Moving Wales Forward WELSH LABOUR MANIFESTO 2021 - Deryn Manifesto
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Moving Wales Forward WELSH LABOUR MANIFESTO 2021 14542_21 Reproduced from electronic media, promoted by Louise Magee, General Secretary, Welsh Labour, on behalf of Welsh Labour, both at 1 Cathedral Road, Cardiff CF11 9HA.
CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 3 WELSH LABOUR’S PLEDGES 5 CHAPTER 1 – HEALTH & WELLBEING 8 CHAPTER 2 – SOCIAL CARE 14 CHAPTER 3 – JOBS & SKILLS 20 CHAPTER 4 – BUILDING A STRONGER, GREENER ECONOMY 26 CHAPTER 5 – A GREENER ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT 32 CHAPTER 6 – SCHOOLING, LEARNING & EDUCATION FOR ALL 38 CHAPTER 7 – LEADING ON EQUALITIES 44 CHAPTER 8 – WELSH LANGUAGE, CULTURE, SPORT & TOURISM 50 CHAPTER 9 – OUR HOMES, COMMUNITIES & COUNCILS 56 CHAPTER 10 – OUR NATION 62 CONTENTS 2
INTRODUCTION This pandemic has tested all of us. Many of Social solidarity is at the heart of the Labour us have lost family members, friends, and movement. Never have we seen that more widely neighbours to Covid-19, and we know that displayed than in Wales during these awful times. there are others still struggling with the lasting We have stood together, shoulder to shoulder, impact of the disease upon their health and working, whenever we could, with the other wellbeing. devolved nations and the UK Government. We have, all of us, battled against the pandemic. Here are so e of the s e i a tions that e ha e We owe a big debt of gratitude to those heroes in taken to combat the pandemic. health, care services, the police, education, other key workers and to countless volunteers. We have The credit for every single one of them lies relied on them all to help us through the crisis. At with those who have worked so hard to deliver the same time, we have all done our bit to keep them, with the support of your Welsh Labour thin s oin , often under the ost di ult of Government, to: conditions. We must not put that hard work and sa ri e at ris . 3 MOVING WALES FORWARD
The people of Wales look out for each other; we Inoculate more than one and a half ! million people with their first dose of the are for those in di ulties, and e understand how much more we can achieve when we work Covid vaccine in just over three months together. Welsh Labour shares the same values and after the launch of the programme. your Welsh Labour Government has shown how to put those values into action. No other party in Wales Provide free PPE for everyone working ! in the NHS and in social care, including comes close to demonstrating that it can be trusted to do the right thing for all the people of Wales. care homes. As we work together to move forward beyond the Set up the most successful Covid contact ! tracing system in the UK – a public service ande i , Welsh Labour is red ith the a bition to reate the different, sustainable, e itin Wales run by local people. of the future, built on the values that make us the Open the Grange University Hospital, on nation we are. ! budget and ahead of time and secure 2,600 Welsh Labour has the e erien e and the ision to extra beds through our network of field lead Wales’ recovery from the pandemic and we hospitals in all parts of Wales and 5,000 pledge to the people of Wales we will invest in our additional beds in total during the winter. NHS to put it back on track, including a new medical Protect more than 165,000 jobs by school in North Wales; we will pay our care workers ! providing the most generous business the Real Living Wage; we will fund up to 1,800 support scheme in the UK. additional tutorin staff in s hools to a e sure our hildren are not left behind e ill offer our oun Deliver our multi-million pound Covid people a guarantee of work, education, training, ! Commitment so everyone over 16 who or self-employment; we will abolish the use of the has lost their job can get back into work or most littered, single use plastics; we will put more training or get help to start a business. oli e o unit su ort o ers on our streets we will build 20,000 new low carbon homes creating Support our social care providers through ! our £150m Covid fighting fund and thousands of new jobs, as well as so much more. invested more than £24m to protect When loo ba o er the di ult and testin charities and promote volunteering. months since March of last year, as well as the enduring sadness for lives and livelihoods lost and Help 3,200 people into temporary ! accommodation since March 2020 and damaged, it is the thousands and thousands of small acts of kindness which I think will remain long help many more from becoming homeless. in the e or . hat is the e erien e, of loo in out for and looking after each other, that we want to Deliver more than 200,000 food boxes to ! those shielding earlier in the crisis. build on and take forward into the future. n this anifesto, e set out e a tl ho e ill Guarantee free school meals, during the ! holidays too, for all eligible pupils up to and create the kind of Wales that we all want. I urge you to read it and join us in Moving Wales Forward. including Easter 2022. Mark Drakeford Welsh Labour Leader and First Minister INTRODUCTION 4
WELSH LABOUR’S PLEDGES 1 RECOVER AFTER COVID: The biggest catch up programme in our NHS and schools and a new medical school for North Wales • We will put our NHS Recovery Plan into action on day one to boost the services and treatment needed to keep Wales healthy. We will deliver a new medical school in North Wales to boost the training of health professionals in Wales. • We will recover and raise standards for our young people with a major s hools at h u lan, e lo in 1, additional tutorin staff so that none of our young people are left behind. 2 A YOUNG PERSONS GUARANTEE: Wor , edu ation or trainin offer for all under s • A recovery that Moves Wales Forward means an economy that works for everyone. That is why Welsh Labour will stand by our young people and uarantee e er one under the a e of an offer of or , edu ation, trainin , or self e lo ent. his offer in ludes the oun eo le ho ill bene t fro Welsh Labour s 1 , ne a renti eshi s to i e eo le of all a es high quality routes into better jobs. 3 A FAIR DEAL FOR CARE: The Real Living Wage for care workers • In the face of a global pandemic, the dedication of the social care workforce has inspired a nation. Welsh Labour will deliver the Real Living Wage for all our so ial are staff. We ill ontinue to a non residential are fees and aintain the , a ital li it, hel in eo le hold onto ore of their savings before paying for care than any other UK nation. 5 MOVING WALES FORWARD
4 A GREENER COUNTRY: Abolish more single use plastics and create a National Forest for Wales • Wales’ natural beauty is a gift to be shared and protected. Welsh Labour understands the risks to our common heritage posed by climate change and other environmental pressures. • We will abolish the use of the most littered, single use plastics, saving our seas and countryside from the scourge of plastic pollution. Welsh Labour ill e tend the ne ational Forest for Wales to ro ote our lands a e, boost sustainable tourism and support our green economy. 5 SAFER COMMUNITIES: ore oli e Co unit u ort ers on our streets • he Welsh Labour o ern ent has ste ed in to fund oli e Co unit u ort ers to hel ee our o unities safe. We ill in rease this su ort to fund o ers hereas the ories lan to ut e er ost. 6 NEW JOBS FOR WALES: Create thousands of jobs in a low carbon house building revolution • he ne t Welsh Labour o ern ent ill build a reener Wales ith obs t for the future and deli er , ne lo arbon so ial ho es for rent. • Welsh Labour will move the Welsh economy forward with greener homes, hospitals, schools, town centres and transport, driving new jobs in a radical transition to a zero carbon Wales. WELSH LABOUR’S PLEDGES 6
