National Assembly for Wales

The Welsh Government will need to consider the findings of the report and its recommendations carefully and will respond in full once this has been completed.

The appointments I announced on 7 August 2024 provide stability and continuity over the summer in the Ministerial team. Further announcements on portfolio allocations will be made in September.

I am hearing about the issues that are important to people as part of my visits and engagements across Wales throughout the summer which will help me to shape the priorities and focus of the government to deliver for the people of Wales.

I am hearing about the issues that are important to people as part of my visits and engagements across Wales throughout the summer which will help me to shape the priorities and focus of the government to deliver for the people of Wales.

The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care will undertake all the functions of a Welsh Minister as appropriate to the portfolio.

The National Survey is carried out to the highest standards, involving a randomly-selected sample of people to ensure that the results are as representative as possible of people across Wales. Cost pressures, and the falling response rates that are being experienced by surveys generally, mean that the estimated achieved sample size for 2024-25 is 9,000 people (compared with the c. 12,000 a year achieved in previous years); and the final total may be lower. This may affect the extent to which data can be broken down, either geographically or for some population groups. It won’t prevent the National Survey being used for the measurement of key indicators or policy monitoring such as the Wellbeing of Future Generation National Indicators, healthy behaviours, Welsh speaking, and fair work. While key indicators will still be measured in a robust way, because of the reduction in the level of analysis by geography and key demographic groups it has been decided that fieldwork for 2025-26 will not proceed. Work has begun on a redesign of the survey approach for future years.

Yes. I have written to the Chief Secretary to the Treasury in relation to the need for additional budget flexibilities for the Welsh Government. I also raised this in our introductory meeting in July, where we discussed the indexing of the Wales Reserve limits to inflation.

I have not written to cabinet colleagues asking for budget cuts in respect of the current financial year.

Officials are working closely with HM Treasury to work through the details which lie behind the recent UK Government public sector funding commitments in order to narrow our own planning assumptions.

The level of consequential funding received will depend on several factors including whether this will be funded with new money or through savings or reprioritisation within existing Whitehall departmental budgets.

Consequential funding will be confirmed as part of the Supplementary Estimates process 2024-25. 

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) is the UK's largest independent producer of official statistics and the recognised national statistical institute of the UK. It is responsible for collecting and publishing statistics related to the economy, population and society at national, regional and local levels. It also conducts the census in England and Wales every ten years.

One of the functions of the ONS is to classify organisations to the different sectors of the UK economy (and the rest of the world), according to internationally agreed standards. This is important for ensuring the consistency and comparability of economic statistics across the UK and when compared with other countries.

The classification of institutional units into sectors of the economy and the transactions between them inform the national accounts - a statistical framework for describing what is happening in national economies – and other statistics produced by the ONS including labour market statistics, trade statistics, and importantly, defining the boundary of the public sector in the national accounts to inform the UK public sector finances and government deficit and debt statistics.

The ONS is an independent organisation which derives its authority to classify organisations from the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007, which established the ONS as a non-ministerial department and is overseen by the UK Statistics Authority, which reports directly to the UK Parliament. Section 21 of the Act gives the UK Statistics Authority the power to "determine, in relation to any body or person, whether or not statistics produced by or in relation to that body or person are official statistics".

Official statistics are defined in the Act as statistics that are produced by the UK Statistics Authority, a government department, a devolved administration, or any other person acting on behalf of the Crown. The Act also specifies that official statistics must comply with the Code of Practice for Statistics, which sets out the principles and practices for producing high quality statistics that serve the public good. 

When the UK was part of the EU and the European Statistical System, the UK was required under EU regulation to comply with guidance set out in both the European System of Accounts (ESA) 2010 manual and the Manual on Government Deficit and Debt. The ESA 2010 guidance is based on the System of National Accounts 2008 manual which is used by countries outside the EU. The UK currently continues to follow these set of rules and definitions for measuring and reporting the economic activity of different sectors of the economy, including the public sector. 

The guidance is extensive and producers of national accounts statistics throughout the world interpret these manuals to ensure correct classifications of institutional units and transactions. Each classification decision is taken based on the characteristics and economic activities of the entity being classified, or the nature of the transaction between organisations, analysed in the context of this international guidance. 

