Category: Press Releases

The press release issued by the Welsh Government on 28 October 2022.

Launched in July, the scheme will see more than 500 people turning 18 and leaving care in Wales being offered £1600 each month (before tax) for two years to support them as they make the transition to adult life.

It is hoped the pilot will set care leavers on a path to live healthy, happy and fulfilling lives.

The £20 million pilot, which will run for three years, will be evaluated to carefully examine its effect on the lives of those involved.

In the midst of a cost-of-living crisis, it is hoped the lessons learnt from the pilot scheme can benefit future generations to come by helping them overcome barriers they face starting adult life. This could benefit them and wider society.

After launching the scheme with the First Minister and Deputy Minister for Social Services Julie Morgan, Social Justice Minister Jane Hutt and the Deputy Minister met with a number of young people benefitting from the pilot at Conwy Business Centre earlier today (Friday, 28 October) as part of National Care Leavers Week.

It has been fantastic to hear about how the pilot scheme has already impacted the young lives of those taking part in it,” she said.

Our ambition for the scheme is that it will allow the young people who are benefitting to make their own choices, whether that means they are able to choose where they live, what jobs they can apply for, whether to continue studying or deciding to go and travel the world.  The life choices of looked after children should not be determined by the circumstances of their childhood.

It is heartening to hear how many have already received support to take the first steps to achieve this and it puts them in good stead for the future.

She added:

We want them to have independence as they get older, and by giving them a helping hand as they start their adult life we can improve their chances of doing so.

By providing financial stability to a generation of young people facing huge barriers to reach their full potential, we are giving them the tools to overcome them and thrive.

Those taking part in the pilot will also receive individual advice and support to help them manage their finances and develop their financial and budgeting skills.

Deputy Minister for Social Services Julie Morgan said: “It has been heartening to hear from the young people the impact the pilot scheme has had on their lives.

We’ve learnt a lot from meeting with them today and we appreciate them sharing their thoughts with us

We are committed to providing support to the most vulnerable in our society, many of whom have grown up without a support network through their formative years.

We hope this scheme, as well as the advice and information available to them through it, will give them the confidence and strong foundations to achieve their dreams.

Local authorities will play a key role in supporting them throughout the pilot. Voices from Care Cymru will also work with the young people to give them advice on wellbeing, education, employment and help them plan their future after the pilot.

Emma Phipps-Magill, of Voices from Care Cymru, also attended the meeting and said:

We have already seen the pilot have a positive impact on young care leavers as they adapt to having financial independence.

We are still at a very early stage of the pilot, but they have grasped the opportunity with both hands and have already made progress with many of their goals.

The press release issued by the Welsh Government on 28 October 2022.

Health Minister, Eluned Morgan, has announced a new contract agreement with GPs in Wales, which will deliver the most significant reform of the contract since 2004.

The press release issued by the Welsh Government on 28 October 2022.

The Global Centre of Rail Excellence (GCRE) has reached a major milestone with the formal acquisition of the former Nant Helen opencast site and Onllwyn Washery in South Wales from opencast mining company Celtic Energy, Economy Minister, Vaughan Gething announced today.

• Minister for the Economy confirms the acquisition of land allowing contractors to prepare for construction of UK’s first Net Zero Railway
• The site will become the UK’s ‘one stop shop’ for railway innovation
• The first phase of the masterplan construction is expected to be completed by the middle of 2025.

The 700 hectare site at the head of the Dulais Valley in south Wales  will now be transformed and developed to become the UK’s ‘one stop shop’ for railway innovation, from research and development, through testing, verification and certification, to applied innovation on mainline passenger and freight railways.

Outline planning consent for GCRE was granted by Neath Port Talbot Council and Powys County Council in 2021.

A range of consultants and contractors including Hirwaun-based Walters Group, Atkins, Fifth Studio, Arcadis and Mott MacDonald are now working in an alliance to design the site and begin preparation for construction in early 2023.

GCRE is split in to three core phases:

• Phase 1: The provision of sidings for rolling stock from the summer of 2023
• Phase 2: The building of two electrified test loops, one high speed test loop 6.9km long and a 4km Infrastructure test loop, together with supporting infrastructure and buildings from 2024
• Phase 3: The addition of expanded stabling, maintenance, and commissioning facilities along with research facilities, hotel, and business park in 2025 and ongoing.

