National Assembly for Wales

It is not possible to provide the information in full, as a complete answer from officials across all Welsh Government teams can only be provided at disproportionate cost. However, the table below provides information on meetings between Welsh Government ministers and officials from International Relations.

* On 21 November, the First Minister hosted an event for the Diplomatic Corps in London which was attended by over 120 ambassadors and high commissioners. It was at this event that she met separately with the Japanese ambassador and the Canadian and Australian high commissioners

Details of ministerial engagements are published on the Welsh Government website.

Staffing within the Welsh Government and the running of the organisation are matters for the Permanent Secretary, Dr Andrew Goodall. Dr Goodall will respond directly to Andrew R.T Davies in due course.

Substantive response

Welsh Government has made no such assessment, because decisions on teachers’ pay and conditions in Wales follow an annual independent process. This process comprises advice and research provided by a Pay Partnership Forum (PPF) (teacher unions, employers and Welsh Government officials) and independent expertise from the Independent Welsh Pay Review Body (IWPRB).

Welsh Government recognises the importance of fair and competitive pay for all education professionals. We are acutely aware of the pressures on the education workforce, particularly in the context of rising living costs and ongoing challenges in recruitment and retention.

We are committed to working in social partnership to achieve fair, affordable and sustainable pay settlements which recognise the contribution made by teachers.

Welsh Government’s desired number of new teachers via Initial Teacher Education for each of the last five academic years was as follows:

Information on the teaching workforce can be found in the school workforce annual census held on StatsWales here: Teachers (SWAC)

Applications data can be found at the UCAS website: https://www.ucas.com/data-and-analysis. It should be noted that not all ITE Partnerships in Wales use UCAS and that some ITE Partnerships support applications from both UCAS and direct from applicants.

Welsh Government’s desired number of new teachers via Initial Teacher Education for each of the last five academic years was as follows:

Information on the teaching workforce can be found in the school workforce annual census held on StatsWales here: Teachers (SWAC)

Applications data can be found at the UCAS website: https://www.ucas.com/data-and-analysis. It should be noted that not all ITE Partnerships in Wales use UCAS and that some ITE Partnerships support applications from both UCAS and direct from applicants.

Welsh Government’s desired number of new teachers via Initial Teacher Education for each of the last five academic years was as follows:

Information on the teaching workforce can be found in the school workforce annual census held on StatsWales here: Teachers (SWAC)

Applications data can be found at the UCAS website: https://www.ucas.com/data-and-analysis. It should be noted that not all ITE Partnerships in Wales use UCAS and that some ITE Partnerships support applications from both UCAS and direct from applicants.

Five further education colleges in Wales currently offer Junior Apprenticeship programmes. These are Bridgend College, Cardiff and Vale College, Coleg Sir Gâr, Gower College, and Neath Port Talbot College.

The Welsh Government and Medr have distributed a total of £3,335,066 to support the Junior Apprenticeship (JA) programme since 2017.

This figure does not however include funding colleges received for JAs directly from local authorities. Details of this funding is not held by Welsh Government or Medr.

The Welsh Government is working closely with Medr to expand Junior Apprenticeship (JA) provision across Wales to those colleges that wish to offer them.

I have increased the JA budget by 50% to £600k in 2025/6, enabling more colleges to offer more placements on the programme. Medr are in discussion with two additional colleges to begin offering JAs from September 2025.

The Literacy Expert Panel has met on six occasions on 11 November 2024, 11 December 2024, 22 January 2025, 20 February 2025, 21 May 2025 and 9 July 2025. The purpose of the panel is to provide ongoing informal advice and support which has directly shaped the approach to literacy.

The Literacy Expert Panel is developing evidence-based principles for teaching of language and literacy. These principles will guide professional learning and resource development ensuring effective teaching approaches. In particular, the panel is helping to develop very clear expectations around the teaching of phonics.

The panel has also informed the development of expectations and requirements for professional learning that will be delivered through the Curriculum for Wales Grant Support Programme. The panel is also informing the development of more detailed expectations for learning and the ongoing review of the literacy element of the Literacy and Numeracy Framework.

Members of the Literacy Expert Panel met with the Cabinet Secretary for Education on 19 June 2025. 