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HEALTH & WELLBEING The coronavirus pandemic has placed extraordinary pressures on our NHS but it has also shown our health service at its best. It has highlighted the immense dedication, care and skill of the workforce – the heartbeat of our health and care services – and new ways of working and technology have been introduced almost overnight. Welsh Labour has always been the party of the NHS; we have always invested in NHS services and healthcare professionals to provide high-quality care. We will continue to do so to create a 21st century NHS, which provides high-quality care as close to people’s homes as possible. Welsh Labour We know people are worried about having their treatments delayed has always been because of the pandemic. We will invest heavily in post-Covid the party of the recovery to respond to current need and tackle the backlog of postponed treatments and operations caused by the pandemic to NHS; we have make sure no one is left behind. always invested Prevention and wellbeing must be at the heart of the way forward for in NHS services our NHS as we move beyond the Covid crisis. Poverty, overcrowding, and healthcare obesity, underlying health conditions or disability are all critical professionals fa tors that ha e been e osed b the ande i . We ill reate a fairer NHS, focusing on health inequalities and preventable harms. to provide high- quality care We ill dee en the inte ration of health and are ser i es and e tend the use of new technologies to engage with patients and carers. We will deliver high-quality health services which are close to people’s homes and support people to stay well and live well for longer. We believe healthcare should be as local as possible and always connected with other key partners - especially care providers, third sector, and local authority services, and delivered in the heart of our towns and communities. We remain absolutely committed to a free NHS for Wales and it will be our top priority as we emerge from the pandemic. In taking the NHS forward for Wales we will build on the strong foundations and real a hie e ents deli ered b Labour o er the last e ears. CHAPTER 1 HEALTH & WELLBEING 10
WHAT WE DID IN GOVERNMENT For the last seven years we made annual Child immunisation rates in Wales ! increases in funding to support health ! continue to be among the best in the education and training and we have now world. The vast majority of children in recruited record numbers of frontline Wales are protected against a wide range doctors, nurses, and midwives. Overall, of life-threatening diseases before they our NHS Wales workforce has grown by start school. 11. o er the last e ears. his ear, e nder Welsh Labour, ours as the rst have recruited 200 trainee GPs. ! health service commit to ending new cases Welsh Labour ensured a £735 special of HIV by 2030. Pre-exposure prophylaxis ! bonus payment to our NHS staff to thank (PrEP) is now available to prevent HIV the for their e traordinar dedi ation infection in Wales and we have ended the during the pandemic. so-called gay blood donation ban. nder Welsh Labour, ours as the rst Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic workers ! UK health service in Europe to put nurse ! are disproportionately at risk from the virus staffing levels into law – making a and we quickly set up the Black, Asian, real differen e to atient out o es and and Minority Ethnic Covid 19 Advisory e erien e and ualit of are. Group resulting in a Workforce Risk Assess ent ool. his is the rst of its ind We are the rst ountr in the to ! introduce a single cancer pathway, in the UK and is in widespread use in the NHS and social care. making sure everyone gets the best possible care and treatment. Cancer Wales as the rst ountr in the to ban survival rates in Wales are increasing. ! smoking in public places and smoking has fallen to its lowest reported levels. Welsh Labour s a shi £80m New ! Treatment Fund has made 232 new Wales as the rst art of the to han e medicines available on the NHS within an ! the law to presumed consent for organ average of 13 days. donation in 1 . We introduced Wales’ first ever gender Prescriptions remain free in Wales – ! identity service in 2019 providing vital help ! Welsh Labour scrapped charges in 2007. and support to people closer to home. Wales is the rst art of the to introdu e ! special non-invasive tests for babies before they are born, helping to reduce the risk of miscarriage. 11 MOVING WALES FORWARD
WELSH LABOUR’S PROMISE TO WALES WE WILL: 1 Establish a new medical school in North 6 Ensure that the NHS continues to focus Wales to raise the numbers in medical on end of life care and we will commit training. We will increase training funding to review patient pathway planning and b in 1 and o er the ne t e ears hospice funding. we will train 12,000 doctors, nurses, allied health professionals and psychologists. We 7 Invest in and roll-out new technology that will continue to fund the NHS bursary to supports fast and effective advice and support all those training to be a nurse or treatments. We will introduce e-prescribing allied health professional. and support developments that enable accurate detection of disease through 2 Keep prescriptions free in Wales, unlike arti ial intelli en e. in England under the Tories, where each res ri tion ite osts 9.1 . We ill also 8 Deliver better access to GP, dental and keep hospital car parking free in Wales. optometry services. We will continue to reform primary care, bringing together GP 3 Continue to provide free PPE for health and services with pharmacy, therapy, housing, are staff for as lon as is needed to deal ith social care, mental health, community and the pandemic. We will continue to fund our third sector partners to support people to very successful, publicly run, NHS Wales Test stay well. Trace Protect service. 9 Invest in a new generation of integrated 4 Fund NHS services to recover and provide health and social care centres across the delayed treatments people are waiting Wales. We will introduce an all-Wales for. We will strengthen national leadership framework to roll out social prescribing through a new National Executive to make to tackle isolation. In partnership with our our clinical services fully prepared for the universities, we will fund three new Intensive challenges of the 21st century. Learning Academies to improve patient e erien es and out o es. 5 Prioritise investment in mental health services to help with long-term recovery 10 Work with charities and clinicians to develop from the pandemic. We will invest in our an HIV action plan for Wales and seek workforce, training people to provide early ways to encourage testing for HIV, reduce support with mental wellbeing and resilience. late diagnosis and advance the roll out of We will prioritise service redesign to prevention drugs. We will work with partners improve prevention, tackle stigma and to ta le the sti a e erien ed b those promote a no-wrong-door approach to living with HIV. mental health support for all. CHAPTER 1 HEALTH & WELLBEING 12
