Siambr · Cai Parry-Jones
Written questions
146 written questions on record from the Seventh Senedd on, newest first. Page 3 of 3.
WQ99603 · Tabled · Answered
How much funding does the Welsh Government provide to BAWSO?
Answered by Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Minister for Social Justice and Equality
During the 2025-26 financial year, the Welsh Government provided £1,149,042.93 in grant funding to BAWSO. In addition, a payment of £254.50 was made to support a presentation event.
WQ99602 · Tabled · Answered
How much funding does the Welsh Government provide to the African Community Centre?
Answered by Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Minister for Social Justice and Equality
During the 2025-26 financial year, the Welsh Government made a payment of £2,966 to the African Community Centre through a lived experience grant.
WQ99598 · Tabled · Answered
How much funding does the Welsh Government provide to Tai Pawb?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning
Through my portfolio, the Welsh Government is providing funding of up to £250,000 to Tai Pawb in 2026/27.
WQ99584 · Tabled · Answered
How much funding does the Welsh Government provide to Taff Housing Association?
Answered by Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Minister for Social Justice and Equality
Through my portfolio, the Welsh Government is providing £5.8m of grant funding to Taff Housing Association in 2026-27. Additional grant funding may also be awarded during the year as programmes are developed and funding allocations are confirmed. Taff Housing Association currently has £16m of outstanding Welsh Government loans.
WQ99581 · Tabled · Answered
How much has the Welsh Government spent on new desks and office chairs for Cabinet Ministers and Deputy Ministers since taking office?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Finance
The Welsh Government has spent £1677.60 inclusive of VAT following recommendations arising from statutory Display Screen Equipment (DSE) assessments.
WQ99580 · Tabled · Answered
How much has the Welsh Government spent on new Welsh Government-branded pens, mugs, and notepads for Cabinet Ministers and Deputy Ministers?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Finance
No such expenditure has been incurred.
WQ99550 · Tabled · Answered
What assessment has the Cabinet Minister made of the role of community optometrists in diagnosing and treating glaucoma?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
Community optometrists play an important role in detecting glaucoma. Appropriately qualified optometrists can refine referrals and monitor and manage patients in primary care. This early intervention, improves access to care and leads to fewer unnecessary hospital appointments, enabling ophthalmology services to focus on patients requiring specialist treatment.
WQ99519 · Tabled · Answered
What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the Welsh Ambulance Services University NHS Trust's decision not to undertake a formal risk assessment prior to participating in the intelligent routing protocol during 2022?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
Operational decisions regarding the design, testing and implementation of call handling processes are matters for the Welsh Ambulance Services University NHS Trust, which is responsible for ensuring appropriate governance, clinical oversight and risk management arrangements are in place.
The Welsh Government expects all NHS organisations to assess and manage potential risks associated with service changes in line with established governance requirements and their statutory responsibilities for quality and patient safety.
The Welsh Government holds the Trust to account through established NHS Wales performance and escalation arrangements to seek assurance on action being taken to address identified risks and improve services.
WQ99518 · Tabled · Answered
Was the Welsh Government aware that the Welsh Ambulance Services University NHS Trust was participating in a trial of the intelligent routing protocol during late 2022, and if so, what assessment did the Welsh Government make of the potential impact on ambulance call handling capacity and patient safety in Wales?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
Operational decisions regarding the design, testing and implementation of call handling processes are matters for the Welsh Ambulance Services University NHS Trust, which is responsible for ensuring appropriate governance, clinical oversight and risk management arrangements are in place.
The Welsh Government expects all NHS organisations to assess and manage potential risks associated with service changes in line with established governance requirements and their statutory responsibilities for quality and patient safety.
The Welsh Government holds the Trust to account through established NHS Wales performance and escalation arrangements to seek assurance on action being taken to address identified risks and improve services.
WQ99508 · Tabled · Answered
How many healthcare workers have been recruited from Kerala following the announcement by the Welsh Government in February 2025 that a further 200 staff would join the Welsh NHS?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
The information requested is shown below and has been provided by NHS Wales.
