Contributions

First Minister, that money that you say has been found actually came from the UK Labour Government, and it came as a result of increased investment in ALN, or SEN as it is in England. In 2024, your party said that schools are forced to make difficult decisions about the support they provide to the students who need it the most. And you even said, 'Wales can do better than this. Under Plaid Cymru, the pupils who need support will receive it.' In that case, why was not a single extra penny allocated towards additional learning needs in your supplementary budget?

Read in full

Watch in chamber Senedd TV ↗ Record ↗

First Minister, you said what needs to be done, what we need to avoid doing. Clearly what we need to avoid doing is abdicating responsibility for the most vulnerable children in Wales, and that is exactly what your Government is doing by refusing to allocate a single penny of ALN money in the supplementary budget. It's just not good enough. You made a virtue of supporting young people and children in opposition, but you're not following it through in Government. This week, I heard from Nia Goldsmith, headteacher at Ysgol Tŷ Ffynnon in my constituency. She told me of her concerns about the pressure on staff in school budgets, and as you well know, that money is there to help them. And another headteacher, Richard Hatwood of All Saints' School in Gresford, told me that the chair of the primary headteacher federation has requested a meeting with you. Now, will you be responding and agreeing to that meeting, so that you can show teachers and students and parents across Wales that you are taking their concerns seriously?

Read in full

Watch in chamber Senedd TV ↗ Record ↗

Point of order. During First Minister's questions, the First Minister referenced the inheritance of hundreds of millions of pounds in overspend. Could the Record be reviewed to check that that was indeed what was said, and, if so, be corrected, due to the fact that the Government inherited £120 million, plus the £300 plus million in consequentials?

Read in full

Watch in chamber Senedd TV ↗ Record ↗

Minister, traditionally and historically, Welsh apprenticeships have been amongst the most successful in the UK in terms of completion rates—they've been sky-high compared to other parts of the UK. And apprenticeships are vitally important in driving down those stubborn figures related to people not in education or training. But your supplementary budget doesn't give any additional investment to FE learners, so what efforts are you making to secure more money for apprenticeships and for our colleges and learners?

Read in full

Watch in chamber Senedd TV ↗ Record ↗

Llywydd, if Members could just cast their minds back to 2011, they may recall how the Arab spring was spreading across north Africa and eventually reached Libya. Ultimately, 435,000 people fled from their homes during that conflict. Around 21,500 people are known to have been killed in it. There was a brilliant British Foreign and Commonwealth Office operation—a superb operation—that was launched to rescue stranded nationals in Libya, and those nationals included a steelworker from north Wales, who was known to be stationed at a particularly vulnerable facility in the desert. He had been a steelworker in Shotton and, like many people in north-east Wales, struggled to find like-for-like work after more than 8,000 people lost their jobs in a single day at Shotton steelworks. So, many made their way abroad to find work. This particular man found his way to Libya, and he'd been training up apprentices there—apprentices from Libya itself, from Chad, from Iraq, from Egypt and from countries further afield. He was also responsible for the maintenance of the heavy lathes at that facility. And as rebels advanced and as Gaddafi's militia and armed forces pushed back against the uprising, it became very clear that foreign nationals were at risk of death. The facility that that man was based at became the UK Government's most pressing concern in Libya because of the value of the oil reserves there. Contact with the facility had been lost and the British men were not able to be contacted for several days. But the one from Wales refused to leave the site when others began to flee. He refused to leave the people he had trained: his friends, people who did not have Governments that would rescue them, people who would likely die at the hands of the rebels or the militia or the armed forces of Gaddafi. That person did finally leave the site and witnessed horrific brutality as he made his way to Misrata and then across Tripoli to the international airport, where the final British rescue plane was waiting on the runway for the last British citizens remaining in Libya. I know all of this because that person was my late father, and he stayed as long as he could because he wanted to leave no-one behind to die, regardless of their race or nationality. The first and only time I saw my dad cry was when he told me he had to say goodbye, with some of his colleagues begging him to help them escape from the war and get back to their families, when he told me in graphic detail about the brutal beating of women and children, although he tried to intervene, who were just trying to flee Libya and gain sanctuary in any place that would take them. The Brits did escape, the Americans escaped, the Canadians, they did too, the Germans, French, Italians, but some of my dad's friends he never heard from again nor did their families. So, I just ask this: could you look into the eyes of a friend you know might be dead in hours because there's no refuge to take them, and tell them you don't believe in sanctuary? [Applause.]

