Wel, diolch am y cwestiwn ac, fel y Llywydd, mi wnaf innau groesawu pawb yn ôl yma ar ôl yr haf. Dwi'n sylweddoli ei bod hi wedi bod yn haf prysur iawn i bawb, ond gobeithio bod pawb wedi cael gorffwys hefyd.
Y nod wrth sefydlu cwmni ynni cyhoeddus i Gymru ydy gwneud y defnydd gorau posib o’n hadnoddau ynni ni fel gwlad, a sicrhau bod ynni yn dod yn fwy fforddiadwy ac yn lanach, a bod mwy ohono’n eiddo i ni yma yng Nghymru. Mi fydd hyn yn helpu cymunedau, yn helpu busnesau a gwasanaethau cyhoeddus i wneud gwell defnydd o’r ynni sy’n cael ei gynhyrchu yng Nghymru.
Ar 7 Medi, mi wnaethon ni lansio ymgynghoriad ar hynny, a dwi’n edrych ymlaen at glywed barn pobl ar sut allwn ni fanteisio’n well ar ynni Cymru er budd pobl a chymunedau ym mhob rhan o’r wlad.
Official English translation
Well, thank you for the question and, as the Llywydd did, I will welcome everyone back after the summer. I understand that it's been a very busy summer for everyone, but I do hope that everyone had an opportunity to relax too.
Our aim in establishing a Welsh public energy company is to make the best possible use of our energy resources as a nation, ensuring that energy becomes more affordable, cleaner, and that more of it is owned by us here in Wales. This will help communities, businesses and public services to make better use of the energy produced in Wales.
On 7 September, we launched a consultation on that, and I look forward to hearing the views of people on how we can better take advantage of Welsh energy for the benefit of communities and people in all parts of Wales.
I congratulate the Member on a shameless, but very, very well meaning and important plug on behalf of his constituents, and I'm sure many of you are thinking along similar lines right now. What the Member does do, of course, importantly, is reflect on the economic challenges in the area that he represents, and we will always, as a Government, seek to create opportunities for innovation and growth and job opportunities in every single part of our nation. And that will be one of the founding principles of the new development agency that we are in the process of establishing.
The proposed new company is built around Trydan Gwyrdd Cymru, which is currently headquartered in Merthyr Tydfil. But it also has staff in other areas of Wales, and, crucially, it will be there to serve all parts of Wales and to make gains for communities wherever they are in our nation.
I think the point I would make is that high energy prices are not as a result of a pursuit of net zero. They're not as a result of the determination that we must have—every one of us—to tackle the scourge of climate change. And we know the cost of not tackling climate change. We saw it in the wildfires that scorched so much of Wales over this summer. I hope I can persuade the Member that what we should be doing is seeking as much control as possible over how we generate electricity in Wales, how we reap the benefits of those projects in Wales, and having energy devolved to Wales as part of our toolkit as a nation to look after businesses and communities alike.
The Member is quite right, of course, about the need to accelerate our mission here, to make the most of the natural resources that we have and to take seriously our responsibilities when it comes to tackling climate change. This is what it's about—setting up a new organisation that can move more swiftly, that can look at how to work on commercial projects of a larger scale and with community energy, because it's all going to be in the mix. Climate change, and tackling climate change, is a responsibility for every single Minister in this Government. So, yes, it will involve planning, it will involve the energy Minister, it will involve the housing Minister, and so on. Where is she? She's over there. So, this is something that's owned by all of Government.
The Member is quite right, of course, on Reform. In denying climate change, they are acting against the interests of the people of Wales. In denying or wanting to curtail employment rights, they are acting against the interests of workers the length and breadth of our nation. Reform is not a party that has the interests of Wales at heart in any way, shape or form.
I welcome this timely question from the Member, on the same day my Government publishes plans to cut business rates by 30 per cent for pubs, restaurants, cafes, bars, licensed clubs, hotels, gyms and cinemas. More broadly, through Business Wales, we provide advice and growth support to businesses. Targeted investment in local infrastructure and funding is helping to revitalise Bangor city centre specifically. We have also established that town-centre taskforce we promised we would as part of our 100-day commitment to drive investment, increase footfall and support local businesses to grow.
I know very, very well the challenges faced by Bangor high street. It was my high street growing up, and I'm determined that when we look at Bangor, and all the other high streets throughout Wales, we have a clear focus on using all the tools at our disposal to support them. The town-centre taskforce, I remind him, is for all high streets. There has been specific assistance, to the tune of over £600,000, announced for Bangor in recent months, and I don't imagine that that is something that the people of Bangor are unhappy about. But it's always part of a range of measures that we can take as a Government. That announcement today of the 30 per cent cut in business rates is determinedly targeted at helping high streets like Bangor, through supporting those businesses that bring vibrancy, that bring life to those high streets. This is a Government from the get-go that is showing that we are determined to act on the promises that we made, and Bangor, like many other towns the length and breadth of Wales, will benefit from that.
