The Welsh Government has published a report by the Interim Environmental Protection Assessor for Wales (IEPAW) in response to a submission which argued that the proposed Environment (Principles, Governance and Biodiversity Targets) (Wales) Bill will not be capable of achieving its intended objectives unless it explicitly incorporates the Aarhus principles, on the basis that without them the Bill would lack the mechanisms needed to ensure its environmental governance framework is effective in practice. IEPAW agrees that the three areas of environmental rights covered by the Aarhus Convention are of fundamental importance but is not persuaded that they need to be included as specific principles in the Bill, stating that those rights are already implied in Welsh law and policy, including through the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 and the Environment (Wales) Act 2016. While acknowledging that there is no real prospect of the Bill being amended, IEPAW states that its effectiveness would be improved by appropriate wording in the Explanatory Notes and in statements of the Office of Environmental Governance Wales’ (OEGW) functions and powers, setting out the Welsh Government’s view on judicial review and intervention, and suggests that, in the longer term, the Act should be amended to include express provision for those powers.

The Welsh Government has published an integrated impact assessment (IIA) for the Welsh Housing Quality Standard 2023, which is a requirement for all existing social homes to meet. The Welsh Government has addressed how people, who have most likely been affected by the proposal, have been involved in its development. It also looks at the most significant impacts of the Welsh Housing Quality Standard 2023, and monitoring and evaluation of the Standard as it progresses. The Welsh Government has confirmed that the next proposed review date will be in 2027.

The Welsh Government has published the progress report of the Innovating Democracy Advisory Group (IDAG), outlining its work over the past 10 months following its establishment in response to recommendations from the Independent Commission on the Constitutional Future of Wales. The report identifies priorities for strengthening Welsh democracy, including the development of a shared vision for democratic governance, improving leadership coordination across democratic institutions, enhancing democratic education and increasing public participation in decision-making. IDAG’s efforts have focused on strengthening democratic engagement, improving citizens’ understanding of decision-making processes, and deepening the connection between the public and the democratic system. Future decisions regarding the group’s priorities and governance will be addressed by the next Welsh Government as the current Senedd term concludes.

The Welsh Government has published guidance that clarifies the tests of soundness for local development plans (LDPs) affecting special areas of conservation (SACs), particularly in cases where nutrient impacts have been identified. Issued as part of the Dear Chief Planning Officer (CPO) letters series under national planning policy, the guidance is specifically directed at heads of planning to support more effective plan-making processes.

The Welsh Government has published the Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates applicable from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026. These rates, which are crucial for determining housing benefit and universal credit housing costs, remain fixed at the April 2024 levels. The published figures are derived from rental market data collected over the 12 months leading up to September 2024, with the 30th percentile of rents used as a reference point. It is important to note that while these rates are based on market data, they do not serve as a definitive indicator of rental market conditions or trends.

The Welsh Government has published a marine planning notice (MPN) that introduces strategic resource areas (SRAs) for tidal stream energy, activating the Welsh National Marine Plan (WNMP) safeguarding policy SAF_02 for these areas. The MPN designates key areas with the potential to support future tidal stream energy generation and development. However, the Welsh Government has clarified that the designation of SRAs does not guarantee approval for development proposals. All proposals, whether within or outside of an SRA, must obtain the necessary consents and comply with regulatory requirements concerning environmental protection and social impact. In addition, it has published a derivation report, detailing the process and methodology used to map these SRAs, which should be read in conjunction with the ABPmer-authored derivation report, ‘Developing Strategic Resource Areas for Marine Planning: Derivation Report for progressing potential SRAs’, published in June 2023. The Welsh Government is also exploring SRAs for other sectors, such as floating offshore wind, and is developing guidance on enhancing the marine ecosystem through the WNMP.

