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A plan for recovery & change Let’s build a better Wales The Welsh Conservative Party Manifesto 2021
Our plan Contents
Our plan will kickstart Wales’ economic recovery and rebuild for a stronger, greener, more A plan for recovery and change........................................................... 2
equal future by:
Introduction ............................................................................................... 4
• Creating 65,000 new jobs to help the Welsh economy bounce back and give more people
the security of a regular wage Our plan for
• Guaranteeing the NHS is there for everyone by building five new hospitals and providing
extra funding to the NHS every year, with 3,000 more nurses and 1,200 doctors by 2026
Finishing the job on Covid-19............................................................. 7
Securing jobs and livelihoods............................................................. 9
• Put in law our respect for the Welsh NHS with an NHS Covenant to guarantee increased
Building better roads, rail and broadband................................... 13
investment and support for our NHS heroes for the future
Building a better healthcare service for everyone....................17
• Delivering 5,000 more teachers and more investment in Welsh education to provide the
Building better schools, colleges and universities....................23
best schools and skills for young people
Building back greener..........................................................................29
• Building 100,000 new houses in the next decade to kickstart the Welsh economy and give
more people the opportunity to own their own home Supporting local communities.........................................................33
More affordable, high quality housing..........................................39
• Investing £2 billion to create modern infrastructure for Wales, including an M4 Relief Road,
upgrades to the A55 and A40, and 20,000 green charging points Our legislative programme................................................................. 40
• Making Wales Net Zero by 2050, with investment in clean energy solutions to reduce
carbon emissions, and creating 15,000 new green jobs
• Helping people with the cost of living pressure, by delivering a Council Tax freeze for at
least the next two years, putting more money in everyone’s pockets
The Welsh Conservative Party
Manifesto 2021
2
A plan for recovery
and change
Over the last year our nation has fought the greatest health crisis that the world has seen for
over a century.
We all know someone who has lost their So as the vaccine rolls out and we look Our plan will kickstart Wales’ economic Delivering 5,000 more teachers and Helping people with the cost of living Andrew RT Davies
more investment in Welsh education pressure, by delivering a Council Tax
job, lost their business or suffered a towards recovery, Wales stands at a recovery and rebuild for a stronger, Leader of the Welsh Conservatives in the
to provide the best schools and skills freeze for at least the next two years,
devastating loss of a loved one as a result crossroads. And these elections are a real greener, more equal future by: Senedd
for young people putting more money in everyone’s
of Covid-19. chance to secure the change Wales needs. pockets
Creating 65,000 new jobs to help the Building 100,000 new houses in the
Our economy is currently experiencing The Welsh Conservatives have a plan for Welsh economy bounce back and give next decade to kickstart the Welsh Our plan for recovery and change is Rt Hon Boris Johnson MP
the deepest recession since records change, to get Wales back on track, and more people the security of a regular economy and give more people the credible, costed and reflects the Welsh Prime Minister and Leader of the
began, and evidence shows that Welsh build a brighter, more prosperous future. wage opportunity to own their own home Conservatives vision for a brighter future Conservative Party
communities could be amongst the worst for Wales.
Guaranteeing the NHS is there Investing £2 billion to create modern
hit in the UK. It is a plan which is focused on infrastructure for Wales, including an
for everyone by building five new
creating jobs by investing in the critical hospitals and providing extra funding M4 Relief Road, upgrades to the A55 By giving us your support on the 6th May Rt Hon Simon Hart MP
The pandemic has exposed what 22 infrastructure and public services that to the NHS every year, with 3,000 and A40, and 20,000 green charging we will deliver the change Wales needs to Secretary of State for Wales
years of Labour government has done to underpin our economy and society - our more nurses and 1,200 doctors by points recover and build a better Wales.
Wales. The slowest growing economy in transport system, schools, hospitals, and 2026
the UK, the worst education results and housing. Making Wales Net Zero by 2050, with
NHS waiting lists that doubled - all before Put in law our respect for the Welsh investment in clean energy solutions
NHS with an NHS Covenant to to reduce carbon emissions, and
coronavirus hit.
guarantee increased investment and creating 15,000 new green jobs
support for our NHS heroes for the
future
2 3
INTRODUCTION
The Wales of today is completely different to the Wales of 22 years ago when the Welsh
Assembly was formed.
The name the National Assembly for vaccine rolls out we’ll rebuild Wales, Our plan for change will ensure first class Whilst Labour and Plaid are obsessed
Wales is no-more, renamed the Welsh starting with the economy. Without a schools by ending the underfunding of with the constitution our plan is focused
Parliament. The Welsh Government for strong economy we cannot invest in the our young people that has gone on for solely on Wales’ recovery from the
the first time in 800 years has powers over public services we all rely on or level-up far too long under successive Labour pandemic. Rather than seeking more
how much tax we pay, as well as the ability the whole of Wales. Governments and will see 5,000 more powers, more politicians or raising your
to create new taxes. teachers in our classrooms. Our education taxes, we will use the powers Wales
Our vision is backed up by our costed plan system can no longer lag behind the rest already has to level-up across the
However, some things have not changed. for change, which will deliver economic of the UK, our young people must have the country and deliver improvements for
Labour are still in charge, as they have recovery and jobs by ending the dither same opportunities as other parts of the everyone.
been for the last 22 years. and delay in Welsh Government which has UK.
held us back for so long and cost so many The pandemic has put Wales at a
Yet the people of Wales do not feel better jobs and futures. We can rebuild Wales to be a place of crossroads. The choice on 6th May is
off or have greater opportunities than they opportunity. We can once again power clear. We can either choose Labour, and
did when Labour first took charge of our By creating more jobs we will restore hope, the world, though this time with green more of the same stagnation that we
country. The last year alone has laid bare ambition and opportunity to Wales, so renewable energy, and transform the have had for the last 20 years – or we
the deep fault lines in our economy, our that everyone can see the next rung up Welsh economy to be the global centre of can choose to vote for change, and the
society and our healthcare system that the ladder. If that’s setting up your own the green economy. hope of a more prosperous country with
Welsh Labour has allowed to grow deeper business, owning your own home or the better jobs and opportunities for our
in that time. new job that helps you provide for you and I believe that we can build a better Wales children.
your family, we will support you and help in a strong United Kingdom.
