Llywydd, our job is to make every £1 work as hard as possible for the people of Wales. That means focusing resources on the priorities that matter most to people and delivering the commitments we were elected to deliver. We're reviewing spending across Government to ensure resources are directed where they can make the biggest difference, whether that's cutting waiting lists, tackling child poverty or strengthening our economy. Alongside this, we will continue to press Westminster, of course, for the fair funding that Wales deserves.
I know the Member comes from the position of begrudgingly having even a square foot of estate in Wales looking after the interests of the people of Wales. But, I'll tell you what, this Government is a Government that believes in using the resources that we have wisely. We can look at it in terms of square footage or we can look at it in terms of people. What I want to do is make the most of the people that we have, whether that's working in the civil service, whether it's working across public sector, in health and education and in everything this Government does—including encouraging people to get the right balance between remote working and working in the office. We will do our utmost to make, as I say, the best use of every single £1. In that context, maybe he should take my original answer as a 'yes'.
We've made it clear that it's all about outcomes, it's all about looking at how the decisions that we take as a Government impact positively on the lives of the people of Wales. I absolutely agree that good Government isn't about chasing short-term savings, if you like. Though we make every £1 work hard, it is about making every £1 deliver better outcomes for the people of Wales. It's why we're reforming how public services are delivered. That stronger focus on prevention is one that comes to mind immediately—how we can spend money now on stopping some of those problems in health occurring later down the line. It's why the target has been put in place by the enterprise Minister on halving the productivity gap and making the investment now in ensuring that we strengthen the economy in that way. It is all about good Government, with long-term positive outcomes for the people of Wales.
The Member will imagine, I'm sure—and he'd imagine correctly—that this is a Government coming into power that is determined to look afresh at all the budgets that we have, to make sure they are aligned with our priorities, that money is being spent well, with outcomes at the heart of everything that we do. It's not the case that our Government departments can have overspends as such. There are elements of the public service, we know, where there are significant in-year pressures—health being one of those—and this Government has indeed inherited hundreds of millions of pounds of in-year pressures in the health service as a result of the mismanagement of health by previous Labour health Ministers. That's something that doesn't stop us from getting to grips with the challenge now in improving public services, but that is the reality, and everything we do is about making sure that our public funding is dealt with in a prudent way, to deliver the best outcomes for the people of Wales.
The Member is right to point to this as being something that can offer opportunities in terms of the Welsh economy, but he's also right to point out that there are significant expenditure commitments that would need to be made in order to get to that point. The Government has not yet come to a decision around that. That is a consideration that will be ongoing, and I'm unable to give a date on that. As the Member will be aware, there are many, many funding considerations that the Government is grappling with in these early weeks.
We announced an additional £145 million to support a clinically led approach to focus on delivering a sustainable solution to reducing waiting times and driving pathway transformation. We've set up an expert panel to look at the development of surgical hubs and are commissioning an independent review of performance and the impact waiting has on patients.
I'm grateful for the question. I would respectfully ask the Member to reflect on the code of conduct on pursuing our own particular cases within the Welsh Parliament. But, of course, it is right that we all represent people who have been waiting a very long time on waiting lists. It is the length of waiting lists in terms of numbers and it is the length of time that people are waiting on them that have led this Government to conclude, even before we came into Government, that this was a priority. It's why we prioritised in the last budget, for 2026-27, the need to invest in the NHS now. It's why decisions have been made through the supplementary budget, which we hope can be passed today, in order to spend on bringing down waiting times and making the system sustainable, because it is unacceptable. Wherever people are—and that, of course, includes people here in this Siambr who are on waiting lists—it's not acceptable that we believe this to be normal, and that is why we are placing the utmost seriousness on the work of working with health boards, making the investment, having those performance reviews so that we can build a sustainable NHS and care system for the future.
Well, I certainly agree that access to healthcare should not begin with anxiety about finding a parking space, and it is something that far too many people face. Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board is responsible for the operation and management of parking across its estate. Welsh Government guidance sets out the principles and best practice that health boards should apply when managing car parking at hospital sites. The health board recognises the parking pressures at Wrexham Maelor Hospital in particular, and I understand that it's considering practical operational and management options to improve access for patients, visitors and staff, keeping emergency routes clear as well, which is very, very important. It's one of those elements on which my health Minister is eager to see improvement, wherever that might be in Wales.
As the Minister points out, that is something that the Government is doing. We know that, when it comes to the eyes, it is particularly important to pursue treatment as quickly as possible. It was one of those elements during COVID, I remember, when people were facing delays in accessing care because of COVID restrictions, and that was putting eyesight at risk. It's something that the Government is very, very aware of. It's one of those areas that's very much in mind when we look forward to continuing the performance review and putting in that sustainability, which will help across the NHS in time.
We could have a philosophical debate here about how many months is months. All I can say is that all the actions that have been taken by this Government within the first 100 days—. You know, commissioning that work on establishing the surgery hubs, on making sure that we put that investment through this supplementary budget that we want to get passed today, so that we can, both in capital spend and in resource spend, make that investment to drive down those two-year waits—. The actions that Government is taking are aligned with bringing down those two-year waits as quickly as we can. We want to do it in months. I not so much stick to that—that is precisely what we set out to do before coming into Government, and what we are actively delivering now in Government.
I mean, the costings around the childcare offer have been made public, and they are very much a part of the supplementary budget that is due to be voted on today. The childcare offer is made up of a specific fund of £55 million that is going to be partly in capital, partly in resource, to make sure that we're able to deliver, as the first phase of the roll-out of costed childcare, the completion of the 12.5 hours for two-year-olds. Now, that is what is being done. I literally cannot give you more detail than that. It's the money, it's the timescale, and it's going to be done within this financial year.
