National Assembly for Wales

The Welsh Government White Paper, launched in December 2018, sets out proposals for improving the legislative framework in Wales for planning and delivering local bus services, which remain the bedrock of the public transport system for residents of South Wales Central and beyond.

Our permanent small business rates relief will provide 100 per cent relief to childcare providers from 1 April. An extra £23.6 million of relief will be provided to retailers and high streets in 2019-20 and we have extended relief for community hydropower projects into 2019-20.

Real progress has been made in improving services and support for veterans including housing and employment pathways, an employers toolkit and mental health services for veterans. We will continue to build on this.

The Welsh Government has supported a range of Bevan Commission activity, such as the innovation exemplar programme. Officials are working closely with the commission to evaluate the impact of projects at the local level and their wider potential for scale and spread across the system.

The regional education consortia support, and work closely in partnership with local authorities to promote high standards of education. I am encouraged that Estyn’s most recent annual report, published last December, noted that there has been further improvement in standards in primary schools.