Figures quoted in the Senedd
When a Member quotes a figure for something the official statistics measure, such as the NHS waiting list or the employment rate, the official figure for the time is set beside it. We don't judge whether a claim is right: speakers may use a different period, source or rounding.
246 figures quoted on 21 measures.
Homeless people in temporary accommodation
Quoted 70 times. Latest official figure: 10,535 for 31 July 2026. Housing
There are currently over 10,000 people in temporary accommodation across Wales, including over 2,000 children.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 10,535
Since the end of March 2026, there are 10,509 individuals living in temporary accommodation, and 2,267 of those are children, dependent children under the age of 16.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 10,282
Your Government published a high-level action plan to end homelessness by 2026, and yet, as of December last year, 10,605 people, including nearly 2,300 children, were in temporary accommodation.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 10,581
Welsh Government figures show that more than 10,900 people are currently living in temporary accommodation across Wales.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 10,605
Let's not forget that we've got 11,000 people in temporary accommodation.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 10,605
We have 11,000 people in temporary accommodation.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 10,605
Lauren's mentioned a few, but 11,000, or around that mark, are still in temporary accommodation.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 10,605
We've now got 140,000 people on social housing waiting lists, and over 11,000 in temporary accommodation.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 11,319
Following on from that, last week, Shelter Cymru published a new report showing that, in 2023-24, the total cost of temporary accommodation in Wales reached £99 million, more than double what it was in 2020-21, highlighting the significant increase in temporary accommodation in Wales, and the human impact of this, with over 11,000 people, including almost 3,000 children, now living in such places.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 11,319
Wales is in a housing emergency, with more than 11,000 people homeless and trapped in temporary accommodation, and almost 140,000 on social housing waiting lists.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 11,323
At the end of May this year, there were 11,384 people in temporary accommodation, a third of whom were children under the age of 16.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 11,323
The housing crisis in Wales remains a vital issue for hundreds of thousands of people, and those suffering most are the 90,000 people who are waiting for social housing, and the 11,000 people who are in temporary accommodation.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 11,298
We've got double the number of people in temporary accommodation that we had at that time, so we're in the high 11,000s now in terms of individuals in temporary accommodation, and also we've got more people worried about eviction and repossession and being in that position themselves.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 11,695
The pressing need for social housing is undeniable, with over 12,000 individuals currently in temporary accommodation, and a chronic undersupply of affordable housing options.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 11,695
Part of the reason why we've got over 11,000 people living in temporary accommodation is that there is nowhere else for people to move to.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 11,721
We're in 1919, we're in 1947, we have a deep, systemic and structural housing emergency—11,000 people in temporary accommodation, 3,000 of those kids, 139,000 people on social housing waiting lists in Wales, 39,000 of those kids.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 11,721
We've got more than 11,500 homeless people in emergency temporary accommodation at the moment, and I think that, as much as the focus is on developing more social housing and supporting the long-term development of increased numbers of social homes, in the short term, the private rented sector is going to be a real option for many of those people who are in emergency temporary accommodation.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 11,492
Despite the unprecedented pressure on the homelessness sector, with the latest data showing that 11,317 individuals are in temporary accommodation, wages in the homelessness and housing support sector have been driven down to unacceptable levels, and front-line workers are being pushed into poverty.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 11,492
Our amendment, therefore, notes the bare statistics,: the 90,000 households on social housing waiting lists, the almost 12,000 in temporary accommodation, and over 3,000 of them being dependent children.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 11,492
In March 2023 the total number of individuals who entered temporary accommodation hit 10,000 for the first time.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 11,492
In February 2023 the number of dependent children under the age of 16 who were placed into temporary accommodation reached over 3,000 for the first time.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 11,492
Coupled with over 11,000 people in temporary accommodation and the tens of thousands who are at threat of homelessness, then it’s clear that decisions made here have a real-life impact and can change people’s lives, for better or for worse.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 11,492
Last year, 5,481 households, over 10,000 individuals and 3,000 children were placed in temporary accommodation, up from 2,052 households in 2018, an increase of 167 per cent.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 11,492
Eleven thousand, two hundred and eighty-eight individuals in temporary accommodation and 3,409 children.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 11,279
There are now nearly 12,000 people in temporary accommodation, with a quarter of them being children.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 11,273
I have said time and time again in this Senedd, Minister, that it is your Welsh Labour Government that is failing on housing policy in Wales, and you're making the homelessness crisis worse: 10,931 individuals are currently now living in temporary accommodation, and, in my constituency, it is predominantly B&Bs and hotel rooms.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 11,273
Crucially, the scheme will help many to avoid the traumatic and growing issue of homelessness, and will help reduce pressure on temporary accommodation services, which are currently under immense strain, with the latest statistics indicating 11,185 individuals were in temporary accommodation.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 11,273
And 3,350 dependent children under 16 in Wales are in temporary accommodation—a third in hotels and bed and breakfasts.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 11,208
It is morally wrong that nearly 11,000 individuals are in temporary accommodation—the highest level since records began—including over 3,350 children.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 11,208
It is morally wrong that nearly 11,000 individuals are in temporary accommodation—the highest level since records began—including over 3,350 children.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 11,208
Across Wales, there are 3,350 dependent children under the age of 16 in temporary accommodation, 30 per cent in hotels or B&Bs.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 11,208
Let's have a look at the evidence, shall we: 10,931 individuals living in temporary accommodation, the highest level since the Welsh Government began its own current monitoring programme.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 11,208
Currently, as has been said, we have over 174 rough-sleepers in Wales, plus 10,931 people in temporary accommodation.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 11,208
A record number of people in Wales are in temporary accommodation—we know that—as well as a shocking 3,000 dependent children.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 11,208
