Siambr · Niamh Salkeld
Written questions
10 written questions on record from the Seventh Senedd on, newest first. Page 1 of 1.
WQ100843 · Tabled · Answered
Does the Welsh Government intend to review and update the Health Protection (Notification) (Wales) Regulations 2010, and if so, when will this take place?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
The Health Protection (Notification) (Wales) Regulations 2010 are kept under continuous review to ensure they remain effective and reflect the latest clinical, scientific and operational evidence. This has included consideration of lessons and response actions arising from recent public health incidents and outbreaks, including COVID-19 and mpox. Should amendments be considered necessary, any proposed changes would be informed by the latest expert advice and evidence and subject to appropriate consultation.
WQ100590 · Tabled · Answered
What consideration has the Welsh Government given to the recommendations of Women's Equality Network Wales's 2025 report Transforming Early Education and Childcare in Wales?
Answered by Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Minister for Social Justice and Equality
The Welsh Government has carefully considered the recommendations in the Women’s Equality Network Wales’s 2025 report, including through regular engagement between officials and the WEN Wales leadership team. The report recommended that the next Welsh Government invest in a flexible, streamlined childcare system to reduce poverty, promote child development and boost employment. The Programme for Government published on 22 September reflects this ambition, with a commitment to help tackle child poverty and support families by delivering a transformative and universal new Childcare Offer for children from the age of 9 months to 4 years. This will build progressively to 20 hours of funded childcare a week for 48 weeks a year, while maintaining the existing 30-hour offer for eligible 3- and 4-year-olds. It will be supported by work to simplify access through a single application system, expand Welsh-medium early years provision, and work closely with childcare providers to build capacity and grow the workforce.
WQ100589 · Tabled · Answered
What steps is the Cabinet Minister taking to ensure that families accessing the Welsh Government's childcare offer can receive all of their childcare hours in the same settings to improve the experience of children and parents?
Answered by Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Minister for Social Justice and Equality
The Welsh Government is committed to improving access to high-quality funded childcare for children from 9 months to 4 years and to making the system simpler, more consistent and easier for families to navigate. We recognise that, where possible, accessing childcare hours in the same setting can support continuity for children and improve the experience for parents and carers.
As part of our wider childcare commitments, we want to move towards a more streamlined system with clearer and more consistent arrangements across Wales. This will help improve families' experience of accessing support, while enabling local authorities and providers to work together to meet families' needs, including through existing providers where this is available and appropriate.
WQ100006 · Tabled · No answer published
Pa gynlluniau sydd gan Lywodraeth Cymru i gynyddu nifer y siaradwyr Cymraeg yn Blaenau Gwent Caerffili Rhymni, a pha gamau sy’n cael eu cymryd i gefnogi addysgu, dysgu a defnydd o’r Gymraeg yn y cymunedau hyn?
Official English translation
What plans does the Welsh Government have to increase the number of Welsh speakers in Blaenau Gwent Caerffili Rhymni, and what steps are being taken to support the teaching, learning and use of Welsh in these communities?
To be answered by: Cabinet Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
WQ99904 · Tabled · Answered
Sut mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn sicrhau bod barn pobl anabl yng Nghymru yn cael eu cynrychioli'n ystyrlon yn Adolygiad Timms, o ystyried y nifer gyfyngedig o gyfleoedd ymgynghori?
Official English translation
How is the Welsh Government ensuring that the opinions of disabled people in Wales are meaningfully represented in the Timms Review, considering the limited number of consultation opportunities?
Answered by Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Minister for Social Justice and Equality
The Welsh Government is using its long-established relationships with disabled people and their organisations to ensure their views inform the Timms Review. This includes engagement with members of the External Advisory Board and Disability Equality Forum, Welsh representation on the review’s steering group, and regular engagement with the UK Government.
Welsh text as published
Mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn manteisio ar ei chysylltiadau hirsefydlog â phobl anabl a’u sefydliadau i sicrhau bod eu barn yn llywio Adolygiad Timms. Mae hyn yn cynnwys ymgysylltu ag aelodau’r Bwrdd Cynghori Allanol a’r Fforwm Cydraddoldeb i Bobl Anabl, cynrychiolaeth o Gymru ar grŵp llywio’r adolygiad, ac ymgysylltu rheolaidd â Llywodraeth y DU.