Now is the time for change. And this you to achieve it. With new energy and new ideas, we’ll
election is an opportunity for the people A strong Wales in a new Global Britain deliver our plan for recovery and change.
of Wales to vote for the change they want, Our plan for change will deliver better which takes advantage of the new trade A transport system that’s fit for purpose,
creating a more prosperous country with hospitals with greater investment in our deals around the world following Brexit. 65,000 more jobs. Better hospitals with
opportunity and hope of a better future. Welsh NHS. With more doctors, nurses, Where, as part of the UK, we can keep our more NHS staff on the front line. First
and other health professionals we will streets safe with more police officers and class schools with more teachers. And a
Our priority first and foremost is to tackle the waiting time crisis for treatment increased investment, with the Welsh and stronger, more prosperous Wales.
defeat Covid-19. We’ll continue the Welsh in Wales, which doubled in the year before the UK Governments actually working
and British success story in delivering the pandemic but has exploded during it. together to level-up the whole of Wales Andrew RT Davies
the vaccine to everyone, whilst also with new infrastructure to support our Leader of the Welsh Conservatives
kickstarting Wales’ recovery. As the economy, our NHS and our public services. in the Senedd
4 5
Finishing the job
on Covid-19
Great progress has been made, but the first 100 days of the next Welsh Government will
need to be focused on winning the battle against Covid-19, we will:
Implement our roadmap to recovery Develop a clear plan to enable the Maintain and enhance the
with a clear timetable and ambitious Welsh NHS to clear the waiting list programme of asymptomatic
vaccine targets for the full re-opening backlog that has further deteriorated testing for Covid-19 in schools and
of our economy and society, giving during the pandemic, utilising cross in businesses with more than 10
windows of opportunity for businesses border and independent facilities to employees
to plan their revival, with a joined-up speed up treatment
UK-wide approach
Support people experiencing
Mobilise members of the public and long-term effects of Covid-19 by
Enhance Test, Track and Protect with former healthcare professionals to establishing clinics dedicated to
funding to meet demand to clamp join their local NHS team, as part-time treating long Covid, and ensuring
down on any outbreak, avoiding any reservists, to support our NHS during they get the support they need within
more national lockdowns periods of high demand Government
Urgently review and start funding Ensure that the lessons of the Ensure that Wales is prepared in the
businesses immediately based on pandemic are not lost with a public event of another pandemic, working
need, ending the first come first inquiry into every aspect of the to create a Welsh Pandemic Network
served nature of current Welsh handling of Covid-19 in Wales for the production of PPE and hand
Government support for Welsh jobs sanitiser to support our Welsh NHS
and care homes
Appoint a dedicated Covid-19
Create a real comeback programme Recovery Minister in the Welsh
for our young people from lost Government to oversee all areas of Urgently establish routes of support
in-person learning, with significant coronavirus recovery, including the for people suffering with mental
support for tutoring, summer schools vaccine rollout across Wales with every health problems as a result of the
and targeted help for those that need adult offered both doses by the end of pandemic, especially NHS staff,
it October, and delivery of any booster care workers and families who have
shots experienced trauma due to patients
being alone at the time of their death
6 7
Securing jobs and
livelihoods
The Welsh economy has been devastated by the pandemic. Whilst the UK Government has
helped to protect more than 500,000 jobs in Wales, the Welsh economy was left vulnerable
by 22 years of Labour-led Governments in Wales. With the economy declining even before
the pandemic, we need to kick start the Welsh industrial engine to rebuild Wales.
Our plan will deliver more jobs, hope and What we will do:
security for everyone in Wales. It will • The Welsh economy was in
rebuild and rebalance our economy, so decline before the pandemic
Create 65,000 jobs in Wales over the
that we can level-up across the whole hit falling by 2.4% at the start
next Parliament, with at least 15,000
of Wales with new technology and new of 2020
green jobs
investment. Our plan will enable us to
build back better from the pandemic • Before the pandemic Wales
Establish a National Mission to grow
and the bad decisions and missed had a lower employment rate the Welsh economy, with a clear
opportunities of twenty years of Labour than the UK average target to create 65,000 new jobs
Governments. with government, businesses, and
• The average workers’ annual entrepreneurs all working together
We will use the £2.5 billion of extra pay is more than £2,600 a to play their part. When our National
investment from the UK Government year less than a worker in Mission has been achieved, we will
to deliver our commitments and ensure Scotland or England cut the basic rate of income tax to
every part of Wales has the support support hardworking families
they need to build back better from the • Business in Wales pay the
pandemic. highest rate of tax in Britain Ensure no new taxes for the duration
of the next Senedd term
• 10 Welsh towns are in the
top 20 most economically Deliver 100,000 new homes over the
vulnerable towns in the UK next 10 years
Introduce a Covid bounce back
package, which includes the
establishment of a £2.5 billion Rebuild
Wales Investment Fund and maintain
the cut in VAT to 5% for tourism
businesses until April 2022
8 9
Support new micro businesses with
our “Jump Start Scheme” paying
time buyers and raising the threshold
to £250,000 to help more families and
Improve rail links between North
Wales and the North West of England, Rebuilding Wales’ What we will do: Work with UK-wide organisations,
such as Visit Britain, to promote
the employer National Insurance
contributions of two new employees
hard-working people to benefit from
the security of home ownership
including Manchester and Liverpool
Airports
tourism industry Rebuild the Welsh tourism industry
by launching an international
Wales on the international stage and
with airlines to secure more routes
for two years to accelerate growth marketing campaign, “Experience into Wales
Undertake reviews of every Welsh Work with the UK Government to
Where we are: Wales” building on North Wales as a
Establish “Innovate Wales”, based Government funded organisation to deliver a Freeport at Holyhead global must visit destination
Tourism plays a huge part
in North Wales, a one stop shop for
firms to support new enterprises,
ensure maximum value for money for
the taxpayer Promote North Wales as a premier
in Wales, employing more Work with the industry, deliver a WORK WITH THE
than 150,000 people and
and encourage existing businesses
to grow and export Rule out an increase in the number of