Three thousand, three hundred and fifty dependent children under the age of 16 are living in temporary accommodation, a third of whom are in hotels or bed and breakfasts.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 11,208
Look what you have achieved: 10,931 individuals now living in temporary accommodation.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 11,208
But this is local authorities across Wales—it's very much team Wales—recognising they also have their housing needs as well; up to 10,800 people in temporary accommodation in Wales is very challenging.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 11,208
As of June 2023, there were 10,869 people living in temporary accommodation, of which 3,346 were under the age of 16.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 11,180
I understand the laudable reasons for some of this, around climate change and the arguments around that, but there are some very real-world impacts in terms of business investments and in particular housing developments in the future in north Wales, at a time when we have in Wales 13,000 people in temporary accommodation, 3,000 of those children, and at a time when we see the economy in Wales going backwards, whereas it's going forwards in other parts of the United Kingdom.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 10,868
The latest statistics show that back on 30 April there were 10,444 individuals waiting and living in temporary accommodation, with almost a third of them—3,214—being children under the age of 16, and those numbers are increasing.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 10,868
We have some 90,000 people here languishing on social housing waiting lists, and we've got more than 10,000 people living in temporary accommodation.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 10,891
First Minister, you’ll be aware that, across Wales, around 13,000 people are currently in temporary accommodation, whether that be bed and breakfasts or hotels, at great cost to them personally and also to the public purse, as well, of course.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 10,891
The lack of any increase to the housing support grant is forcing the sector to cut services in order to pay minimum wage, and the figures published by the Government last week show that over 10,000 people are now in temporary accommodation, causing huge challenges for local government and the sector at large.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 10,891
In February, there were almost 10,000 people in temporary accommodation, and a third of them were children under 16.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 10,560
And when you think about it, there are 90,000 social homes needed, with nearly 10,000 in February in temporary accommodation, of which, shockingly, 3,000 are children.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 10,560
We've got in excess of 9,000 people currently in emergency temporary accommodation provided by authorities in Wales, and that number is increasing every month.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- No official figure for a period before that date.
We've been talking about 9,000 people in temporary accommodation, and one of the biggest barriers at the moment to that is there's not enough move-on accommodation and permanent accommodation in terms of one-bed, because the vast majority of people in that temporary accommodation are either single people or couples without children.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- No official figure for a period before that date.
Because, ultimately, we have, like you say, 9,000 people living in temporary accommodation, and we had hundreds of people out on the streets last night in this weather.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- No official figure for a period before that date.
The latest Welsh Government figures showed 100-plus people rough-sleeping and over 9,000 people in temporary accommodation.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- No official figure for a period before that date.
He went on to state: 'official statistics show that there are over 8,500 people in temporary accommodation in Wales and this figure is growing by around 500 every month.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- No official figure for a period before that date.
The homelessness sector is under more pressure than ever before, with around 9,000 people in temporary accommodation and nearly a third of them with dependent children.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- No official figure for a period before that date.
As we know, there are around 14,000 people in Wales currently in temporary accommodation, and in evidence-taking through the Local Government and Housing Committee recently, councils and council leaders, whilst recognising that funding is part of that challenge—as you've pointed out already—talked about the lack of housing supply that they're finding particularly challenging at the moment.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- No official figure for a period before that date.
I think, if the housing support grant budget was increased, we could increase staff pay and increase the support available to staff to help them through this difficult time, but we could also look at some of the needs that are now presenting with those 8,500 people in temporary accommodation.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- No official figure for a period before that date.
Those go as far as August, where we see 8,500 people in temporary accommodation, but we know that's much more now.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- No official figure for a period before that date.
Admittedly, we've got 14,000 people at the moment in Wales in some form of temporary emergency accommodation, and that includes those being hosted through Homes for Ukraine, 2,500 of which of the 8,500 in temporary accommodation are children, and we know that that's not ideal.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- No official figure for a period before that date.
So, it was reported yesterday at a conference, a senior civil servant told delegates that the number of people in temporary accommodation in Wales is now up to 14,000, and that's up from 8,000 in August.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- No official figure for a period before that date.
So, it was reported yesterday at a conference, a senior civil servant told delegates that the number of people in temporary accommodation in Wales is now up to 14,000, and that's up from 8,000 in August.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- No official figure for a period before that date.
But you've made the point very clearly, Mark; as we recognise, we've got nearly 8,500 people in temporary accommodation already in Wales, and these are housing pressures that will only increase with the cost-of-living crisis.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- No official figure for a period before that date.
I have to say this point that this is actually for everyone in housing need, because yes, we have got a huge commitment, an absolute clear commitment to our Ukrainian guests, but we also, of course, have got Afghan refugees and Syrians who have settled in Wales, and we also have 8,000 people in temporary accommodation due to homelessness.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- No official figure for a period before that date.
We have to remember that we've got more than 8,000 people in temporary accommodation already, and these are housing pressures that our local leaders are supporting.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- No official figure for a period before that date.
Temporary accommodation spend has rocketed from £5 million in Wales in 2018-19 to over £20 million in 2021; 25,200 people placed in temporary accommodation.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- No official figure for a period before that date.
As of May this year, we had 8,134 people in temporary accommodation in Wales, and we have got around 1,000 people a month approaching homelessness services across Wales because they are experiencing homelessness or are in imminent danger of homelessness.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- No official figure for a period before that date.
