Thank you, Mair, for putting your question in. We actually did table an emergency question ourselves, the Welsh Conservatives, first thing on Monday morning; somehow that seems to have been rejected. But I'm glad that you put one in as well. So, I would like to endorse all the thanks that have gone before me: North Wales Fire and Rescue Service, Conwy County Borough Council and other partner agencies. Their incredibly fast response saved considerably more acres.
I'd also like to pay tribute to local residents who evacuated quickly, but also did what they could to try and help. It could have been far more serious, though it was incredibly serious in itself. Our farmer, Gareth Wyn Jones, who had to go himself in searing heat to try and rescue pigs from up on the uplands. The impact that this fire has had on local residents who have been forced out of their homes, there have to be questions now, asking how we can support them, because it's a frightening experience. There were 36 homes evacuated, one family noting it was actually in their driveway, and 200 acres of land have been affected.
We all have to be cautious. I wonder whether some messaging could go out in terms of graphics or something. Do you know, you only need, these days, glass? If you're carrying clear glass on hot, dry grass, it can easily turn into a fire. Not a fully extinguished cigarette butt: we should not be having people, you know—. They can unintentionally spark a fire, leading to significant damage whilst also putting lives at risk.
It was a very, very resource-intensive, financial-resource-intensive operation for all those partner agencies. I suppose what I'm asking for is: will you put some resources forward now for the aftermath of this? Will you contact those partner agencies and see how your Government can financially support them? But we also need a strategic plan. I'm not a lover of strategic plans, but we need something in place, because this could happen again. We're only halfway through the summer; this could happen again and again, and I want to be sure that all those partner agencies and rescue services are not stuck for finance in any way, shape or form. Diolch.
Contributions
86 contributions on record. Newest first, by sitting day. Page 2 of 2. Counted by Siambr
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Since the dawn of devolution 27 years ago, the young people of Wales have been let down, both in terms of their education received and their attempts to find good employment, and the two are inextricably linked. It's unforgiveable that a nation like ours with so much potential has become such an unattractive prospect for young people seeking employment, and that we are haemorrhaging precious home-grown talent in our youngsters and they are leaving Wales. But it's little wonder. Wages here are lower and people pay a greater proportion of their income in tax than anywhere else in Britain. So, why would a young person, fresh out of education, yet to put down roots, not seek opportunities and settle elsewhere? The same stands for our businesses. Our young people—some of our young people—are the innovators of the future, the ones leaving education with fresh ideas for business start-ups. But with sky-high business rates and a poor infrastructure, transport wise, naturally, any business-savvy young person will look beyond Wales to minimise their costs and maximise their earnings. But even before our young people look at the job market, their choices have been limited by the worst performing education system in the UK. And I blame Welsh Labour and Plaid Cymru. They have far fewer opportunities than their counterparts over the border for courses, apprenticeships and degrees. Our infrastructure and transport networks play their part in this problem. They are suffering from a chronic lack of investment, and virtue-signalling policies like 20 mph and a ban on road building have damaged us and meant that business and jobs are not coming to Wales in anywhere near the numbers they should. I will say though that I very much welcome the commitment from the Welsh Government to a third Menai crossing in my own constituency of Bangor Conwy Môn, something that we have campaigned for for a long time. This will be critical to the expansion and new job opportunities at Wylfa, and that is exactly what we need to be replicating across Wales: investment in our transport infrastructure, building a much needed M4 relief road. Other harmful policies like the tourism tax. It just beggars belief why you keep hitting the very businesses, as Tom Montgomery actually put across quite well, that youngsters want to go into, in the hospitality industry. They want to work in a fish and chip shop or serve slushies at Woolworths. But we're just doing everything we can to make it difficult for businesses to actually then encourage young people to go and work there. During the election, the Welsh Conservatives had a robust plan for economic growth. It really was the only credible plan to deliver more jobs and prosperity, and, critically, to bring us in line with the rest of the UK. Now, we are happy to work with Plaid Cymru, and I had a very constructive meeting with the Minister yesterday, Adam Price. We need to work together, as has been said, cross-party, but we need to be serious about using the levers that you have as a Welsh Government. You need to scrap business rates for small firms, pubs and post offices. We need to make public procurement contracts more accessible, particularly to our small business. We've been talking about this for 15 years, but it's not happened. We must give priority to Welsh local firms. We need to work with education providers to expand the choice of courses available to young people, particularly in STEM subjects and apprenticeships. We need to take action to address mobile blackspots and poor broadband speeds, so that our young people in remote and rural communities aren't left behind and their studies aren't hindered. Crucially, we need to look at the problem with young people and unemployment in the round, starting with the improving of our education system, finishing with fixing our economy. That is the only way to create secure, well-paid jobs for our young people, to rival those of other UK nations and indeed the rest of the world. So, I agree with many of the really good points that have been made in this debate, but let's not forget who is responsible for the mess we're in with our job market. For Plaid, they've said all the right things about young people and employment before the election, but as I said on the day of my re-election, I will be really watching on this, because you will not grow Wales without growing your young people. I don't feel very optimistic that you will deliver all you have promised, and we will hold you to account on it—
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—but we stand ready to work with you on this.
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We will be abstaining, however.
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Will you take an intervention?
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Thank you. So, I represent Bangor Conwy Môn, one of the largest towns is Llandudno, and we have the largest bed space, really, across Wales for the tourism industry. We are not suffering from immigration, I can assure you. We're suffering from too high business rates and all the things I've mentioned in my speech. I can honestly tell you we are not suffering from immigration. Immigrants are not taking people's jobs.