The ‘Statement of Funding Policy: Funding the Scottish Government, Welsh Government and Northern Ireland Executive’ sets out that responsibility for UK fiscal policy, macroeconomic policy and funding allocation across the UK remains with HM Treasury. As a result, funding from the UK Government, as well as Devolved Government self-financing, continues to be determined within this framework.

Funding from the UK Government is determined with reference to the overarching requirement to meet the objectives set out in the Charter for Budget Responsibility. These objectives are achieved through the UK Government's fiscal mandate and are dependent on national accounts' definitions and classifications.

The annual Consolidated Budgeting Guidance published by HM Treasury sets out the budgeting framework for expenditure control for UK Government departments. Its provisions also apply to the Devolved Governments, except where bespoke arrangements have been agreed by HM Treasury ministers.  The application of the Consolidated Budget Guidance relies upon the ONS classification of entities throughout the UK.

The Developer Loan Scheme was established to ensure developers could progress remediation of buildings affected by fire safety issues as swiftly as possible, by removing any potential barriers related to a lack of funds.

The development of the scheme included consideration of the impact of having to undertake works in both England and Wales, and how this might affect a developer’s ability to deliver, and consideration of the impact of increased interest rates in relation to the availability of loan funding.

The loan scheme is reviewed on a regular basis to ensure the funding available is appropriate to the needs of the scheme, and any other developers coming into the Programme have the opportunity to access funding. Should the Developer Loan Scheme remain unused, the scheme will be closed.

The Developer Loan Scheme was established to ensure developers could progress remediation of buildings affected by fire safety issues as swiftly as possible, by removing any potential barriers related to a lack of funds.

The development of the scheme included consideration of the impact of having to undertake works in both England and Wales, and how this might affect a developer’s ability to deliver, and consideration of the impact of increased interest rates in relation to the availability of loan funding.

The loan scheme is reviewed on a regular basis to ensure the funding available is appropriate to the needs of the scheme, and any other developers coming into the Programme have the opportunity to access funding. Should the Developer Loan Scheme remain unused, the scheme will be closed.

Local authorities are legally responsible for dealing with blue badge applications. Applicants who will permanently meet the eligibility criteria can be awarded a badge on a ‘not for reassessment’ basis, which means that when re-applying in three years’ time they will not need to provide any additional evidence from healthcare professionals, only proof of identity and residency. These are reasonable and proportionate requirements to protect the integrity and robustness of the Blue Badge scheme.

The Welsh Government is committed to improving issues relating to leasehold and freehold. We have been clear that working together with the UK Government is the best way to reduce complexity, maximise the clarity and coherence of the law and ensure the new fairer reformed system applies to all.

The Welsh Government has worked with the UK Government on the Leasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Act 2022 and the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024. Both Acts apply to England and Wales and bring substantial improvements to the law and significant new rights for homeowners here. The then Cabinet Secretary released a written statement following the passage of the 2024 Act, which can be found at this link: Written Statement: Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act and the Renters (Reform) Bill (6 June 2024) | GOV.WALES.

My officials are working closely with their counterparts in the UK Government to plan for the implementation of the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024. The UK Government has indicated an intention to bring forward further reforms to the leasehold system, and I look forward to working together on the draft Bill announced in the King’s Speech.

The ability to introduce requirements on landlords for their properties reach an energy performance certificate (EPC) score of C or more by 2030 is a reserved power and therefore any changes undertaken by the UK Government will also apply to Wales.

We are supportive of increasing EPC requirements for the private rental sector and the strengthening of the minimum energy efficiency standards (MEES). We were disappointed when the previous UK Government lessened their climate change ambitions and back tracked on the proposal in 2023 and welcome discussions with the new UK Government on the topic.

Increasing minimum energy efficiency standards for privately rented homes would lead to tenants in Wales living in better quality, healthier homes and a reduction in the cost of energy bills. This is critical for those most vulnerable in our communities to help tackle fuel poverty and improve wellbeing outcomes.

Raising EPC standards of privately rented homes to an EPC C or higher will help decarbonise Welsh homes which is an essential component for us to meet our targets of becoming net zero by 2050.

The regulation of insurance is undertaken at a UK Government level. This power is not devolved to Wales.

The Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 will seek to prevent unfair charges being levied on leaseholders, introducing greater transparency in the placing of building insurance.

As every building is unique, officials have been engaging with leaseholders and signposting to the Association of British Insurers Fire Safety Reinsurance Facility. This has been launched as a temporary solution until buildings can be remediated and encourages competition across the market so that more firms will provide cover.

The reports were commissioned by the Welsh Government and the findings were considered carefully when developing policy relating to the teaching workforce at that time, including the Workforce development plan 2019 to 2021.

Many of the recommendations were taken forward where appropriate to the Welsh context, including, but not exclusive to:

• The development and ongoing support of the Salaried PGCE
• A clearer, flatter Priority Subject Incentive Scheme
• Development of the Teaching Wales marketing campaign and associated Educators Wales web platform and advocacy service
• A funded mentor and a professional learning programme for early career teachers undertaking induction
• A funded National Masters in Education (MA)
• A National Doctorate in Education (EdD) (avaliable from January 2025)
• The National Professional Learning Entitlement, including 6 INSET days, and a professional learning grant to support schools to enable practitioners to engage with professional learning.
• The IWPRBs Strategic Review into Teachers’ Pay and Conditions and our ongoing social partnership approach with stakeholders
• Funding ‘Education Support’ to provide free advice and support for schools across Wales
• Established the Strategic Workload Coordination Group which oversees all issues linked to reducing workload and bureaucracy in schools building on previous work in this area.

The reports were commissioned by the Welsh Government and the findings were considered carefully when developing policy relating to the teaching workforce at that time, including the Workforce development plan 2019 to 2021.

Many of the recommendations were taken forward where appropriate to the Welsh context, including, but not exclusive to:

• The development and ongoing support of the Salaried PGCE
• A clearer, flatter Priority Subject Incentive Scheme
• Development of the Teaching Wales marketing campaign and associated Educators Wales web platform and advocacy service
• A funded mentor and a professional learning programme for early career teachers undertaking induction
• A funded National Masters in Education (MA)
• A National Doctorate in Education (EdD) (avaliable from January 2025)
• The National Professional Learning Entitlement, including 6 INSET days, and a professional learning grant to support schools to enable practitioners to engage with professional learning.
• The IWPRBs Strategic Review into Teachers’ Pay and Conditions and our ongoing social partnership approach with stakeholders
• Funding ‘Education Support’ to provide free advice and support for schools across Wales
• Established the Strategic Workload Coordination Group which oversees all issues linked to reducing workload and bureaucracy in schools building on previous work in this area.

We are working with the EWC to look into the longer-term retention of teachers that received an incentive (specifically the Priority Subject Incentive scheme). We also utilise data and feedback from the ITE Partnerships alongside both HESA and SWAC data and any relevant research to monitor the incentives annually. The Welsh in Education Teacher Retention Bursary launched as a pilot in 2023 and will be available initially for 5 years. We will continue to track bursary recipients with EWC on an annual basis during the pilot period to see if they are still teaching. We will also commission an independent evaluation in 2026 once we have sufficient data to determine whether the bursary achieves its objective of retaining Welsh and Welsh-medium secondary teachers in the profession.

We are also in the process of considering the findings from the review report published in March 2023 on a new vision for initial teacher education in the post compulsory education and training sectors. To support that work the Welsh Government in partnership with Medr, will review and monitor the effectiveness of the current PGCE FE pre-service incentive programme to ensure it meets our and Medr’s future policy objectives.

The Curriculum for Wales recognises the importance of ensuring our children and young people are developing green skills for the future, which is why learning about the environment and climate change is mandatory within the curriculum, through both Humanities and Science and Technology.

Annually, we spend £665,000 to support two key environmental educational programmes for schools across Wales: Eco Schools and Size of Wales.  Reaching up to 90% of schools across Wales, over 300,000 children and young people have been engaged via these programmes, empowering them to drive change, improve their environmental awareness, take action and learn about climate change and the importance of forests and protecting our ecosystems.

The Welsh Government is providing £45 million of funding for the delivery of three innovative, sustainable primary schools through the ‘Sustainable Schools Challenge’.  Three schools across Wales will push the boundaries on all aspects of sustainability through innovation and collaboration, involving learners, staff, parents, community and supply chain, and provide useful case studies to inform the wider programme and its stakeholders. Learner and community engagement at all stages is a requirement for these projects, linking to the curriculum in innovative ways through digital and physical methods.