Now, I know the Member couldn't decide which question to ask today, so he tried to bring eight into one. But in terms of accusing me of giving an off-the-cuff reply on the M4, it was an off-the-cuff reply based on 15 years of Plaid Cymru policy that we want to see a solution to the problems on the M4 in the Newport area—work that has already begun under my Deputy Minister for Transport and that we will be reporting on in the autumn of this year.
[Inaudible.]—the idea that, from opposition, we were unable to resolve the problems of the M4—. We were in opposition over those years. He was in the Conservative Party, so I get the confusion there about where his politics land. Listen, I understand that there is frustration in wanting a holiday after eight weeks of being the leader of Reform in here. We will be working through the last 43 days of the 100-day plan, every single day of that reporting on it as we promised the people of Wales we would, and then cracking on with phase 2, which is that programme for government to transform the lives of the people of Wales. But today we need to get a supplementary budget through, to get working on the NHS, on childcare, on additional learning needs and all those issues that matter to the people of Wales.
This is a cross-government response, of course. We have Ministers directly involved in working with the particular emergency services, of course. But this is a cross-government approach, in that these fires may have started yesterday, but they are caused by man-made climate change that all of us across Government are committed to addressing.
Of course, my Government will do everything we can and already have done to support those who are affected by these fires. My thanks initially go to the people who responded to them. My thoughts are with the people who are affected by them.
On the question of a Minister for north Wales, I have a Minister for north Wales. It's Siân Gwenllian, and it's Dafydd Trystan, and it's Anna Brychan, it's Mabon ap Gwynfor, it's Sioned Williams—all my Ministers are Ministers for all of Wales. Where was Labour's Minister for the south of Wales, if that matters? Because all my Ministers are Ministers for the south of Wales too, and the west of Wales, and mid Wales, because we are a joined-up Government that has a plan for our nation—all of our nation.
That is why all of us have come together around this supplementary budget today—north, south, east, west, and mid, it's important to remember—with a determination to change the lives of the people of Wales for the better. We have a supplementary budget that is focused on making the NHS sustainable. I will be voting for that sustainability for the NHS. The leader of Labour in Wales is threatening to vote against that. I will be voting for expanding free school meals under this supplementary budget. The Labour leader here is threatening to vote against that. I will be voting for the expansion of paid-for childcare in Wales. The Labour leader threatens to vote against that. And, yes, I will be voting for a package worth £120 million for ALN that he and I negotiated positively on, and he is threatening to vote to not allow that spending to go ahead. This is a Government for all of Wales with a vision for all of our nation.
I will, of course, firstly, also send my condolences to the loved ones of Bonnie Tyler, a national treasure who was a part of my life as long as I care to remember. She will be fondly, fondly remembered by all of us here in Wales and far, far beyond. And, yes, Ann Widdecombe: we share in the grief of her loved ones, but also in the fear around the safety of politicians and public figures, and these are negotiations and discussions that we should all across this Chamber be eager to engage with in a non-party political way.
On the deposit-return scheme, I note that the Conservatives supported the DRS with glass. This is the starting point, and always at a time of difficulty in the implementation of a policy, it's important to remember where we came from. Why is it that the Conservatives said they supported including glass? Why is it that the last Senedd voted for the inclusion of glass, which is something that this Government is respecting in taking this matter forward? It is because it does go further than recycling. It is the reuse. It is about that environmental responsibility. It is about also being a trailblazer, because there's an agreement in principle in other parts of the UK to progressing with glass. We can be the ones showing the way.
Are there challenges? Yes, which is why exemptions have been made clear for small retailers, for small producers, for example. But given that it's the right thing to do, you don't always allow the fact that there are challenges—very real ones, absolutely—to stop you in your tracks when there's a prize worth aiming for.
Bins being a theme here, I like the rubbish receptacle trashing, of course, the reputation of the leader of Reform currently. Again, when you're talking about people driving places to get rid of bottles, at the core of DRS, as a principle, is people taking things places, so that doesn't make a difference whether it's plastic or glass, and the Member does agree that it's the right thing to ask people to take those plastic bottles somewhere in order to deal with that problem of plastic. I understand that there are challenges, and I know that my Minister is dealing with those challenges now, and putting the practical measures in place in order to deliver this. What we're saying is that we believe that this can be overcome. The Member mentions the additional cost to small retailers. There is an exemption for small retailers who don't have that square footage, that space to put the machines in and so on. These are things that the Government is taking into consideration, but we believe that this is doable, and we do not believe the threats of the very large manufacturers of extremely large increases in prices. The sums don't add up.
Mi ydyn ni’n amcangyfrif y bydd gostyngiad o £25 miliwn i £30 miliwn o leiaf yng nghyllideb gyfalaf Llywodraeth Cymru yn y flwyddyn ariannol hon, efo gostyngiadau pellach yn y blynyddoedd i ddod. Mae Llywodraeth y Deyrnas Gyfunol hefyd wedi nodi y bydd angen dod o hyd i £4.7 biliwn ychwanegol yng nghyllideb yr hydref. Felly, dyma’r gostyngiad lleiaf y gallwn ei ddisgwyl, ac mi allai fod yn fwy. Mi fydd hyn yn cael effaith uniongyrchol ar ein hysgolion, ein hysbytai a’n cysylltedd trafnidiaeth.