Visiting the site of the £250 million infrastructure project, Minister for Economy, Vaughan Gething, reiterated the significance of the GCRE project:

The Global Centre of Rail Excellence being constructed here in Wales is one of the most critical and creative infrastructure projects happening anywhere in Europe.

Its significance to the local community and the Welsh economy should not be underestimated. This is a vital regeneration project which will create much-needed jobs and skills. I’m confident it will support a bright industrial future for the Dulais Valley and the surrounding area.

Deputy Minister for Climate Change, Lee Waters, reiterated the significance of the GCRE project:

GCRE will be a unique facility offering world class testing of infrastructure, rolling stock and new technologies that will fill a much-needed gap in the rail industry. Crucially, it will help manage the cost of rail projects by testing ideas earlier before their deployment on projects and support the vital innovation we need to get to Net Zero.

The formal acquisition of the land now paves the way for the start of construction by allowing GCRE and their contractors to take control of the site and begin to establish the infrastructure required to turn this ambitious and exciting vision into reality.

Chief Executive of GCRE, Simon Jones said:

We are moving at pace to deliver on our ambitious plans to deliver a modern and comprehensive rail testing and innovation facility, building our team and preparing for construction with the aim of having our commercial rolling stock storage facility available to the market within the next 12 months.

The next stage of our procurement process will begin shortly with both a meet the buyer event and the launch of a separate innovation competition next week to give potential suppliers and partners the opportunity to find out more about how they can get involved.  This will be followed by the launch of an exciting investment prospectus to attract private funding for the project. With the support of the Welsh and UK Governments and Powys and Neath Port Talbot local authorities, we really are on a mission to put Wales and the UK at the very heart of 21st century sustainable transport innovation.

The press release issued by the Welsh Government on 27 October 2022.

Updated goals for the pharmacy profession have been published today, as the transformation of pharmaceutical care in Wales continues.

The Welsh Pharmaceutical Committee’s vision for pharmacy, Pharmacy: Delivering a Healthier Wales, was first published in 2019. Developed by the pharmacy profession, the 10-year plan aims to provide a clear direction for pharmacy professionals in every part of the NHS, focusing on meeting patients’ and the NHS’s needs now and in the future.

The new goals refresh expectations of what the pharmacy profession can achieve in the three years to December 2025, including:

• undertaking a comprehensive review of how the skills and expertise of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians can be more effectively used to support hospital patients
• reviewing how automation, electronic prescribing and pharmacogenomics can help transform the way pharmacy professionals deliver care
• exploring how supporting research and development in pharmacy practice can provide a platform for further innovation in the delivery of pharmaceutical care.

Eluned Morgan, the Minister for Health and Social Services, welcomed the new goals, saying:

Earlier this year we introduced the most significant reform of the way community pharmacies provide services since the NHS was created more than 70 years ago.

A great deal has already been achieved towards our vision, with community pharmacy teams now consistently using their expertise to support patients and our health and care services.

As the pharmacy profession embarks on the next phase of its journey, I am looking forward to seeing how the role of pharmacy professionals in other sectors can be transformed to achieve even more in the coming years.

Andrew Evans, the Chief Pharmaceutical Officer for Wales, said:

Pharmacy: Delivering a Healthier Wales provided a clear direction for the development of pharmaceutical care in Wales.  The transformation of the role of community pharmacies has helped us meet the unprecedented challenges we face as a result of the last two years.

Good progress has been made in delivering our aspirations in all sectors of pharmacy practice. The refreshed goals provide the basis for supporting and developing the role of pharmacy professionals who work in our hospitals and in community care, to ensure they can continue to meet the changing needs of patients and are empowered to respond to the challenges faced by the NHS.

Our ambitious new goals build on the work we are already doing to implement ePrescribing in secondary and primary care, increasing the use of digital technology and pharmacogenomics. We also want to ensure the profession meets its obligations to be more socially responsible, tackling inequalities in health, supporting environmental sustainability and promoting the use of the Welsh language.

Elen Jones, Director of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society Wales, said:

The 2025 goals continue to drive our aspirations for pharmacy in Wales, breaking down boundaries between care settings and developing the workforce to ensure patients benefit from the expertise of the pharmacy team wherever and whenever they need it.