We have over 7,300 people in Wales in temporary accommodation.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- No official figure for a period before that date.
If we've got 10,000 people in temporary accommodation, we're a long way off that.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- No official figure for a period before that date.
We've housed a phenomenal number of people, but we've still got 10,000 people in temporary accommodation.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- No official figure for a period before that date.
That's why we're still seeing 7,000 in temporary accommodation, and even Afghanistan families that we can't house, because there are just not enough homes.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- No official figure for a period before that date.
However, we know that we've already got 7,000 people in temporary accommodation and we're struggling to accommodate those.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- No official figure for a period before that date.
There are over 7,000 people that have been pushed into homelessness and now living in temporary accommodation.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- No official figure for a period before that date.
Now, according to the Welsh Government's most recent figures, there are over 7,000 people that have been pushed into homelessness and living in temporary accommodation, and nearly 100 people forced to sleep rough.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- No official figure for a period before that date.
The latest data for October 2021 shows that there were over 7,000 people in emergency temporary accommodation and 1,728 were dependent children under the age of 16.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- No official figure for a period before that date.
Pathways waiting more than two years
Quoted 40 times. Latest official figure: 5,068 for August 2026. The NHS
I've even got constituents now who have told me, 'No matter how ill I am, no matter the situation, I will not go in an ambulance again to the local A&E department at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd.' We've also seen A&E waits increasing from 10,000 in April 2016 to 11,066; waiting lists in Wales increasing to 680,000 different pathways; two-year waits rising to 3,694; and one in three of the sickest emergency department patients in Wales now experiencing corridor care.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 4,208
So, for those 366 who are waiting for more than two years, ear, nose and throat waits are the highest, and then the others are ophthalmology, oral surgery, dentistry and orthopaedics, but each of those last four have under 50 people waiting in each of them.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 4,517
Of those, 6,800-odd were waiting for more than a year for their first out-patient appointment, and 5,040-odd pathways were waiting over two years.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 4,517
Well, we heard earlier: 10,000 patients waiting 12 or more hours in A&E, more than one in four people in Wales stuck on a waiting list, 7,000 people waiting over two years, and barely half of cancer patients starting their treatment on time.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 5,252
The number of people waiting more than two years is now down to 6,900.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 5,252
So, two-year waits have increased to over 24,000 compared with fewer than 150 in England.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 23,621
As of January 2024, over 700,000 patient pathways were waiting to start treatment, with more than 23,000 people waiting over two years for treatment.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 23,621
Whereas two-year waits in England number a little over 100 people in a population of over 55 million, there are over 24,000 such waits here in Wales.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 23,621
And also you're talking about this on a day when we've just discussed in First Minister's questions the fact that the NHS in Wales is, frankly, on its knees: one in two ambulances not turning up in time, record-breaking waiting lists, 24,000 people waiting over two years for treatment—18 times higher than the rate in England, where it's just 148 people—A&E performance that is unacceptable, and health boards, all of our health boards in Wales, in various places on the scale of escalation.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 23,621
Twenty three thousand waiting for more than two years is far too long, and we need to break this down by health board to understand where and for what procedure the problem lies.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 24,193
Two-year waits have increased again for the third consecutive month to 23,418 in Wales, compared with only 120 in England, with 50 times the population.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 24,193
In closing, Presiding Officer, it's simply not right that two-year waits for treatment stand at over 21,000 in Labour-run Wales, compared to just 275 in Conservative-run England.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 23,418
Over 21,000 people are waiting more than two years for treatment, compared to 275 in England.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 23,418
It must be acknowledged that there are more than 21,000 people waiting more than two years for treatment and let’s compare that to just a couple of hundred people in England, with a relatively much larger population as well.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 23,418
Just look at the Welsh NHS, with over 21,000 waiting over two years for treatment, compared with around 200 in England, with twenty times the population.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 22,455
In addition, Wales, sadly, has the longest waits for treatments in the UK, with over 20,000 patients still waiting over two years for the treatment that they need.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 22,455
This has got to be the single focus, I would have thought, of the health Minister and the Government, because we've still got those 25,000 people waiting for over two years for treatment, and, of course, we know that across the border in England, and in Scotland, those were virtually eliminated some time ago.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 23,447
Now, our NHS is in dire straits, thanks to years of Labour mismanagement, with nearly 25,000 people waiting more than two years for treatment, and we have the highest numbers of people waiting in A&E for 12 hours when compared to England and Scotland.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 24,248
We have two-year NHS waits in Wales, at 27,041 compared to just 227 in England, which was referenced at Prime Minister's questions this afternoon by the Prime Minister, in highlighting that England have nearly abolished their two-year waits since COVID, while it's still an acute issue here in Wales, unfortunately.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 25,669
Now, with the added complication of COVID in the mix, it is little wonder that we have over 27,000 people waiting for more than two years for treatment.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 26,439
We know that, at the moment, two-year waits—two-year waits at the moment, the current statistics tell us that 28,331 people are waiting for over two years for treatment.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 27,041
What the public do want to know, Minister, particularly those 28,000 people who are waiting over two years for treatment, which, of course, have been wiped out in other parts of the UK, is what this actually means for them.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 27,041
