National Assembly for Wales

Good afternoon and welcome to you all. 

Welcome, everybody. Could I just say a particular welcome to Dr David Wilson, the clerk of the New Zealand Parliament, and others who are in the gallery today? You're all very welcome indeed. 

We move now to questions to the First Minister, and the first question is from Andrew Griffin. 

Our manifesto is clear: we have set out a range of commitments to drive greater consistency and accountability to strengthen safeguarding arrangements in schools across Wales. Our inspectorate, Estyn, monitors safeguarding arrangements through its inspection framework. Alongside engagement with local authorities and safeguarding partners, this informs a national picture of safeguarding in schools across Wales.

Thank you, First Minister, for your response. I've received correspondence from constituents in Gwynedd who have expressed concern about the appalling case of the convicted sex offender Neil Foden. While the criminal proceedings have been concluded, many questions remain about the actions, decisions and oversight of the Plaid Cymru-controlled Gwynedd council. Public confidence can only be restored through full transparency and accountability. Will you therefore commit today to commissioning or supporting an independent review of Gwynedd council's handling of this case, so that any lessons can be learned and the public can have confidence that safeguarding systems are working as they should?

Everyone was appalled, of course, by the actions of Neil Foden, for which he is now being punished. And we remember, don't we, the bravery of all those who came forward and spoke and assured that conviction. We have to now act on what came out of the child practice review. I was minded to pursue the avenue of a further inquiry, but we have to be guided by the views of the independent chair of that report, who advised that a further inquiry just would not add value in this space. What we need to do is to continue to fight for justice for these young people, and future young people, through the actions that we take in fostering a strong safeguarding culture, embedding accountability at every level, and now ensuring children's voices shape decision making in the future.  

We have all been horrified by the appalling crimes of the paedophile Neil Foden at Ysgol Friars, and we're aware of the litany of failures across several organisations that were identified by the 'Our Bravery Brought Justice' report. Foden's crimes came to light because of the bravery of his victims—schoolchildren who were supposed to be safe. What will the Welsh Government do to ensure, to the best of its ability, that we never see a case like this one ever again, and that the lessons of the 'Our Bravery Brought Justice' report and 'Clywch' are learnt in full?

We will never forget the horrific crimes carried out by Foden, and, of course, it took incredible courage for those young people to come forward.

We are taking every possible step within our powers to reduce the risk of anything like this ever happening again. Developing a new culture is crucial, where children and teachers feel safe to speak up. We are already taking steps in response to the review, including strengthening statutory guidance and support for schools, and a review of section 5 of the report will be launched very soon. We will not rest on our laurels in any way in ensuring that we are taking major steps for the benefit of young people in that part of Wales and across the nation. 

First Minister, 'Our Bravery Brought Justice' must be a watershed moment for children in Wales, and I pay tribute again to those young people whose courage has meant that Neil Foden faced justice.

The previous Labour Government accepted every single recommendation of the child practice review and was also committed to driving implementation across partners. Will you take this opportunity to state your Government's commitment to every single recommendation? But will you also commit to maintaining the ministerial assurance board with Cyngor Gwynedd so that we can be assured as well that lessons are learned at a local level and that we never slip back on these things?

Llywydd, I want to give the Member those assurances. We want to continue with and build on the work that had previously been done. We remind ourselves of the title of that report: 'Our Bravery Brought Justice'. Only part of the justice has been brought so far—the justice in ensuring that the perpetrator was found guilty and was imprisoned. The real justice is in making sure that we have the measures in place to stop this happening again.

First Minister, Members have raised really important issues and you've responded to them in terms of the real-world impact of safeguarding concerns. Many children, though, live much of their time online, in the cyber world, in the virtual world, where safeguarding concerns continue to exist for those young people. We've called for a smartphone ban in schools across Wales to protect and support those children who are facing cyber bullying content, which is certainly not appropriate for them. Why is it that your Government are not supporting our calls for a Wales-wide ban on phones in schools, so that those children can be protected in the right way?

Llywydd, very simply, this is a Government that does believe in taking action. The reason, sometimes, we steer clear of words like 'bans' is because there will always be exceptions. We are determined, and, working with the Cabinet Minister for Education and the Welsh Language, measures are already in tow to make sure that we protect children and their education from the impact of mobile phones in schools.

Devolved taxes make a significant contribution to the budget, providing £4.4 billion for vital public services and infrastructure in Wales. These revenues enable investment to boost economic growth, to improve our NHS, schools, childcare, housing and public transport. We plan to reform business rates to better support high-street businesses and explore ways of making council tax fairer.

I recognise the need for well-funded public services, not just for the impact they have on people's lives, but also for the foundational role that they play in a healthy, developed economy. I also understand that an excessive tax burden can discourage economic activity, which then leads to an overall lower tax take. The First Minister has said previously that his Government will not raise income tax. Previous Governments in Wales have made similar commitments, but we still have seen taxes risen through new mechanisms, such as the tourism levy. Can the First Minister today confirm that his Government will not be raising any taxes, new or existing, in Wales during this term?

I reiterate, Llywydd, that there will be no change to rates of income tax. We don't have the tools to set a taxation system that works for Wales. I'll say this: I want to bring in further taxation in Wales through a thriving economy and through businesses that flourish. But let me make it clear: taxation is a fundamental part of our democratic and governmental structures. What we should seek always, be that for individuals or for businesses, is fair taxation. Cutting tax for the sake of it, for political reasons, for example, is not what the people want. I believe that what people and businesses and the economy want is excellent-quality public services and support from Government within a fair tax system.

First Minister, the cost-of-living crisis and the cost-of-doing-business crisis is evident. When in opposition, you and your colleagues spoke regularly about these concerns. Now you have the levers of power, will you use them to ease the burden on the pockets of citizens and businesses? I heard your answer just now, where it looks like you may be looking at certain things. So, First Minister, will you be reviewing land transaction tax for first-time buyers, to put them on a fair footing with first-time buyers in England, which is very much an issue in my constituency near the border? And will you review business rates to at least help our small and medium-sized businesses combat the damaging policies levelled on them by Labour in Westminster? The clock is ticking and the honeymoon is coming to an end.

The Member echoes, in some ways, my call for a fair taxation system. Therefore, yes, we will be reviewing business rates, as we have said we would, because we want to make sure that it works well for businesses in Wales. In particular, we want to make sure that town centres and high-street businesses are supported well. On land transaction tax too, that is exactly the kind of tax that we want to seek to review, that we need to review, to make sure that it's working in the interests of the people of Wales. We are very aware of our ability to use a taxation system in a progressive way, and, again, that's why we continue to be determined to find a replacement in time for council tax.

First Minister, the tourism tax is one of the biggest worries for businesses in my constituency. Will the Government consider reassessing their approach to this issue and give business confidence by scrapping this tax? 

Will the tax be scrapped? No. I believe in our tourism offer in Wales. I am very, very proud of our tourism offer. We live in a beautiful country. We have facilities that lend themselves to tourism. I want to use the tourism levy in a way that improves the tourism offer. It is up to individual local authorities, of course, whether they bring in a tourism levy in their areas, but let's remember what the other part of this is: where tourism happens, there are impacts on communities and, as well as improving the tourism offer, there's an opportunity here to put the mitigation measures in place so that tourism is something that we can control and mould, working with tourism operators, into something that works for the industry and for the communities where tourism takes place. 

Good afternoon, Prif Weinidog. Do you know, I find it absolutely astonishing that there are still calls from Reform UK to cut the tax revenue? Such proposals are just completely reckless when our communities and our public services are really facing cuts. And let us also not forget that many of those calling for tax cuts were also among the strongest advocates of Brexit. Wales continues to pay the price of that decision, and recent analysis suggests that Brexit is costing the Treasury £90 billion every year, and Wales £3 billion every year, losing that revenue. So, would you agree with me, Prif Weinidog, that we need well-funded public services and that tax cuts should not be happening? Diolch yn fawr iawn.

Well, I certainly agree with the Member about the damage of Reform policies, and Brexit is one of those, and remember that reducing income tax by 1p would have cost £299 million. Now, that would be to the detriment of public services in Wales and the people we are here to serve. I again reiterate that my belief is in a fair taxation system that's also a realistic taxation system, that recognises the need to have not just well-funded, but well-run public services. And this Government is all about making sure that our public services are well run and that that is done within our means too. 

I now call the party leaders to question the First Minister and, first of all, the leader of Reform UK, Dan Thomas. 

Diolch, Lywydd. First Minister, it was a disappointing day for Welsh industry and Welsh jobs when Tata made their announcement about the delay of the construction of the electric arc down at Port Talbot. In April, I met Tata's chief executive, along with our shadow Cabinet Minister for industry. It was a positive meeting, but given the £500 million of taxpayer investment and given the number of Welsh jobs at stake, we managed to secure reassurance that the arc construction was on track and that it was still viable. So, what engagement has the First Minister had with the chief executive of Tata? Specifically, when did you last meet with the chief executive? Were you told about the delay before Tata shareholders? I hope, as a courtesy, that you were. And what have you done to seek reassurance from the UK Government to secure our public investment and secure Welsh jobs?

The contribution made by Reform, of course, last year, was to say that they wanted to bring back a defunct blast furnace to secure the future of Port Talbot, when my party put plans on the table that could have retained, we believe, virgin steel making in Port Talbot. My Government is determined to do all that we can to support investment at Tata. My Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy did speak yesterday with Tata Steel UK's chief executive officer in order to discuss the way ahead, in terms of the electricity connection. Many of the powers, of course, are in the hands of UK Government, but we will do everything in our powers as a Welsh Government to facilitate progress towards the delivery of that investment, and that is why my Minister acted so quickly.

First Minister, I'd like now to talk about 'small change'. That's how you referred to the £9 million budget for overseas affairs. It's a sum that most people wouldn't classify as small change, and it's money that Reform believes should be spent on employing newly qualified nurses at a time when the NHS is on its knees. So, if £9 million to you is short change, surely you can find some small change at the back of the Welsh Government sofa and you can say to the student nurses that you will be able to guarantee them jobs when they graduate. So, First Minister, will you do the right thing and will you guarantee all student nurses in Wales a job when they graduate, yes or no?

Putting a robust plan in place to make sure that people who have decided to devote themselves to careers in nursing or medicine or the allied health professions is a core part of our delivery of a workforce strategy. That is why my Cabinet Minister for Health and Care has already begun the work of ensuring that we are able to support students to have careers within the NHS. That's why they decided to go into those professions.

And in terms of scales of spending on our overseas office, it's not that much more, is it, than the leader of your party took to secure his own security, or was it to buy a house?

Llywydd, it's going to be a long Senedd if the First Minister can't give a simple 'yes' or 'no' answer to a simple question. But we'll take that as a 'no', which means that student nurses will now be forced to look abroad. I know that Plaid Cymru are in favour of open migration, but forcing Welsh nurses to move overseas is taking it way too far.

Sticking with health, this week marks the 11-year anniversary that Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board went into special measures. First Minister, when you were in opposition, you were quick to criticise the then Labour Government. In 2023, you said, and I quote:

'I will keep on harping on about the need to restructure Betsi'.

You also said that a Plaid Cymru Government would take seriously the need for political leadership in holding our health boards to account. So, First Minister, where is the visible political leadership on Betsi, or are you going to backtrack on your previous statements?

Where is the visible leadership? He's sat over there. He's called my health and care Cabinet Minister. The seriousness of the approach by Mabon ap Gwynfor to dealing with the problems that we absolutely face after 27 years of Labour health Ministers in Betsi is something that is not lost on us. Am I willing to look at restructuring? I've made it very, very clear that Betsi Cadwaladr is on notice, but the solution that the patients and staff across north Wales want isn't new structures, it's a better delivery of health and care. That is what I am concentrating on, rather than restructuring for the sake of it.

Leader of Welsh Labour, Ken Skates.

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

I won't get engaged with what isn't a serious question. What I will do, Llywydd, is engage with the question that I think he is trying to ask, which is about what is our position on the eradication of tuberculosis, if I've understood correctly. The question around the eradication of TB is that we will follow the science.

Well, science is very clear, First Minister. Science is abundantly clear. Please show us any science that contradicts the measures that Welsh Labour introduced. I don't think your answer today will allay any concerns out there that you're going to be reintroducing a cull on badgers.

Tomorrow, we are bringing forward a motion supporting year-round pay for support staff. If we're successful, your Government will be forced to deliver our policy on fair work for school support staff. Will you also now commit to giving councils their fair share of the desperately needed additional learning needs money? Will you commit to passing on the full £555 million from Westminster that you received from the UK Labour Government?

A number of points there. I believe in fair work, first. It's a principle that we outlined when I spoke at the recent Wales Trades Union Congress in Llandudno.

On ALN, I have to praise the previous administration here. Payments made in England, of course, are to cover historic debts by local authorities because of ALN. The previous Government, whose previous education Minister is sat next to the leader of the Labour group, managed a situation where we didn't have that debt. So, what we need to do is make sure that we have structures in place to support children with additional needs and their parents, and to build up the case for new structures by the time there will be consequentials flowing through the system from England in two years' time.

The leader of the Welsh Conservatives, Darren Millar. 

First Minister, can you tell us what steps your new Government is taking to ensure that developments of national significance do not permanently compromise Wales's most productive agricultural land? Prior to taking office, you firmly stood with your constituents on Anglesey to oppose the massive industrial-scale solar farm proposals on Prosiect Maen Hir and Alaw Môn. In fact, you said, and I quote to you, that you had deep concerns about the scale of solar developments. And you said that projects like those would lead to the loss of large swathes of productive agricultural land and the associated economic activity and farming jobs. I agree with those statements. Now that you're First Minister, of course, you've got the opportunity to do things differently. So, do you stand by those comments that you've previously made? And will you now take action to protect rural Wales by changing the planning framework to make sure that projects like that can no longer proceed?

It's a very fair question, and I can answer very simply that, yes, I do stand by the comments that I have long made, that I do believe we need to protect our best and most versatile land. It is not, however, necessarily a case of changing the planning frameworks. And the reason I say that is that my frustration with the previous Government was that it was going against current frameworks, which do say that BMV land should be protected, in allowing certain schemes to go ahead. So, that's a pretty honest answer saying I agree with the Member, but I'm not convinced, actually, that the weakness in this particular instance is on what the planning guidelines say.

Well, there is a weakness in the planning guidelines because, as you know, there is an assumption in favour of large-scale solar farms in most parts of Wales now, and not just solar farms either, but large windfarms as well, with pylons marching across the whole of the countryside. And that is a fault of the national planning framework, 'Future Wales: The National Plan 2040', which clearly needs to be revised in order to protect these very important pieces of land.