Since February 2025, 164 healthcare professionals have been recruited through the Wales-Kerela Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) (as at 8 July 2026), comprising
- 47 doctors
- 117 nurses
Of these, 147 have commenced employment in NHS Wales and a further 17 doctors are progressing through pre-employment and onboarding processes. The vast majority of these recruits were already progressing through recruitment processes at the time of the February 2025 announcement.
NHS Wales is not currently undertaking further nursing recruitment through the Wales-Kerala MoU. Any further recruitment activity is expected to focus on medical recruitment in hard-to-fill specialities and areas experiencing workforce shortages.
It is worth emphasising that overseas workers have had a presence in the NHS workforce since its very foundation, and many services would be unsustainable without their important contribution. Recent campaigns to scapegoat them betray a fundamental lack of understanding of how the NHS actually operates, and this Welsh Government values the hard work, professionalism and dedication of all NHS staff, regardless of their background.
WQ99521 · Tabled · Answered
What proportion of Nation of Sanctuary expenditure was directed to Ukrainian refugees in the fiscal year 2025-26?
Answered by Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Minister for Social Justice and Equality
The final outturn amount of expenditure for 2025-2026 is not yet available.
WQ99446 · Tabled · Answered
What assurance has the Welsh Government sought from the Welsh Ambulance Services University NHS Trust that the failings identified by the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales in case reference 202306104 will not be repeated?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
To clarify roles and responsibilities regarding reports from the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales (PSOW), in the case you have asked about, the PSOW provides independent scrutiny. The Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust is accountable for implementing the recommendations, while commissioners (the NHS Wales Joint Commissioning Committee) and NHS Wales Performance and Improvement are responsible for seeking assurance, where appropriate, on the delivery of those recommendations. Welsh Ministers cannot provide detailed operational updates on individuals or individual cases through Written Questions.
However, officials have received assurance through the regular accountability arrangements of NHS Wales Performance and Improvement and the NHS Wales Joint Commissioning Committee that action has been taken to strengthen emergency call handling, clinical record keeping, complaints investigation and organisational learning.
The NHS Wales Joint Commissioning Committee and NHS Wales Performance and Improvement will continue to monitor the delivery of these improvements and hold the Trust to account for ensuring that the lessons identified are embedded and that similar failings do not recur.
WQ99445 · Tabled · Answered
What assessment has the Cabinet Minister made of whether the Welsh Ambulance Services University NHS Trust has fully implemented the recommendations contained within the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales's public interest report for case reference 202306104?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
To clarify roles and responsibilities regarding reports from the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales (PSOW), in the case you have asked about, the PSOW provides independent scrutiny. The Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust is accountable for implementing the recommendations, while commissioners (the NHS Wales Joint Commissioning Committee) and NHS Wales Performance and Improvement are responsible for seeking assurance, where appropriate, on the delivery of those recommendations. Welsh Ministers cannot provide detailed operational updates on individuals or individual cases through Written Questions.
However, officials have received assurance through the regular accountability arrangements of NHS Wales Performance and Improvement and the NHS Wales Joint Commissioning Committee that action has been taken to strengthen emergency call handling, clinical record keeping, complaints investigation and organisational learning.
The NHS Wales Joint Commissioning Committee and NHS Wales Performance and Improvement will continue to monitor the delivery of these improvements and hold the Trust to account for ensuring that the lessons identified are embedded and that similar failings do not recur.
WQ99444 · Tabled · Answered
Will the Cabinet Minister confirm a) what guidance is issued to emergency medical dispatchers regarding the manual downgrading of 999 calls after an initial clinical assessment, and b) what governance arrangements are in place to review those decisions?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
The Welsh Government does not routinely hold detailed operational information or guidance of this nature.
Responsibility for ensuring compliance with clinical call-handling requirements, including arrangements for training, competency assessment, supervision and the role of supervisory ‘buddies’, rests with the Welsh Ambulance Services University NHS Trust through its established clinical governance and quality assurance processes.
The Member may therefore wish to contact the Trust directly for further information on these matters.
WQ99443 · Tabled · Answered
Will the Cabinet Minister confirm what proportion of 999 calls handled by the Welsh Ambulance Services University NHS Trust were found to be non-compliant with clinical call handling standards in each of the last four years?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
The Welsh Government does not routinely hold detailed operational information or guidance of this nature.