Firstly, I acknowledge that there has been some additionality provided to health and social care, but I was disappointed that more couldn't have been done, especially at a time when Wales continues to lag behind England when it comes to NHS waiting lists, with over 30,000 waiting over two years in Wales, compared to virtually zero in England.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 28,331
For the 31,000 people who are on a two-year wait, that's no laughing matter.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 30,769
I asked in my second question could you identify the specific capacity increases that we’d be likely to see in the coming months to address those 32,000 people who are sitting on a two-year wait at the moment.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 31,481
Now, I know we talk a lot about waiting lists in this Chamber, with 40,000 people still waiting for over two years for treatment across the nation, but just imagine struggling to breathe and seeking medical attention and being told it'll be over three years before help comes.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 31,481
The statistics for February show us that we've got nearly 40,000 people that are waiting for over two years for treatment.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 31,726
Over 45,000 patients in Wales are waiting over two years; in England and Scotland, these have been virtually eliminated.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 37,594
We also have more than 45,000 people waiting over two years for treatment.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 37,594
Also, just to understand how this Bill might help those 50,000 people who are of course waiting for over two years for treatment.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 41,103
And I'm aware, of course, we have over 50,000 people currently waiting for over two years for treatment on the Welsh NHS.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 41,103
But the outcomes at the moment, the position that we're in, is that two-year waits have virtually been wiped out in England and Scotland, and in Wales, we still have 55,000 people waiting over two years for treatment.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 45,385
We've got 50,000 people, Minister, waiting over two years for treatment and the same figure in England and Scotland is zero—they've been wiped out.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 49,594
We know that, in Wales, a fifth of the population are waiting on an NHS waiting list, 60,000 of those waiting for over two years, the longest ambulance red-calls responses on record, and the worst accident and emergency waiting times in Britain.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 54,491
Well, no, the fact is that in Wales we have 68,000 people waiting for over two years, and in England it's 12,700.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 62,136
The side effects may include one in five people on waiting lists, 10,000 people waiting for more than 12 hours in A&E, over 70,000 people waiting more than two years for treatment, 42 per cent of cancer patients not starting treatment within two months, and a 50:50 chance of getting an ambulance in the time that you need it.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 65,053
One in four patients are waiting over a year for treatment, with 18,000 patients waiting more than two years.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 65,053
The number of people waiting over two years is now over 60,000, and one in four Welsh patients are waiting over a year for treatment.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 68,032
As it stands at the moment, the last figures published show us nearly 50,000 patients in Wales are waiting over two years for treatment—over two years for treatment.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 64,102
In December, waiting figures didn't make good reading at all, with one in four patient pathways waiting over a year for treatment and a staggering 50,000 still waiting for over two years for treatment.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 64,102
NHS waiting list
Quoted 37 times. Latest official figure: 714,218 for August 2026. The NHS
These hospitals have been caring for people from all across Wales for decades, and with roughly 700,000 people on NHS waiting lists in Wales, the answer must be to invest in our public health service.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 714,218
More than 540,000 patients are on NHS waiting lists in Wales.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 714,218
The figures that are in my mind are the 709,000 on an NHS waiting list and the 1 million people in Wales who don't have an NHS dentist.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 714,218
I've even got constituents now who have told me, 'No matter how ill I am, no matter the situation, I will not go in an ambulance again to the local A&E department at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd.' We've also seen A&E waits increasing from 10,000 in April 2016 to 11,066; waiting lists in Wales increasing to 680,000 different pathways; two-year waits rising to 3,694; and one in three of the sickest emergency department patients in Wales now experiencing corridor care.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 689,721
And there are over 680,000 people now on waiting lists across Wales.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 689,721
We know that NHS waiting lists in Wales under Labour have been far too big and far too long, with the latest figures showing that a little over 666,000 patients are still waiting for their treatment to start.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 689,721
Across Wales, the number of patients on referral-to-treatment waiting lists has soared to around 781,000 pathways, and routine gastro waiting times have exceeded three years in Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, creating a backlog and delay in care.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 713,048
Last June, the Cabinet Secretary announced measures to reduce waiting lists by 200,000 by March 2026, which would still leave almost 600,000 on the waiting lists.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 740,954
More than 750,000 people remain on an NHS waiting list, and bed occupancy has remained close to 95 per cent—well above the 85 per cent threshold identified by the Royal College of Emergency Medicine as the point at which safe and elective care begins to break down.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 740,954
There are 700,000 people waiting for treatment; one in five of the population of Wales need to be seen to get their treatment.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 800,395
As of January 2024, over 700,000 patient pathways were waiting to start treatment, with more than 23,000 people waiting over two years for treatment.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 800,395
Wales is now facing a healthcare crisis like no other, with over 800,000 people waiting for treatment, equivalent to one in four of the population.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 802,132
How can we generally have confidence that the First Minister has the grip and the Government have the grip on the waiting-time crisis that Wales is facing, in particular, when there are 614,000 patients waiting on a waiting list, and 800,000 pathways being added to by the day, because hospitals can't keep up with the demand?
