National Assembly for Wales

Substantive response 

Earlier this year we published a tender for an external evaluation of the Economic Contract and expect to appoint a contractor next month.

With the launch of the Net Zero Skills Action Plan on 28 February, I announced our intention to undertake a consultation to capture the more granular detail required to inform sector roadmaps that will ultimately shape our skills offer. That work is already underway, and we aim to publish in the coming months.

The post-event reporting process for the Clash at the Castle event has been concluded and WWE have submitted their Economic Impact Study to Welsh Government. We will be issuing details of the outcomes post-Easter.

In 2023, the total spent to date on export events is £719,876. This spend covers five overseas events and trade missions, one virtual trade mission and two Wales-based conferences. 

Since the regional SPF plans were approved in December 2022, two meetings of the Strategic Forum for Regional Investment, chaired by Huw Irranca-Davies MS, have taken place. These have provided a platform for local government and other sectors to exchange information about the progress of the SPF and the predicament, including the closure of programmes and job losses, being faced by many organisations from the loss of EU funds.

There has been fragmentation of the funding landscape caused by the UK Government using the UK Internal Market Act to bypass the Welsh Government and the Senedd on devolved matters.  I continue to meet with stakeholders and my officials regularly meet with our partners to reduce the risk of duplication of provision, particularly in skills and business support.

Local authorities in Wales are yet to receive their full funding allocation for 2022-23 as a result of the UK Government withholding around £15m due to issues around the inflexibility of the Multiply adult numeracy scheme.

Wales remains £1.1bn worse off (2021-2025) due to the Shared Prosperity Fund not fully replacing EU Structural and Rural funds.

Addressing pay gaps is integral to our commitment to promoting fair work and our aspiration for a gender equal Wales.  We are delivering a range of interventions across Welsh Government to deliver this.

We have introduced a National Milestone for the elimination of the gender, ethnicity and disability pay gap by 2050 and we are reviewing the Public Sector Equality Duty. 

We are also promoting the real living wage and working with social partners to improve working conditions in sectors like social care and retail, where a significant number of workers are women on low pay. 

More broadly, we continue to support the Gender Equality Forum; we are providing funding to Chwarae Teg, who provide expert on gender equality issues and we continue to deliver employability and skills interventions, along with childcare support to facilitate in-work progression.

We are clear on our commitment to create a more prosperous and equal Wales. That is why we introduced a national milestone for the elimination of the gender, ethnicity and disability pay gap by 2050.  This reflects our ambition for economic and social justice and our understanding of how equality, diversity and inclusion at work is integral to our broader commitment to fair work for all workers in Wales. 

We are delivering a range of interventions that will contribute to the milestone.  These include actions within our Employability and Skills Plan, our Fair Work agenda, and the activities of our Disability Employment Champions. This work is supported by the Disability Disparity Evidence Unit which aims to improve the availability and quality of evidence about disabled people. 

We continue to work closely with the Disability Rights Taskforce and learn from those with lived experience. Our future policy and interventions will be informed by the Taskforce’s Action Plan.

Of course, the National Milestone is shared across the public sector. The Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) provides a framework which can create long term culture change across Wales.  We are therefore continuing our work to review and strengthen compliance with the PSED.

A prime objective of the Welsh Government Apprenticeship Programme is responding to skills shortages and gaps in sectors critical to drive productivity and economic growth such as supporting our net zero ambitions, the foundational economy and public services.

Informed by Regional Skills Partnerships (RSPs), LMI and interaction with sector bodies we are committed to increasing apprenticeship numbers, especially in sectors with skill shortages. We will do this by promoting the benefits of apprenticeships via a range of multi-media campaigns throughout the year which will target both individuals and employers by utilising channels and tactics informed by market intelligence and research.

Our contracted apprenticeship providers are also expected to effectively plan to meet employers skills priorities and shortages by putting in place interventions which include: 

• increasing or migrating provision into priority, growth and emerging sector areas, for example, in digital and net zero related skills;
• increasing the proportion of provision at level 3 and above;
• using labour market information to support national, regional and local priorities, including skill shortages; and
• developing approaches that takes account of technological changes within industries.

I will write to you as soon as possible with a substantive response and a copy of the letter will be published on the internet. 

I will write to you as soon as possible with a substantive response and a copy of the letter will be published on the internet. 