Responsibility for ensuring compliance with clinical call-handling requirements, including arrangements for training, competency assessment, supervision and the role of supervisory ‘buddies’, rests with the Welsh Ambulance Services University NHS Trust through its established clinical governance and quality assurance processes.
The Member may therefore wish to contact the Trust directly for further information on these matters.
WQ99442 · Tabled · Answered
Will the Cabinet Minister confirm what minimum training, competency and supervision requirements must be met before newly qualified emergency medical dispatchers are permitted to independently assess and categorise 999 calls?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
The Welsh Government does not routinely hold detailed operational information or guidance of this nature.
Responsibility for ensuring compliance with clinical call-handling requirements, including arrangements for training, competency assessment, supervision and the role of supervisory ‘buddies’, rests with the Welsh Ambulance Services University NHS Trust through its established clinical governance and quality assurance processes.
The Member may therefore wish to contact the Trust directly for further information on these matters.
WQ99441 · Tabled · Answered
Does the Welsh Ambulance Services University NHS Trust have a formal written policy that sets out the role and responsibilities of buddies who supervise newly qualified emergency medical dispatchers in the absence of a mentor?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
The Welsh Government does not routinely hold detailed operational information or guidance of this nature.
Responsibility for ensuring compliance with clinical call-handling requirements, including arrangements for training, competency assessment, supervision and the role of supervisory ‘buddies’, rests with the Welsh Ambulance Services University NHS Trust through its established clinical governance and quality assurance processes.
The Member may therefore wish to contact the Trust directly for further information on these matters.
WQ99440 · Tabled · Answered
Will the Cabinet Minister confirm whether the intelligent routing protocol, or any successor system for transferring 999 calls between ambulance services, remains in operation in Wales, and if so, what safeguards are in place to ensure patient safety?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
The Intelligent Routing Platform (IRP) remains in operation across Wales. It is a UK‑wide system used by ambulance services, including the Welsh Ambulance Services University NHS Trust, to provide additional resilience at times of exceptional pressure, helping to ensure that 999 calls are answered as quickly as possible. The IRP does not change how ambulances are dispatched, and responsibility for the patient’s care always remains with the local ambulance service.
WQ99438 · Tabled · Answered
How much funding did the Welsh Government spend on the nation of sanctuary scheme in the 2025-26 financial year?
Answered by Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Minister for Social Justice and Equality
The final outturn amount of expenditure for 2025-2026 is not yet available.
WQ99418 · Tabled · Answered
Does the Welsh Government have any plans to ban jump racing or horse racing?
Answered by Trefnydd, Chief Whip and Cabinet Minister for Culture and Sport
The Welsh Government does not have any plans to ban jump racing or horse racing.
WQ99401 · Tabled · Answered
Will the Commission publish the cost to date of producing the Y Farchnad booklet, and the budget in place for producing further copies?
Answered by Senedd Commission
The Y Farchnad brochure was produced and distributed using existing in-house design, staffing and printing resources. No separate budget was established for its production, and the costs cannot therefore be separately identified.
No additional budget has been established for producing further printed copies as the Commission does not intend to use printed copies as the routine method of communicating future Y Farchnad opportunities.
The decision to provide Members with a printed copy during the first term of the Seventh Senedd reflected the particular circumstances following the election. A significant number of Members were newly elected and had not yet recruited office staff to help manage correspondence or identify engagement opportunities. The brochure was therefore placed in Members’ pigeonholes to ensure that Members were aware of opportunities to engage with the 88 organisations participating in the first-term programme, and were not disadvantaged by the absence of established office support arrangements.
As the programme has developed, demand from organisations wishing to participate has grown so from January 2027 Y Farchnad will be held twice a month. The Commission has therefore been developing more sustainable and cost-effective approaches to promoting an expanding programme of engagement opportunities.
From the second term onwards, communications relating to Y Farchnad will increasingly be delivered through digital channels, supported by enhanced notice boards on Floors 2 and 3, electronic copies on Hwb pages, and dedicated webpages setting out details of forthcoming events and participating organisations. A limited number of printed copies may be retained for reference purposes.