Let's face it: once this land's gone, it's gone, right? We're never going to get it back. So, we must make sure that we have the right balance, while supporting renewables where necessary, in the right places, on the top of factories and alongside industrial zones. But in terms of productive agricultural land, we've got to protect it. So, can I ask you and urge you now to look at the planning system, review the national framework and, in the meantime, implement an immediate moratorium on industrial-scale solar and windfarm developments, so that we can protect prime agricultural land here in our country?

I hear what the Member says and I've expressed as clearly as I can that I'm in agreement with the Member on that core principle, but I don't think, necessarily, that frameworks need to be changed. It's the application and the consistent application of those rules that the previous Government, I thought, was not doing.

The Member is also conflating a couple of different issues here when it comes to connectivity issues and so on. There are different issues on making sure that energy projects go ahead in a way that allows us to fulfil our environmental obligations and reap the jobs and look after the communities affected. It is not so much an issue of the loss of best and most versatile land in that matter, it's a different issue. But of course, as with everything, we will keep planning policy under review to make sure that it's fit for purpose, whether it's on energy or any other issue.

Establishing the town centre taskforce demonstrates the Welsh Government’s clear commitment to revitalising town centres across the whole of Wales. The taskforce will look at options for non-domestic rates and planning reform to support more vibrant, diverse and mixed-use town centres, including bringing in more homes and making better use of empty properties. We want our high streets to thrive and play a strong role in local economies for the future.

Thank you for that response, First Minister. Bangor Conwy Môn is home to a number of high streets that were once focal points of economic growth and activity, but years of austerity under the Conservatives and a lack of sensible strategy from the previous Welsh Government have meant that many of them are now in decline. Bangor, for example, is a university city that once had one of the busiest high streets in Wales, but we now see far too many businesses closing their doors and the potential for a modern high street being lost. I have every confidence that this Government will set about reviving our high streets with innovative solutions, a credible strategy and genuine support to enable independent businesses to thrive. Will the First Minister therefore outline how the Welsh Government will encourage partnership working to develop and implement an ambitious regeneration scheme for high streets in places like Bangor, by focusing on attracting vital investment and ensuring a vibrant future for the high street?

I know what's happened to Bangor High Street because Bangor High Street was my high street when I was growing up and, yes, it is disappointing for people of my age, who remember the vibrancy in years gone by, to see how little vibrancy is felt there now. But I do still see potential. I see a proud city that is ready to see its high street regenerated. The key word for me in the question was 'partnership'. There is a key partnership: businesses in Bangor—there are people in business in Bangor who really do want to see progress made; there is a university in Bangor that I want to see playing a key role as a partner; and the council, I know, is very eager to make progress. We need to draw those partners together, that's what's important, and I think that the town centre taskforce will be the ideal way of starting that process of bringing necessary people together in order to ensure that the circumstances are created to make progress, on top of the steps that I've already mentioned, such as looking again at business rates.

First Minister, Plaid Cymru's manifesto promised business rates reform to support local high streets and independent businesses. No-one expects reform overnight, but businesses do expect a Government with a plan. Can you tell us today when that plan will be published and when businesses will start to see the benefit? Diolch.

We're very, very keen to move ahead with urgency on this. That's why we included within our first 100 days plan the establishment of the town centre taskforce. That is happening, and a big part of the work of that taskforce is then to look at how we can review business rates. Partly it was done under the last administration, in the late days of that administration. We want to see how much further we can go to help businesses on our high streets, and we'll move ahead with urgency.

I'll certainly be watching to make sure that we see those improvements to our high streets, because that question that you raised, Mair, has been very well rehearsed here over the past number of years.

Now, talking about Bangor High Street, in 2023 there were 42 empty shops. In 2025, £2.25 million was invested to revitalise Bangor High Street. And, in May 2026, we saw another 5 per cent decrease in high-street footfall. There are people in the private sector, First Minister, who are doing their very best now to regenerate High Street, and I'll mention him here now, Nick Pritchard, a businessman who is investing in Bangor High Street and working really hard.

One of the things that we promised the electorate before the last election, and we stand by it, is that we would abolish business rates for small businesses. You were part of a Welsh Government, previously, that actually supported the withdrawal of the rate relief and the formula for business rates. Now that you've got your hands on those levers, will you now look again at reviewing and perhaps abolishing small business rates for our high streets? Diolch.

The Member must be mistaken. I have never been in Welsh Government before, but I reiterate my determination to press ahead with that reform of business rates, as we have said many times.

Road infrastructure investment continues across Gŵyr Abertawe, including progress on the M4 junctions 45 to 46 improvements as part of our asset renewal programme. Our recent budget agreement secured an additional £8.6 million for Swansea, increasing its year-on-year uplift from 3.4 per cent to 5.2 per cent on a like-for-like basis. Across the south-west Wales region, £24.7 million is being invested in transport schemes in 2026-27, supporting delivery improvements to connectivity.

Thank you, First Minister. I would like to raise the appalling conditions of many of our roads across my constituency in Gower and Swansea West. From Mumbles to Morriston, local residents have been suffering the consequences of the hopelessly inadequate roads and the enormous volume of potholes. I'm pretty sure all of us have hit one recently and are paying the price on our suspension. Unfortunately, Swansea Labour council have taken their eyes off the ball. Their current obsession with a costly zip wire project means they've taken their eyes off our roads and into the skies. When the Welsh Government makes its funding allocations, what steps will the First Minister and the Minister for local government be taking to ensure that local councils spend taxpayers' money on essential infrastructure, such as our roads?

The words 'pot' and 'holes' have already been mentioned by my Cabinet Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy, the Member will be pleased to hear, because the quality of our roads is very important. There is no single pot, of course, of road funding. The Welsh Government is responsible for the strategic road network. Specific regional transport schemes that I mentioned in my initial response are something separate again, fuelled through grant funding. Local authority spending of the kind the Member mentioned is unhypothecated. The Welsh Government isn't able to influence that. We were able to influence, through a recent budget deal, the overall package of funding given to local authorities, but decisions on spending within that envelope are ones for local authorities themselves. I would make the case, of course, that capital spend from the UK Government is worrying when we look ahead to the remainder of this Senedd term.

I congratulate Swansea Council on the work being done on resurfacing roads in Swansea. Climate change is leading to flooding and potholes. Following water penetration on roads, the water freezes, which causes the surface to break up, causing potholes. Not believing in climate change does not stop the potholes coming. Previously, the Labour Government provided revenue support for local government borrowing in order to support road maintenance and building new roads, because councils have borrowing powers the Welsh Government does not have. Will the current Government continue this support during this Senedd term?

I'm grateful to the Member for his question. I think the key thing here is that I agree with him on the climate change impact on roads. We have to recognise that our assets and infrastructure as a nation are under increasing strain because of climate change. It's something that will guide us when we make decisions in future years on infrastructure spend.

We're committed to introducing and embedding a trauma-informed and person-centred approach to tackling youth homelessness across Wales and within the Member's constituency of Caerdydd Ffynnon Taf. We will ensure that new homelessness legislation is implemented effectively and kept under review. We'll also continue to invest in prevention and support services, including early identification and support for young people at risk of homelessness.

Many young people in Cardiff are facing impossible housing situations. Some are sleeping in temporary accommodation, sofa surfing, or living with constant uncertainty about where they'll stay next. We often talk about housing as a policy issue, but for these young people, it's about safety, education, mental health, and laying stable foundations for their futures. In 2024-25, more than 300 households of young people aged 16 to 24 reached out to their local authority due to homelessness or the risk of homelessness. This figure has remained consistently high over the past five years, though the true scale is likely far higher, as many young people do not identify as homeless, or do not know where to seek the support. When a young person becomes homeless, the consequences can last a lifetime. Charities and local services are working hard, but many are under immense pressure, and demand continues to grow. Can the Welsh Government outline its plans to tackle youth homelessness at its root and give young people in our capital city the confidence that they won't be forgotten?

The Member has spoken openly about her own experiences, and, if I may say, she has spoken very powerfully about her own experience. As we're seeing in her few weeks here in the Senedd, no doubt she will be a strong advocate for young people who are either homeless or who face homelessness. We were clear in our manifesto that a warm, secure and affordable home is a basic prerequisite for a healthy, happy life, and that every child and young person should have the best possible start in life. We believe in the right to a home, and I look forward to working with the Member in developing policy around which we will make sure that those words are put into practice for the sake of all our young people.

Homelessness is an issue that impacts people of all ages and backgrounds, and I do think there is scope to work positively across parties in this Senedd to tackle it. I'd like to raise specifically veteran homelessness. I know you will agree we all owe a debt to our veterans, and I know a great number of my constituents believe it is intolerable that people who have served our country are potentially sleeping on the streets of our capital. And I say 'potentially' because, at the moment, we have no regularly collected data on veteran homelessness by local authorities in Wales. Will the First Minister consider working with his colleagues here and in local councils to look at putting in place robust data gathering and reporting of veteran homelessness in Caerdydd Ffynnon Taf and, indeed, across Wales? Diolch yn fawr.

Data gathering and data-based policy is something this Government is very eager to explore. I welcome the pledge to work on a cross-party basis on this and other measures on homelessness and veterans. When we have armed forces covenants, we need to make sure that they actually mean something. Making sure that veterans are able to to find a home has to be at the very heart of our pledge to people who have served.

I should say I visited last week Valley Veterans in the Rhondda valley, and enjoyed an hour or so in the company of veterans there, and hopefully was able to show our appreciation to them and to pledge to work with them also, as well as with colleagues in this Chamber, to make sure that we are serious in realising the promises that we make to veterans.

It is an absolute tragedy that anyone in Wales has to experience homelessness, but it is especially damaging to young people who have to live with the stark consequences of poverty for the rest of their lives. As a step towards eradicating homelessness, Welsh Labour pledged to end the use of B&Bs as temporary accommodation for children by the end of this Senedd term. For the sake of our children, our teenagers and for their futures, when will this Government be able to say to people in every single part of Wales that they have reached the same milestone?

I'm grateful for the question. We in this Government have tried to show our real determination to make a gear change in housing policy. That absolutely includes building on our commitment to expand housing first approaches to tackle homelessness. We will explore how these models could be applied more fully within youth services in particular. In the private rental sector, where many of our young people are housed, of course, I intend to bring forward legislation in this Senedd term to improve housing affordability, strengthen the enforcement framework to tackle poor landlord behaviour, and improve protections for tenants. That will be done in close consultation with the private rented sector, as well as the wider housing sector, and my Cabinet Minister is getting down to that work already.

It is essential for tenants in Wales to get the protections they deserve. Too many renters face rising costs, insecurity and poor housing conditions. The Government could take immediate steps to ease youth homelessness by banning no-fault evictions. The Wales Green Party supports the housing campaigners ACORN in their position that no-fault evictions are unacceptable, and that the knock-on implications of spiralling rents, including the displacement of young people and homelessness, should now be treated as a national emergency. No-fault evictions are already banned in England, yet tenants here live with the ongoing anxiety of losing their home without reason because they have a Welsh postcode. In your manifesto, you promised to protect renters. What is the Government’s plan to move at pace to end no-fault evictions and stop rents escalating through bidding wars?

The Member showed during the recent election campaign that this was a priority area of his, and I hope he sees that it's something we are very keen to move forward on quickly, and to work in partnership with him also. Fair rent is at the core of our housing policy. Alongside that are the protections that we need to put in place. It is the truth now that we are lagging behind England when it comes to protection for renters, and that's something that we will move at pace to put right.

Wales will need significant investment in our energy infrastructure to meet growing needs from industry, businesses and homes across Wales. Our national energy strategy will set out how Wales will meet our energy needs in a sustainable way that benefits people and communities, and minimises negative impacts. We will work to secure the full benefits for Welsh communities from energy projects.

Across Carmarthenshire, from Pumsaint to Bynea, from Ferryside to the Tywi valley, people are angry, First Minister. They see their countryside being industrialised with massive wind turbines, huge solar sites, substations, and miles and miles of pylons. There's concrete, disruption and destruction on their productive farmland. What angers them most, First Minister, is that, during the campaign, Plaid Cymru stood with these communities, nodding along to their concerns, offering warm words and so-called alternatives, but now they're in Government, those same communities feel completely abandoned. So let me ask you directly: was this just lip service to get elected? Are rural communities in Carmarthenshire now simply being told they must sacrifice their land, their farming, their tourism, their way of life to satisfy your ideological obsession with net zero, no matter what the cost? Why would anyone trust Plaid Cymru again when it says one thing on the doorstep and does the exact opposite in Government? Diolch.

Well, he's consistent. This is a Government that genuinely understands the need to have an approach to energy that recognises the role that communities play and the protections that communities want and deserve. The Member says, 'Don't have any developments'—perhaps not surprising, given the climate change-denying views within his party. I say let's recognise the need for all of us to fulfil our environmental obligations, and the need for all of us surely to try to reap the economic benefits from renewables projects. But let's also recognise the necessity to look at the community: community ownership, community profit sharing, a wealth fund for the nation, the design mitigation that can go into allowing projects to go ahead in sympathy with and with the support of communities. That is a difference of principle between the Member and myself.

We are working quickly to develop regulations under the Building Safety (Wales) Act 2026 to introduce leaseholder protections. Until now, that protection has been available in England, but not in Wales. As we approach the ninth anniversary of the Grenfell Tower tragedy this Sunday, I can confirm that this Government will take all appropriate actions to ensure that signatories to the Welsh Government's developer contract deliver on their commitments under the agreement.

Diolch, First Minister, for your answer. Residents of Victoria Wharf in Cardiff were sold dream homes, yet due to serious building defects and fire safety failures, including cladding issues, many now face uncertainty and risk, unaffordable and extortionate service charges, insurance costs and ongoing safety concerns. My constituents in Victoria Wharf are living day to day feeling unsafe in their own homes and are dedicating their time to battling developers and having to campaign to be heard and live in safety. I welcome the fact that our Cabinet Minister for housing, in her previous role, consistently raised these issues and secured commitments in our manifesto to building safety. You've already outlined some of the points, but could the First Minister please outline what further action this new Welsh Government can consider to accelerate remediation at sites like Victoria Wharf, and will you look to ensure that developers responsible for unsafe buildings are prevented from securing public contracts until all these necessary works are completed? Diolch.

As we approach, as I say, the ninth anniversary of the terrible, terrible Grenfell Tower tragedy, we reflect on the fact that, for nine years, people have lived in fear of whether it might be them, and with the real anxiety of being a leaseholder and the impact that that has. Today my thoughts are very much with the thousands of leaseholders in Wales who continue to worry and suffer in the wake of that tragedy.