As of 28 February 2023, Local Authorities across Wales reported that 316,342 households had applied to the Welsh Government Fuel Support Scheme. They have also reported that 341,468 households had received a payment under the Welsh Government Fuel Support Scheme (this figure includes some cases where the payment was made automatically, and no application was required).

We do not keep data on which one of qualifying benefits the applicant or their partner was in receipt of to qualify for a payment so it is not possible to provide a breakdown of households or individuals by qualifying benefit.

As of 28 February 2023, Local Authorities across Wales reported that 316,342 households had applied to the Welsh Government Fuel Support Scheme. They have also reported that 341,468 households had received a payment under the Welsh Government Fuel Support Scheme (this figure includes some cases where the payment was made automatically, and no application was required).

We do not keep data on which one of qualifying benefits the applicant or their partner was in receipt of to qualify for a payment so it is not possible to provide a breakdown of households or individuals by qualifying benefit.

It was estimated that there would be approximately 427,000 households eligible to qualify for the Welsh Government Fuel Support Scheme.  We do not hold household data in order to provide the number of people per eligible household.

The estimate of qualifying households was based on a proportion of all eligible benefits it is not possible to provide a breakdown of households or individuals by qualifying benefit.

The estimated breakdown of eligible households by local authority area is as follows.

It was estimated that there would be approximately 427,000 households eligible to qualify for the Welsh Government Fuel Support Scheme.  We do not hold household data in order to provide the number of people per eligible household.

The estimate of qualifying households was based on a proportion of all eligible benefits it is not possible to provide a breakdown of households or individuals by qualifying benefit.

The estimated breakdown of eligible households by local authority area is as follows.

The Welsh Government made up to £90m available to support households through the Welsh Government Fuel Support Scheme during 2022/23.

As of 28 February 2023, £64,739,746 has been spent on the Welsh Government Fuel Support Scheme in 2022/23.

An initial review of the Learner Travel (Wales) Measure took place in 2020/2021. From the initial review it was a clear that a more detailed review of the Measure was required due to the complex nature of learner’s travel needs.

Work has now commenced on this wider review of the Measure which, working in partnership with local authorities, the industry as well as children and young people, will identify the barriers as well as opportunities and innovative approaches to learner travel. Key findings, learnings and examples of innovative good practice from local, national and international research will inform advice due to be submitted for me to review this summer.   

The Bus Bill, which we will be bringing to the Senedd in early 2024, offers us an opportunity to look at the provision of school transport within a restructured bus service delivery model across Wales; we anticipate that alongside the Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Bill, this will provide us with a robust legislative framework in which we can embed a safe, equitable, affordable and accessible learner transport offer.

It is vital that we take the time to gather the evidence and work with partners to develop sustainable and affordable policy options for all learners in Wales. 

Whilst Welsh Government does not have a formal role in the gated stages of the infrastructure proposals considered by RAPID, Natural Resources Wales contributes to the assessment of projects and are members of the RAPID advisory group.

Welsh Government officials also meet regularly with RAPID and NRW to ensure the Welsh position is fully understood.

Welsh Government officials were not present at the meeting of the Wales Water Management Forum on 12 May 2022, this is not how Welsh Government’s representations are made.

Our position is set out clearly in Welsh Government’s guiding principles for developing Water Resources Management Plans (WRMPs):

Any proposal for a new or modification to an existing water transfer agreement from a water resource zone in Wales to a water resource zone in England (or a water resource source which might be transferred through Wales) to be subject to a detailed analysis and explanation of the following:

• the economic, environmental and multi benefits for Welsh citizens;
• any risk of deterioration of water body status and/or causing any adverse effects to designated sites or in the catchment and/or preventing biodiversity and resilience of ecosystems, within the areas / water resource zones affected by its implementation in Wales;
• there is sufficient water in the donor water resource zone at no additional cost for current and potential future users in Wales (allowing for economic growth and development), including private water supplies and all other cross sector water use; and
• the Welsh Government’s statutory targets to reduce greenhouse gases: proposals should include an assessment of their carbon impact in Wales from the outset.

We are satisfied that those who, unlike Welsh Government, have a formal role in the gated process are fully aware of this position.

Any final decision will be made through water resource management plans, and any subsequent applications for local planning and environmental consents.

a) The properties are 12 & 13 Glen View, Llanfairfechan.

b) Purchase followed statutory planning blight applications submitted by the former owners.

c) One property is tenanted and opportunities for occupation are being pursued on the other.

