More than 45,500 children have enjoyed free school lunches for the first time since Welsh Labour and Plaid Cymru committed to working together in the Senedd. Costing £200m in revenue funding, free school meals was one of the first things the two parties announced in December 2021.
A whole year has passed since the co-operation agreement was signed whereby the two parties agreed to support each other where they have "common interests". From free childcare to addressing second homes to how to get to Net Zero by 2035, the two parties have identified 46 commitments they want to deliver together over three years.
However, the Welsh Conservatives said Welsh people’s priorities have been abandoned "in favour of vanity projects and inaction".
In the first 12 months, 23 key things have happened according to an annual report:
- Free school lunches have started to be rolled out. Costing £200m all primary school children and more than 6,000 nursery-age pupils will be eligible for free school meals by 2024. So far, the youngest children have been given free lunches.
- First steps in expansion of free childcare to all two-year-olds and expansion of Flying Start programme.
- Second homes. New planning, property and taxation systems to address the increasing number of holiday homes in Wales.
- Independent review of flooding events that occurred in winter 2021-22.
Introduced the Agriculture (Wales) Bill, with work ongoing on further amendments.
Appointed Jane Davidson to chair the work to examine potential pathways to Net Zero by 2035.
Agreed on Senedd reform plans.
Established an expert panel to explore the creation of a Shadow Broadcasting and Communications Authority.
Awarded £11m investment for the Arfor 2 programme to boost economic prosperity in Welsh-speaking communities.
Launched a consultation on a new cross-government, mission-based innovation strategy for Wales.
Free Welsh lessons for all 16- to 25-year-olds from September 2022.
Passed new Welsh language Standards for nine UK bodies in the health sector — eight professional regulatory bodies and the Professional Standards Authority.
Invested £214m in flood protection measures across Wales over three years.
Set up an expert group to help create the National Care Service.
Launched a public consultation for a tourism tax.
Consulting on changes to the statements of What Matters Code and guidance to improve the teaching of Welsh history in all of its diversity in schools.
Passed the Tertiary Education and Research (Wales) Act.
Introduced the Social Partnership and Public Procurement (Wales) Bill.
Published and consulted on phase one proposals for a fairer council tax.
Consulted on legislation to eliminate profit from the care of children looked after.
Announced Sharron Lusher as chair of the Vocational Qualifications Review Board, which will review the vocational qualifications on offer to learners and employers in Wales.
Agreed the scope of a new Culture Strategy and issued an invitation to tender.
Taken forward work to develop a new National Contemporary Art Gallery for Wales.
A special budget has been put in place for the series of funding commitments over the three-year co-operation agreement. The Welsh Government said more work is being done on developing the policy for all the commitments so that they can be implemented by the end of 2024.
The Tories have criticised moves to make 20mph the default for Welsh roads and say the tourism tax puts one in seven jobs at risk. The party also says taxpayer's money is being used to feed the children of millionaires instead of being used to support those on the lowest incomes.
Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies MS said: "One year on since the co-operation agreement, Labour and Plaid have brought in one disastrous proposal after another, from default 20mph speed limits to tourism taxes to creating more politicians in Cardiff Bay, that are not only far removed from the wishes of the Welsh people, but their needs too.
"The priorities of voters have been completely ignored, with NHS waiting lists sky-rocketing beyond anything seen elsewhere in Britain, the blocking of a Wales-specific Covid inquiry, and school standards, public transport services, and pay packets all diminishing."
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