destination for international visitors
contributing around £6 billion
Welcome Back to Wales Festival in
2022 to showcase Welsh tourism UK GOVERNMENT
Members of the Senedd Establish a North East Wales Institute
to the Welsh economy. The and to encourage people to come
Create Business Rate Free Zones of Technology
pandemic has hit the sector back following the pandemic, using
providing a 3-year business rate hard and it will need support the Queen’s Jubilee to promote the Implement Growth Deals worth
Support Welsh firms to bounce back best of Wales and Britain
holiday for SME’s as part of our Covid to kickstart the industry and £800 million for the whole of Wales
from the pandemic by giving them Locate a National Art Gallery
Community Recovery Fund priority for government contracts by collection in North Wales attract more holidaymakers
proactively promoting opportunities, to Wales. Along with the UK Government, Deliver a UK Shared Prosperity
Stop Labour’s tax raids, including particularly to micro and small maintain the cut in VAT for tourism Fund that tackles inequality and
Deliver modern community hospitals businesses until April 2022 deprivation and levels-up the whole
their Tourism Tax, Social Care Tax, businesses Despite the important role tourism
in Rhyl and Flint, and a new medical of Wales
Driving Tax and Employee Parking plays in Wales it has been badly
school for North Wales
Tax Deliver a new deal for let down by successive Labour
Create a comeback package for
seaside and market towns to level Ban public bodies from imposing
North Wales: Build a Rapid Diagnostic Centre for Governments which have failed to
up with a Tourism Towns Fund, their own direct or indirect
Abolish business rates for small invest in our transport links, failed to
Introduce a dedicated Minister for North Wales cutting waiting times for enabling communities to improve boycotts, disinvestment or
businesses and reform the outdated promote Wales as a top destination and
North Wales to ensure it is no-longer tests and reduce the need for repeat their local economy by attracting sanctions campaigns against
tax on growth
the forgotten region of Wales hospital appointments are now threatening holiday makers new visitors with free WiFi or foreign countries, which undermine
with new taxes to visit Wales. improved transport links community cohesion
Reverse the Welsh Government’s
Create a mother and baby unit in
decision to block a Freeport in Move the new Welsh Treasury and North Wales for mums with severe We have a clear plan to rebuild the Unleash the potential of Visit Wales
Wales, leading to the development a reformed Welsh Development post-natal mental health challenges tourism industry, to give it support to by giving operational independence
of over 15,000 jobs Agency to North Wales creating 200
come back stronger and to promote from Welsh Government and
new jobs
Work with the UK Government to Wales to the world, improving the enabling it to be industry-led
Boost opportunities for workers
ensure cross border collaboration visitor options to drive up numbers,
hardest hit by the pandemic with Level-up and join-up public transport between North Wales and the North creating jobs and boosting the Increase Wales’ national tourism
our Covid “Retrain, Gain” programme in North Wales, delivering a North West of England on health, planning economy. offer by retaining free entry in
to get people into key sectors to Wales Metro which integrates public and economic development National Museums, create a
kickstart the economy transport with active travel
National Military Museum for Wales
based in Brecon, a Welsh National
Work to end the tax on aspiration Upgrade the A55 to address pinch Observatory, a Welsh Sports Hall of
by cutting Land Transaction Tax points and increase resilience Fame and a National Art Gallery for
(stamp duty), scrapping it for first Wales, with collections in North and
South Wales
10 11
Building better
roads, rail and
broadband
Where we are: What we will do:
• The number of journeys
Build the M4 relief road in South
Our economy is held back undertaken by local bus in Wales, upgrade the A55 in North
by a transport system that Wales declined by 22% between Wales and the A40 in West Wales. As
fails to connect people to 2008/9 and 2018/19 key routes to the rest of the United
jobs. Many of our roads are Kingdom, we would designate them
constantly congested. Trains • The Metro in North Wales has as “Union Highways” to ensure their
are overcrowded or rarely only received £50 million from priority in rebuilding our economy
turn up on time. And our bus the Welsh Government - £700
network fails to serve too million less than South Wales Level-up and join-up public
many rural communities. transport in North Wales, delivering
• There are 30,000 traffic jams in a North Wales Metro which
This all acts as a barrier to businesses Wales a year costing the Welsh integrates public transport with
economy nearly £300 million active travel
setting up in Wales, doesn’t allow us to
back our tourism industries and makes
our young people feel they have to leave • 9,000 train services were Open-up Mid Wales by upgrading
the A470, creating passing places
Wales to pursue a successful career. cancelled in 2018/19
where appropriate, as well as a £250
million Rural Roads Fund to remove
We have a real plan to level-up Wales the blight of potholes and improve
with the support of the UK Government safety
and to deliver the infrastructure that
Wales deserves, creating jobs and Return Cardiff Airport to private
opportunities for all. ownership
Promote the Dinas Powys and
Chepstow by-passes
12 13
Peter Fox
Candidate for Monmouth
Council Leader
Establish a £20 million Welsh Ports
Development Fund to support an WORK WITH THE
increase in Welsh exports, creating
more jobs, alongside the UK
UK GOVERNMENT
Government’s Freeport programme
Maximise the opportunities
to access the £4.8 billion UK
Support rural businesses and enable
Government Levelling-up fund for
more people to work from home
the whole of Wales
by eliminating mobile phone and
broadband black spots through
removing barriers to network Deliver rail infrastructure
improvements and creating a £50 improvements, such as the West
million Not-Spot Fund Wales Parkway
Create a fast-charging network Improve rail links between North
of 20,000 electric car charging Wales and the North West of
stations England, including Manchester and
Liverpool Airports
Mobilise Welsh universities and the Make North Wales the UK’s Small
private sector to create a centre of Modular Reactor hub creating long-
excellence and research in energy term, skilled jobs
storage and transportation
Liz Hill O’Shea
Candidate for Aberavon
Community Volunteer
14 15
Building a better
healthcare service
for everyone
The last year has given many people a renewed respect for our frontline health and care
professionals. They have endured more than anyone can imagine. We owe it to them to
ensure that they have the best facilities to do their jobs. Ultimately, we need to make sure
that our health and care professionals know how valued they are, especially when they are
there to support us through our darkest times.