WQ99903 · Tabled · Answered
Sut mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn gweithio gyda darparwyr trafnidiaeth i sicrhau y gall pobl anabl gael mynediad dibynadwy at wasanaethau trên heb gyfyngiadau neu oedi?
Official English translation
How is the Welsh Government working with transport providers to ensure that disabled people are able to gain dependable access to train services without restriction or delays?
Answered by Deputy Minister for Transport
The Welsh Government works with Transport for Wales to improve the accessibility and reliability of rail services for disabled people through the Travel for All strategy, including improving station accessibility, reducing barriers to travel, strengthening staff training and involving disabled people in service design through the Inclusive Travel Board and Disabled People’s Travel Panel. We have commissioned research to support the ongoing delivery and improvement of Travel for All commitments.
Transport for Wales are increasing the accessibility of its rail services new trains in the South East Metro area facilitating automatic level boarding, removing the need for a ramp to be deployed when boarding in a wheelchair. Transport for Wales are also currently progressing through a programme of station enhancements on the Core Valley Lines to ensure level boarding.
Transport for Wales’s Passenger Assist service can be booked in advance or arranged by speaking to a station colleague at a staffed station on the day. They can also coordinate with other train operating companies to arrange for support even when changing trains to a service run by a different operator.
Welsh text as published
Mae Llywodraeth Cymru’n gweithio gyda Trafnidiaeth Cymru drwy’r strategaeth Teithio i Bawb i wella pa mor hygyrch a dibynadwy yw gwasanaethau trên ar gyfer pobl anabl. Mae hynny’n cynnwys gwella hygyrchedd gorsafoedd, lleihau’r rhwystrau i deithio, atgyfnerthu hyfforddiant i staff, a chynnwys pobl anabl wrth lunio gwasanaethau drwy’r Bwrdd Teithio Cynhwysol a’r Panel Teithio Pobl Anabl. Rydym wedi comisiynu ymchwil i gefnogi a gwella ymrwymiadau’r strategaeth Teithio i Bawb yn barhaus.
Mae Trafnidiaeth Cymru’n gwella hygyrchedd ei gwasanaethau trên drwy drenau newydd yn ardal Metro’r De-ddwyrain, gan hwyluso mynediad gwastad awtomatig i drenau, a fydd yn cael gwared ar yr angen i osod ramp wrth fynd ar drên mewn cadair olwyn. Mae Trafnidiaeth Cymru hefyd yn bwrw ati â rhaglen gwella gorsafoedd ar Linellau Craidd y Cymoedd i sicrhau mynediad gwastad i drenau.
Gellir trefnu gwasanaeth Cymorth i Deithwyr Trafnidiaeth Cymru ymlaen llaw neu drwy siarad â gweithiwr gorsaf, mewn gorsaf sydd â staff, ar y diwrnod. Gall y gwasanaeth hefyd gydlynu â chwmnïau trenau eraill i drefnu cymorth wrth newid i wasanaeth trên a ddarperir gan weithredwr gwahanol hyd yn oed.
WQ99902 · Tabled · Answered
Pa gamau mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i ddatrys diffyg ddarpariaeth tacsi hygyrch, gan gynnwys absenoldeb dewisiadau priodol i ddefnyddwyr cadair olwyn trydan?
Official English translation
What action is the Welsh Government taking in order to resolve accessible taxi provision, including the absence of appropriate options for users of electric wheelchairs?
Answered by Deputy Minister for Transport
The Welsh Government recognises the important role that accessible taxis and private hire vehicles (PHVs) play in enabling disabled people, including powered wheelchair users, to travel independently.
Responsibility for taxi and PHV licensing, including setting local licensing requirements, currently rests with local authorities. To promote greater consistency of standards and practices across Wales, the Welsh Government has published guidance for local authorities. This includes accessibility and equality training resources for drivers to help improve customer service for passengers across Wales.