I think people deserve now to see action. We've had too much dragging of feet. As I say, I'm pleased that all signatories to the contract have said that they will have work started at every development in Wales by the end of this year. We are working quickly to introduce, though, regulations under the Building Safety (Wales) Act to ensure that leaseholders in Wales have the protection afforded by remediation orders and remediation contribution orders. Those are only available in England so far, and I can confirm that the Welsh Government will start the process of consultation on these regulations in the coming weeks.

I'd like to thank the Member for submitting today's question. For years, people have been trapped in unsafe homes, unable to sell, unable to remortgage, living with soaring insurance premiums and, in their own words, fighting for their lives. Let's be clear why this fiasco is still going on: despite the human cost and despite the superhuman efforts of campaigners to secure justice, at every turn, the previous Labour Government met them with warm words and no action. Developers were given voluntary pacts with no teeth, they missed their own targets and faced absolutely no consequences. Four years after those pacts were signed, only four affected buildings are fully remediated, of a total of 161. Labour were happy to send money overseas to fund vanity projects while leaseholders were bankrupted. First Minister, will you commit today to legally binding remediation deadlines, real sanctions for developers who miss them, and finally give the people of Victoria Wharf and across Wales the justice that Labour denied them for over a decade?

The Member is right that warm words aren't enough anymore. I'm well aware that leaseholders need more than thoughts and warm words and the like. They're desperate for action, and this Government, as I say, will do everything in our power to ensure that those who have signed the developer contract deliver on their commitments. I want to be as clear as I can that this Government does expect developers to prioritise the needs of leaseholders and ensure they are remediating all their buildings as quickly as possible, and, in further assurance, we will be actively considering appropriate enforcement action where signatories to the contract are failing to deliver.

Thank you, First Minister. I want to add my voice to the cross-party chorus on this matter. I appreciate the comments of my colleague in raising this point.

It is clear there is cross-party consensus on this issue. Wales has passed very strong legislation going beyond just cladding, but also taking in fire safety. The issue, I think we can all acknowledge, is one of urgency. Now, there are practical challenges to delivering some of the remediation, so my question, in part, is how will the Welsh Government take action to support and overcome some of those practical issues, for example skills within the sector to carry out some of the remediation work, but more specifically, and it echoes the question of both Kiera and Joe, how, First Minister, will your Government hold these companies to account if they continue to prevaricate?

I met with an owner-occupier in a different block in Caerdydd Penarth last week. They are suffering real mental anguish as a result of this crisis—a crisis not of their own making. We all owe it to them to act together to resolve this issue. Thank you.

The Member, of course, represents a constituency in Cardiff and is a former leader of Cardiff Council, where many of these buildings are, of course, so I understand his involvement in this issue.

As I say, what we have now is that legislation that is very, very fresh, but now does allow us to move forward. I've mentioned our willingness to consider enforcement action where steps aren't being taken. But building on that legislation in particular, as I say, the key thing is that now we start immediately, without further delay, on the consultation on these regulations in coming weeks, so that we are ready, actually, then, to act after years of talk.

Planning is the cornerstone to ensure that the right type of development happens in the most sustainable locations, delivering real benefits for our communities. Community engagement is an essential part of the planning process. I am considering how our policies and guidance can be strengthened to enhance effective and meaningful community engagement.

The First Minister will be aware of the situation in Wrexham regarding the local development plan, which was withdrawn by the previous Welsh Government due to a successful court case brought by Wrexham councillors. The thrust of objections to that plan were based on the rigid approach taken by the previous Labour Government who were aggressive in their response to concerns raised by councillors, specifically around outdated housing numbers based on inaccurate population projections, and there were also concerns regarding the low level of affordable housing in the plan, which did not align with 'Future Wales: the National Plan 2040'.

Can the First Minister outline what steps a new Plaid Cymru Government will take to ensure that local development plans can be amended in response to real-time changes in local housing needs, and that the new Welsh Government will work in the spirit of co-operation with local authorities to ensure that local plans work for our communities?

Co-operation with local authorities is key, and can I congratulate the Member for the stand that she took on behalf of constituents that she represents in Wrexham?

I have asked officials to identify options to increase community engagement in LDP preparation and planning decisions, and by definition, that has to include local authorities too. And when preparing a local development plan, local planning authorities have to stick to the national planning policy as set out in 'Future Wales' and 'Planning Policy Wales', but remember, both of those can be updated regularly to reflect Government priorities. We will revisit those, and I am currently considering the merits of whether those changes can be beneficial, but partnership is key in finding a way forward.

First Minister, constituents affected by the proposed pylons tell me they feel ignored and excluded from the decision-making process. Will you commit today to meeting with those residents, listening to their concerns and ensuring that their voices are properly heard before any further decisions are taken?

There are plenty of opportunities, of course, which is important for campaigners to meet their representatives, and it's only right. But I come back to the point that I made at the beginning of an earlier answer: this is a Government that recognises the importance of listening to communities; it has to be at the core of decisions when they are made, whether that's in relation to housing or whether it's in relation to energy projects and so on. And that community approach is, if you like, a core value of the way this Government wants to work.

Question 9 [OQ64088] is withdrawn. Question 10, Cristiana Emsley.

I recognise the importance of workers being able to raise concerns without detriment. Within our devolved responsibilities, the code of practice on ethical employment in supply chains expects publicly funded organisations to have clear whistleblowing arrangements in place. While employment rights, including statutory whistleblowing protections, are reserved, we encourage workers to seek advice from the Advisory Conciliation and Arbitration Service and consider joining a trade union to ensure their rights are understood and supported.

The First Minister says that he supports whistleblower protections. If that is the case, what objection could there possibly be to allowing NHS whistleblowers to make protected disclosures to willing Members of the Senedd, who are democratically accountable and are often the last resort when official channels have failed? Will he support that change, yes or no?

I invite the Member to write if there's a specific issue that she would wish to discuss. I can only speak in general terms. We want workers, whether that's in health or any other part of public service, to feel confident to raise concerns without fear. We will continue to use our levers, influence and leadership to support that aim in any way we can.

We will support Aneurin Bevan University Local Health Board to improve outcomes for people needing emergency care by strengthening urgent, primary, community and social care. This whole-system approach will improve patient flow, support people with escalating needs closer to home and help avoid unnecessary admissions. NHS Performance and Improvement is already working with the health board to support delivery of its plan.

Thank you for that answer. First Minister, your Deputy Minister for social care is recorded as saying that she's long campaigned for Ysbyty Ystrad Fawr to be made a general hospital. One of your backbenchers is on record as having stated it must be a doctor-led A&E in Caerphilly. Given the support your party's giving for an upgrade in the services, when can my constituents expect that upgrade, and will he now commit to it fully today?

I don't think it's a structural change of that kind that will deliver the improvements that the people of the old county of Gwent wish to see in terms of delivery of emergency care. We recognise the performance at the Grange emergency department, for example, remains under sustained pressure, reflecting wider system challenges across urgent and emergency care. That hospital plays a critical role for the Gwent population, and we are committed to supporting Aneurin Bevan University Health Board to deliver timely, safe care at that crucial accident and emergency department serving that part of Wales.

And finally, First Minister, question 12, Jane Dodds.

Here I am again. Thank you very much, Llywydd. 

Good afternoon, again, Prif Weinidog. To get to question 12, that is a real achievement. Diolch yn fawr iawn.

The priorities for childcare are clear. This Government will introduce a transformational universal childcare offer, which, at full roll-out, will be the most generous childcare offer in the UK. While the lack of action by previous administrations has meant that families in Wales pay some of the highest childcare costs in the UK, our offer will help families with the cost of living and give children the best start by accessing high-quality early years provision.

Diolch yn fawr iawn. First Minister, I warmly welcome your ambition on childcare. The contrast with Reform, who offered nothing on this issue, could not be clearer. Wales has the least generous childcare offer in the UK, despite having the lowest wages and highest child poverty in any UK nation. That's why a truly universal system, one that fills the gaps our current confused and fragmented offer leaves behind, is absolutely essential. We know that 75 per cent of children in poverty living in Wales now live in working households. A mother on a low wage with a child under two can spend nearly 60 per cent of her earnings on childcare. A universal offer not deliberately designed to reach the most disadvantaged risks bypassing the very families that it should serve. Therefore, Prif Weinidog, could you outline your plans and your party's plans going forward for this very welcome universal free childcare offer? Diolch yn fawr iawn.

The childcare offer that we put forward at the recent election was there for a number of different reasons. One is to give children a good start in life. It's to help parents get back to work and help the economy in that way. But I welcome the fact that the Member referred to the child poverty element of this too. With so many children living in poverty, we have to look at this as a measure that can give real support to families.

We will very soon be establishing our expert steering group. Work on that is being completed now, and a childcare taskforce in the Welsh civil service to firmly establish the phased delivery of the new offer, with workforce planning, improving access and streamlining application as clear priorities. I'm glad, again today, to hear the support for that principle from the Member.

Thank you very much, First Minister and Senedd Members too.

We now move to the business statement and announcement. I call on the Trefnydd, Heledd Fychan. 

Thank you very much, Llywydd. Since the last Plenary meeting, one addition has been made to today's agenda. Later this afternoon, the Deputy Minister for Transport will make a statement on key infrastructure resilience. Draft Plenary business for the next three weeks is shown on the business statement, which is available to every Member electronically.

Given that suicide rates in Wales remain high, and that men account for more suicide deaths, will the Welsh Government provide the Senedd with an update of its suicide prevention strategy and what further action is it taking to reduce male suicide rates, because this is something I believe we could work on across the Chamber to achieve?

Certainly. May I thank the Member for raising such an important issue, and, as you have said, quite rightly, a cross-party issue that we need to work together on? The Cabinet Minister and the relevant Deputy Ministers are here, and I'm sure that they would be very pleased to bring a statement forward, be that a written or oral statement. I will discuss that with them. But, certainly, there was a commitment in the sixth Senedd to work on a cross-party basis; I hope we will see the same commitment in this seventh Senedd. 

I'm a graduate of Swansea University, and, like all other local Senedd Members, including yourself, am on the university court. I'm asking for an urgent Government statement on the planned redundancies in the computing department of Swansea University. If we are to improve our economy and productivity, we need to support university computing departments. Will the Welsh Government meet with the vice-chancellor of Swansea University and offer support for computing at the university and find a way forward so that we can benefit from the really good work being done there? 

Well, thank you very much to the Member for that question. I would recommend that you write to the Cabinet Minister outlining your concerns, and you will, I'm sure, receive a response through the appropriate channels. 

Trefnydd, I'd be grateful if we could have a statement from the Cabinet Minister for Health and Care regarding the delivery of services in mid and west Wales. Now, last week, my co-Ceredigion Penfro Member Anna Nicholl raised the centralisation of services from Withybush and Bronglais hospitals and asked for a statement on equal access to health services in rural Wales. Now, in response, you said that the local health board is responsible for planning and providing local services, and, whilst that's true, it's also true that the Welsh Government is responsible for the oversight of the NHS and sets the direction of travel, and, if it wanted to, it could intervene to safeguard services.

Now, during the election campaign, Plaid Cymru highlighted an online petition calling for the Welsh Government to intervene and save services, and it also supported the calls for a stroke unit at Bronglais Hospital. And yet, in a response to a written question to me on this matter, the Cabinet Minister has passed the buck back to the local health board. Therefore, given the lack of clarity on this specific issue, I'd be grateful if we could have a clear statement from the Cabinet Minister for Health and Care so that the people of Ceredigion Penfro can understand whether the Welsh Government will intervene to safeguard essential services at Withybush and Bronglais hospitals.

Thank you very much for that question. Certainly, you will have been here for the Cabinet Minister for health's priorities statement last week, where he was clear in terms of his expectations in terms of performance and the availability of treatment across Wales, be that in rural Wales or urban Wales. I would encourage you to continue to engage with the Cabinet Minister. There will be other opportunities to question the Cabinet Minister here. But, as you saw last week, there has already been a statement as to the Minister's priorities and that willingness to work across Wales to find the solutions that we all want.

Good afternoon, Trefnydd. I'd like to request a statement from the Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability on the urgent need for a nationally televised emergency briefing on climate and nature. In November 2025, 10 of the UK's foremost independent experts gathered together to set out the full and alarming scale of the climate and nature crisis facing us. The evidence is unambiguous. Wales, the UK and the world are facing accelerating threats to our food security, health, infrastructure, economy and national security.

Over 100 MPs have already signed a cross-party parliamentary call for a prime-time televised briefing delivered by those independent experts, and I've tabled a statement of opinion to this effect this week as well. So, I'd like to just ask the Welsh Government: would you consider calling for a prime-time televised viewing of this emergency national briefing? Diolch yn fawr iawn.

Thank you. May I thank the Member for raising this point? I saw the people's emergency briefing before the election and I was frightened by that personally. Certainly, I would encourage every Member, if you haven't watched it yet, to do so, because there are important lessons for everyone here in Wales, but also internationally too, with regard to the impact of climate change but also the opportunities that there are there for us to respond. Certainly, in terms of the responsibilities, I as Cabinet Member have responsibility for broadcasting. Clearly, we can't tell broadcasters what to broadcast, but what we can do through the work that the relevant Cabinet Minister will be doing is to ensure that we do engage, that we see action. I think that there's a role for all of us to be sharing the link to this important film and to encourage everyone to be involved and to understand what the real challenges are that we face here in Wales.

Trefnydd, I'd like to request a written statement from the Cabinet Minister for Health and Care regarding the ongoing industrial action being taken by health visitors within Cwm Taf Morganwg University Health Board. I won't rehearse the full background of the dispute today as I know that the Welsh Government is acutely aware of both the circumstances that have led to this dispute and the current position. I'm receiving frequent messages from health visitors in my constituency who are desperate to return to work. They urgently want this dispute resolved, and the prospect of having to re-ballot would be deeply regrettable. I appreciate that the Cabinet Minister is dealing with an array of pressing priorities, especially so during the establishment of a new Government. However, this is a matter that, it seems to me, could be easily resolved. We have been informed that the health board has indicated during ACAS meetings that this is not a financial issue; the funding is there to resolve this. It is difficult to understand, therefore, what is preventing a resolution. Can the Cabinet Minister provide an update on the matter, as we seek to ensure a resolution as soon as possible to this dispute? Diolch yn fawr.

