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 Finishing the job on Covid-19...... 7 extra funding to the NHS every year, with 3,000 more nurses and 1,200 doctors by 2026 Securing jobs and livelihoods...... 9 • Put in law our respect for the Welsh NHS with an NHS Covenant to guarantee increased investment and support for our NHS heroes for the future Building better roads, rail and broadband...... 13 Building a better healthcare service for everyone...... 17 • Delivering 5,000 more teachers and more investment in Welsh education to provide the best schools and skills for young people Building better schools, colleges and universities...... 23 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 job, lost their business or suffered a towards recovery, Wales stands at a recovery and rebuild for a stronger, more investment in Welsh education pressure, by delivering a Council Tax 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 for everyone by building five new infrastructure for Wales, including an creating jobs by investing in the critical By giving us your support on the 6th May hospitals and providing extra funding M4 Relief Road, upgrades to the A55 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 to reduce carbon emissions, and coronavirus hit. NHS with an NHS Covenant to 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 time buyers and raising the threshold Improve rail links between North What we will do: Work with UK-wide organisations, our “Jump Start Scheme” paying to £250,000 to help more families and Wales and the North West of England, Rebuilding Wales’ such as Visit Britain, to promote the employer National Insurance hard-working people to benefit from including Manchester and Liverpool Rebuild the Welsh tourism industry Wales on the international stage and contributions of two new employees the security of home ownership Airports tourism industry by launching an international with airlines to secure more routes for two years to accelerate growth marketing campaign, “Experience into Wales Where we are: Undertake reviews of every Welsh Work with the UK Government to Wales” building on North Wales as a global must visit destination Establish “Innovate Wales”, based Government funded organisation to deliver a Freeport at Holyhead in North Wales, a one stop shop for ensure maximum value for money for Tourism plays a huge part in Wales, employing more firms to support new enterprises, the taxpayer Promote North Wales as a premier Work with the industry, deliver a WORK WITH THE and encourage existing businesses destination for international visitors than 150,000 people and Welcome Back to Wales Festival in to grow and export Rule out an increase in the number of contributing around £6 billion 2022 to showcase Welsh tourism UK GOVERNMENT Members of the Senedd to the Welsh economy. The and to encourage people to come Establish a North East Wales Institute back following the pandemic, using Create Business Rate Free Zones of Technology pandemic has hit the sector the Queen’s Jubilee to promote the Implement Growth Deals worth providing a 3-year business rate Support Welsh firms to bounce back hard and it will need support holiday for SME’s as part of our Covid to kickstart the industry and best of Wales and Britain £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 attract more holidaymakers collection in North Wales 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 Create a comeback package for Tax Deliver a new deal for let down by successive Labour seaside and market towns to level Ban public bodies from imposing North Wales: Build a Rapid Diagnostic Centre for Governments which have failed to Abolish business rates for small up with a Tourism Towns Fund, their own direct or indirect North Wales cutting waiting times for invest in our transport links, failed to businesses and reform the outdated Introduce a dedicated Minister for enabling communities to improve boycotts, disinvestment or tests and reduce the need for repeat promote Wales as a top destination and tax on growth North Wales to ensure it is no-longer their local economy by attracting sanctions campaigns against 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 Wales, leading to the development Unleash the potential of Visit Wales 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 creating 200 Agency to North Wales 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 active travel setting up in Wales, doesn’t allow us to economy nearly £300 million 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 Wales to pursue a successful career. cancelled in 2018/19 the A470, creating passing places 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 17 What 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 BUILD A MORE UK, with consistent messaging and Welsh Parliament law to protect the NHS for future 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 HEALTH WITH and young people to prevent Support patients with a new Patient Embrace new ways of working, such 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 Deliver dedicated mother and baby Undertake a fundamental review of Expand the Access to Treatments mental health services through a units in both North and South Wales 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 Introduce a new Mental Health access 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 eating disorders patients, so that ambulances and Gareth Lloyd Davies hospitals work together to deliver timely care Candidate for Vale of Clwyd NHS Physio 18 IMPROVE STANDARDS, IMPROVE OUTCOMES Revisit the proposals for IMPROVE SOCIAL CARE Increase the capital limit to reorganising health care