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 802,132
Thank you for the word soup, First Minister; I was looking for some real hard and fast targets, because in those 100 days since you’ve become First Minister, there have been an additional 9,000 pathways added to waiting lists here in Wales, there have been nearly 4,000 patients added to the 600,000 patients that are waiting for treatment in Welsh hospitals, and there have been nearly 1,000 patients added to the two-year wait, which you promised would be eliminated at the start of this year.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 802,132
Just to clarify matters of fact first, there aren't 800,000 people on waiting lists in Wales; it is far too high at a little over 600,000, but just for the sake of accuracy, for the record, that is the situation.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 802,132
We know, in the current system, as you mentioned, of the long waiting lists that, unfortunately, are still here in Wales, and we know that that number is around 800,000—the number of people waiting for treatment in Wales.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 802,132
Last week, waiting times figures in Wales showed another increase in people waiting on NHS waiting lists—nearly 800,000 procedures now on those waiting lists, and in excess of 600,000 people in Wales waiting to have one or two of those procedures.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 800,163
Just shy of 800,000 procedures are now on those waiting lists and in excess of 600,000 people are waiting to have one or two of those procedures at any hospital or day surgery that we have here in Wales.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 800,163
If I refer to some of the comments that the Cabinet Secretary made before I continue, you started your contribution by saying that one of the good things that the NHS does is providing timely care, but that's the exact point: it isn't providing timely care to hundreds of thousands—over 0.5 million—of people in Wales who are on waiting lists for months and years.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 800,163
And finally, it's not right that the number of patient pathways in Wales has increased again to over 775,000 people, the highest figure on record, all whilst waiting lists in England have fallen over the last six months.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 791,511
It's good to hear that the two-year waiting lists are reducing, but figures published at the end of last month by Digital Health and Care Wales show the challenge facing the health service—almost 600,000 on the waiting lists, 18 per cent on the strategic pathway for over a year, compared to 4 per cent in England.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 787,949
And when it comes to health, regrettably, we have some of the longest waiting lists of any part of the United Kingdom, with so many people on a waiting list—600,000 people—and 752,000 procedures waited for in the Welsh NHS.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 775,031
And when it comes to health, regrettably, we have some of the longest waiting lists of any part of the United Kingdom, with so many people on a waiting list—600,000 people—and 752,000 procedures waited for in the Welsh NHS.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 775,031
The latest statistics show that combined waiting lists in Wales hit a record high of 191,447 people in October.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 756,333
I think there are 0.75 million patient pathways currently open; that’s a lot of staff that are needed.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 758,510
According to the latest health stats that we have, waiting times have hit another record high for those waiting for health treatment in Wales, and there are over 760,000 patient pathways, the highest on record.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 758,510
There were over 760,000 patient pathways waiting to start treatment in August this year.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 764,197
Of approximately 660,000 people on waiting lists in the Welsh NHS, it's anticipated that some 85 per cent will require at least one diagnostic test to help inform their clinical management, with around 30,000 waiting for identified tests.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 734,721
Minister, I know that you've probably heard this line from many of my colleagues over time and over many years, but it's no secret that Labour has sadly been running our NHS into the ground, with nearly 600,000 patients languishing on waiting lists.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 731,102
Cancer lists and ambulance performance times are currently the worst on record, and overall waiting list numbers passed 750,000 for the first time in October 2022.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 735,136
In Wales, we see in excess of 60,000 individuals on those waiting lists.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 750,283
We should be encouraging the Government to stop wasting money on these pointless pet projects, and use their time and resources to resolve the issues that they are tasked with, such as trying to resolve the continually falling education standards and dealing with the 700,000 people who are on NHS waiting lists.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 732,241
The one overriding narrative that has dominated the last 12 months has been the NHS waiting times, and the scale of that challenge has got deeper and darker as each week and each month has passed, with 700,000 people on a waiting list today here in Wales—one in five of the population—and 68,000 of those 700,000 people waiting two years of more.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 732,241
In June 2022, we had a new record of over 700,000 people in Wales awaiting diagnosis or treatment, and, as you will know, Minister, this is around one in five people waiting for treatment.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 722,147
The statistics are frightening, with something like 0.75 million people in Wales on some kind of waiting list.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 722,147
Back to that figure of 700,000 people on waiting lists—yes it's an increase of 50 per cent since pre the pandemic, because of the pandemic, but it was 450,000 before the pandemic, so we can't think of any Government strategy as something that will take us back to where we were two years ago.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 707,098
Almost 25 per cent of the population, nearly 700,000 people, are on waiting lists—60 per cent of those are waiting for their first appointment as an outpatient.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 707,098
Children in relative poverty
Quoted 19 times. Latest official figure: 32% for the three years to 31 March 2025. Poverty and the cost of living
In a nation with nearly one in three children living in poverty and around one in 10 in deep material deprivation, Reform UK had nothing to say on it.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 32%
And in a nation that has 30 per cent of our children living in poverty, Reform had nothing to say.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 32%
Child poverty still stands at a shameful 31 per cent.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 32%
Just because the targets have been abolished, it does not mean that Members will not scrutinise the Government on its failure to grapple with child poverty, which is running close to 30 per cent in Wales currently.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 30%
After 25 years leading Welsh Government, Labour have proved themselves unable, I think, to address the significant challenges that we face as a nation: when businesses have been struggling, Labour have increased business rates; our economy fails to prosper; with a third of our children living in poverty, Labour are unwilling, still, to set targets to measure progress; its poor education results; record waiting lists; lack of support for rural Wales—the list goes on.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 30%
Cabinet Secretary, a recent meeting of the cross-party groups on poverty and child poverty heard work from the Bevan Foundation with regard to research they've undertaken in Wales that showed that 29 per cent of our children live in relative poverty, and one of the real issues is that they're unable to take part in activities inside and outside of school, as their peers do, for example learning skills and socialising in school during school trips.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 30%
You've stated that tackling child poverty is one of your top priorities, and that of course is welcome, given that close to one in three children in Wales are living in poverty.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 30%
So, I would like to hear from you why we can't be as good as the other countries, and why we need to put up with child poverty in Wales being at 29 per cent.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 30%
Rates of child poverty in Wales, currently at 28 per cent—another figure that's barely changed over a decade.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 29%
I just really wanted to think about child poverty in particular here in Wales, which has remained stubbornly high at around 28 per cent.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 29%
Wales has around 30 per cent of children living in poverty and it's the only nation in the UK where child poverty rates are increasing.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 29%
Why not be politically courageous and bold and have timelines for how we reduce that 28 per cent of children living in poverty in Wales?