I thank the Member for raising this question. Llywydd, I think it's important that I also declare an interest as this is an issue that impacts constituents of mine and I am on the record raising concerns during the sixth Senedd on this issue, and also am raising the issue on behalf of constituents currently with the Cabinet Minister as a constituency Member.

You will be aware that the Cabinet Minister has met the chair of the Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board already, and has set out his clear expectations that the job evaluation process should be honoured. He outlined this on the record last week. I'm very pleased that the Cabinet Minister is here this afternoon. I'm also aware that you have written to the Cabinet Minister, and, certainly, we would be very eager as a Government to continue to collaborate with relevant elected Members, but also with the health board and the union, in order to ensure that there is a resolution to this and that we can see the service recommenced. But, certainly, the Minister is here and will have heard your comments this afternoon.

I would like to request a joint statement from the Ministers with responsibilities over energy and rural affairs on what urgent steps the Welsh Government is taking to protect rural Wales from large solar farms. My constituents in Clwyd have raised with me their concerns regarding a planning application to turn 186 hectares of farmland into a solar farm. My residents have made it clear to me that this land should be retained for farming and that solar should be placed on top of factories, car parks and buildings, not fields. I understand that you cannot comment on individual sites but my residents in Clwyd, and people across Wales, will be interested to know what steps the Welsh Government will take to prevent the loss of hundreds of acres of farmland to solar farms.

I thank the Member for the question. I'm sure, Llywydd, that the Member will have heard the response of the First Minister earlier today, and will also have noted the statement made by the Cabinet Minister last week. We would encourage any Member here that has concerns about specific developments to engage through the usual channels, and that's by writing to the relevant Cabinet Minister. That is what I would encourage you to do as well in this case.

It's estimated that there are over 20,000 unpaid carers in my constituency, and, last week, I met with the chair of Newport Carers' Forum. The forum are currently focusing on supporting carers with contingency planning. Through no fault of their own, far too many carers have no plans in place for if and when they are unable to provide care. So, these pressures were recognised by the previous Senedd Health and Social Care Committee in their 'At breaking point' report. The report warned that unpaid carers are being pushed to the brink by a system that repeatedly fails to recognise, support or uphold their basic legal rights. Trefnydd, can you commit to the Welsh Government providing a statement in response to the 'At breaking point' report?

I thank the Member for that important question. And it is, of course, Carers Week, and I think I speak on behalf of all of us in expressing the value of carers and the important role that unpaid carers particularly play, and the substantial savings that they bring to the health service because of their commitment—over £10 billion in savings per annum. But, clearly, the strain on those individuals is huge and is something that has been recognised by us when we were in opposition, but also in our manifesto. The fact that there are at least 300,000 unpaid carers here in Wales is an exceptionally high figure and it is something that we have been reflecting on. We do appreciate the impact this is having, and the fact that the Cabinet Minister for Health and Care is here—. We do have clear commitments in terms of how we can improve that support. But, certainly, we would want to build on the work that has been done previously. This continues to be an important issue.

Trefnydd, can I call for a statement from the Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability on Welsh recycling rates? Obviously, one of the things that we're all delighted by is the fact that Welsh residents are amongst the best recyclers in the world. But one of the challenges that many people who want to recycle are facing is charges by some local authorities for replacement containers when their containers might blow away or their bags might blow away or just through general wear and tear. That clearly is undermining the efforts of residents in Wales to recycle, and I do think we need a nationwide approach. If some local authorities can provide them for free, then all local authorities should be able to provide them for free.

Can I also request a statement from the Cabinet Minister for Health and Care to provide an update on the action that he intends to take to resolve the crisis in the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board? It is going into its eleventh year in special measures. It's the longest period of any NHS organisation in the whole of the history of the NHS across the whole of the United Kingdom. It's not good enough. We desperately need change. And I want to know what the Welsh Government is intending to do in order to drive that change forward.

May I thank the Member for those two questions? In terms of the first issue, clearly, there is an opportunity. I'm pleased that the Cabinet Minister is here to hear your question. I'm sure that he'll be eager to understand some of the challenges that are being faced. The recycling targets are ones where Wales has been in the vanguard, but there's always room for improvement. And clearly, there are problems in terms of illegal fly-tipping and so on. So, there'll certainly be an opportunity to ask further questions of the Minister tomorrow in the Senedd, and I would encourage Members to take that opportunity.

In terms of the second point, clearly, Betsi Cadwaladr is a topic that, deservingly, has been the subject of many questions in the Senedd and from Members. The Cabinet Minister was clear last week with regard to his commitment, and has already met the chair and chief executive of the board at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd to make clear to them his expectations in terms of improvements. If you have specific questions that you'd like to discuss further, I would encourage you to write to the Cabinet Minister. But, clearly, this is a matter that does come up consistently, and deservedly so, and it's something that I know that the Cabinet Minister will be very eager to continue to update Members on in the transparent way that we are committed to as a Government.

Trefnydd, can we have a Government statement on the Capita pensions crisis and the impact that it's having on workers and those who have retired in Wales? I know that many people have been impacted by this issue in terms of delays before they get pension payments. That does not include a number of people who've been prevented from retiring because of possible delays or people who can't plan properly because pension statements aren't available. So, a statement would be much appreciated by those affected by this issue.

Thank you very much for raising an issue of huge concern. I'm sure that many of us as Members in our constituencies have received contact from constituents who are very concerned about this. Let's be clear that continuing problems with regard to the civil service pension scheme are unacceptable and members of the civil service pension scheme in Wales deserve a better service. I'm very sorry to hear about the problems that employees across Wales have faced because of events that are beyond our control. I will be asking the relevant Cabinet Minister to give an update to all Members in terms of this.

Trefnydd, can I ask for a statement from the Cabinet Minister for enterprise on the delays to Tata Steel's electric arc furnace? Workers at the site were promised certainty, they were promised a bright green future and that Welsh steel making would be secured. We remember these promises well. Instead, thousands of jobs have disappeared. A few weeks ago, the leader of the opposition and I visited the site and were told that all was well. But, this week, we hear that the electricity grid is not ready and that Port Talbot now faces months more of disruption and delay. Politicians rushed headfirst into net zero without thinking about the consequences or the transition. As usual, the people left paying are the communities up and down this country of ours. The old parties, Labour and the Tories, have failed the workers at Tata. They should be hanging their heads in shame. The Welsh Government must act fast to ensure that jobs at Tata and up and down the supply chain are protected during this disruption. The future of Welsh steel making depends on it. Diolch.

Llywydd, I'm not sure if the Member was here for the First Minister's questions, where this very question was asked, but certainly there was an unambiguous response and a robust response from our First Minister. Certainly, from a Plaid Cymru perspective, we don't need Reform preaching at us about the future in terms of Port Talbot given that we have been trying to get the Government to nationalise and to look at alternative arrangements. The First Minister was clear that the Cabinet Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy and the chief executive of Tata Steel had had discussions yesterday—was it yesterday or was it Monday? Yes, it was yesterday. It's already been a long week. [Laughter.] He was given an assurance that the company continued to be committed to the electric arc furnace project. Tata confirmed that the company had already met with a series of significant milestones in the construction phase and in bringing large components related to the furnace to the site. So, Tata is working with the National Grid and other agencies to promote the process swiftly and safely. We, as a Government, will continue to do everything we can to support this work. As the First Minister also stated, many of these incentives aren't in our hands; we need to work in partnership with the UK Government, and that commitment has already been made here today by the First Minister.

I would like to request two statements, with one being an urgent statement from the Cabinet Minister for Health and Care on the immediate eradication of ending corridor care. We know that, in Ysbyty Glan Clwyd, it is absolutely disgusting what is going on there. We see people treated in corridors, cupboards, in chairs for several days at a time. Thirty-two per cent of these patients are being treated in non-designated clinical spaces. I put an FOI in several months ago and found that, across Ysbyty Glan Clwyd, ysbyty Maelor and Ysbyty Gwynedd, nearly 1,000 people had died whilst waiting in a corridor or waiting on a chair. Recently, one of my constituents died after several hours of waiting there, and somebody just placed a coat over that person. That is unacceptable. It's inhumane. I know you'll probably refer me to, as you did my colleague Paul Davies, that the Minister made a statement of his priorities. I did not hear about the eradication of corridor care in his priorities. If that isn't a priority, what is?

The second statement I would like is on the very delayed—

I'm sorry, Janet, but you've taken too long.

It's gone too long. Trefnydd.

Thank you, Llywydd. First of all, may I say how appalling it is to hear that story? Clearly, that is totally unacceptable, and everyone here would have been shocked to hear that. I'm sure that all of us, through our casework as Members, have come across similar cases where that has also been unacceptable. It's not fair on the patients, it's not fair on the families, it's not fair on the staff in those kinds of circumstances.

I would like to give you an assurance that the Cabinet Minister has referred to this. He did refer to it last week. He's already been discussing this and he is looking at how we can take robust steps on this issue. The Cabinet Minister for Health and Care visited a surgical and diagnostic hub in Neath Port Talbot that is seeing a real impact in terms of patient care. There is a range of things that we are doing to avoid reaching that point of crisis in that way because there should be earlier treatment available before reaching that point. So, certainly, that firm commitment is there from the Cabinet Minister for Health and Care, and he is here and he'll have heard your words.

I know the leader of Reform raised the crisis facing newly qualified midwives at FMQs, but I make no apology for returning to it. When a constituent comes to me in this situation, I have a moral imperative to give this a voice. This constituent has explained that, despite having 2,400 hours of unpaid placement on dangerously understaffed wards, she and her peers are being told, three months from qualifying, to look for work outside the profession because these posts do not exist. She reports that 60 are graduating from Cardiff alone, against 69 midwifery posts in the entirety of Wales. So, I'd like to say this: this is a tragic waste of talent when maternity services are under acute pressure. Will this Government make a statement on this failure in workforce planning and commit to looking at these posts?

Thank you very much to the Member for raising an important issue, an issue that the Cabinet Minister for health has made a number of decisive and clear statements on and also as to how we intend to address those challenges in relation to the workforce. There will be a summit happening very soon, which will have a clear focus on this issue, and I do hope that those commitments have been clear. Clearly, following the summit, the Cabinet Secretary will, of course, update the Senedd.

Minister, can I please request a Government statement about what action is being taken by this administration to repair our crumbling roads? Residents across Wales are understandably fed up with the current state of many of our roads, and potholes are a major problem in my Newport and Islwyn constituency. Only recently, I witnessed a woman using a mobility scooter topple over as she hit a pothole while trying to cross the road. Thankfully, she is okay, but the outcome could have been a lot worse. Potholes are not only posing a danger to motorists but also road users as well. Whilst I have successfully lobbied the local council to repair certain potholes in spots, it is clear that much more work needs to be done. We need to see a much swifter response from councils but also extra funding provided by this Welsh Government to ensure that our roads are fit for purpose. So, an urgent statement from the Deputy Minister for Transport would be most appreciated. Thank you.

May I thank, Llywydd, the Member for raising this issue? Clearly it is a subject that was raised during questions to the First Minister and I would refer the Member to the comments made by the First Minister at that time.

Trefnydd, when I was first elected to this place in 2003, bovine TB was a huge problem for Welsh farmers. In fact, it was one of the most urgent, pressing problems in Welsh agriculture. Fast forward nearly 25 years and it still is. The lack of progress in eradicating TB is one of the abject failures of past Governments here. In Reform, we are clear that we need a comprehensive bovine TB control strategy, we need targeted wildlife control as part of a science-led approach, as the First Minister indicated he agreed with earlier, and we need action. Being from a farming community in Monmouthshire, I have seen grown men and women on their knees crying, livelihoods destroyed because this place has failed to take the tough decisions needed to combat bovine TB. Enough of this dark cloud hanging over our agricultural industry for decades. Trefnydd, can I ask that the Welsh Government brings forward an urgent oral statement to this place, including a timetable of when you will bring forward a bovine TB strategy and the subsequent action needed after it, setting out how exactly it will be different to any previous Labour-Plaid strategy before it? Diolch.

Llywydd, may I thank the Member for raising this issue? I will set out again that this was raised during FMQs and was raised last week. You will certainly be aware that every Cabinet Minister is committed to making a portfolio priorities statement. That's already in the three-week timetable, and there will be an opportunity to question the Cabinet Minister on that range of issues at that time, and, clearly, there are commitments that have been made by the First Minister earlier today.

Finally, Trefnydd, James Evans.

Diolch, Lywydd. Trefnydd, I'd like two statements, please. First, I'd like a written statement from the Cabinet Minister for Health and Care on waiting lists. We've heard a number of weeks in this Chamber now that waiting lists will be eradicated—our longest waits—in a matter of months. I'd like to know how many months that's going to be and how that's going to impact people who are accessing their care in England. So, a written statement actually setting out a timetable would be very useful for me and, I'm sure, for other Members in this Chamber.

I'd also like a second statement, please, from you as the Minister with responsibility for sport. In Powys County Council, the Liberal Democrat administration are doing a review into leisure services. In the past, they've called for closing swimming pools and also closing leisure centres, and that goes, really, contrary to what you have said in the past about the prevention agenda and making sure we've got services closer to people's homes. So, I'd like a statement from the Government about what support you're going to provide for leisure services in our communities.

Thank you very much to the Member for raising those two issues. First of all, in terms of waiting times, the Cabinet Minister for health made a statement last week. We will be giving an update to the Senedd. The work is in train as a matter of urgency, and we will ensure that there are regular updates given to all Members of the Senedd. This Government isn't afraid of scrutiny. We are committed to being transparent and we'll be sharing the information as that work develops.

In terms of the second point, I'm sure that the Member will be pleased to hear that there's an opportunity to ask questions of me, as Minister with responsibility for sport and culture, next week. I will be outlining my initial priorities for these crucially important areas, and I would encourage him, hopefully, to ask me questions next week, when more details will be available.

Thank you, Trefnydd.

We will now move to a statement by the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning: priorities for local government, housing and planning. I call on the Cabinet Minister, Siân Gwenllian.

Thank you, Llywydd, and it's a privilege today for me to set out my priorities for the local government, housing and planning portfolio. A safe, warm home is something that everyone in Wales should have. Home is the foundation for our health and our well-being, our connection to our communities and our ability to learn and to work. Despite this, this most basic of needs is out of reach for thousands of people the length and breadth of Wales.

At the very core of the housing crisis in Wales is a shortage of homes. This leads to rising rents, means that owning a home is unattainable for far too many people, and forces families to live in unsuitable homes or forces them to leave their communities. I'm determined to speed up the process of increasing the supply of social homes over this Senedd term, which will enable us to tackle homelessness, to keep people out of unsuitable temporary accommodation, to make housing more affordable and to give people greater choice over where they live.

