I have a number of core missions: cutting waiting lists, raising standards in our schools, creating jobs, supporting businesses, tackling child poverty, helping households with the cost-of-living crisis and standing up for Wales. The Cabinet Minister for Health and Care will begin the work immediately of putting our plan in place to cut waiting lists, but cross-Government, longer term thinking will be a hallmark of this Government. In this case, I have appointed a Deputy Minister with responsibility for public and preventative health, as pledged before the election, reflecting how I see this as a critical priority in ensuring a sustainable future for the NHS. I'll be hosting a summit of all health board chief executives, alongside the Cabinet Minister for Health and Care and the Minister for finance, to develop a road map for a sustainable shift of NHS resources towards primary care.
Now, too many of our children leave school without the critical skills or qualifications they need and deserve. To raise standards in our schools, our work to improve literacy and numeracy has already started through beginning the development of a foundational literacy and numeracy plan. We will also work with schools, local authorities, parents and children to assess the issues around attendance and behaviour in our schools, improve the delivery of the additional learning needs system, embedding inclusive practice for all children and young people.
To create jobs and support businesses, we will focus on growing stronger Welsh firms, increasing the number of medium-sized and large businesses that can scale, export and retain value in Wales. At the same time, we seek to make energy a competitive advantage, ensuring power is reliable, affordable and increasingly clean, supporting investment and long-term job creation. That is why I have established a new economic portfolio focused on enterprise, energy and connectivity, with community always at its core. We want a Welsh economy that is fit for the twenty-first century, proudly Welsh, outward looking, strong and competitive. And we will strengthen economic connectivity, making it easier for people to access jobs and for businesses to reach suppliers and markets. This includes improving links across all regions, including the Valleys, the north, rural Wales, so that growth and opportunity are more evenly shared.
To tackle child poverty, we'll work with partners to develop a new plan, setting clear targets, benchmarks, milestones to drive ambitious but deliverable change. Our new transformational childcare offer will be the most generous in the history of devolution and the UK, helping boost household incomes and helping to lift families out of poverty—at full roll-out, 20 hours of funded childcare per week, for 48 weeks a year, for all children aged nine months to four years. And we will introduce Cynnal, piloting a new weekly payment targeted at families with children under six who are already receiving universal credit, to provide direct financial support to those who need it most, and making the case for the devolution of welfare powers to be able to help the most vulnerable. To help households with the cost-of-living crisis, we'll expand access to free school meals to secondary school pupils from families in receipt of universal credit from September, supporting students’ learning, giving families one less cost to worry about.
Through growing and sustaining Welsh-owned businesses, developing and delivering good jobs and reviving our town centres we'll boost living standards. We'll improve the quality and energy efficiency of Welsh housing to improve living standards, tackle fuel poverty and reduce household carbon emissions.
On our seriousness about standing up for Wales at every opportunity, I’ve already used my first conversations with the UK Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Wales to press the case for fair funding and powers. And we have agreed that a first in-person meeting with the Prime Minister should take place in the coming weeks.
We only need to glance at the latest Westminster crisis to see how soon Governments pay a heavy price when they stray from the path they promised to take. My pledge to the people of Wales is that we will not waver, because, by realising these priorities, we are building the nation people deserve. I will never stop pursuing fair treatment for my nation—on funding, the full benefits of our natural resources, and the powers we need to improve people’s lives. Many have waited a long time for this moment, and, with a deep sense of gratitude and humility, I fully intend to reward their patience and trust by doing what I set out to do as First Minister.