Official English translation
We estimate that there will be a reduction of £25 million to £30 million at least in the Welsh Government's capital budget in the current financial year, with further reductions in future years. The UK Government has also indicated that there will be a need to find a further £4.7 billion in the autumn budget. So, this is the minimum cut that we could expect, and it could be larger. This will have a direct impact on our schools, our hospitals and our transport connectivity.
It is a very important point. We absolutely recognise the changing face of the threats that we face currently and the arguments in favour of strengthening defence spending, including in the cyber sector, in which we have real expertise here in Wales, but Wales should not be peculiarly disadvantaged by the way the UK Government has gone about with its decisions on defence spending. Departments in the UK Government in Whitehall would have been able to make the case for protecting budgets. The handing down in this way without negotiation with Wales of ongoing cuts to capital, which were under severe strain anyway, will inevitably mean needing to cut back on spending on health and education. The first supplementary budget allocates £40 million of additional capital funding this year to support the urgent maintenance and repair works across schools, the kind of which the Members mentions. That is put under threat. But, of course, we need to get the supplementary budget through first in order to make that spending.
I would hope that all of us want to see capital spend on schools and hospitals. These are really, really important elements for the future of our nation. As I said, the point here is that we haven't been engaged in any of this discussion that ends up in cuts being made that will inevitably lead to cuts in public service capital spend. I have written to the Secretary of State for Wales, and the Cabinet Minister for Finance has written to the Chief Secretary of the Treasury, to raise those concerns, seek clarity of the impacts for our funding. As I say, it's completely unacceptable that Welsh capital budgets are impacted in this way. That does not take away from recognising the changing face of the threats that exist in the world around us, which are undeniable.
It's a separate question, but it's a very, very valid question: how, when defence spending is made, or when defence investment is made, there is at least equity in the way that that spend is made. If you look at the way UK Government distributes that investment, Wales has not been getting its share. If you look at the proportion of defence spend going to the south west of England, for example, compared with Wales, there is no comparison. So, the Member is right that there is an economic element to this, and that is something that we would look at in economic terms, and, of course, seeking opportunities for businesses involved in the ethical defence sector in Wales. But that does not mean that we should withdraw our concerns around how decisions are made that affect all of our constituencies, be it schools or hospitals and so on.
In her oral statement of the 9 June, the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Minister for Social Justice and Equality set out our priorities for promoting social justice: fostering respect, solidarity and fairness. We're committed to addressing inequalities in Wales. This includes supporting the delivery of the 'Anti-racist Wales Action Plan', disabled persons' rights plan and delivering on the British Sign Language (Wales) Act 2026.
I'm sure the Member is pushing the limits of what the Llywydd would deem acceptable in the Chamber. My Government believes in providing opportunities to people in a way that promotes equality of opportunity. The Member chooses to focus on the colour of skin. I would—[Interruption.] I would choose to focus on the fact that there are many people who don't have opportunities because they live in poverty, because they happen to come from a background that has not made those opportunities open to them, as they are to somebody as privileged as I have been. That is something that I would expect to be a core value of everybody in this Senedd who believes in supporting and representing all of the people of Wales, regardless of their background, regardless of the colour of their skin. It is about taking a suite of measures that we can honestly believe reflect those values that were, in many ways, the basis of the election that allowed us to have a Government of which hope was seen as a real mantra.
I want to associate myself with all of the words spoken by the Member there. This isn't—. There are elements of policy here, but this is about values. This is about ensuring that, in everything we do as a Government, be it in education, in healthcare, in job creation—all of those elements where people interact with public services—or in supporting communities and putting in place policies that support cohesion, always we are driven by those values. It is something that I know unites the majority within this Senedd: the need to speak the language of tolerance. And to have a Government here that acts in a way that always promotes that cohesion and tolerance is something that is very, very important to us.
Mae cefnogi plant a phobl ifanc ag anghenion dysgu ychwanegol a sicrhau system gynaliadwy yn flaenoriaeth i’r Llywodraeth hon. Mae hyn yn hollbwysig er mwyn codi safonau a sicrhau bod y dysgwyr yma'n cael y cymorth maen nhw ei angen i ffynnu. Mi ydym ni wedi ymrwymo i weithio efo'n partneriaid i ddatblygu atebion cynaliadwy fydd yn para yn y tymor hir.
Official English translation
Supporting children and young people with additional learning needs and delivering a sustainable system is a priority for this Government. This is critical to raising standards and ensuring that these learners are supported to thrive. We are committed to working with our partners to develop sustainable solutions over the long term.
Cynaliadwyedd ydy'r peth pwysig yn fan hyn, onid yw e? Dros yr wythnosau diwethaf, mae yna lot o gyfeirio wedi bod at sut rydym ni'n cyrraedd at bwynt lle mae yna gynaliadwyedd. Nid ateb tymor byr ydy hwn; mae angen dull partneriaeth go iawn, onid oes, i geisio cryfhau'r ddarpariaeth gynhwysol sydd gennym ni dros amser, a meithrin system fwy gwydn a chynaliadwy i Gymru er mwyn mynd i'r afael â'r pwysau a chwrdd â'r angen cynyddol ymysg dysgwyr.
Official English translation
Sustainability is the important thing here, isn't it? Over recent weeks, there have been many references to how we reach a point where there is sustainability. This is not a short-term solution; we need a real partnership approach, don't we, to try to strengthen the inclusive provision that we have over time, and to develop a more robust and sustainable system for Wales in order to tackle the pressures and to meet the increasing needs among learners.