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Diolch, Lywydd. Wales has every reason to be proud of its recycling record. We have the second highest recycling rate in the world, with a national recycling rate of 68.4 per cent. Twelve of Wales's 22 local authorities have already met the Welsh Government's statutory target of recycling 70 per cent of municipal waste, and I have to say, my own local authority, Conwy County Borough Council, get brownie points from me on the fact that they are one of the most successful ones. These achievements are testament to the efforts of our Welsh households, local authorities and businesses, who have embraced recycling and sustainability. That is why the Welsh Conservatives have continuously supported the principle of a deposit-return scheme, because we believe that it can reduce litter, increase recycling rates, encourage responsible behaviour and help protect our environment, our sea mammals and our wildlife. Now, in 2016, I was incredibly proud to have brought forward a successful legislative proposal for a Bill that would make provisions to introduce a deposit-return scheme and reduce waste in Wales. We're now in 2026. Around the world, successful schemes in countries such as Germany and Norway consistently achieve return rates of over 90 per cent, minimising litter and keeping valuable materials in circulation. So, this debate isn't about whether Wales should have a deposit-return scheme, it's about whether the proposed scheme is fit for purpose, affordable and works for businesses and customers alike. The former Welsh Labour Government chose to create a system that differs from—and this is after 10 years—the rest of the UK by including glass within the scheme, despite all the evidence suggesting it is unworkable. This divergence for the sake of divergence will have very real consequences for the Welsh economy. Wales already collects 92 per cent of glass at the kerbside, so I fail to understand why including glass in the DRS is such a priority for this Plaid Cymru Government. I fear this is shaping up to be yet another Welsh taxpayer-funded disaster.
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The inclusion of glass makes the scheme significantly more complicated and substantially more expensive, as glass requires dedicated collection infrastructure, specialist handing, expensive transportation because of its weight compared to plastic and cans and paper, and more costly reverse vending machines, all of which means increased operational costs for retailers and producers alike. And I'll say that again: for retailers and producers alike. We're talking, again, about another hit on our businesses. The British Soft Drinks Association has warned that this decision could increase the cost of some bottles by up to 50p, which on something like a small bottle of water would be a huge proportional increase. Leading Welsh manufacturer Radnor Hills described the Welsh Government's plans as a complete and utter mess. Industry representatives have warned that manufacturers may pass additional costs directly on to consumers or even withdraw products from sale in Wales altogether. Now, I don't know about you, but certainly, if I'm having a beverage, I prefer it out of glass. There's far too much ingestion of plastic now from drinking from plastic bottles. So, there is a consumer choice at stake here. These are not theoretical concerns, they are warnings from the businesses expected to deliver this scheme, and I've always listened to my businesses in Aberconwy and now Bangor Conwy Môn. Even more worrying is the Welsh Government's failure to appoint a deposit management organisation to run the scheme. With a launch date of October 2027, little more than a year away, there is still no confirmed administrator, IT, infrastructure or real implementation plan, just ideology and an insipid plan that doesn't stand up to any scrutiny and has the potential to damage our businesses. Serious questions do remain unanswered: how will this scheme operate on a day-to-day basis? How much financial support will retailers receive for operating return points? Which small retailers will qualify for exemptions? How will producers prepare their supply chains? Why is the Welsh Government effectively creating a hard border by introducing Wales-only labels? This is the same Government that only yesterday was talking about looking outward, looking out internationally and everything, and yet you want Wales-only labels on bottles. How will local authorities fund glass collections? Businesses simply cannot invest without certainty, yet certainty has been entirely absent throughout this whole process. The Association of Convenience Stores has made its concerns abundantly clear. It warns that local shops may be forced to purchase more expensive soft-drop reverse vending machines capable of safely handling glass or face the risks associated with manually accepting broken glass. This is a clear health and safety concern. Ed Woodall, chief executive of the Association of Convenience Stores—a cross-party group that I was proud to chair for a full term—warned that, unless an administrator is appointed urgently, Welsh businesses will fall behind the rest of the United Kingdom. He also made another important point: the best chance of success is a deposit-return scheme that is the same throughout the UK. That is what the Welsh Conservatives have always supported from the outset. Sainsbury's, the Co-operative Group and Coca-Cola have all written directly to the First Minister warning that the current policy risks increasing prices, reducing customer choice and creating growing uncertainty for businesses operating in Wales—concerningly, discouraging suppliers trading in Wales altogether. So, why are these warnings from these important businesses, these important industry experts, falling on deaf ears? These leading industry figures also urge the Welsh Government to appoint Exchange for Change immediately, because they believe it represents the only realistic route to delivering a scheme on time, while ensuring compatibility across all four nations. Yet, despite being the only applicant, Exchange for Change was initially rejected, which is extremely concerning. If this tender is not an attractive proposal to those in the industry, how do you, Cabinet Minister, think you could do a better job of running it? Where would you find the expertise? Where would you create the necessary infrastructure in such a short time frame? With time running out, the new Welsh Government finds itself struggling to resolve problems of its own making, and the former Welsh Labour Government's own stubbornness. The Welsh Conservatives have consistently warned against creating a separate Welsh system. Businesses trading across the England-Wales border should not be forced to operate different labelling systems, separate supply chains and conflicting regulations. Small Welsh producers should not face unnecessary bureaucracy. Consumers should not face confusion over which containers qualify and which do not. And taxpayers should not face the additional costs of implementing a more complicated system than our neighbours. The inclusion of glass has already delayed full reuse arrangements involving glass until 2031, recognising that substantial complexities remain. If glass cannot realistically be fully integrated for several more years, why insist on making the initial scheme so unnecessarily difficult now when we want to get on with it? Now we, the Welsh Conservatives, would take a different approach. We would deliver a deposit-return scheme that works from day one. We would align Wales with England, Scotland and Northern Ireland to create one seamless UK-wide system. We would remove glass from the initial phase of the scheme to reduce costs, simplify operations and avoid unnecessary burdens on businesses. We would work in genuine partnership with Welsh manufacturers, convenience stores, hospitality businesses and recycling organisations, rather than imposing these bureaucratic and not-wanted solutions without listening. Cabinet Minister, surely you can recognise you've backed yourselves into your own corner with this ill-thought-out scheme and unachievable time frame. You said in your own manifesto earlier this year that you would introduce a Welsh deposit-return scheme for plastic and metal drink containers, including glass, when this becomes practically feasible. It isn't practically feasible. You acknowledge the inclusion of glass is problematic, so what has changed? Why are you hellbent on pressing ahead with this plan? It's going to fail. The cost, the potential for fraud, the cross-border interoperability impact on existing collection systems, the cost to local authorities, the risk of suppliers ceasing trading in Wales and, above all, the cost to the public purse, should this fail, makes the scheme completely unviable and impossible to implement by October 2027. A practical, connected deposit-return scheme would reduce litter, increase recycling and improve environmental outcomes, while supporting Welsh businesses and protecting consumers from unnecessary costs. The inclusion alone of glass threatens to ruin this scheme before it's even implemented. So, Cabinet Minister, we have so much to be proud of in Wales on our recycling rates. In fact, we've been trailblazers and achieved one of the highest recycling rates in the world. So, it's absolutely critical we get this DRS right. I urge you to support scrapping the inclusion of glass from this scheme, and I urge other Members here to support our stance on this. Diolch.