Diolch am y cwestiwn. Ydy, mae Antoniazzi's yn sefydliad go iawn, onid ydy, yn bron i ganrif oed. Mae'r hyn rydyn ni'n mynd i gael wedi ei amlinellu gan y Gweinidog Cabinet dros Gyllid y prynhawn yma yn arwyddocaol go iawn. Busnesau bach a chanolig yw asgwrn cefn yr economi, ac rydyn ni wedi ei gwneud hi'n glir, yn enwedig drwy'r Gweinidog Cabinet dros Fenter, Cysylltedd ac Ynni, ein bod ni'n benderfynol o gefnogi a thyfu busnesau Cymreig cynhenid, a sicrhau bod busnesau llwyddiannus yn parhau hefyd dan berchnogaeth Gymreig a rhoi'r hyder iddyn nhw fuddsoddi yn eu dyfodol. Mi fydd y newidiadau sy'n cael eu cyflwyno i dreth annomestig yn cael eu cyflwyno mor fuan â phosib o ddechrau'r flwyddyn nesaf neu'r flwyddyn ariannol nesaf. Mi fyddan nhw'n barhaol, sydd eto'n gam sy'n rhoi hyder i fusnesau, a dwi'n edrych ymlaen at gael y manylion yna gan y Gweinidog yn nes ymlaen y prynhawn yma.
Official English translation
Thank you for the question. Of course, Antoniazzi's is a well-established business of almost 100 years' standing. What we will see outlined by the Cabinet Minister for Finance this afternoon will be truly significant. SMEs are the backbone of our economy, and we've made it clear, particularly through the Cabinet Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy, that we are determined to support and grow indigenous Welsh businesses and to ensure that successful businesses continue in Welsh ownership, giving them the confidence to invest in their future. The changes to non-domestic rates will be introduced as soon as possible, from the beginning of next year or the next financial year. They will be permanent, which, again, is a step that gives business confidence. I look forward to hearing the details from the Minister later this afternoon.
It is a call that I have made in the past. What I would say is that we have to engage in what the UK Government could do and balance that against other things that the UK Government could do, because it's the outcome that's important, isn't it? It's not what the measure is, it's how it helps. What I have to do is to look at what I have in my toolkit, and one of the things that we do have are the powers over non-domestic rates. We said that we would use those powers, and we've moved very, very quickly to make sure that we do, with this permanent change, this real vote of confidence in leisure and hospitality—pubs, cafes, things that really bring vibrancy to the high street. So, the UK Government needs to look at its house and see what it can do. We'll put pressure on them to act in a whole host of different ways. We're acting using the powers that we have.
Do you know what I had a mandate to pursue? What I had a mandate to pursue was the best for Wales, always. So, when I get together with like-minded leaders throughout these islands, looking at how we can work together on childcare, on energy, on the way that we put pressure on the UK Government on funding, I think that that is absolutely standing up for Wales, as the people of Wales put their trust in us to do. And, yes, at the same time, we set our ambition for the nation. I believe that this isn't as good as things can get for Wales. Is Westminster working particularly well for Wales? Two letters and a number: HS2. That's the injustice that we're facing. Is the two-child cap what we really think is in the interest of the people of Wales? And a party like Reform always things that Wales is too small. Where's the ambition? Well, you know what? Matthew Rhys—let's congratulate Matthew Rhys on his historic Emmys win last night and what he said in accepting those two awards:
'We are a small but mighty nation. This is incredible.'
Be more like Matthew.
I tell you what, Llywydd, if the Member thinks you can only do one thing at a time in Government, she should give up her aspirations right now, because it is all about dealing with a host of issues that are in the interests of building our nation. It is about doing the work that we've done over the summer to pump money into health and to change our attitude on how we bring those waiting times down. It is about the numeracy and literacy strategy that is being published today by my Minister for education. And when it comes to this pursuit of more powers, which Reform absolutely rejects, let's remind the Member that it's because of powers taken on around a decade ago over non-domestic rates that we are now able to make a positive decision to help businesses in Wales through a cut of a third in the rates for businesses in hospitality and leisure. We have our eyes on the future of Wales, and I suggest that the Member opposite does the same.
I'll tell you what, all the Reform stereotypes are coming out today. There is a UK Government responsibility for the emergency alert. And do you know what, did they get it right? Clearly they didn't get it right. There was a technical issue about the way that it was sent out and that caused anxiety for people. I've spoken with COBRA myself to say, 'You need to sort this out for the future', because this is for the UK Government. But doesn't it say everything about Reform and its attitude towards Wales that your position on this is to blame the Welsh language, which wasn't at fault?
The Member is right to draw attention to a dispute that causes real frustration. It's certainly something that I feel. It's a dispute that we inherited, of course, from the previous administration. What is clear, as the former Labour First Minister said, is that this is something that can be resolved only by the health service itself. I know the efforts that my health Minister has put into trying to influence the health service to get to that point where we have a resolution. We need this to be resolved for the people served by that health board and for the nurses who want to care for their patients. And I again call today for that resolution to happen as swiftly as possible, because it's not acceptable for this to be pursued this long.
There is quite a lot to unpick in that question. There is a reference there to the need to work in a consensual way. I start this term in the way that I started the first term post election in making it very, very clear that this is a Government that wants to reach out and work in a way that serves the people of Wales in a constructive way. So, I make that point.
We're a Government that hit the ground running with a 100-day plan that we were able to deliver on, setting the foundations for what will be the programme for government to be presented in the very near future. This is a Government that takes seriously the faith put in us by the people of Wales, dealing with many different challenges, because the Member knows governing isn't always easy. It is about prioritising, but the more that we can work together, have clarity in what we are trying to achieve for the people of Wales, well, the better our chances of giving them the outcomes that they deserve. It has been a very, very busy summer of working with many, many partners in making sure that we move forward with real purpose.
