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Category: Press Releases

  • PRESS RELEASE : Scottish Government Call for more funding for NHS pay [November 2022]

    PRESS RELEASE : Scottish Government Call for more funding for NHS pay [November 2022]

    The press release issued by the Scottish Government on 13 November 2022.

    The UK Government has been urged to increase the amount of funding available for NHS pay.

    Ahead of the Autumn statement, Health Secretary Humza Yousaf and Welsh Health Minister Eluned Morgan have written to UK Health Secretary Steve Barclay to ask for additional funding to help avert strike action this winter in the NHS.

    The letter reads:

    “We wanted to write to you in advance of the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement on 17th November to once again make the case for additional funding for our hardworking NHS staff.

    “In recent weeks the Deputy First Minister of Scotland and the Welsh Government Minister for Finance and Local Government have written to His Majesty’s Treasury to make clear the need for additional funding for public services.

    “The Royal College of Nursing have announced a sweeping legal mandate for industrial action across the UK. In Scotland, they have joined several other unions representing NHS staff in gaining a legal mandate for industrial action with ballots expected to confirm a mandate in the rest of the UK.

    “The risk to the NHS of industrial action this winter is profound, and we all need to do all we can to avert industrial action in any form. The NHS across the UK continues to feel the effects of the pandemic as it recovers and remobilises, and any action is likely to have catastrophic effects in all parts of the UK.

    “We are experiencing a cost of living crisis and the anger of NHS staff is entirely understandable. Sky rocketing inflation combined with high interest rates, a direct result of the havoc caused by the UK Government’s mini-budget, means that we are simply unable to come close to matching the expectations of NHS staff across the country. While the support provided by the UK Government on areas such as support for energy bills is welcome, it has not gone nearly far enough.

    “Media reports suggest that the Chancellor is considering reimposing austerity on the people of the UK again, for which there is no mandate, through extensive spending cuts. That would be a disaster for our public services, including the NHS, at a time when they need more investment, not less.

    “We would therefore implore you to work with us to make the case to the Chancellor in advance of his Autumn Statement for increased funding for the NHS and the devolved governments as a whole, primarily to pay our hard working NHS staff a fair pay rise in the face of the cost of living crisis this winter, and avoid what could be catastrophic industrial action in the NHS.”

  • PRESS RELEASE : Patients to carry out health checks in comfort of own home to ease pressure on frontline services [December 2022]

    PRESS RELEASE : Patients to carry out health checks in comfort of own home to ease pressure on frontline services [December 2022]

    The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 5 December 2022.

    Cornwall first area in England to trial NHS Digital Health Check as part of government plans to digitise existing face-to-face health check.

    • New digital check means people will do convenient and easy tests at home – making patients’ lives easier while reducing pressure on GP surgeries
    • Those invited urged to take part in the trial which will inform the design and development of the digital check

    A landmark trial aiming to make it easier and more convenient for patients to carry out important health checks and reduce pressure on GPs has been launched in Cornwall.

    The trial – which is the first of its kind in England and part of the government’s plans to digitalise the existing NHS Health Check – will see patients complete an online questionnaire, use a kit to take a blood sample at home, and complete a blood pressure check at their local pharmacy or in their GP’s waiting room.

    It will apply some of the lessons learned during Covid when people got used to doing tests at home and getting their results online.

    The NHS Health Check is a health check-up for adults in England aged 40 to 74. It’s designed to prevent stroke, kidney disease, heart disease, type 2 diabetes and some types of dementia. A total of 15 million people are eligible for free NHS Health Checks in England.

    They are currently delivered through face-to-face appointments with GPs, but many parts of the check can be done without a GP, which means freeing up more time for clinicians. Patients also have to take time out of their day to go to the appointment, often at an inconvenience to them, with the new trial aiming to free up time for more urgent GP appointments.

    More than 2,000 people from three GP surgeries across Cornwall are being invited to take part in the trial – only those whose results indicate an underlying health condition will be followed-up by their GP.

    The results of the trial will help inform the design and development of the new national NHS Digital Health Check.

    Minister for Public Health Neil O’Brien said:

    Innovation is key to a modern, forward looking National Health Service, and this trial will help us understand what a new digital NHS Health Check could look like in the years to come.

    The health check is crucial in preventing and identifying potentially life-threatening conditions, and this digital version will do just that while making patients’ lives easier and reducing pressure on frontline services.