WQ99400 · Tabled · Answered
What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the number of newly qualified nurses in Caerdydd Ffynnon Taf who remain without NHS employment following the 2026 NHS Wales Streamlining process, and what action is being taken to improve access to posts?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
The Welsh Government are working closely with Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW), NHS Wales organisations and universities to monitor the outcome of the 2026 NHS Wales Streamlining process, including employment outcomes for newly qualified nurses across Wales.
The current position reflects a mismatch between the number of graduates entering the workforce and the number of funded entry-level posts currently available. The training commissions that led to this year’s graduating cohort were based on workforce forecasts and commissioning decisions made in 2022. Since then, NHS Wales has faced a more challenging financial environment, alongside improved workforce retention and lower staff turnover, which has reduced the number of vacancies available for newly qualified nurses currently. This does not reflect any reduction in the long-term need for nurses across NHS Wales.
To support graduates into employment, I convened a Graduate Summit on 18 June, bringing together health boards, NHS trusts, HEIW, universities, trade unions and professional bodies to agree both immediate and longer-term actions.
Following the Summit, NHS Wales organisations have continued to identify additional vacancies and opportunities as they arise, including roles in community, primary care and wider care settings. Graduates who have not yet secured a post have progressed into the next phase of the Streamlining process, supported by enhanced communications, career support and continued engagement with employers to maximise opportunities across the NHS in Wales.
The Summit also agreed the need for a stronger focus on aligning future commissioning decisions with workforce demand, improving workforce intelligence, exploring a broader range of employment opportunities across health and care settings, and ensuring newly qualified professionals can be retained within Wales while opportunities continue to emerge.
My priority is to retain these newly qualified nurses within NHS Wales and ensure they are supported into sustainable employment as additional opportunities become available. The development of a new comprehensive workforce plan for the NHS, the first iteration of which is due to be published in the autumn, will include a specific focus on better aligning the provision of courses with staff demand.
WQ99393 · Tabled · Answered
Will the Cabinet Minister provide an update as to the overall expenditure on the Nation of Sanctuary policy?
Answered by Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Minister for Social Justice and Equality
Expenditure for the Nation of Sanctuary budget from 2019–2025, published under the 2021–2026 Welsh Government administration, shows a total net cost of £63.87m over six years. The final outturn amount of expenditure for 2025-2026 is not yet available.
WQ99381 · Tabled · Answered
What steps is the Welsh Government taking to improve outcomes for people affected by leukaemia in Wales, including earlier diagnosis, equitable access to specialist treatment and care, and the implementation of recommendations made by Leukaemia UK?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
This Government has committed to developing a National Cancer Plan, reflecting our determination to improve cancer care and outcomes. The plan will set out an ambitious future for cancer care in Wales and give the NHS the clarity it needs to focus on this set of conditions and to deliver better services for the people of Wales.
The plan will be developed to support improvements in outcomes for people affected by cancer in Wales, irrespective of cancer type, and will therefore be as relevant to people with leukaemia as it will be to those affected by other cancers.
We are working at pace as part of our 100-day commitments to bring forward our plans, and I will update Members ahead of summer recess to confirm our intentions and outline how stakeholders will be engaged in its development. In determining our strategic priorities, we will consider insights and evidence from a broad range of sources, including previous reports and recommendations from third sector organisations such as Leukaemia UK.
By addressing challenges across cancer pathways and driving service improvement in line with clinical standards, the National Cancer Plan will support the NHS to deliver high-quality, equitable and person-centred cancer care, helping to improve outcomes and experiences for people affected by cancer in Wales.
WQ99343 · Tabled · Answered
Will the Cabinet Minister provide an update on access to robotic surgeries in Wales, including the current availability of robotic surgical systems across Welsh health boards, and what steps the Welsh Government is taking to expand access where there is evidence of improved patient outcomes and reduced long-term complications?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
Robotic assisted surgery is a type of surgical technique applicable in many different surgical specialties, and is emerging as increasingly important in surgical care. The future development of robotic surgery as part of the national approach to planned care will need to balance evidence of clinical benefit, concentration of expertise and equipment, and the impact on theatre productivity.