Equity and inclusion are at the heart of our education reforms. Our fundamental aim is an education system where all learners, including those with additional learning needs (ALN), are inspired, motivated and supported to reach their full potential.

The Curriculum for Wales framework guidance, including enabling learning, was developed with practitioners and experts from across a range of fields including ALN, early education and child development. The guidance focuses on the key principles essential for holistic and meaningful learning for all learners. It is written to be fully inclusive and respectful of learners needs, allowing all learners to participate, enjoy their learning and progress towards the four purposes. As a result, we are confident the Curriculum for Wales guidance works as a national framework for all learners aged 3 to 16 and supports practitioners to develop their school curriculum: allowing them flexibility to meet the specific needs of their learners in their contexts and communities, including neurodivergent learners in early education.

It is a requirement for accreditation that all programmes of Initial Teacher Education prepare student teachers to foster inclusive classrooms and to have an understanding of the individual needs of all learners including those who may present with additional learning needs (ALN) or disability. 

The professional learning offer available to practitioners, system leaders and advisors enables them to develop the skills they need to meet the needs of learners with ALN so they can put in place differentiated teaching or other targeted interventions and make best use of expert advice and support.  The professional learning offer includes a national ALN professional learning pathway which has been developed to help all teachers support learners with ALN, and especially ALNCos who have a strategic role in schools and colleges and are the first point of call for teachers seeking advice and guidance on ALN. Education practitioners can also opt to enhance their professional knowledge of ALN by pursuing the ALN pathway on the National MA (Masters) in Education (Wales). 

The Welsh Government has worked with education consortia and regional partnerships, with support from the Children’s Commissioner for Wales, to create an online professional learning package on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).  This national professional learning resource will support practitioners, head teachers, governing bodies and local authorities to develop an awareness and understanding of the UNCRC and UNCRPD.  A consistent professional learning offer is required to support schools to meet the requirements of Section 64 of the Curriculum and Assessment (Wales) Act 2021.  The first two modules will be made available during the summer term 2023 via the Welsh Government’s online learning platform ‘Hwb’.  A virtual Policy Insight Event scheduled on 25/04 will showcase the UNCRC/PD modules, together with a range of other new professional learning resources launching next term.

Tackling health inequalities is a key priority as we look to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and address the cost-of-living crisis.  Current actions to address health inequalities are embedded across all activity owing to the strategic planning required by the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 and through our health in all policies approach. 

The recent introduction of the Duty of Quality, within which equity is one dimension, and the publication of quality statements for major service areas that lay out government’s  expectation for equitable services, demonstrates the importance that is placed on this.  For Local Health Boards specifically, the NHS Planning Framework sets an expectation of a broad approach to prevention to be applied in all aspects of planning and the Framework for 2022-25 requires health boards give attention to their action to reduce health inequalities in their Integrated Medium Term Plans.

Through innovative treatment and technologies we have a robust response to NICE guidance on new medicines to ensure that these are made available to everyone who needs them.  Processes have been improved to ensure that when new technology is available we are aware of the need for equal access to them and are taking steps to overcome the barriers.  For example, Health Technology Wales has recommended the new technology Freestyle Libre as a way to improve the care of people with diabetes who are dependent on insulin.  The Welsh Value in Health Centre are looking at variation in uptake to ensure that it’s equitably distributed.

Welsh Government has, and continues to, support the development of technology that is mobile and can be taken closer to home and communities of need, for example Respiratory Innovation Wales is currently piloting a mobile respiratory unit that is providing access to diagnostic care in the community.

Our highly successful New Treatment Fund continues to ensure every medicine recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and the All Wales Medicines Strategy Group (AWMSG) is routinely available within 60 days of their earliest recommendation, this includes new and innovative medicines for all conditions not just cancer. 

In January, the report Transforming lives, improving health outcomes published jointly by the NHS Confederation and the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry, demonstrated Wales has the higher levels of uptake of medicines recommended by NICE than any sampled region in England. 

Since its launch nearly 500 new treatments have been made available as a result of the fund, with the average time to make a new medicine available in Wales just 16 days.  We are providing £16m to health boards every year to ensure people in Wales continue to have rapid access to cost effective, innovative medicines.