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Of course, this Bill does confer powers on the Secretary of State to make regulations to nationalise a steel undertaking in the United Kingdom. While it will not immediately nationalise any steel company, it does give the Secretary of State powers to take action in certain circumstances, which could include steel undertakings in Wales. These are significant powers, and whilst I understand the reasons they are being sought, I believe they should be approached with caution. Before the closure of Tata Steel's blast furnace at Port Talbot, Wales's steel accounted for 60 per cent of total UK crude steel output and primary iron, it employed over 4,000 people—a figure that has now sadly halved—it contributed around £3.2 billion per year to the Welsh economy, and it represented approximately 3 per cent of Wales's total economic output. These figures demonstrate just how important the steel industry is to Wales, not only to our economy, but to thousands of families and communities that have depended on it for generations. Any decisions affecting the future of this sector will have lasting consequences. Of course, the Conservatives have always recognised the vital importance of our Port Talbot Tata Steel site and, to help secure its long-term future, it was, in fact, the UK Conservative Government that agreed a joint investment package with Tata Steel. Rather than taking the company into public ownership, it chose to work in partnership with the private sector to deliver a sustainable future for steel making in south Wales. That package included a £500 million Government grant to help fund a £1.25 billion transformation to a modern, greener electric arc furnace. This was a substantial commitment by the UK Conservative Government, demonstrating that Government can play an active role in supporting strategic industry whilst also encouraging private investment and innovation. Whilst it is important that Governments are able to step in and support our vital steel industry when circumstances demand it, we must never forget the benefits that come from Governments working constructively alongside the private sector. Partnership can deliver investment, safeguard jobs, modernise production, help secure the long-term future of our steel industry, and without making nationalisation the default option. Our focus should actually here remain on creating the conditions that encourage investment, protect skilled jobs, and ensure that Welsh steel continues to have a strong future. Whilst I do understand the intentions behind this Bill, my Welsh Conservative colleagues and I cannot and will not support this LCM.
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Diolch, Lywydd. Cabinet Minister, do you agree that the Welsh free ports have a major role to play in delivering offshore renewable energy projects in Wales? As well as supporting our renewable energy ambitions, the free ports will attract nearly £5 million of investment, create up to 16,000 jobs and provide a huge boost to the Welsh economy. As we're all aware, free ports were put in place by the former Conservative UK Government, with the then Secretary of State for Wales, David T.C. Davies, working tirelessly to get two free ports delivered for Wales. When the last Conservative UK Government took advantage of the freedoms provided by Brexit to establish free ports, Plaid Cymru were sceptical. But now, given the economic benefits that these offer, do you fully accept the role that they will play in driving growth, attracting investment and creating jobs in Wales? And do you welcome the great Brexit benefits that they are going to bring?
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Minister, diolch. Thank you for setting out your unequivocal support for Welsh free ports. I'm pleased that your Government is now willing to take advantage of some of the freedoms that Brexit has made possible. Free ports work because the businesses inside benefit from lower taxes and lower red tape. As a result, investment is attracted, jobs are created and economic growth follows. So, do you agree that free ports are a living example of the fact that cutting taxes and reducing red tape help to create jobs and prosperity? And if you have now abandoned your stance of opposition to free ports and recognise what low taxes can do, why not go one stage further and abandon the outdated socialist dogma that is holding Wales back with its enterprise investment across Wales? Scrap the tourism tax, cut business rates, join the Welsh Conservatives in supporting—[Laughter.] Well, not literally, I might add. Join the Welsh Conservatives, I'll say it again, in supporting low tax, lower bureaucracy.
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Diolch. Of course, 65 per cent of the Commission's operational revenue expenditure relates to staffing costs, with the Senedd Commission employing around 500 members of staff before the Senedd expansion. And I have to say, I was a commissioner in the last term, but prior to that, I have seen differences since we have actually gone—where a number of staff are working from home. I find that staff are harder to contact and things like that. However, we've now got 96 Members, and £2.7 million is paid by the Senedd Commission on the rent of Tŷ Hywel alone. Apart from Tuesdays and Wednesdays, it's fair to say that this building sometimes seems relatively empty. Often, only a handful of cars are in the car park, especially on a Friday. It has been mentioned about the very costly renovations of Tŷ Hywel—
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I am. What steps are you taking as a Commission to encourage more members of staff to return to working on the Senedd estate, especially given that several million pounds is now going to be spent on Tŷ Hywel? Frankly, we need to see our staff coming back to work.
