Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru

Welsh Government funds a range of initiatives to support nature recovery including the Nature Networks, National Peatlands Action Programmes and Natur am Byth. Curlew Connections is one such project close to your heart that has been allocated circa £1m to help reverse the decline of this iconic species.

Work is progressing well to create a timber-based industrial strategy that can develop and sustain the high-value production and processing of Welsh wood.  There will be a public written consultation, opening early in 2025.   The Timber Industrial Strategy will be published in the summer, following analysis of the consultation responses.

Since 2021 Welsh Government has awarded nearly £300,000 of funding to seagrass restoration projects through schemes such as the Nature Networks Programme and the Coastal Capacity Building scheme. I will be consulting shortly on a proposal to exempt seagrass restoration from requiring a marine licence.

We are providing additional non-domestic rates support worth £134m this year, on top of our permanent reliefs worth over £250m. All ratepayers across Wales benefit from this support, including thousands of businesses in town centres across Mid and West Wales. Ratepayers for almost half of all properties receive full relief.

I wrote to the Chancellor last month setting out the key priorities for Wales. I was able to discuss these in more detail when I met with the Chief Secretary to the Treasury at the Finance: Interministerial Standing Committee last week, and separately in a bilateral meeting.

Planning for winter is a year-long task in the Welsh NHS. I regularly work with Cabinet colleagues to explore options to strengthen the capacity of health and social care services in all communities within Wales ahead of the winter.

Newport is delivering on policies to support and promote access to Welsh-medum Education and use of the Welsh language more broadly. This is all captured in its Welsh in Education Strategic Plan which is in its second year of implementation. Assessment of their annual report is currently being undertaken.