Because we know that the pressure is great. And it's in the spirit of understanding that pressure that engagement has happened in recent weeks. And, as I laid out in a letter to the leader of the Labour group yesterday, I appreciated the determination shown by him to make sure that this was an issue on which there was focus, and it enabled us to pursue our determination to build a sustainable future for ALN provision in Wales. That is why we were able to move at pace, working with the education and Welsh language Minister in particular, to not only identify the funding against an extremely difficult funding background, but, crucially, to find a way that we can start spending this money immediately. Now, that has come about as the product of positive negotiation. What we want to do, and I think what the majority of people will sense is the right thing to do now, is to get that across the line in that spirit, which allows us, at the same time, to press ahead with spending on the NHS, on childcare and on free school meals as well, which, of course, the Labour Party agree with and I'm thankful to them for expressing that they do agree with it.
The Member is quite right to point out those challenging areas. It's not just a matter of thinking of them in isolation, it's the way that they touch on each other. It is about taking that cross-Government approach. It is the way that my Ministers are approaching it. It touches on the ALN issue, again, and the need to get going on how to impact, in the most positive way, on the way policies are delivered within schools. The manifesto on which I stood made this one of the areas that we were absolutely clear we needed to gain ground on. We are confident that, in working in that cross-Government way, we can do that.
We're committed to strengthening palliative and end-of-life care and to developing a sustainable hospice funding model. As a new Government, we're building on important foundations already established across Wales, including the quality statement, national service specification, competency framework and hospice commissioning approach. We're also working with NHS Wales, hospices and carers to improve access, strengthen the workforce, support advanced care planning and ensure long-term sustainability within the sector.
I certainly agree with the Member on the importance of the sector. I say that as a former active member of the cross-party group in the last Senedd, and the previous one, on end-of-life care. On the particular issue of Ysbyty Cwm Cynon, I believe the health board's position is that consolidating specialist in-patient palliative care is necessary in their view to address workforce shortages and to maintain safe and sustainable specialist services. It's true to say, of course, that it is up to health boards in Wales to make those decisions. They hold the statutory responsibilities for the planning and delivery of healthcare services. They have to deliver them in a way that is tailored to the needs of their populations. But we are continuing discussions within the sector. The Cabinet Minister for Health and Care hopes to be meeting very soon, I think, with Hospices Cymru to discuss current pressures and the long-term sustainability of hospice services in Wales.
Fel rhan o’n cynllun 100 diwrnod cyntaf, mi ydyn ni’n adolygu’r trefniadau presennol ar gyfer gwerthuso perfformiad ariannol y gwasanaeth iechyd. Mi fydd cryfhau’r dull hwnnw, ynghyd â symud y system yn raddol tuag at atal, yn hanfodol i sicrhau cynaliadwyedd yn y tymor hir.
Official English translation
As part of our first 100 days plan, we are reviewing the current arrangements for evaluating the financial performance of the health service. Strengthening that approach, alongside establishing a longer term shift towards prevention, will be integral to sustainability in the long term.
Fel systemau gofal iechyd eraill, gan gynnwys mewn rhannau eraill o'r Deyrnas Unedig, mae'r gwasanaeth iechyd yma yn wynebu heriau ariannol sylweddol. Dwi'n meddwl bod hynny'n blaen i bawb. Mae angen rhagor o waith yn sicr, a chamau gweithredu, i'w roi o ar sail gynaliadwy. Mae gweithio ar yr elfen effeithlonrwydd yn bwysig iawn, iawn. Mae'r gyllideb atodol, wrth gwrs, sydd o'n blaenau ni heddiw yn cynnwys £100 miliwn o gyllid ychwanegol i gefnogi lleihau amseroedd aros, £45 miliwn o gyllid cyfalaf ar gyfer y gwasanaeth iechyd, a bydd Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Betsi Cadwaladr yn elwa yn uniongyrchol o'r ffrwd ariannu honno.
Mae Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Iechyd a Gofal, ynghyd â swyddogion, yn adolygu'r trefniadau presennol o ran effeithlonrwydd, efo'r bwriad o'u cryfhau nhw a nodi cyfres glir o gamau gweithredu erbyn diwedd y 100 diwrnod cyntaf, sydd ymhen rhyw 43 diwrnod erbyn hyn. Ond y tu hwnt, dwi'n meddwl, i'r syniad o effeithlonrwydd yn gyffredinol, mae angen dull gweithredu hirdymor yn cynnwys troi mwy a mwy at yr ataliol, ac mae'n hagwedd ni at hyn hefyd yn rhan o'n hymrwymiad 100 diwrnod cyntaf.
Official English translation
As with other healthcare systems, including in other parts of the UK, the health service here faces significant financial challenges. I think that is clear to everyone. We need more work certainly, and actions, to put it on a sustainable footing. Working on the efficiency element is very, very important. The supplementary budget, of course, which we have before us today, includes £100 million of additional funding to support a reduction in waiting times, £45 million of capital funding for the health service, and the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board will benefit directly from that funding stream.
The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Care, as well as officials, are reviewing the current arrangements in terms of efficiency, with the intention of strengthening them and noting a clear set of actions by the end of the first 100 days, which will be in about 43 days now. But beyond the idea of efficiency in general, I think we need a long-term approach that includes turning increasingly towards the preventative agenda, and our attitude to that is also part of our first 100 days commitment.
Small and medium-sized businesses are at the heart of Carmarthenshire's economy. We're supporting them through Business Wales, the Development Bank of Wales, SMART Innovation support, town-centre regeneration programmes, supply-chain opportunities linked to major investments such as Pentre Awel, and targeted funding that helps businesses innovate, expand and create jobs across the county.