Passengers have a range of accessibility needs, and some powered wheelchairs require specific vehicle configurations to ensure safe access and egress. Wider equality legislation, including regulations governing the design of taxis and PHVs for wheelchair users, is reserved to the UK Government. As a result, key legislative requirements are determined at a UK level. The Law Commission is currently reviewing the legal framework for accessible transport in England and Wales.
Within its devolved responsibilities, the Welsh Government is improving accessibility across the transport system through the Travel for All strategy, which seeks to remove barriers to travel and embed accessibility and inclusion across transport policy, services and infrastructure. The strategy is underpinned by five principles: feeling safe, feeling welcome, accessibility, involvement and embedding change.
To support delivery of the strategy, Welsh Government commissioned Travel for All User Research in January 2026. The research is exploring people’s experiences of transport across Wales, including taxi services, and will help identify barriers to accessible and inclusive travel and inform future policy development. The research is ongoing, with a final report expected in autumn 2026.
Welsh text as published
Mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn cydnabod swyddogaeth bwysig tacsis a cherbydau hurio preifat hygyrch o ran galluogi pobl anabl, gan gynnwys pobl sy’n defnyddio cadeiriau olwyn modur, i deithio’n annibynnol.
Ar hyn o bryd awdurdodau lleol sy’n gyfrifol am drwyddedu tacsis a cherbydau hurio preifat, a nhw sy’n gosod gofynion o ran trwyddedu. Er mwyn sicrhau mwy o gysondeb o ran safonau ac arferion ar draws Cymru mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi cyhoeddi canllawiau ar gyfer awdurdodau lleol. Mae’r rhain yn cynnwys adnoddau ynghylch hygyrchedd a hyfforddiant ar gydraddoldeb ar gyfer gyrwyr er mwyn gwella’r gwasanaethau a gynigir i deithwyr ar draws Cymru.
Mae gan deithwyr anghenion amrywiol iawn o ran hygyrchedd ac mae angen addasiadau penodol iawn ar gyfer rhai cadeiriau olwyn modur er mwyn sicrhau y gall teithwyr fynd i mewn ac allan yn ddiogel. Mater i Lywodraeth y DU yw deddfwriaeth ehangach am gydraddoldeb, gan gynnwys rheoliadau ynghylch dylunio tacsis a cherbydau hurio preifat ar gyfer defnyddwyr cadeiriau olwyn. O’r herwydd caiff gofynion allweddol o ran deddfwriaeth eu pennu ar lefel y DU. Mae Comisiwn y Gyfraith wrthi’n adolygu’r fframwaith cyfreithiol ar gyfer trafnidiaeth hygyrch yng Nghymru a Lloegr.
Mae Llywodraeth Cymru, o fewn ei chyfrifoldebau datganoledig, yn gwella hygyrchedd ar draws y system drafnidiaeth drwy’r strategaeth Teithio i Bawb sy’n anelu at waredu rhwystrau o ran teithio a sefydlu hygyrchedd a chynhwysiant ar draws polisi, gwasanaethau a seilwaith trafnidiaeth. Mae pum egwyddor yn sail i’r strategaeth hon: teimlo’n ddiogel, teimlo croeso, hygyrchedd, cynnwys a sefydlu newid.
Er mwyn cyflawni’r strategaeth gwnaeth Llywodraeth Cymru gomisiynu Ymchwil Defnyddwyr Teithio i Bawb ym mis Ionawr 2026. Mae’r ymchwil yn ystyried profiadau pobl o drafnidiaeth ar draws Cymru, gan gynnwys gwasanaethau tacsis, a bydd yn helpu i bennu rhwystrau o ran teithio hygyrch a chynhwysol ac yn sail i waith datblygu polisi yn y dyfodol. Mae’r gwaith ymchwil yn parhau ac mae disgwyl i adroddiad terfynol gael ei gyhoeddi yn Hydref 2026.
WQ99289 · Tabled · Answered
Will the Cabinet Minister confirm how the Welsh Government will be working with key stakeholders to help develop the new climate and nature action plan?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability
I am committed to developing the Climate and Nature Action Plan in partnership with the people and organisations who will help deliver it. The plan will be shaped through cross-sector engagement, with communities, business, public bodies, and the third sector to identify the practical actions needed to put Wales on a pathway to net zero by 2040 and substantive nature recovery by 2050.