The Literacy Expert Panel has met on six occasions on 11 November 2024, 11 December 2024, 22 January 2025, 20 February 2025, 21 May 2025 and 9 July 2025. The purpose of the panel is to provide ongoing informal advice and support which has directly shaped the approach to literacy.

The Literacy Expert Panel is developing evidence-based principles for teaching of language and literacy. These principles will guide professional learning and resource development ensuring effective teaching approaches. In particular, the panel is helping to develop very clear expectations around the teaching of phonics.

The panel has also informed the development of expectations and requirements for professional learning that will be delivered through the Curriculum for Wales Grant Support Programme. The panel is also informing the development of more detailed expectations for learning and the ongoing review of the literacy element of the Literacy and Numeracy Framework.

Members of the Literacy Expert Panel met with the Cabinet Secretary for Education on 19 June 2025. 

The Literacy Expert Panel has met on six occasions on 11 November 2024, 11 December 2024, 22 January 2025, 20 February 2025, 21 May 2025 and 9 July 2025. The purpose of the panel is to provide ongoing informal advice and support which has directly shaped the approach to literacy.

The Literacy Expert Panel is developing evidence-based principles for teaching of language and literacy. These principles will guide professional learning and resource development ensuring effective teaching approaches. In particular, the panel is helping to develop very clear expectations around the teaching of phonics.

The panel has also informed the development of expectations and requirements for professional learning that will be delivered through the Curriculum for Wales Grant Support Programme. The panel is also informing the development of more detailed expectations for learning and the ongoing review of the literacy element of the Literacy and Numeracy Framework.

Members of the Literacy Expert Panel met with the Cabinet Secretary for Education on 19 June 2025. 

The Literacy Expert Panel has met on six occasions on 11 November 2024, 11 December 2024, 22 January 2025, 20 February 2025, 21 May 2025 and 9 July 2025. The purpose of the panel is to provide ongoing informal advice and support which has directly shaped the approach to literacy.

The Literacy Expert Panel is developing evidence-based principles for teaching of language and literacy. These principles will guide professional learning and resource development ensuring effective teaching approaches. In particular, the panel is helping to develop very clear expectations around the teaching of phonics.

The panel has also informed the development of expectations and requirements for professional learning that will be delivered through the Curriculum for Wales Grant Support Programme. The panel is also informing the development of more detailed expectations for learning and the ongoing review of the literacy element of the Literacy and Numeracy Framework.

Members of the Literacy Expert Panel met with the Cabinet Secretary for Education on 19 June 2025.

In the academic year (AY) 2022/23, less than five individuals received the Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) payment for all three Initial Teacher Education (ITE) incentive schemes. In AY2023/24, no individuals received this payment for all three schemes. These figures do not include individuals who left within the academic year or did not achieve QTS or were part time students in AY 2023/24 and therefore have not yet completed ITE.

The table below shows how many individuals in each academic year have received payments from each of the ITE incentive schemes, rounded to the nearest five.

* The Priority Subject Incentive Scheme has been available in Wales in some form since before devolution and has changed multiple times over the last three decades. The most recent major set of changes came into effect in AY2022/23 whereby the scheme was substantially simplified and the payment structure amended to include completion of the statutory induction period for final payment. The figures in the table represent the number of claimants that received the first payment made during their ITE year after completion of the first term (this is lower than the number registered on the scheme as some students leave within the first term and are therefore not eligible). The figures also include Part-time PGCE students receiving the first payment in their first year of their PGCE programme.

** The Ethnic Minority ITE incentive scheme has been available since AY2022/23. The figures represent the number of claimants that received the first payment, made on award of QTS, and this has not yet been claimed for AY2024/25. The number of claimants is lower than the number registered on the scheme as some students leave within the academic year or fail their ITE Programme and therefore are not eligible.

*** The Iaith Athrawon Yfory incentive scheme has been available since AY 2018/19. The figures represent the number of claimants receiving the first payment, made on award of QTS where claims were received from eligible students. From AY2018/19 to AY2022/23 students were responsible for claiming this incentive directly from Welsh Government. There was a small number of cases over those years where students did not claim within the required timescales and were therefore ineligible to claim. The figures do not include these students. From AY2023/24 ITE Partnerships have been responsible for claiming on behalf of eligible students. Claims have not yet been made for AY2024/25.

