Hairdressers, barbers and most indoor tourist attractions will reopen on Monday, First Minister Mark Drakeford announced today (Friday 10 July) as he set out further measures to lift Wales’ coronavirus restrictions.

Decision backed with £29 million to recruit, recover and raise standards

Statistics published today by UCAS show a 2% rise in university applications by 18-year-olds from the most deprived areas of Wales.

The statistics show 21.6% of 18 year olds from the most disadvantaged areas applied up until the end of June, up from 19.4% last year.

• 600 extra teacher and 300 teaching assistant posts over the 2020-21 school year
• Focus on supporting pupils most affected by school closures
• Extra support for Years 11, 12 and 13 in secondary schools
• Support for pupils who receive free school meals, Additional Learning Needs and vulnerable children
• Builds on existing reforms such as Pupil Development Grant, E-sgol and curriculum development

Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs, Lesley Griffiths, has today confirmed Sustainable Farming will remain at the heart of future Welsh agriculture support.

Finance Ministers from the devolved administrations are urging the UK Government to ease the financial restrictions imposed on devolved governments so they can better respond to the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis. 

The Welsh Government’s bespoke Economic Resilience Fund (ERF) has provided vital support to a key engineering business to help it deal with the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic, Economy Minister Ken Skates has announced.

The Health Minister has today (Tuesday 7^th July) announced that video consultation services will be extended to dental practices, opticians and community pharmacies. This follows the successful roll-out of the service in primary care, community and secondary care during the coronavirus pandemic.

Health Minister, Vaughan Gething, has written-off the £470m owed by NHS organisations in Wales so they can focus on recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic.

A grant scheme of at least £4m has been launched today (Tuesday, July 7) to help improve sites of natural significance around Wales, supporting land managers, charities and communities to take forward their vital work and contribute to the nation’s recovery from Covid-19.

A new construction forum to help Wales build back better from the coronavirus pandemic will meet for the first time today.

An extra £2.6m will be invested to support children across Wales during the summer holidays, the Welsh Government announced today (Monday 6 July).