    During the pandemic people got used to doing tests at home and getting their results online, so this trial is an opportunity for us to apply some of the lessons we learnt during Covid and improve the way we deliver healthcare.

    I urge everyone invited to take part in the trial so we can get the best possible data as we look to roll out a national digital check.

    The checks have the potential to:

    • prevent 1,600 heart attacks and strokes
    • prevent 4,000 people a year from developing diabetes
    • detect 20,000 cases of diabetes or kidney disease each year
    • avoid at least 650 premature deaths a year

    Dr Andy Sant, managing director of NHS Cornwall’s North and East Integrated Care Area said:

    Much has been achieved in our county around digital inclusion, and the preventative value of health checks is already proven. So we are delighted that patients in Cornwall are being given the first opportunity to access a digital version through this innovative trial. Amid such sustained pressure upon general practice, this is a welcome and logical progression.

    The associated benefits are wide-reaching, from the convenience and savings for patients, to the positive impact on GP appointments. I hope that everyone who is invited will take up this offer. As well as the personal benefits, they will be helping to inform future advances at national scale.

    The offer of NHS Health Checks has been historically lower in Cornwall than most local authorities in England. During 2019-20 over 13,400 checks were offered and over 6,900 were completed, but in 2021-22 approximately 4,300 were offered and just over 1,900 were completed.

    Cllr Dr Andy Virr, Portfolio Holder for Adults and Public Health at Cornwall Council, said:

    It is great news that this important trial involving innovative use of technology is being carried out in Cornwall and I would encourage all those invited to take part to do so.

    We know there are avoidable differences in people’s health across our communities and cardiovascular disease still has a big impact on people in Cornwall.

    So by making health checks like this easier to access and more convenient we can hopefully prevent more serious illnesses and identify people who may be at risk of stroke or heart attack earlier.

  • PRESS RELEASE : “We are committed to embedding the Social Model of Disability and removing the barriers that are limiting the independence of disabled people,” Welsh Minister vows on International Day of Disabled People [December 2022]

    PRESS RELEASE : “We are committed to embedding the Social Model of Disability and removing the barriers that are limiting the independence of disabled people,” Welsh Minister vows on International Day of Disabled People [December 2022]

    The press release issued by the Welsh Government on 3 December 2022.

    Minister for Social Justice Jane Hutt has reaffirmed the Welsh Government’s commitment to the Social Model of Disability after hearing from disabled people about the barriers they have had to overcome in society in Wales.

    Speaking on International Day of Disabled People (December 3), after meeting people at the Dewis Centre for Independent Living earlier this week, the Minister said the day ‘helps us highlight just how many people experience disability-based discrimination’.

    She added that direct payments were ‘crucial’ to help disabled people have independence and the Welsh Government was committed to widening their use. During the Minister’s visit to Dewis, along with the Deputy Minister for Social Services Julie Morgan, she met representatives from both Dow Silicones UK Ltd and Admiral, to hear from both companies about how they use the Social Model of Disability in their recruitment and everyday work.

    Kim Eversham from Dow, who attended the event with a number of their Project SEARCH interns, said:

    We have been running our Project SEARCH programme for four years and, through the programme, have facilitated ‘Learning Disability’ training for Dow employees to spread awareness, change mindsets and attitudes towards learning disabilities.

    Through Project SEARCH, we are committed to changing the lives of young people with learning disabilities and autism and supporting individuals to find meaningful jobs.

    Paul Billington, Admiral’s Wellbeing and Workplace Support Manager, said:

    Diversity is truly valued here, and we work hard to create a working environment where everyone is heard and supported.

    We’re committed to providing opportunity to all by removing barriers in the workplace and broadening the conversation of inclusivity and equality.

    Our dedicated Wellbeing and Workplace Support team is available to listen to concerns, implement personalised adjustments, and unlock the full potential of all current and future colleagues.

    Minister for Social Justice Jane Hutt said the Welsh Government has established a Disability Rights Taskforce and was striving to ensure that disabled people are able to control their own lives and enjoy all the benefits and rights that others take for granted.

    She said:

    The Disability Rights Taskforce and its working groups are meeting regularly and founded on the basis of co-production and mutual respect. They are developing solutions to challenge the structural, physical, and attitudinal barriers that disabled people face which will form our new Disability Rights Action Plan for Wales.

