conjunction with the development of the longer-term successor to Together for Mental Health. Any additional provision will require a detailed options appraisal focussing on location, accessibility, clinical priorities, and ability to meet accepted Royal College of Psychiatry Standards for Mother and Baby Inpatient Units.

We have confirmed our intent to develop provision closer to home for those that live in North Wales.

Since 2015, we have invested in specialist perinatal mental health services across Wales. There are now services in every health board area in Wales and over £3m of mental health service improvement funding is supporting these services annually.

In April 2021, we opened ‘Uned Gobaith’ in the Swansea Bay University Health Board area. This marked a significant step in providing improved perinatal mental health support for mothers in Wales and is improving the experience of new mothers as they can get the specialist support, they need for themselves and their babies closer to home.

As in the development of any service, it is important to review ongoing demand, and the Welsh Health Specialised Services Committee (WHSSC) undertook an initial review of the unit, and this is now available on their website. This concluded that we continue to support the current service, and to review on an ongoing basis. The scale of the service must be evidence based to meet the needs of the population and demand is assessed on an ongoing basis.

We are considering longer term capacity and demands which is being done in conjunction with the development of the longer-term successor to Together for Mental Health. Any additional provision will require a detailed options appraisal focussing on location, accessibility, clinical priorities, and ability to meet accepted Royal College of Psychiatry Standards for Mother and Baby Inpatient Units.

We have confirmed our intent to develop provision closer to home for those that live in North Wales.

Since 2015, we have invested in specialist perinatal mental health services across Wales. There are now services in every health board area in Wales and over £3m of mental health service improvement funding is supporting these services annually.

I met with Lord O’Shaughnessy on the 13 July to discuss the review into the environment for conducting commercial clinical trials in the UK and he attended a round table showcase with senior colleagues from industry, universities and the NHS at our Life Sciences Hub in Cardiff.

It is vital that the UK is ambitious in its plans for commercial research to ensure all opportunities for growth and investments are maximised, as well as ensuring the UK can offer patients the access to new experimental treatments and technologies. I very much welcome the review and want Wales to play its part, working closely with the other nations, in taking bold steps to improve the UK’s commercial offer.

Since the review was published, officials in the Health and Social Services R&D Division has consulted the Welsh research community on the recommendations, including via the NHS R&D Leadership Group and the Health and Care Research Wales Industry Engagement Group. Further discussion is planned through other forthcoming meetings of national forums including the Wales Cancer Industry Forum. The Recommendations in the Review have been received positively in Wales, and are felt to be complementary to many of the activities already underway to foster a strong research environment.

Officials in the Health and Social Services R&D Division are working with the other UK nations and with Office for Life Sciences (OLS) to prepare for the full Autumn response to the Review, which is likely to be a UK response to the recommendations.

Regular relationships continue between Welsh Government officials and pharmaceutical manufacturers to understand product development, horizon scanning and supply availability for pandemic preparedness.

The Welsh Government is working with the UK Government on its 100 Days Mission to Respond to Future Pandemic Threats. The mission aims to reduce the impact of future pandemics by making diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines available within 100 days.

A 10-year partnership between the UK Government and Moderna was announced in December 2022. The Moderna Innovation and Technology Centre (MITC) will deliver an innovative new vaccine research and manufacturing centre in Harwell, Oxfordshire. This new facility enables the rapid development of vaccines and secure the supply of Covid-19 vaccines for the four UK nations and potential vaccines developed for other respiratory infections. We are engaging with Moderna under the partnership arrangements in place to support our preparedness.

The Welsh Government recognises the importance of including a broad range of participants in health and social care research, including clinical trials so that the results can be generalisable to a broad population. As much of the regulatory, ethics and governance framework for health and social research operates at a UK level, working collaboratively with our UK counterparts is key to increasing the diversity of people taking part in research studies.

Officials from Health and Social Services Research and Development Division are working with colleagues at Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and Health Research Authority (HRA), along with colleagues in the other Devolved Governments, to develop guidance outlining expectations in relation to inclusivity and diversity in clinical trials. The work programme also includes reviewing the current ethics and approvals processes to ensure that participant diversity is appropriately considered.

The Health and Care Research Wales Plan 2022-25 further outlines a number of activities, aligned with the UK Clinical Research Vision, to embed clinical research at the heart of patient care across the NHS, making participation in research as easy as possible and ensuring health and care staff feel empowered to support research. Aligned to this, Health and Care Research Wales has recently published a NHS R&D Framework, which outlines what excellence looks like in the NHS where research is embraced, integrated into services and is a core part of an organisation’s culture.

The Welsh Government, also via Health and Care Research Wales, provides approximately £19.6m funding per year to support and facilitate the delivery of research studies across health and care settings in Wales. This funding enables the NHS to have the necessary infrastructure in place, including the costs of having research healthcare professional staff in place, to deliver clinical research effectively. It also includes resources for the Health and Care Research Wales Delivery Hub to provide national level support to facilitate the efficient set up of clinical trials so that the opportunity for participants to take part in these studies is available as quickly as possible.

In Autumn 2023, Health and Care Research Wales, as part of the UK Wide Be Part of Research service, will launch an initiative that enables individuals to sign up and indicate their interest in participating in research. Through joining this register, it will provide enhanced opportunities for people to be matched to suitable research studies.