I reflect today on this cabal of stagnation that Reform, the Conservatives and Labour have when it comes to moving Wales forward. Moving Wales forward and seeking practical answers to our problems means learning from others when it comes to the future of the health service, the future of the education service in Wales, and that's what this Government does. We will find partners where we have common ground always.
On the issues around Glan Clwyd, I absolutely share the concern raised by the leader of the Conservatives. The Cabinet Minister for Health and Care met with the chair and chief executive of the health board recently in Ysbyty Glan Clwyd. He set out his expectations of owning issues and making the improvements required by the people they serve. And yet again, we have further examples of those deep challenges facing Betsi Cadwaladr that affect patients, and that is what should affect every single one of us. That is why we have, since the summer, or at the end of the summer recess, published our plans on how we change the NHS's attitudes towards getting people through the system, not being wasteful in the way that we use our resources, because we are determined to act on our promise in this election to make health the No. 1 priority, because I think that’s the No. 1 priority of the people of Wales.
When will we see a change in the Conservatives from the whingeing that we always hear from their benches on these matters, rather than working constructively? We have an offer here to work constructively, to seek ideas, and that includes from you, as the leader of the Conservatives, on the future of our public services here in Wales.
This Government set out a programme that was given a mandate, not with a majority, but with a clear mandate to deliver for the people of Wales. And that means on health, which is why my health Minister worked so quickly to pump that money in, which will bring down those waiting times as the people of Wales deserve. It’s why we moved quickly to put that national numeracy and literacy scheme in place, which will drive up education standards, because I agree with you: it is scandalous, the way that we have allowed standards to drop here in Wales, with our proud record of educational achievement. We do this at the same time as setting an ambition for having more control over our own future here as a nation in Wales.
Tuition fees are set by higher education institutions, and eligible students receive loans to meet the full cost of their tuition. The Welsh Government will consider fees alongside the long-term sustainability of higher education itself in our independent review of higher education, and the Deputy Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education will provide further details later this afternoon.
I genuinely appreciate the way that the question has been framed, because I align myself with that description of the fragility of the higher education sector in Wales. It's something that should worry us all for the future of education and learning itself, for the impact that that has on the Welsh economy and research, also on the jobs that are supported by our higher education sector. But of course, we also want to support the students who are the future of those jobs, and those jobs in the sector itself. It is a balance, and what we have said is that we need to find that balance, and I'll remind you what Plaid Cymru, the party I lead, has said throughout: this is something that we need consensus on. This is something that's far too important to be allowed to be used as some sort of political ding-dong, because I hope I'm looking at everybody in this Chamber and seeing fellow Members who want to see our students supported appropriately and our higher education institutions survive and prosper.
On the fees cap, no decision has been announced yet on Welsh tuition fee caps or fee loan support for 2027-28. We're considering how best to support students while maintaining the higher education sector in Wales. That is a balance that we all need to think carefully about.
It is an issue that potential students are having to reckon with more and more. I was stopped by a young gentleman yesterday who was excited at seeing a politician and wanted a picture. He was studying for a politics, philosophy and economics degree at the Open University and it was working really well for him. He was working still whilst he was doing his degree. We know that the Open University and other providers of part-time courses play an important role in widening access to higher education and supporting flexible learning opportunities. This review of higher education will look at all aspects of higher education, including access to part-time provision.
It's not a matter that I have discussed specifically with the Deputy Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education, but it's certainly something that I'm willing to look at and see where our position would be. At the end of the day, I'm really concerned about the impact of the debts that students go into. I have just one student left in our family now, but two ex-students who are living with debt. Many of us either are living with debts ourselves or are parents of those who are, and it's something that really concerns us. In brief, I want every potential avenue to be looked at that could take the pressure off students now or potential students in future. Thank you.
We recognise that people waiting for cataract surgery want treatment as quickly as possible, obviously. That is why we've committed an additional £145 million this year to reduce waiting times, improve access and support clinically led service transformation across Wales. We're also taking forward plans for new surgical hubs, to increase clinical capacity and help more patients receive treatment sooner, including those waiting for cataract surgery.
It's one of those areas where you need rapid treatment in order to avoid more permanent damage. We have two ophthalmologists sitting here in the Senedd Chamber who know far more than I do. The Member referenced the bringing in of private providers. That has a role to play. But the big change in emphasis under this Government is not using that as a backstop and instead building up the kind of capacity that can make reductions in waiting times and a smoother passage of patients through the system more sustainable. I'd point to that as being the main element of what we're trying to do here. Details have been provided by the Minister as we've rolled out these new approaches in the first 100 days. I'm confident that that is the kind of long-term thinking that we need.
I'll refer Members, first of all, to my declaration of interest as a shareholder in a company renting out a domestic property.
Strengthening the private rented sector is a priority for this Government. I think we've made that pretty clear; we set it out in my legislative statement on 14 July. Renters in Wales deserve a safe, warm, secure and affordable home and should feel confident challenging poor conditions. Positive change requires good law, and in the first phase of our legislative programme we'll deliver legislation that protects tenants and tackles poor landlords, making renting, hopefully, more secure.