Read in full

Watch in chamber Senedd TV ↗ Record ↗

First Minister, between now and 2029, how much does your Government anticipate receiving from the UK Government in additional learning needs consequentials?

Read in full

Watch in chamber Senedd TV ↗ Record ↗

Thank you, First Minister. The answer is more than £0.5 billion—more than £0.5 billion that will come to the Welsh Government as a result of increased spending by the UK Government on additional learning needs. That is a huge additional sum that your Government will be receiving. Every one of the 22 local authorities in Wales is calling for this year's consequential to be passed to councils so that they can then pass it to schools for investment in children and in the teaching profession. Many of your Members, as I've said on numerous occasions, have been consistent in calling for more ALN money for the system. So, how much additional ALN funding are you willing to allocate for children and schools in this year's supplementary budget?

Read in full

Watch in chamber Senedd TV ↗ Record ↗

Minister, thank you for your statement. The frustrations that have been expressed in this Chamber I align myself with. The service provided by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board is insufficient and needs to be improved rapidly. When I read the statement, Minister, I was reminded in my own mind of that scene in This Is Spinal Tap where they move the guitar dial up to 11 from 10. It feels and sounds like you're frustrated with the escalation framework, because it goes to number 5, and Betsi have been at that point for many years now, but we're not seeing the improvements and the speed of improvements that should be expected at that point on the escalation scale. So, I understand and appreciate why you are taking these measures, but what I'm concerned about is that the measures have been deployed in the past, albeit in different forms. Largely, intervention has been seen in the past to little or no avail, or at least to no sustained benefit for the long term. There are some really important points, though, that come from your statement. First of all,  'no second chances for those in positions of responsibility and authority.'  That sounds to me like it's a formal final warning to the board. Is it also a final warning to executives? Significantly as well, with the measures that you're announcing today, essentially, NHS Wales will be intervening more directly and intensively. NHS Wales are directly accountable to you. You've issued a final warning. Surely that also applies to NHS Wales, in which case, you are putting yourself in the firing line directly if we do not see, as you put it, immediate improvements. I'd just welcome an outline of how much responsibility you are willing to take for the situation at Betsi Cadwaladr, and, with regard to those immediate improvements, what they are and by when will we see immediate improvement. Is 'immediate' days, weeks, is it months? I take it that those areas of improvement relate to reducing long waiting lists for cancer treatment, tackling handover delays and ensuring that no-one waits for more than two years for planned care, but just clarity on that would be very helpful.  You also state that this intervention represents a clear shift towards more direct support and accountability with a strong emphasis on measurable outcomes. Measurable outcomes are great, but it's even more important to state what your targets for those measurable outcomes are. So, just clarity on what those targets might be would be very helpful for the Chamber, I believe. You closed your statement with the line 'This is the board's final chance'. As I asked just before, is this the executives' final chance too? I know that in previous Senedd terms, Members have argued that the board members, who have suffered in the past from being dismissed, have sometimes covered for, if you like, or taken the bullets for the executives. Is it the executive team's final warning today? And then finally—and it refers to what's been asked by James Evans—the ultimate sanction, which would be reorganisation. On what grounds would you commence reorganisation of Betsi Cadwaladr UHB? I think it's really important to be clear and transparent, because if you can't provide detail of the basis upon which you would reorganise the health board, then I'm afraid that we will just get drift, insecurity and instability within the health board. In the past, you've said that all options are on the table. Can you just be clear with us today on the circumstances that would lead you to commence reorganisation of the health board? Diolch.