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 29%
As stated in the Joseph Rowntree Foundation's 'Monitoring poverty and social exclusion in Wales' report in 2009: 'even before the recession, the problem of low income was already rising sharply, to the extent that half of the previous improvement in child poverty had already been lost.' In other words, this was before the credit crunch in 2008 when it reached the highest level in the UK at 32 per cent.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 29%
As we know, child poverty in Wales is a long-standing crisis, and we need a coherent and robust child strategy with over one in four children in Wales living in poverty.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 29%
These are not ideological points, they are factual points, and their purpose is to ensure focus and action on work that I am hopeful and confident will unite every Member in the Chamber, namely, that the Government must focus its attention on the fact that we are calling on the Senedd to specifically note that a third of children in Wales were living in poverty between 2019 and 2022, but that we regret that these statistics stem from a period before the current cost-of-living crisis, which means that the true figure for child poverty is likely to be much higher.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 29%
How will the Welsh Government respond to the child poverty report in Wales, published by Barnado's Cymru last week, which stated that over a third of children—34 per cent—in Wales are living in poverty, the highest proportion of any UK nation?
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 29%
The Observatory on Human Rights of Children and the Children's Legal Centre Wales say that with more than 34 per cent of children in Wales now living in poverty, 'it is absolutely critical that Welsh Government publishes a coherent and cross-governmental child poverty strategy and action plan that clearly demonstrates how policies across ministerial portfolios will be adequately financed to urgently address child poverty.' When will the new child poverty strategy be published, and can you confirm if it will include an action plan and spending plans?
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 28%
I think this is quite a worrying lack of progress, given that Wales has the highest levels of child poverty out of every UK nation, with one in three children now living in poverty, and particularly shows that the office of the children's commissioner is either completely powerless to provide significant impact in this area, or it's not seriously challenging the Welsh and UK Governments in this regard.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 28%
Loughborough University brought forward some research work that they did just before the summer recess that indicated that, across the rest of the UK, child poverty levels were declining down to 27 per cent—still too high a figure—but regrettably, here in Wales, it has gone up to 34 per cent.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 28%
People who say they can speak Welsh
Quoted 10 times. Latest official figure: 27.4% for the year to 30 June 2026. The Welsh language
If I could pursue another element of your portfolio responsibilities, namely the Welsh language, last week, the results of the annual survey by the Office for National Statistics were published, which indicated that only 27.7 per cent of people aged three or older could speak Welsh—the lowest percentage that has been recorded for over eight years.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 27.2%
In the year ending 30 June 2024, 27.8 per cent of people aged three and over are able to speak Welsh, which is the lowest percentage recorded for eight years—the figure in June 2023 was 29.2 per cent.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 27.6%
In the year ending 30 June 2024, 27.8 per cent of people aged three and over are able to speak Welsh, which is the lowest percentage recorded for eight years—the figure in June 2023 was 29.2 per cent.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 27.6%
The proportion of Welsh speakers within the population is around 20 per cent; among agriculture workers, it's around 40 per cent.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 29.2%
Census figures have shown that 43 per cent of people in agricultural communities speak Welsh, compared to just 19 per cent in the wider Welsh population.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 29.2%
According to the annual population survey, for example, 906,000 people aged three years or older could speak Welsh in the year that ended in 31 March 2023, and that's 29.7 per cent of the population.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 29.2%
According to the data, 538,300 people aged three years or older were able to speak Welsh in Wales, or 17.8 per cent of the population—that's a decrease from the 2011 census.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 29.2%
A figure of 538,000 Welsh speakers reported in the 2021 census will have been a disappointment to many of us who are looking to make that goal of a million Welsh speakers by 2050; the figure also runs below the Government's own 'Cymraeg 2050' projection from 2017.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 29.2%
This is particularly true following the results of the recent census, with the number of Welsh speakers having fallen to 17.8 per cent, the lowest figure on record.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 29.5%
For the second decade on the trot, the percentage of Welsh speakers has declined, reaching the lowest ever level of 17.8 per cent.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 29.5%
Economic inactivity
Quoted 9 times. Latest official figure: 23.7% for the year to 30 June 2026. The economy and jobs
Wales has the worst economic inactivity rate of British nations, sitting at 25 per cent compared to the rest of the UK.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 24.7%
In November Wales's economic inactivity rate stood at a staggering 25.6 per cent—far above the UK average of 21.6 per cent.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 24.7%
Economic inactivity remains high at 26 per cent.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 25.1%
These stats show little sign of change, painting a picture of lagging productivity, rising unemployment, and a level of economic inactivity at 27.2 per cent—over 5 percentage points higher than the UK average.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 24.5%
Gross value per head in Wales currently comes in at under three quarters of the UK average; economic inactivity is 28 per cent, compared to the UK average of 22 per cent; employment is 68.9 per cent, to the UK average of 74.3 per cent.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 23.8%
Of course, economic inactivity has been a constant, but, after 25 years of Welsh Labour, an economic inactivity rate of 28.1 per cent, up 2.7 per cent on the year, compared to England, is deeply concerning.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 23.8%
In those statistics, it did state that 28 per cent of Wales is economically inactive.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 23.8%
Currently, our economic inactivity rate stands at 28 per cent.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 23.8%
In Wales, the rate of economic inactivity is 26.2 per cent, up almost 2 per cent in just three months.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 23.8%
Emergency department waits under four hours
Quoted 8 times. Latest official figure: 63.9% for September 2026. The NHS