Well, I'll commit to considering most things, because we're always on the lookout for good ideas. I know that the barriers to the HGV sector, with drivers, come from multiple sources. Difficulty in getting test capacity, for example, is one issue that is non-devolved, of course, but we as a Government will always seek to work with UK Government to make sure that we have the capacity for testing. There are elements, I know, in my neck of the woods where the further education sector has got involved in providing pathways, perhaps, to people into the driving sector.
I'm very happy to consider what could be done, and I know I speak on behalf of the enterprise Minister in looking at how we look at the various options on the table, to recognise that this really important sector has that need—quite a crucial need, really, for an HGV sector to have enough drivers—and that that need is fulfilled.
Wel, fel y dywedais i'n gynharach, mae’r Llywodraeth yn cyflymu’r broses o gyflwyno 12.5 awr o ofal plant wedi’i ariannu i bob plentyn dwy oed ledled Cymru. Mi ddylai’r cyllid ychwanegol yn y gyllideb atodol alluogi awdurdodau lleol i wneud cynnydd wrth gyflwyno cam cyntaf yr ehangu hwn. Dwi’n falch bod swyddogion yn cael adborth cadarnhaol gan awdurdodau lleol am y gwahaniaeth y bydd y cyllid yma’n ei wneud.
Official English translation
Well, as I said earlier, the Government is accelerating the roll-out of 12.5 hours of funded childcare for all two-year-olds across Wales. The additional funding in the supplementary budget should enable local authorities to make progress on this first phase of the expansion. I am pleased that officials are having positive feedback from local authorities on the difference that the funding will make.
Diolch yn fawr iawn i'r Aelod am amlygu'r pwysau gwirioneddol sydd yna, wrth gwrs, sy'n cael ei achosi gan gostau gofal plant. Er bod fy mhlant i'n mynd yn hŷn erbyn hyn, dwi'n cofio'n iawn y gost drwm oedd yna o ddarparu gofal plant, ac rydyn ni fel Llywodraeth yn benderfynol o helpu, o ran y gost ariannol, y cyfleon sy'n cael eu rhoi i blant, a'r cyfleon economaidd sy'n dod i rieni ac yn y blaen.
Mi fydd y Dirprwy Brif Weinidog yn darparu diweddariad i'r Senedd heddiw ar y broses o gyflwyno ein cynnig gofal, ynghyd â gwybodaeth am ein modelu costau. Mae'r buddsoddiad ychwanegol yma drwy'r gyllideb atodol yn mynd i'n galluogi ni i ehangu miloedd o leoedd gofal plant ychwanegol sy'n cael eu hariannu, yn canolbwyntio'n syth ar ehangu gofal plant ar gyfer plant dwy oed. Mae hwn wastad yn rhywbeth sydd yn digwydd mewn phases: y 12.5 awr, yr 20 awr, ac wedyn ymlaen at y plant ieuengaf. Dyna sut mae hwn yn cael ei gynllunio, yn cynyddu'r amlen ariannol a'r gweithlu ar yr un pryd. Ond rydyn ni'n glir bod y newid trawsnewidiol hwn yn gofyn am sector gofal plant cryf a chynaliadwy, gweithlu medrus, a model cyllido sy'n gweithio i ddarparwyr yn ogystal ag i rieni.
Official English translation
I thank the Member for drawing attention to the genuine pressure that exists, which is caused by childcare costs. Even though my children are getting older now, I remember clearly the heavy costs involved in providing childcare, and we as a Government are determined to help, with regard to the financial costs, the opportunities given to children, and the economic opportunities that follow for parents and so forth.
The Deputy First Minister will provide an update to the Senedd today on the process of rolling out the childcare offer, as well as information on the cost modelling. The additional investment through the supplementary budget is going to allow us to expand thousands of additional funded childcare places, focusing immediately on expanding childcare for two-year-olds. This is always something that happens in phases: the 12.5 hours, the 20 hours, and then onwards to the youngest children. That's how it's planned, to increase the financial envelope and the workforce at the same time. But we're clear that this transformational change requires a childcare sector that is strong and sustainable, a skilled workforce, and a budget that works for providers as well as parents.
Supporting young people who are not in education, employment or training is a priority for this Government. We're investing in support that helps young people develop skills, build confidence and move into education, training, employment or self-employment. Alongside this, our 'Wales means business' agenda is focused on growing Welsh businesses, attracting investment and creating more high-quality jobs across Wales.
Thank you, and congratulations to Terry and the team at Premier Forest Products. It does take good employers to show the way as well, so my gratitude is genuine to the team there in Newport. It takes a whole host of things to come together, doesn't it? It can be Government programmes, both devolved and non-devolved. It can be Jobs Growth Wales. It can be Communities for Work. It can be the Economic Inactivity Trailblazer. It could be work being done within the further education and skills sector itself. Medr is currently developing a more flexible apprenticeship programme for 2027, aligned to employer demand. We've got to make sure that it's aligned to the needs of those young people that we need to bring into the system. Careers Wales is still important in this, and making sure that they're there, at the right place, at the right time, to point young people in the right direction. So, it's an all-Government approach, but finding those trailblazing companies is really important to show others that it is in their interests to make sure that they provide opportunities for young people who otherwise could be missed.
Welsh Government uses a resource allocation formula to distribute the majority of NHS funding according to the relative health needs of the population served by each health board. The formula is commonly referred to as the local health board resource allocation formula.