Read in full

Watch in chamber Senedd TV ↗ Record ↗

Minister, can I thank you for your statement? I commend you for bringing the statement forward so early. I think it would be very helpful if your colleagues, particularly those in delivery portfolios, could do so as well. I think winter resilience and adverse weather planning is something that affects many services, and to hear from your colleagues, I think, would be very helpful indeed. Of course, planning for the winter months extends beyond your core responsibilities; it is dependent on a number of other Ministers making plans and enhancing provision wherever and whenever necessary. For example, alleviating pressure on secondary care is dependent on making sure that the roads are open and clear during winter months. It's about making sure that local authorities are well equipped to be able to deal with pressures in social care. In terms of education, if staff can't stay and work because their children are off school because of adverse weather, then it affects the provision and capacity of human resource in hospitals. And then, of course, vaccinations in schools will influence the degree of pressure that the NHS is under as well. So, knowing from the education Minister what plans are in place to maximise the uptake of vaccinations in schools would be very helpful. Likewise, third sector support. It's vitally important too that the commercial sector is engaged fully in terms of planning for the winter, and I'm thinking specifically pharmacies across Wales, who do so much for patients and who do so much to alleviate pressure on core NHS services. Now, it would be helpful, I do believe, to have a cross-Government adverse weather and winter preparedness plan because of the interdependencies across portfolios. I think, also, the role of GPs during winter months cannot be overstated; they become so acutely important in making sure that people who don't need to be admitted to hospitals are able to be treated. So, it would be very helpful to know what discussions have taken place with the British Medical Association over excessive workloads suffered by GPs and how they can be supported through winter months. James Evans asked many of my other questions that I was going to raise, and I'm grateful for the answers. But I think it would be very helpful to know whether any additional financial support is being made available to support the measures, the additional measures, that you've outlined today. Finally, of course, it's vitally important that we keep people in warm homes to avoid the need for admission to hospitals. So, it'd be very beneficial, I think, to hear from your colleague, the Minister for social justice, in terms of any support from Welsh Government this winter to ensure that people don't suffer from cold homes. Diolch.

Read in full

Watch in chamber Senedd TV ↗ Record ↗

1. Pa fesurau, cynlluniau a threfniadau wrth gefn y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi'u rhoi ar waith i gadw pobl yn ddiogel yn ystod y rhybudd coch yr wythnos hon am wres eithafol, ac i ddiogelu seilwaith cenedlaethol hanfodol? TQ1469

Read in full

Official English translation

1. What measures, plans and contingencies has the Welsh Government put in place to keep people safe during this week's red warning for extreme heat, and to protect critical national infrastructure? TQ1469

Senedd TV ↗ Record ↗

Thank you, Minister. Today, we're facing yet another extreme weather event. On this occasion, it's a red warning, meaning that there's a real risk to life, particularly to the most vulnerable people in our society. People will be very worried about not just themselves, but also their loved ones this week. I'd be very grateful if the Government could set out what additional preparation and planning was put in place ahead of time to support public services like schools, hospitals and social care settings during this extreme heat event and what response systems are in place to support people during this red weather warning. I know from my previous experience in transport how challenging extreme heat can be for workers, particularly for bus drivers and train drivers, who cannot and should not operate vehicles if there is a risk of them passing out due to that extreme heat. What work is the Government doing with businesses and with unions to ensure that long-term planning for the protection of workers takes place? Because temperatures are likely to reach 45 degrees on occasions within the next 30 years. This will be a more frequent event. Finally, in these sort of events, like flooding as well, a single point of truth is vitally important for the public. Are you able to outline what the Welsh Government's view is of creating that single portal that can capture all information about events such as this and the disruption and the risk that can be caused? Diolch.

Read in full

Watch in chamber Senedd TV ↗ Record ↗

Diolch, Lywydd. As you will see from the Welsh Labour amendments, we agree with the general principle of the motion. Our first amendment adds the obvious caveat that all such decisions should be made whilst prioritising patient safety, given that emergency situations may occur. Our second amendment goes further, approaching a longer term solution.  Of course, there is a roster of necessary maintenance work across Wales. We all know this. But rebuilding the University Hospital of Wales and Wrexham Maelor Hospital and a new hospital development in west Wales would help reduce that in a far more long-term and sustainable way. I have seen for myself the need to rebuild Wrexham Maelor Hospital. It has grown organically over many, many decades and is now a sprawling array of buildings that simply don't lend themselves well to improved productivity. I do believe that the Welsh Government should be ambitious for Wales and willing to use all the financial levers available, and in the case of new hospitals, that would mean utilising traditional and conventional borrowing and also borrowing through the mutual investment model. The approach set out in our amendment is ambitious and would ensure state-of-the-art hospitals that would serve swathes of people across Wales. Moved.