As part of our commitment to road safety, the Welsh Government recently renewed road markings on the A458 near Middletown in direct response to concerns raised by local residents about vehicles overtaking on double-white lines. Additionally, Welsh Government officials are conducting an investigative study, including the use of CCTV, to determine if further measures are necessary to enhance road safety in this area.

The Welsh Government has not provided any funding to RibRide for the purposes of undertaking surveys since the start of 2023-24.

Care needs to be taken when assessing what is happening to the labour market in Wales at present. It is advised that a range of data sources are considered, and changes are viewed over a longer time series, so the broad trends can be identified.

Data from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) are particularly volatile at present, with some large changes between periods being exhibited. These may not be wholly representative of what may be happening in the labour market in Wales at present. LFS estimates and their changes between periods appear to be inconsistent with what other labour market data sources are showing, like the Annual Population Survey and administrative sources, such as payrolled employees from HMRC’s real time information. As a result, the current headline labour market statistics from the LFS are classified by ONS as ‘official statistics in development’.

The ONS are continuing their work to improve their labour market estimates, with a more robust data source expected to be provided through its Transformed Labour Force Survey.

National Highways prepared a strategic outline case which included 4 options, 3 bypass and one online improvement (this an enhancement or upgrade to the existing highway on its current alignment within the highway boundary). This case is with the Department for Transport for consideration for inclusion in their Roads Investment Strategy Period 3 (2025 to 2030).

We will continue to work with National Highways to ensure any future scheme which may come forward is aligned to the Welsh Transport Strategy.

The Welsh Government is working closely with Powys County Council to develop options to improve pedestrian access and road safety in Caersws.

We are developing a road safety solution for the A44 Llangurig to Aberystwyth under a scheme which has been added to the National Transport Delivery Plan as scheme reference - SRN 7o  National Transport Delivery Plan 2022 to 2027 (gov.wales).  This will be progressed through the recently revised WelTAG process Welsh transport appraisal guidance (WelTAG) | GOV.WALES.

The detailed design for the permanent repair to the wall has been finalised. Work is currently programmed to commence in October for completion this calendar year.

Information on the percentage of overall budgets for these sectors provided from the public purse is not held centrally. However, the allocations to these sectors made in the Final Budget 2024-25 can be found at:

Final Budget 2024 to 2025 | GOV.WALES

Rail infrastructure outside of the Core Valley Lines in Wales is not devolved, and remains the responsibility of the UK Government to fund and deliver. Transport for Wales have carried out a WelTAG stage 1 study into options to improve transport links between north and south Wales, including how to protect potential travel corridors along the western coast of Wales from Swansea to Bangor. As part of this work they are undertaking an initial feasibility study on the route between Bangor and Afon Wen, which will identify the best alignment for a connection and current constraints.

The organisations which have received financial support through Ynni Cymru are:

Welsh Government support for the arts is channelled through the Arts Council of Wales (ACW) who operate at arm’s length from government. ACW representatives remain in close contact with Blackwood Miners’ Institute and met with Caerphilly County Borough Council officers to discuss the issue on 5 August 2024.

The live public consultation on the proposal to withdraw the subsidy and mothball Blackwood Miners’ Institute, is an issue for Caerphilly County Borough Council. Caerphilly County Council launched the consultation on 30 July 2024 and it closes on 10 September 2024.

Details of ministerial meetings are published regularly on the Welsh Government website via the link below: https://www.gov.wales/ministerial-meetings-and-engagements

The management and funding of Llancaiach Fawr Manor is a matter for its governing body, in this case Caerphilly County Borough Council. The Welsh Government is aware very difficult options must be explored in the current financial climate.

There are no plans to provide statutory nuisance threshold guidance to local authorities. Under Section 79 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 the local authority has a duty to investigate a complaint concerning a statutory nuisance. The investigating officer will make an objective decision based on the available evidence to determine whether a nuisance can reasonably be said to exist in the specific circumstances of each case and, if proven, what remedy is required.