As I've pointed out many times in this Chamber, we have many pressures on housing. Those pressures, when we look at the big picture, do not come from recent arrivals from overseas. I think it's important to home in on those facts. But there are pressures, and we will always want to make sure that our housing stock is adequate in numbers, that the housing stock quality is of a decent level, which people should be able to gain confidence from. But also, we need to look at the question of affordability. We have a two-phased approach in terms of legislation, and affordability will very much be a part of our considerations. I've invited Members here to contribute to the development of legislation, and if there's an interest across this Chamber in those affordability issues, let's discuss them.
You don't have to think very hard to work out the poverty that somebody is driven into in real terms when they have so little of their income left after paying their rent. In terms of the issues that cause that, there's a multitude of them. Supply of homes is one of them, and social housing. That's why we are determined to bring in an extra 20,000 additional social homes by 2030. It's about bringing homes into use that are currently not in use. It's about raising the quality of the housing stock as well.
And then there are things, as I've said, that we can do through legislation. Actively exploring different measures for regulating increases in rent, for example, effectively is really important. We can look at what's happening in Scotland. There are learnings from Catalonia too. It's important that we look at what works well, and also look at potential drawbacks. But significant steps need considerable policy development, evidence gathering, and cross-party and cross-sector engagement, which is why we have outlined our ambition to bring forward that second renters Bill as part of a two-phase legislative approach.
The Member makes a very good point, and it's an international problem. We have seen some big cities take action on Airbnb. We tend in Wales to look at the more popular seaside areas, because that's where the problems are perceived to be more acute. But the Member is absolutely right that this is an issue that can arise anywhere. I (a) agree that it's an issue, and (b) want us to look at all those solutions that can be put in place. Some have been introduced through co-operation between our parties in the last Government—changes that lead to changing behaviour through use of premiums on council tax and so on. But there are also planning changes that we should always be alive to considering, because I agree this is a significant issue. The main purpose of a house, a flat or an apartment is to be a home, and we should always bear that in mind.
These PISA results are, to say the least, deeply disappointing. They underline to me the scale of the challenge that we face. They reinforce this Government’s determination to take a new and rigorous approach to raising standards. We'll be unapologetically ambitious for every learner, setting clear targets, holding ourselves accountable for delivering them, because raising standards has to be a priority. Today, we publish that foundational literacy and numeracy plan that I have previously referenced to accelerate improvement across Wales in every classroom, because our children and families in Wales deserve nothing less.
Given the importance of education, I'm surprised that he wasted some of his question discussing constitutional issues, frankly. We have a determination as a Government to look to our track record historically as a proud educating nation—one of the first generally literate populations anywhere in the world. That's something that makes me very proud. I was proud to have two parents that were educationalists, two teaching union presidents. I was brought up with the importance of getting education right and giving our children and young people opportunities right there surrounding me at all times.
I'm desperately disappointed at the PISA results. The measures that we are putting in place around numeracy and literacy, supporting teachers, supporting families and children, are all about raising outcomes. I hope that one of the results of that will be increased PISA scores. There's a global downturn in PISA scores, incidentally. Digitalisation and artificial intelligence might be a part of that. But England has bucked the trend and, absolutely, we should be, and we are making plans already to learn from England about what's happening there. My co-operation isn't exclusively with Scotland and Northern Ireland. I point that out—we work with Ministers in UK Government and internationally too, and on this one, it's because we need to raise standards. And the outcome that we need, of course—better PISA scores would be good—would be raised educational standards: numeracy, literacy, the basics, the foundations of successful lives and careers for our young people. That's what we're aiming for, and we're confident that we're putting the building blocks in place.
Mae cefnogi'r diwydiant dur a chymunedau dur sy'n dibynnu arno fo ledled Cymru yn hollbwysig i'r Llywodraeth yma. Cyn ymweliad diweddar Prif Weinidog y Deyrnas Unedig â Phort Talbot, mi wnaeth ein Dirprwy Brif Weinidog ni siarad yn gyhoeddus am yr angen i Gymru gael ei chyfran deg o gronfa ddur Llywodraeth y Deyrnas Unedig. Mi fu cyfarfod rhwng y ddau. Mi fyddai hynny, wrth gwrs, yn helpu gweithwyr a chymunedau drwy'r cyfnod pontio, ac mi fyddwn ni'n parhau i wneud yr achos hwnnw mor gryf â phosib yn ein trafodaethau ni efo Llywodraeth y Deyrnas Unedig.
Official English translation
Supporting the steel industry and the communities across Wales that depend on it is a priority for this Government. Ahead of the Prime Minister's recent visit to Port Talbot, the Deputy First Minister spoke publicly about the need for Wales to receive its fair share of the UK Government's steel fund. There was a meeting between the two. That, of course, would help workers and communities through the transition period, and we will continue to make that case as strongly as possible in ongoing discussions with the UK Government.
The Member is right to voice frustrations about what did or didn't come out of that investment. The purpose of it was changed at one point, but one thing we made clear from our position—we still make it clear from Government—is that we must get our fair share of that. We have taken a massive hit to the steel industry here in Wales because UK Governments took their eyes off the ball and didn't act when they should have done.