11 Build on the success of our Whole School 12 Introduce an autism statutory code Approach to mental health for children of practice on the delivery of autism and young people by rolling out child services. It will set out what health and and adolescent mental health services other services need to consider when ‘in-reach’ in schools across Wales. We meeting the needs of autistic people and will support mental wellbeing across our their carers. communities working with arts, sports, and voluntary organisations. 13 MOVING WALES FORWARD
CHAPTER 2 SOCIAL CARE
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SOCIAL CARE Our care system has been battered and bruised by the pandemic. Just like the NHS, it has highlighted the incredible courage and dedication of the huge and diverse workforce in both the public and private sector. The demands on our care services are unrelenting. There is much work to be done to protect, re-build and develop our care services so they continue to be effective beyond the pandemic. We have learned much from the last year, which we will use to transfor our e istin are ser i es into a ne e ible, res onsi e, and better integrated system to meet the challenges of an ageing society. Our care services will help people to enjoy meaningful and The care service independent lives in their own homes for longer and where that is we want for Wales not ossible, the ill ha e a hoi e of di ni ed, o assionate, and positive care. is one where the workforce We will continue to meet the needs of children, young people, and families when adversity threatens the ability of parents to cope is the key to and children to thrive. We will continue to support the social model supporting our of disability and will tackle the barriers to independent living for most vulnerable disabled children and adults, ensuring choice and engagement in the life opportunities to which we all aspire. Our care services must be citizens – whether developed by and with those people who use them. that’s at home or The care service we want for Wales is one where the workforce is in a care home the key to supporting our most vulnerable citizens – whether that’s at home or in a care home. We believe social care is an occupation that deserves the same recognition and reward that other key public service professions enjoy. Social care and health providers must work closely together and be equal partners in the design and delivery of services to meet the needs of their local area. Social care is not free at the point of need – unlike the NHS – but is means-tested (and the current Conservative o ern ent sho s no si n of han in that . he ne t Welsh Labour Government will help those who are least able to pay for the care they need. CHAPTER 2 SOCIAL CARE 16
WHAT WE DID IN GOVERNMENT Our combined spending on health and We provided a £150m Covid fighting ! social care per person has grown faster in ! fund to support social care providers Wales since devolution than in England and across Wales and ensured free Personal Scotland, thanks to Welsh Labour. Protective Equipment for care workers. We provided a £24m Third Sector Covid-19 We ha e deli ered our a shi oli ! of free childcare for working parents Response Fund which helped protect charities and voluntary organisations of three and four-year olds - the most nan iall throu h the risis and hel ed enerous offer for or in arents in the promote more volunteering. UK. Our investment in the development of 11 ne or rede elo ed hild are fa ilities Welsh Labour ensured a £500 special has helped grow the childcare sector, ! payment to almost 70,000 social care creating quality jobs. workers across Wales in 2020 and another £735 in 2021 to thank them for their We have promoted children’s rights in ! all our policies and we changed the law to dedication during the pandemic. help make sure that physical punishment We have provided more than 1,000 tablets for children becomes a thing of the past. ! to 584 care homes as part of our Digital We have continued to invest in Flying Communities Wales programme. Start for younger children while services in We value Wales’ army of unpaid carers England have been cut. ! - we’ve run a Carers’ Rights awareness We have raised the capital limit for campaign and launched a new National ! people entering residential care – they can Carers Plan to get better services for retain up to £50,000 of their wealth before carers. We fund three major charities for having to pay towards their care. This is the carers with more than £3m in grants and most generous scheme in the UK. another £1m to support hardship claims. Welsh Labour has maintained a cap on We funded a national befriending scheme ! charges for care services people get in their ! Friend in Need for older people who are own homes at a maximum of £100. People isolated or lonely. We launched our vision on low incomes pay much less or nothing at of a rights and age-friendly Wales in our all for their home support services. Strategy for an Ageing Society, which promotes inter-generational respect and Our promise to build integrated health and ! social care centres in local communities solidarity and help us all to age well. across Wales has been delivered in Tonypandy, Aberaeron, Fishguard, Murton, Penclawdd, Ruthin, Mountain Ash and Pontypridd. Another 11 centres are at various stages of advanced planning. 17 MOVING WALES FORWARD
WELSH LABOUR’S PROMISE TO WALES WE WILL: 1 Create a stronger and better-paid 6 Pursue a sustainable UK solution so that workforce - this is the key to delivering care is free for all at the point of need. If better services. We will ensure that care the Conservative UK Government breaks its workers are paid the Real Living Wage promise again and fails to bring forward a durin the ne t enedd ter . fully funded scheme within the current UK parliament, we will consult on a potential 2 Work with our partners to upskill the Wales-only solution to meet our long-term workforce and build apprenticeships in care needs. care and recruit more Welsh speakers. We will create a Chief Social Care Officer for 7 Strengthen support for carers through a Wales to bring national leadership and £1m Covid hardship fund in 2021 and fund greater esteem to the care profession. a new £3m short-break respite scheme to help carers in their vital activities. 3 Continue to cap the costs of non- residential social care at the current £100 8 Invest £40m into the integrated care maximum per week. Welsh Labour will of older eo le ith o le needs, guarantee this will not rise over the lifetime especially dementia care, developing more of the ne t enedd ter . ost iti ens ill than local community hubs to co- pay much less than this or nothing at all if locate frontline health and social care and they are on low incomes. other services. We will support innovative housing development to meet care 4 Maintain the capital limit at £50,000. This needs, su h as tra Care housin . We ill is the most generous amount in the UK and fund in every local authority a dedicated means people in Wales can keep more of post to champion work to make Wales an their own savings and capital before they age friendly nation. pay for care. 9 Work with the Disability Equality Forum 5 Launch a National Social Care to improve the interface between Framework to set fair commissioning, fair continuing health care and Direct workforce conditions, and a more balanced Payments. care market between public, voluntary, and private providers. We will legislate 10 Roll out baby bundles for new parents to to strengthen partnerships to deliver more families. We will also fund childcare better integrated care and health, paying for more families where parents are in attention to the responses to our White education and training. We will continue Paper on Rebalancing Care and Support. The to su ort our a shi Fl in tart Framework will deepen collaboration with programmes for children in some of our the voluntary sector and identify priorities most deprived communities. for post-Covid Wales. CHAPTER 2 SOCIAL CARE 18