Read in full

Watch in chamber Senedd TV ↗ Record ↗

Diolch, Lywydd. I'd like to pay tribute to Keir Starmer, if I may. He was one of the most decent and dignified of all politicians that I've known. On behalf of my group, I'd like to express my deepest thanks to the Prime Minister for his service to the nation.  First Minister, this week, of course, is Armed Forces Week, and we'll be paying tribute to and respecting our armed forces community. On Saturday, of course, it is Armed Forces Day itself. Could you clarify: do you believe that, in or out of the UK, you would like to see Wales as a full member of NATO?

Read in full

Watch in chamber Senedd TV ↗ Record ↗

First Minister, just on another point of clarity, in the past, you’ve said, and I quote, 'I don't reckon the population of Wales would feel inclined to spend on aircraft carriers.' Now, as you said, we now live in one of the most volatile periods any of us has ever experienced, and you're calling, and consistently calling, for drastic cuts in defence spending. Is that still your position? And do you believe that drastic cuts in defence should include cuts in cyber security, which keeps our democracy here in Wales safe from hostile threats from abroad?

Read in full

Watch in chamber Senedd TV ↗ Record ↗

Trefnydd, I believe it takes 30 days to develop a habit, and it seems that this minority Government has already made a habit of avoiding scrutiny by making many serious announcements and significant announcements outside of the Senedd first. And, in so doing, it appears that the Government is ignoring Senedd primacy. Now, can I ask for a statement on when the Government will abide by the procedures that previous Governments have been keen to?

Read in full

Watch in chamber Senedd TV ↗ Record ↗

I'd like to thank the Minister as well for his statement today. I'm interested in hearing some of the priorities, obviously, on reducing waiting times and strengthening primary care across Wales. Due to the hard work of the NHS staff and, of course, the previous Welsh Labour Government's £120 million investment in June of last year, we saw waiting lists falling month on month for more than nine months. That came to an end when the funding came to an end, so it demonstrates that that investment that is made works.  Now, the Plaid Cymru Government needs to confirm, with some urgency, I have to say, a date on eradicating two-year waits. We are hearing different time frames, and I think the public deserve to have honesty on this point. Now, in terms of surgical hubs, James Evans has already raised a number of important questions, and I repeat some of those questions. Where are the 10 hubs likely to be constructed? What is the planned capacity for each of those hubs? Who will determine where they are located? What’s the time frame for completing each of the 10? And most importantly, how are they going to be staffed? Because right now, NHS surgeons are scrubbed up, working flat out in our hospitals, doing operations every day. Now, in terms of primary care, you said that you'll secure agreement with the health boards that the proportion of their budgets devoted to primary care will increase by 0.5 per cent each year from 2027-28. So, what part of other NHS budgets will be cut to fund this? And has advice been sought, or indeed provided, by any of the unions over the plans to cut what I assume is secondary care, and most probably hospital care? Now, 0.5 per cent represents a significant sum in total. But, in monetary terms, can you confirm how much by 2030 you'll have taken from hospital care and put into primary care? You state as well that: 'Emphasis must shift from hospital first to more care in the community'. Now, that is precisely what Tory Ministers talked of 30 years ago now. I remember very clearly people like Virginia Bottomley talking about care in the community. Now, it was a great idea that failed because they didn't put money behind it. And so when they were closing mental illness units and talking of improving care provision by basing it in the community, what they were actually doing was cutting. It was blindingly obvious that that's what they were doing. And I really do fear that the mistake that was made by Tories in Westminster 30 years ago could be repeated here in Wales by the Plaid minority Government. So, how much more—how much more—will be spent on care in the community? Will it only be that 0.5 per cent? Because that will not shift the dial.  Betsi Cadwaladr is a major contributor to the waiting lists. And, last week, you said something to the effect of all options are on the table with dealing with Betsi Cadwaladr. You didn't answer the question I raised then, so I ask it again: is reorganisation on the table? And then, finally, you talk about prevention. So, by 2030, what condition—what condition—can you identify as the condition that you will reduce the most across Wales purely through preventative services? Will it be obesity, heart disease? Will it be depression? What will it be? And will you set targets for reductions in such conditions, targets relating to the work associated with prevention?