Welsh Government will work with companies, UK Government and the national wealth fund, which now has control over that £2.5 billion, to explore how support can be maximised and must be maximised for our steel communities across Wales. Let me be clear, if there is investment being made in the steel sector, UK Government must set out clearly how they plan to support the Welsh steel industry, which is what is important to us here.
I know that this will have been a particularly upsetting time for those affected. The immediate workforce issue affecting the service has now been resolved—that's the positive news—enabling planning to start for the resumption of the service, on a phased basis, from 22 September. It is important to note that patients already receiving treatment also were unaffected by the pause and continued their treatment in the usual way. But this has been a difficult time for a number of people.
That word 'resilience' is important. We use 'sustainability'. They mean very much the same when it comes to something like this: having services that are stable. In this particular case, the pause was necessary in order to comply with the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority licensing requirement. So, a clinical issue, but the impact, of course, is a very human issue. We will do what we can to build resilience across those services. For the individuals affected here, the health board has now started contacting patients, I understand, to confirm the next steps in their treatment pathway. The Wales Fertility Institute is continuing to work on the wider workforce challenges, working with the joint commissioning committee to explore possibilities for, perhaps, interim support options to comply with those licensing requirements, which are a must; these aren't optional. Work is also ongoing to strengthen, as you say, the resilience and sustainability of the service, both within the health board itself and in conjunction with that relationship that it has with the joint commissioning committee. That work will continue. Yes, there are short-term things to do, but that will continue beyond the short term too.
This Government is committed to pressing the case for a fairer funding settlement for Wales. That means a number of different things. When I met the Prime Minister in Glasgow in July, I emphasised the need for the historic underfunding of Wales to be addressed. On Thursday, we will be hosting the Finance: Interministerial Standing Committee, bringing together finance Ministers from right across the UK, if that's okay with everyone.
Funding reform is a key priority for the Cabinet Minister for Finance, and in her bilateral meeting with the Chief Secretary to the Treasury that day she will raise a number of priorities, which include delivering the £14 billion promise on rail, a formal review of the fiscal framework and the Barnett formula. I will also make this case directly to the Prime Minister when we meet again in October.
I'm grateful for the question. Right across the UK, we should be—. There is an interest in making sure that when the Treasury makes decisions on spending they are made fairly. It relates to Scotland, it relates to Northern Ireland, it also relates to regions of England. What I will do as the First Minister of Wales, with my team, with your backing here hopefully, is make the case always for us to get that fair funding package.
That does include all those different elements: giving us the borrowing powers; giving us the right to be able to draw down from our reserves; making sure that the overall package under Barnett actually works for us; making sure that where there is a lack of powers—on rail, for example—that that doesn't mean we end up £5 billion out of pocket on HS2. There are fundamental unfairnesses right across the board. The Cabinet Minister for Finance will reinforce those points with the UK Treasury later this week. We look forward to working positively with them in helping them to recognise the value of devolution and giving us the tools to do the job that we're here to do.
Strengthening the governance of the NHS is very, very important for my health team and all of us in Government, with actions having already been undertaken as part of the first 100 days plan. This includes ensuring patients have full confidence that concerns will be heard, that they'll be investigated quickly and used, crucially, to improve care. A new national clinical governance framework to improve clinical governance across NHS Wales will be published early in 2027, bringing together those issues of safeguarding, patient safety, quality improvement and organisational learning to support safer services and greater accountability too.
We've made it very, very clear that, yes, this will be judged on clinical evidence. That's what this is about. This hasn't been about Ministers making decisions, this has been the joint commissioning committee. There's a real irony, though, isn't there, about this throwing of an accusation of behaving in an ideological way when we have extreme ideology from the Reform benches here, not interested at all in the anxiety caused by this pause in services for some very, very vulnerable people, many of whom have been ably represented by Members of my party and, no doubt, others too.
Let's remember who is at the heart of issues like this—people who are feeling that they are paying the price for the failure of a health system. What we need to make sure is that we have a review to understand exactly what has happened based on clinical evidence. That's what everybody wants to see happening, whilst supporting the trans community in the process.
In our first 100 days, our national support programme for curriculum and assessment design has provided expert coaching and learning through national events to, I understand, over 250 schools and 340 practitioners across Wales. We have committed to reviewing the curriculum for Wales so that we can be clear that it ensures every learner benefits from high standards and excellent teaching always.
I think it's always important, where there are contentious issues or issues of concern to parents, that they are given reassurance at all times. The first thing to say is that whilst, yes, RSE is mandatory for three to 16-year-olds, it's not the same relationship and sexuality education for pupils from three to 16. RSE is legally required to be developmentally appropriate. That is the point—helping our children and young people through their lives, at the right time, to learn about the world around them, the relationships that they have with others. It must be factual. It must be pluralistic. It means that schools must present a range of views held in society, not push a particular view. These are the reassurances that are important for parents to hear, and the Government will always make sure that the information is available to them. If not, we'll up our game.
Mae hwn yn wers. [Chwerthin.] Yn 2026-27, mi ydyn ni’n darparu £9.1 miliwn i Cefnogi Trydydd Sector Cymru, gan helpu sefydliadau i gael cyngor a chymorth ar wirfoddoli, llywodraethu, cyllid cynaliadwy ac ymgysylltu.
