National Assembly for Wales

The Welsh Government has no current plans to create more Commissioners.

Substantive response

Welsh Ministers have written to UK Ministers on several occasions since the fundamentally flawed concept of a “Brexit Opportunities Bill” was first suggested, and particularly since the irresponsible and unnecessary Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill was introduced in the UK Parliament in September 2022. My colleagues and I have raised this matter in appropriate fora with UK Ministers. Officials are also in very frequent contact with their UK Government counterparts.

Overall, we continue to convey our significant concerns about this Bill that threatens many important legal protections and the devolution settlement, and that uses valuable public resources for no particular benefit.

Decisions on the remuneration of local authority officers, including senior officers, is a matter for individual local authorities.

The report Senior management pay across devolved public services in Wales 2018 to 2022 was published on 10 March 2023. It reflects the Welsh Government’s commitment to support the transparency of senior management pay.

My position on transgender athletes participating in rugby is based on the Welsh Government’s starting point of inclusion for all. We want our country to be the most LGBTQ+ friendly nation in Europe. Sport has a key role in that ambition and sport should be a place where everyone can be themselves, where everyone can take part and where everyone is treated with kindness, dignity, and respect.

The scientific evidence and guidance for domestic sport are outlined in UK Sport’s ‘Transgender Inclusion in Domestic Sport’ document published in 2021. However, the point I was making in my letter to the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) was that a policy of blanket exclusion of transgender women and non-binary people from community rugby risks sending a wrong message to young transgender people that they cannot have the same opportunities as their friends and other children.

The Welsh Government’s preferred position is to treat everyone the same: if transgender men are afforded the opportunity to be considered on a case-by-case basis, rather than a blanket exclusion for transgender women, the WRU should provide transgender women with the same opportunity. However, I accept that UK Sport’s guidance is for national governing bodies to determine their own bespoke policies within the framework outlined and I understand the WRU will keep its position under review.  

This work was carried out in collaboration with Siân Gwenllian MS, the Plaid Cymru designated member, as part of the Co-operation Agreement between the Welsh Government and Plaid Cymru.

I worked with the Designated Member and Welsh Government officials to develop a long list of individuals, whom we felt could provide valuable input into the work of developing the new Culture Strategy.

Individuals on the long list were approached with a request to submit an expression of interest in the work, and these expressions of interest were assessed via a formal sift process.

In line with Welsh Government recruitment practices, the review panel included officials from the Culture division and Cadw, and an assessor from outside the directorate leading on the development of the strategy. This process returned a short-list of candidates for approval.

There was full disclosure of conflicts of interest throughout the process.

Substantive response

Substantive response

Substantive response

Previous studies have shown Mbovis is able to survive for 6 months in slurry under certain conditions, although the results of recent research suggest that the risk of spreading TB through slurry is lower than reported in some historical literature.

However, I fully recognise a measure of risk remains, and will maintain the policy of providing clear written instruction to keepers of restricted cattle that manure and slurry must not be removed to other farms without prior written authorisation, and they manage, store and spread slurry and manure in ways which minimise risk of transmission to their own cattle and to neighbouring herds.

General advice can be found on: TB hub - Bovine TB Advice & Tuberculosis Information for Cattle Farmers

1,029 of herds which experienced a TB breakdown subsequently suffered at least one more incident.

To help manage recurrent infection, bespoke action plans are developed by APHA vets working in consultation with the farmer.

In addition, farms experiencing a TB breakdown are eligible for a Cymorth TB visit. Cymorth TB is a programme funded by the Welsh Government which provides a fully funded specialist visit by a trained Official Veterinarian (OV) to farms affected by TB.

The A48 at St Mellon’s is part of the Local Authority road network and our Welsh Government Traffic Officers do not patrol that section.

Welsh Government traffic officers are not made aware of missing persons alerts. 

However, our inspection teams, safety patrols and Welsh Government traffic officers are on alert for any changes to the carriageway, such as fresh marks or damage to the road, to the vegetation or to barriers.

There is a long record of collaboration and commitment involving the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, the Department for Transport, Welsh Government, constituent local authorities, Transport for Wales, the Mersey Dee Alliance (MDA) and the Growth Track 360 partnership. TfW are engaging with MR on options for the future of the line including how services can operate directly to Liverpool and the most appropriate rolling stock for this.

Transport for Wales have been in regular contact with First Group, the parent company of Great Western Railway and South Western Railway who both have trains manufactured by Vivarail such as the Class 230 in their fleets. Transport for Wales have established a close working relationship with First Group on this matter which will be beneficial for both parties as Transport for Wales bring the Class 230s into use on the Wrexham to Bidston line later this year.

The Transforming Towns programme has awarded £2,060,688 to Pembrokeshire County Council in relation the Phase 1 project at South Quay.  This is supporting the enabling and stabilisation works of the listed buildings on Castle Terrace.  

A further £1,264,312 of Transforming Towns support has been approved in principle in relation to the main contract works that will adapt the building for use as a new public visitor centre, 24-hour family friendly library, café and retail space, high quality public realm and community gardens, with the aim of enabling permeability through the site to connect to Northgate Street.

Welsh ports provide a vital link for freight and goods between Ireland, the UK and beyond. Large ports, such as Pembroke Dock, are vital gateways for the UK’s economy.

My officials are in regular dialogue with Irish Ferries and have not been made aware of any risk to the future of the Pembroke Dock-Rosslare ferry service.

The Welsh Government works closely with Wales’ water companies, regulators and other partners on a wide range of issues, including water resource management matters.