    This will build on the ‘Action on Disability: The Right to Independent Living’ framework. With this, we can positively lay the foundations for a truly inclusive Wales.

    The Minister added:

    Promoting and embedding the Social Model of Disability, in both Welsh Government and public bodies across Wales, is a firm priority of this Government.

    Through helping those who, make decisions and develop policy to understand their part in pulling down the barriers that ‘disable’ people, real transformation can begin.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Minister opens Cardiff’s new state-of-the art ambulance station [December 2022]

    PRESS RELEASE : Minister opens Cardiff’s new state-of-the art ambulance station [December 2022]

    The press release issued by the Welsh Government on 2 December 2022.

    The Minister for Health and Social Services, Eluned Morgan, officially opened the Welsh Ambulance Service’s new station in Cardiff yesterday.

    The £8 million Welsh Government-funded facility in Pontprennau is the new home of both emergency and non-emergency crews, previously based at the Blackweir station.

    The Cycle Response Unit is also based in the new facility, which includes a ‘Make Ready Depot’ where dedicated Fleet Assistants clean and re-stock vehicles, enabling clinicians to spend more time serving patients in the community.

    Cardiff’s Healthy Travel Charter has been central to the design of the station, which has electric vehicle charging points, cycle storage, bat boxes and a rainwater harvesting system, which enables water to be re-used for vehicle cleaning.

    The Minister also visited the station’s new immersive training room, where simulation technology will recreate real-life scenarios to put students’ skills to the test.

    The new station is part of a programme of work to modernise the Welsh Ambulance Service’s estate.

    Eluned Morgan said:

    I am delighted to officially open Cardiff’s new ambulance station, providing crews with the base they deserve. The state-of-the art facilities will increase the time crews can spend with sick or injured people, as well as excellent training facilities for new and current staff.

    Alongside the £3m we’re investing to recruit around 100 additional frontline staff and introduce a new ‘Cymru High Acuity Response Unit’ (CHARU) service, our new ambulance infrastructure will provide a range of benefits to our ambulance staff and the communities they serve.

    Chris Willis, the Welsh Ambulance Service’s Locality Manager for Cardiff, said:

    This project has been many years in the pipeline so we’re thrilled that it’s operational. We have fond memories of our time at Blackweir station, but the building was of its time and no longer fit-for-purpose.

    This is a 21st century ambulance station to be proud of, and it means that crews finally get the facilities they deserve, which ultimately means a better service for people in Cardiff.

    The Make Ready Depot in particular is a huge advance and not only frees up crews to spend more time in the community but also improves infection control, which is more important than ever.

    Chris Turley, the Trust’s Executive Director of Finance and Corporate Resources, added:

    One of our key priorities as an organisation is to ensure our people have access to facilities that are safe, well maintained and fit-for-purpose and which allow them to serve communities to the best of their ability.

    We’re grateful to Welsh Government for their investment in this project.

  • PRESS RELEASE : More than 500 people from Ukraine find a place of their own in Wales [December 2022]

    PRESS RELEASE : More than 500 people from Ukraine find a place of their own in Wales [December 2022]

    The press release issued by the Welsh Government on 1 December 2022.

    More than 500 people from Ukraine have moved into longer-term accommodation after being supported through the Welsh Government’s super sponsor scheme.

    Minister for Social Justice Jane Hutt today said it shows Wales is truly a Nation of Sanctuary.

    The latest figures show almost 3,000 people fleeing the Russian invasion of Ukraine, who have been directly sponsored by the Welsh Government, have arrived in Wales.

    I’m proud we have been able to welcome so many people here and humbled so many people are living independently in Wales,” the Minister said.

    I also want to thank everyone who has opened their home to provide sanctuary and safety to someone from Ukraine.

    People arriving in Wales via the Welsh Government’s super sponsor route have stayed in welcome centres and in initial accommodation, including hotels, universities and holiday parks, across the country.

    Wrap-around support has been available in the initial accommodation to help people find work and enrol children in schools as they settle into life in Wales. Many Ukrainians are now moving on from this initial accommodation into homes of their own.

    This is part of the Welsh Government’s strategy to help people settle into more permanent accommodation. Policies are in place to support local authorities to help people put down roots in Wales.

    Many Ukrainian arrivals are finding work in their chosen sectors – they have the skills and expertise Welsh businesses need.