Three health boards can provide robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy to appropriate patients across south Wales. In addition, Betsi Cadwaladr, Cwm Taf Morgannwg, and Cardiff & Vale University Health Boards have all received tapered part-funding from the Welsh Government to test the expansion of robotic assisted surgery to other indications, such as colorectal and gynaecological cancers.
WQ99346 · Tabled · Answered
What progress has the Welsh Government made in reviewing the Carr-Hill formula for GP funding and does it intend to introduce a revised funding model that more accurately reflects the needs and workload of GP practices across Wales?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
The Welsh Government is progressing work to review GP funding arrangements to ensure they better reflect patient need and practice workload. A working group comprising Welsh Government officials, GP representatives and health board colleagues is scoping a review of the GP funding allocation formula, including the Carr-Hill methodology.
WQ99345 · Tabled · Answered
What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the impact of the current taxi and private hire vehicle licensing framework on drivers, passengers and local authorities, including issues relating to vehicle numbers, cross-border hiring, enforcement, and the sustainability of the trade, and does it intend to bring forward any reforms?
Answered by Deputy Minister for Transport
Responsibility for taxi and private hire vehicle licensing, including the setting of local standards and enforcement, currently sits with local authorities. Welsh Government has supported this through the publication of guidance to promote greater consistency of standards and practice across Wales.
Work in this area is being progressed on an evidence-led basis, informed by a range of sources including forthcoming Department for Transport statistics on taxi and private hire vehicle licensing and usage. This will help ensure that any future policy development is grounded in a robust understanding of the sector.
Any consideration of policy and legislative change in relation to taxis and private hire vehicles is being developed within the framework of the Welsh Government’s wider legislative programme, which provides the formal mechanism for prioritising and delivering legislative reform. Ensuring coherence with wider reforms – particularly in relation to bus services and network integration – will be key to delivering consistent and effective outcomes for passengers, businesses and communities.
WQ99344 · Tabled · Answered
What consideration has the Welsh Government given to establishing a national recovery pathway for survivors of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, including access to rehabilitation, psychological support, cognitive assessment and follow-up care, and has it assessed the Resuscitation Council UK's survivor quality standard as part of this work?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
The Welsh Government's approach to recovery and rehabilitation following an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is set out in the Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrest Plan: Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrest Plan for Wales.
The NHS in Wales is responsible for implementing the plan, which states that rehabilitation assessments should be completed in accordance with national guidelines. It includes actions to ensure appropriate referral pathways are in place to rehabilitation services, including cardiac rehabilitation and individually tailored information on the psychological impact of OHCA.
The Welsh Ambulance Service is developing an updated all-Wales approach to OHCA and through its Save A Life Cymru programme was an active participant in the development of the Resuscitation Council’s quality standard for survivors. It has also collaborated with the Council on the development of resources for families, which can be found at:
Support after cardiac arrest | Resuscitation Council UK
Support after cardiac arrest resource | Resuscitation Council UK
WQ99329 · Tabled · Answered
What are the Cabinet Minister's priorities for the NHS in Cardiff and Taffs Well?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
I set out my priorities for NHS Wales, including Cardiff and Taffs Wells, in my oral statement on 2 June 2026. These focus on reducing waiting times, improving access, supporting staff, strengthening local services, and delivering more care closer to home while improving outcomes and long-term sustainability.
WQ99334 · Tabled · Answered
How many meetings has the Cabinet Minister held with representatives, employees, or other officials of BBC Wales regarding her portfolio responsibilities since taking office, and will she provide details of the dates of those meetings and the individuals who attended?
Answered by Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Minister for Social Justice and Equality
I have undertaken a number of interviews with BBC Wales since taking office but there have been no substantive meetings with BBC Wales representatives on matters relating to my portfolio responsibilities.
WQ99332 · Tabled · Answered
Does the Cabinet Minister support Cardiff Council's decision to become a City of Sanctuary?