Read in full

Watch in chamber Senedd TV ↗ Record ↗

Minister, my Welsh Labour colleagues and I stand with health visitors from Cwm Taf Morgannwg, who play an invaluable role in supporting families, and they want to be back at work. They want to be doing the jobs that they love, not on strike. What action will you take to resolve the situation immediately?

Read in full

Watch in chamber Senedd TV ↗ Record ↗

Thank you, Minister, but we would really welcome your individual and immediate intervention to resolve this, and I know that those workers would appreciate meeting with you as well. But I also feel it's important to raise another issue that goes beyond politics and must be addressed: what specific actions will you be taking to reduce the number of stillbirths and neonatal deaths in Wales?

Read in full

Watch in chamber Senedd TV ↗ Record ↗

Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd. Thank you again for tabling this question, Darren Millar. Minister, this is a deeply concerning report. The inspection found alarming issues with safety at the A&E department and internal leadership and culture. Next week, the health board has promised to consider plans to strengthen staffing levels across all emergency departments in north Wales, but problems here don't just relate to staffing levels. They relate to staff feeling that they weren't listened to. Specifically, what is your response to concerns over internal leadership and culture? Secondly, you mentioned in your response to Darren Millar that all options are on the table in regard to the future of Betsi Cadwaladr. Does that include reorganisation?

Read in full

Watch in chamber Senedd TV ↗ Record ↗

Diolch. First Minister, over the weekend, you and your finance Minister claimed that finances were more difficult than you had expected, even though, as you have confirmed, you were part of the process of setting the budget that you now have. You'll also be aware that you received £120 million in extra capital funding on top of the £327 million for ALN, which you are refusing to pass on to schools. Instead, you're briefing that there is some sort of non-existent black hole. Now, before the election, the Institute for Fiscal Studies reported that your uncosted promises would require tax increases or cuts to unprotected services. Were they right?

Read in full

Watch in chamber Senedd TV ↗ Record ↗

I think it was Ronald Reagan who said, 'If you've got to explain it, you've lost it.' Effectively, any difficult decisions that you now face are owed to your party's inability or refusal to cost the promises that you made. You wouldn't tell us before the election what you'll cut. Will you tell us now? Will it be to tackling poverty? Will it be to education, to housing, or to health?

Read in full

Watch in chamber Senedd TV ↗ Record ↗

1. Pa gynlluniau sydd gan Lywodraeth Cymru i hyrwyddo lles anifeiliaid? OQ64109

Read in full

Official English translation

1. What plans does the Welsh Government have to promote animal welfare? OQ64109

Senedd TV ↗ Record ↗

Minister, do you support the ban on trail hunting?

Read in full

Watch in chamber Senedd TV ↗ Record ↗

Can I just ask why you won't publish, in the first 100 days, detailed costings?

Read in full

Watch in chamber Senedd TV ↗ Record ↗

First Minister, members of your Cabinet clearly wish to end the ban on killing badgers, which this Welsh Labour Party introduced. What is Plaid Cymru's preferred method of killing badgers? Is it to shoot badgers, to poison badgers, perhaps bludgeon them, or gas them?

Read in full

Watch in chamber Senedd TV ↗ Record ↗

Well, science is very clear, First Minister. Science is abundantly clear. Please show us any science that contradicts the measures that Welsh Labour introduced. I don't think your answer today will allay any concerns out there that you're going to be reintroducing a cull on badgers. Tomorrow, we are bringing forward a motion supporting year-round pay for support staff. If we're successful, your Government will be forced to deliver our policy on fair work for school support staff. Will you also now commit to giving councils their fair share of the desperately needed additional learning needs money? Will you commit to passing on the full £555 million from Westminster that you received from the UK Labour Government?

Read in full

Watch in chamber Senedd TV ↗ Record ↗

First Minister, again, we are seeing the terrible impact of rising energy costs across Wales on our citizens, on our businesses and, of course, on our public services. Our dependence on energy from overseas must end, not only because it threatens our national security, but because it also subjects our people to immense global instability. Do you agree that, alongside renewables, the building of as many as eight small modular reactors at Wylfa offers enormous opportunity to provide energy security, lower bills and 8,000 jobs, 3,000 of which will be in your constituency?