According to the latest figures, only 63 per cent of patients spent under four hours in an A&E department in Wales during August.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 63.9%
Turning to accident and emergency waiting times, again we see a slight decrease in the figures, to 64 per cent, of people being seen within four hours.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 64.4%
Almost 70 per cent of patients spend more than four hours in the accident and emergency department, and a third of people who turn up at the hospital's front door spend more than 12 hours in that emergency department without being admitted—while they're waiting to be admitted for a bed or before being discharged.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 64.5%
According to the latest statistics from StatsWales, NHS performance reports for December 2025, over 28 per cent of patients who attended A&E waited more than four hours.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 64.3%
Sixty-eight per cent of A&E patients in Wales are seen within four hours, but, at Glan Glwyd Hospital, only 45 per cent of patients are discharged, transferred or admitted within four hours.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 68.1%
Then there's the fact that ambulances across Wales spent a combined total of over 22,000 hours in December parked outside hospital waiting to drop off their patients; the fact that only 66.7 per cent of patients were waiting less than four hours in accident and emergency departments, down from 71.5 per cent in February; then there's the fact that full-time GPs have declined by 21.7 per cent over the past decade.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 68.1%
Now, it might not feel like that to many people, but, just to give you some information, over the last 12 months, the performance in terms of the four-hour emergency department has increased from 42 per cent to 56 per cent.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 71.7%
In March 2022 only 44.1 per cent of patients were seen within the four-hour target; 62.4 per cent within the eight-hour target; and 1,351 people spent more than half a day, 12 hours, in A&E.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 65.8%
Bus journeys
Quoted 8 times. Latest official figure: 71.7 million for 2024-25. Transport
It's fact that the number of bus journeys in Wales has fallen from 100 million a year in 2016-17 to 89 million in 2019-20.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 53.3 million
It's fact that the number of bus journeys in Wales has fallen from 100 million a year in 2016-17 to 89 million in 2019-20.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 53.3 million
In 2016-17, there were 100 million bus journeys, a figure that fell to 89 million in 2019-20.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 53.3 million
In 2016-17, there were 100 million bus journeys, a figure that fell to 89 million in 2019-20.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 53.3 million
The number of local bus journeys has fallen from 100 million a year in 2016-17 to 89 million in 2019-20.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 27.2 million
The number of local bus journeys has fallen from 100 million a year in 2016-17 to 89 million in 2019-20.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 27.2 million
In 2004-05, 129 million bus journeys were undertaken in Wales, compared with only 101 million in 2018-19.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 27.2 million
In 2004-05, 129 million bus journeys were undertaken in Wales, compared with only 101 million in 2018-19.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 27.2 million
New homes completed
Quoted 6 times. Latest official figure: 1,190 for April to June 2026. Housing
In 2022-23, 5,785 new homes were completed in Wales, up 10 per cent on the previous year; 1,450 of those were in Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly, Merthyr Tydfil, Monmouthshire, Newport or Torfaen.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 1,115
This is no surprise when considering that only 5,785 new dwellings were completed in 2022-23, one of the lowest numbers since records began.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 1,543
And although the Welsh Government's only housing target is 20,000 social homes for rent, averaging just 4,000 annually, fewer than 1,200 new dwellings were completed by social landlords in Wales last year.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 1,005
At a time when only 4,616 new dwellings were completed in 2021, when the figure should have been 12,000, it's basically fact that there isn't a drive forward of new housing projects.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 1,291
Failure by successive Welsh Labour Governments to provide new homes: only 4,616 new dwellings completed in 2021, when the figure should have been 12,000.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 1,291
The latest Welsh statistics on new house building in Wales, released just before Christmas, show that the number of dwellings completed in the year 2020 to 2021 decreased by 24 per cent to 4,616.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 1,291
Gender pay gap for full-time employees
Quoted 6 times. Latest official figure: 1.9% for 2025. Equality and human rights
Women are three times more likely than men to work part time, three and a half times more likely to be economically inactive, because of caring responsibilities, and face a gender pay gap of 11.8 per cent.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 1.9%
We know from Chwarae Teg's latest 'State of the Nation' report that the gender pay gap in Wales still stands at 11.3 per cent.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 5.6%
We know, from Chwarae Teg's latest state of the nation report, that the gender pay gap in Wales increased to 12.3 per cent.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 5.6%
The gender pay gap for full-time employees has increased in Wales from 4.9 per cent to 6.1 per cent.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 4.4%
However, it is worrying that the gender pay gap has increased from 11.8 per cent to 12.3 per cent.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 4.4%
The gender pay gap increased from 11.8 per cent to 12.3 per cent.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 4.4%
Ambulance response to red calls
Quoted 5 times. Latest official figure: 9 minutes 32 seconds for September 2026. The NHS
Category A ambulance response times are nine minutes and 43 seconds, missing the Government's own eight-minute target.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 9 minutes 20 seconds
But the median response time to red calls is currently 8 minutes 17 seconds, which is 43 seconds slower than the same time last year.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- No official figure for a period before that date.
The median response time for immediately life threatening red calls was just over eight minutes, and 80 per cent of red calls received a response within 15 minutes.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- No official figure for a period before that date.
In terms of the statistics, the average response to red calls is eight minutes and 24 seconds.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- No official figure for a period before that date.
The management information provided in the Welsh NHS suggests that, last week, the week beginning 16 January, had it been a red call, the standard waiting time—the median waiting time—from the minute a call is dispatched to it arriving with a patient was seven minutes, 43 seconds.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- No official figure for a period before that date.
