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The Welsh Government has announced a number of proposed new laws for the next year – which will have “an unrelenting focus on reform”. 

The First Minister, Mark Drakeford, announced the legislative plans on June 27, which he said would make a “positive change for the people of Wales”. 

Legislation that is set to be introduced in the next Senedd includes a bus bill aimed at improving public transport, a disused coal tips safety bill, a local government finance bill to look at the issue of council tax banding, and a Welsh language education bill.

There will also be planned laws related to the democratic process including a “once-in-a-generation” Senedd reform bill – which aims to increase the number of Senedd Members from 60 to 96.

The First Minister said: “This forthcoming year will have an unrelenting focus on reform to make positive changes in the lives of the people of Wales.

“This is an ambitious and radical programme of reform, which will modernise parts of our tax and electoral system, ensure we put the needs of looked-after children ahead of profits, and create a Senedd which reflects the Wales we live in today.

“Our reforms will transform bus services, giving people greater choice about how they travel, and help us towards our ambition of a million Welsh speakers by 2050.”

In response, the leader of the Welsh Conservatives, Andrew RT Davies MS called the plans “tone-deaf” and “out of touch” with the people of Wales. 

Mr Davies said: “Mark Drakeford has announced his legislative agenda for the next 12 months and it is truly depressing to see how out of touch the Labour party have become after 25 years of failing the people of Wales.

“In his programme there is no mention of the excessive waiting lists in our Welsh NHS or a plan to eliminate 2-year waits that still stand at over 30,000 patients, compared with virtually zero in England.

“Labour Ministers in the Senedd are focussed on the wrong priorities, they are far more keen on bringing forward their tone-deaf proposal to send 36 more politicians to Cardiff Bay, costing the taxpayer £100 million and their so-called council tax reforms that will increase bills further for the people of Wales, than addressing the people’s priorities.”