The RPS has been proud to be a part of these developments. Putting plans into action across Wales is the next important step and we look forward to working with colleagues in supporting this important agenda over the next three years and beyond.

Jonathan Simms, Chair of the Welsh Pharmaceutical Committee, said:

Today marks an important step in our journey towards our 2030 vision for pharmacy in Wales.  The goals set the ambition of how pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and our support staff, across all care settings, will enhance patient care and improve medicine optimisation for the citizens of Wales.

So much has been achieved since the publication of Pharmacy: Delivering a Healthier Wales, particularly through the pandemic where teams needed to adapt to maintain vital services to patients.  The new goals recognise the challenges that the workforce currently face as we recover from the pandemic. With this comes opportunities to deliver new roles, embed new skills and drive the use of technology to make Wales a vibrant place to work whilst delivering excellent pharmaceutical care.

The press release issued by the Welsh Government on 27 October 2022.

Eluned Morgan, Minister for Health and Social Services.

The 10-year pharmacy plan, Pharmacy: Delivering a Healthier Wales, was published in 2019 and sets out how services need to be transformed and how the workforce needs to develop to meet the needs of people in Wales.

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society has been reviewing the significant progress made against the 15 goals set for 2022 and has been engaging with pharmacy professionals to refresh the vision and to set new goals for the next three years.

The new goals, which are published today, set the expectations for what more can be achieved collectively by 2025. These goals are ambitious, people-focused and designed to harness the contribution of the entire pharmacy team, in all care settings.

We continue to work towards the original aspirations set out in Pharmacy: Delivering a Healthier Wales:

• To enhance patient experience,
• To develop the workforce,
• To deliver seamless pharmaceutical care; and
• To harness the benefits of innovation and technology in pursuit of our aims.

Excellent progress has been made to deliver these aspirations in all sectors of pharmacy practice. Since the introduction our new community pharmacy contractual arrangements, which were described in Presgripsiwn Newydd last year, we are ensuring community pharmacies consistently provide the widest range of clinical services people and the NHS in Wales need.

Approximately one in five community pharmacies are now providing our national pharmacist independent prescribing service, which offers prompt access to treatment for a range of conditions and to regular contraception. We are working to increase this so the service is available in one in three pharmacies by the end of March.

Pharmacy professionals play an essential role in our hospitals and GP practices and we have recently commissioned the Royal Pharmaceutical Society to review how the clinical skills of pharmacists, pharmacist prescribers and the wider pharmacy workforce can be used effectively in hospital settings to improve people’s health outcomes.

The new goals mean that by 2025, pharmacy teams will feel empowered to make every patient contact count, building on strengths of community pharmacies as community assets, as sources of both social capital and convenient access to the services people need.

By continuing to increase the capability and skill within pharmacy teams we will also ensure people have consistent access to highly trained and motivated members of the pharmacy workforce.

Optimising the knowledge and skills of pharmacy professionals as medicines’ experts, we will ensure they are integral in supporting people as they transition between different parts of the health and social care service.

Increasing use of automation will increase the capacity for pharmacy professionals to deliver outstanding care, and using the NHS app, pharmacy teams will work with patients who are empowered to take greater control of their health and medicines.

A great deal has already been achieved. As we embark on the next phase of the journey, pharmacy professionals will achieve even more in the next three years. I am therefore delighted to endorse the pharmacy profession’s refreshed plans.

The press release issued by the Welsh Government on 25 October 2022.

The Minister for Climate Change, Julie James, has today announced a state-owned energy developer in response to energy insecurity, the cost-of-living crisis and the increasing threats posed by the climate and nature emergencies.

Speaking in the Senedd this afternoon, the Minister said energy profits created in Wales will deliver greater benefit for people in Wales.

Surplus funds generated through the new developer will go back into the public purse to be reinvested in improving energy efficiency in homes in Wales and creating good quality, home grown, clean energy jobs.

Delivering on aims to have more than one gigawatt of locally-owned generation by 2030, the new state-owned energy developer will scale up renewable energy rollout, initially through the development of onshore wind projects on the Welsh Government woodland estate.