Throughout the last year, the spotlight Our plan for our Welsh NHS will see In conjunction with the professionals in
has been on our health service. The us deliver increased investment for the NHS, our plan will clear the backlogs
pandemic has increased waiting times a stronger health service that is able and repair the damage by working
significantly, but in the year before the to tackle the challenges ahead of us. together with the UK Government to
pandemic hit waiting times in Wales The impact of the pandemic on our utilise NHS facilities across the UK,
doubled, and targets for treatment physical and mental health cannot be guaranteeing investment in our NHS
in A&E and for cancer continue to be understated, and our NHS needs an and recruiting 1,200 doctors and 3,000
missed or never met. ambitious plan to clear the backlogs nurses.
• 5 out of 7 health boards in Wales • Before the pandemic 1 in 7 and repair the damage caused not just
were in special measures or people in Wales were on a But the pandemic has also shown by the pandemic but by twenty years
targeted intervention in 2019 waiting list for treatment - four what we can do as a United Kingdom. of Labour in Wales. As the vaccine rolls
times as many people than in Together, the UK’s vaccine supply out, we can start to get a grip on the
• The target of 95% of people England arrangements have been world class, waiting lists that Labour allowed to get
being seen in A&E within four enabling the UK to have one of the out of control before the pandemic hit.
hours has never been met • More than 2,000 people have fastest vaccine rollout programmes. By
been waiting more than 2 years working together in the future we can
• Cancer waiting time targets for treatment benefit our key services, especially our
have not been achieved since NHS.
2008
16 17What we will do: Double our critical care capacity Work with the UK Government to Increase spending on mental health
ensure that emergency pandemic and wellbeing services in real terms
responses are uniform across the in each and every year of the next
Enshrine an NHS Covenant into
law to protect the NHS for future
BUILD A MORE UK, with consistent messaging and Welsh Parliament
which is evidence led
generations, guarantee increased RESILIENT NHS Create a network of mental health
spending on the NHS and primary
Establish a national vaccination crisis centres that are open around
care each and every year, and
Create NHS Wales as a separate reminder system the clock for people to access in
ensure that staff receive the pay
organisation, independent from the mental health emergencies
and rewards they deserve
Welsh Government. Promote healthy lifestyles in
schools, provide free access to local Ensure that mental health
Ensure that no one should wait
Establish the NHS Hospitals and authority gyms and leisure centres treatments are utilising the
more than one year for treatment in
Buildings Recovery Fund to level- for 16 – 24 year olds and invest latest technology and work with
the NHS with our Patient Guarantee
up and modernise hospitals and in more active travel options for Universities to make Wales a leader
primary care facilities across Wales, walking and cycling in mental health treatment
Transform mental health by treating so that our valued NHS staff and
it with the same priority as physical their patients have state of the art Increase the capacity of mental
health facilities to deliver world class care TRANSFORM MENTAL health services for children
Support patients with a new Patient Embrace new ways of working, such
HEALTH WITH and young people to prevent
placements at great distances from
Safety Commissioner, and enshrine as online appointments, to make it INCREASE PRIORITY their loved ones
patients’ right to choose how they easier to see a GP or specialist
access treatment
Undertake a fundamental review of Deliver dedicated mother and baby
Expand the Access to Treatments units in both North and South Wales
mental health services through a
Deliver 1,200 more doctors, 3,000 Fund so that doctors can use Commission on Mental Health, with
more nurses and other professionals the most advanced, life-saving service users, families, professionals Ensure that all schools, colleges and
through our ‘Retain, recruit and treatments for cancer, rare and the charity sector universities have mental health and
train’ programme diseases, and other conditions that wellbeing services for learners to
aren’t currently available on the access
Introduce a new Mental Health
Mobilise members of the public and NHS
Act, to replace outdated legislation
former healthcare professionals to
and ensure the latest thinking is
join their local NHS team, as part- Work with other Governments incorporated in to mental health
time reservists, to support our NHS across the UK to guarantee patient provision
during periods of high demand access to the nearest appropriate
health provision utilising cross
Establish and publish targets on
End the queues of ambulances border and independent facilities to
waiting times for mental health
outside Welsh hospitals by focusing speed up treatment
treatment for key issues including
on the time to treatment for
patients, so that ambulances and
hospitals work together to deliver
eating disorders
Gareth Lloyd Davies
timely care
Candidate for Vale of Clwyd
NHS Physio
18IMPROVE STANDARDS, IMPROVE OUTCOMES Revisit the proposals for IMPROVE SOCIAL CARE Increase the capital limit to
£100,000 for those accessing
reorganising health care provision in
GOVERNANCE AND AND PATIENT ACCESS West Wales residential care to ensure that
Delivering effective and compassionate
SAFETY TO HEALTH CARE social care is one of the greatest
people do not lose their life savings
Extend the role of community to care costs
challenges and responsibilities facing
pharmacies in delivering health
Establish a new joint Health and Work with stakeholders to develop, governments as people continue to
care via a new contract, including Establish a £15 million Care
Social Care Inspectorate, “Health and publish within 12 months, new prescribing for common ailments, live longer. We will develop a plan for Innovation Fund to promote joint-
and Care Improvement Wales”, national delivery plans for: delivering immunisations and sustainable social care for the future by working between the NHS and
to end the cycle of health boards - Cancer diagnostic tests, and medicine establishing a Cross Party Commission social service departments
languishing in special measures or - Heart Disease reviews to consider long-term sustainable
targeted intervention - Stroke funding solutions for social care, and Promote independent living by
- Dementia Rollout electronic prescriptions guarantee to provide parliamentary offering online self-assessments to