We intend to publish data in Autumn 2025 on how many individuals are teaching in Wales who received the Priority Subject incentive, following completion of a data linking project undertaken by the Education Workforce Council. We plan to repeat this exercise in future years and to extend it to the other ITE incentive schemes if resources allow.

In the academic year (AY) 2022/23, less than five individuals received the Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) payment for all three Initial Teacher Education (ITE) incentive schemes. In AY2023/24, no individuals received this payment for all three schemes. These figures do not include individuals who left within the academic year or did not achieve QTS or were part time students in AY 2023/24 and therefore have not yet completed ITE.

The table below shows how many individuals in each academic year have received payments from each of the ITE incentive schemes, rounded to the nearest five.

* The Priority Subject Incentive Scheme has been available in Wales in some form since before devolution and has changed multiple times over the last three decades. The most recent major set of changes came into effect in AY2022/23 whereby the scheme was substantially simplified and the payment structure amended to include completion of the statutory induction period for final payment. The figures in the table represent the number of claimants that received the first payment made during their ITE year after completion of the first term (this is lower than the number registered on the scheme as some students leave within the first term and are therefore not eligible). The figures also include Part-time PGCE students receiving the first payment in their first year of their PGCE programme.

** The Ethnic Minority ITE incentive scheme has been available since AY2022/23. The figures represent the number of claimants that received the first payment, made on award of QTS, and this has not yet been claimed for AY2024/25. The number of claimants is lower than the number registered on the scheme as some students leave within the academic year or fail their ITE Programme and therefore are not eligible.

*** The Iaith Athrawon Yfory incentive scheme has been available since AY 2018/19. The figures represent the number of claimants receiving the first payment, made on award of QTS where claims were received from eligible students. From AY2018/19 to AY2022/23 students were responsible for claiming this incentive directly from Welsh Government. There was a small number of cases over those years where students did not claim within the required timescales and were therefore ineligible to claim. The figures do not include these students. From AY2023/24 ITE Partnerships have been responsible for claiming on behalf of eligible students. Claims have not yet been made for AY2024/25.

We intend to publish data in Autumn 2025 on how many individuals are teaching in Wales who received the Priority Subject incentive, following completion of a data linking project undertaken by the Education Workforce Council. We plan to repeat this exercise in future years and to extend it to the other ITE incentive schemes if resources allow.

In the academic year (AY) 2022/23, less than five individuals received the Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) payment for all three Initial Teacher Education (ITE) incentive schemes. In AY2023/24, no individuals received this payment for all three schemes. These figures do not include individuals who left within the academic year or did not achieve QTS or were part time students in AY 2023/24 and therefore have not yet completed ITE.

The table below shows how many individuals in each academic year have received payments from each of the ITE incentive schemes, rounded to the nearest five.

* The Priority Subject Incentive Scheme has been available in Wales in some form since before devolution and has changed multiple times over the last three decades. The most recent major set of changes came into effect in AY2022/23 whereby the scheme was substantially simplified and the payment structure amended to include completion of the statutory induction period for final payment. The figures in the table represent the number of claimants that received the first payment made during their ITE year after completion of the first term (this is lower than the number registered on the scheme as some students leave within the first term and are therefore not eligible). The figures also include Part-time PGCE students receiving the first payment in their first year of their PGCE programme.

** The Ethnic Minority ITE incentive scheme has been available since AY2022/23. The figures represent the number of claimants that received the first payment, made on award of QTS, and this has not yet been claimed for AY2024/25. The number of claimants is lower than the number registered on the scheme as some students leave within the academic year or fail their ITE Programme and therefore are not eligible.

*** The Iaith Athrawon Yfory incentive scheme has been available since AY 2018/19. The figures represent the number of claimants receiving the first payment, made on award of QTS where claims were received from eligible students. From AY2018/19 to AY2022/23 students were responsible for claiming this incentive directly from Welsh Government. There was a small number of cases over those years where students did not claim within the required timescales and were therefore ineligible to claim. The figures do not include these students. From AY2023/24 ITE Partnerships have been responsible for claiming on behalf of eligible students. Claims have not yet been made for AY2024/25.