Mi fydd y sector gwirfoddol a gwirfoddolwyr eu hunain yn hanfodol i gyflawni blaenoriaethau’r Llywodraeth. Mi fydd hynny’n cynnwys gofal iechyd ataliol, mynd i’r afael â thlodi plant, darparu mynediad at ofal plant, darpariaeth chwarae, helpu pobl ifanc i gael gwaith. Mae'n rhestr hir.
Official English translation
It's a lesson. [Laughter.] In 2026–27, we are providing £9.1 million to Third Sector Support Wales, helping organisations access support on volunteering, governance, sustainable funding and engagement.
The voluntary sector and volunteers themselves will be critical in delivering the Government's priorities. This will include preventative healthcare, tackling child poverty, providing access to childcare, play provision, supporting young people into work. It's a long list.
Dwi'n hapus iawn i gadarnhau hynny. Pan ydyn ni yn edrych ar draws ystod gwaith y Llywodraeth, rydyn ni'n edrych ar bartneriaeth. Dydy'r syniadau i gyd, dydy'r ddealltwriaeth i gyd, ddim yn dod o feinciau'r Llywodraeth ei hun; mae o'n dod o ymgysylltu efo eraill a gwrando ar beth sydd yn gweithio yn dda a beth sydd ddim, beth ydy'r rhwystredigaethau ac yn y blaen.
Pan fo'n dod at weithredu gwirfoddol, wel mae hynny'n cynnwys ein cymunedau ni i gyd, ac mae'n bwysig ein bod ni yn dangos ein bod ni bob amser yn Llywodraeth sydd yn gwrando. Dydy hynny ddim wastad yn golygu, wrth gwrs, gallu rhoi yn union beth mae pobl yn gofyn amdano fo, ond beth mae rhywun yn chwilio amdano fo ydy dealltwriaeth gan gymunedau—a thrwy hynny, sefydliadau gwirfoddol—am pam rydyn ni'n gwneud y penderfyniadau rydyn ni'n eu gwneud, a'u bod nhw wastad yn ceisio bod yn benderfyniadau sydd yn cefnogi gweithgarwch cymunedol ym mhob ffordd y gallwn ni ei wneud.
Official English translation
I am very happy to confirm that. When we look across the range of the Government's work, we're looking at partnership. All of the ideas and all of that understanding doesn't just come from the Government's benches; it comes from engaging with others and listening to what works well, what doesn't work well, and what the frustrations or barriers are and so on.
When it comes to voluntary action, that includes all of our communities, and it's important that we do show that we are always a Government that listens. That doesn't always, of course, mean being able to give people exactly what they're asking for, but what you're looking for is that understanding from communities—and through that, voluntary organisations—about why we make the decisions that we make, and that they are always intended to be decisions that support community engagement in every way that we can.
Diolch, Lywydd. Dros yr wythnosau diwethaf, mi rydyn ni wedi gweld drosom ni ein hunain beth ydy effaith y newid yn ein hinsawdd. Yr haf yma fu'r poethaf ar gofnod. Mae tanau gwyllt a sychder wedi gadael eu marc ar gymunedau ledled Cymru. Maen nhw wedi effeithio ar deuluoedd, ffermwyr a thirfeddianwyr. Maen nhw wedi difrodi bywyd gwyllt a chynefinoedd gwerthfawr. Maen nhw wedi arwain at ofynion eithriadol ar ein diffoddwyr tân a'n gwasanaethau brys. Rydyn ni'n meddwl am bawb sydd wedi cael eu heffeithio gan hyn.
Official English translation
Thank you, Llywydd. Over recent weeks, we have seen first-hand the impact of our changing climate. This summer has been the hottest on record. Wildfires and droughts have left their mark on communities across Wales. They have affected families, farmers and landowners. They have harmed wildlife and damaged precious habitats. They have placed extraordinary demands on our firefighters and emergency services. Our thoughts are with everyone affected.
Today, I want to place on record the thanks of the Welsh Government—and, I believe, the whole Senedd—to everyone who responded in such difficult circumstances, including our firefighters, emergency responders, the armed forces, public services, volunteers and local communities themselves. So, diolch. I know many of us will have seen the remarkable efforts to protect lives, homes, livelihoods and our natural environment. The professionalism and commitment represent public service at its very best.
Wales responded with courage and with a strong sense of community, but these fires also carried a warning that we must not ignore. Our climate is changing. The risks are changing with it and Wales must be ready. We now face flooding this winter. The United Nations is warning of the impacts of a supersized El Niño.
Mae'r risgiau hyn yn gysylltiedig. All gwydnwch hinsawdd ddim bod yn bryder i un gwasanaeth, neu un rhan o'r gwasanaethau cyhoeddus, un sefydliad neu un rhan o'r Llywodraeth yn unig. Mae'n flaenoriaeth gyffredin yn genedlaethol. Dyna pam rydyn ni wedi dechrau gweithio ar gynllun gweithredu hinsawdd a natur cyntaf Cymru, sy'n adlewyrchu'r angen am ymateb trawslywodraethol i set gymhleth o heriau. Rydyn ni'n cymryd y cyfrifoldeb hwn o ddifrif.