If a local authority has been unable to establish a statutory nuisance exists or the complainant does not want to involve the local authority, Section 82 of the Act allows the complainant to take their own private action in a Magistrates Court to seek an abatement notice or other actions to prevent the nuisance from reoccurring.

The Welsh Government's Code of Practice to Prevent and Control the Spread of Ragwort provides information about the biology of common ragwort, and different methods for its control where deemed appropriate. Responsibility to control injurious weeds, including common ragwort, almost always lies with the landowner of the land. It is not illegal to have ragwort growing on your land but control may be required if there is a medium to high risk it could spread to land used to graze animals or produce haylage or silage.

The aim of the guidance is to prevent and control the spread of Common ragwort (Senecio jacobaea) where it is a threat to the health and welfare of grazing animals, in particular horses and cattle. The Code explains that Welsh Government does not seek to eradicate Common ragwort, as it is a native plant which supports many species of wildlife in Wales. In the right environment, and where it causes no risk to grazing animals, ragwort greatly contributes to the biodiversity of the flora and fauna in our countryside.

https://www.gov.wales/common-ragwort-code-practice

An updated version of the Code is currently being produced following a public consultation on proposed changes. The aim being to publish by the end of this year.

The Deputy First Minister supports and works alongside the First Minister to deliver for the people of Wales. Further information on the additional responsibilities of the Deputy First Minister will be laid out in due course.

Maintaining the continuity of supply of medicines to the UK is a reserved matter and is the responsibility of the UK Government. However, managing the implications of any supply disruptions requires co-ordinated action between the UK and devolved governments and the NHS. My officials are working closely with their counterparts in the UK Government, as well as manufacturers, wholesalers, prescribers, and pharmacies to mitigate the effect of any disruption.

The extensive measures taken by the Welsh and UK governments to support pharmacists, prescribers and patients to manage HRT shortages were set out by the former Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care in a written statement in October 2023: https://www.gov.wales/written-statement-disruptions-supply-medicines

A range of Serious Shortage Protocols (SSP) for HRT medicines were put in place last year allowing pharmacists to supply clinically appropriate alternative HRT when those prescribed were unavailable, without the need for people to return to their prescriber. All of these SSPs have now been withdrawn reflecting improved availability of HRT medicines.

Occasionally, the NHS experiences temporary shortages of specific medicines. Such disruptions are unsettling to all those who have been prescribed these medicines. GPs and community pharmacies are informed of these disruptions by way of a medicines shortage letter, which provides advice about the mitigating actions that need to be taken during the supply disruption.

There are currently known supply issues for two HRT products:

FemSeven Sequi patches – anticipated re-supply date January 2025

Indivina 1mg/2.5mg tablets – anticipated re-supply date October 2024

NHS Wales has been informed of the supply disruption to these HRT products and been advised of mitigating actions.  A number of alternative HRT preparations are available and anyone who is having difficulty obtaining any treatment should contact their doctor or pharmacist to discuss a suitable alternative.

The Welsh Government’s medicines shortages web page provides general advice on why shortages occur and how they are managed: https://www.gov.wales/medicines-shortages-0 and https://www.llyw.cymru/prinder-meddyginiaethau-0

The Corporate Parenting Charter was officially launched on 22 September 2023.

The following public sector bodies have confirmed they have adopted the Charter.

Local Authorities:

Blaenau-Gwent

Bridgend

Caerphilly

Conwy

Flintshire

Merthyr Tydfil

Monmouthshire

Neath-Port Talbot

Newport

Pembrokeshire

Powys

Rhondda-Cynon-Taf

Swansea

Torfaen

Vale of Glamorgan

Wrexham

Ynys Mon

We are aware that four other local authorities are going through their political processes to adopt the Charter.

Local Health Boards:

Aneurin Bevan

Cwm Taf Morgannwg

Hywel Dda

Powys Teaching Health Board

Swansea Bay

Other public sector bodies:

Welsh Government

Cafcass Cymru

Care Inspectorate Wales

Careers Wales

Children’s Commissioner for Wales

Health Education and Improvement Wales

NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership

Welsh Ambulance Service 

Welsh Health Specialised Services Committee

We continue to encourage all organisations in Wales (public, private and third sector) to adopt the Charter and act as good corporate parents to care experienced children.