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Llywydd, I can't hear because of the—[Inaudible.]. I think there's a protocol—[Inaudible.]
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Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd, and thank you for extending the time on this. O me of little faith, Cabinet Minister—we've heard it all before. You may have a different way of going about things, but we desperately need quick action. You know, 50 days in to all these different changes that were going to be coming in, the health board was one of the most key priorities for me. I'd like to thank Nigel for bringing forward those accusations of bullying, and I'd like to meet with you, because I have also received—. Believe it or not, I think there are some concerns that maybe the Cabinet Minister does need somebody like Donna Ockenden to actually come in and look at this board, because it's not necessarily where you think the bullying may be actually taking place. Some senior—very senior—members of this health board have also felt under—. You can't forget that the buck stops with this Welsh Government. You can blame—. As you were, you opened up your statement with quite accusatory comments: 'If they don't do this, if they don't do that.' They need your help and support. They also need the help and support of the director general of the health board. So, really, what I want to ask you is: in your first 50 days, given the immediate outcomes that are needed—and immediate can't come soon enough—what have you actioned, other than announcing some funding and another review board, to address these failings? And how is the director general a part of the actions needed to support the chief exec, the chairman of the board and their members? This health board needs help. It needs support. It doesn't need that hard hand that you've delivered here today. So, I ask you that question: how are you working with those executives that Ken Skates mentioned, because they have to bear some responsibility also? Diolch.
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I welcome this statement wholeheartedly. Interestingly, when devolution was first on the cards, one of its primary objectives, if devolution came in, was to ensure that we'd have a north-to-south road infrastructure in place that would connect north Wales with the capital city and Government of Wales. But we've been 27 years in the waiting, and that hasn't happened. So, I welcome this as being another way to get people from north to south. When you consider that 71.7 million passenger journeys are undertaken on local bus services each year, and remember that 19 per cent of the population of Wales has no access to a car, this demonstrates the importance of accessible and reliable public transport for many communities. Published in 2025, Transport for Wales undertook a feasibility study into introducing a TrawsCymru express coach service that would connect north and south Wales via the western corridor. Because for anyone doing this on a weekly basis, let alone if you want to come here more often, it can take four to four and a half hours, and since the 20 mph and the 50 mph on some roads, I find it's more likely to be more than four and a half hours, sometimes five hours, coming down here. I regularly travel on the direct train service from Holyhead, and that can take around four hours, although I will say last night—and I have raised it with you—I boarded at 15:29, arriving at my flat at 21:30, and I was asking for a bus to be laid on, because there were other Members here who didn't get home until much later than that. That is something that you need to do. It cannot be that you allow the poor performance of TfW and the trains, the lack of information, the miscommunication, which is so bad at the moment. I believe that quicker public transport journeys are already achievable on parts of the Welsh transport network. I know great work is going on, and I know you'll announce this in the next week or two, as regards the bus franchising. Transport for Wales estimates that the proposed TrawsCymru express service will take around four hours and 45 minutes—can't knock that at all—cutting approximately 90 minutes from some journey times. We've got to enhance sustainable transport options along Wales’s western corridor, but we must never forget that a lot of people do want the road infrastructure to be easy to use, because there are many people who love having their cars, love driving their cars, and there has to be that choice. We can't push everybody, and I've said it before here—. I'll leave the Lycra out, but we can't push everybody onto cycles, trains and buses. There are people who will want to use their cars. But we've got to reduce the travel times—that's the biggie, really. Currently, there's low public transport demand along the proposed corridor, and only 4 per cent of visitors to Wales currently travel by bus or coach, so there's work to be done there. If we're serious about improving transport links between north and south Wales, we need to see better continued investment in rail infrastructure, road infrastructure and integrated public transport. Improving one mode of transport in isolation will not be enough. A co-ordinated approach that strengthens bus, rail and road networks will deliver the greatest benefits for passengers, businesses, tourism and communities across Wales. Will you commit to ensuring, going forward, that all of the transport infrastructure is reviewed alongside the review of the integrated bus network between north and south Wales? Can you be more specific than 'autumn', because autumn, technically, is a three-month season? Can you be more specific as to when you think these buses will start running? Diolch yn fawr iawn, and thank you again for bringing this forward. We need some good news in this Chamber. Diolch.
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Will it be tap on, tap off?
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Thank you, Deputy Minister, but I also share the concerns raised about the impact of the extreme heat and our resilience as a nation to cope with such events. Whilst, of course, safety is paramount, our ability to withstand extreme weather does not feel as robust in Wales as it should. Not only were rail services severely impacted yesterday, causing chaos and leaving communities stranded, many businesses felt compelled to shut, damaging them financially, and critically, as has been raised, many schools across Wales have closed today and tomorrow. Now, not only does this leave working parents struggling to find last-minute childcare, but it's yet another educational absence that has already been imposed on our children, many of whom have already lived through the COVID era and have already missed a great many months of their education. We should be able to withstand severe weather, whether snow, rain or extreme heat, so that transport, businesses and education are not negatively affected as they have been this week. As has been said, it's likely to happen again, and we don't know—. We're actually coming into the hotter part of this summer. So, Deputy Minister, I would be grateful to know what conversations are happening now to plan more for longer term future events and how do you plan to mitigate the impact, so we don't see the chaos that's transpired here in Wales this week?