Health and Care Improvement time to deliver its recommendations. support the early identification of
Wales would set appropriate targets support needs
Prevent hospital closures and Deliver a new dental contract to
for the NHS and Social Service
downgrades for the duration of the reflect modern dental practice,
Departments that are backed by
health and care professionals and
next Welsh Parliament term making NHS dentistry an attractive What We Will Do: Introduce a right to respite for
career, and improve access to unpaid carers and give them free
the public
Deliver five new and upgraded dentists across Wales access to training, support and
Appoint a Chief Social Care Officer carer assessments
community hospitals over the next
Remove Ministerial influence in for Wales
parliament in Flint, Llandrindod Support patients undergoing cancer
NHS escalation and intervention
Wells, Newtown, Rhyl and West treatment by providing free dental Support young carers with a Young
arrangements and give the new Introduce a Welsh Minimum Care
Wales care Carers Card scheme to provide
inspectorate powers to intervene Wage of £10 per hour to boost the free bus travel and grants to
quickly when problems are pay of care workers across Wales in
Establish the new cancer centre of Expand the role of opticians in access education, training and
identified recognition of their vital work
excellence for South East Wales, the delivery of community based employment
following an independent clinical eyecare, including the treatment
Guarantee the future of Welsh Work with the sector to recruit
review of minor eye conditions and Extend free bus travel to principal
Community Health Councils and retain care workers, including
the monitoring of degenerative carers of those over the age of 60
for the full term of the next the training care home workers to
Welsh Parliament, protecting their Build a network of rapid diagnostic conditions, such as glaucoma
undertake basic checks such
independence to enhance their role centres across Wales to cut waiting
as blood pressure and to tackle
as patient watchdogs times for tests and reduce the need Re-establish Minor Injuries Units in common ailments such as trips and
for repeat hospital appointments Rhyl and Tenby falls
Ensure GP representation on each
Health Board in Wales Protect the status of the Royal Establish an NHS Gambling Expand the role of Occupational
Glamorgan Hospital in Llantrisant Addiction Service for Wales Therapists as part of wrap
and Withybush Hospital in
Update ambulance management around care to maintain patient
Haverfordwest as fully serviced Deliver an Autism Act for Wales and
systems to send patients to the independence, and review access
district general hospitals, with the improve services for people with
fastest A&E at the time, and to Disabled Facilities Grants so
return of consultant-led maternity learning disabilities
introduce an ‘ambulance to bed’ that housing plays its fullest role in
services at Withybush
waiting target health and social care
20 21Building better
schools, colleges
and universities
Results in Wales have been consistently below the rest of the UK for many years. It is time
that a Welsh Government stood up for our children’s future and delivered the changes
needed to take Wales off the bottom of the UK league tables for education.
A generation of young people have been Within our first 100 days we deliver a real Make Wales a nation of excellence
by encouraging schools to take on
let down and we can’t afford to repeat it. comeback programme for our young
specialist status in the arts, sciences,
We need to improve education standards people from lost learning, with significant
modern foreign languages and sports
so that businesses can get the skilled support for tutoring, summer schools
workers they need, and the ambitions of a and targeted help for those that need it.
Increase school funding in each
generation aren’t limited.
and every year of the next Welsh
What we will do: Parliament
The failure in education lies firmly with
Deliver 5,000 more teachers across
Labour. Due to UK Government funding, Wales Require Estyn to undertake
Wales should be spending £1,000 more unannounced visits and take on new
per pupil than it currently does. Teachers, responsibilities to advise on school
Improve standards by reducing class
teaching assistants and the whole sizes and tackle bullying via a school governance
education community are doing their to school mentoring scheme
best but are being hampered from the Scrap the Welsh Baccalaureate to
• In the last ten years the number • GCSE results in 2019 were worse very top. End the underfunding of our allow pupils to focus on GCSEs,
of teachers in Wales has dropped than in 2007 young people and guarantee that A-Levels and their vocational
by nearly 3,800 We will end this underfunding and deliver more funding directly reaches the equivalents
• The number of further education our clear plan to back teachers and classroom
• Spending per pupil has dropped students in Wales has fallen by parents. Refund tuition fees for those who
by 6% since 2010 30% since 2012 Get Wales off the bottom of the UK choose to work for at least five years
league table by restoring targets as doctors or nurses in the Welsh
for reading, writing, numeracy and NHS, or as teachers in Welsh schools,
digital skills and changing the Estyn after their studies
inspection process
23Barbara Hughes
Candidate for Clwyd South
Farmer
Establish a Welsh Education Retain the Pupil Development Grant CUT TUITION FEES AND
Advisory Services to improve access
to employment opportunities Increase funding for learners with
ENHANCE STUDENT
and teaching career pathways, as additional learning needs EXPERIENCES
well as standardising recruitment
processes across all schools Introduce a compensation scheme
Provide young carers with grants for students whose courses have
to support access to education, been disrupted by the pandemic,
Provide all newly qualified teachers training and employment especially those students who are
with a guaranteed first year of
unable to afford to return
employment in a Welsh school or
Introduce healthy school dinners
college
that are sourced locally Cut tuition fees in half for Welsh
students studying STEM and
Enable schools and teachers to
modern foreign languages subjects
catch up on missed education by Accelerate and extend the 21st
at Welsh universities in recognition
delaying the implementation of Century Schools and Colleges
of their value to the Welsh economy
the new Curriculum in Wales until Programme to rebuild education
September 2023 facilities and the economy in Wales
Refund tuition fees for those who
choose to work for at least five
Introduce different routes to
years as doctors or nurses in the
excellence with the expansion of
