Tag: Welsh Government

The press release issued by the Welsh Government on 10 November 2022.

Wales has long been a stand-out performer in the UK when it comes to recycling rates and the new stats published today show that the national recycling rate has exceeded the statutory target of 64%, with a rate of 65.2%.

The Welsh Government’s £1billion investment since devolution in municipal recycling has helped see rates catapult from just 4.8% in 1998-1999, to more than 65% today.

In 2024-25, the statutory target will be raised to 70%, which has remarkably already been met by four Welsh local authorities: Conwy, Vale of Glamorgan, Bridgend and Pembrokeshire.

In total, sixteen of Wales’ twenty-two local authorities have exceeded this year’s statutory minimum target of 64%, with ten local authorities reported an increase in performance on the previous year.

The recycling rate is the percentage of local authority municipal waste that is reused, recycled or composted, and in a true Team Wales effort household waste per person has decreased when compared with last year’s figures.

This supports the Welsh Government’s ‘Beyond Recycling’ ambition which has set a bold target to achieve zero waste in Wales by 2050 by moving to a circular economy which keeps resources in use.

According to the last global study from Eunomia in 2017, Wales was ranked third in the world behind Germany and Taiwan on the global recycling leader board.

Figures released earlier this year also showed Wales was the only UK nation to uphold stellar recycling rates during the pandemic, with the other nations of the UK seeing a drop in performance.

As world leaders gather in Egypt for COP27, Wales can be proud that its recycling efforts already make a significant difference to emissions, saving around 400,000 tonnes of CO2 per year from being released into the atmosphere.

Minister for Climate Change, Julie James said:

These brilliant stats show us exactly what can be achieved when we all work together to tackle climate change and put in the hard work to ensure we’re building a green and prosperous Wales for future generations.

Earlier this week, I cautioned world leaders gathering at COP27 that now is ‘not the time to rest’. The same goes for us here in Wales.

Our recycling track record is a fantastic platform for us to build on to tackle the climate and nature emergencies – and now is not the time to get complacent.

We have recently introduced a Bill to ban the blight of single-use plastics that damage our wildlife and environment – and we’re working to make sure those companies responsible for the most commonly-littered items that blight our communities and countryside, cover the clean-up costs.

Local authority recycling targets will increase to 70% in a matter of years, and while I’m thrilled some councils here are already going above and beyond, I ask everybody in Wales to continue the great progress we’ve made on this journey for the common good – and really think before throwing away.

The press release issued by the Welsh Government on 9 November 2022.

The Mbale Trees Programme – orchestrated by the long-standing Wales and Africa initiative – aims to plant 25 million trees by 2025 in the hilly, heavily deforested area of eastern Uganda in a bid to increase community resilience to the impacts of climate change.

Working with the charity Size of Wales, the Mount Elgon Tree Growing Enterprise (METGE) and four other local NGOs, distribute free tree seedlings are distributed to local farmers and schools to be planted on smallholdings and land in the community.

The tree planting programme is having a significant impact on the area. Satellite imagery has shown tree gain within 5km of nursery sites is seven times higher than further away

It is also reducing the need for logging of mature, established trees at the edges of forests further away, including the Mount Elgon National Park, as well as providing a sustainable fuel wood source.

Benefits from the tree planting programme also include: producing fruit to improve nutrition and health of local families, providing medicine for local families and fodder for animals, providing shade and shelter for crops, schools and farmsteads, stabilising slopes, and providing forage for bees and other pollinators.

The programme also helps install fuel efficient stoves to reduce the need for firewood and works with women to increase their participation in climate change action across the region.

The programme, which aims to plant more than 3 million trees a year, is helping communities living on the front line of the climate crisis adapt and improve their livelihoods.

More than 100 staff have been recruited and 50 community-led tree nurseries have been created.

The project links with the Welsh Government’s Plant! Scheme, planting two trees for every child born or adopted in Wales – one planted in Uganda and one planted here in Wales.

Minister for Social Justice Jane Hutt met with representatives from METGE and Size of Wales at the Temple of Peace earlier this week (November 7) to congratulate them on their progress and discuss the future of the tree planting programme.

She said:

This isn’t just about planting trees, it’s about engaging people of all ages in Wales and Africa on climate change and the importance of trees and forests as part of the solution.