Answered by Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Minister for Social Justice and Equality
I refer you to the answer the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning gave to Dan Thomas (WQ99117) on 24 June 2026 which sets out the Welsh Government’s position
WQ99328 · Tabled · Answered
Will the Cabinet Minister provide further clarification as to which part of the Welsh Government Supplementary Budget 2026-27 she was referring to when she made her correction during Plenary on 24 June 2026?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Finance
The correction was in relation to my remarks during the plenary session of 23 June. The figure in line 322 of the Record of Proceedings should have been £50 million, and the figure in line 386 should have been £29 thousand. The record has been corrected.
WQ99224 · Tabled · Answered
How much money did the Commission spend during the Sixth Senedd on subsidising the Senedd canteen?
Answered by Senedd Commission
The catering provision is funded through the Senedd Commission’s agreed annual budget. This funding supports the availability of an on-site catering service for Members, their support staff, Commission staff, visitors and those engaging with the Senedd’s work.
Catering services at the Senedd are not based on price subsidies for food and items for sale, but rather on the cost of providing the services across various catering outlets.
The total amount spent during the Sixth Senedd on supporting the catering provision, was £1.9million. This figure reflects the net cost of the service after income received through sales and other catering activity.
WQ99223 · Tabled · Answered
How much money has the Commission budgeted during the Seventh Senedd on subsidising the Senedd canteen?
Answered by Senedd Commission
Catering services at the Senedd are not based on price subsidies for food and items for sale, but rather on the cost of providing the services across various catering outlets.
The catering services are provided to all those using our estate including Members and their staff, Commission staff, Welsh Government Ministers and staff, public visitors and contractors working on site.
The budget for the catering provision, the majority of which relates to the canteen, is set each year as part of the annual budget motion which is voted on by the Senedd in the November preceding the financial year to which it relates
For 2026-27 the budget for ‘Catering’ is £453k.
The budget for the remainder of the Seventh Senedd is yet to be determined and will largely be influenced by the Bay 32 project, specifically what level of canteen provision is available during the refurbishment works and the agreed provision following completion.
WQ99222 · Tabled · Answered
Will the Cabinet Minister provide an update on discussions between the Welsh Government, Velindre NHS Trust and other relevant stakeholders regarding the future use of the buildings at the former Whitchurch Hospital site, and what consideration is being given to community, cultural and sporting uses as part of the redevelopment?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
Velindre University NHS Trust, as the current custodians of the Whitchurch Hospital site, are engaged in ongoing commercial discussions with a number of interested parties regarding its future. As this process is live, it would not be appropriate to comment further at this time.
However, I can confirm that Velindre has maintained regular engagement with key stakeholders, including local community representatives and sports clubs. In addition, all parties participating in the commercial process have been encouraged to engage directly with community groups and sports organisations to help inform proposals for the site’s future redevelopment.
WQ99221 · Tabled · Answered
Will the Cabinet Minister set out what provisions are in place for patients who have been removed from NHS dental patient lists under the 36-month attendance rule despite having actively sought NHS dental appointments during that period but being unable to secure an appointment due to practice capacity constraints?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
Under current contractual arrangements, patients are not formally “registered” with a practice but establish a relationship through an NHS care plan or recall arrangement. Recall intervals must be clinically determined in line with NICE guidance, agreed with the patient, and based on individual need rather than fixed time periods. Health boards and practices are expected to apply these arrangements fairly, taking account of individual circumstances, including where patients have had trouble accessing care.
A patient’s ongoing relationship with a practice is maintained through care delivered under a dentist-led treatment plan or agreed recall. Attendance for NHS care as part of such a plan will contribute to maintaining this relationship. Standalone attendance for services such as hygienist appointments does not maintain NHS patient status unless it forms part of a dentist-led care plan. We will continue to keep these arrangements under review.
We recognise that some patients may have faced challenges accessing NHS dental care. Patients without an ongoing relationship with a practice can register via the Dental Access Portal, which enables health boards to allocate appointments based on need as capacity becomes available. Patients who believe their circumstances have not been appropriately considered should raise this with their health board.