The Welsh Government has published its second Welsh National Marine Plan (WNMP) Monitoring Report for 2022–25, as required under the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009, assessing progress in implementing the plan’s objectives for sustainable marine management. The report finds that WNMP policies are increasingly applied in marine licensing and consenting decisions, supported by expanded guidance, technical statements, and spatial data resources. Stakeholder engagement remains effective, and the plan is viewed as fit for purpose. Notable progress includes growth in offshore renewable energy and introduction of Strategic Resource Areas, while limited advancement is reported in areas such as public funding alignment, tourism, and marine economic data. Environmental indicators show continued challenges in achieving Good Environmental Status, particularly for marine litter and invasive species, though improvements in fish stock sustainability are noted. Overall, evidence remains largely qualitative, but the WNMP is influencing decision-making and contributing to high-level marine objectives.

The Welsh Government has published a Mine Water Heat Opportunities Map, alongside background and guidance documents, to demonstrate how mine water can be used as a heat source and inform local authorities and developers on the opportunities and potential locations for mine water heat scheme sites. The Cabinet Secretary for the Economy, Transport and North Wales, Ken Skates, has asserted that utilising mine water heat could assist in efforts to ‘tackle climate change’, in particular given that heating accounts for 50% of energy usage in Wales.

The Welsh Government has published a summary of responses to its March 2025 consultation on proposed reform to the NHS dental services (GDS) contract in Wales. A total of 6427 responses were received. The consultation sought views on creating a single route of entry for people to access NHS dental services, implementing a fairer remuneration system, disincentivising unnecessary routine examinations, adjusting patient charges in line with changes to the remuneration system and collection methods, and revising contract terms and conditions, including provisions such as parental leave. The consultation sets out the policy changes required to implement the proposed reforms to NHS dental services in Wales. These changes will be enacted through legislation and directions, including the revocation of the National Health Service (General Dental Services Contracts) (Wales) Regulations 2006 SI 2006/490 and the National Health Service (Dental Charges) Regulations 2005, SI 2005/3477. New versions of these regulations, along with supporting directions, will be introduced.

The Welsh Government has published the Peer on Peer Sexual Harassment Plan, setting out the actions that the Welsh Government and partners will take to prevent and respond to the issue of peer-on-peer sexual harassment and harmful sexual behaviour in education settings. The Welsh Government is now working with NSPCC Cymru and young people in Wales on targeted engagement to better understand issues faced by children and young people and to put their voices and experiences first, including seeking to understand their knowledge of peer-on-peer sexual harassment, whether they feel listened to and supported when they talk about and report peer-on-peer sexual harassment and what the potential solutions could be.

The Welsh Government has published Procurement Act 2023 guidance, including a letter from Minister Jack Sargeant to public bodies. Dated 31 March 2025 and addressed to the chief executive, it directs public bodies to comply with the Social Partnership and Public Procurement (Wales) Act (SPPP Act) by consulting recognised trade unions or staff representatives when setting well-being objectives and making strategic decisions. Public bodies must also produce an annual compliance report outlining their compliance over the previous 12 months. Additionally, two guidances have been issued. The first outlines how contracting authorities should assess and exclude suppliers—including their associated or sub-contracted entities—if they pose risks related to delivery, integrity, public confidence, or national security. The second establishes a centralised debarment regime, under which a Minister of the Crown may list suppliers considered to pose an ongoing risk following detailed investigations and a clear appeals process. Contracting authorities are required to refer to this debarment list during procurement to prevent high-risk suppliers from participating.

The Welsh Government has published the Rent and Service Charge Standard 2026–36, which establishes a ten-year framework for social landlords to set rent and service charges for general needs and sheltered housing in Wales. The Standard excludes extra care housing, supported housing, non-self-contained housing, properties let at intermediate or market rent levels and other specialised housing. It was developed through engagement with Community Housing Cymru, the Welsh Local Government Association and tenant representatives. Alongside the Standard, the Welsh Government has published a summary of responses to its June 2025 consultation, which showed broad support for strengthening the social rent framework. The government has also committed to developing an affordability framework to improve clarity and consistency in rent setting practices and will undertake further analysis on rent convergence to inform future policy decisions. Additional measures include collaborative work to strengthen service charge communication and practice, enhanced data collection mechanisms and exploration of the voluntary adoption of regulatory standards for tenant services with local authorities.