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I thank the Member for tabling this important debate, given that Sands Awareness Week was just last week. And I speak on behalf of Natasha Asghar, who isn't able to be with us today for her own personal circumstances on another matter. It is all too easy to think that Wales as a nation is impervious to the loss of our babies. However, it is shocking to see figures from Sands and Tommy's showing that if we improved our maternity and neonatal care to the levels of the best performing countries in Europe, 1,000 babies, which has been said, born between 2019 and 2023, could still be alive today. The number of stillbirths and neonatal deaths remain higher in Wales than the rest of the UK. Behind every baby lost is a mother, a father and a family, all coping with the loss of a life they have waited for and nurtured. It is so important to recognise those who have lost a baby and to support them through their immense grief. And I should know, because I too have been through this process.
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So, obviously, I agree entirely with the point that bereaved families must be able to access the high-quality bereavement care they deserve. This is all the more important after we saw truly awful accounts of poor maternity and neonatal care in Cwm Taf Morgannwg in 2019. Pregnancy is actually one of the most dangerous times in a woman's life. The problem is that it is now still happening. Maternity services in Swansea bay are still in targeted intervention because of repeated failures in the level of care of mothers and babies. This cannot and must not be repeated. The largest maternity review in the history of the NHS is being published today, which details widespread failings that led to the deaths of babies and avoidable harm. More than 2,500, and more than 800 members of staff, have contributed to this review at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust. So, I therefore hope that, as a health Cabinet Minister, you will look at these kinds of learnings, because it's imperative that we up our game here. Obviously, there is a lot to unpack in this report, and there is an ongoing criminal investigation. But there will undoubtedly be lessons that need to be learnt as a result, to ensure something as horrifically tragic as this does not happen ever again. These reports are imperative, but they do not bring those lost ones back. This week, my colleague Natasha Asghar MS, who was hoping to contribute to this debate, met with Sands, and she also has met with bereaved parents to discuss the new Welsh Government's priorities for maternity and neonatal care. What the parents felt was simple and raw, and they told Natasha, and I quote, 'Grief is love with nowhere to go.' What they also asked for is simple, better care for mothers and babies, and better bereavement care. It is heartbreaking to hear accounts from parents that there is either one bereavement midwife that covers the whole health board area, or other bereavement midwives who are only available once a week—babies are born every day—leaving families without the required support for weeks. We also see parents given different types of support. In some cases, perinatal mental health is being used for parents who do not have a mental health condition. In others, bereavement support is simply not there. Just one service provides specialist support here in Cardiff, which only provides support for one year. Believe me, grief like that goes on for longer than a year. And while we seek to ensure that all of Wales can access this specialist support, we need an evaluation of how well it's working. So, I would be grateful to the Deputy Minister to see whether this will be carried out. Each health board also has different guidance on bereavement. So, there is a lack of joined-up thinking, and a lack of data sharing on how many parents and families have been affected. I note that, before the Senedd election, the Deputy Minister had been calling for targets on stillbirth and neonatal mortality. So, I would also be grateful for confirmation that these targets will be introduced, data collected, and whether a single set of guidelines will be introduced. I want to highlight the inconsistency in care across services and guidance, and, in particular, the findings of a review into the perinatal mortality review tool, which is a tool used to review baby deaths from 22 weeks' gestation onwards, including late miscarriages, stillbirths and neonatal deaths. This includes care during pregnancy, neonatal care, as well as bereavement care for families. Thirty-six per cent of reviews identified at least one issue with care that may have been relevant to the outcome, either for babies or the psychosocial outcome for parents. The report also found that one in five late miscarriages, stillbirths and neonatal deaths could have been affected by the quality of care. Adopting targets would send a clear message that the Government are making saving lives a political priority. Listening to the experience of parents who have lost their cherished babies brings it home that we must do better as a country to both prevent stillbirths and neonatal deaths, and to support families who are still grieving to this very day. Diolch yn fawr.
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I was going to say that I'm pleased to speak on this debate today, but I have to say, I didn't think we would have to be raising this again so soon, but appropriately, in a new Government. We’re now six weeks into the seventh Senedd, so that’s nearly halfway through your 100 days plan, and I have to say, it is now time to see real action, not more words, not more reviews or strategies. We need to see more action from you.