The Member is right, and I expect every Member here to want to make sure that the health board serving their constituency is funded according to its need. I should say that the resource allocation formula does take into account the excess costs of rurality. It is one of the factors that is factored into that particular formula. We've got to make sure that it's effective, that it works. Does rural-proofing have a direct impact on that particular formula? I wouldn't say that the legislation that we have in mind would lead to there being a direct impact, but it's a principle. What that legislation shows is that this is a Government that, as a matter of principle, wants to make sure that no rural part of Wales is left behind because of its rurality. That should be as relevant in health as in anything else.
Diolch, Lywydd. Wrth annerch y Siambr yma nôl ym mis Mai, mi soniais i am fy mwriad i arwain Llywodraeth newydd sy'n gwneud pethau mewn ffordd newydd, ac mae hynny’n wir am ddeddfu hefyd. Heddiw dwi am amlinellu cyfres o gynigion ar gyfer deddfau newydd mewn amrediad o feysydd, fel modd o sbarduno sgwrs efo pleidiau eraill yn y Senedd. Dydyn ni ddim yma i ddeddfu er mwyn deddfu. Ni ddylid gweld y broses fel un abstract a di-liw, ond fel esblygiad, o'i wneud yn iawn, sy'n troi gwerthoedd yn bolisi, polisi yn ddeddfwriaeth, a deddfwriaeth yn gyfraith gwlad sy'n eglur, yn deg ac yn rhwydd i'w gweithredu.
Official English translation
Thank you, Llywydd. When I addressed this Chamber back in May, I spoke of my intention to lead a new Government that does things differently, and that is true of legislation as well. Today I want to set out a series of proposals for new laws across a range of areas, with the aim of stimulating discussion with other parties in the Senedd. We are not here to create legislation for its own sake. The process should not be seen as something abstract and dull, but as an evolution that, when done properly, transforms values into policy, policy into legislation, and legislation into law that is clear, fair and workable in practice.
Today I'll talk about our first phase of legislation. This recognises the dual importance of bringing early momentum to this legislature's work whilst allowing space to build agreement and develop genuinely impactful legislation across a full four-year term. There are several areas where action can be taken swiftly.
Firstly, we want to protect and enhance Wales's unique sense of community. Our nation is a rich tapestry of urban and rural, north and south, young and old, but the legacy of a decade and more of austerity has chipped away at our sense of place. We will therefore proceed with the development of a community right-to-buy scheme and provide the legislative basis to enable eligible community groups to nominate and register valuable community assets to be given the right of first refusal when the owners decide to sell. We want more, not fewer, places that allow people to meet, learn, organise and make decisions together, and we want these to remain in the hands of our communities.
Secondly, the value my Government places on fairness has motivated us to take action to strengthen the rights of tenants in the private rented sector. We will initially bring forward legislation focusing on strengthening our enforcement framework and the regulatory role of Rent Smart Wales, as well as requiring the sharing of rent data. This will lay the groundwork for more substantial changes that will improve housing affordability, make rents fairer, and limit no-fault evictions, to be brought forward later in this Senedd term. We're also developing proposals to legislate for the right to adequate housing, because nobody should be forced to suffer the anxiety and unacceptable stigma that so often comes with having nowhere to call home.
Thirdly, to leave a greener legacy for generations to come, we will bring forward environmental proposals that support the developing climate and nature action plan. We will make existing legislation clearer, more workable and better able to support delivery on climate change, nature recovery, woodland protection, waste management improvements, environmental enforcement and the sustainable use of natural resources.
We also intend to develop a statutory duty on rural-proofing, to ensure rural needs are considered consistently when policies are developed and delivered. I made a promise to lead a Government for the whole of Wales and this long-overdue change honours that. Consultation will begin imminently on these environmental and rural resilience proposals. As a package, they will strengthen legal and policy tools, support fair and effective regulation, and help deliver cleaner places, healthier ecosystems and stronger rural communities.
Mae rheolaeth dros ddŵr yn rhywbeth llawer dyfnach yn y cof Cymreig na dim ond mater o bolisi a rheoleiddio. Felly, i weithredu ar egwyddor hirsefydlog sydd wrth galon y Llywodraeth hon y dylai adnoddau Cymreig fod mewn dwylo Cymreig, rydyn ni eisoes yn gosod sylfeini ar gyfer ffordd newydd o wneud pethau—ymagwedd Gymreig fydd yn rhoi mwy o reolaeth i ni dros ein dŵr mewn modd sy’n gweithio i'n cymunedau, cwsmeriaid a'r amgylchedd. Bydd deddfwriaeth yn cael ei chyflwyno yn nhymor y Senedd hon, ond bydd y gweithredu sydd eisoes ar waith yn parhau.
Rydyn ni eisoes yn gweithio efo Llywodraeth y Deyrnas Gyfunol i sicrhau'r grymoedd sydd eu hangen arnom ni i adeiladu system Gymreig, yn cynnwys rheoleiddiwr economaidd newydd sy'n adlewyrchu ein gwerthoedd a'n blaenoriaethau. Nid dim ond cyfiawnder economaidd sydd o bwys i'r Llywodraeth hon, ond cyfiawnder yn ei hanfod fel edefyn sy'n clymu cymdeithas at ei gilydd.
Mae ein tribiwnlysoedd yn darparu gwasanaeth clodwiw i bobl Cymru, ond mae'r fframweithiau deddfwriaethol perthnasol wedi hen ddyddio. Ar hyn o bryd, mae pob un o'n tribiwnlysoedd yn gweithio mewn gwahanol ffyrdd, er enghraifft dulliau gwahanol o apwyntio aelodau, creu rheolau gweithdrefnol a ffyrdd o apelio. Felly mi fyddwn ni'n cyflwyno Bil tribiwnlysoedd Cymreig yn fuan yn nhymor y Senedd hon i greu system newydd Gymreig sydd yn gyfoes, yn gyson ac yn annibynnol. Bydd y system nid yn unig yn gallu bodloni gofynion presennol y gwahanol awdurdodaethau, ond bydd yn ddigon hyblyg i gynnig fforwm y gellid ei ddefnyddio ar gyfer adfer anghydfod mewn meysydd polisi datganoledig eraill. Wrth edrych i'r dyfodol, yn unol ag ymrwymiad y Llywodraeth hon, bydd gan y system gapasiti i ddelio â gofynion unrhyw ddatganoli pellach ym maes cyfiawnder.
