Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru

Since his appointment on 5 July 2024, I have spoken with the Prime Minister on a number of occasions. During those conversations we discussed working together to build a new partnership between the Welsh and UK Governments, including how to develop and strengthen devolution.

There has been good and positive engagement between the new UK Government and Welsh Government. The new Prime Minister has already held constructive discussions with the First Minister. My officials have commenced early discussions with counterparts on a range of economic issues and these will continue across the summer.

Welsh Government is committed to improving health care services in Wales, and improving provision for individuals with hearing loss is a priority.

The strategic direction to extend audiology services into primary care will facilitate activity transfer from ENT, in line with the Clinical Implementation Networks, and provide joined up care in co-production with audiologists, ENT consultants, Audiovestibular Physicians and radiologists.

The transformation of audiology, including the development of direct access to primary care Advanced Audiology Practitioners, is aligned with the audiology workforce gaining additional higher qualifications which enables them to diagnose, manage and treat more patients in primary care. These changes are already freeing up time and resources for GPs and consultants enable individuals to have their needs met at first point of contact without the need to contact their GP.

As we continue to develop the future approach for hearing services, policy will be developed in collaboration with all stakeholders to help implement improved access to hearing care. 

We are also looking at ways of using technology to improve access. Work is underway to establish a national solution, but in the meantime all services have tools in place to support patient timely access to services.

Welsh Government is committed to improving health care services in Wales, and improving provision for individuals with hearing loss is a priority.

The strategic direction to extend audiology services into primary care will facilitate activity transfer from ENT, in line with the Clinical Implementation Networks, and provide joined up care in co-production with audiologists, ENT consultants, Audiovestibular Physicians and radiologists.

The transformation of audiology, including the development of direct access to primary care Advanced Audiology Practitioners, is aligned with the audiology workforce gaining additional higher qualifications which enables them to diagnose, manage and treat more patients in primary care. These changes are already freeing up time and resources for GPs and consultants enable individuals to have their needs met at first point of contact without the need to contact their GP.

As we continue to develop the future approach for hearing services, policy will be developed in collaboration with all stakeholders to help implement improved access to hearing care. 

We are also looking at ways of using technology to improve access. Work is underway to establish a national solution, but in the meantime all services have tools in place to support patient timely access to services.

Yn fy ymateb i WQ93010, dywedais na chaniatawyd ceisiadau gan fyfyrwyr rhyngwladol, felly nid oedd unrhyw fyfyrwyr rhyngwladol yn cael gwneud cais.

The primary cervical screening test looks for the cause of cervical cancer, high-risk strains of the human papilloma virus (HPV), which cause nearly all cervical cancers. This is far more reliable than the previous cytological screening test which looked for cell changes after they had occurred and required more frequent screening appointments.

In line with the expert advice of the UK National Screening Committee, women in Wales aged 25 to 64 are invited for cervical screening every five years if no high-risk HPV is found in their cervical screening sample. The evidence shows that if there is no high-risk HPV found in an individual's sample, they have a very low risk of developing cervical cancer over the next five years. 

If HPV is detected, the programme will analyse the sample for cell changes. If no cell changes are detected, these women will be invited in one year for screening to check if the HPV has cleared. If cell changes are identified, these women will be referred for further investigation at colposcopy. Women who have had previous treatment in colposcopy will also be invited annually for a short period.

Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council has received a planning application for development of an aggregates recovery facility at an operational quarry in Talygarn, Pontyclun.

The Welsh Ministers have received a request to call in this application for their own determination and have issued a direction under Article 18(1) of the Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (Wales) Order 2012.  This prevents the Council from granting planning permission for the development whilst consideration is being given to the call-in request.

The new UK Government in Westminster has made a manifesto commitment to end the VAT exemption and business rates relief for private schools. We will work closely with the UK Government on this issue to ensure any potential impact is fully understood.

The revenue raised by applying VAT and business rates to private schools is estimated to be £1.5bn. The UK Government has committed to using these revenues to increase funding for public services and we expect Wales will receive a share of this funding. 

O flwyddyn academaidd 2020/21 cyflwynodd Llywodraeth Cymru ofyniad i bartneriaethau Addysg Gychwynnol Athrawon (AGA) weithio tuag at recriwtio 30% o'u myfyrwyr i raglenni AGA cyfrwng Cymraeg. Hysbyswyd Partneriaethau AGA y gallai fod angen iddynt ddarparu tystiolaeth ysgrifenedig o'u camau i gyflawni hyn os na cheir tystiolaeth o gynnydd.

Gwnaeth hyn gyd-daro â phandemig Covid-19 a wnaeth amharu'n ddifrifol ar raglenni AGA a golygu y bu'n rhaid i Lywodraeth Cymru ddiwygio neu ddatgymhwyso gofynion penodol er mwyn sicrhau bod modd parhau i ddarparu AGA. Rydym wedi parhau i fonitro'r lefelau recriwtio ar gyfer AGA gan gynnwys y rhai sy'n ymgymryd â rhaglenni cyfrwng Cymraeg.