Like elsewhere in the UK, some renewable energy projects on the Welsh Government woodland estate have been developed by state-owned energy developers, meaning profits go back to their respective countries.

The Minister said:

We want to harvest our wind and use it to produce power that directly benefits people in Wales.

We will set up a publicly-owned renewable energy developer. This is a long-term sustainable investment that puts net zero and the communities of Wales at the heart of the transition we need.

We are in a climate emergency and our approach is in stark contrast to the UK Government that is focusing on fracking and fossil fuels – opposed by most communities and incompatible with our international obligations.

With soaring living costs and an ongoing lack of certainty around energy supply, the Minister said the current UK market was “bad for bill payers.

The focus of Wales’ energy policy is securing a reliable and diverse energy mix that delivers local benefit.

Minister for Climate Change Julie James added:

This is an historic moment for Wales. The cost-of-living crisis is directly related to the major increase in the cost of energy, which strengthens the need for an approach that returns more to the people of Wales.

If other countries are anything to go by, then we should expect considerable returns from our investment and – as we share the ambitions of these other nations – we have a genuine opportunity to produce an income that will really help us to deliver here.

We are taking positive action to ensure we deliver on our net zero commitments in ways that benefit our communities.

The press release issued by the Welsh Government on 25 October 2022.

Wales is facing a new era of damaging austerity cuts because of the UK Government’s mismanagement of the economy, Finance Minister Rebecca Evans will warn today.

The combination of soaring inflation which is eroding the Welsh Government’s budget, and spending cuts threatened by the latest Chancellor of the Exchequer, could starve public services of funding, stifle economic growth and lead to job losses.

Inflation and the UK Government’s mishandling of the economy, means Welsh Government’s budget is now worth up to £4bn less in real terms than it was when the three-year funding settlement was set last year.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer has said all UK Government departments must redouble efforts to find savings and warned some areas of spending will be cut to fill the hole created in UK public finances by the fallout from the mini-budget a month ago.

This could mean more cuts in funding for the Welsh Government, as it prepares its draft Budget, which is set to be published on 13 December. The Chancellor is due to produce his medium-term fiscal plan on 31 October.

Speaking at a Welsh Government press conference later today, the Finance Minister will warn against another round of destructive austerity and outline alternative options the Chancellor could take to boost growth and support public services.

Rebecca Evans, Minister for Finance and Local Government, said:

By announcing reckless uncosted tax cuts for the rich, the UK Government lost control of the economy. Now the new Chancellor wants us all to pay for its failures with deep spending cuts.

We are facing a new damaging era of austerity, which would threaten jobs, businesses and public services.

The Chancellor could protect public services by using his tax levers more fairly and increase investment to get the economy moving in the right direction. He could help people pay their bills by increasing benefits in line with inflation.

As we look ahead to our Budget, we need the UK Government to take action to avoid the type of destructive austerity that will further damage our economy and the public services so many of us rely on.

The press release issued by the Welsh Government on 25 October 2022.

A new initiative designed to help businesses lower their carbon impact and save on energy bills will be accelerated and launched in the new year, Economy Minister Vaughan Gething has announced.

The Minister has asked the Development Bank of Wales to fast track its plans for an invest to save decarbonisation offer with more favourable terms for businesses looking at investing in renewables and energy efficiency measures.

Accelerating the introduction of the offer will allow businesses across Wales to take earlier action to invest in projects designed to reduce their energy consumption and better manage energy bills.  This will provide much needed respite amid the spiralling cost of business and help deliver on the Welsh Government’s commitment to deliver a greener economy.

Speaking on the fifth anniversary of the Development Bank of Wales’ launch – the UK’s first regional development bank – Economy Minister Vaughan Gething said:

The Development Bank of Wales has become a national asset supporting businesses across Wales, improving their resilience and helping them grow and prosper.

Over its first five years the bank has exceeded investment targets, delivering an economic impact of £1.2 billion.

It is clear from my discussions with businesses that we must prioritise the job of reducing energy consumption and lowering bills for the long term.  I have now asked the Development Bank to fast-track development of a new scheme supporting business transition to Net Zero on an ‘invest to save’ principle. This will allow businesses to take on borrowing to fund capital investment which delivers on decarbonisation through more flexible repayment terms, attractive interest rates and wider support such as help towards consultancy costs.