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You said, Cabinet Minister, that nothing less than bold, radical action is needed to create a strong, resilient and thriving health and care system. I agree. Whilst £145 million of the supplementary budget is no small amount, I see no real plan to support your words in terms of action. You talk of recruitment and summits with NHS chairs. This doesn’t sound bold and radical to me. It sounds like a rehash of what’s been said before. In my constituency of Bangor Conwy Môn, Betsi Cadwaladr being in special measures is the norm, and corridor care is now shamefully a part of everyday working life for staff and patients alike. Now, you know, Cabinet Secretary, in the previous Government, which you were very keen to support at all times, I raised corridor care. It's just inhumane. I've put a freedom of information request in, asking how many times the previous First Minister/health Minister attended the A&E department at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd. Because she told me, when my colleague and I suggested that she came with us, especially when she was coming up to open and grandiose the opening of the new surgical hub in Llandudno General Hospital, she told me she'd been there several times. And I said, 'Well, what have you done? Have you seen people lying in the corridor, on the floor, being treated in cupboards, on chairs?' 'Oh yes, rest assured, I have been.' So, I put a freedom of information request in. Not once had the previous Minister—[Interruption.] You were, but you've not come back and actually told us what was the point of your meeting, did you address corridor—[Interruption.] No, not really. Did you address corridor care? Corridor care is a stain on this Welsh Government, no matter who the ones in power are. The Welsh Conservatives would have grasped this. It would not be happening today. We would have focused our attention. You cannot have a situation when the most vulnerable and the elderly go there and come out with bedsores, after being sat in a chair for three days. I've even got constituents now who have told me, 'No matter how ill I am, no matter the situation, I will not go in an ambulance again to the local A&E department at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd.' We've also seen A&E waits increasing from 10,000 in April 2016 to 11,066; waiting lists in Wales increasing to 680,000 different pathways; two-year waits rising to 3,694; and one in three of the sickest emergency department patients in Wales now experiencing corridor care. It should be a never happen, but it's now expected that it will happen if you go in to the A&E department. I do not blame the nursing staff, the junior doctors or the consultants. They are desperate for the beds. They're desperate for the nurses to support those beds. Previously, Mr Drakeford said—and I had a lot of respect for him—'We do not need any more beds.' Well, oh yes we do, and I hope you have got that message loud and clear. We need more community hospitals opening. We will need those that have been closed reopening. Take Llandudno General Hospital. We've just had a £31 million hub—an orthopaedic surgical hub, and women's health. It's closed. It has not opened yet. It was due to open in April. What are you doing about that? I'm told there are difficulties with the build. I asked at Christmas, 'Were there difficulties with staff recruitment? Will there be any difficulties with the build?' What are you doing to get that online quickly, so that we can get those orthopaedic patients through? Some of the services they're offering there are go in one day, out the next, and they would be able to really get your waiting list down, but you're just sitting quietly by whilst this is closed. Cabinet Minister, as I said on day one, I'm happy to give each and every one of you, as portfolio holders, the chance to change things. I'm asking everybody here to pester you now to stop corridor care. It's a stain on your Government, as it was on the previous one. Diolch.
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Well, I've spoken about this issue so many times in this Chamber, and I have to say, the hypocrisy I've heard here today, where we've seen—with your Government now, and in cahoots with Labour—where, for years, it was always the farmers that polluted our rivers. Well, I can tell you, in my constituency, of the 15 pollution incidents where we've seen huge numbers of fish die—when I first came here, it was six pollution incidents—not one of them was down to farmers. It was down to Dŵr Cymru, people logging into the system illegally, which is something that NRW were not doing much about. If I look at my own area, 13 pollution alerts were issued for our own sea in Llandudno last week. Four alerts were issued last week within a space of 48 hours: West Shore, Llyn Padarn, Craig Du beach central, and Barmouth. I've raised the issue about river pollution, lake pollution and sea pollution. In 2025, untreated sewage was discharged into waters in England and Wales 400,000 times, for more than 2.5 million hours. Raw sewage was discharged into Welsh rivers alone for 777,545 hours, a total of 94,974 times. These figures are just unacceptable. They pose a serious risk to our wildlife, our public health and our environment. Dŵr Cymru has played a key role in these horrifying statistics: 2,266 overflows, 96,653 discharges, 783,268 hours. It's due to these breaches that Ofwat have now imposed a £44.7 million enforcement package in place of a fine, and that means if Dŵr Cymru do not spend money on the infrastructure to stop these overflows breaching, then they will actually be in more serious problems. Ultimately, who picks up the can for this? That is our taxpayers. This enforcement package will fund measures to reduce spills at specific overflows and improve river water quality in highly sensitive catchments, and this funding will be provided by the company rather than initially added to customers' bills. Preventing as many of these spills as possible will help to keep our waters cleaner and healthier. It is important to remember that this is not a one-off incident; this has now become the norm. Where Natural Resources Wales are concerned—. I don't know whether any of you as new Members have actually reported a breach, but the water company is then supposed to contact NRW. Too often, I have to do it, and quite often I report Dŵr Cymru to NRW. I actually believe there's a clear and direct failure of our water companies and Natural Resources Wales. When the chief executive of Dŵr Cymru took home just about £800,000 as a salary—we've had him before our committee, previously, that is—it's just not good enough. I admire the passion that we all are joined together on. And I would just say to Plaid Cymru that this is another debate you should be backing today because, at the end of the day, if you want this cross-party cohesion to go forward, to improve our rivers, to make our environment better, then you've got to put your money where your mouth is. It's a sensible proposal, it's a sensible motion. Back it.
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Will you take an intervention?
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The reality is that whilst the pollution levels have been going up, so have the bonuses the chief exec got. He actually got bonuses, which are supposed to be for when you're providing a good service. He actually got more bonuses when we saw the pollution levels at some of their highest. That is just insane, and how any previous Government could allow that baffles me now to this day.
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Diolch. Of course, up to 20 per cent of the workforce in Bangor Conwy Môn is in tourism and hospitality. North Wales tourism generates around £1.58 billion annually from around 9.39 million visitors. And of course, some of the best tourism and hospitality can be found in this constituency. The World Economic Forum's travel and tourism index ranks Britain as a whole one hundred and thirteenth out of 119 countries for price competitiveness. We know, I know, that the tourism and hospitality businesses in my constituency have been dealt blow-by-blow poor policy decisions, not least the tourism tax. The industry itself now is looking at a way to safeguard itself and have raised with me numerous times the rate of VAT. First Minister, will you consider working with the UK Government and look to bring a lifeline in for those valuable tourism businesses by looking to introduce a VAT rate of 10 per cent on tourism and hospitality? Diolch yn fawr.