11 Help prevent families breaking up by 12 Eliminate private profit from the care funding advocacy services for parents of loo ed after hildren durin the ne t whose children are at risk of coming into Senedd term. We will help fund regional care. And we will invest £20m to provide residential services to bring children additional specialist support for children ith o le needs ba ho e fro with complex needs who may be on the care outside of Wales. We will continue ed e of are. We ill e lore o ortunities to support our national Fostering Wales for radical reform of current services for scheme. We will strengthen public bodies children looked after and care leavers. We in their role as ‘corporate parent’ to ensure will continue to support and uphold the children looked after away from home get rights of unaccompanied asylum-seeking the best care possible. children and young people. 19 MOVING WALES FORWARD
CHAPTER 3 JOBS & SKILLS
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JOBS & SKILLS The last five years have been some of the most disruptive our economy has ever faced – austerity, Brexit and coronavirus have each had a massive impact. Brexit will profoundly reshape jobs and entire industries, while the pandemic has changed the very nature of work itself. Addressing the disruption of today while preparing for the economy of tomorrow, in a sustainable and socially just way, is one of the most important tasks of our generation. We ill build a ost ande i , ost re it e ono that ta les the underlying structural challenges in our economy – the climate crisis; the impact of four decades of deindustrialisation; the legacy of poverty and the need for new hope, new skills, and new opportunities. All The next this, against the backdrop of a lost decade of UK Tory austerity that Welsh Labour has reduced the funding available to invest in skills, training, and infrastructure to support a vibrant sustainable economy. Government will create secure and he future e ant ill not be found in the lo ta , ini al regulation, shallow-protection economy the Tories believe in. It is the grounded jobs as values of our Labour movement and the proven record of our Welsh we decarbonise Labour Government on which we will build the future – we will put our economy collaboration ahead of competition; we will work in social partnership with our trade union and business colleagues to secure durable, meaningful, and fairly rewarded work. he ne t Welsh Labour o ern ent ill reate se ure and lastin jobs as we decarbonise our economy. We will support Welsh businesses to nd ne e ort ar ets and reate ne obs. We ill invest in the sustainable green industries of tomorrow – innovative housing, renewable energy, and new digital technologies – and we will deliver our economic future with fairness and equality at the heart of everything we do. CHAPTER 3 JOBS & SKILLS 22
WHAT WE DID IN GOVERNMENT and introduced the Ethical Code on During the pandemic, we provided ! the most generous economic help Procurement in Supply Chains to protect workers’ rights and tackle blacklisting. for r s and e lo ees, an here in the UK, worth over £2bn. Our Wales We repealed the Tories’ regressive anti- only Economic Resilience Fund has ! trade union legislation and we enacted protected more than 149,000 jobs and the Equality Act socio-economic duty. the £100m of loan funding channelled We developed a new Economic Contract. through the Development Bank of Wales has safeguarded over 16,000 more. Our ! For the rst ti e fair or , hi her s ills Business Wales service supported 750 and reducing our carbon footprint is at the entrepreneurs to start a business during heart of economic policy. the pandemic. We launched an innovative new approach We developed a bold Covid ! to the everyday economy, testing new ideas ! Reconstruction Plan, backed by a £320m through a £4.5m Foundational Economy fund and introduced a new Economic Fund to ro lo all rounded r s. Resilience and Reconstruction Mission, We set u the s rst e er Development setting out actions to build a fairer and ! Bank for Wales with more than £1bn of greener economy. funding to support the wider economy as We are investing £40m in a new Covid well as small and medium sized enterprises. ! Commitment - everyone over 16 who has We ut the ta aid b e er s all business lost their job will get the advice and support ! in Wales with permanent rates relief. they need to get into work, training, or start their own business. We backed our key industries, such as ! steel and aerospace, as they faced the We set up three new Regional ! Employment Response Groups to help hallen es of Co id and re it, su ortin coordinate the advice and employment a new £20m Advanced Manufacturing support for those who lost their job during and Research Centre in North Wales. the pandemic. We have developed a new £110m ! Transforming Towns approach to breathe We have created 100,000 high-quality ! all-age apprenticeships and piloted new new life into our town centres. We’ve Personal Learning Accounts to help committed £700m funding to city and people gain new skills. growth deals in the Cardiff Ca ital Re ion, Swansea Bay, North Wales and Mid Wales. Over the last decade, we have helped more ! We funded the appointment of disabled than 19,000 young people access good ! people’s employment champions across quality work through Jobs Growth Wales. Wales to help employers recruit more We established the Fair Work Commission disabled people. ! to ensure fair treatment at work 23 MOVING WALES FORWARD