Read in full

Watch in chamber Senedd TV ↗ Record ↗

I'm very grateful to the First Minister for his answer, but can we just have absolute clarity on what the Welsh Government position on small modular reactors now is? I ask because your manifesto failed to reference nuclear energy, failed to provide support for SMRs at Wylfa and, of course, your energy Minister has said that the party, Plaid Cymru, at a national level, must be clear in its opposition to Wylfa B. Does this Plaid minority Government support the building of eight SMRs at Wylfa, which will likely generate more energy than a single gigawatt facility?

Read in full

Watch in chamber Senedd TV ↗ Record ↗

I'd like to thank the Minister as well for his statement, and, on behalf of Welsh Labour, I'd like to thank the incredible health and care workforce across Wales. For complete transparency, Llywydd, can I declare that my oldest brother works for Novo Nordisk? NHS waiting lists have now fallen for 10 consecutive months, thanks to the incredible work of NHS staff and the previous Welsh Labour Government's £120 million of investment. There is still more to do, and it is now for Plaid Cymru to ensure that progress doesn't falter. Whilst I appreciate the Minister's statement, there do remain some significant questions about various areas of service that remain to be answered. In opposition—. This is a question that has been asked twice now, I shall ask it for a third time. In opposition, you pledged to eradicate two-year waits within months. Minister, by when will two-year waits be completely eliminated in Wales? And the Minister will be aware of the current industrial dispute affecting specialist nurses in the Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board area. Minister, will you intervene to ensure that the health board respects the job evaluation process? And by when can you commit to have the issue resolved? Back in November 2024, when you were in opposition, you promoted 29 recommendations in a document entitled, 'The Welsh Health System: Accountability, Performance and Culture'. I see very few of your recommendations reflected in the statement of priorities today. And amongst them was a recommendation to establish pay parity between social care workers and NHS staff. So, do you still stand by all 29 recommendations? And by when can social care workers expect pay parity? You previously said, 'We won't be able to afford new hospitals of the size of the University Hospital of Wales, clearly, because the UK Government don't provide the capital funds for things like that.' Funding for capital projects like this doesn't rely on direct UK Government funding. Welsh Government chooses what to spend its record levels of capital funding on, and we in Welsh Labour planned to spend £4 billion on rebuilding hospitals, including the University Hospital of Wales and Wrexham Maelor Hospital. Minister, will you rebuild UHW and Wrexham Maelor Hospital? And how much of the Welsh Government's circa £4 billion of annual capital funding will be spent on our hospitals, not just on hubs? And finally, can you guarantee, under this Plaid minority Government, that you will not reduce investment in primary, secondary or social care? Diolch.

Read in full

Watch in chamber Senedd TV ↗ Record ↗

Diolch, Lywydd. I think our Labour Members understand better than most in this Chamber the responsibilities and the challenges of Government, and I do wish the First Minister and his colleagues well. Now, of course, the First Minister understands the importance of a rigorous opposition, and I'm sure he'd be the first to say that asking awkward questions is all part of our job. He was pretty adept at it himself in opposition, and now it's his turn to answer them.

