The new HerdAdvance project, which is being launched at the Dairy Show, is part of the Welsh Government’s £6.5m Dairy Improvement Programme, funded through the Rural Development Programme.

Support will be available for dairy farmers to improve the performance of their business by better cattle health and welfare, through working with their vet to deliver cattle health action planning. 

The new project, delivered by the Agricultural and Horticultural Development Board (AHDB) Dairy, will provide financial and technical assistance on herd health management and disease control.  With the UK leaving the European Union in five months time, it will provide timely support, delivering interventions  to improve the profitability and performance of the industry at a crucial time.

Dairy farmers are able to submit expression of interest in the first window of applications until 30 November.

The Cabinet Secretary will today officially open the Dairy Show and will tour the Showground.  At the Show, the Cabinet Secretary will also present the FUW’s annual ‘Outstanding Contribution to the Welsh Dairy Industry’ and the NFU Cymru / NFU Mutual Welsh ‘Dairy stockperson of the year’ awards.

The Cabinet Secretary said: 

“Brexit means we have the opportunity to do things differently but there will also be many challenges.

“As a Government, we are doing all we can to support the industry prepare for Brexit and the challenges it will bring.   The need to prepare for a post-Brexit world has never been more essential.

“Earlier this year I announced £6.5m for AHDB Dairy to deliver our Dairy Improvement Programme, which aims to improve the profitability, sustainability and resilience of the industry.  Today the first phase of the programme launches and dairy farmers will now be able to apply for support to help improve the health of their herds and the profitability of their businesses.

“I encourage dairy farmers to make use of this invaluable support and to submit their expressions of interest by 30 November.

“I look forward to opening this year’s dairy show and am confident the dairy industry in Wales has a very bright future.” 

Welcoming the new HerdAdvance project, Professor Christianne Glossop, the Chief Veterinary Officer for Wales said: 

“Ensuring optimal animal health and welfare is key to the success of livestock businesses, and is one of main goals of the Wales Animal Health and Welfare Framework.  AHDB’s initiative will help dairy farmers and their vet embed cattle health planning in the business.  I would urge all dairy farmers in Wales to consider, with their vet, whether they can make use of this important new opportunity”.

The fourth NHS Wales Annual Quality Statement (AQS) contains some of the initiatives which are contributing to improvements, across the board, in the quality of care provided for patients in areas such as dementia, sepsis, diabetes and cancer. The report highlights examples of where care is being delivered effectively in innovative new ways while also identifying areas where the NHS can improve in the future. 

NHS Wales Chief Executive Dr Andrew Goodall said on the day of the report’s publication:

“It is absolutely clear that the NHS in Wales is valued and must be protected. 

“It’s fitting that during the 70th anniversary of the NHS , We are able to show the commitment of our staff, working across many settings to provide good care to the Welsh population.

“Day in and day out, NHS staff are putting patients at the heart of everything they do. I am grateful to them, when I know they’re often facing periods of intense pressure. Even during the busiest winter on record, the vast majority of patients received timely, professional care and, whilst acknowledging real pressures, the system saw improvements in some waiting time areas.

“However, it is important that while promoting innovation and good practice we also recognise there are challenges facing the service; where challenges exist I am clear that improvements must be made.

“Looking forward, the NHS is changing quite rapidly and it must stay at the forefront of innovation. It must become more integrated; invest in new treatments and research into genetics and digital technologies is absolutely paramount. 

“This is why A Healthier Wales, our joint plan for health and social care is so very important. By the time the NHS turns 80 years old, I expect joint working and innovative, seamless services to be the norm in Wales, not the exception. I am confident we can create services which recognise that one size does not fit all; a service designed to meet people’s needs, with their involvement. 

“There are many opportunities to shape and deliver the future of health and social care services in Wales. I am looking forward to seeing real change take place over the coming year, building on the range of examples and good practice we have highlighted through this annual quality statement.”

Catherine Brown and Professor Steve Ormerod have been appointed for three years, together with Julia Cherrett, Dr Rosie Plummer and Professor Peter Rigby who have been appointed for two years. They will join the five current members of the Board and the recently appointed Interim Chair, Sir David Henshaw.  

The members who are leaving the Board at the end of October are Dr Madeleine Havard, Andy Middleton, Dr Ruth Hall, Nigel Reader and Sir Paul Williams.  They have each completed six years of service on the Board of NRW, including five months in advance of NRW’s launch in April 2013.

The Board now has three people who are able to speak Welsh. In an effort to strengthen these skills on the Board, the Cabinet Secretary has asked the Advisory Assessment Panel to look again at those who applied and are able to converse fluently in Welsh.  The intention is to appoint someone before the end of this year, taking the number of Board members to 12, including the Chief Executive.

The Cabinet Secretary said: 

“Natural Resources Wales is responsible for sustainably managing, maintaining and using Wales’ natural resources and I attach great importance to its role and the work of its board.  I am pleased to announce the new members to help the organisation in their important work. In addition, I would like to thank the outgoing Board members for their commitment and support to NRW over the years.”

Sir David Henshaw: 

“I am very pleased to have the opportunity to work with these new members.  They, together with the existing members, will help me in my role to support this organisation to building more effective structures and ways of working.”

Speaking to an audience of legal practitioners the Counsel General will say:

“We must realise a vision for Wales that reflects the values and particular characteristics of Welsh society and is based on fairness, and social and economic justice, by developing a distinct justice system for Wales.”

“One of the most profound challenges to a fair and equitable justice system is the increasing pressure brought about by repeated cuts in funding. In Wales we have experienced disproportionately higher cuts to legal aid compared to those for the whole of England and Wales. Legal Aid provision is facing a fundamental crisis in the UK today and we need to take action.”

The Counsel General will argue that current justice arrangements are not fit for purpose and that policing and justice need to be devolved in order to deliver a fair and equitable justice system in Wales.

He will say;

“Another major challenge facing the justice system in Wales is the integration of justice with public services. Our current system of government is complex and confusing and inconsistent with the rest of the UK and other decentralised legislatures across the world. This is largely due to the growing divergence between the laws in England and Wales and the UK Government’s wish to protect a single legal jurisdiction. This impacts upon our ability to provide efficient and effective, joined-up public services for Wales.

Speaking about the inaugural Justice Week event he continued; 

“It is important to bring justice and the rule of the law to the forefront of public and political thinking, especially during a time of significant change. Many of the events taking place this week will present an opportunity for discussions and debate about innovative solutions and I encourage all with an interest to get involved.”