This is a win win scheme – making it cheaper and easier for eligible businesses to cut future energy costs and boost our shared ambition for a greener Wales.

The Minister is also tasking the Development Bank with pursuing an ambitious equity investment target of £100 million over the next five to seven years.

The Minister added:

This investment, alongside private sector co-investment, has the potential to deliver over £250 million of capital to innovative businesses – a much needed injection of capital that will help create new jobs, expand growth sectors and help position Wales for a more prosperous future.

In the face of enormous challenges, the Welsh Government is determined to use its levers to provide stability with practical help for businesses and workers in a long partnership for a stronger, fairer, greener Wales.

Giles Thorley, Chief Executive of the Development Bank of Wales, said:

As businesses find themselves faced with economic uncertainties – including greatly increased energy costs – it is more important than ever that we fulfil our role providing stability for the Welsh economy, and do all we can to support ambitious businesses looking to invest in their journey to Net Zero.

We firmly believe that investing in environmental sustainability is both the right thing to do and makes good business sense, helping companies become more resilient, competitive and attractive to customers and talent. Having already launched the Green Homes Incentive to support property developers, we are now accelerating our programme of decarbonisation support to meet these pressing needs, making sure that Wales remains a great place to do business.

This marks the fifth anniversary for the Development Bank of Wales. Whilst I’m very proud of our delivery and impact so far as well as the strong relationships we’ve built with Welsh businesses and stakeholders, I also look forward to continuing to drive growth in the Welsh economy. Our track record as one of the most active venture capital investors in the UK and our links to private sector co-investors makes us well placed to deliver the equity capital that Wales needs.

The press release issued by the Welsh Government on 22 October 2022.

Every further education college in Wales now has a dedicated employment and enterprise bureau to help young people prepare for the world of work by supporting them to find a job or setting up their own business, Economy Minister Vaughan Gething has announced today.

The enhanced bureaus are an important part of the Welsh Government’s flagship Young Person’s Guarantee, which commits to providing everyone under the age of 25 living in Wales with support to gain a place in education or training and help to get into work or become self-employed.

The bureaus, which will be backed by £2.36 million in Welsh Government funding this financial year, will help young people prepare for the labour market through a package of opportunities which will be made available for both full and part-time learners.

This support will help build essential employability and enterprise skills, with advice and guidance on offer to support young people into employment or self-employment.

The Young Person’s Guarantee will help protect a generation from the impacts of lost learning and delayed labour market entry caused by the Coronavirus pandemic, and to help make Wales a place where more young people feel confident in planning their future.

The employment and enterprise bureaus will be delivered by the colleges and work with key partners, such as employers, regional skills partnerships, Careers Wales and Working Wales.

They will create opportunities for learners to engage with local, regional and national employers; present varied routes into employment via programmes such as Jobs Growth Wales+, apprenticeships and Big Ideas Wales; provide one-to-one advice and guidance; and encourage aspirations for entrepreneurship amongst learners through an entrepreneurship champion in each institution.

Economy Minister Vaughan Gething said:

The enhanced employment and enterprise bureaus form a key element of our strategy to prevent youth unemployment and ensure young people are not held back nor left behind as a result of the pandemic.

They will provide a breadth of employment support and opportunities to streamline their transition from learners to workers.

This will include nurturing ambitions for enterprise and entrepreneurship and embedding pathways into the world of self-employment. Encouraging young adults to stay in Wales by building their careers and launching their own businesses here will be instrumental as we re-design our economy post-coronavirus.

The employment and enterprise bureaus have also been designed to create talent pipeline needed to deliver on our Net Zero target, nurturing skills suitable for the sectors we need to grow.

We want young people to get the best possible start in the world of work and I am determined we do all we can as a government to help deliver the long-term economic benefits our young people deserve.

ColegauCymru strategic work-based learning and employability adviser Jeff Protheroe said:

ColegauCymru welcomes the Welsh Government commitment to support further education learners as they take their first steps into the world of work.

The rollout of employment and enterprise bureaus will ensure that learners receive the guidance they need to achieve their full potential.

With employers continually adapting to meet the changing needs of a fast-moving economy, our Further Education colleges play a central role both in a local and regional context, and are ideally placed to be the interface between them and the future workforce, and to meet the needs of both.