WELSH LABOUR’S PROMISE TO WALES WE WILL: close the gap between disabled people and 1 Support young people who have the rest of the working population. been affe ted b both re it and the pandemic by developing a new Young Persons Guarantee, giving everyone 7 Strengthen our Economic Contract so inclusive growth, fair work, decarbonisation under the offer of or , edu ation, and improved mental health at work training, or self-employment. are at the heart of everything we do. We will support the Wales TUC proposals 2 Create 125,000 all-age apprenticeships for union members to become Green durin the ne t enedd ter . We ill work with unions and employers to Representatives in the workplace. To help expand the use of shared and degree upskill our workforce, we will build on the apprenticeships to give people more success of the Wales Union Learning e ible routes into trainin and a areer. Fund, scrapped in England by the Tories. Using the power of the public purse, we will 3 Take forward our Economic Resilience use all levers at our disposal to advance the and Reconstruction Mission for Wales fair work agenda in Wales. and promote good quality skills in the areas where we know the economy will grow. We 8 se our Wales Fle ible n est ent will strengthen Regional Skills Partnerships Fund to support economic recovery and to ensure supply meets the changing e and the e elo ent an of Wales economic needs of Wales. patient capital funds to provide long-term lending to small and medium sized 4 Build a genuine system of lifelong learning enterprises, entrepreneurs and start-ups. for e er one ho needs hel ndin or We will increase the use of equity stakes and re-training, especially those most in business support. We will secure the disadvantaged. We will expand Personal creation of a Community Bank for Wales, Learning Accounts to allow people to supporting its growth so it has 30 branches stud e ibl and obtain ne s ills. a ross Wales o er the ne t de ade. 5 Put into law our successful social 9 Build on our Better Jobs Closer to Home partnership approach with employers and programme and our foundational economy unions to improve workers’ rights, drive up work to grow local economies. We will the quality of jobs and public services, and develop a Backing Local Firms Fund to strengthen the economy. support local businesses. We will provide greater support for worker buyouts and, with 6 a le ine ualities in or e erien ed the cooperative sector, seek to double the by Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic number of employee-owned businesses. communities and take forward recommendations in the Race Equality Action Plan. We will progress the Fair Work Commission’s recommendations and make Wales a genuinely Fair Work Nation. We will use the new network of Disabled People’s Employment Champions to help CHAPTER 3 JOBS & SKILLS 24
10 With local partners, we will develop 12 Change the way we work, rather than masterplans for towns and high o utin to the o e e er da e ill streets to coordinate and focus economic seek a 30% target for working remotely opportunities and services, so more people to achieve a better work-life balance. We work and spend time in these vibrant will develop new remote working hubs centres. We will empower communities to in communities, increasing footfall and have a greater stake in local regeneration. creating new opportunities in town centres. 11 Enable our town centres to become more agile economically, we will help businesses to work co-operatively, increase their di ital offer and su ort lo al su l chains, including local delivery services. We will support the development of a register of empty buildings and help small businesses move into vacant shops. 25 MOVING WALES FORWARD
CHAPTER 4 BUILDING A STRONGER, GREENER ECONOMY
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BUILDING A STRONGER, GREENER ECONOMY Over the last four decades, Wales has been at the sharpest edge of deindustrialisation and with it a legacy of low pay, skills deficits, health inequalities and poverty. Devolution has given us the opportunity to re-build our economy and develop a modern and productive infrastructure, which can act as an engine of inclusive and sustainable growth. The pandemic has ravaged our economy – too many good businesses and jobs have been lost over the last year. We must now reset the clock and create a new, fairer, and greener economy that works for everyone, not just the few. With new digital, economic and transport infrastructures we will re- Our new greener build and re-energise our local communities, our town centres, and economy will our e ono in a ibrant and in lusi e a to safe uard e istin obs and create new job opportunities so Wales can thrive once again. be grounded in our values of Our new greener economy will be grounded in our values of progressive change – values of co-operation not competition; looking progressive change out for one another, not divided against each other. We will go forward together with our partners in the public sector, in business and in trade unions. And we will build our economic infrastructure for long-term sustainable home-grown industries and the rewarding jobs they will bring. CHAPTER 4 BUILDING A STRONGER, GREENER ECONOMY 28
WHAT WE DID IN GOVERNMENT Our Labour Government in Wales Introduced the MyTravelPass to give ! planned for the future by creating the ! discounted travel to all 16 to 21-year-olds. National Infrastructure Commission We are putting more than £80m of for Wales, publishing a National Development Framework and bringing ! additional funding into protecting bus local authorities together in new regional services during the pandemic and planning structures. committed major investments in new bus stations across Wales, including The Welsh Labour Government Cardiff, erth r d l and hotton. ! has stepped in where the UK Tory We are making a record investment of Government has failed by investing £200m to help 750,000 premises get ! £75m in active travel to improve walking fast-fibre broadband. We established and cycling opportunities. a Centre for Digital Public Services to Helping people move to electric advance innovation. ! vehicles with new investment in charging Sustainable, integrated, and accessible infrastructure and a new electric vehicle ! transport is vital to a modern economy charging strategy. and we have made record investment We’ve invested more than £110m in in public transport right across Wales ! renewable energy infrastructure, and a bold new transport strategy to cut backing 11 marine energy projects, emissions too. including the tidal stream demonstration Brought the Wales and Borders rail one off the oast of An lese . ! network back into public ownership. We are in estin to upgrade and electrify the South Wales Valleys lines to deliver better infrastructure, journey times and more trains. 29 MOVING WALES FORWARD
WELSH LABOUR’S PROMISE TO WALES WE WILL: 1 Invest for the long term in the green and 5 Take forward the Burns Commission report modern infrastructure Wales needs to for Newport, pressing the UK Government thrive. We will launch a new 10-year Wales to hel us realise its e itin ision for Infrastructure Investment Plan for a zero- transport integration and for easing M4 carbon economy; deliver on our 10-year congestion. We will develop a new major £100m Tech-Valleys programme and routes fund to improve the attractiveness complete major projects including the £1bn and biodiversity of areas alongside major dualling of the Heads of the Valleys road, transport routes into Wales. an e e tional ro ra e of or to unlo the potential of employment in the region. 