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Ambulance waiting times I'd like a statement on, please. Emergency category 1 red ambulance response times in the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board are now facing severe and over delays, as a result, of course, of something I raised last week, that being corridor care. So many examples are coming in through my mailbox of our vulnerable elderly adults lying for hours, sometimes outside. It's just not acceptable. So could I have—? I actually submitted a freedom of information that showed that 2,149 people were declared life extinct whilst in an ambulance in the 24 months leading up to December 2025. Will the Cabinet Minister for health or yourself clarify what actions you are actually doing to reduce the waiting times? How are they working with the ambulance trust to ensure that the 45-minute target is now adhered to, rather than what can be often where the paramedic goes home, leaving a patient in an ambulance with a new member of staff coming on, coming back the next morning seeing that same patient? It's unacceptable, and we need urgency on this now.
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Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd. The BBC reported a few days ago—. And if I might also add my thanks to the very brave firefighters, and, indeed, our thoughts are with the Tata steelworkers. Now, the BBC reported a few days ago that the delay to Tata's new electric arc furnace may be due to National Grid connectivity problems. It is further reported that these concerns were discussed with investors during a conference call last month. Of course, one of the biggest investors in this project was the previous UK Conservative Government and that was contributing £500 million towards the £1.25 billion scheme. Cabinet Secretary, can you tell me whether this issue was discussed with UK Government Ministers last month, and if so, whether those Ministers informed the Welsh Government about the grid issue? When you took office yourself, were you briefed that there was a potential connection problem that could delay the very important project? Llywydd, everyone seems to be assuming that the delay, now, is linked to the recent awful fire, but a closer reading of the report suggests that this is an entirely separate issue and one that may have been known about for several weeks. So, can you, Cabinet Secretary, tell me when you first became aware of the potential delay arising from National Grid connectivity issues? Can you confirm that the £80 million transition fund established to support workers affected by the closure of the blast furnaces still remains in place, and if this delay results in further job losses or economic disruption? And if so, how much funding will this Welsh Government provide in further additional support to affected workers and their families? Diolch yn fawr.
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I'll certainly be watching to make sure that we see those improvements to our high streets, because that question that you raised, Mair, has been very well rehearsed here over the past number of years. Now, talking about Bangor High Street, in 2023 there were 42 empty shops. In 2025, £2.25 million was invested to revitalise Bangor High Street. And, in May 2026, we saw another 5 per cent decrease in high-street footfall. There are people in the private sector, First Minister, who are doing their very best now to regenerate High Street, and I'll mention him here now, Nick Pritchard, a businessman who is investing in Bangor High Street and working really hard. One of the things that we promised the electorate before the last election, and we stand by it, is that we would abolish business rates for small businesses. You were part of a Welsh Government, previously, that actually supported the withdrawal of the rate relief and the formula for business rates. Now that you've got your hands on those levers, will you now look again at reviewing and perhaps abolishing small business rates for our high streets? Diolch.
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I would like to request two statements, with one being an urgent statement from the Cabinet Minister for Health and Care on the immediate eradication of ending corridor care. We know that, in Ysbyty Glan Clwyd, it is absolutely disgusting what is going on there. We see people treated in corridors, cupboards, in chairs for several days at a time. Thirty-two per cent of these patients are being treated in non-designated clinical spaces. I put an FOI in several months ago and found that, across Ysbyty Glan Clwyd, ysbyty Maelor and Ysbyty Gwynedd, nearly 1,000 people had died whilst waiting in a corridor or waiting on a chair. Recently, one of my constituents died after several hours of waiting there, and somebody just placed a coat over that person. That is unacceptable. It's inhumane. I know you'll probably refer me to, as you did my colleague Paul Davies, that the Minister made a statement of his priorities. I did not hear about the eradication of corridor care in his priorities. If that isn't a priority, what is? The second statement I would like is on the very delayed—
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Well, congratulations, Mark, and welcome to your role. I suppose I can't really blame you for anything, because you're new to the Senedd and you're new to your role. [Laughter.] I won't blame you just yet. But let's just be realistic now. So, under the last Welsh Labour Government—supported, of course, by your party now, Plaid Cymru—we did see significant damage done to our transport system through a series of misguided policies and decisions. The scrapping and freezing of major road-building projects has definitely been very retrograde in terms of north Wales and the travel there. The prioritisation of active travel schemes that Lee Waters introduced, which saw everybody supposed to suddenly start wearing Lycra and going on cycles on cycle paths, when, in fact, after the £184 million spent, when I asked what the increase in actual numbers of cyclists using these very expensive active travel routes was, the percentage increase was nil. The continued funding, or—I don't think you can just call it funding, really—the giveaways to Cardiff Airport at significant public and taxpayer expense. Thirty-two million pounds spent implementing the 20 mph policy. A loss of around 20 per cent of bus passengers across Wales. Poor reliability across large parts of the rail network—and, for any of the north Wales Members, we know. We've been there. We've been on those trains that have been late, not attended—a really, really poorly performing rail service. Now, I don't need to tell you, Mark, that the key to a strong economy and a strong society is a strong transport system and modern infrastructure. Our businesses, our visitors, our residents and all those people using our roads, like our road hauliers, depend on reliable transport to move goods and services. Employees need dependable routes to get to work, communities rely on good connectivity to access education, healthcare and leisure opportunities. But, despite how we all know what the importance of transport is, we've seen these continued challenges. Seven point six per cent of planned Transport for Wales services—sorry about this, Ken—between January and September 2025 were cancelled. It doesn't sound a lot, but that amounts to 15,958 cancellations, causing disruption for thousands of people. The closures of the Menai bridge—. Now, you've highlighted the recent closures; that's been going on over four years now whilst those works have been going on. It's not something new. Those closures have been happening on a frequent basis. [Interruption.] James. In my constituency of Bangor Conwy Môn, strong transport links are absolutely vital. Our area is one of Wales's—. If Paul Davies was here, he'd argue with me, but he's not. Our area is one of Wales's premier tourism destinations, attracting thousands of visitors from across the United Kingdom and internationally. Tourism supports thousands of jobs and contributes significantly to our local economy. When our transport networks fail, it is not a good look. And when I see the traffic gridlocked along a lot of the A55, to include Menai Bridge, it does make you ask the question. It's just not a good thing, is it, for tourism. To be fair there has been some progress in improving transport infrastructure in north Wales. In north Wales we have seen major service improvements, but some of these, we, the Welsh Conservatives, have called for. So, the increased rail services linking Llandudno with Liverpool—we'll take credit for that—the extension of Manchester Airport services through to Holyhead, and continued investment in parts of the rail network to improve regional connectivity. These improvements are welcome, and you've mentioned about us all working together—we need to do that in terms of this infrastructure and transport ambition. We need to see a lot of unfreezing of those road projects that are currently on hold. We need to deliver the long-promised M4 relief road. We need to electrify the north Wales main line. We need to upgrade the A55, removing the junction 15 and 16 roundabout bottlenecks. We need to build the third Menai crossing. And I have to say, it's only relatively recently that it's been mentioned that a plan has—
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—been looked at before and it might come forward. I'm just looking at the time. I wish you well in your role. I want us to work together positively, not for any other reason than that we are in a bad way in terms of transport infrastructure in Wales. I'm going now. [Interruption.] Yes. I look forward to working with you, Mark.