Any development that involves sourcing water from Wales must demonstrate economic, environmental and wider benefits for the people of Wales as well as ensuring there is enough water in future for those that need it. Water companies wholly or mainly in Wales must follow Welsh Government’s guiding principles and Welsh Ministers have a statutory role in the sign off process for any plans.

Any proposals that affect Wales will have regard to Wales’ interests and needs, in particular, ensuring sustainable management of its natural resources, and delivery of Welsh legislation and policy requirements, including how the proposals support the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions as well as addressing the climate and nature emergencies.

The water companies have a statutory duty to provide a secure supply of water. Water Resource Management Plans (WRMPs) show how companies will meet sustainable water demand over the next 25 years. Water companies must consider all options, including demand management and any water resources infrastructure.

Ofwat, Natural Resources Wales and the Environment Agency issue joint guidance and planning principles setting out our expectations which includes for any proposal for a new (or modification to an existing) water transfer agreement, assessment of the following is required:

• The needs of and benefits to those who live and work in Wales, including economic, community and environmental needs and priorities.
• Statutory decarbonisation targets for Wales.
• Climate impact risks.
• The risk of deteriorating water body status (set through the Water Environment (Water Framework Directive) (England and Wales) Regulations 2017); risk of causing any adverse effects to designated habitat sites; risk of preventing biodiversity and resilience of ecosystems.
• Sufficiency of water for current and future users, allowing for growth and development.

If any water trading options are considered in WRMPs the Welsh Government will work with NRW and the companies to ensure water resources are managed and used sustainably and that any potential water trades safeguard public water supply, other water users and the environment in Wales. WRMPs will be submitted for consideration later in the year.

The Elan Valley reservoir agreement is governed by a set of complex, long-term contractual and financial arrangements between Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water and Severn Trent Water.  Changes to the agreement requires the approval of both parties.

The agreement pre-dates the devolution settlement and as such the Welsh Government has no formal powers to change the terms of the agreement.  However, we are considering how trading agreements can be revised to better reflect current and future circumstances in relation to water resources management.

The Welsh Government works closely with Wales’ water companies, regulators and other partners on a wide range of issues, including water resource management matters.

Any development that involves sourcing water from Wales must demonstrate economic, environmental and wider benefits for the people of Wales as well as ensuring there is enough water in future for those that need it. Water companies wholly or mainly in Wales must follow Welsh Government’s guiding principles and Welsh Ministers have a statutory role in the sign off process for any plans.

Any proposals that affect Wales will have regard to Wales’ interests and needs, in particular, ensuring sustainable management of its natural resources, and delivery of Welsh legislation and policy requirements, including how the proposals support the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions as well as addressing the climate and nature emergencies.

I recognise the possible conservation benefits for oyster restoration within wind farms, however, further research would be needed to determine habitat suitability.

In addition, NRW have published a restoration work plan for oysters which includes the development of guidance on suitable areas for restoration. This evidence-based approach will identify suitable habitats for restoration projects, which by virtue could include habitats within wind farms.

The Education (School Premises) Regulations 1999 specify separate washrooms for male and female pupils over the age of 8. Gender-neutral toilets can be provided alongside single-sex toilets.

The provision and design of toilets, changing rooms and washing facilities for pupils is a matter for the school and local authority.  The Welsh Government provides advice for governing bodies and head teachers on the facilities required: school-toilets-good-practice-guidance-for-schools-in-wales.pdf (gov.wales)).

Schools conducting a school-based consultation with learners will help ensure the needs of all pupils are met within new buildings and in making any changes to provision.

Powys Council, like all local authorities in Wales, has published its Welsh in Education Strategic Plan (WESP) which set a clear ambition and expectation for planning Welsh-medium provision over the next 10 years.

To support the planning process, we requested that local authorities organise their plans against a set of seven outcomes. The first of these is for ‘more nursery children/three-year-olds receive their education through the medium of Welsh’

Within its WESP, Powys provided an assessment of its current early years Welsh medium education provision. The council has committed to ambitious targets to increase the number of Year 1 pupils receiving their education through the medium of Welsh from 22% to 36% during the lifetime of the plan. One of the WESP commitments includes ensuring access to Welsh language provision for early years and primary in all 13 areas of the county.

Powys has provided us with an implementation plan which sets out the delivery actions for the first five years of the WESP. We will continually monitor progress against the WESP commitments and look forward to receiving the WESP annual review report in July.

Welsh Government is aware of Pembrokeshire County Council’s proposals for the development of a town centre social care hub with supported employment opportunities through Phase 2 of the South Quay, Pembroke scheme. To date, no detailed discussions have taken place between Welsh Government and the Council in relation to these proposals. Details are being discussed locally and through the Regional Planning Board (RPB) and we anticipate further information and funding application through the Health and Social Care Integrated and Rebalancing Capital Fund (IRCF) in due course.

We expect the health board to urgently prioritise a plan of work to implement the recommendations in the review by Health Inspectorate Wales.

The NHS Delivery Unit will provide support to the health board and officials will be closely monitoring progress through our Targeted Intervention arrangements with Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board.

All GP practices across Wales must ensure that people are treated and cared for in the right way, at the right time, in the right place and with the right staff, as outlined in the 2015 Health and Care Standards for Wales. 

The introduction of the GMS Access Commitment in April 2022 supports this approach by ensuring every patient in need of GP services is offered an appropriate consultation, such as a face-to-face or remote appointment. Patients will undergo a preliminary assessment in order to determine the right service for their healthcare need. To make sure the patient is receiving the best support, they may be signposted to another service, with the reasons for this clearly explained to them.

Welsh Government’s ‘Help Us, Help You’ campaign reinforces the needs-based model of delivery and sets clear expectations to the patient of what to expect when contacting their local GP practice. Further information on this campaign can be found here.

Substantive response