Cross-Party Groups in Wales

The Senedd


Political Leadership

The Welsh Pharmacy Board is the profession’s voice in Wales. Ensuring this voice is heard amongst AMs, the Welsh Government and political party organisations is a key objective of the Board.

To gain a platform for political leadership and getting the Board’s key messages across, especially during this time of major changes to NHS organisations and the creation of a new professional body, the Welsh Pharmacy Board has facilitated the establishment of a Welsh Cross- Party Group for Pharmacy.


What are Cross-Party Groups?

Cross-Party Groups (CPGs) provide an opportunity for Members of all political parties, outside organisations and members of the public to meet and discuss a shared interest in a particular cause or subject.

They are not formal Assembly groupings and are not, therefore, bound by any of the Assembly's Standing Orders. The operation of CPGs in Wales is not prescriptive in relation to the procedures to be followed, with Groups able to determine their own procedures.

CPGs may be set up by Assembly Members in respect of any subject area relevant to the Assembly. CPGs have no formal role in policy development, but serve as a source of information sharing and a point of contact on areas of particular interest to the Assembly.


Membership of Cross-Party Groups

The membership of CPGs is open to all Members of the Welsh Assembly.

CPGs must include Members from three political party groups represented within the Assembly.

CPGs may contain members from outside the Assembly, but the overall membership profile of the group must remain clearly Assembly in character.

To maintain and guarantee the Assembly nature of the occasion, it is advisable to have at least two Members of the Assembly, both members of the group, present at every meeting.

CPGs should elect its own officers at its first meeting, with prominence given to the Assembly Members as sponsors of the group.


Meetings

CPG meetings are held in public, with all Assembly members being invited to attend and speak. 

Members of the public and organisations with an affiliation to the CPG are invited to attend each meeting, with the group’s secretariat being responsible for issuing invites and providing administration support.

News on the latest Cross-Party Group on pharmacy meeting

The Welsh Pharmacy Board, together with other pharmacy colleagues, met up with Assembly Members on 7th July, at the second meeting of the Cross Party Group on Pharmacy.

At the latest meeting, pharmacist Jodine Fec, who owns an independent community pharmacy in Talgarth, Powys, highlighted the essential role that pharmacy services play in rural areas.

It was agreed that the key pharmacy organisations in Wales should work with the Welsh Assembly Government and Health Boards to drive the rural health plan forward in Wales. Utilising the provisions of the Community Pharmacy Contract was seen as an essential way forward for this.