By working with local authorities and social landlords, we will support the development of 20,000 new social homes by 2030, ensuring that they are of high quality and are energy efficient. I will work relentlessly with our social landlords and our other key partners to deliver on this target.

We will also establish Unnos, a new national development body that will be an enabler for the increase of social housing supply. Unnos will work in partnership with key partners to speed up the increase in the long-term supply of new social homes.

At present, one in six households in Wales are privately renting. The private rented sector plays an important role in the housing landscape across Wales, with many landlords providing high-quality accommodation and support. But too many people face housing insecurity or live in poor-quality rental accommodation. We will therefore implement a package of measures to protect renters, and we will also progress measures to ensure fair rents are set, so that the price of renting a home is as affordable as possible.

We are facing a housing crisis, which is the result of several overlapping issues: historic matters that have led to an inadequate housing supply, rising house prices and increasing rents. This has left people in poverty or in crisis. My intention is to bring forward proposals to legislate for the right to adequate housing for all. Housing policy in Wales will realise this right progressively, focusing on addressing homelessness, ensuring housing costs better reflect local incomes, supporting community ownership, promoting the Welsh language and culture, and helping young people to remain in their communities.

Too many people in Wales live in homes that are of poor quality and are difficult to heat. The costs of heating and running a home are putting more and more pressure on families, and a quarter of households in Wales now live in fuel poverty. This impacts health and well-being and hinders life chances. I am determined to do everything I can to help households and families across Wales. I will ensure that more work is done to reduce energy bills by promoting improvements in energy efficiency and the quality of homes. I'll protect the support for those experiencing acute fuel poverty, and I will also explore ways to go further and faster to improve living standards, to tackle fuel poverty, and to reduce household carbon emissions. And, in our first 100 days, we will review the Warm Homes programme to ensure that it delivers effective support.

To tackle our housing challenges, we need to make the best use of the housing stock we already have. I am all too aware of how high concentrations of second homes and short-term lets can impact communities, making it more difficult for local people to afford housing, and contributing to community and Welsh language decline. I'm determined to bring renewed focus to this issue, working with local authorities to seek solutions.

Thriving communities are the lifeblood of our nation, therefore I intend to bring forward a community right to buy Bill. This will make it easier for valued community assets, including buildings and land for housing, to be brought into community ownership. I will also be establishing a town centre taskforce within our first 100 days. The taskforce will look at how to develop residential properties in our town centres, for example, so that more people are able to live in our town centres, enabling them to develop into flourishing centres.

And, Llywydd, I'm proud to have played a role in introducing two significant pieces of legislation, namely the Homelessness and Social Housing Allocation (Wales) Act 2026 and the Building Safety (Wales) Act 2026. These were passed by the Senedd with unanimous support, through the work of the previous Cabinet Member, who I was very pleased to collaborate with. As we mark the ninth anniversary of the Grenfell Tower tragedy this weekend, I am committed to working with partners to embrace the transformative opportunities that this specific legislation on building safety offers. It's essential that we have an effective planning system, giving a community-centred approach that protects and strengthens local leadership. To do this, we will take further steps to reform and simplify the planning legislative and policy framework.

With homes being the foundation of well-being and belonging, strong and effective public services are essential to create vibrant, well-connected communities. Therefore, I want to renew and strengthen the relationship between the Welsh Government and local authorities, ensuring that they are full partners in the work of designing and delivering public services. As a former councillor and a former local government cabinet member, I am passionate about public services, and I have first-hand experience of how local authorities, councillors and council staff work tirelessly to deliver the best outcomes for the people and communities they serve. I understand, as do my Cabinet colleagues, the importance of stable and sustainable local government to ensure the delivery of all of our priorities.

We will ensure that our local authorities are in the strongest position possible to provide the services on which all of us depend. In our first 100 days, we have committed to renewing the strategic partnership agreement with local authorities, to establish positive working relationships with local authorities the length and breadth of Wales. We must make sure the way we fund local government is fair across Wales, so that they can respond to the numerous challenges that they face. Therefore, we're already reviewing the local government funding formula to ensure that it reflects the real cost of delivering services in different parts of Wales. We need to reduce bureaucracy and processes, and focus on delivery, making sure that we work together to make the best use of funding, and we need to empower local government to use its core funding better. I want to work with local government to support and enable councils to find their own solutions and by working together towards long-term sustainability, and that's by looking at how things can be done differently, working with them and listening to them to understand what works.

Llywydd, I will conclude. I've used the word 'determined' several times, I've just noticed, but I am determined to turn ambition into action, to deliver the homes that people need, along with the resilient public services that communities rely on. Together, we will build a fairer Wales where everyone has security and opportunity, a roof above their heads, and vibrant communities to live in. Thank you very much.

Thank you, Minister. Francesca O'Brien, please. Thank you.

Diolch. I've listened carefully to the Minister's statement, and I've been listening for signs that this Government understands why Wales is in the housing crisis it is in. I have to say, the devil will be in the finer detail.

The crisis did not happen suddenly; it was built brick by brick—well, not even brick by brick with Welsh Labour, but for 27 years of Welsh Labour Government propped up by Plaid Cymru at every turn. The Home Builders Federation have confirmed the need for 7,400 new homes annually. However, Wales has averaged just 5,300 completions per year over the last five years—a gap of over 2,000 homes every single year, and the trajectory is getting worse, not better.

Between 2024 and 2025, fewer than 4,000 new dwellings were started, with out-of-date local development plans, delays at every stage of the planning process—and for those of us who've been councillors in previous lives, that shouldn't be a surprise—and the growing burden of regulation and policy costs all identified as the primary causes. This isn't just the second lowest completion rate since COVID or the financial crisis; this is the second lowest since records began, more than 50 years ago. The Federation of Master Builders have been sounding the alarm in Wales for years. The Government didn't listen.

So, what is the answer from the Minister's statement? A new national development body. Let us be direct about what that could mean: another quango. If the planning system is so broken that you need a brand-new arm's-length body just to navigate it, then you should fix that broken system first, surely. Until we see the detail on this proposed arm's-length body, I'll reserve judgment. However, let me be clear: this must not become another layer of bureaucracy.

This also goes for your proposed town centre taskforce. We can't afford more hot air and no action because people are waiting for homes. Reform's answer would be to tear up the red tape, allowing local builders to get on with the job, while creating a system that incentivises the planning departments to work proactively, and not reactively without any accountability. We do not need any more taxpayer-funded bodies to wade through a broken system.

I note the Government wants to introduce rent controls, but this Government needs to confront the evidence on rent controls. Every serious economic analysis and the lived experience of Scotland, Ireland and European cities that have tried it say the same thing: price controls reduce supply. They do not make housing more affordable, they make housing more scarce, and the most vulnerable tenants will be paying the price.

I noted the Building Safety (Wales) Act 2026 in your statement. My team and I have already set up a meeting with the Welsh Cladiators, you'll be pleased to know, Minister, and I hope this Government will be proactive in supporting them after nine long years of Welsh Labour ignoring them.

Reform's attitude to local government is clear. We would be pushing for savings wherever we could, including needless duplication. We would advocate for referendums on any council tax rises of 5 per cent and above, making sure local politicians live within their means, putting their vanity projects to one side and focusing on core services. Will the Minister consider this?

The difference between your Government and Reform on housing, planning and local government isn't just about ambition, it is about philosophy. Plaid Cymru believes the answer to the housing crisis is more politicians, more regulation and more bodies to manage the bureaucracy they have created with their ex-partners, Labour. Reform believes the answer is to remove the barriers, re-energise ownership and trust local builders and homebuyers to do what they always do when politicians and red tape get out of the way.

Thank you very much for those questions, or at least those comments. I very much hope that we will be able to find some common ground. I certainly agree with you that there is a housing crisis, and you have listed some statistics there in relation to house building more generally. The crisis, for me, is clearly highlighted in the numbers of people who are in temporary accommodation because they would be facing homelessness if they were not in that temporary accommodation. As we speak today, there are children on their way home from school to spend their evenings in bed-and-breakfast accommodation, in a small room where there are no facilities for cooking, where there is no room to do their homework. That is the reality of the crisis that we are facing.

Since the end of March 2026, there are 10,509 individuals living in temporary accommodation, and 2,267 of those are children, dependent children under the age of 16. We as a nation, we as a country can't put up with that kind of situation, and that's why I have a clear focus on increasing the supply of social housing so that we can move people on from those kinds of situations that no one would want to see anyone experiencing.

That is why there is a specific emphasis on increasing the supply of social housing, and in order to do that we have to drive the agenda forward, and that's why I do think it's important that we establish an arm's-length body, namely Unnos, in order to provide that opportunity for us to work in the long term and for us to look at the necessary funding in order to increase supply, and for us to provide a very clear focus on dealing with some of the issues that you've outlined in planning and so on, which are holding things back at the moment.

That's our solution. That's how we see things progressing. I don't see too many solutions coming from you. You described the situation. If you have specifics that you would want to discuss as solutions, then I'd be more than happy to have those discussions with you. You've mentioned a number of other issues; I'm sure that they will be raised in statements by others and I will respond to them at that time.

Mike Hedges.

Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I'm not actually the spokesperson on this. Jayne Bryant is, so I think perhaps you might want to call Jayne Bryant now and call me later on.

I'm happy to, yes. Thank you. 

Thank you, Mike. Diolch, Deputy Llywydd, and welcome to your role, Cabinet Minister.

Local government is key in making sure front-line services are delivered, and these are services that we rely on day in, day out. The Cabinet Minister says that she wants to renew and strengthen that relationship with local government and the Welsh Government, and I really hope this includes engaging with all local authorities, including those in urban areas, regarding the review of the local government funding formula. The funding formula is based on a complex mix of indicators, and work was ongoing to update some of those indicators. It would be really good to understand whether that work will continue at pace, or whether it will be stopped while there is a review of the funding formula. Also, I know that local authorities would like to know whether the Cabinet Minister expects the funding pot for local authorities to be bigger, or whether the pot will still be the same.

Everyone deserves a place to call home. A warm, secure and affordable home is fundamental to a good life, and the 20,000 new social homes commitment mentioned today is familiar. The Welsh Labour Government invested £2 billion to deliver more than 20,000 homes for rent in the social sector in the last Senedd term. Record levels of delivery combined with record levels of investment helped the sector and the pipeline to be strong. We all know that there was more to do across all tenures, and that's why Welsh Labour committed to deliver 100,000 homes over the next 10 years. The Government has pledged to establish a new national development body and social housing enabler, Unnos. How will the success or failure of Unnos be measured? This is on top of the new-style Welsh Development Agency, and it would be good to know in what way the establishment of quangos cuts bureaucracy and boosts our economy.

The importance of our town centres is something that we should all care about. None of them should be or are the same. I note there was no mention of continuing the Welsh Labour Government's Transforming Towns programme, which boosted regeneration in town and city centres across Wales with more than £300 million since 2020. Also, in terms of the review planned, is it under your responsibility or other Cabinet members' responsibility in terms of having the say over towns more generally, and when will it report?

There was also no mention of the work of the affordable homes taskforce and the implementation group on all those recommendations, which were accepted by Government and by the wider sector. Housing isn’t just about the role of Government. There has to be a team Wales approach to delivering change. So will this Government continue those recommendations?

This Government has, I see, committed to reviewing the Warm Homes programme within the first 100 days in Government. Last year alone, the Welsh Labour Government invested more than £30 million into our enhanced Warm Homes Nest scheme, and we await the detail of the changes this Government will make to the programme, because if there’s no additional funding, we need to know what will be cut.

The Homelessness and Social Housing Allocation (Wales) Act 2026 marked a turning point in how we tackle homelessness here in Wales. The legislation, which I was proud to bring in under the last Welsh Labour Government, gives us a tool to ensure people across Wales access the right support before crisis hits. However, as with any legislation, implementation is key. So, can you, Cabinet Minister, outline how you will ensure that this legislation will actually make a real difference to transform our homelessness system? 

Again, another piece of legislation that went through at the end of the last Senedd term was building safety. I know there's still work to do around the planning and implementation, and I look forward to discussions as that develops. This is absolutely key as part of our response to the Grenfell tragedy. People must feel and be safe in their own homes. 

On your plans on the right to adequate housing—again, this was something that was started in the last Senedd term—Members will be keen to hear what work is to be done ahead of any proposed legislation. I was also glad to see that this Government agrees with the Welsh Labour manifesto commitment to create a community right to buy. Empowering people to keep their special local places for community use is something we should all strive to do, and I know that work on this started under the last Welsh Labour Government. Will this be a year 1 Bill? 

Finally, there was no mention today of support to help get people on the housing ladder. The Welsh Labour Government extended Help to Buy when the Tories closed England's scheme in 2023. How will this Welsh Government help first-time buyers?

Diolch yn fawr iawn, Jayne. Thanks for those. I counted 11 topics there, which is fantastic. I'll try and cover all of them and answer some of the questions already raised earlier on.

You started with the funding formula for local government. Absolutely, we are looking at how the funding formula may need to be reformed. Yes, we are continuing with the work that started in the previous administration, but I'm looking in the round now at whether or not we need to be expanding that to look at the principles underpinning the funding formula. 

You asked about local government finance. We as Plaid Cymru were delighted to have secured a sum of, I think, at the end, £112.8 million extra for local government in this financial year. That has enabled local government to keep the rises in council tax to around 4 per cent in most cases.

On the delivery towards the target of 20,000, I am really pleased that the last Government, working in partnership with the RSLs and with the local authorities, really did manage to push that target forward. You didn't quite make it, but I understand that, by the end of this year, we will have reached 20,000. That is a great place for us to be starting. We are more ambitious in trying to have a target that is for four years rather than five, but there is a pipeline of projects coming through, and I do say 'thank you' for pushing that on during the last Senedd.

On Unnos, I am convinced that we need to have an arm's-length body to accelerate the speed at which we are delivering. We need long-term looking at solutions and long-term planning. Actually, most people in the sector now—in the housing sector and in the housing support sector—recognise that we need to be setting up an arm's-length body so that we can push things forward much quicker than they have been.

On town centres, you mentioned Transforming Towns. The projects that have already been agreed, obviously, are in that, and we'll be looking through the taskforce, which I will be convening, but there are implications for other Cabinet Ministers as well, in particular around reform of small business rates—. We will be getting the taskforce together, and I will be making an announcement on that within the 100 days. On the affordable homes taskforce, which Lee Waters did really useful work on for us, we will be looking at those recommendations as part of our drive to speed up the delivery of social homes.