O ddechrau'r tân gwyllt cyntaf ym mis Gorffennaf, mi wnaethom ni roi ein cefnogaeth lawn i'r gwasanaethau tân ac achub ac i'r partneriaid ehangach a oedd yn ymateb i'r digwyddiadau. Mi wnaethom ni roi trefniadau rheoli argyfwng Llywodraeth Cymru ar waith i sicrhau cymorth strategol. Mi wnaethom alw ar bwyllgor argyfyngau sifil Cymru i gefnogi'r gwaith cydlynu, a gweithio ochr yn ochr â'r grwpiau cydlynu amlasiantaeth o dan arweiniad y gwasanaethau tân ac achub.
Official English translation
These risks are connected. Climate resilience cannot be the concern for one service, or one part of public services, one organisation or one part of Government only. It is a shared national priority. That's why we have started work on Wales's first climate and nature action plan, which reflects the need for a cross-Government response to a complex set of challenges. We take this responsibility seriously.
From the start of the first wildfire in July, we gave our full support to the fire and rescue services and to wider partners responding to the incidents. We activated the emergency management arrangements of the Welsh Government to provide strategic support. We convened the Wales civil contingencies committee to support co-ordination, and worked alongside the multi-agency co-ordinating groups led by the fire and rescue services.
Those standard, long-established arrangements brought together fire and rescue services, Natural Resources Wales, the military and other partners too. They enabled decisions to be taken quickly, resources to be co-ordinated effectively, and support to be directed to the places where it was needed most. Crucially, operational decisions remained with those who had the expertise and direct knowledge of conditions on the ground.
Our firefighters are among the best trained in the UK to tackle wildfires. Only a few months ago, at the UK Government's request, they helped train their English counterparts. Through using natural firebreaks, creating new firebreaks and targeted offensive firefighting, they deployed the ground-level tactics that remain the most effective method of tackling the fires. Their hard work, expertise and professionalism ensured all outbreaks were successfully and safely contained.
Where additional support was required, it was successfully mobilised through mutual aid arrangements across Wales and England. These arrangements provided access to specialist personnel, equipment and appliances, while helping individual services maintain operational resilience. And we should not forget the many farmers and landowners who made their time and equipment freely available to support the firefighting effort.
The military also played an important role, and I thank army personnel for their contribution. Military assistance can only be used as a last resort when civilian responders have considered all other options and request military aid. That test was met on 14 August and we rapidly responded following the request from South Wales Fire and Rescue Service on the afternoon of 13 August. We processed and authorised it at pace, with military support on the ground in under 24 hours—an exceptionally fast response.
Mae'n ddealladwy bod cryn ddiddordeb wedi bod mewn defnyddio hofrenyddion a chefnogaeth ehangach o'r awyr, ac mi all cefnogaeth o'r awyr fod yn werthfawr mewn amgylchiadau penodol. Ond dim ond un rhan o ymateb ehangach ydy hon. Dydy o ddim yn ateb i bob sefyllfa. Mae ei defnyddio yn dibynnu ar leoliad y tan, yr amodau tywydd, argaeledd ac asesiad rheolwyr gweithredol. Mae tactegau ar y ddaear yn parhau i fod yn ganolog i fynd i'r afael â thanau gwyllt yn ddiogel ac yn effeithiol.
Mi ddefnyddiwyd cymorth o’r awyr pan oedd o ar gael ac yn briodol yn weithredol. Fodd bynnag, mi oedd y cerbydau awyr addas a oedd ar gael yn y Deyrnas Unedig yn gyfyngedig ar y pwynt yma, yn enwedig am fod tanau'n effeithio ar sawl rhan o'r Deyrnas Unedig ar unwaith. Does gan y lluoedd arfog ddim capasiti diffodd tân o'r awyr yn y Deyrnas Unedig, ac mi oedd y capasiti masnachol yn gwbl annigonol i gwrdd â lefel y galw yn y Deyrnas Unedig.
Nid mater i Gymru'n unig ydy hyn. Mae angen ei ystyried o ddifri a chymryd camau gweithredu cydgysylltiedig ar draws y Deyrnas Unedig, ac mi wnes i godi’r mater yma pan es i i gyfarfod COBRA ar 12 Awst.
Official English translation
Understandably, there has been considerable interest in the use of helicopters and wider aerial support, and aerial support can be valuable in particular circumstances, but it forms only one part of a wider response. It is not a panacea. Its use depends on the location of a fire, weather conditions, availability and the assessment of operational commanders. Ground-based tactics remain central to tackling wildfires safely and effectively.
Aerial support was used when it was available and operationally appropriate. However, suitable aircraft across the UK were limited at that point, particularly as wildfires affected many parts of the UK at once. The armed forces do not have aerial firefighting capacity in the UK, and commercial capacity was wholly insufficient to meet the level of UK demand.
This is not an issue for Wales alone. It requires serious consideration and co-ordinated action across the UK, and I raised this issue when I attended the COBRA meeting on 12 August.
In an emergency, Government must act quickly, must act calmly and decisively, and that is what we did. But responding to an emergency is only part of our responsibility. We must also learn and strengthen our readiness for the future. The Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning chaired an immediate operational debrief with responders on 8 September, to help understand what worked well, what could be strengthened and what additional capabilities or arrangements may be required. We do not claim to have all the answers, and Government cannot do this alone.