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The reality is, of course, the former Welsh Labour Government, propped up by Plaid Cymru, have let down our pupils, our teachers and school staff across Wales, and that's been for 27 years. For too long, standards have fallen whilst excuses have risen. Our schools are underperforming, are underfunded, and are failing to deliver the outcomes that our young people deserve. Wales has the lowest Programme for International Student Assessment results of all UK nations. Attendance remains below pre-pandemic levels. One in five pupils is reported to leave primary school functionally illiterate. The evidence is clear: standards have slipped, discipline has deteriorated, and too many children are left behind. To be fair, when it comes to ALN—
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Yes, okay. When it comes to ALN, they are the unheard children of Wales. Will you now, as the First Minister, commit to delivering a purpose-driven curriculum that raises standards, ensuring that every young person develops the essential life skills they need to reach their own full potential? Diolch.
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Twenty-seven years.
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It's a bit late now.
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Congratulations, Adam, on your new role. I have to say that I'd like to stop, right from the start of this new Government, where we talk Wales down—and I don't mean you; one of the spokespersons here today, actually, was just about talking Wales down. Now, I have more confidence and some faith in the new Government; we have to give them—. I've worked with them for over 15 years, many of their Members, so I'm willing. And Rhun knows, when we both were elected on that day, I said, 'I'll be watching you, and I'll be watching Reform too.' But the thing is that we've got to be positive now, because, as has been said here today, Wales is in a mess business wise, and there's a lot to be done. Now, today, they've mentioned about the Menai bridge, and I am disappointed that I did put an urgent question in—it was a very urgent issue, and I do feel that it merited the urgent question—but, for some reason, that question was denied. But it won't stop me doing it when urgent issues—. So, last week, in May half term, whilst competitors from schools from all over Wales were competing in the Urdd Eisteddfod—and I'd like to pay tribute to everybody involved in that and the organisation, massive organisation, that went on behind it—it was bedlam, and we've still got bedlam today, on the Menai bridge. So, when you've said that you want to meet with me—and, Mark, you've said the same—that will be one of my priorities, and the A55, those roundabouts. And generally, though, in your statement today, I haven't seen much about infrastructure, enterprise, connectivity, and that's what the portfolio is all about. As you know, I've got my meeting next Friday in Llangefni. I've made it cross-party; we've invited the Bangor Conwy MP for Labour and also Llinos Medi, the MP in Ynys Môn, and I've invited all the other MSs, the other five, and county councillors from Anglesey, because I believe that it's time to start working together more collectively. When I was out knocking doors, people were saying, 'Why are you always arguing? Why don't you work together more cohesively?' And where you've got good ideas, I'll work with you, Rhun, and I'll be bringing many good ideas to you, as will other Members, but we've got to be positive. Now, I've mentioned previously about junctions 15 and 16. I do believe that, on broadband connectivity, the previous Welsh Labour Government let us down fundamentally, because 96 per cent of all households was their commitment, but it's around about 93 per cent that actually have broadband connectivity. But there was no mention at the time about businesses, and I have businesses now who are really struggling to function. We want more and more Welsh businesses starting up, staying in business, but they need that broadband connectivity. So, you're not going to have a good economy in Wales unless you've got good road infrastructure, good broadband connectivity. We've also got very poor mobile phone connectivity, and I've been working single-handedly with Vodaphone and all the phone companies, and we've now got—. It's taken time, I have to say; planning permission went through quite some time ago. But bringing those masts to Venue Cymru is a priority for me. You talk of Wales being open for business, but, in your first statement as Cabinet Sec, there is a complete absence of a plan to fix our roads. So, I feel that's a glaring omission. Our transport system is not fit for purpose. We have to get more inward investment into Wales, but, unless you put those priorities in place, then we're not going to see any improvements. But I say let's stop talking Wales down in the first instance. Who would want to invest in Wales as a business if all you do, the politicians, and new politicians, who have come here to make all these changes, or so you say—? We can't judge you on your record, because you haven't previously had any elected Reform Members. I can only talk about the experience I've had of being here 15 years, and I've seen Welsh Labour, and Plaid to some degree, because you've propped up the Welsh Labour Government—. I've seen many of your failings. I'm prepared to give you a chance now, and I will work with you. We will be a constructive opposition. Diolch yn fawr.
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Darren Millar.
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