National Assembly for Wales

The impact of automation has been raised by the Ministerial Taskforce for the Valleys. The Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Transport has commissioned a review on digital innovation including automation. The taskforce will contribute and use the recommendations to inform its forward plans.

We work closely with the Wales Chief Constables and Police and Crime Commissioners on matters of mutual interest aimed at making communities safer.

Local authorities are responsible for their own compliance with legislation. Welsh Government sets the broader governance framework and independent audit, inspection and regulation bodies support local authorities in improving effectiveness.

I aim to make the service properly accountable, and to give it the governance and finance model it will need to face the challenges ahead. I will consult on our plans shortly.

The Welsh Government is supporting credit unions to deliver school savers projects. These help teach children good savings habits and money management skills from a young age, whilst also enhancing numeracy and financial literacy.

I regularly meet Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service in Wales. I have also met Dr Phillip Lee, Parliamentary Under-secretary of State for Youth Justice, Victims, Female Offenders and Offender Health and hope to meet Rory Stewart, Minister of State at the Ministry of Justice, in the near future.

The use of local authority reserves is a matter for locally elected representatives. However, to support transparency across Wales I will make a written statement before summer recess.  

The consultation on the Green Paper closed at midnight last night.  I look forward to considering the responses and I will be making a statement in due course.

We have some of the highest animal welfare standards in the world, and strict regulations to address any cases where these standards are not met. The Wales Animal Health and Welfare Framework Implementation Plan sets out the Framework Group and Welsh Government priorities for animal health and welfare.

I announced the five principles that underpin future land management support in May. I will consult on proposals for Wales, including Pembrokeshire, in early July. I continue to fight for a full funding allocation for Wales, so that we do not, as promised, lose a penny when the UK leaves the EU.

The Welsh Government Warm Homes Programme provides a package of support to vulnerable households in fuel poverty through Nest and Arbed. Since 2012 fuel poverty in vulnerable households has reduced by 7 percentage points in just four years, having a positive impact on those in Wales’ most vulnerable households.

The Environment (Wales) Act sets the overarching framework for managing Wales’ natural resources and environment sustainably.  Collaborative working across a range of organisations is at the heart of the action needed to both tackle the risks and realise the opportunities Wales’ natural resources provide for well-being and prosperity.

The Welsh Government’s ambition is to become the world’s first Refill nation, last week we announced a commitment to start by delivering Refill in key communities along the Wales Coast Path. We are continuing to investigate the feasibility of strategically placed water fountains in key locations such as transport hubs.

Our Warm Homes programme is making good progress in addressing fuel poverty. Since 2012, fuel poverty households have reduced by 6 percentage points in just four years. Without these energy efficiency improvements, an estimated 80,000 additional households in Wales would have been in fuel poverty in 2016.

Planning can help create the conditions to allow the Welsh language to thrive, by providing opportunities for new jobs, housing and community facilities.  The Welsh Government will incorporate Welsh language considerations into the National Development Framework, while TAN 20 helps Local Planning Authorities adopt good practices at the local level.