The Welsh Government has issued guidance to all local authorities in Wales on the issuing of fixed penalty notices. It supports their use as a response to genuine problems, issued sensibly and enforced even-handedly.

The White Paper ‘Reforming Local Government: Resilient and Renewed’ issued on 31 January set out priorities for local government in Wales. Consultation on the White Paper ended on 11 April. A statement will be made once consideration of all responses is completed.

Working within the constraints of the law we aim to maximise the benefits to be secured through public procurement contracts in Wales for both suppliers and the Welsh public purse.

Councils in Wales are still not representative of the people they serve. It is a key responsibility of political parties and groups, in being serious about promoting diversity, to encourage people from different backgrounds to stand as candidates.

I welcomed Michael Russell, Scottish Minister for UK Negotiations on Scotland’s Place in Europe, at the 25 May European advisory group meeting. This allowed for a wide-ranging and informative discussion on areas of common interest, including economic, financial and constitutional issues.

‘Taking Wales Forward’ sets out the Welsh Government’s ambitious programme that focuses on delivering real improvements in the every-day lives of people in Wales, driving improvement in the Welsh economy and public services.