Speaking at the latest in a series of events organised by Wales for Europe, he set out the Welsh Government’s 6 priorities. These 6 priorities respect the Brexit vote in 2016 but put Welsh interests at the forefront of a new relationship with the European Union:

• continued full and unfettered access to the single market and participation in a customs union
• a new migration system that links migration more closely to employment
• Wales not to lose a penny of funding as a result of Brexit – a promise made during the referendum campaign
• a fundamentally different constitutional relationship between the devolved governments and the UK Government, which is based on mutual respect
• maintaining current social and environmental protections, including workers’ rights
• a transition period to avoid a ‘cliff edge’.

The speech comes ahead of today’s debate on a Legislative Consent Motion, which seeks the National Assembly’s agreement to those aspects of the UK government’s EU Withdrawal Bill which have an impact on devolution. 

Professor Drakeford said:

“When we started discussions with our Scottish and UK counterparts, the EU Withdrawal Bill would have allowed the UK government to take control of devolved policy areas, such as farming and fishing, after Brexit. 

“We are now in a different place. London has changed its position so that all devolved powers and policy areas rest in Cardiff, unless we all agree that some matters will continue to operate temporarily to the existing EU rule book. These will be areas where we all agree that, when the UK leaves the EU, UK-wide rules are needed for a functioning UK internal market.

“The Legislative Consent Motion defends and entrenches devolution while also providing the certainty necessary that the United Kingdom will operate effectively, the other side of the European Union and the shared rule book it has provided.”

The scheme, which is planned to come into force from April 2019, will cover all contracted GPs and other health professionals working in NHS general practice. 

The move comes following concerns about increasing indemnity costs, which could potentially drive GPs away from the profession, resulting in an impact on services. 

The scheme, which will be aligned as far as possible to the state backed scheme announced in England, will ensure that GPs in Wales are not at a disadvantage relative to GPs in England and that GP recruitment and cross border activity will not be adversely affected by different schemes operating in England and Wales. 

Vaughan Gething said:

“We have listened to GPs’ concerns. We understand the impact rising professional indemnity costs is having on the workforce and the potential for future pressure if different indemnity practices were in place in England and Wales. 

“We’ve contributed towards the increasing indemnity costs through the annual uplift in GP pay and expenses since 2017, but today we are going further by responding to GP’s concerns with a long-term and sustainable solution. 

“This further demonstrates our commitment to invest in primary care in Wales and attract more GPs to work in Wales, helping us to make sure our health service is sustainable in the long-term.

“I hope today’s announcement gives reassurance to our hard working GP workforce.”

Dr Charlotte Jones, Chair of BMA Cymru Wales’ GP Committee (GPC Wales) and Deputy Chair, Dr Peter Horvath-Howard said:

“GPC Wales is very positive that the move towards a state backed indemnity system for all GPs in Wales represents a very important step towards increasing the sustainability of general practice in Wales by addressing this significant cost pressure on GPs. 

“It is reassuring to hear that the scheme will cover the wider practice clinical team, and will ensure that any vicarious liabilities GP partners have with the wider multi-disciplinary teams working across clusters is covered.  

“We look forward to working through the details with Welsh Government who have clearly recognised the need for action on this complex issue.”

The Welsh Government commissioned the Institute of Public Care (IPC) to carry out an analysis of outcomes for children and young people 4 to 5 years after a final Care Order. 

The study set out to explore the placement journeys for children in care in Wales, how these compare with the outcomes aspired to in their Care Plan and the key success factors associated with positive placements.

The large scale analysis involved all of the 1,076 children and young people with a final Care Order made in Wales in the 12 month period from April 2012 to March 2013. A smaller representative sub-sample of 79 cases was then drawn from five local authority areas to allow more in-depth analysis to be conducted.

The report found:

• Over three quarters of the whole cohort of children experienced a high level of placement stability – with either no placement move (30%) or only one (46%) placement move over the 4-5 year period that the study looked at. 
• 71% of the smaller sub-sample had overall positive outcomes in relation to their home environment, communication and attachments; education; physical health and the absence of offending; 19% had mixed outcomes; and 10% had overall negative outcomes;
• Whilst 78% of the whole cohort of children was officially recorded as having a primary need for care relating to abuse and neglect, the in-depth analysis found that almost all children in the sub-sample had experienced abuse and neglect before the Care Order was made.

The study is part of the work of the Improving Outcomes for Children Ministerial Advisory Group. The Group is taking forward a significant programme of work to help safely reduce the number of children coming into care, improve outcomes for children already in care and better support care leavers to adulthood and independence.

Minister for Children and Social Care, Huw Irranca-Davies said:

“Improving outcomes and life chances for care experienced children is a key priority for me. This Government is committed to ensuring the life chances of looked after children are the same as for other children.  

“I am pleased to see many children and young people are doing well in care in Wales, with over three quarters of the children this study looked at experiencing a high level of placement stability. The study highlights the good work that is taking place by both children’s social services and their education partners throughout Wales to secure the best possible outcomes for children in care. 

“However, there are still significant challenges for children in care in Wales, particularly in supporting children who are dealing with the impact of abuse and trauma. We must learn and use the findings from this work to help ensure the emotional health and wellbeing needs of children are addressed in a therapeutic way and continue to focus on providing high quality and long-term placements that will help to meet their needs.”

Speaking at the NHS research and development conference in Newport, the Finance Secretary will talk about the Welsh Government’s aim for Wales to continue to have access to vital EU research and innovation programmes such as Horizon 2020.

Welsh Ministers have repeatedly made it clear that Wales’ scientific and research community must not be left isolated from our European partners and stressed the importance of Wales continuing to be part of EU-led programmes.

Mark Drakeford will say; 

“As well as the challenges of austerity and increasing demand, we must also acknowledge the challenge of Brexit and the uncertain times we face.

“We know countries and regions across the world are facing common and significant health and care challenges. Diseases do not recognise national borders and our challenges cannot be addressed in isolation. Continued cross-border collaboration in research, development and innovation, (principally through the Horizon 2020 programme at present), is particularly important and should continue after the UK has left the EU.”