On the Warm Homes programme, I've actually got a meeting tomorrow with the UK Government Minister—Martin McCluskey, I think it is—to discuss the Warm Homes programme that's already been announced in England by Ed Miliband. We haven't had much detail around that, so I'm really anxious to understand what exactly the Westminster Government are intending to do and what we can, hopefully, have coming towards Wales out of that as well.

I'm probably running out of time now, aren't I, to answer the rest of them. Other people will probably ask the same questions. Diolch.

Thank you for your statement, Minister, and congratulations; I know how passionate you are on the whole housing front, as I worked with you for many months in a previous life. I wish you well, because you're going to try and achieve a huge amount in 100 days, so we hope you get there.

Minister, the Chartered Institute of Housing has declared that Wales is in the middle of a deepening housing emergency. It's vital, then, that this Welsh Government gets to grips with the scale of the challenge. As it stands, one in every 14 households are waiting for a social home, which means that at the current rate, it would take 35 years to meet that demand. Your pledge for a home for all is very much welcome, but, Minister, the previous Welsh Government failed on its 2021 manifesto commitment, as we've heard, to deliver those 20,000 new low-carbon social homes for rent by the end of the Senedd.

You've said today that you will create 20,000 new social homes by 2030. What makes you so sure that you can meet this target when the previous Government failed? We've heard many times in this Chamber that Ministers will work closely with local government and other stakeholders, so it would be nice to know what you're going to do differently this time. Your arm's-length company, Unnos, or whatever it's going to be, is another quango in my mind. I share some concerns that this might just be another talking shop, which is going to push things further down the line. I hope I'm wrong; I hope it will speed up the delivery of social housing.

Turning to housing affordability, whilst I'm sure that we will all agree that more needs to be done to support first-time buyers, I don’t see that there needs to be a long-drawn-out process to reform land transaction tax for young people. We know that it will work—cutting tax for first-time buyers will stimulate housing and enable people to find that home that you said you want to find for all. I wonder if you've given any deeper consideration to how you can review land transaction tax in a meaningful way so that at least first-time buyers can get on that housing ladder.

Being fourth in the pecking order to speak, many things have been talked about, and local government is one that I'm quite keen on, as you will know. You've said that you're already reviewing the local government funding formula. I've heard your answers already and I absolutely welcome that—it's something I've been calling for for 20 years. It needs to happen via an independent review, otherwise how do we know that we're going to get right to the bottom of this? In the past, I've heard this kicked into the long grass so many times because some council leaders don't want it—you know, turkeys don't vote for Christmas and all of that sort of thing. So, how can you guarantee that this will not be kicked into the long grass, that this will deliver the sustainable change going forward? Because if we stay as we are, we know that, under the current system, some will sadly fall over unless we can put this right, and I know you're aware of that, Minister.

Finally, Minister, families in Wales have seen council tax triple in normal terms since 1999, rising faster than the average rates in England. However, at the same time, local authorities are struggling to provide their core services. The previous Welsh Government was far too happy to continually put financial pressure on local authorities by underfunding them, knowing full well that councils would have to hike up council tax to make up for services. The current system, if left as it is, will further put pressure on those councils to deliver the services that they need. So, we strongly need to ensure that local authorities aren't forced into ever-increasing council tax hikes. But where they are needed, they have to conduct referendums, if we are to see increases above 5 per cent. It's something that we campaigned on, and have campaigned on for many years, as it is currently in place in England. This would protect families by ensuring that the Welsh Government could not just continue to get away with expecting local authorities to pick up the financial shortfall from decision making in Cardiff.

So, with just four years to create a sustainable future for local government, Minister, what can the sector expect from your Government, or will it see the same old excuses and blame levelled by previous Governments?

Thank you very much, and thank you for the co-operation that we had when we were members of the same committee during the previous Senedd. I will start at the end, perhaps. So, creating a local government that is resilient and sustainable is crucially important, isn't it, because local government delivers so many of the services that are close to our populations and to the most vulnerable people in our communities. And so it is important that we work together. 

Now, I'm not going to be a Minister who tries to compel or force anything on local government. It has to be a partnership. And so that's why I'm very eager to renew the partnership agreement that has started to develop between local government and the Government in this place. And indeed, I have a meeting very soon with the current leader of the Welsh Local Government Association, and with council leaders across Wales, to discuss exactly this issue.

In terms of the local government formula, yes, we are looking at it in earnest. But, of course, as you say, some will lose out and some will gain out of any changes within that far too limited a pot that local government currently has. But, I think, if we can make the case, with clear evidence of unfairness, well, there you go—there will, I'm sure then, be a desire to move towards change in this regard. 

Now, you mentioned finally—. I will mention once again the 20,000 homes, and you asked how we're going to be sure that we're going to deliver this. Well, we are starting from a better position, as I said, thanks to the work of the previous Government. There are homes that are currently in the pipeline, and there are plans for developing more of them. But we do have to find funding methods that are innovative, and there are models out there that we will be looking at. And Unnos will provide that vehicle for us to be looking seriously at the long-term barriers and long-term planning issues, and the need for the funding to be allocated on a long-term basis to deliver on that. 

Wales has some of the oldest housing stock in Europe, leaving many residents in fuel poverty and facing serious health risk from cold and damp. The UK Government's £15 billion Warm Homes programme will benefit England, but creates challenges in Wales. By 2030 all privately rented houses or homes must reach energy performance certificate band C—harder to achieve, given that about 60 per cent currently fall below the standard, alongside a reduced £10,000 annual landlord cap. However, all Welsh retrofitting programmes focus solely on social homes. 

Given these disproportional impacts, what steps is the Cabinet Minister taking to secure full consequential funding from the UK Government to develop a Welsh 10-year neutral Warm Homes programme, to ensure all residents can access warmer and safer homes?

Thank you for those questions, Safa. I'm committed to good-quality social homes, and to protecting the lowest income households with an effective support scheme, including crisis support for people without heating and hot water. But—I talked there about social homes—we need to be raising our ambition across tenures. We have, in our manifesto, made the renewal of Welsh housing stock a national mission, including a commitment in the first 100 days to review the Warm Homes programme and introduce changes to go further and faster on home energy efficiency, to deliver the outcomes we want to see, which are higher living standards, lower fuel poverty and reduced carbon emissions.

In the meantime, of course, there is support available through the Nest scheme—Nyth—for low-income tenants living in energy-inefficient privately rented accommodation. And as I said, I will be meeting the UK Government Minister for Energy Consumers tomorrow, with the Warm Homes plan being the main area for discussion. So, I want to raise the funding gap left by the closure of the energy company obligation, and then to understand exactly what their thinking is around the Warm Homes programme. Diolch.

Jane Dodds.

Thank you very much, Dirprwy Lywydd. Can I make three points, please? First of all, can I welcome you to the chair? Can I welcome you, Siân Gwenllian, to your role? And also, can I once again welcome all members of Government staying here for the statements? It is so important because they are cross-cutting issues and it is important that you, I hope, can listen to the responses to these statements. So, thank you very much for that.

But to go to the subject, you mentioned previously, Cabinet Minister, how homelessness affects children, and I just really wanted to raise that issue and just hear a little bit more from you, if I may. We know that the Children's Commissioner for Wales surveyed 9,000 children, and housing and homelessness was among their top-four priorities. We heard from children about insecure and unsuitable accommodation, lack of adapted or accessible housing for disabled children, poor housing conditions, including damp, mould and overcrowding. I just also wanted to touch base on those children in our care. We know that a quarter of children leaving our care find themselves homeless. So, Cabinet Minister, I wonder if I could ask you what work you're doing specifically to focus on children and the children who are in our care, our responsibility, and how are you going to be listening to their views and experiences? Diolch yn fawr iawn.

Thank you very much, Jane. As you know, the Senedd has passed legislation that is particularly appropriate legislation, I believe, for tackling homelessness, including homelessness amongst children. I am currently creating the action plan to align with that legislation, and, of course, there is that emphasis, of course, on preventing the problems far sooner than them turning into problems, where people end up living in totally inappropriate and unsuitable accommodation. So, that part is crucial, whilst also working with those hugely valuable organisations in the sector that support families before they enter homelessness, but, certainly, helping them out of homelessness, and to ensure that they don't become homeless again. That's a particularly important element, and children are at the heart of that work. I don't think anyone in this room would want us not to be doing our level best to ensure that no children live in totally unacceptable circumstances.

I'd like to welcome the Cabinet Minister to her position. One part of your portfolio is the development of national significance. We've seen in my own constituency the Nant Mithil planning application for large-scale wind turbines—that's had huge local opposition. But we've seen in the past that ideology can overtake actual planning decisions. If we look at Hendy windfarm, for example, Planning and Environment Decisions Wales said 'no', local people said 'no', the local planning department said 'no', but a Welsh Labour Minister approved the planning application, putting ideology ahead of facts. So, I'm just interested, Cabinet Minister, in how you intend to take developments of national significance forward. Will you listen to the advice of local planning authorities, the views of local people and PEDW in your considerations? And will you not go against their planning advice, if it is given to you? Diolch.

Diolch, James. You're quite right to point to the fact that this is in my portfolio, in terms of developments of national significance. I will always look at the evidence, I will listen to advice and I will listen to concerns, but you will understand that we have a policy framework at the moment. We may be considering actively changing some of that policy framework, working with other Ministers. So, absolutely—. But I will absolutely read reports and listen to what communities are saying, but it all has to fit in within the legal framework, obviously.

Mike Hedges, we'll try again.

Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I'm a member of the Co-operative Party. I was very disappointed to see no mention of co-operative housing. Under a housing co-operative tenure, members are co-operative in the collective power to manage the accommodation between them. As decisions are made by the members, the principles of both community ownership and democracy are placed at the very heart of housing co-operative models. There are strong co-operative housing sectors in countries across Europe and North America. In Sweden, two large co-operative organisations provide over 750,000 homes, which is approximately 18 per cent of the total population of the country living in co-operative housing. Wales has made some progress in recent years, with support from Nationwide and Cwmpas, and the Welsh Government, not as much as I would like, and I've raised this previously with previous Ministers. Why does the Minister not believe that co-operative housing is an important tool in increasing housing provision in Wales?

I disagree with your point there. I do think that co-operative housing is an integral part of the solutions to the housing crisis. The portfolio is quite big, and I couldn't cover every single bit of it within my statement today, so you'll forgive me, but absolutely I'll make that commitment to you, Mike. It is co-operative housing, community-led housing and the work that Cwmpas is doing in a lot of our communities, including in rural areas—. There's meaningful work happening. Of course, the commitment to bring in a Bill on the community right to buy can also help co-operatives and community ownership to move along quicker to access assets, buildings, that they want to turn into community-led homes.

Thank you. And finally, Nick Carter. 

Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd. Private renters are under growing pressure, with rents in Wales rising faster than anywhere else in the UK, up nearly 9 per cent in the past year, and even higher in parts of Cardiff. Rent is expected to be around 30 per cent of income, yet only 42 per cent of tenants in Wales now consider it affordable, a figure that has continued to fall each year. At the same time, protections under the previous Government have been among the weakest in the UK, and, as we have heard, Wales remains the only nation still permitting no-fault evictions with no cap on rent bidding. Therefore, I'd like to ask the Cabinet Minister for assurance that progress is under way to strengthen protections for renters and explain how rent reforms will be implemented across Wales. Diolch.

Diolch yn fawr iawn. And, yes, you're quite right, rents in Wales are rising faster than anywhere else in the UK, and we're up nearly 9 per cent, as you said. So, making rents fairer is one of my key priorities. I'm committed to delivering stronger rights and protections in the private rented sector, so tenants are better protected from unfair practices and have greater security, stability and confidence in their homes. So, I do intend to bring forward legislation in this Senedd term to improve housing affordability. I'm actively looking at different measures for fair rents that have been operating in other countries, such as Scotland. They have tried various models, and it's really interesting that we have somewhere that we can go and have a look at what they've done and lessons to be learnt out of that. I'm also considering opportunities to strengthen the enforcement framework, introducing financial penalties along criminal sanctions so that poor landlord behaviour can be addressed at an early stage, ensuring that fines levied can be retained by local authorities to bolster their enforcement approaches, et cetera. There are lots of different protections that we can be bringing in. I don't want to see our renters be disadvantaged as compared to what is happening—and I'm glad it's happening—over the border, but we need to really focus now and make sure that we also have proper protections and fair rents in Wales. Diolch.

Diolch.

Item 4 is a statement by the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Minister for Social Justice and Equality, priorities for social justice and equality. I call on the Cabinet Minister for Social Justice and Equality, Sioned Williams.

Thank you very much, Dirprwy Lywydd. I welcome this opportunity to make this statement, which sets out my priorities as Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Minister for Social Justice and Equality.

Respect, solidarity and fairness—these values have always mattered to the people of Wales. Indeed, we’ve often had to fight for the fairness too often denied us. These are the values the people of Wales voted for in electing a Plaid Cymru Government, and they are now the foundations that underpin our work to reduce poverty, tackle inequality and build fairer, safer and more united communities. In doing so, my focus will be on practical, tangible and evidence-based action.

Wales cannot afford to continue to bear the consequences of such high levels of child poverty, which diminishes quite literally the very future health, well-being and prosperity of our nation. The impact on public services is huge, and the human cost is morally unacceptable. That’s why we've placed reducing poverty and improving life chances for children and families at the core of our work as a Plaid Cymru Welsh Government. 

One of the key tools we will use to tackle poverty and inequality is ensuring childcare is more affordable and accessible, something which consistent and international evidence demonstrates is a critical step. We are already taking forward a new, transformational universal childcare offer that will help families with the cost of living, boost families’ incomes and give all children the best start in life.

At full expansion, our childcare offer will be the most generous in the UK, with every child aged nine months to four years entitled to 20 hours of funded childcare every week, for 48 weeks a year. And for those children aged three and four whose parents are in work, education or training, we will maintain the existing offer of 30 hours of funded childcare per week.

We are actively working with local authorities, providers and partners to complete the roll-out of funded childcare for two-year-olds that was begun but not completed by the previous Welsh Government. And while we are focused on delivering this key phase, we are also planning and testing for the next phases of expansion.

To support this, I am today announcing membership of our new expansion of childcare expert steering group, one of our 100-day commitments. This expert group will be key to delivering the transformational change this Government has promised, and the group’s central mission will be to firmly establish the phased delivery of our childcare offer, with workforce planning, improving access and streamlining application as clear priorities.

As we drive progress towards transformational childcare expansion, Welsh-medium childcare will be an integral part of that ambition in every part of Wales, which will strengthen the early years pathway into Welsh-medium education.