6 Deliver £800m of new rolling stock for We will continue to press the UK Government our railways and ensure that 95% of train for a fair share of vital rail infrastructure and journeys are on new trains by 2024. We R&D investment for Wales. will progress plans for a metro in North Wales and Swansea Bay. We ill e lore 2 Take forward our new Digital Strategy o ortunities for ulti odal e tensions for Wales and upgrade our digital and to our Metro networks, such as the North communications infrastructure. We will West Corridor and across the South Wales support innovation through our new valleys. We will press the UK Government Advanced Manufacturing Research to electrify the North Wales mainline. We Centre in North Wales and our new ill de elo the e itin Global Centre Manufacturing Strategy to help key areas of Rail Excellence in the Dulais Valley to of our economy, such as aerospace and ro ote rail inno ation. We ill e lore steel, to innovate, grow and reduce their options for workers to take an ownership carbon footprint. stake in our national transport assets. 3 Create a modern legislative basis for 7 Invest in bus services and complete transport in Wales. We will lift the ban on major new bus infrastructure projects, local authorities setting up new municipal bus including reallocating road space to support companies. We will legislate to modernise the dedicated bus lanes and new rapid transit taxi and private vehicle sector and address routes that make bus travel easier. We will the problems of cross-bordering. learn fro re ent F e si ilots to expand flexible demand-responsive travel across 4 Implement our new Wales Transport Wales. We will build on the success of our Strategy to develop a high quality, free concessionary travel scheme for sustainable and affordable ubli trans ort older people and look at how fair fares system. We will give Transport for Wales can encourage integrated travel, including new powers to better integrate rail, bus e lorin e tensions of the MyTravelPass and active travel and regulate for them to for reduced-cost travel for young people. We meet Welsh language standards. We will will work to make the bus and taxi vehicle also work with local authorities to develop fleet zero-emission by 2028. new Regional Transport Plans. We will or to ards our ne tar et of of journeys by sustainable modes by 2040, setting more stretching goals where we can CHAPTER 4 BUILDING A STRONGER, GREENER ECONOMY 30
8 Work with Transport for Wales and local 11 Establish a new transport performance authorities to strengthen the promotion board to de elo the inte rated and e ient of walking and cycling as we make Wales passenger transport system we want in an active travel nation. We will support Wales. We will modernise transport grants. innovative new social enterprise schemes We will invest in travel options that such as bike maintenance repair cafes encourage public transport and support and bike recycling schemes. We will walking and cycling – options that are low develop new Active Travel Integrated or zero-carbon and mitigate air pollution. Network Maps and work with schools to promote Active Travel and Road Safety. 12 Support innovation in new renewable energy technology, with a particular focus 9 Make 20mph the default speed limit on supporting to market new technologies in residential areas and ban pavement that need additional help. As part of a parking wherever possible. balanced energy policy, we will develop a Tidal Lagoon Challenge and support ideas 10 Build a sustainable future for our key ports that can make Wales a world centre of and Cardiff Airport. emerging tidal technologies. 31 MOVING WALES FORWARD
CHAPTER 5 A GREENER ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
33 MOVING WALES FORWARD
A GREENER ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT A greener future is the only viable future we have. Developing a more sustainable relationship with the natural world must begin in our local communities – access to local green spaces for the ellbein bene ts it an brin , a lo al e ono that a oids waste, locally generated renewable energy, locally grown food, and keeping all communities safe from the impact of pollution and the changing climate. he ind of reen transfor ation that the ne t Welsh Labour Government will deliver will integrate positive action for nature into more of our economic activity – from sheep farming to steel production - The kind of green we will prioritise investment in the skills we need to prepare our citizens to meet the challenges that climate change will bring. transformation that the next A greener future must be a fairer future too and we cannot rely on the free market to deliver it. As the recent health emergency demonstrated, Welsh Labour collective action, supported by local and national government is so much Government ore effe ti e at deli erin eanin ful han e. will deliver will We will make sure that nature and climate are on the agenda of every integrate positive public service and private sector business, and we will be looking to action for nature see an environmental return on any public investment. into more of our The climate and nature emergency is not the next global crisis. It is economic activity already upon us and Welsh Labour has the vision and ambition to plan a better, fairer, and greener future for us all. CHAPTER 5 A GREENER ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT 34
WHAT WE DID IN GOVERNMENT Our Warm Homes scheme has installed Fracking has been banned in Wales by ! energy efficiency measures in more than ! this Welsh Labour government and the 60,000 households, reducing fuel bills and o ortunities for the e tra tion of fossil improving health. fuels in Wales continue to reduce. Through our funding to National Resources Through maintaining the highest bathing ! Wales, we are protecting over 70,000 homes ! water standards in the UK, Wales’ beaches from flooding. We have also funded local have secured over 40 Blue Flag Awards authorities to build a network of flood The Welsh Labour government has kept defences to protect tens of thousands more, a hi her le el of in est ent in ood ! the country free from the cultivation of protection than anywhere in the UK where genetically modified crops. the Tories are in charge. We have introduced strict regulations to Through setting recycling targets, spending ! reduce agricultural pollution that will ! £1 billion since 2000 to improve waste help farmers play their part in improving collection, and banning single use plastics, the health of our rivers. the Welsh Labour Government has put We introduced a regulation to ban third Wales in the lead globally as far as ! party sales of puppies and kittens, recycling is concerned. commonly known as ‘Lucy’s Law,’ and we Since we launched the creation of a have banned the use of wild animals in ! National Forest for Wales, we have circuses. supported more than 30 Welsh forestry Through our ‘Wales and Africa’ programme, businesses to build the foundations for a ! we have planted more than 15 million si ni ant e ansion of tree lantin and a trees in Uganda securing livelihoods, sustainable timber industry. protecting communities, and helping the environment. 35 MOVING WALES FORWARD