We have made phenomenal progress in recent years, edging towards our ambitious target of 25million trees planted by 2025, benefitting not just the environment but many people’s livelihoods too.

Minister for Climate Change Julie James said:

The Mbale Trees programme and Plant! show our commitment to tackling the climate emergency, by both raising awareness of the plight of deforestation and how we can tackle it.

Reaching the milestone of planting 20 million trees in Uganda just as world leaders are preparing to gather for COP27 and to mark Decarbonisation Day, shows how through persistence and working together we can make a real difference.

Our pledge to plant three million more trees every year for the next five years will deliver substantial benefits, not just for people living in the Mbale region, but much wider as it will have a considerable impact on climate change.

Director of Size of Wales, Nicola Pulman, said:

This programme is important for both the global and local climate. The landmark of 20 million trees is an important one and is a testament to the efforts of the communities and local organisations in Mbale, who have worked tirelessly to make it happen.

This programme has become well-known across the region and is changing peoples’ attitudes to trees. This will benefit not just the environment, but future generations to come.

George M. Sikoyo, Executive Director at the Mount Elgon Tree Growing Enterprise (METGE), said:

Hitting the 20 million trees landmark is great news! It authenticates the partnership and determination that METGE and Size of Wales have and with funding from the Welsh Government, which is highly appreciated, to reverse environmental degradation and increase climate resilience in the Mount Elgon region of Uganda.

The tree planting programme is playing an integral role in land restoration and making it more sustaining for farmers, their community and entire landscapes.

These collective benefits of trees help to enhance food security, self-reliance, economic development besides resilience to climate change and environmental restoration.

The press release issued by the Welsh Government on 8 November 2022.

Full-time Further Education is Free

Full-time learners in Wales can access further education free of charge, regardless of age. Funding is also available for learners undertaking a range of part-time courses in further education, contact your FE college to find out what you could be entitled to.

Free Meals

You might be eligible for Free Meals for Learners during the college holidays. The Minister for Education and Welsh Language has recently extended this in Wales until the end of March 2023.

Help with study costs

If you’re aged 16-18, you could be eligible for £30 a week in Education Maintenance Allowance to help with the costs of full-time further education, like transport or meals.

If you’re 19 and over, you could qualify for a Welsh Government Learning Grant for further education to help with study costs. Full-time students can get up to £1,500 and up to £750 is available for part-time studies.

Financial hardship support

The Financial Contingency Fund can help eligible learners in a FE college who are facing financial difficulties. This could help with costs such as fees, course related costs, transport, meals, and childcare costs. The type of support provided, and eligibility is determined by the individual FE college.

Free Period Products

Your FE college has had funding to ensure access to period products, free of charge, in the most dignified way possible. The funding should be used to support everyone in the college community who needs access to period products, prioritising those from low-income households.

Help with transport costs

Help with transport costs to college may also be available. Contact your college or local authority to see if you should apply.

MyTravelPass provides up to 30% off travel costs in Wales. You must be aged 16 to 21 and the pass isn’t limited to just transport to school or college.

Further information

Visit Student Finance Wales or your FE college’s website for further advice and help on what financial support is available.

The press release issued by the Welsh Government on 7 November 2022.

When I laid The Future of Welsh Law programme before the Senedd last year, I made clear that one of the key projects to improve the accessibility of Welsh law was to ensure users can access our laws in up-to-date form in both languages on legislation.gov.uk.

Before this month there have been technological and other barriers to that happening.  But I am pleased to announce that these have been overcome, and I am very grateful to The National Archives for their work to develop new functionality on their editorial system. This will enable the Welsh Government to take over much of the process to update the text of our laws bilingually.

Since 1999, 74 Acts and Measures have been enacted and nearly 6,000 Statutory Instruments have been made.  These statutes have been amended and changed over time both by our own legislation and that of the UK Parliament.  Despite the work of legislation.gov.uk to reflect these changes, there are currently about 46,000 outstanding effects and annotations to be recorded and published on legislation.gov.uk to enable our laws to be accessed in their up-to-date form.

We will now be starting the work to tackle that backlog, initially focusing on Acts and Measures passed by the Senedd, before moving on to Welsh Statutory Instruments.  I will keep Members updated on our progress.