WQ99288 · Tabled · Answered
Will the Cabinet Minister be attending and representing Wales at the UN Biodiversity Conference in Armenia in October 2026 and the UN Climate Change Conference in Turkey in November 2026, given the scale of the climate and nature crises in Wales and across the globe?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability
The Welsh Government recognises the importance of both the UN Biodiversity Conference and the UN Climate Change Conference in driving the international action needed to address the interconnected climate and nature emergencies. Arrangements for Ministerial attendance at international engagements later this year will be confirmed in due course. The Welsh Government plans to be represented at both conferences through the attendance of officials, ensuring Wales continues to engage with international partners and contribute to discussions on climate and nature. We will continue to support ambitious global action to protect nature, reduce emissions and build a more resilient future.
WQ98832 · Tabled · Answered
Pa gamau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i fynd i'r afael â sbwriel a thipio anghyfreithlon ar draws Blaenau Gwent Caerffili Rhymni, ac ar draws Cymru?
Official English translation
What steps has the Welsh Government taken to address litter and fly-tipping across Blaenau Gwent Caerffili Rhymni, and across Wales?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability
Our aim is to prevent litter and fly-tipping from occurring in the first place, ensuring a fair ‘polluter pays’ approach is taken. We want to ensure those responsible for creating these issues bear the cost of cleaning it up – not local authorities nor our communities. To achieve this legislation is being introduced that will help shift the supply chain towards more easily recyclable or reusable products to prevent unnecessary waste. For example, with the commencement of the Deposit Return Scheme in October 2027 this should result in a reduction in littered drinks containers.
To directly help our communities, local authorities and businesses in tackling litter we also fund Keep Wales Tidy. Its community activity in the Blaenau Gwent Caerffili Rhymni constituency includes establishing litter picking hubs, supporting litter champions and coordinating community litter picking events. Additionally, our funding of the Fly-tipping Action Wales programme ensures local authorities have access to dedicated enforcement support, expert legal advice and surveillance equipment. Caerphilly County Borough Council and Blaenau Gwent County Council have both received new trail cameras to tackle fly-tipping hotspots in their area.
Welsh text as published
Ein nod yw atal sbwriel a thipio anghyfreithlon rhag digwydd yn y lle cyntaf, gan sicrhau bod dull teg 'llygrwr yn talu' yn cael ei ddefnyddio. Rydym am sicrhau bod y rhai sy'n gyfrifol am greu'r problemau hyn yn talu'r gost o'i lanhau – nid awdurdodau lleol na'n cymunedau. Er mwyn cyflawni hyn, mae deddfwriaeth yn cael ei chyflwyno a fydd yn helpu i symud y gadwyn gyflenwi tuag at gynhyrchion haws eu hailgylchu neu eu hailddefnyddio i atal gwastraff diangen. Er enghraifft, gyda dechrau'r Cynllun Dychwelyd Adnau ym mis Hydref 2027 dylai hyn arwain at ostyngiad mewn cynwysyddion diodydd fel sbwriel.
Er mwyn helpu ein cymunedau, awdurdodau lleol a busnesau i fynd i'r afael â sbwriel yn uniongyrchol, rydym hefyd yn ariannu Cadwch Gymru'n Daclus. Mae ei weithgarwch cymunedol yn etholaeth Blaenau Gwent Caerffili Rhymni yn cynnwys sefydlu canolfannau casglu sbwriel, cefnogi arwyr sbwriel a chydlynu digwyddiadau casglu sbwriel cymunedol. Hefyd, mae ein cyllid ar gyfer rhaglen Taclo Tipio Cymru yn sicrhau bod gan awdurdodau lleol gymorth gorfodi pwrpasol, cyngor cyfreithiol arbenigol ac offer cadw gwyliadwriaeth. Mae Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Caerffili a Chyngor Sir Blaenau Gwent ill dau wedi derbyn camerâu llwybr newydd i fynd i'r afael â mannau poblogaidd ar gyfer tipio anghyfreithlon yn eu hardal.
Official verbatim record: each question and answer as the Record prints it. Answers are signed with a job title, as published.