Official English translation
Control over water runs far deeper in Wales's collective memory than being seen merely as a matter of policy or regulation. Therefore, acting on a long-held principle at the heart of this Government that Welsh resources should be in Welsh hands, we're already laying the foundations for a new way of doing things—a Welsh approach that will give us more control over our water in a way that works for our communities, our customers and the environment. Legislation will be introduced in this Senedd term, but implementation work that is already under way will continue.
We're already working with the UK Government to secure the powers that we need to build a Welsh system, including a new economic regulator that reflects our values and our priorities. It is not only economic justice that matters to this Government, but justice in its fundamental sense as the thread that binds society together.
Our tribunals provide a commendable service to the people of Wales, but the underpinning legislative frameworks are outdated. Currently, all of our tribunals operate in different ways, with, for example, different processes for appointing members, developing procedural rules and managing appeals. We will therefore introduce a Welsh tribunals Bill early in this Senedd term to create a new tribunal system for Wales that is modern, consistent and independent. The system will not only be able to meet the current requirements of the different jurisdictions, but will be flexible enough to offer a forum that could be used for dispute resolution in other devolved policy areas. Looking ahead, in line with this Government's commitment, the system will have the capacity to deal with the demands of any further devolution of justice.
Finally, on the first phase of the legislative programme, I turn to the economy. Whilst far too many major economic levers still reside in Westminster, we will not stop making the case for their transfer. But, as an immediate step, a tax maintenance Bill will continue Wales's tax devolution journey. These proposals will help the Welsh Revenue Authority continue to administer the land transaction tax and landfill disposals tax effectively by making operational and technical changes to clarify, enhance and futureproof the Welsh tax Acts and to support information sharing between the WRA and local authorities.
My Government will never place limitations on our level of ambition for Wales. The new national development agency will spearhead our mission to halve Wales's productivity gap with the rest of the UK in the next decade. With the Minister for enterprise already having announced an expert advisory panel, there is considerable momentum behind this goal. We won't take a final decision on the form of that agency until we've been able to consider the panel's advice, but we will be ready to bring forward legislation should that be required.
This practical approach will underpin our activity in a number of areas, including child poverty and the Welsh language. We will review the evidence, we will consider the options available, and we will bring forward legislation where that is what is needed to deliver the outcomes on the ground that we want to see.
Before concluding, Llywydd, I'll say a brief word about other legislation. It's the combination of primary and secondary legislation that makes up the backbone of the developing Welsh statute book. The Government's vision is not only to bring forward individual instruments that improve the lives of the people of Wales, but at the same time to create a body of Welsh law that is clear, coherent and accessible to those who rely on it. Central to this vision is our continuing programme of consolidation and codification of Welsh legislation.
I gloi, mae gwarchod democratiaeth Cymru yn un o werthoedd creiddiol y Llywodraeth hon. I'r perwyl hwnnw, mae'r Cwnsler Cyffredinol wedi cyhoeddi datganiad ysgrifenedig heddiw i amlinellu'r camau y byddwn ni'n eu cymryd wrth ystyried deddfwriaeth y Deyrnas Gyfunol sy'n effeithio ar feysydd datganoledig. Ar hyn o bryd, mae confensiwn Sewel yn methu'r prawf o gynnig gwarchodaeth ddigonol i ddatganoli. Dyna pam ein bod ni'n galw ar Lywodraeth San Steffan a'r Llywodraethau datganoledig eraill i roi Sewel ar sylfaen statudol gadarnach, a pham y byddwn bob amser yn gwrthsefyll unrhyw ymgais i amharchu neu anwybyddu ffiniau y setliad presennol.
Dyma raglen bellgyrhaeddol ac uchelgeisiol sy'n adlewyrchu'n gwerthoedd craidd fel Llywodraeth, ac a fydd, dwi'n gobeithio, yn arwain at gydweithio a rhannu syniadau pellach ymhlith pawb yn y Siambr hon. Rydym ni'n benderfynol o ddatblygu deddfwriaeth ar sail adeiladu consensws a thrwy gydweithrediad er budd holl gymunedau Cymru. Diolch yn fawr.
Official English translation
To conclude, safeguarding Welsh democracy is a core principle of this Government, and in support of that, the Counsel General has today issued a written statement outlining the approach that we will take when considering UK legislation that affects devolved matters. Currently, the Sewel convention fails the test of offering adequate safeguards for devolution. That's why we are calling on the Westminster Government and the other devolved Governments to place Sewel on a firmer statutory footing and why we will always resist any attempt to disrespect or ignore the boundaries of the current settlement.
This is a far-reaching and ambitious programme that reflects our core values as a Government, and will, I hope, encourage greater collaboration and exchange of ideas across this Chamber. We are determined to develop legislation through consensus building and co-operation for the benefit of all communities in Wales. Thank you.
