News

• Members have been appointed to the Welsh Government's Town Centre Taskforce, bringing expertise from business, planning, housing and local government. 
• Alongside co-Chairs Professor Simon Gibson CBE and Tamsin Ramasut, members will consider the challenges and opportunities facing town centres across Wales and help develop practical, evidence-informed recommendations for Welsh Ministers. 

• This work builds on recent support for high streets, including a 30% business rates cut for eligible hospitality and leisure venues from 1 April 2027, with the Taskforce’s recommendations expected early next year. 

From today (Thursday 1 October) the minimum price of a unit of alcohol will increase in Wales from 50p to 65p in a move which is expected to save hundreds of lives.

• Thousands across Wales could be missing out on money they're entitled to, as energy bills hit a three-year high this winter. 

• The Claim What's Yours campaign connects people with free, confidential advice through Advicelink Cymru - part of the Welsh Government's cost of living support package. 

• Last year, Advicelink Cymru and other Welsh Government funded advice providers helped 79,000 people across Wales with social welfare issues. 

• All neonatal units in Wales are now engaged with the Bliss Baby Charter, either having achieved bronze accreditation, or submitted for assessment.
• The Bliss Baby Charter means neonatal teams treat parents as essential partners, involving them in decisions about their baby's care.
• Bilingual resources and tailored support are being developed to help all families take part in their baby's care.

Welsh Government announces extra £2million investment in sport facilities across the country.

• Wales’s experience of developing and supporting bilingual technology used to develop new UNESCO toolkit.
• The toolkit provides practical guidance for supporting multilingual digital services.
• UNESCO is sharing Wales’s experience internationally to help other countries and communities strengthen the use of their languages in the digital world.

• The fine for leaving a vehicle engine running while parked will rise from £20 to between £75 and £150 from 30 September 2026. 

• The change aims to protect public health by reducing air pollution, which contributes to heart and lung disease and disproportionately affects children and vulnerable people. 

• Cabinet Minister Llyr Gruffydd marked the change with a visit to Marshfield Primary School in Newport, where pupils have taken part in a Welsh Government-funded anti-idling project. 

• New approach designed to strengthen accountability of NHS Wales as well as spotting risks earlier and getting support to health boards and trusts sooner.
• Support will be proportionate, time-bound and based on clear evidence of progress.
• Health Minister says the aim is to give people greater confidence that NHS services are supported to improve when challenges arise.

• Welsh Government urges Chancellor to speed up delivery of £14 billion rail pledge, as current funding covers just 1% of Network Rail's spend across England and Wales.

• Cabinet Minister for Finance Elin Jones also presses UK Government to act on the cost of living, public spending and investment in Wales ahead of the Autumn Budget.

• Finance Minister: "Wales has waited long enough. This budget is the UK Government's chance to show it's serious about delivering for our communities."

Farmers who are members of the Farm Assured Welsh Livestock (FAWL) scheme will not need to complete separate Animal Health Improvement Cycle (AHIC) ‘Measure’ and ‘Plan’ requirements for the 2026 Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS). 

From this month, pupils across years 4 and 5 in Welsh maintained primary schools will begin to receive a minimum of  20 hours of swimming and water safety lessons, as part of a commitment by the new Welsh Government.