Written Questions tabled on 17/07/2025 for answer on 24/07/2025
Written Questions must be tabled at least five working days before they are to be answered. In practice, Ministers aim to answer within seven/eight days but are not bound to do so. Answers are published in the language in which they are provided, with a translation into English of responses provided in Welsh.
Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care
What steps is the Welsh Government taking to inform people how they can sign up for dental care in their area, following the introduction of the Dental Access Portal?
The Dental Access Portal was launched with a press notice when it went live across all health boards on 12 February 2025. Information is also available on the Welsh Government website on the following link: https://www.gov.wales/accessing-nhs-dental-services
Health Boards are responsible for the provision of NHS dental services in their local areas and will therefore make their own arrangements to advertise details of how to access the portal on their websites and in dental practices.
How does the Welsh Government ensure that grieving parents and who need specialist psychological support following pregnancy or losing a baby can access this support, at any time, free of charge through the NHS?
The loss of a baby during pregnancy or shortly after birth is a deeply traumatic experience. Bereavement care has been embedded into national maternity and neonatal policy, ensuring that parents can access the support they need at any time, free of charge, through a compassionate, structured, and well-funded system.
In collaboration with third-sector organisations such as SANDS, the pregnancy and baby loss charity and Child Bereavement UK, psychological and bereavement support is available through NHS Wales. Services include counselling, peer support, and specialist psychological interventions, all accessible at no cost to families.
The National Framework for Bereavement Care ensures consistent, high-quality support across Wales. Backed by £1.4 million in funding to health boards and third-sector partners, it emphasises early intervention, integration across health and social care, and robust monitoring to ensure equity and quality.
Furthermore, the Maternity and Neonatal Network, part of NHS Wales Performance and Improvement, has been working with SANDS, to support work on the five bereavement pathways. Work has focussed on miscarriage, termination of pregnancy for foetal anomaly, stillbirth, neonatal death and sudden unexpected death in infancy. The pathways are scheduled to be published in the Autumn.
Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning
What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the need to review permitted development rights for telecommunications masts?
My officials have met recently with the telecommunications industry to discuss permitted developments rights. Officials have asked the mobile industry, through the industry group Mobile UK, for evidence to underpin the case for further changes to planning legislation and are awaiting responses.
What consideration has the Cabinet Secretary given to explicitly referencing the importance of digital infrastructure in Welsh planning policy documents?
Future Wales and Planning Policy Wales support the roll out of broadband and mobile digital infrastructure in new developments. The Welsh Government encourages planning authorities to work with digital infrastructure providers to plan for future needs and support infrastructure delivery. Mobile telecommunications infrastructure is supported by extensive permitted development rights.
What are the servicing costs of the Brocastle business park, such as security, maintenance, and any other running costs over each of the last three years?
In terms of the total Facility Management Contract the expenditure has been:
2022/2023 £40,536.77
2023/2024 £48,527.56
2024/2025 £60,612.67
Since July 2022, costs incurred to date for the Landscape Habitat and Ecology Management Plan (LHEMP) and Dormouse management in accordance with the EPS licence obligations are £37,186.83.
How will the Cabinet Secretary ensure that North Wales receives its fair share of investment by telecoms operators given the proposed investment across the United Kingdom?
Responsibility for improving broadband and mobile phone connectivity in Wales rests with the UK Government.
Our Digital strategy for Wales outlines how we will continue to use the levers at our disposal to support businesses, homes and the public sector in Wales to receive the connectivity they need.
We are continuing to make the case for ongoing investment in digital infrastructure throughout Wales. This includes encouraging private sector operators to expand their own networks.
The Prif Weinidog met with BT group on the 16th of July where she stressed the importance of them continuing to invest and increase coverage in all areas of Wales.
Our full fibre roll-out (2019-2023) directly provided access to gigabit capable broadband to 13,149 premises across North Wales.
Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Welsh Language
Will the Cabinet Secretary confirm the balance of the Wales Reserve as of 1st April 2025?
The balance of the Wales Reserve on 1st April 2025 will not be confirmed until the Welsh Government Consolidated Annual Accounts for 2024-25 are audited by the Auditor General for Wales.
The position of the Wales Reserve will be included within the Welsh Government’s Report on Outturn for 2024-25 which will be published no more than 3 weeks after publication of the Welsh Government Consolidated Annual Accounts for 2024-25.
Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip
What is the Welsh Government’s response to the findings and recommendations in the 'A Climate of Fear: The Normalisation of Antisemitism in the United Kingdom Since 7th October 2023' report commissioned by the Board of Deputies of British Jews?
The Welsh Government are considering the findings of the report published on 15 July 2025 commissioned by the Board of Deputies of British Jews.
The Welsh Government is firmly committed to becoming an anti-racist nation by 2030. Through our Anti-Racist Wales Action Plan, we are working with communities, public services, and educators to challenge hate, promote understanding, and ensure that racism and discrimination have no place in our nation. We will continue to engage with Jewish communities in Wales to ensure their voices are heard and their concerns addressed.