Employment rate
Quoted 5 times. Latest official figure: 73.3% for the year to 30 June 2026. The economy and jobs
The employment rate stands at just 70.8 per cent, almost 4 percentage points below the UK average.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 72.5%
Wales's employment rate has dropped to 70 per cent, the lowest across the United Kingdom, and nearly 5 per cent behind the UK average.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 72.8%
As we've already heard, Wales's unemployment rate has increased for the seventh consecutive month to 5.6 per cent, the highest rate in the United Kingdom, whilst the employment rate has fallen to the lowest rate in the United Kingdom, at only 70 per cent.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 72.8%
Recent Welsh Government statistics reveal an employment rate of just 69 per cent in Wales, compared to the UK average of 75 per cent.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 72.7%
With the employment rate in Wales being the highest in the UK at 4.8 per cent, this scheme is particularly important to get people into work, earning money and stimulating the Welsh economy.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 74.1%
Delays in leaving hospital
Quoted 4 times. Latest official figure: 1,417 for September 2026. Social care
In terms of delayed transfers of care, Minister, which, again, is a long-running issue, the last figures I have here in the committee briefing is that, in April, there were over 1,700 people occupying a hospital bed who were ready for discharge.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 1,626
We heard how 12 per cent of hospital beds are suffering from delayed discharges, and closing community hospitals, in my view, has made that situation worse.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- No official figure for a period before that date.
We know from the Minister that NHS Wales believes that around 1,000 patients are medically fit for discharge, yet are confined to an acute hospital bed, but we don't truly know if that's just the tip of the iceberg.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- No official figure for a period before that date.
We know that, in February 2020, there were 448 delayed transfers of care, and I understand now that's over 1,000, so the problem has worsened.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- No official figure for a period before that date.
Children looked after by councils
Quoted 4 times. Latest official figure: 7,070 for 31 March 2025. Social care
Across Wales, we have more than 7,000 looked-after children, around 4,800 living in foster placement, yet Wales needs 550 new foster carers every year.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 7,070
We've got 7,200 children in care.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 7,185
I'll state these figures for the record, because I think that they are quite stark in what they say; if we just look at the system in general and children in care in general, in 2011, there were 5,410 children in Wales, and by 2021 that had increased to 7,265.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 7,050
I'll state these figures for the record, because I think that they are quite stark in what they say; if we just look at the system in general and children in care in general, in 2011, there were 5,410 children in Wales, and by 2021 that had increased to 7,265.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 7,050
Young people not in education, employment or training
Quoted 4 times. Latest official figure: 13.7% for 2024. Universities, colleges and skills
Roughly 17 per cent of the 16 to 24-year-old age group are NEET.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 13.7%
Wales also has a higher share of young people not in education, employment or training than the rest of the UK: 11 per cent, compared with the 5 per cent to 9 per cent of other nations.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 13.2%
If you look at those not in education, employment or training at the moment, I think, looking at my figures, around about 16 per cent of males and females aged between 16 and 24 are not in employment, education or training at the moment.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 16.0%
Fourteen per cent of young people aged 16 to 24 are not in education, employment or training.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 16.0%
Productivity
Quoted 3 times. Latest official figure: 84.9 for 2023. The economy and jobs
On productivity, a cornerstone of economic success, Wales is 17 per cent below the UK average, with three of the 10 least productive regions in the UK, and none in the top 10.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 84.9
You may be aware, Minister, that gross value added—a good measure of productivity—has declined steadily from 84.3 per cent in 2004 to 82.7 per cent today, dipping to its lowest amount in 2009, and Wales has languished in one of the bottom four positions for employment rates and weekly earnings for over 20 years.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 84.9
Gross value added per capita in Wales has never been above 75 per cent of the UK average throughout the devolution era, while GVA per hour has basically remained stagnant at 83 to 84 per cent of the UK average over the same period.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 83.6
Recycling rate
Quoted 3 times. Latest official figure: 68.4% for 2024-25. Climate and nature
The average recycling rate in Wales is 66 per cent, and it varies from 59 per cent in Torfaen to 72 per cent in Pembrokeshire and Swansea.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 66.6%
Under devolution, First Minister, we've seen municipal recycling rates increase from under 5 per cent to now almost 66 per cent, to place Wales as an absolute world leader.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 65.7%
Our municipal recycling rate was a record 65.4 per cent in 2020-21, exceeding the 64 per cent target.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 65.2%
People killed on the roads
Quoted 2 times. Latest official figure: 91 for 2025. Transport
As Jason said, 91 people were killed on Welsh roads in 2025, 9 per cent higher than 2024.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 91
In 2025, 91 people were killed on Welsh roads.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 91
Mental health assessments within 28 days
Quoted once. Latest official figure: 83.7% for June 2026. Mental health
It's worth noting, however, that there have been some improvements in relation to waiting times for a local primary mental health support service assessment, with 74 per cent of referrals being assessed within 28 days of a referral in June—that's an improvement of nearly 30 percentage points since the beginning of 2022.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- 67.1%
Total income from farming
Quoted once. Latest official figure: £505 million for 2025. Farming and rural Wales
Recent figures also indicate a rise in total income from farming, exceeding £590 million in 2022.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- £450 million
Average Band D council tax
Quoted once. Latest official figure: £2,283 for 2026-27. Public finances
There have been a number of references to some local authorities in particular, but the average band D council tax for Wales for the next financial year is £1,879, so that's £186 lower than the average across the border in England.
- Official figure for the latest period before that date
- £1,731