    Iryna arrived in Wales and spent time in a welcome centre earlier this year. After she was seen meeting the First Minister in media coverage, she was approached by a Swansea-based company looking for someone with her particular skillset.

    Power and Water, a wastewater treatment company, had struggled to find the right candidate with the necessary experience and, after meeting her, she now works as a graduate process engineer.

    Harry Cowan, CEO of Power and Water, said:

    Iryna holds a biology and chemical engineering degree and a Masters in Electro Coagulation  Processing – she was exactly the candidate we had been looking to employ. Her knowledge and attitude is remarkable and we have no doubt she will make a major contribution to our business.

    This really is a win-win situation for all of us. We have an exceptional candidate who will positively contribute to our product development and business and we also feel a sense of pride as a business that we are able to contribute in a small way to normalising Iryna’s life a little – and, more importantly, ensure her life does not stop during these uncertain times for her.

    Iryna, who has now found her own place to live and settled into her new job, said:

    I would like to say a massive thank you for the welcome I have had to Wales and for being given the opportunity to build a new life here.

    If I hadn’t been given support when I first arrived here it doesn’t bear thinking about.

    I was delighted when Power and Water approached me and am grateful for them for showing faith in me.

    Minister for Social Justice Jane Hutt added:

    We continue to show our support for people from Ukraine and are committed to being a Nation of Sanctuary.

    More than 500 people have now moved on from initial accommodation into a place of their own.

    We are continuing to work with local authorities and the third sector to support move on. This includes bringing forward more longer-term accommodation for everyone in housing need through our £60m Transitional Accommodation Capital Programme.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Ben Tidswell appointed as Competition Service member [December 2022]

    PRESS RELEASE : Ben Tidswell appointed as Competition Service member [December 2022]

    The press release issued by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on 5 December 2022.

    Business Secretary Grant Shapps has appointed Ben Tidswell as a member of the Competition Service.

    The Competition Service is a non-departmental public body, sponsored by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. It was established by the Enterprise Act 2002 to fund and provide support services (including the provision of staff, accommodation and equipment) to the Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT).

    Biography

    Ben Tidswell is a Chairman at the Competition Appeal Tribunal.

    He was admitted as a barrister and solicitor in New Zealand in 1988 and joined City firm Ashurst in 1993, becoming admitted to the roll of solicitors in England and Wales in 1994, and a solicitor advocate in 1999. A partner in the London Disputes practice at Ashurst since 2000, he has worked on a wide range of commercial litigation and regulatory matters, including several cases before the Tribunal over a period of almost 20 years.

    He was the Global Chairman of Ashurst from 2013 to 2021. He was appointed as a non-executive director of Post Office Limited on 27 July 2021.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Millions of Britons to be able to request flexible working on day one of employment [December 2022]

    PRESS RELEASE : Millions of Britons to be able to request flexible working on day one of employment [December 2022]

    The press release issued by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on 5 December 2022.

    • Millions of employees will receive day one right to request flexible working, empowering workers to have a greater say over when, where, and how they work
    • businesses set to benefit from higher productivity and staff retention as a result
    • around 1.5 million low paid workers will be given even more flexibility, with new law coming into force to remove exclusivity clause restrictions, allowing them to work for multiple employers if they wish

    Millions of employees will be able to request flexible working from day one of their employment, under new government plans to make flexible working the default.

    Flexible working doesn’t just mean a combination of working from home and in the office – it can mean employees making use of job-sharing, flexitime, and working compressed, annualised, or staggered hours.

    The raft of new measures will give employees greater access to flexibility over where, when, and how they work, leading to happier, more productive staff. Flexible working has been found to help employees balance their work and home life, especially supporting those who have commitments or responsibilities such as caring for children or vulnerable people.

    Alongside the clear benefits to employees, there is also a strong business case for flexible working. By removing some of the invisible restrictions to jobs, flexible working creates a more diverse working environment and workforce, which studies have shown leads to improved financial returns.

    Today’s announcement comes alongside new laws coming into effect that will allow Britain’s lowest paid workers to work more flexibly and boost their income through extra work.

    Minister for Small Business Kevin Hollinrake said:

    Giving staff more say over their working pattern makes for happier employees and more productive businesses. Put simply, it’s a no-brainer.

    Greater flexibility over where, when, and how people work is an integral part of our plan to make the UK the best place in the world to work.