The table below shows the total capital resource provided to NHS Wales organisations since the 2014-15 financial year.

*Note, the figures for 2022-23 onwards do not include funding provided relating to International Financial Reporting Standard 16 in respect of lease funding.

Infection prevention and control is everybody’s business and must be integral to everyday healthcare practice based on the best available evidence.

Every health board is expected to comply with infection prevention and control guidance and provide regular updates to its board. They are also scrutinised at the monthly integrated quality, planning and delivery meetings held monthly with Welsh Government officials.

The Welsh Government’s quality statement for cancer describes what good looks like for cancer services across all parts of Wales.  This is underpinned by nationally optimised pathways for each cancer type that provide timed pathways of care describing how organisations can achieve the suspected cancer pathway target.

Our expectation is that all health boards should be working to achieve the national target of at least 75% of people referred on the suspected cancer pathway starting first definitive treatment within 62 days of the point of suspicion.

We continue to work with the NHS Executive and health boards to highlight and promote examples of good practice, reduce unwarranted variation and drive sustainable improvement for cancer waiting times across all parts of Wales, including a focus on component waits across the pathway and increasing straight-to-test rates.

Health boards hold the budgets and responsibility for the commissioning of local services, including dentistry.

Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW) continues to look at ways to improve recruitment and retention of the dental workforce, particularly in rural areas. It has developed an enhanced dental foundation training offer which aims to encourage future trainees to complete their foundation year in dental practices in rural Wales. In addition to a £7,000 salary uplift, dentists taking up the offer will also be provided with enhanced academic and wellbeing support for the duration of the programme. Six of the 10 places available are in the Hywel Dda University Health Board area.

We introduced the Pathways of Care Delays (PoCD) framework in April 2023. It provides the NHS and social care with a comprehensive and consistent dataset about discharge delays so relevant interventions and actions can be appropriately targeted. Monthly data are published  Pathway of Care Delays by reason for delay and date (gov.wales) under an extensive set of reason codes, broken down to health board and local authority level, providing a clear oversight of the position across Wales.

The health and social care Regional Integration Fund (RIF) provides £146m every year to March 2027 to Regional Partnership Boards (RPB) to establish and mainstream six new national models of integrated care:

• Community based care – prevention and community coordination
• Community based care – complex care closer to home
• Promoting good emotional health and well-being
• Supporting families to stay together safely, and therapeutic support for care experienced children
• Home from hospital
• Accommodation based solutions

The West Wales region is funding 10 projects aligned to the home from hospital model of care (£6.5m) to support hospital discharge processes and to manage patient flow. The projects range from admission avoidance, complex care planning through to reablement provision and projects where the third sector is playing a crucial role in enabling people to leave hospital when they are clinically fit to do so.

For example, PIVOT, which predominantly supports older people and people living with dementia across Pembrokeshire, is a partnership between five third sector organisations that provide pre-hospital/hospital/post hospital support services. Care and Repair, which is in the second year of the RIF, saved 1,074 bed days through its proactive fast track approach to install aids and adaptations to enable people to return home.

The Six Goals for Urgent and Emergency Care programme includes a specific focus on supporting health boards, RPBs and local authorities to improve patient flow. The local Six Goals programme in the Hywel Dda University Health Board are is using a robust digital platform to phase implementation of the national Optimal Hospital Patient Flow framework. This will enable discharge planning to be quickly captured and shared with services, reducing duplication and referral delays.

The Welsh Government is committed to working with hospices and the national programme board for palliative and end-of-life care to find a sustainable financial funding settlement for Welsh hospices.

As part of our Programme for Government commitment to review palliative and end-of-life care funding, we have provided an additional £2.2m for hospices on a recurrent basis from April 2022.

In addition, earlier this year we provided an additional £4m one-off hospice cost-of-living grant to help ensure hospices can continue to provide vital services and high-quality care across Wales.

We have agreed to the development of a hospice commissioning framework for Wales, which is being taken forward by the national programme board for palliative and end-of-life care with support from the NHS Wales Joint Commissioning Committee. The framework is being developed in conjunction with hospices and it is intended that it will support both adult and children’s hospices.

The Welsh Government’s aim is to ensure that people of all ages affected by a neurological condition have timely and equitable access to high quality services to enable them to live their best lives. We have set out our expectations in the Quality Statement for Neurological Conditions.