WELSH LABOUR’S PROMISE TO WALES WE WILL: 1 Legislate to abolish the use of more 5 Fund additional flood protection for commonly littered, single use plastics, more than 45,000 homes. We will deliver saving our seas and countryside from nature based ood ana e ent in all the scourge of plastic pollution. We will a or ri er at h ents to e and etland also introdu e an e tended rodu er and woodland habitats at the same time as responsibility scheme to incentivise waste relieving pressure on hard defences. We will reduction by businesses. legislate to strengthen the requirements for the use of sustainable drainage systems 2 Create a National Forest to e tend fro the that provide wildlife habitat. North of Wales to the South, improving 20 e istin oodlands to a hie e ational Forest 6 Set the highest international standards of air designation. We will support communities quality into law in a Clean Air Act for Wales, to create 30 new woodlands and connect consistent with World Health Organisation habitat areas. We will strengthen the uidan e. We ill e tend the ro ision of protections for ancient woodlands. We air quality monitoring to encourage positive will harness the economic, cultural, and beha iour han e to redu e e osure and recreational potential of the National Forest eliminate pollution at source. in consultation with local communities, building on our progress towards creating a 7 Designate a new National Park to cover sustainable timber industry. the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley. We will begin to designate Wales’ inland waters 3 Create a new system of farm support that for recreation, strengthening water quality ill a i ise the rote ti e o er of nature monitoring to enable rivers to reach the through farming, requiring food production same high standards achieved by Wales’ in Wales takes place within environmental beaches. We will establish a targeted limits. Farmers will only receive public scheme to support restoration of seagrass subsidy for producing food that delivers and saltmarsh habitats along our coastline. additional environmental outcomes. We will develop a Wales Community Food 8 Support 80 re-use and repair hubs in Strategy to encourage the supply of town centres and bring together a place- locally sourced food in Wales. based zero waste challenge network of organisations to support cultural change in 4 Ensure coal tip safety by introducing businesses and communities. legislation to deal with the legacy of centuries of mining, strengthening local 9 Uphold our policy of opposing the authority powers to ensure protection of extraction of fossil fuels in Wales, both on the public and the environment. land and in Welsh waters, using the powers available to us. We will expand renewable energy generation by public bodies and community groups in Wales by over 100MW by 2026, working towards our target of 1GW in public sector and community renewable energy capacity by 2030. CHAPTER 5 A GREENER ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT 36
10 Enforce a moratorium on the consenting 12 and the su essful s he e su ortin of all large incineration facilities. community groups across Wales to create or significantly enhance green 11 Develop a national model for regulation of spaces accessible to and valued by local animal welfare, introducing registration communities, including: for animal welfare establishments, commercial breeders for pets or for • 2000 pollinator habitat sites. shootin , and ani al e hibits. We ill i ro e the uali ations for • 1000 community food growing sites. animal welfare inspectors to raise their professional status. We will require CCTV • 200 community orchards cultivating native fruit. in all slaughterhouses, we will ban the use of snares, and restrict the use of cages for farmed animals. We will not allow the • 100 ‘Tiny Forests’ – dense and diverse woodlands the size of a tennis court. culling of badgers to control the spread of TB in cattle. • habitat reation s he es at rail stations and transport interchanges. • sensor ardens for thera euti purposes, delivered in partnership with health charities and the Welsh NHS. 37 MOVING WALES FORWARD
CHAPTER 6 SCHOOLING, LEARNING, & EDUCATION FOR ALL
39 MOVING WALES FORWARD
SCHOOLING, LEARNING, & EDUCATION FOR ALL Over the last decade the Welsh Labour Government has led the most ambitious and far-reaching programme of reform in our schools, colleges, and universities for a generation. The success of our reforms has meant that the proportion of working age people with no qualifications in Wales has more than halved since devolution began and those with higher education level skills has gone from just over one in five to more than one in three. The challenge of the coming term is to continue the long-term programme of reform that we have started – to embed Wales’ world leadin , e itin and reati e ne urri ulu in our s hools to complete the vital tertiary education funding changes we have started A Welsh Labour and to continue to develop stronger leadership at every level of our Government education system. will ensure that We will repair the damage done over the last year to the lives and life educational chances of our children and young people who have had their schooling and education disrupted by Covid. A Welsh Labour Government will inequalities narrow ensure that educational inequalities narrow in Wales, not widen, and we in Wales, not widen, will make sure that nobody is left behind as a result of Covid. and we will make The Welsh Labour way has always been to seek positive change and sure that nobody improvement through collaboration and consensus. We will work is left behind as a with the most important assets we have – our children and young people, their parents and carers, and our workforce – to ensure the result of Covid best outcomes for learners, particularly the most vulnerable. CHAPTER 6 SCHOOLING, LEARNING, AND EDUCATION FOR ALL 40
WHAT WE DID IN GOVERNMENT We have seen significantly improved A We ha e ro ided fundin to e tend the ! level performance - in Wales in 2019, 27 ! School Holiday Enrichment Programme per cent achieved A*–A grades, the highest for children in areas of high deprivation so in the UK, up from 23 per cent in 2016. that o er 1 , hildren ill no bene t. We have developed the new, world- We protected the Educational ! beating Curriculum for Wales, following ! Maintenance Allowances at £30 per week, the Donaldson Review, and passed new scrapped where the Tories are in power. legislation to make sure it is delivered in We have pursued our clear ambition of all our schools. We are also taking forward the Williams Report’s recommendations ! achieving a million Welsh speakers by on the teaching of themes related to Black, 2050 by supporting the growing demand Asian and Minority Ethnic communities and for Welsh medium provision and by e erien es. embedding the acquisition of Welsh language skills across the new curriculum. Through the Reducing Infant Class Sizes ! We have invested in the quality of teaching Grant, the Welsh Labour Government has reduced the average infant class ! and the professional development of all size to , e lo in an e tra 1 staff teaching and support staff. We developed and dire tl bene tin ore than , the National Approach to Professional children. Learning and invested £31m into school budgets to allow them to create the time and We have successfully passed legislation space needed for professional learning. ! this term that will transform the system We have also developed a new Teaching in Wales for supporting children and oun eo le a ed ears ho ha e ! Assistants learning pathway aligned additional learning needs. to new Assisting Teaching standards and a new Aspiring Higher Level Teaching The Welsh Labour Government has Assistant programme. ! reduced the cost of the school day b e tendin nan ial su ort to ore fa ilies. We ere the rst o ern ent in the UK to do the decent thing and guarantee free school meal provision for all school holidays up to and including Easter 2022. 41 MOVING WALES FORWARD