    Exclusivity clauses

    Workers on contracts with a guaranteed weekly income on or below the Lower Earnings Limit of £123 a week will now be protected from exclusivity clauses being enforced against them, which restricted them from working for multiple employers.

    These reforms will ensure around 1.5 million low paid workers can make the most of the opportunities available to them such as working multiple short-term contracts. This will particularly benefit those who need more flexibility over where and when they work, for example students or people with caring responsibilities.

    While not everyone will want a second job, today’s laws on exclusivity clauses remove unnecessary red tape that prevents those who do – for example gig economy workers, younger people, or carers who cannot commit to a full-time role. The laws will also help businesses plug crucial staffing gaps by giving employers access to recruit from a wider talent pool.

    Flexible working

    If an employer cannot accommodate a request to work flexibly, they will be required to discuss alternative options before they can reject the request. For example, if it is not possible to change an employee’s working hours on all days, they could consider making the change for certain days instead.

    The new legislation, backed in the government’s response to the Making flexible working the default consultation, will also remove the requirement for employees to set out the effects of their flexible working requests to employers, removing a large administrative burden for both sides.

    The ‘Making flexible working the default’ consultation recognised that flexible working is different for every employee, employer, and sector – it does not come in one size only. For an office worker, they may benefit from a job-share so they can better care for their children, or a factory worker may request different shift patterns that suit their balance between home and work. Because of this, the government will not instruct employers or employees on how to carry out their work, instead we encourage both parties have constructive and open-minded conversations about flexible working and find arrangements that work for each side.

  • PRESS RELEASE : New EHRC commissioners appointed [December 2022]

    PRESS RELEASE : New EHRC commissioners appointed [December 2022]

    The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 4 December 2022.

    • Minister for Women and Equalities appoints two new Commissioners to the Equality and Human Rights Commission Board
    • With a track record of promoting racial equality and free expression, they each bring experience and expertise to the equality regulator
    • Alasdair Henderson and Eryl Besse also named as Deputy Chairs of the Board

    Kunle Olulode MBE and Arif Ahmed MBE will provide the EHRC with a diversity of skills and backgrounds to carry out its important work promoting equality and human rights across the UK.

    Minister for Women and Equalities and Trade Secretary, Rt Hon Kemi Badenoch MP, said:

    “Under Baroness Falkner, the EHRC is performing a vital national service as an impartial regulator enforcing anti-discrimination legislation and defending human rights.

    “These new appointments will provide the Commission with the skills and expertise it needs to make a positive impact on lives across Britain.”

    The new appointments bring strong backgrounds to their new roles:

    • Kunle Olulode MBE is Director of Voice4Change England, an ethnic minority charity and infrastructure support body. As a trade union activist he led the Camden Black Workers staff group from 2002-2011. He represented more than 500 Black and Asian staff members and founded its award-winning Camden Black History Forum. He is also a trustee of the English Heritage Trust and, in 2017, became one of its first black board members.
    • Arif Ahmed MBE is a Professor of Philosophy at the University of Cambridge. He writes mainly on decision theory, but also has an interest in religion. He was awarded an MBE for services to education in 2021.

    Alasdair Henderson and Eryl Besse have also been appointed as Deputy Chairs of the Board. Eryl Besse was previously appointed as Wales Commissioner in April 2022 on a 4 year term. Alasdair Henderson was first appointed as a commissioner in April 2018 and will now serve as Deputy Chair until 2026.

    The EHRC was reaccredited as an ‘A’ Status UN National Human Rights Institution in October 2022. The “A” status denotes “full compliance” with the Paris Principles.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Economic value of the UK’s individual trees revealed for first time [December 2022]

    PRESS RELEASE : Economic value of the UK’s individual trees revealed for first time [December 2022]

    The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 4 December 2022.

    The economic value of individual trees planted outside of our forests and woodlands has been revealed for the first time today (Sunday 4 December) at £3.8 billion. The figures are revealed in a new groundbreaking study published by Forest Research and Defra as part of National Tree Week.

    Trees outside woodlands are defined as single trees in urban and rural areas and are some of the most iconic trees in our landscape, ranging from the classic, spreading hedgerow to the single trees lining our streets, making up almost a quarter of trees in Great Britain.