I'll respond on a few of those points. I am still waiting for any sign of ambition from Reform for Wales, but I'll address a couple of issues. On rural-proofing, I think the Member confuses what this is. Yes, there's an element of that legislation that is about empowering us as a Senedd and as a Government to take our environmental responsibilities more seriously, and to act in clearer ways. The rural-proofing element is about recognising the specific challenges that we have in rural Wales, and this Government is taking the necessary action to show that we are here to govern for all of Wales. And I'm very, very surprised to hear Reform, that champion themselves as supporters of rural Wales, objecting, essentially, to a measure that is about promoting the interests of rural Wales. Maybe he'd like to reflect on that.
On the development agency, the Member on one hand asks, 'Where's the plan for growing the Welsh economy?', and on the other hand he objects to the idea of having this development agency, which is all about growing the Welsh economy and creating a new impetus. I'm afraid he is totally out of step with business in Wales, that, from my experience, if not all of them, then pretty much all of them agree with us that this is a positive step.
If we look at the positive impact of development agencies within these islands—in Scotland and in Ireland, for example—this is something that we could benefit from. I agree with him that there is a recognition here that Government doesn't have all the answers, but the point made is that Governments can't have all the answers. We are bringing in business to lead this with us because it is the ingenuity and the agility of business that will allow us to move forward.
On tribunals, I'm not sure why he decided to focus on that, but I think the Member's objection to making tribunals work better for Wales betrays Reform's opposition to empowering Wales in any way, not least, heaven forbid, to make devolution work better.
Thank you very much for those comments. On the timing of this statement, I would make it clear, Llywydd, that we are following in both spirit and in practice the precise protocols that have always been followed and were followed by the previous Government, and this is the statement that I'm making in the Senedd Chamber this afternoon.
I welcome the Member taking an opportunity to speak about a number of the legislative opportunities that he would like to pursue. Commenting on the ones in our programme that he referred to, I welcome his support for the principle of introducing the rural-proofing legislation. There's a lot of work to be done around even defining what 'rural' means, because currently, in statutory terms, we don't have that. So, it's a matter of ensuring that we have the frameworks within which, then, we can say that, in everything Government does, it has to take into account the impact of decisions on rural Wales. It's very, very important.
Also on protecting renters, I welcome that support. This is building, indeed, on current legislation, and bridging to future legislation. There is further legislation that this Government would wish to introduce to protect renters further, but I think it's important that we keep an eye on how we can build consensus on the need to protect renters in this key sector.
On the statutory school support staff legislation, you're right, this has been a topic of conversation, debate and vote in this Senedd recently, and as was implied in the way the vote went, I can see that benefits of a statutory body that would give support staff similar arrangements to those set up in England, giving them a similar status to our teachers, who already have an independent pay review body. So, I'm very keen, as was said during that particular debate, to investigate how that could be taken forward. I would say, though, as I referred to in the statement itself, we legislate where we need to legislate, and we always look if there are other ways in which we can get the results we want. So, this Government is determined to make an immediate difference to people's lives, and I'm keen to explore what we can do without legislation too, and I would invite those who would work with us on those aspects of that particular potential legislation.
On community right to buy, again, I welcome the support in principle, and, yes, Wales has slipped behind here. I appreciate that work has been done in previous Governments, but those Governments didn't get it over the line. So, we have an opportunity now to do that. We believe in our communities, we believe in empowering communities, and if we're able to work on this, because working together can bring results, we will drive this forward in the interest of communities the length and breadth of Wales.
I recognise the platform that the Member has to lay out a number of political viewpoints, on much of which legislation is not needed. I could refer to legislation that he did propose that I just disagree on—to bring back the damage caused by Margaret Thatcher on right to buy, the damage that we are still trying to undo in terms of delivering more social housing now. So, we just disagree, okay; we're just going to have to agree to disagree on that point.
On the mobile phone ban, we're taking action. Statutory guidance means we can move quicker without waiting for legislation. Though this Government has said we will legislate if we need to, we reckon we can work quicker than that.
On tax maintenance, he somehow rubbishes the idea of tax maintenance. This is an important part of a well-functioning tax system, and, for a party that pride themselves on prudence, I'm surprised at the Member for taking such a cavalier attitude to making sure that we have good and effective taxation systems.
On business rates, again, we don't need to wait to act. Why doesn't the Government legislate to bring back disused properties into use? Because we don't need to legislate on that, necessarily. There's action that is being taken right now on that.
On fair funding, and making sure that we have a formula, not legislation, that ensures that money is shared out in an equitable way, well, those meetings are already meetings that my Minister for local government is having.
Finally, there's a theme from the Member, and I will allow him to follow whichever theme he wants, but the idea that this is a Government that hasn't, in everything that we've done, made clear our determination to be consensual, from the very first comments that I made here in this Siambr—. I will read out again, Llywydd, my concluding statement in this statement this afternoon. I said that this is a programme that reflects the core values of this Government, and one that I hope will lead to co-operation and the sharing of ideas further among everybody within this Chamber. We are determined to develop legislation on the grounds of building consensus and through co-operation in the interests of all communities in Wales. I'm sorry that he'd switched off at that point.
I certainly do agree with the Member, and I take heart—. I get the politics, but I take heart from the fact that, across this Chamber, on rural-proofing, for example, there is an agreement, it seems, that this is a good thing to do. The way legislation works, of course, is that we have an outcome that we seek to achieve, legislation is published, it is consulted on and it is us here, it is you as legislators, who are able to shape that legislation with amendments, through committee scrutiny, and so on. The clearer the determination to co-operate in order to strengthen draft legislation on which we have a common agreement that it's a good thing, well, the more likely it is that that will turn into good legislation. And I start from that starting point: we can find that there is common ground; let's see how we turn that into good law.