Mae'n ofynnol i bob Partneriaeth AGA fod â strategaethau cyfrwng Cymraeg ar waith o dan Cynllun y gweithlu Cymraeg mewn addysg | llyw.cymru) a Rhaglenni addysg gychwynnol i athrawon: meini prawf achredu | llyw.cymru

Er bod cynnydd bach wedi bod yn nifer y myfyrwyr ar gyrsiau AGA cyfrwng Cymraeg yn ystod y blynyddoedd diwethaf, rydym yn cydnabod yr heriau parhaus o ran recriwtio i raglenni AGA cyfrwng Cymraeg ac yn parhau i weithio gyda Phartneriaethau AGA a phartneriaid eraill i gynyddu'r recriwtio yn y sector hwn.

The A40 Llanddewi Velfrey and Redstone Cross improvement scheme is due for completion this winter.

I previously answered the question tabled under WQ93375. For ease of reference I am copying my answer to WQ93309 and, the related question, WQ93310 below:

“The Environment (Air Quality and Soundscapes) (Wales) Act 2024 has introduced no changes to the circumstances under which vehicles are exempt from idling requirements.

Regulation 98(2) of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 sets out the circumstances under which vehicles are permitted to be stationary with the engine running. This includes where machinery on a vehicle requires the engine to be running.”

Given your close interest in this matter and to ensure I can provide as complete a response as possible, I would like to take the opportunity to review existing law that may have a bearing on emergency vehicle idling. Further time is required, therefore, for a substantive response to be provided.

I will write to you as soon as possible and a copy of this letter will be published on the Welsh Government website.

I previously answered the question tabled under WQ93375. For ease of reference I am copying my answer to WQ93309 and, the related question, WQ93310 below:

“The Environment (Air Quality and Soundscapes) (Wales) Act 2024 has introduced no changes to the circumstances under which vehicles are exempt from idling requirements.

Regulation 98(2) of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 sets out the circumstances under which vehicles are permitted to be stationary with the engine running. This includes where machinery on a vehicle requires the engine to be running.”

Given your close interest in this matter and to ensure I can provide as complete a response as possible, I would like to take the opportunity to review existing law that may have a bearing on emergency vehicle idling. Further time is required, therefore, for a substantive response to be provided.

I will write to you as soon as possible and a copy of this letter will be published on the Welsh Government website.

The Welsh Government does not hold the information requested. The provision of services for those in prison is a matter for the relevant Local Health Board.

The Welsh Government does not hold the information requested. The provision of services for those in prison is a matter for the relevant Local Health Board.

The estimated cost of constructing a new station at St Clears increased significantly from the original £6million budget. At the same time, the funding available from the New Stations Fund did not increase and we do not have the funds available to increase our original funding contribution. Transport for Wales are keeping the project under review, ready to coordinate with other major local developments should funding become available. We continue to work with the region as they develop Regional Transport Plans to improve transport connectivity in South West Wales.

The installation work is making good progress and is programmed for completion this September.

The ‘No Second Chances’ campaign delivered by Transport for Wales aims to eliminate trespass on the railway and prevent death or injury caused by newly installed electrified lines. The campaign includes:

·         flyers to all homes within 200m of the railway

·         posters at all stations in electrified areas

·         media coverage with interviews on BBC, ITV and radio

·         an exhibition in Cardiff visited by the public and 200 children

·         a bilingual drama company has delivered workshops to 12,500 young people at 104 schools

·         a short advert on YouTube, viewed over 2 million times

There have been 10 million social media impressions across all channels and 5,000 people have visited the TfW website for further information on the risks of electrified lines.

Transport for Wales are working closely with the British Transport Police, holding joint briefing and security patrols to provide a visible deterrent which appropriately targets resources where most needed to deter trespass on the railway.

Stonewall Cymru receives grant funding to act as a representative body for LGBTQ+ people in Wales. This includes working with the Welsh Government and other public bodies to ensure the views of LGBTQ+ people are heard as well as providing information and advocacy services.

The payment provided to Wahida Kent was to prepare for and facilitate a workshop on 20.07.2023.

Ymateb o sylwedd

2 PhD students are being funded. The thesis titles are:

1. Implementing Anti-Racist Wales Action Plan: A Study of Processes, Prospects and Pitfalls (to complete 2025)
2. Leadership and organisational culture change: A study of anti-racist Wales culture change efforts (to complete 2026)

Each PhD is being funded to carry out research for the Anti-racist Wales Action plan, each over 3 years. One started in 2022-23 and one in 2023-24.

Cost per year £

 d) Each PhD involves a review of evidence relevant to the goals and actions in the Anti-Racist Wales Action Plan, particularly around the leadership goals and actions. This evidence review work will then inform the focus and scope of the next stage of the research.

 e) One PhDs is due to complete at end of 2024-25 and one at the end of 2025-26.

The purpose of the grant funding provided to Race Council Cymru in 2023/24 was as follows:

The purpose of the grant funding provided to the Ethnic Youth Support Team was to deliver the All-Wales BAME Engagement programme, supporting 4 posts to engage with, to provide advice surgeries in every local authority area through Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic champion organisations and to support the delivery of aspects of the Anti-racist Wales Action Plan.