WQ99220 · Tabled · Answered
Will the Cabinet Minister confirm whether attendance at NHS hygienist appointments or other NHS dental services counts towards maintaining NHS patient status under the dental contract introduced in April 2026 and if not, what consideration has been given to changing this policy?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
Under current contractual arrangements, patients are not formally “registered” with a practice but establish a relationship through an NHS care plan or recall arrangement. Recall intervals must be clinically determined in line with NICE guidance, agreed with the patient, and based on individual need rather than fixed time periods. Health boards and practices are expected to apply these arrangements fairly, taking account of individual circumstances, including where patients have had trouble accessing care.
A patient’s ongoing relationship with a practice is maintained through care delivered under a dentist-led treatment plan or agreed recall. Attendance for NHS care as part of such a plan will contribute to maintaining this relationship. Standalone attendance for services such as hygienist appointments does not maintain NHS patient status unless it forms part of a dentist-led care plan. We will continue to keep these arrangements under review.
We recognise that some patients may have faced challenges accessing NHS dental care. Patients without an ongoing relationship with a practice can register via the Dental Access Portal, which enables health boards to allocate appointments based on need as capacity becomes available. Patients who believe their circumstances have not been appropriately considered should raise this with their health board.
WQ99219 · Tabled · Answered
What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the number of patients removed from NHS dental patient lists as a result of the 36-month attendance rule, and what steps is it taking to ensure the policy is applied fairly to patients who have experienced difficulties accessing NHS appointments?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
Under current contractual arrangements, patients are not formally “registered” with a practice but establish a relationship through an NHS care plan or recall arrangement. Recall intervals must be clinically determined in line with NICE guidance, agreed with the patient, and based on individual need rather than fixed time periods. Health boards and practices are expected to apply these arrangements fairly, taking account of individual circumstances, including where patients have had trouble accessing care.
A patient’s ongoing relationship with a practice is maintained through care delivered under a dentist-led treatment plan or agreed recall. Attendance for NHS care as part of such a plan will contribute to maintaining this relationship. Standalone attendance for services such as hygienist appointments does not maintain NHS patient status unless it forms part of a dentist-led care plan. We will continue to keep these arrangements under review.
We recognise that some patients may have faced challenges accessing NHS dental care. Patients without an ongoing relationship with a practice can register via the Dental Access Portal, which enables health boards to allocate appointments based on need as capacity becomes available. Patients who believe their circumstances have not been appropriately considered should raise this with their health board.
WQ99154 · Tabled · Answered
What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the impact of orthopaedic waiting times on patients with arthritis and other musculoskeletal conditions in Caerdydd Ffynnon Taf?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
The Welsh Government recognises that long orthopaedic waiting times inherited from the previous administration have a significant impact on people living with arthritis and other musculoskeletal conditions across Caerdydd Ffynnon Taf.
The current position is not where we want it to be. There are 649 people waiting more than two years for treatment, which is unacceptable. Tackling these long waits is a clear priority for the new Welsh Government.
That is why we have set out focused action through our 100-day plan, which prioritises reducing the longest waits and improving access to planned care, including orthopaedics. This is being supported by the recent announcement of an additional £145 million investment to help health boards increase capacity, improve productivity, and deliver more treatments more quickly.
We will continue to monitor the impact of waiting times closely and work with local health services to ensure patients with arthritis and other musculoskeletal conditions receive the care they need as quickly as possible.
WQ98771 · Tabled · Answered
How much is the Welsh Government spending on foreign language translations in the Welsh NHS?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
NHS Wales provides Interpretation and translation services based on need, where a person is unable to communicate effectively in English or Welsh and this would impact their safety, understanding, or quality of care.
This reflects our legal duties under the Equality Act 2010 and the Duty of Quality within the Health and Social Care (Quality and Engagement) (Wales) Act 2020, to ensure services are safe, equitable and person-centred.
The Welsh Government does not hold a single national budget for the provision of interpretation and translation services. This is embedded within NHS Wales core funding. Health Boards and Trusts in Wales would hold information on services they have commissioned locally.
Health boards are expected to meet patients’ communication needs as part of their day‑to‑day service delivery and patient safety responsibilities, to ensure everyone can access care on a safe and equal basis.
WQ98770 · Tabled · Answered
What is the criteria for receiving foreign language translation in the Welsh NHS?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy
NHS Wales provides Interpretation and translation services based on need, where a person is unable to communicate effectively in English or Welsh and this would impact their safety, understanding, or quality of care.
