Senedd committee says £58m spending cannot be properly scrutinised and calls for major overhaul

A SENEDD committee has raised serious concerns about the Welsh Government’s approach to international relations, warning that a lack of clear strategy and financial transparency is undermining Wales’s work on the global stage.

In a report published on Tuesday (Jan 28), the Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport and International Relations Committee said confusion, fragmented planning and weak accountability have made it difficult to assess priorities, impact or value for money.

While the Committee acknowledged that Wales benefits from international goodwill, expertise and global connections, it said the absence of a coherent long-term strategy meant those strengths were not being used effectively.

The Committee has now set out a new framework, called Mission Cymru, which it says should guide future Welsh Governments and place international relations on a more stable and transparent footing.

Committee chair Delyth Jewell said the inquiry had uncovered widespread uncertainty about what the Welsh Government is trying to achieve internationally and how success is measured.

She said evidence presented to the Committee repeatedly highlighted confusion over government priorities and a lack of clarity around outcomes.

“As we enter a period of growing global instability, the need for clear and measurable principles for Wales’s international engagement has never been greater,” she said.

“Geography may place Wales at the edge of a continent, but our voice should never be marginal.”

£58m spend ‘cannot be scrutinised’

One of the most serious criticisms in the report relates to financial transparency.

The Committee said it has been unable to scrutinise more than £58 million allocated to international relations during the current Senedd term, despite repeated attempts over several years to obtain detailed information.

It said gaps in reporting, late updates and incomplete data have made it impossible to assess whether the funding has delivered tangible benefits for Wales or represented value for money.

As a result, the Committee said it remains unclear whether significant public investment in international activity has aligned with government priorities or achieved its intended outcomes.

Poor oversight and accountability

The report also criticises the Welsh Government for what it describes as weak ministerial accountability.

Although international relations sit within the First Minister’s portfolio, the Committee noted that the First Minister appears before it only once a year and has declined to attend other scrutiny sessions, including those examining budget matters.

The Committee also highlighted failures to keep the Senedd properly informed about key developments, including the signing or renewal of international agreements, and said records of Wales’s international arrangements remain incomplete.

It warned that poor transparency not only limits democratic scrutiny but risks undermining confidence in Wales’s international work.

Call for ‘Mission Cymru’

Looking ahead, the Committee is urging future Welsh Governments to adopt Mission Cymru—a set of twelve principles designed to provide a clear, long-term vision for Wales’s international relations.

The Committee said the framework would help bring greater focus, coherence and accountability to international activity, ensuring Wales’s global engagement delivers measurable benefits at home.

The full report, Mission Cymru: Principles for international relations, has been published by the Senedd.

AN OPTICIANS in Haverfordwest is proving that the traditional Saturday job is far from dead, offering young people practical experience, transferable skills and a genuine pathway into long-term careers.

With figures suggesting almost one in eight people aged 16–24 are not in education, employment or training, the decline of weekend work has increasingly been cited as a barrier to young people becoming workplace-ready. But the locally owned and run Specsavers Haverfordwest is bucking that trend by actively recruiting and supporting young staff.

The store currently employs Kyle Ashbourne, 16, who has worked weekends as a trainee optical assistant since November while studying at college. The role provides hands-on experience in customer service and retail, alongside an introduction to the technology and processes involved in eye examinations and the wider optical profession.

Speaking about his experience, Mr Ashbourne said: “Working at Specsavers alongside my studies has been a great experience. I’ve developed my confidence and communication skills and learnt a lot about customer care and the optical industry. The flexibility of weekend work really helps me balance my job with college, and I feel supported to develop my skills for the future.”

Weekend roles at the store typically involve welcoming customers, supporting appointments and learning how the practice operates day to day. For many young people, it is their first experience of the workplace, helping them build confidence and develop skills that extend well beyond retail.

Specsavers Haverfordwest store director Andy Britton said weekend positions can play a crucial role in opening doors. He said: “A Saturday role is an ideal way for young people to gain early insight into the profession while picking up valuable, real-world experience in a supportive environment.

“It’s not just about earning money. It’s about building confidence, learning how to work as part of a team and developing strong communication and customer service skills that will serve them well throughout their lives. Many of our colleagues started in weekend roles and have gone on to enjoy long and rewarding careers with us, which we’re proud to support.”

Specsavers offers a range of career routes, from retail and customer service to clinical roles in optics, with ongoing training and development opportunities designed to help staff progress.

For more information, or to book an eye examination or hearing check, call Specsavers Haverfordwest on 01437 767788 or visit the store’s website.

PEMBROKESHIRE residents aged fifty and over are being invited to share their views as part of a new consultation on Age Friendly Communities across the county.

The survey focuses on how older people experience life in Pembrokeshire and what helps them maintain a good quality of life as they grow older, both at home and within their local communities.

Participants are asked to reflect on their later years, including how well communities support older residents, and the role played by statutory services, voluntary groups and community organisations.

An Age Friendly Community is defined as a place where people are supported to age well, remain living in their own homes for as long as possible, take part in activities they value, and continue contributing to their communities.

The Age Friendly Communities approach was developed by the World Health Organization in 2007, following consultation with older people worldwide. It is based on evidence about what supports healthy and active ageing and places older residents at the centre of shaping the communities they live in.

Responses from the consultation will help inform the Pembrokeshire Age Friendly Communities Strategy and Action Plan. This will be developed in partnership with organisations including Hywel Dda University Health Board, Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, the voluntary sector and Pembrokeshire’s 50+ Forum.

Further information is available on Pembrokeshire County Council’s Have Your Say webpage. The online survey must be completed by February 15, 2026.