WELSH LABOUR’S PROMISE TO WALES WE WILL: for children and young people. We will work 1 Make sure that no-one is left behind by ith artners to e and the tea hin of funding up to 1,800 additional tutoring staff in our schools for as long as they are modern foreign languages in our schools. needed. As part of our new Young Persons Guarantee, we will review and strengthen 6 Continue investing in the Pupil Development Grant, focusing on support the Youth Engagement and Progression for the pupils whose families are facing Framework to support young people at risk the reatest nan ial hallen es. We ill of disengaging from education and training. also protect the Education Maintenance Allowances for young learners. 2 n est ore than 1. bn in the ne t hase of the 21st Century Schools and Colleges Programme – the most ambitious scheme 7 Maintain our commitment to provide free breakfasts for all primary school pupils, of new building in a generation. We will recognising how important it is for children continue to work with local authorities to to start the day right. We will also maintain transform learning environments, develop our commitment to abolishing holiday net-zero carbon schools and open up hunger by building on our School Holiday school facilities for local communities. Enrichment Programme. We will continue to meet the rise in demand for Free School 3 Continue to invest in learning, teaching and Meals resulting from the pandemic and research in our colleges and universities to hel the a i ise their ontribution re ie the eli ibilit riteria, e tendin to the local economy and national life entitlement as far as resources allow. and develop further as centres of international excellence. We will take The 8 Appoint a Cabinet level minister to develop and take forward the proposals of the Tertiary Education and Research (Wales) Youth Board for Wales. This will include Bill through the Senedd and we will review working with local government and Adult Education to increase the numbers of partners to legislate for a new framework adults learning in Wales. for youth services in Wales. 4 Work with schools to help them meet 9 Make a reality of community-focused the mental health challenges many schools by investing in the learning young learners face, including additional environment, co-locating key services, and ounsellin ro ision throu hout the ne t securing stronger engagement with parents Senedd term. and carers outside traditional hours. 5 Improve outcomes for our young people 10 lore reform of the school day and the by supporting schools and teachers to school year to bring both more in line with deliver our world-leading Curriculum contemporary patterns of family life and for Wales, which starts in 2022. We will employment. reduce unnecessary bureaucracy to support school leaders to focus on what they do best – lead. We will implement the new Additional Learning Needs Act, to transfor the e erien es and out o es CHAPTER 6 SCHOOLING, LEARNING, AND EDUCATION FOR ALL 42
11 Support the democratic role of local 12 Develop a sustainable model for supply authorities in education and promote teaching that has fair work at its heart. parity of esteem between vocational and academic routes in Welsh education. We will work with trade unions and local o ern ent to e a ine ho a reater degree of federation can support education leadership across Wales and how we can strengthen professional learning communities. 43 MOVING WALES FORWARD
CHAPTER 7 LEADING ON EQUALITIES
45 MOVING WALES FORWARD
LEADING ON EQUALITIES The best future there can be for Wales is the most equal, free and fair future. Throughout our history, the Labour Party has stood for the rights and recognition of those who are vulnerable and disadvantaged or who face stigma and discrimination. We are the party of equalities and human rights and we remain committed to freedom of conscience and freedom of belief. Many of the challenges, including racism, faced by our minority communities have their origins in structures of power and social relations that have long had their day yet still need to be challenged. Welsh Labour Gender inequality is still an entrenched unfairness and violence a ainst o en, do esti abuse and se ual iolen e re ains all too recognises our common. We want to make Wales the safest place in Europe to be a common humanity woman. We also know that people are disabled by barriers created by and celebrates so ietal ine ualit and not b their i air ent or s e i needs. We have come a long way on the march for LGBTQ+ equality, but until diversity, and every person can be their true self, living free from fear, we still have difference work to do. Welsh Labour recognises our common humanity and celebrates di ersit , and differen e. he ore e or to ether, the ore li el we are to achieve positive change. That is why we actively support progressive networks, campaigns and organisations that are working towards an equal society. CHAPTER 7 LEADING ON EQUALITIES 46
WHAT WE DID IN GOVERNMENT o ta le do esti abuse and se ual Welsh Labour embedded Relationships and ! violence, the Welsh Labour Government ! e ualit du ation in the ne urri ulu established the Live Fear Free and the ensuring LGBTQ+ inclusive education for Dyn helplines for women and men who are our children and young people. We also victims of violence and domestic abuse. established a ground-breaking Gender Identity Service to support Trans people We have launched a Race Equality Action ! Plan, co-constructed with Black, Asian, and and commissioned a comprehensive LGBTQ+ action plan in partnership with Minority Ethnic community mentors and Stonewall Cymru. community groups. We have also invested over £1.2m to tackle hate crime and to We removed the ‘gay blood ban’ and support victims of hate crime. ! be a e the rst nation to a e Re available on the NHS. We supported Prides The Welsh Labour Government and Black, ! Asian, and Minority Ethnic clinicians, throughout Wales as well as sponsoring Pride Cymru. created and introduced the All Wales Covid-19 Workforce Risk Assessment We committed Wales to be a Nation of Tool, the rst in the . his hel ed to ! Sanctuary and provided over £1m to protect the health of NHS, social care, the Asylum Rights ro ra e offerin edu ation, and e or er staff in Wales advocacy and support. throughout the pandemic. The Welsh Government commissioned We established the Access to Elected ! research to advance the case for the ! Office Fund to support and encourage incorporation of UN Conventions into disabled people to run for ele ted o e in Welsh law and the introduction of a Human the Senedd and Local Government. Rights Act for Wales. We introduced Disabled People’s It was this Welsh Labour Government that ! Employment Champions and committed ! provided free period products across nearly £40m to employment support for schools, colleges, local authorities, and those most negatively impacted by Covid. communities. 47 MOVING WALES FORWARD
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