Welsh NHS, or as teachers in Welsh
degree apprenticeships STRENGTHEN schools, after their studies
PARENTAL VOICE AND
Boost Welsh Universities’ ability to
undertake world leading research CHOICE Work with Welsh Universities to
introduce intensive degrees that
Prevent the closure of any school can be completed over two years
that is able to deliver the national
PROMOTE LEARNER curriculum, without the agreement
Introduce a Student
WELLBEING AND from parents, teachers and
governors
Accommodation Quality Standard
SKILLS FOR LIFE for halls of residence
Ensure skills for life are a priority Create more Welsh-medium school
Help young people access
in the curriculum to enable young places and explore opportunities for
education, training and employment
people to manage their finances teacher exchanges to enable staff to
with free bus travel and discounted
and eat healthily grow their welsh skills
rail travel for 16-24 year olds
Provide free school transport to
Ensure that all schools, colleges and pupils attending their nearest
universities have mental health and Welsh-medium secondary school
wellbeing services for learners to and review free transport to their
access nearest faith school
25Amanda Jenner
Candidate for Ceredigion
Qualified Teacher
PROMOTE TECHNICAL INVEST IN CHILDCARE WORK WITH THE
EDUCATION, SKILLS
AND LIFELONG
Expand free childcare provision to
two-year-olds
UK GOVERNMENT
LEARNING Help those on the lowest incomes Increase UK investment in research
Create a Second Chance Fund to by funding a programme for and development in Welsh
enable those who have left formal children in receipt of free school universities
education to go back and study a meals to cover all school holidays
level three qualification for the whole of the next Welsh
Parliament term Ensure access to visas for students
from overseas wanting to come and
Invest an extra £100 million in study in Wales
Further Education colleges to enable Support the development of the
colleges to support Wales’ economic Mudiad Meithrin so more parents
can access Welsh-medium nursery Maximise participation from Wales
recovery through training the
provision in the Turing Programme, especially
next generation and upskilling the
from those from disadvantaged
current workforce
backgrounds
Reform Flying Start to ensure that it
Establish an Institute of Technology is targeted at families who need it,
not postcodes Provide access to international
in North Wales focusing on STEM
research projects and funding
subjects
Utilise Further Education to lead
and create apprenticeships from all
Welsh Government funded major
infrastructure projects
Promote the establishment of a
social enterprise in every Welsh
secondary school to enable young
people to develop business skills
Provide 150,000 apprenticeships by
2026
26 27Building back
greener
Despite promises, the Welsh Labour Government failed to take real action on the
environment. No action on air quality. No action on single use plastics. At the same time the
concerns of our rural communities have too often been ignored.
It’s not enough to go back to how things What we will do:
were. We need to build back greener, • The independent Climate
Create 15,000 green jobs and make
delivering more green jobs, while Change Committee have Wales the green energy capital of
backing our farming and agricultural confirmed the Welsh the world
communities as we work towards Government is failing to
meeting our carbon emission targets. meet its carbon emission Protect our seas and rivers by
target by 2050 banning single use plastics and
Our plan to build back greener will also delivering a deposit return scheme
protect and enhance rural communities • When the Welsh
and the services they rely on. We will Government weren’t Support communities to build
support our farmers and agricultural meeting their target for tree back from flooding and to prevent
industries, and bring forward legislation planting - they cut the target flooding in the future
to improve air quality and tackle the in half
scourge of single use plastics. Tackle climate change by ensuring
• 13,000 years are lost off Wales meets our net-zero carbon
Finally, by utilising Wales’ coast we can people’s lives a year in Wales emissions target by 2050
create long-term, highly skilled green due to air pollution - costing
jobs, whilst protecting and enhancing the NHS £1 billion every year
our environment.
28 29PROMOTE A GREEN Ban single use plastics for non-
medical use such as plastic wet
REDUCE THE RISK OF Ban the keeping of primates as pets Guarantee financial support for
Welsh farmers at a level of no less WORK WITH THE
RECOVERY FLOODING
wipes, straws, stirrers, disposable
cups and cotton buds to reduce
Review pet breeding standards and
registration requirements to ensure
than that previously provided by the
EU for every year of the next Welsh
UK GOVERNMENT
Establish a £150 million Wales Create a National Flood Agency to
Marine Energy Investment Fund to harm to wildlife and blocked sewers coordinate flood risk management, adequate protection for animals Parliament and work with farmers
and drains to create a new support scheme for End the sale of new petrol and diesel
purchase equity in marine energy the response to flooding events and and bring forward the ban on the
Wales vehicles by 2030 and ensure all new
projects, including small scale and to work with local communities to third party sale of cats and dogs
vehicles are zero emission at the
hydro, to produce renewable energy Deliver a deposit return scheme carry out independent inquiries into
tailpipe by 2035
whilst prioritising those with flood for bottles and cans to promote flooding events Promote honest labelling to Reverse the Wales-wide Nitrate
protection benefits recycling and minimise waste enhance consumer choice, including Vulnerable Zone and work with
farmers on the voluntary code Maximise the benefits for Welsh
Undertake an urgent risk based distinguishing between stunned and
already agreed to reduce pollution producers of new trade deals struck
Scrap Natural Resources Wales to Stimulate the creation of 15,000 assessment of flood risk and non-stunned slaughter methods
with countries around the world
improve transparency and create long-term green collar jobs to help existing defences in Wales and introduce CCTV in abattoirs
two separate organisations focused Wales meet its carbon reduction Create comeback support for the
on the commercial and the current targets Royal Welsh Agricultural Show to Design a Shared Prosperity
Scope out required flood alleviation Establish a £20 million Wales
regulatory function ensure it remains Europe’s second Fund that can target pockets of
measures to include catchment Wildlife Fund to support
largest celebration of rural life deprivation in rural Wales