Health boards and NHS trusts are responsible for implementing the Quality Statement through the delivery of services to meet the needs of their local populations. They will be supported by the NHS Executive, which is the body established to drive improvements in the quality and safety of care, to achieve optimal and equitable outcomes, better access and patient experience, reduced variation, and improvements in population health.

A new National Clinical Strategic Network for Neurological Conditions will be established in the coming months under the leadership of the new National Clinical Lead for Neurological Conditions, who was appointed in April 2024.

Once the national clinical strategic network is established and functioning, its work programme will include the development of high-level service specifications, standards and expected outcome measures, to underpin the quality statement.

The service specifications are written guidelines that set out details on how specific services will be delivered and measured. These will be created in collaboration with third sector and people with lived experience, and provide detailed standards and guidance to health boards, health care professionals, service users and carers.

The key principle of the Primary Care Model for Wales is to ensure people can access appropriate and timely care as close to home as possible.

To support access to primary care more generally, pharmacies have helped to create additional capacity for GP services by delivering more than 600,000 consultations across Wales. These include services likes the common ailments scheme and emergency prescription service, which are available in Pembrokeshire.

Urgent primary care centres have been set up across Wales, including in Pembrokeshire, and the 111 service provides support for more than 70,000 people throughout Wales each month.

Hywel Dda University Health Board provides information about how people can access the available services via the Help Us, Help You campaign Help us to help you – accessing our services - Hywel Dda University Health Board (nhs.wales)

The GP speciality training programme has been significantly expanded over the past few years, supported by the Train Work Live marketing campaign and associated financial incentives scheme. The current recruitment target of 160 new GP trainees each year is consistently being achieved. A total of 199 new GP trainees were recruited in 2023.

The funding agreed in the Education and Training Plan for 2024/25 includes £37.603m to support core GP training numbers.

The Welsh Government through the Digital Priorities Investment Fund (DPIF) has funded Digital Health and Care Wales (DHCW) to oversee the development of the NHS Wales App under the Digital Services for Patients and the Public Programme (DSPP).

The NHS Wales App is designed to enhance people’s engagement in managing their health and well-being, leading to better health and social care outcomes across Wales. The NHS Wales App is currently in the beta public testing phase and subject to review before being formally launched.

The latest available estimates on sickness absence in the labour market are published by the Office for National Statistics and include the number of work days lost by UK country and English region.

Bursary uptake for healthcare students requires a commitment to work in Wales, in a health or social care setting, for two years post-graduation.

The table below provides a summary of the number of students who were bursary funded and secured posts in Wales at the end of the recruitment round in December 2023. This is the latest data available.

Officials regularly discuss the impact of the NHS bursary with key stakeholders, including students, and we intend to consult about the future of the NHS bursary to ensure it remains fit for purpose.

We are investing £170m every year to support the NHS to recover from the pandemic.

We have supported NHS organisations to increase capacity and to help address long waiting times – the number of ophthalmology open pathways over 104 weeks is 56% lower in May 2024 compared to April 2022 when we launched our planned care recovery plan.

We are encouraging all health boards to work on a regional basis and to maximise local capacity. A number of health boards have introduced one-stop cataract clinics, enabling people to go straight to treatment without first having to have an outpatient appointment.

Health boards are also implementing Getting it Right First Time (GiRFT) recommendations and increasing the number of people being seen in each session.

We are investing £170m every year to support the NHS to recover from the pandemic.

We have supported NHS organisations to increase capacity and to help address long waiting times – the number of ophthalmology open pathways over 104 weeks is 56% lower in May 2024 compared to April 2022 when we launched our planned care recovery plan.

We are encouraging all health boards to work on a regional basis and to maximise local capacity. A number of health boards have introduced one-stop cataract clinics, enabling people to go straight to treatment without first having to have an outpatient appointment.

Health boards are also implementing Getting it Right First Time (GiRFT) recommendations and increasing the number of people being seen in each session.

The Education and Training Plan for 2023-24 is available on Health Education and Improvement Wales’ website and includes commissioned numbers for physician associates: heiw.nhs.wales/files/heiw-etp-2023-24/.

Substantive response