Wales Public Affairs Update - June/July 2024

News – Welsh Government

New First Minister 

Baroness Eluned Morgan will be sworn in as Wales's First Minister on 6 August as the Senedd reconvenes during the summer recess to appoint her. Huw Irranca Davies will be sworn in as her Deputy.

At this point, it is unclear who will be assigned seats at the Cabinet, but we are assured that the health and social care portfolio will need to be filled by someone new. 

Welsh Government response to the UK Government's announcement on the spending inheritance

Rebecca Evans MS, Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution & Cabinet Office said that despite the dire state of the public finances she's confident that the new UK government will be a committed partner that will focus on what's best for Wales.

However, Ms Evans said, "Our settlement for 2024-25 is up to £700m lower in real terms than expected at the time of the 2021 Spending Review, and our Budget in 2024-25 £3bn lower than if it had grown in line with GDP since 2010. Our general capital budget in 2024-25 is worth up to 8% less in real terms than expected at the time of the Spending Review in 2021. We have been clear that 2024-25 will be a difficult year because our funding settlement is not sufficient to respond to all the pressures that public services are facing."

Reducing Restrictive Practices Framework: Publication and launch of the supporting resources

The framework was developed in 2021 but has been updated to the to include additional safeguards in the provision, use and procurement of secure transport when children are being transported.

The resources can be accessed via the Welsh Government website.

News – Senedd

CYPE Committee inquiry into disabled and neurodivergent children's access to education

The Senedd's Children, Young People and Education Committee published their report into their inquiry on 16 July with 32 recommendations for the Welsh Government to improve a system which is fundamentally letting down many children and young people.

The report references BPS Wales's oral and written evidence provided during the inquiry held last year.

Recommendation 26 is of particular interest and backs our own calls for a review of the AHP Workforce (including Educational Psychologists) on "the current numbers of key allied health professionals, identifies where there are current gaps, how these gaps will be addressed and the numbers needed to support future likely level of need, including the number of training places needed. This should then be supported by a clear delivery plan."

We're expecting a debate on the findings of the report in October, after the summer recess. 

CYPE Committee report into the implementation of education reforms in Wales

At the same time, the Senedd's CYPE published their interim report into the implementation of education reforms in Wales (the ALN Act and the new Curriculum for Wales).

Their recommendations include among other things a review into "routine" and "Additional Learning Provision", how ALN is funded in mainstream schools, employ a DECLO in each health board, and review the collaboration between health and education. 

Summer recess

The Senedd is now in summer recess and will return in September.

Other news

NHS Executive 

Jenny Hunt has been appointed the new NHS Executive Psychological Therapies Lead at NHS Executive, a brand-new post. She's been invited to the next DCPW committee to hear from members their key concerns and priorities.   

New Older People's Commissioner announced

Rhian Bowen-Davies has been appointed as the new Older People's Commissioner for Wales and will take up post in September, 2024. Rhian is an expert of domestic homicide reviews involving older people and was Wales' first National Adviser for Violence against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence.

Consultations

There are no open consultations.