We intend to publish data in Autumn 2025 on how many individuals are teaching in Wales who received the Priority Subject incentive, following completion of a data linking project undertaken by the Education Workforce Council. We plan to repeat this exercise in future years and to extend it to the other ITE incentive schemes if resources allow.

In the academic year (AY) 2022/23, less than five individuals received the Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) payment for all three Initial Teacher Education (ITE) incentive schemes. In AY2023/24, no individuals received this payment for all three schemes. These figures do not include individuals who left within the academic year or did not achieve QTS or were part time students in AY 2023/24 and therefore have not yet completed ITE.

The table below shows how many individuals in each academic year have received payments from each of the ITE incentive schemes, rounded to the nearest five.

* The Priority Subject Incentive Scheme has been available in Wales in some form since before devolution and has changed multiple times over the last three decades. The most recent major set of changes came into effect in AY2022/23 whereby the scheme was substantially simplified and the payment structure amended to include completion of the statutory induction period for final payment. The figures in the table represent the number of claimants that received the first payment made during their ITE year after completion of the first term (this is lower than the number registered on the scheme as some students leave within the first term and are therefore not eligible). The figures also include Part-time PGCE students receiving the first payment in their first year of their PGCE programme.

** The Ethnic Minority ITE incentive scheme has been available since AY2022/23. The figures represent the number of claimants that received the first payment, made on award of QTS, and this has not yet been claimed for AY2024/25. The number of claimants is lower than the number registered on the scheme as some students leave within the academic year or fail their ITE Programme and therefore are not eligible.

*** The Iaith Athrawon Yfory incentive scheme has been available since AY 2018/19. The figures represent the number of claimants receiving the first payment, made on award of QTS where claims were received from eligible students. From AY2018/19 to AY2022/23 students were responsible for claiming this incentive directly from Welsh Government. There was a small number of cases over those years where students did not claim within the required timescales and were therefore ineligible to claim. The figures do not include these students. From AY2023/24 ITE Partnerships have been responsible for claiming on behalf of eligible students. Claims have not yet been made for AY2024/25.

We intend to publish data in Autumn 2025 on how many individuals are teaching in Wales who received the Priority Subject incentive, following completion of a data linking project undertaken by the Education Workforce Council. We plan to repeat this exercise in future years and to extend it to the other ITE incentive schemes if resources allow.

Information held by Medr, which has been submitted by colleges, shows that 1050 learners  have completed a Junior Apprenticeship since 2017.

A number of organisations including Natural Resources Wales (NRW), The North Wales Wildlife Trust and Gwynedd Council have been undertaking work to help save the Arctic Char in Llyn Padarn.

Work to improve fish spawning sites has been undertaken including habitat restoration and removal of invasive species. Monitoring of the impact of these actions on the Arctic Char is currently being undertaken by NRW and is ongoing.

The information requested is not held centrally. You may wish to ascertain this information by writing to each health board individually.  

The Welsh Government continues to discuss with Cardiff and Vale University Health Board its plans for the delivery of services, including the future of the University Hospital of Wales.

Substantive response

The Welsh Government is relentlessly focused on delivering for the people of Wales and my role as Minister for Delivery is central to that mission. Since my appointment, I’ve worked closely with Cabinet colleagues to embed a delivery-first culture across government.

We’ve introduced regular, data-driven Cabinet meetings focused solely on delivery, and I lead frequent performance sessions with Cabinet leads to ensure progress against the First Minister’s four priorities: Better Health, Better Transport, More Jobs, and More Homes.

Our approach is already delivering results. Waiting times for NHS treatment are falling, with the number of people waiting more than two years down 86% from the peak.

Over 700km of road have been improved, 77% of trains in Wales are now new and we’ve supported over 40,000 jobs through £600m of investment. Nearly 9,000 social homes have been delivered, backed by record investment of nearly £2bn this term.

These are the outcomes of a government delivering with purpose, pace and clarity and my role is to make sure that continues right through to the end of the term.

I have visited Cardiff Airport once in an official capacity since my appointment as Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning.

In addition to my visit, the First Minister and I met with the Airport Chair on 5 February, and I subsequently met with him again on 26 March.