provision in £100,000 for those accessing GOVERNANCE AND AND PATIENT ACCESS West Wales residential care to ensure that Delivering effective and compassionate people do not lose their life savings SAFETY TO HEALTH CARE social care is one of the greatest Extend the role of community to care costs challenges and responsibilities facing pharmacies in delivering health governments as people continue to Establish a new joint Health and Work with stakeholders to develop, 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 Prevent hospital closures and support needs for the NHS and Social Service Deliver a new dental contract to downgrades for the duration of the Departments that are backed by reflect modern dental practice, next Welsh Parliament term health and care professionals and 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 community hospitals over the next carer assessments Remove Ministerial influence in for Wales parliament in Flint, Llandrindod NHS escalation and intervention Support patients undergoing cancer Wells, Newtown, Rhyl and West treatment by providing free dental Support young carers with a Young arrangements and give the new Wales Introduce a Welsh Minimum Care to provide inspectorate powers to intervene care Carers Card scheme 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 access education, training and identified Expand the role of opticians in 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 review of minor eye conditions and Work with the sector to recruit Extend free bus travel to principal Community Health Councils the monitoring of degenerative and retain care workers, including carers of those over the age of 60 for the full term of the next the training care home workers to Build a network of rapid diagnostic conditions, such as glaucoma Welsh Parliament, protecting their undertake basic checks such centres across Wales to cut waiting independence to enhance their role as blood pressure and to tackle times for tests and reduce the need as patient watchdogs 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 Protect the status of the Royal Health Board in Wales 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 systems to send patients to the Deliver an Autism Act for Wales and independence, and review access district general hospitals, with the fastest A&E at the time, and improve services for people with to Disabled Facilities Grants so return of consultant-led maternity introduce an ‘ambulance to bed’ learning disabilities that housing plays its fullest role in services at Withybush waiting target health and social care 20 21 Building 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, Improve standards by reducing class responsibilities to advise on school 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 23 Barbara 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 Work with Welsh Universities to undertake world leading research CHOICE introduce intensive degrees that Prevent the closure of any school can be completed over two years that is able to deliver the national curriculum, without the agreement PROMOTE LEARNER Introduce a Student from parents, teachers and Accommodation Quality Standard WELLBEING AND governors SKILLS FOR LIFE for halls of residence Create more Welsh-medium school Ensure skills for life are a priority Help young people access places and explore opportunities for in the curriculum to enable young education, training and employment teacher exchanges to enable staff to people to manage their finances with free bus travel and discounted grow their welsh skills and eat healthily 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
25 Amanda Jenner Candidate for Ceredigion Qualified Teacher PROMOTE TECHNICAL INVEST IN CHILDCARE WORK WITH THE EDUCATION, SKILLS Expand free childcare provision to UK GOVERNMENT AND LIFELONG two-year-olds
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 Maximise participation from Wales recovery through training the can access Welsh-medium nursery in the Turing Programme, especially next generation and upskilling the provision 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, Provide access to international in North Wales focusing on STEM not postcodes 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 27 Building 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 29 PROMOTE A GREEN Ban single use plastics for non- REDUCE THE RISK OF Ban the keeping of primates as pets Guarantee financial support for medical use such as plastic wet Welsh farmers at a level of no less WORK WITH THE RECOVERY wipes, straws, stirrers, disposable FLOODING Review pet breeding standards and than that previously provided by the UK GOVERNMENT Establish a £150 million Wales cups and cotton buds to reduce Create a National Flood Agency to registration requirements to ensure EU for every year of the next Welsh Marine Energy Investment Fund to harm to wildlife and blocked sewers coordinate flood risk management, adequate protection for animals Parliament and work with farmers End the sale of new petrol and diesel purchase equity in marine energy and drains the response to flooding events and and bring forward the ban on the to create a new support scheme for 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 Wales 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 Maximise the benefits for Welsh Undertake an urgent risk based distinguishing between stunned and farmers on the voluntary code 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 already agreed to reduce pollution 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 Design a Shared Prosperity on the commercial and the current targets Scope out required