This reflects our legal duties under the Equality Act 2010 and the Duty of Quality within the Health and Social Care (Quality and Engagement) (Wales) Act 2020, to ensure services are safe, equitable and person-centred.
The Welsh Government does not hold a single national budget for the provision of interpretation and translation services. This is embedded within NHS Wales core funding. Health Boards and Trusts in Wales would hold information on services they have commissioned locally.
Health boards are expected to meet patients’ communication needs as part of their day‑to‑day service delivery and patient safety responsibilities, to ensure everyone can access care on a safe and equal basis.
WQ98713 · Tabled · Answered
Will the Commission consider reinstating GB News to the internal Senedd TV network?
Answered by Senedd Commission
Llywydd on behalf of the Senedd Commission:
A wide range of television channels and radio systems, including GB News, can be accessed internally using the Senedd IT network on laptops and other Senedd Commission issued devices.
The Commission has a policy that the primary purpose of the internal TV system on the Senedd estate is to provide broadcast feeds for the Siambr and Committee rooms.
Under this policy, the Senedd Commission’s Triple Play system includes only those channels which have public service obligations as set out in the Communications Act 2003: BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and S4C. Commissioners agreed one addition to this provision, which was to include Sky News as an additional channel to ensure a plurality of news programmes.
All our policies are subject to occasional review, and we could consider whether to do so at the appropriate time.
WQ98703 · Tabled · Answered
Will the Commission provide the price paid for the laptops in the Senedd Siambr?
Answered by Senedd Commission
Llywydd on behalf of the Senedd Commission:
Each Siambr laptop cost £1,770.86 (Inc VAT and an extended 4 Year Parts and Labour Warranty).
A total of 105 Laptop were purchased - one for each Member, 6 for Siambr Front Desk (Llywydd’s position and Officials) and 3 “Hot-Swap” spares*.
Total Cost - £185,940.30 Inc VAT
*Hot-Swap spares are kept ready for immediate deployment should a Member laptop fail during proceedings.
WQ98702 · Tabled · Answered
Will the Commission provide the technical specifications of the laptops in the Senedd Siambr?
Answered by Senedd Commission
Llywydd on behalf of the Senedd Commission:
WQ98701 · Tabled · Answered
Will the Commission outline the purpose of the laptops in the Senedd Siambr?
Answered by Senedd Commission
Llywydd on behalf of the Senedd Commission:
The laptops located on each desk in the Senedd Siambr replaced the desktop PCs used throughout previous Senedd terms. They form part of the Siambr’s fixed ICT infrastructure and are provided to support the efficient running of Plenary proceedings.
The devices remain permanently in the Siambr and are configured specifically to enable Members to carry out Plenary related activities while in session, including participating in electronic voting, accessing the agenda and associated papers, requesting to speak, and using secure messaging tools. In addition, Members also have access to the standard suite of Microsoft M365 office automation tools. The Siambr devices are not intended to replace Members’ personal or office devices, but to provide a secure, controlled and dependable platform specifically for use during formal proceedings.
The laptops are configured identically, thereby simplifying centralised management, enabling more efficient fault diagnosis and quicker resolution within the high-pressure environment of Plenary. The provision of standardised, fixed devices at each desk also ensures that all Members have equal and consistent access to the same digital tools during proceedings, regardless of personal equipment or connectivity.
They meet the Senedd Commission’s security and operational requirements, including the controlled application of software updates and the suppression of audible notifications to avoid disruption during proceedings.
This provision ensures that Members have consistent, reliable and secure access to the digital systems that underpin the business of the Senedd.
WQ98700 · Tabled · Answered
Will the Commission consider flying an equal number of Union and Welsh flags on the Senedd estate?
Answered by Senedd Commission
Llywydd on behalf of the Senedd Commission:
The current configuration of the flags which usually appear are as follows:
Y Ddraig Goch x 2;
Union Flag;
Senedd Cymru-Welsh Parliament or Guest Flag
No changes to the current arrangements are being pursued at this time.
Official verbatim record: each question and answer as the Record prints it. Answers are signed with a job title, as published.