National Assembly for Wales

The regional education consortia support and work closely in partnership with local authorities, to promote high standards of education and the fulfilment of learning potential. The year-on-year increase in the number of schools needing the least amount of support demonstrates the effectiveness of regional ways of working. 

We are making strides in our national mission for education—to raise standards, reduce the attainment gap and deliver an education system that is a source of national pride.

As you are aware, the autonomy of Welsh higher education institutions precludes intervention by the Welsh Government on matters of course provision. However, I expect universities to help Government deliver the successful and effective implementation of the economic action plan and my remit letter to the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales recognises this.

The Minister for Health and I have convened a task and finish group to advise us on the work required to deliver a step change in mental health support for schools, as outlined in the Assembly’s 'Mind over Matter' report. The group will meet for the second time in March.

Our national mission for education—to raise standards, reduce the attainment gap and deliver an education system that is a source of national pride and public confidence—will lead to improved educational performance. We have worked with schools and consortia to emphasise the importance of PISA.

My officials have written to the director of education at Powys County Council seeking clarification on how the authority will continue to meet its statutory duty to provide funding to schools to provide free school breakfasts.

We work closely in collaboration with our stakeholders and provide direct investment opportunities through schemes such as Sêr Cymru and our SMART Cymru programmes. In addition we actively encourage applications to UK funding sources to exploit avenues like the industrial challenge fund.

We have a wide range of improvement activity that we expect the people of Pembrokeshire to benefit from. In addition to service specific improvements, the population will continue to benefit from investment in primary care facilities, the transformation fund and the integrated care fund in 2019/20. 

We continue to work with health boards and partners to improve services relating to chronic or persistent pain. We are working with Powys Teaching Local Health Board to ensure that any patients affected by the decision to close the pain service at Oswestry are minimised.

The Grange hospital is the one new hospital currently under construction in south-east Wales. It is on schedule to open in the spring of 2021. The business case for the construction of a new cancer centre to replace Velindre hospital is currently being prepared.

I will make a statement on delivery over winter next week. We have been open about pressures experienced by health and social care services over recent weeks, but it is testament to the commitment of front-line staff that the vast majority of patients are still receiving high-quality and timely care.

Recruitment and retention remains a priority for the Welsh Government and for health boards and trusts. On a national level, recruitment continues to be supported by our successful ‘Train. Work. Live.’ campaign, alongside record levels of investment to support healthcare education and training, including additional medical school places.  

The Welsh Health Specialised Services Committee commissions low dose rate brachytherapy for prostate cancer for the population of Wales. High dose rate brachytherapy for the treatment of prostate cancer is not currently commissioned in Wales but may be accessed through an individual patient funding request.

Clinicians from the health board have been working with the Faculty of Medical Management and Leadership to review the current arrangements for obstetric, neonatal and paediatric services in the region. If any changes are proposed to the current service, then there would be engagement with stakeholders and the public.

Improving health for everyone is a central ambition of 'Prosperity for All' and 'A Healthier Wales'. Welsh Government, in partnership with Public Health Wales, health boards and local authorities, is working to deliver our priorities to improve population health. Central to this is support for targeted interventions to encourage healthy lifestyles.