Work with Welsh universities retention proposals conservation efforts across Wales
Create the Independent Office and the private sector to create
for Environmental Protection and a new centre of excellence and Ensure the availability of Seasonal
Double the investment in flood
Climate Change for Wales, to hold research into energy storage and defences in Wales to £120 million a BACK FARMERS REVIVE THE WELSH Agricultural Workers
the Welsh Government and other
public bodies to account in tackling
transportation year
Introduce an Agricultural Bill FISHING INDUSTRY
Work with the Home Office to
climate change and protecting our for Wales setting out how our Increase funding for fisheries establish a National Rural Crime
Set a target of net-zero carbon Establish Blue Belts in areas of high
environment farmers and land managers will be across Wales throughout the next Taskforce for Wales
emissions in Wales by 2050 and a flood risk to prevent irresponsible supported with public money for Welsh Parliament and support
target for all new homes to be zero development public goods, whilst helping the the regeneration of our coastal
Work with the private sector to carbon by 2026
sector to invest in new technology, communities
attract Wales’ first Gigafactory
Plant at least eight million trees become more productive and
Support households to improve a year, to soak up around half a receive a fairer price for their
Support the Welsh steel industry to the energy efficiency of their Work with stakeholders to deliver a
million tonnes of C02 a year, whilst produce
become the greenest in the world homes with vouchers up to £5,000, new fishing strategy for Wales which
also reducing flood risks would be based on the principle of
with households on low incomes
Use our exit from the EU to ‘maximum sustainable yield’
Introduce a Clean Air Act to tackle receiving up to £10,000
encourage the public sector in
pollution and reduce the incidence ENHANCE ANIMAL Wales to ‘Buy Welsh’ to support our
Place a legal duty on the Welsh
of respiratory diseases Work with bus companies to farmers and reduce environmental
electrify their fleets WELFARE AND costs
Government to maintain fish
sustainability for every stock
Increase penalties and improve PROTECT WILDLIFE
enforcement for fly-tipping, dog Fund a Welsh Tidal Power Feasibility Work with the sector to invest in
Establish an animal offender
fouling, graffiti and littering to Study to accelerate the delivery of meat freezing facilities to improve
register in Wales
ensure that those responsible pay tidal power projects around Wales the shelf life of key exports, such
for their actions and provide open source data for as Welsh lamb, to sell Wales to the
developers world
30 31Supporting local
Communities
Across Wales, and the rest of the United Kingdom, communities have come together during
the pandemic to support the most vulnerable in society and to fight Covid-19. This renewed
sense of community must not be lost as we look to rebuild stronger than ever before. Sadly,
too many communities feel ignored or left behind and bear the brunt of bad decisions made
in Cardiff Bay.
Our plan to rebuild communities will What we will do:
empower them and give more power • Council Tax in Wales has
Protect community assets by
to the people who know what their more than trebled since 1998 enabling local people to run and
community needs most - the people expand facilities that benefit the
who actually live there. As we do that • Councils in North Wales local community
we must make sure Wales remains an received a smaller increase
inclusive and open society, working to in funding than Councils in End rough sleeping in Wales by 2026
eradicate poverty, remove division and South Wales
promote diversity regardless of race, Promote and support the Welsh
gender, language, religion or sexual • Welsh Labour failed to give language with one million Welsh
orientation. communities more power speakers by 2050
over excessive council tax
At the centre of our communities are rises or to protect local Support service personnel and
the arts and charitable organisations, services veterans for their contribution
and the individuals that support them. to Wales, and utilise local Armed
We will work with communities, helping • Councils in Wales have Forces Champions and the
them to rebuild and recover from the nearly £1 billion in usable Veterans’ Commissioner for Wales
pandemic. reserves
Increase funding for Police
Community Support Officers
each year, and expand the Safer
Streets fund to support CCTV and
improved street lighting across
Wales
32 33EMPOWER LOCAL Establish a single point of access UNLEASH WALES’ SUPPORT OLDER
for benefits and support schemes
COMMUNITIES administered in Wales and explore SPORTING PEOPLE
Empower local communities to the possibility of automatically OPPORTUNITY Introduce a legal requirement for
establish neighbourhood plans, passporting Universal Credit public sector bodies to consult with
claimants to this Establish a network of Welsh Sports
allowing them to influence where older people when making decisions
Ambassadors to work with schools
development should happen, what which affect their lives
to inspire the next generation
their communities should look like, Enhance local streets by
of sporting excellence, promote
and what they should include guaranteeing at least weekly food Support our older people by:
engagement in sports and close
waste and recycling collections, and
gaps in participation - Maintaining free prescriptions
Introduce a Community Ownership fortnightly bin collections
- Maintaining Free bus travel
Fund and Right to Bid to support - Promote Free entry to CADW sites
Establish a network of 3G and 4G
the takeover of assets such as for the over 75s
synthetic turf pitches throughout
libraries, pubs, leisure centres TACKLE Wales to improve access - Pilot free rail travel for over 75s
and green spaces, particularly
those threatened with closure or
HOMELESSNESS
development Introduce a “housing first” model for Create a Welsh Talent Sporting Fund Run annual national awareness
supporting homeless people to support talented Welsh athletes campaigns against elder abuse,
to succeed on the world stage age discrimination and scams and
Reform the local government
including at the Paralympic and swindles
funding formula to ensure fair Appoint a Homelessness
Olympic games
funding across Wales, particularly Commissioner, ideally someone who
has experienced homelessness to Ensure that older people can access
in our rural councils and help
prevent inflation busting council tax work with stakeholders to tackle Work with the UK Government to Welsh Government funded work
increases rough sleeping and its causes in submit a bid for the opening stages programmes
Wales by 2026 of the Tour De France and the 2030