The Welsh Government’s investment to date in Cardiff Airport is publicly available on the Welsh Government website. For the Member’s ease of reference, the details can be found here: https://www.gov.wales/cardiff-airport-our-role

I also refer the Member to my Written Statement on 9 July: https://www.gov.wales/written-statement-update-welsh-government-investment-package-cardiff-airport

Since 2015, Ysgol Gymraeg Llundain has received an annual grant of £90,000 per financial year. In 2022-23, they received a one-off additional payment of 4%, totalling £3,600. On 30 June, I confirmed funding of £90,000 for the school for the full 2025–26 academic year.

The Barnett formula comparability factor with the Department for Transport in the recent UK Spending Review was 0.4 percentage points higher than it would have been if the East West Rail project had been deemed non-comparable. The impact of the Barnett formula on Welsh Government funding depends on both the comparability factor and the change in funding for the relevant UK Government department. In the recent Spending Review, the Department for Transport saw an increase in its capital budget but a reduction in its resource funding. The higher comparability factor meant additional capital funding through the Barnett formula of £2.3 million over the period 2026-27 to 2029-30. On the resource side, the higher comparability factor led to negative consequentials because the Department for Transport’s resource budget as a whole was reduced. Comparability with East West Rail therefore led to a reduction in resource funding totalling £0.3 million over the period 2026-27 to 2028-29.

As noted previously, Academi Wales have delivered and published a Landscape Map, detailing in one place, the learning programmes offered by public service organisations for Welsh public service and third sector staff. This information is listed by sector for ease of reference and signposting.

This information is published on the Academi Wales website: Public service learning organisations - Academi Wales and linked to Academi Wales Courses and events pages.

These simplified zebra crossings were trialled during the rollout of the 20mph default speed limit in Cardiff, and since then officials have been liaising with those undertaking similar trials in Warwickshire and Westminster. This was to ensure the outcomes of the Cardiff trial concurred with these other similar studies, and now they have concluded it can be confirmed that this has found to be the case.

Concurrently consultation has taken place with TfW’s Accessibility and Inclusion Panel, where they had a site visit to the crossings in Cardiff and a presentation was made to them last month.

They were generally very supportive of the simple side road zebras, recognising that they make all pedestrians and wheelers safer in their communities compared to a situation without a simple side-road zebra. They did raise concerns which will be addressed in future guidance to be provided to highway authorities regarding their installation.

Our lawyers are now working with officials to consider what amendments need to be made to legislation, so that highway authorities can introduce simple zebra crossings on 20mph roads in Wales.

These simplified zebra crossings were trialled during the rollout of the 20mph default speed limit in Cardiff, and since then officials have been liaising with those undertaking similar trials in Warwickshire and Westminster. This was to ensure the outcomes of the Cardiff trial concurred with these other similar studies, and now they have concluded it can be confirmed that this has found to be the case.

Concurrently consultation has taken place with TfW’s Accessibility and Inclusion Panel, where they had a site visit to the crossings in Cardiff and a presentation was made to them last month.

They were generally very supportive of the simple side road zebras, recognising that they make all pedestrians and wheelers safer in their communities compared to a situation without a simple side-road zebra. They did raise concerns which will be addressed in future guidance to be provided to highway authorities regarding their installation.

Our lawyers are now working with officials to consider what amendments need to be made to legislation, so that highway authorities can introduce simple zebra crossings on 20mph roads in Wales.

These simplified zebra crossings were trialled during the rollout of the 20mph default speed limit in Cardiff, and since then officials have been liaising with those undertaking similar trials in Warwickshire and Westminster. This was to ensure the outcomes of the Cardiff trial concurred with these other similar studies, and now they have concluded it can be confirmed that this has found to be the case.

Concurrently consultation has taken place with TfW’s Accessibility and Inclusion Panel, where they had a site visit to the crossings in Cardiff and a presentation was made to them last month.

They were generally very supportive of the simple side road zebras, recognising that they make all pedestrians and wheelers safer in their communities compared to a situation without a simple side-road zebra. They did raise concerns which will be addressed in future guidance to be provided to highway authorities regarding their installation.

Our lawyers are now working with officials to consider what amendments need to be made to legislation, so that highway authorities can introduce simple zebra crossings on 20mph roads in Wales.

I have not visited Cardiff Airport in an official capacity since being appointed as Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales.