National Assembly for Wales

The Welsh Government does not run any pension funds.  Most Welsh Government civil servants are members of the Civil Service Pension Scheme (CSPS).  The CSPS is an unfunded scheme.  This means that there is no money set aside for future pensions.  Rather, employee and employer contributions are paid directly to the UK Government and pensions are paid out by them.  As such, there is no money to be invested.

A small number of staff are members of the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) which is funded scheme with its own investments. 

The Wales Pension Partnership and the LGPS in Wales made a joint statement on 2 March, which said: “We are deeply saddened by the situation in Ukraine and our thoughts are with the Ukrainian people.  

“Our total exposure to Russian investments is minimal at less than 1%. Even so, in light of the terrible events we have witnessed and the economic sanctions imposed internationally, as a collective we have decided to divest from these holdings as soon as is practically possible. Given the circumstances we do not believe that engagement with these companies presents a viable option.”

Assessing the impact of implementing rules for individual sports is a matter for that sport’s national governing body.

Cadw is responsible for listing buildings of special architectural or historic interest at the national level. It is for local authorities, not the Welsh Government, to decide which buildings are of local importance. Cadw has published comprehensive guidance for local authorities in Wales explaining how such buildings may be protected through the planning system. The guidance is available at the following link: Historic assets of special local interest | Cadw (gov.wales).

Cadw encourages local authorities to produce local lists through its day to day communications with conservation staff in local authorities. Cadw has also produced comprehensive guidance promoting local listing but it is ultimately a matter for each authority to decide on the priority it allocates to such activity.

I wrote to the Leader of Cardiff City Council last November on this subject, suggesting that the Council may wish to consider updating its local list to include pubs in the city that may be under threat.

During this Government’s term, we will introduce a broad range of policies to build on our high standards of welfare for farmed, companion and other kept animals. Our Animal Welfare Plan for Wales sets out how we will deliver our animal welfare Programme for Government commitments and other priority work.

Officials are working with stakeholders to develop the scope of all planned work and associated timelines.

Our Animal Welfare Plan for Wales (AWPW) includes a commitment to consider extending compulsory microchipping to include kittens and cats in Wales. Proposals in this area will draw upon research published in 2021 which was joint-funded with other GB administrations. Following completion of our analysis of the research, we will consider whether any amendments are required on the current microchipping regulations for dogs and possible new measures for kittens and cats. Any proposed changes would be subject to a full public consultation process.

We cannot commit to a specific timeline at this point but the AWPW covers the period from 2021-26.

We are aware England are considering their approach on this policy issue and, similar to previous policy development, my officials will endeavour to align our policies wherever possible to ensure enforcement requirements are not compromised, especially on the borders between England and Wales.

Our Programme for Government and Animal Welfare Plan for Wales 2021-26 set out our intention to introduce a licensing requirement for animal welfare establishments. We will consult on the nature and scope of this work in order to bring forward new requirements, potentially under the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (Wales) (Regulations) 2021.

My Officials continue to engage with a range of stakeholders, including the Animal Welfare Network Wales and the Companion Animal Welfare Group Wales in realising our Programme for Government commitments and the detailed proposals described in the Animal Welfare Plan for Wales.

My officials are currently engaged in a dialogue with Third Sector organisations, including the Animal Welfare Network Wales and the Companion Animal Welfare Group Wales, regarding the provision of low-cost vet care. The pet insurance industry will be included in this dialogue through its links with our colleagues in the Third Sector.

We are urgently preparing to support refugees arriving in Wales from Ukraine and working closely with Welsh councils and the third sector.

I refer you to the Written Statement the First Minister published on 15 March and the Written Statement I published on 16 March about Wales’ support for and participation in the Homes for Ukraine scheme announced by the UK Government. This follows a statement issued on 1 March.

We are committed to being a Nation of Sanctuary. We will do all we can to ensure Ukrainian people and their families are able to reach safety and receive a warm welcome in Wales.

The Noise and Soundscape Action Plan (NSAP) is the Welsh Government’s central noise policy document. It covers all major forms of noise across Wales. It also discharges our obligations under the Environmental Noise (Wales) Regulations 2006 to produce 5-year noise action plans for major roads, major railways and large urban areas. One of the Welsh Government’s commitments under the 2018-2023 NSAP is to carry out a review of it, incorporating a full public consultation, no more than 5 years after its adoption, i.e. by December 2023. In accordance with the 2006 Regulations, actions under the new NSAP relating to transportation noise must apply in particular to the most important areas established by the latest strategic noise maps adopted under those Regulations. Elements of the NSAP falling outside the scope of the Regulations will be informed by a wide range of other evidence, including the noise questions contained in the National Survey for Wales.

The 2006 Regulations require new noise maps to be produced by computer prediction for major roads, major railways and large urban areas in 2022. These maps should represent the situation in the previous calendar year. Work has begun, using a new noise modelling system, which is generating the 2022 noise maps for both England and Wales. For the first time, they will include all roads and railways, rather than just those specified by the Regulations. This is a new approach to noise mapping, using a new EU calculation method. For efficiency, our timescales for the delivery of this work are tied to those of England. Nevertheless, our aim is to publish the new noise maps by the end of this calendar year. This is in line with the date we would have been expected to report them to the European Commission, had we still been a member of the European Union.

I have been very clear to the NHS through the planning guidance issued in October 2021, that planned care recovery and reduction of long waits is a key priority and Programme for Government commitment.  I am expecting in the returns of the NHS Integrated Medium Term Plans, due at the end of March, that they will demonstrate how health boards will deliver on this priority, supported by an improvement trajectory.

I have been clear that recovery will take years and in the Planned Care Plan, due to be published in April, I will set a number of key milestones for the NHS in Wales to achieve.

The Welsh Government does not collect information on the urgency of patients waiting.  Data on the number of people waiting is published monthly on the StatsWales website at

https://statswales.gov.wales/Catalogue/Health-and-Social-Care/NHS-Hospital-Waiting-Times/Referral-to-Treatment/patientpathwayswaitingtostarttreatment-by-month-groupedweeks. The latest published data relates to the end of December 2021. 

I have been very clear to the NHS through the planning guidance issued in October 2021, that planned care recovery and reduction of long waits is a key priority and Programme for Government commitment.  I am expecting in the returns of the NHS Integrated Medium Term Plans, due at the end of March, that they will demonstrate how health boards will deliver on this priority, supported by an improvement trajectory.

I have been clear that recovery will take years and in the Planned Care Plan, due to be published in April, I will set a number of key milestones for the NHS in Wales to achieve.

The Welsh Government does not collect information on the urgency of patients waiting.  Data on the number of people waiting is published monthly on the StatsWales website at

https://statswales.gov.wales/Catalogue/Health-and-Social-Care/NHS-Hospital-Waiting-Times/Referral-to-Treatment/patientpathwayswaitingtostarttreatment-by-month-groupedweeks. The latest published data relates to the end of December 2021.