Dirprwy Lywydd, we know that targeted strategic interventions are needed if we are to improve child poverty levels in Wales. These levels are shamefully high ones that have not received enough attention from previous Governments. I will be developing a new child poverty strategy, based on evidence and good practice, which will make it clear how we will deliver change and real results—a fit-for-purpose child poverty strategy that will commit to a more sustainable, targeted investment, focused on measurable, long-term outcomes. This ambitious strategy will set clear targets and milestones to drive ambitious but achievable change.

We are already making progress in preparing for the implementation of Cynnal's pilot scheme, namely the Welsh child payment. There is expert consensus on how a direct payment such as this could make a real difference to children in poverty in Wales, and I'm pleased to take forward the pilot programme in Government. This intervention is based on solid evidence of what works, and, as part of our first 100 days plan, I have commissioned an expert team to lead on the design, delivery, monitoring and evaluation of Cynnal. I'm pleased to confirm today that Steffan Evans, chief executive of the Bevan Foundation, has agreed to co-chair this expert group with me, providing the strong leadership, robust scrutiny and collaborative working needed to take this ambitious work forward.

This Government will also prioritise action to tackle fuel poverty by ensuring effective acute crisis support and taking preventative action by expanding access to energy efficiency schemes. In tackling poverty, we must ensure that every £1 that we spend has the maximum impact and helps to prevent the harm that hardship causes and helps to prevent exacerbation of these harms. Therefore, we will be reviewing Welsh benefits and associated support to this end, and I will be working with local authorities and an expert steering group to ensure that more people have access to what they can claim, thus avoiding unsustainable levels of debt. And in doing so, I would argue in favour of having the tools that we need to create a support system that better reflects the needs of Wales. 

At a time when some are trying to create and deepen division, our vision is to strengthen communities. This includes building community cohesion and support for victims across Wales. I will ensure that recent recommendations from experts on bringing communities together are developed, with a clear focus on practical measures.

And at a time when legal protections that protect the people of Wales from discrimination and injustice are being threatened, and when the rights that make us all equal and equally accountable under the law are being questioned, I will be putting forward proposals to incorporate key United Nations human rights conventions into Welsh law, strengthening the design of devolved services in a rights-based way, ensuring that Welsh Ministers and public bodies are bound by them, making rights clearer and more accessible and ensuring that the people of Wales have proactive protection and meaningful remedies.

Equality must be reflected not only in legislation, but also in the way that people experience fairness and are protected from harm. I'm committed to removing the barriers that many people across Wales still face in their daily lives. We will focus on measurable outcomes in delivering the disability rights plan and the 'Anti-Racist Wales Action Plan', and in the implementation of the British Sign Language (Wales) Act 2026. We will work across all areas of Government to end violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence, through a whole-system and whole-society approach focused on prevention. And as we mark Pride Month, we celebrate the courage and contribution of LGBTQ+ people and our shared commitment to dignity, respect and inclusion. I'm committed to ensuring that trans people feel that they are a valuable part of our communities and that they are protected by law from discrimination and harassment.

We value the important contribution that people from all over the world make to our communities, economy and public services, and we will treat those who are fleeing war and persecution with the compassion and decency that the people of Wales expect.

We are committed to upholding the principles of the armed forces covenant and ensuring fair access to healthcare, housing, employment and education, skills and training for servicepeople living in Wales, veterans and their families.

Dirprwy Lywydd, these priorities set a clear and deliverable course of action that will lead to tangible results across all parts of Wales.

'Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.'

Addressing this simple and powerful truth spoken by Dr Martin Luther King Jr. is at the core of my mission in Government. My priorities are tightly and clearly focused on the pressures people living in Wales face, the support they need and the kind of nation we want to build together. I look forward to working across Government with our many partners from the public, third and private sectors, and with Members across this Senedd, to deliver on that mission for Wales. Diolch yn fawr.

Minister, thank you very much for your statement. I suspect that everyone in this Chamber would agree that reducing child poverty and helping families with the cost of living in Wales are very important objectives.

It's actually a refreshing change to hear Wales being prioritised, given your commitment to overseas spending, such as planting trees in foreign countries and pointless vanity offices in Brussels and Beijing. Every child deserves the best possible start in life, and affordable childcare can play an important role in helping parents into work.

However, having listened carefully to your statement, I was struck by what was missing. You spoke of respect, solidarity and fairness. You spoke of transformational change. You spoke of expert groups, planning, testing and future phases of expansion. But what families across Wales need today is clarity. Your manifesto promised what you describe as the most generous childcare offer anywhere in the United Kingdom. That is a significant commitment. Yet, today, we have heard very little about how much this policy will cost, where the funding will come from or when parents can realistically expect it to be delivered. The Welsh public are entitled to know the answers to those questions. We are all aware of the financial pressures facing Wales. Local authorities are under strain, the NHS remains under enormous pressure, schools are facing difficult budget decisions, businesses continue to struggle with rising costs. Against that backdrop, it's entirely reasonable to ask how a universal childcare offer of this scale will be funded.

Minister, your manifesto was presented to voters as a fully costed programme for government. If that is the case, surely the Government already knows the total cost of this policy, surely it already knows where the money will come from, and surely it already has a road map for delivery. Yet today's statement appears to suggest that many of those details are still being worked through by a newly established expert steering group. 

So, I would be grateful if you could provide some clarity. Can you tell the Senedd today what the estimated total cost of delivering this childcare offer will be? Can you explain which budgets or funding streams will be used to pay for it? And can you set out a clear timetable for delivery so that parents, childcare providers and local authorities know exactly what to expect and when?

Families across Wales don't need another announcement on a working group; they need confidence that the pledges that were made prior to the election will truly be delivered. Thank you very much.

I thank the Member for that response. I am pleased to hear her agree that child poverty needs to be a priority. I have been consistent and clear, and that was reflected once again in my statement of priorities today, why every child in Wales needs to have the best start in life. It is something that isn't just the right thing to do, but the sensible thing to do.

We know, as I mentioned in my statement, that growing up in poverty has an impact on your opportunities and chances throughout your life. It impacts on your health and creates costs, not just the human cost to that child, but also pressures on the health service. It also impacts on how you are able to succeed in education, and of course that then has an impact on your opportunities in the workplace and your future life prospects. And that's why we need to ensure that we place child poverty at the heart of everything we do.

It was interesting to hear you say that you also acknowledge the role of childcare in this regard, because I don't think we even saw a reference to that in the Reform manifesto, so it's good to hear you now acknowledging the importance of that. And if I remember rightly, I remember some Reform candidates mentioning in some hustings that women should just stay at home and look after the children without acknowledging the contribution and equality that—[Interruption.] Llywydd.

Lynne Neagle.

I haven't finished, I'm afraid—

Oh, sorry.

—but I will continue. I was just trying to see whether I could continue, and whether people wanted to listen to my responses, but there we are.

Yes, I will just mention briefly your call with regard to the costings. In terms of the costs, we will be making sure that we develop, through the work of the group that I have announced today, how we are going to look at the development of the costs as we proceed. Of course, we have a plan in place. We now have to work in partnership. This is a huge job of work, but we are confident and we've placed it at the heart of our priorities as a Government. We know that we will be able to afford this within the budget that we have as a Government. The Senedd then will have an opportunity to scrutinise as we make the funding decisions. You'll be able to identify where our priorities are, and you'll be able to scrutinise then how we will be reprioritising funding to pay for this policy.

Can I congratulate the Deputy First Minister on her appointment and welcome her to her post? Every child does deserve the best start in life, and under the last Welsh Labour Government, we rolled out free school lunches for all children in primary schools, serving over 50 million meals. We have continued to invest £150 million per year in the pupil development grant, and we continued to support families through the school essentials grant. And the UK Labour Government, which lifted the two-child benefit cap, will make an immeasurable difference in tackling child poverty here in Wales and across the UK.

We all want to see more money in families' pockets, but we know too that families are keen to know more about Plaid Cymru's plans, and it is now for them to set out the details, and the details have been fairly scant in terms of how those policies are to be funded or some of the timescales around them.

If I can ask, first of all, about the Cynnal payment. Commitments have been made in the media that that would be rolled out as soon as possible, after the first 100 days. The BBC reported that you'd been asked would the payment would start after the first 100 days, and the BBC reported that you had said 'yes'. But now we see that there is to be a steering group, so I wanted to ask if you could update that assessment of the timescale.

I tabled a written question asking what representations you'd made to the UK Government on this issue, because information sharing will be vital where non-devolved benefits are concerned. You didn't answer the written question, but you told me I would receive a substantive response, which I'm waiting for, and I'm sure that I will get in due course, but I would like to ask you whether you have now had the opportunity to talk to the UK Government about accessing data that will be necessary to roll out this payment, because families living in poverty want to know when they are going to receive that money.

There's been some discussion already about your flagship childcare policy, which does come with a very large price tag. I do think there is a lot of anxiety about how this policy is to be funded, and some estimates suggest it could be up to £400 million. Will it, for example, be taken from other programmes to tackle child poverty? I'm very anxious that you may use the consequentials that are coming to Wales for additional learning needs to fund that policy. So, I would like to ask you what initial assessment have you made, given that there is now a steering group in place, about where that money will be coming from. Now that you've appointed a steering group, I'm assuming that you've also had discussions with them about the timescales for their work, and I wondered if you could set out some more detail on that today.

We all know that the first 1,000 days of a child's life are absolutely crucial and can determine their whole life chances going forward. I'm really keen that when we talk about childcare, we're not just thinking about working parents; we're also thinking about a really high-quality offer that is very child focused. So, I wondered if you could say a bit more about how you're going to ensure that what is delivered will be fundamentally child focused. We know that there are lots of issues with school preparedness now, that we've got children who are starting school unable to use language, that we've got children starting school still in nappies. To what extent will tackling some of those school preparedness issues be part of your work? The Flying Start programme isn't just about childcare, as you know. It's got four components: speech and language, enhanced health visiting, parenting support, and childcare. What assurances can you give that the families who need that multifaceted offer will continue to get that support?

And finally, can I say that I welcome the commitment in your statement to a rights-based approach to policy? You've said that you'll look to incorporate key UN conventions in Welsh law. Can I just ask you to clarify that that will include the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child? Because I do believe that we've got more work to do in making sure that our often-stated commitment to children's rights is fully embedded into law.

Diolch yn fawr. Thank you for your response to the statement. We'll start with free school meals. Obviously, I think it was the first couple of debates that I led on when I was first elected into this Senedd. It's something that my party have long campaigned on, together with anti-poverty campaigners. We know what a difference it makes, and we were very pleased, through our co-operation agreement with the last Labour Government, to be able to introduce that. It has made a huge difference. When we saw the cost-of-living crisis peak, how glad we were that that was in place.

Of course, we saw a report by the Bevan Foundation, didn't we, just at the end of the last term, looking forward to this new Senedd. What really took my attention in that report was that many of the measures—and you've outlined some of them—that the last Labour Government took weren't strategic and were come to, like free school meals, as a result of ad hoc agreements with other parties. So, what I'm absolutely putting at the heart of the work that I'll be doing in tackling child poverty is a strategic approach. We had the new child poverty strategy published by the last Government, and there was universal criticism of that strategy, not so much about the things it was doing, but the fact that none of them were measurable, that we didn't have clear milestones and targets to be able to benchmark, as you said, what difference those interventions were making. Many of them are very expensive policies, but as I said, we know that this has a huge return on investment; investing in our children to make sure that the future of our nation is as good as it can be, giving those children every opportunity, levelling that playing field wherever we can, to make sure that everybody in Wales reaches their potential and that their income is never a barrier to good health, to educational attainment or to lifelong prosperity.

On childcare specifically, you will know, as a former Minister and working with your former colleagues, the complexity here, and that's part of the problem with childcare. I remember, I was on the Equality and Social Justice Committee in the last Senedd, and we did two inquiries into childcare, and you will know, as a former Chair of a committee, that it's quite unusual to do two reports on one subject. But such was our interest in the importance of this intervention, in the importance of childcare, as I outlined in my speech, but also as regards the complexity of the current picture.

I always remember an academic witness telling us, 'It's like a football, and there's been different bits stuck onto it, and it no longer rolls.' So, the job of the expert group is to unpick that, because we are not just talking about adding extra funded hours, although of course that is the intention, it's also about transforming the system, improving accessibility and affordability, and streamlining the whole system to make sure that it works more efficiently. Because we already spend an awful lot of money on the childcare offer we have through Flying Start and the childcare offer for three and four-year-olds. What I want to do is increase that, expand it, but also make it easier for families to access, not just in terms of affordability, but also accessibility.

So, this, as I said, is an investment in Wales's future. It will be the most generous system in the UK when it is completed, and we have to phase delivery, for the reasons I've set out, to make sure the workforce and infrastructure are in place. And that work is already progressing with the sector experts, as I've announced today in outlining the crucial role of the expert group to advise and establish that phased expansion and what it will look like. I will bring back updates to the Senedd on the delivery of that phased programme.

We will deliver our manifesto commitments from within the budget that we have. As I said earlier, in response to the earlier question, of course, that budget will reflect our priorities, just like every other Government approaches its budget, and you will be able to scrutinise that budget when it is published. But, as part of that budgetary process, we are carefully now reviewing both the level of funding that is going to be needed for the programme that we have, and how that then, of course, can be targeted most effectively to make sure that every pound has the greatest possible outcome.

I really welcome your question around the UNCRC. I agree. We've got a very proud tradition in Wales of rights-based approaches, but we've seen, haven't we, that the due regard model isn't always sufficient, and I can confirm that the UNCRC will be part of that work as we develop that human rights Wales Bill.

And as regards the benchmarking going into education, I think that is a real concern. We've seen it writ even larger perhaps since COVID as well, haven't we, the school preparedness piece. So, there's absolutely a preventative element to this work, and I will be working closely with the Cabinet Minister for Education and the Welsh Language, and also with the Deputy Minister for Public and Preventative Health, because I think it fits across Government into that piece. So, diolch yn fawr.

I too congratulate you, Deputy First Minister, on your appointments, and look forward to raising questions on behalf of our group.