flood alleviation Establish a £20 million Wales Royal Welsh Agricultural Show to Fund that can target pockets of regulatory function measures to include catchment Wildlife Fund to support ensure it remains Europe’s second deprivation in rural Wales Work with Welsh universities retention proposals conservation efforts across Wales largest celebration of rural life Create the Independent Office and the private sector to create Ensure the availability of Seasonal for Environmental Protection and a new centre of excellence and Double the investment in flood Agricultural Workers Climate Change for Wales, to hold research into energy storage and defences in Wales to £120 million a BACK FARMERS REVIVE THE WELSH the Welsh Government and other transportation year FISHING INDUSTRY public bodies to account in tackling Introduce an Agricultural Bill Work with the Home Office to for Wales setting out how our climate change and protecting our Set a target of net-zero carbon Increase funding for fisheries establish a National Rural Crime Establish Blue Belts in areas of high farmers and land managers will be environment emissions in Wales by 2050 and a across Wales throughout the next Taskforce for Wales flood risk to prevent irresponsible supported with public money for target for all new homes to be zero Welsh Parliament and support development public goods, whilst helping the to carbon by 2026 the regeneration of our coastal Work with the private sector sector to invest in new technology, attract Wales’ first Gigafactory communities Plant at least eight million trees become more productive and Support households to improve receive a fairer price for their a year, to soak up around half a Work with stakeholders to deliver a Support the Welsh steel industry to the energy efficiency of their produce million tonnes of C02 a year, whilst new fishing strategy for Wales which become the greenest in the world homes with vouchers up to £5,000, also reducing flood risks with households on low incomes would be based on the principle of Use our exit from the EU to receiving up to £10,000 ‘maximum sustainable yield’ Introduce a Clean Air Act to tackle encourage the public sector in pollution and reduce the incidence Wales to ‘Buy Welsh’ to support our ENHANCE ANIMAL Place a legal duty on the Welsh of respiratory diseases Work with bus companies to farmers and reduce environmental Government to maintain fish electrify their fleets WELFARE AND costs sustainability for every stock Increase penalties and improve PROTECT WILDLIFE for fly-tipping, dog Fund a Welsh Tidal Power Feasibility enforcement Establish an animal offender Work with the sector to invest in fouling, graffiti and littering to Study to accelerate the delivery of register in Wales meat freezing facilities to improve 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 31 Supporting 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 33 EMPOWER 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 Establish a network of Welsh Sports allowing them to influence where claimants to this 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 engagement in sports and close Support our older people by: waste and recycling collections, and gaps in participation - Maintaining free prescriptions fortnightly bin collections Introduce a Community Ownership - Maintaining Free bus travel Fund and Right to Bid to support Establish a network of 3G and 4G - Promote Free entry to CADW sites the takeover of assets such as synthetic turf pitches throughout for the over 75s libraries, pubs, leisure centres TACKLE Wales to improve access - Pilot free rail travel for over 75s and green spaces, particularly HOMELESSNESS those threatened with closure or 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
in our rural councils and help has experienced homelessness to Ensure that older people can access 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 other major sporting events to council services by enabling a Immediately bring 150 empty social 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 Final, the Invictus Games and the the ambition of freezing for the full risk of homelessness 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 35 James 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 violence against women, domestic on the streets 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 • The Welsh • There are more people in Wales are Government is empty homes than on a social housing building less than second homes in More affordable, waiting list 3,000 affordable Wales homes a year high quality 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 introduction of deposit improved accessibility for all The pandemic has to build 100,000 homes over the passporting dramatically highlighted how 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 have homes that are fit for of new leasehold homes, with house building 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 cutting red tape whilst putting housing to give the Welsh economy homes from sale for 10 years 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 in mind and that there is affordable consequentials from the UK the purchase price threshold to housing for everyone who needs it. Government to the fund £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 achieve it by reversing Labour’s attack Quality Standard and introduce a to empty properties in need of Student Accommodation Quality on aspiration through restoring the renovation Right-to-Buy in Wales, and ending the Standard for halls of residence tax on opportunity to help people onto the housing ladder. 38 39 Our 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