    The valuation is based on the important role they play in sequestering and storing carbon, regulating temperatures, strengthening flood resilience and reducing noise and air pollution. Together, these help to mitigate against climate change, reducing damage to infrastructure and people from the impact of flooding, cooling our cities in summer and improving health and wellbeing.

    By quantifying their significant value, the report will help to incentivise councils, land managers and local communities to plant more trees outside of woodlands for the varied and numerous benefits they provide. As outlined in our England Trees Action Plan, this will contribute to wider Government efforts to treble planting rates in England by the end of this Parliament and achieve net zero by 2050.

    Forestry Minister Trudy Harrison said:

    Today’s groundbreaking research reaffirms the unique value of non-woodland trees which exist all around us – from the trees lining our streets to those dotted around our beautiful countryside.

    It makes clear the immense environmental and economic value and benefits trees bring to society which cannot be underestimated. As set out in our England Trees Action Plan, we have committed to trebling tree planting rates in England by 2024 and by quantifying the significant value of trees, this research will help to incentivise planting in our communities across our country.

    Kieron Doick, Head of the Urban Forest Research Group, Forest Research said:

    Trees outside of woodlands are all around us: in our gardens, along our roads, in our parks and open green spaces. Understanding their value can help make sure councils and landowners invest in the planting of more trees, and their aftercare so that they may continue to provide us with their abundant beauty and benefit.

    While our valuation of non-woodland trees is substantial, we recognise that our research valued just a handful of the many benefits that trees provide. Future research will allow greater understanding and increased values as more of the benefits are included.

    Our report shows that trees are valuable infrastructure assets across multiple land uses, much as one might think about lampposts or drains. Moreover, it highlights the much greater role of mature trees in delivering benefit to society – in comparison to their younger counterparts.

    Richard Stanford, Chief Executive, Forestry Commission, said:

    This first-of-its-kind research demonstrates the dynamism of trees outside woodlands – from tackling many of the prevailing issues of our time, like air quality and climate change, to damping down noise and helping people to get a better night’s sleep.

    This landmark report will inform the continued rollout of our England Trees Action Plan and be instrumental to future policymaking. Continuing to make informed decisions based on robust scientific evidence will help us to realise the numerous environmental, economic and social benefits that trees provide – now and in the future.

    The report also estimates the Natural Capital Value of non-woodland trees to be between £68.5 billion and £151.5 billion, in 2020 prices. This represents the value of the trees over the course of a century and provides a useful means of comparison to other natural assets.

    In 2021/22, over half a million trees were planted outside of woodlands thanks to Government grants, such as the Urban Tree Challenge Fund, boosting deprived urban areas; the Local Authority Treescapes Fund accelerating tree planting in local communities; and the Levelling Up Parks Fund which helps people across England to benefit from spending time in nature.

  • PRESS RELEASE : More incentives to join the teaching profession announced by Welsh Government [November 2022]

    PRESS RELEASE : More incentives to join the teaching profession announced by Welsh Government [November 2022]

    The press release issued by the Welsh Government on 30 November 2022.

    The Minister for Education and Welsh Language, Jeremy Miles, has today announced several changes to support and encourage more people to join the teaching profession.

    To help support eligible postgraduate student teachers during the cost-of-living crisis a new payment structure will see eligible student teachers being paid a larger amount after their first term rather than at the end of their induction period. It’s hoped that the new payment structure will support eligible learners with funds when they need it most during the start of their course. Helping to buy supplies for their training and helping with the cost-of-living.

    It has also been confirmed that a GCSE grade of C in English and/or Welsh and in Mathematics will replace the current requirement of B grade. It is considered that the B grade was an unnecessary barrier to teaching, and now puts Wales in line with the rest of the UK.

    The Welsh Government has also announced today that the number of Salaried PGCE places will increase from 120 to 160 in 2023 to 2024, to be used with Primary or Secondary education.

    The Salaried PGCE helps remove barriers for those wishing to enter the teaching profession enabling student teachers to maintain their current commitments, including employment and income, whilst studying to be a teacher.

    Minister for Education and Welsh Language, Jeremy Miles, said:

    I have announced these changes to incentives today in order to support those already training and to help attract more people to the profession.

    With the roll out of our new curriculum, this is an incredibly exciting time for education in Wales and for people to join.

    I’m determined that we remove barriers into teaching so we can give school pupils the best possible education, especially in priority subjects where the demand for new teachers is highest.