Together we must strengthen the resilience of our land, our infrastructure and our public services. Prevention must be at the heart of our approach. It's important that we recognise the role we all need to play. The reality is that human activity is the main cause of wildfires. Climate change has increased the fuel, but the spark comes from us. This ranges from deliberate criminal acts through to accidental ignition, as simple as a piece of glass magnifying the rays of the sun or a disposable barbecue setting a hillside alight. Everyone therefore has a part to play in reducing risk, acting responsibly and following emergency service advice.
Dim ond rhan o'r ateb ydy cyfrifoldeb unigol, ac mae’n rhaid inni ystyried rheoli tir, gwydnwch seilwaith, parodrwydd gwasanaethau cyhoeddus a'r cymorth sydd ar gael i gymunedau cyn, yn ystod ac ar ôl digwyddiadau tywydd eithafol. Dyna pam mae gweithredu ar yr hinsawdd yn gyfrifoldeb ar lefel y Cabinet sy'n berthnasol i bob portffolio Llywodraeth. Rydyn ni wedi ymrwymo i gyhoeddi asesiad o risgiau'r hinsawdd sy'n cael ei ddiweddaru yn rheolaidd. Bydd hyn yn rhoi mwy o dryloywder ynglŷn â’r risgiau mae Cymru'n eu hwynebu, y camau sy'n cael eu cymryd, a’r meysydd lle mae angen gwneud cynnydd pellach. Bydd hyn yn cefnogi datblygu ein cynllun gweithredu ar hinsawdd a natur, gan ddod â chamau gweithredu ynghyd ar draws y Llywodraeth ar atal, parodrwydd a gwydnwch hirdymor.
Official English translation
Individual responsibility is only part of the answer, and we must consider land management, infrastructure resilience, public services preparedness and the support available to communities before, during and after extreme weather events. That is why climate action is a Cabinet-level responsibility that cuts across every Government portfolio. We have committed to publishing a climate risk assessment that is regularly updated. This will provide greater transparency about the risks that Wales faces, the action being taken, and the areas in which further progress is needed. This will support the development of our climate and nature action plan, bringing together action across Government on prevention, preparedness and long-term resilience.
On 22 October, I will convene the Wales climate change and resilience summit, focusing on wildfires. It must be focused on practical action. It will provide an opportunity to learn from the recent wildfires, examine the role of land management and consider the steps needed to reduce the likelihood and consequences of future incidents. The reality is that Wales needs to prepare for the combined risks of our changing climate and ensure that our communities and public services are ready. We cannot prevent every wildfire or every extreme weather event. We can, though, reduce the risks. We can prepare more effectively. And when emergencies happen, we can respond quickly and decisively. Recent weeks have shown us the scale of the challenge. They've also shown us the strength of Wales. They have demonstrated the professionalism of our emergency services and the strength of our communities. We will build on that strength. We will learn from what has happened. And we will take the practical action needed to protect the people, communities and natural environment of Wales, now and for the generations that follow.
Llywydd, I'm not sure where to begin, to be honest with you. We are responding to challenges that we've faced in many parts of our nation and the multitude of agencies that came together to tackle those, in very difficult circumstances, and the role that the Welsh Government played in that. I don't want to stand here having to correct a series of things that a Member says.
She says that I didn't even thank farmers for their role in the summer. I literally did; it's worth listening to my statements. My own son took part for days in carrying water bowsers to tackle the fires in Suffolk, as it happens. I'm very aware of the role that farmers played in tackling the wildfires this summer. So don’t throw accusations, somehow, at the Government for not understanding who played their part. I've mentioned it right here in the statement today. This was action that was taken on a multitude of different levels, because that is how we respond to emergencies such as the one we responded to this summer.
The Member says that the FBU called for a summit and I didn't respond. It was literally through the FBU writing to me that I said, 'Yes, let's have that summit', and it's happening on 22 October. This is through co-operation—[Interruption.] This is about dealing with the future. I'm not sure if the Member has any idea of the kinds of activities that were happening at that time and that have happened since. The summit is a part, if you like, of the response moving forward, as was the meeting between the Minister and the fire and rescue services and other agencies last week. The fire and rescue services themselves conduct their own analysis and assessment of the way that events were tackled at the time.
The Member throws accusations about not calling in military assistance until it was too late. That's not how it works; it is the fire and rescue services themselves who make the call to ask for the military to come in. They made the call on 13 August. The military were on the ground in 24 hours, and I can't thank the armed forces enough for responding to that call. The rules within which we operate, of course, mean that military assistance came in—the MACA rules within which we operate when civilian efforts have been exhausted. And I tell you what, the fire and rescue services were exhausted, because of the extreme stresses that were on them throughout this.
Now we move forward. We learn lessons. That is precisely what this summit, as well as other activities of Government, are all about. Does it look at the management of land? Does it look at how we control the amount of combustible material and so on on our uplands in particular? Yes, it does. That is what we're trying to do here; we're looking at what lessons can be learned. Do we need to change practices that have been introduced for very good reason over years because of the changing context in which we are operating?
The Member says farmers won't be at that summit. Landowners and farmers are absolutely a part of how we address it through that summit. So, yes, this is about bringing all those partners together who understand the different factors: experts in climate change, absolutely, experts in land management, experts in tackling wildfires. We have some of the best experts in the UK here in Wales. So, let's address what actually happened over the summer months, the amazing efforts that went in in extremely difficult circumstances, and learn lessons moving forward.