FIFA World Cup. Work to attract
Give security for local people and
council services by enabling a Immediately bring 150 empty social
other major sporting events to HONOUR OUR
Wales including the Rugby World
council tax freeze for the first two housing properties back into use
Cup 2031, the Europa League VETERANS AND
years of the next Senedd term, with specifically for people who are at
the ambition of freezing for the full risk of homelessness
Final, the Invictus Games and the MILITARY PERSONNEL
Commonwealth Games
term Support service personnel and
Ringfence the funding for the veterans for their contribution
Create a Community Sport Bounce
Implement council tax referendums Housing Support Grant for a period to Wales and the UK, especially
Back Fund to enable community
for local people to have a say on of three years throughout the pandemic and in the
clubs to rebuild
excessive council tax rises above vaccine roll out, utilising local Armed
5% Forces Champions and the new UK
Welsh Veterans’ Commissioner by
providing:
Donna Gavin
Candidate for Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney
Former Army Major
34 35James Evans
Candidate for Brecon and Radnorshire
Farmer
- Free bus travel and discounted rail Semitism, Islamophobia and other Increase investment in projects which
travel religious hate crime promote the daily use of everyday
- Free entry to CADW heritage sites Welsh, which includes refresh of
- Free access to local authority Engage with LGBT+ stakeholders Mentrau Iaith and introduction of
leisure centres to address discrimination and Tipyn Bach
- Priority access to NHS treatment intolerance, and ban so called
for service related illnesses or conversion therapy in Wales Invest in developing Welsh language
injuries skills in the education and childcare
- Priority access to home Expand services and ensure workforce and give a greater role to
adaptations via Disabled Facilities increased sustainable funding for Coleg Cenedlaethol in initial teachers
Grants prevention, protection and support education and further develop its
for women who have experienced influence in further education
Increase the funding for Veterans domestic abuse and sexual violence
NHS Wales to increase its capacity Support the National Eisteddfod and
and ability to work with others to Enshrine the United Nations’ the Urdd Gobaith Cymru to bounce
support veterans with PTSD and Convention on the Elimination of back from the pandemic and grow
mental ill-health all Forms of Discrimination Against
Women (CEDAW) into Welsh law
Ensure that veterans are given
priority for access to social housing Support communities to challenge WORK WITH THE
and that no veteran is forced to live
on the streets
violence against women, domestic
abuse and sexual violence in all its
UK GOVERNMENT
forms, especially through utilising
education
TACKLE Maintain the ban on convicted
prisoners having the vote at elections
DISCRIMINATION PROMOTE THE WELSH
Adopt a zero tolerance culture Crackdown on unauthorised
across Welsh Government to ensure
LANGUAGE encampments with fines of up to
no discrimination on the basis of Maintain a target of one million £2,500 and three months in prison
sex, gender, sexual orientation, Welsh speakers by 2050
ethnicity, language, religion or Bring major sporting events to Wales
disability Protect funding, and the operational
and editorial independence of S4C Introduce safe standing at football
Work with Race Alliance Wales and grounds
other stakeholders to develop a Establish a Welsh language Digital
Strategic Race Equality Plan Initiative to promote Welsh
language broadcasting and online
Work with faith communities and services
other stakeholders to address anti-
36 37• Over 67,000
people in Wales are
• The Welsh
Government is
• There are more
empty homes than More affordable,
high quality
on a social housing building less than second homes in
waiting list 3,000 affordable Wales
homes a year
housing
Where we are: What we will do: Explore options to make it easier for Ensure housing standards are fit
tenants to move home, including for purpose, future proofed with
We will launch an ambitious target
The pandemic has to build 100,000 homes over the
the introduction of deposit improved accessibility for all
dramatically highlighted how passporting
next 10 years, whilst ensuring
important our homes are, enough affordable housing in our Have a real strategy for utilising
and how more needs to be local communities, including 40,000 Reform leasehold tenures including developer contributions, simplifying
done to ensure that people social homes implementing a ban on the sale Section 106 funding to speed up
of new leasehold homes, with house building
have homes that are fit for appropriate exceptions, and
purpose. Restore the Right-to-Buy in Wales, establish a redress system for
reinvesting sale proceeds into Overhaul the Welsh planning
leaseholders process, with new technology and
To build a better Wales, we want to use more social housing and protecting
homes from sale for 10 years cutting red tape whilst putting
housing to give the Welsh economy
Establish a Fire Safety Fund to communities first
a shot in the arm. Working with local compensate leaseholders for fire
people to ensure that homes are built Cut Land Transaction Tax (Stamp safety works and the scourge
in the right places, in keeping with the Duty) to help more families and of tackling unsafe cladding,
community, built with the environment hard-working people to get onto guaranteeing any Barnett
the housing ladder, by raising consequentials from the UK
in mind and that there is affordable
the purchase price threshold to Government to the fund
housing for everyone who needs it.
£250,000 and scrapping it for first
time buyers
Owning your own home is a dream for Commit to achieving and
many people and we will help people maintaining the Welsh Housing
Extend the Help-to-Buy scheme Quality Standard and introduce a
achieve it by reversing Labour’s attack to empty properties in need of
on aspiration through restoring the Student Accommodation Quality
renovation Standard for halls of residence
Right-to-Buy in Wales, and ending the
tax on opportunity to help people onto
the housing ladder.
38 39Our legislative programme 1. Agriculture Bill 2. Animal Welfare Bill 3. Autism and Neurodevelopmental Conditions Bill 4. British Sign Language Bill 5. Clean Air Bill 6. Community Empowerment Bill 7. Mental Health Bill 8. NHS Covenant Bill 9. NHS Independence and Leadership Bill 10. Older People’s Rights Bill 11. Planning and Development for the 21st Century Bill 12. Student Accommodation Quality Bill 13. War Memorials and Heroes Bill 14. Welsh Democracy and Accountability Bill 15. Welsh Hearts Bill 40
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