Plaid Cymru's Priorities

NHS waiting lists in Wales are too long with more than 5,000 people are waiting more than 2 years for treatment in Wales, compared to fewer than 200 in England.

Including through opening 10 dedicated surgical hubs for procedures like hip and knee replacements, hernia operations and cataract removals, a Plaid Cymru government will focus on driving down waiting times – ensuring more people are treated, more quickly, and creating the breathing space we need in the system to make our health service fit for the future.

Families in Wales are paying more than in any other part of the UK for childcare, and many are unable to afford it altogether. This is impacting on families’ budgets and on parents’ ability to return to work.

Plaid Cymru’s a new childcare offer for Wales will include 20 hours for 48 weeks a year for all children aged 9 months to 4 years – worth more than £30,000 per child at full roll out. We will also keep the current 30 hours of childcare for 3-4 year olds.

Putting money back in families’ pockets, supporting parents back into work and making sure all children can access the benefits of quality childcare.

Students in Wales are underperforming relative to their peers in every other part of the UK when it comes to core skills in reading, writing and maths.

Through a new literacy and numeracy plan – one with clear national, school-level and per-pupil targets – we will focus on getting the basics right, and giving all of our young people the foundational skills they need. We will raise the bar on educational standards in our schools, and empower our dedicated education workforce to do what they do best – teach.

Many businesses in Wales already punch above their weight globally. But the Welsh economy is also bursting with untapped potential.

Plaid Cymru has the most comprehensive economic plan of any political party, anywhere in the UK – a plan to grow and sustain Welsh business and create sustainable, well-paying jobs and keep profits recycling in our communities.

We’ll do this by setting up a new, business-led National Development Agency for Wales – supporting Welsh businesses to grow and remain Welsh-owned, providing sustainable jobs, reform business rates to support businesses on our high streets and keep more public money in Wales, with Welsh businesses.

Almost 1 in 3 children in Wales are living in poverty – despite Labour’s promise to end child poverty by 2020. Growing up in poverty affects everything from a child’s health to their educational attainment and future work prospects.

Plaid Cymru refuses to accept child poverty as inevitable. Based on the evidence of what works to tackle poverty, we will implement a new, targeted child poverty strategy and pilot Cynnal – the Welsh Child Payment – to provide direct support to the families that need it most.

For too long, Labour has failed to stand up for Wales in Westminster.

Plaid Cymru will put Wales first, pushing for fairer funding, more powers including on the Crown Estate, justice and policing, and more respect for Wales within the UK - giving Wales a stronger voice and the power to build a better future for ourselves.