Read in full

Watch in chamber Senedd TV ↗ Record ↗

Though it's in its early days, there are some clear areas for improvement in this Government. You have to go back almost a decade to find the last time a First Minister appointed a Government where the majority of members were men, and yet, here we are again. As politicians, we are often, and rightly, reminded that what matters is deeds, not words. This Government certainly does not reflect the diversity of our modern nation. It was also disappointing not to see a prominent role for the environment in this Cabinet. I feel for the Green Members in regard to this. Having supported the First Minister's nomination last week, they must be suffering the most severe case of buyer's remorse since Zack Polanski bought a houseboat. We will certainly be pushing to ensure climate change and decarbonisation are not sidelined. So, what will Ministers do to tackle river pollution? Cleaning up our rivers is an environmental imperative that simply cannot be ignored. I was also disappointed by the absence of reference to farming, given just how important food security is to the people we serve. Now, our duty in opposition is also to demand honesty and transparency, because setting out the priorities and ambitions is actually the easy part of the job. Real leadership, real Government and the real decisions kick in when you have to determine the how, what you won't do, what you'll cut, what you won't pay for. Take, for example, the childcare policy. It's been over seven months since the policy was first announced—seven months—and, still, the public haven't had an answer to that very basic question of how it will be funded. Now that he's in Government, can the First Minister tell us where the £400 million will come from? Look, reprioritising is not a real answer, neither is reviewing child poverty programmes. What will be cut, by how much and who will be affected? That's what the public need and deserve to know. And then, just over the weekend, we heard that Plaid Cymru will increase culture and sports funding by taking money from the NHS. Now, of course, no-one will complain about funding for culture and sports. In power, and through the Fusion programme, we boosted activity through the wider economy, major events and tourism budget. But, again, Plaid Cymru's headline is only half the story. So, how much money will be taken from health services? Given a stated intention to take money from secondary care and place it in primary care, does it mean, therefore, that even more money will be taken from our hospitals? Just how much money will be taken from health services? How many professionals in secondary care may lose their jobs as a result of this? Now, in the election, we pledged to rebuild Wrexham Maelor Hospital and the University Hospital of Wales, and a major hospital development in west Wales. Will this Government do the same? For us in Welsh Labour, the priority of the Plaid minority Government should be to deliver improvements across our services, in our hospitals, in our streets, in employment support, and in our schools. As the First Minister will know, thousands of school support staff are living with only being paid during term time. Those are our teaching assistants, our caretakers, kitchen staff and more. We pledged to set up a negotiating body to deliver year-round pay. I know for a fact that a Bill manager is in place right now in this Government, ready to take forward that legislation. So, will this Government commit to taking that forward? School support staff rightly have Welsh Labour's full support, and we will back them in their campaign for fairness. With regard to targeted payments for families in receipt of universal credit, Llywydd, people have been promised money within weeks. How many weeks—four or five, or 40 to 50? And has the Government now secured data relating to claimants of universal credit? Our main focus in opposition will be on whether the Government is improving people's lives at the pace and scale we need, on the bread and butter issues that matter most. Welsh Labour has always served communities and championed the people of Wales, and we will continue in the quest for fairness in a healthier and wealthier Wales.

Read in full

Watch in chamber Senedd TV ↗ Record ↗

Abstain.

Read in full

Watch in chamber Senedd TV ↗ Record ↗

Llywydd, I'd like to congratulate all Members on their election to this Senedd, and, in particular, Rhun on his appointment as the new First Minister. It is a very turbulent and divided world, so please let's all treat each other with the dignity and respect, during even the most challenging of debates, that the people who elected us deserve to see day in, day out. We now have a new, larger Senedd. We have two new parties represented here and we have a different party at the helm. It goes without saying that I am deeply saddened at Welsh Labour's loss. We were represented by a determined team of immensely talented candidates and supported by brilliant volunteers and organisers. Llywydd, no-one knows better than our party that it is a privilege to govern. That privilege and the immense responsibility that goes with it now rests on different shoulders. I'd like to pay my respects to those Members who have gone before us and the colleagues that have not been returned to this place, in particular to my predecessor in our party, Eluned Morgan, who worked so hard in the role, who showed so much dignity at a difficult time for her personally and for our party. Now, make no mistake, work is what this place is about, and I'm proud of our achievements, including in recent times bringing down waiting lists in the NHS for nine consecutive months and funding so many new twenty-first century schools for our children; delivering an £800 million fleet of shiny new trains and unprecedented progress on metros north and south; and of course legislating to protect our environment, deal with coal tips and clean up the air we breathe. I hope to see the same kind of work rate and delivery from the party now in power, and I do look forward to my party being an effective opposition, scrutinising and holding Rhun and his colleagues to account where necessary to improve legislation. Now, I hope as a Minister I demonstrated to Plaid Members how collaboration and challenge both benefit the Government, and I hope the people of Wales will see that, in this term, Welsh Labour in opposition will remain focused laser like on serving their interests and improving their lives. We may only be a group of nine now, but above all we are a fellowship, and, let's remember, in The Fellowship of the Ring it was just nine warriors who overcame enormous odds to bring down an empire, guided by their very own Gandalf, who will now guide us and protect our democracy with his shiny new mace. [Laughter.] Be assured we will not let the party of Government off the hook at any time, as they, quite rightly, did not allow us to. Within our group we have a combination of immense experience and new energy and expertise, but above all we have passion and purpose, and to quote from a poet familiar to many: ‘We are not now that strength which in old days / Moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are; / One equal temper of heroic hearts, / Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will. / To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.' [Applause.]

Read in full

Watch in chamber Senedd TV ↗ Record ↗