News

• A four-week consultation opens on 21 September seeking views on new measures to protect seals and hares 

• Proposals include a new offence for disturbing seals and a close season protecting hares during their breeding period 

• People can share their views once the consultation launches later this month 

• Cases continue to rise in Wales and across Great Britain 

• Testing and reporting requirements in Wales remain unchanged 

• Keepers are urged to discuss vaccination with their vet and must report suspect cases promptly 

• £1 bus fare scheme for 5–21-year-olds has been extended to March 2027.
• New figures show that over 9 million journeys have been made under the scheme since it launched.

• New partnership with Cosine to help improve how artificial intelligence (AI) works in Welsh.
• Welsh Government to provide data, resources and expertise to support Welsh language AI.
• Improving technology to help more people to use Welsh in everyday life.

• The Welsh Government is providing more than £2.3 million through the Housing with Care Fund to support new housing and care projects in Caerphilly and Carmarthenshire.

• The funding will allow more people with care and support needs to live independently in their own communities, avoid unnecessary hospital stays and return home sooner.

• The investment supports an integrated approach to housing, health and social care.

A consultation seeking views on  guidance to restrict mobile phones in schools has launched.

• PISA results out today highlight the ongoing challenge of raising standards in Wales’ schools.

• However, results show Welsh schools are comparatively effective at supporting the most disadvantaged learners.

• Reading and science has remained broadly stable since 2022, providing a platform to improve.
• The Cabinet Minister for Education and the Welsh Language has reassured teachers and leaders that there will be no knee-jerk response to the results and that plans are in place to support schools to raise standards.

Children and young people will be able to explore some of Wales' most iconic castles and historic sites for free this Sunday [13th September] as part of celebrations to mark Owain Glyndŵr Day.

• Proposals for a new public energy company aims to keep the benefits of our abundant energy sources in Wales
• It could help bring down energy costs over the longer term.
• Energy Minister says: “It’s about cheaper, cleaner energy that is made and owned in Wales.”

• Clinically led approach to clear longest waits and bring the overall waiting list down to pre-pandemic levels before the end of this Senedd term.
• More surgical capacity targeting the specialities where waits are longest.
• Improvements to how patients are referred and how follow-up appointments are managed, freeing up tens of thousands of spaces.

First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth will today vow that financial pressures "will not dim this new administration’s ambition to improve outcomes for the people of Wales.” 

The Welsh Government Cabinet Minister for Culture and Sport, Heledd Fychan, will travel to New York and Washington D.C. this week on the first transatlantic visit by the new Welsh Government, using Wales’s cultural influence and creative strengths to build new opportunities for trade, investment and collaboration with the United States.