This is a major step towards ensuring that in future, all Welsh legislation will be available, fully updated in both languages, soon after it is amended.

The press release issued by the Welsh Government on 7 November 2022.

New research showing a reduction in deaths and injuries as traffic slows down is being published today alongside new survey results showing continued public support for the national roll out of the lower 20mph speed limit next year – a UK first.

The Welsh Government will introduce a default 20mph speed limit on restricted roads across Wales in September 2023. Restricted roads include those with street lights and are usually located in residential and built up areas with high pedestrian activity.

The new research, conducted by the Transport Research Institute (TRI) at Edinburgh Napier University, in conjunction with Public Health Wales, estimates a new default 20mph speed limit on residential roads across Wales will save around £100 million in the first year alone.

The estimated cost saving is the direct result of fewer deaths and injuries.

The new 20mph default speed limit is estimated to save more than 100 lives over a decade and 14,000 casualties in total could be avoided.

A new independent public attitude survey, conducted by Beaufort Research on behalf of the Welsh Government, shows the majority of respondents support a new lower speed limit.

Almost two-thirds of people surveyed said they would support a 20mph speed limit where they lived and 62% said they wanted everyone to slow down on the roads.

When asked about safety, 64% of people said that 20mph speed limits “makes it safer for pedestrians”; 57% agreed that 20mph means “fewer serious collisions on the roads” and almost half (47%) thought 20mph would make it safer for cyclists.

Deputy Minister for Climate Change Lee Waters said:

The evidence from around the world is very clear – reducing speed limits reduces collisions and saves lives.

Slower speeds also create a safer and more welcoming environment, giving people the confidence to walk and cycle more, which will help to improve our health and wellbeing and help to improve the environment.

This new research shows the savings in terms of reductions in people being hurt or killed but the benefits of 20mph stretch much further than casualty savings alone. The report suggests the lower speed limit will help encourage physical activity and in turn reduce obesity, stress and anxiety.

As with any change we know it will take time for people to adapt. But I’m pleased to see the early indications show a majority of people are in favour of 20mph, and I am confident that if we all work together, we can make the necessary changes that will benefit us now and in the future.

The press release issued by 3 November 2022.

A statement made by Mick Antoniw MS, Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution.

The Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill was introduced in the House of Commons on 22 September by the then Secretary for State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, the Rt Hon Jacob Rees-Mogg MP.

The Bill, as introduced, includes significant content that was not shared with the Devolved Governments prior to introduction. I wrote to the Llywydd on 5 October stating that, given the Bill contained previously unseen content and because of serious concerns about the effect of provisions in the Bill, it would not be possible to lay a Legislative Consent Memorandum within the timescales normally assigned to the process.

I wrote to the Secretary of State, setting out my concerns regarding the Bill.

The Bill as drafted includes concurrent powers that could be exercised by UK Government Ministers in devolved areas without the consent of the Welsh Ministers. This is constitutionally unacceptable, and I have strongly expressed this view. Our expectation is, in the first instance, that powers to amend devolved legislation should rest solely with the Welsh Ministers or, if held concurrently with Ministers of the Crown, that there should be a requirement on the face of the Bill for them to gain the consent of Welsh Ministers for their exercise in devolved areas.

Another major concern is the deadline to review and actively save retained EU law by the sunsetting date of 31 December 2023. This would see all the governments of the UK engaged in a major piece of work to review thousands of legal instruments to ascertain how they should be handled under the Bill, or otherwise risk the law being removed from the statute book on this date. The Bill includes an extension mechanism for the sunset date of specified pieces of retained EU law until 2026, however the exercise of this power is currently limited to Ministers of the Crown.

The Bill is a significant distraction at a time when the focus of government should be on matters of greater importance such as the cost-of-living crisis. It is our opinion that the body of retained EU law, as it currently stands, is in general fit for purpose. The imposition of the arbitrary deadline means that there is a very real risk in revisiting these legal instruments in haste, that interdependencies and other issues may not be identified, and that the consequence could be an inoperable statute book.

As a result of this and other concerns with the Bill, which by its very nature could significantly impact on devolution, we are recommending that the Senedd withholds its consent for the Bill.

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.