Written question WQ95764

In line with the Expert Group’s recommendations, and as our Initial Implementation Plan sets out, we will be conducting research into the Local Authority budgets and annual spend on prevention and early intervention services spanning the last 10 years. This will then consider the funding required as part of wider social services funding

This research seeks to address the following expert group recommendations:

• The National Care and Support Office should monitor Local Authorities for the relative share of their budget spent annually on prevention and early intervention and bring together this information to inform funding priorities at a national level and assist with Wales wide cultural barriers that may be impacting

• The Welsh Government should commission research into the level of spend on commissioned preventative social care (relative to the totality of social care spend) by Local Authority area, annually over the past 10 years

• The Welsh Government should therefore consider adding further resource for investment in preventative services.

Within the research, there will be a focus on assessing the current provision, spending, and impact of preventative services for social care in Wales.

Our aim remains for this research to be completed before March 2026.