Social justice and equality must be at the heart of any Government's work. They are not abstract principles. They are about whether people in Wales feel safe, supported and able to live with dignity. Deputy First Minister, you spoke about practical, tangible action, but people will judge this Government not on the language used, but on what actually is delivered. We know that Plaid Cymru's approach is their reliance, and, quite frankly, obsessive calls for further devolution, whether that be justice, welfare or wider constitutional change. But the question people across Wales are asking is very simple: what is being done with the powers already available? The truth is that Welsh Government already has significant levers over housing, education, health and community safety, all of which are fundamental to improving social justice outcomes. Whilst I'm sure calls for additional powers will form part of every conversation your Government has with Westminster, they cannot become an excuse for inaction today. And again, today, we have heard about new strategies, pilot schemes and expert groups, and some, I'm sure, of these pilots will be welcome, but what people need is delivery, not another layer of process.

There is also a broader point about fairness and neutrality that goes to the heart of social justice. Recent commentary has highlighted concerns about organisations and public bodies appearing to take sides in contentious issues, including cases referenced by the Westminster shadow Minister for equalities, where questions have rightly been raised about whether institutions such as South Wales Police are acting in a way that is balanced and impartial. We should be clear: organisations that serve the public, particularly those in receipt of public funding or with a public role, must uphold the highest standards of fairness and neutrality. That does not mean avoiding difficult decisions, but it does mean ensuring that all individuals are treated equally, and that differing views are respected, and that no group feels excluded or marginalised by the actions of those institutions. Because once neutrality is lost, trust is eroded. Without trust, the very foundations of social justice, fairness, equality and inclusion are undermined.

I welcome the commitment to dignity, respect and inclusion for LGBTQ+ people, because equality must mean that everyone feels safe and valued. But we must see parity across Wales. Following the recent Supreme Court ruling on the meaning of 'sex' in the Equality Act 2010, the Equality and Human Rights Commission has set out clear guidance. But we are still seeing hesitation from the Welsh Government to fully align with that position, at a time when organisations need certainty so as not to risk confusion and inconsistency. If we are serious about equality, the law must be applied clearly and consistently. Your planned actions on this would be welcome.

This Welsh Government must be clear in its expectations that organisations operating in Wales act fairly, transparently and without bias, putting the interests of all people they serve first. The Welsh Conservatives will continue to challenge the Welsh Government to focus on what really matters. That is using the powers they already have, delivering on the promises they've already made, and putting the people of Wales first. Time is ticking, Deputy First Minister, on Plaid's first 100 days in office, and we are yet to see the results. We've heard a lot of fine words. We look forward now to seeing the change that will follow. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Peter Fox, for that response. I can say unambiguously and robustly that equality does mean something, and it is something that we have to give the greatest weight to. Failing to ensure equality is something that creates all sorts of harms, all sorts of trauma, which is not only damaging to the individual or that specific group who suffers that inequality, but also for us all. As I mentioned in that quote from Dr Martin Luther King Jr, if you are not directly affected, it does affect you indirectly. In terms of trying to bring us all together in order to see that and understand it, my aim through the policies that I will be implementing is to bring people together to see why we all need to stand shoulder to shoulder, why we all need to be concerned if the rights of one particular group of people is ignored, how that impacts us all as a society. So, that's what I would say in response to that.

In terms of your points on the EHRC and the fact that the code has now been laid in Westminster, I would quite simply say that, of course, the Welsh Government respects the decision of the Supreme Court. That is the legal position currently, and therefore it must influence and steer devolved policy and the way that services are delivered in Wales. We are currently looking at it. You will be aware that the code of practice has been laid now. It hasn't yet come into force, but since the Supreme Court judgment was reached, we have been looking at how that will impact the policies and responsibilities of the Welsh Government.

I would like to note that the Supreme Court judgment noted that trans people are still protected from discrimination under the Equality Act 2010. Gender reassignment is a protected characteristic. Nothing has changed around that. So, we will continue to discharge our equality duties, and we will expect all individuals, everybody who lives in Wales, to be treated with dignity and respect. 

I think you will remember from my time previous to being in Government, you'll know from the stand that my party has taken on this issue, and we as a Welsh Government are steadfast in our commitment to inclusion. We will stand up to transphobia and all forms of anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric. Trans people are a valued part of our communities in Wales and they continue to be protected in law. As Cabinet Minister for Social Justice and Equality and as Deputy First Minister, I want to give a clear signal to trans people in Wales that we as a Government share your concerns and the concerns of your allies, and we want to work with you in navigating the practical implications of the Supreme Court judgment. This is a Government that will never, ever punch down.

Thank you, Deputy First Minister, for this really important statement. One of the main reasons I got into politics was to tackle the heartbreakingly high levels of child poverty that we continue to see across Blaenau Gwent Caerffili Rhymni. In Blaenau Gwent specifically, child poverty stands at 34 per cent, which is the highest rate anywhere in Wales. But behind that statistic are real children—children going to school with worries no child should have, children who start to feel that some opportunities are simply not for them, children whose chances in life are shaped far more by where they're born than by their own talent or ambition. I welcome the seriousness with which this Plaid Cymru Government is treating child poverty and the direction it's taking through measures such as the childcare offer and the Cynnal payment. Deputy First Minister, what further steps will this Welsh Government take to ensure that every child in communities such as mine can thrive and fulfil their potential? Diolch.

Diolch yn fawr iawn. As I said, we have been clear that we are going to focus on the priorities that have the biggest impact on people in Wales. Of course, that includes tackling child poverty, helping people and families with the cost of living through the roll-out of the childcare offer, developing the Cynnal payment of £10 a week for low-income families with young children, and a new tackling child poverty plan with clear targets. We are also going to be developing a national food strategy. We've had very worrying statistics about the rise of the dependence of children and families on food parcels. We know that families with children under four are the most likely to be in child poverty, and, as we heard earlier, many of these families are working. We have to make sure that we target all the measures as effectively as we can, and that's why I want to have a new child poverty strategy, to make sure that that is the case.

I realise I didn't answer all of the questions from Lynne Neagle around Cynnal, so I will come back to some of those now. It's true that we are committed to introducing the Cynnal child payment as quickly as possible, in line with our wider commitments. As I have said, we have established this expert group to lead and shape the work. It's going to play a crucial role. We have to make sure that this pilot does what we want it to do, that it's effective and that we're able to evaluate it properly. We are going to be working at pace on this. I commit to provide further updates to the Senedd as that work progresses. But the focus now is on laying those strong foundations to ensure that the scheme succeeds and does what we want it to do.

As I said, the immediate focus has to be on helping to reduce costs for families and maximise incomes. I think that's another really key point as well. I am going to be reviewing the current Welsh benefits, as I outlined in my statement, to make sure that we really put that emphasis on the preventative. We know that there are skyrocketing levels of household debt among people who are living in poverty. It's about that prevention piece—not just the crisis support, though that will always be needed. But we are going to be looking really clearly at, through the Welsh benefits system, how we can do even more in the prevention piece to make sure that people's incomes are maximised. We've got to look to some of those longer term solutions.

I just wanted to come back quickly on what was raised around the devolution that Peter Fox raised with me earlier, because I do think that we really need to have the tools to do the job. We currently don't have those tools. We've seen in Scotland, having power over welfare, the difference that that can make, given the right priorities in Government. That’s why we will never stop making the case for the devolution of power over welfare. But while we are doing it, we will work to improve the existing Welsh benefits system that we have and, as I said, make it simpler for every household to receive the support they’re entitled to.

Laura Anne Jones. 

Diolch, Deputy Presiding Officer, and diolch, Deputy First Minister. Firstly, congratulations on both of your appointments.

Thank you for your statement outlining your priorities, Minister. Respect, solidarity and fairness are values that have always mattered to the people of Wales, I agree, but does that not apply to women and girls? Are you equally committed to ensuring that their rights in law are upheld, too? Do you agree with Reform that they shouldn’t have to still be fighting, in your words used in the statement, for their safety and fairness over a year since the Supreme Court ruling? It is shocking that all four of your Plaid MPs in Westminster backed a motion this week opposing single-sex services for women. This is nothing short of a complete betrayal of women and girls right across Wales. Deputy First Minister, will you condemn your Westminster counterparts for opposing single-sex services for women and girls—in refuges, in girls’ changing rooms, and so on—and perhaps amend your statement today to include safety and fairness for women and girls as also a priority for your Government? Diolch.

Thank you for the question.

The Member for Reform is obviously trying to attempt some kind of ‘gotcha’ here, but I think you are only really exposing your lack of understanding as to how Government works. As a Government, we have a duty to implement the law, and as I said, we are already applying the current law, including the judgment of the Supreme Court. We have made clear that we will fully abide by our legal obligations. If the code of practice is approved, we will apply it lawfully in line with our legal duties. But at the same time, Westminster MPs of all parties have every right to scrutinise and challenge whether that guidance gets the balance right. There is no contradiction there. That is how democracy and Government work. What is frustrating is the way that some are trying to weaponise this issue. Instead of offering practical solutions, we are seeing members of Reform once again trying to turn a complex, sensitive area of law into a culture war.

Welcome to your post. I'm pleased to see you in this role.

It's really great to see your focus here on child poverty. As you know, having been a child protection social worker for 25 years, I will continue to keep an eye on what you’re doing, because this surely must be Plaid Cymru's defining test: to change child poverty. You and I were members of the committee in the Senedd that heard about the importance of childcare to tackle child poverty. I welcome the Government's ambition—a stark contrast to Reform UK, who had no childcare commitments whatsoever in their manifesto. The previous Government made the right commitments, and still we have only 66 per cent of two-year-olds receiving Flying Start by April of this year. Wales's children cannot afford another approach that does not deliver, and I hope that isn’t the case.

I’m pleased to hear about your focus on the UNCRC as well. We know that one of the articles is about listening to children, and that is within Bil pob plentyn as well, which, as you know, we laid as a cross-party group in the last Senedd. How will you be listening to children, particularly those who are living in poverty and have had experiences of poverty? Surely that’s the most important thing that we can do in order to make sure we deliver the right sort of services for them. Diolch yn fawr iawn.

Thank you very much, Jane Dodds. I do welcome the scrutiny. We did scrutinise together, as members of the committee, the strategy and the measures that the previous Government put in place to tackle child poverty and inequality. I welcome the fact that she'll be keeping a weather eye on my work, and I look forward to answering those questions with regard to the strategy when we have reviewed it.

I welcome also the emphasis on the importance of listening to children. It's something that we in Wales, I think, have been in the vanguard in doing, but I do think that there is more to do. One of the things I'm very eager to do, as we develop these anti-poverty measures, and as we listen to the experts, is that we ensure that we evaluate every measure in accordance with lived experience, and that will include listening to children.

Thank you. And finally, Becca Martin.

Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd. Rents in Wales have risen faster than anywhere else in the UK, with average increases of almost 9 per cent a year. UK Government's freeze on the local housing allowance has hit those facing rising rents the hardest, pushing more people into poverty. Shelter research shows that even the most affordable homes in Wales leave households facing an average shortfall of £1,900 a year, forcing them to cut back on essentials, fall into debt or risk eviction. In north Clwyd, that shortfall rises to £3,500. This shift pushes the burden onto local authorities and is causing widespread homelessness across Wales. Given your specific responsibilities for engagement with the Department for Work and Pensions, will you, with the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning, press the UK Government to uprate the local housing allowance annually and restore it so that it properly reflects median local rents? 

Thank you very much for that question.

The ongoing freeze by the UK Government of local housing allowance rates have continued to have a disproportionate and detrimental impact on Welsh households, and I, along with the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning, will be calling on the UK Government to make sure that local housing allowance rates keep pace with rising rents, because those ongoing increases in private rents reinforce the importance of a responsive local housing allowance system, with annual uprating essential to maintaining relevance and preventing erosion over time. As you mentioned, more so, a return to the fiftieth percentile would ensure that local housing allowance better aligns to the market and would more effectively, then, of course, reflect current rental realities for Welsh households. Diolch.

Thank you.

Item 5 is a statement by the Deputy Minister for Transport on key infrastructure resilience. I call on the Cabinet Minister for transport, Mark Hooper.

Dirprwy Lywydd, I want to update Members on the recent closures of the Menai suspension bridge, as well as the work under way to address structural issues and the wider programme to strengthen the resilience of crossings between Ynys Môn and the mainland. I will also provide an update on the actions being undertaken to address challenges on the M4 corridor in south Wales.

Members will be aware—. This is a bit easier now. [Laughter.] Members will be aware that the bridge has experienced repeated closures in recent weeks, triggered by drivers ignoring the 7.5 tonne weight limit. It is frustrating for everyone when clear restrictions are not followed. These limits are in place to protect the bridge during ongoing maintenance works, and compliance is essential if the bridge is to remain open safely. When the weight restrictions are breached, precautionary structural inspections are required, and that, in turn, means closure and disruption to those in the area. Ensuring the safety of the structure, the workforce and the public must come first. 

The bridge has been subject to a series of structural issues identified through ongoing inspection, including deficits in critical components such as hangers and bolts beneath the deck. This is a 200-year-old structure never designed for modern traffic demands, and it will continue to present challenges. While the hanger replacements and strengthening works have enabled reopening with restrictions, the bridge remains subject to a 7.5 tonne limit and traffic management measures. The current phase of work is focused on stabilising and preserving the structure, including repairs to crossbeams and bolts beneath the deck alongside wider refurbishments, such as repainting, concrete repairs and lighting upgrades. These works are programmed to be completed in spring 2027, and to keep disruption to a minimum. This Government will press forward to resolve this at pace. The contractor, UK Highways A55 Ltd, and their supply chain have used innovative techniques to design access platforms under the bridge, with an aim to avoid daily lane closures and keep the bridge open and free-flowing for the local community. This is dependent on strict adherence to the weight limit restrictions, which are essential to keeping the bridge safely open during this work.

This Government is also working actively with North Wales Police and the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency to undertake further enforcement in the area and achieve better compliance with the weight limit. It is unfortunate that these weight limit breaches continue to occur despite the extensive measures that have been considered and implemented. The construction programme, as I said, is expected to continue until spring 2027, reflecting both the complexity and additional defects identified during inspection. My officials will continue to work closely with UK Highways A55 Ltd to ensure that delivery is as efficient as possible. 

Llywydd, I recognise the disruption that these closures have caused to communities across Ynys Môn and all those travelling in the north of the country. This has understandably led to deep frustration and increasing anger amongst those affected. This Government will act with greater urgency and focus on short-term measures and long-term solutions to improve resilience across the Menai strait.

That brings me to the wider issue of network resilience, both across the Menai strait and on the M4 in the south of the country. The Menai crossings operate as a system. Britannia bridge carries most traffic, but is vulnerable to high winds, while the Menai suspension bridge has lower capacity and requires ongoing maintenance. When one crossing is restricted, the impact is felt across the region. We are progressing recommendations from the north Wales transport commission, and this includes proposals for wind deflectors on Britannia bridge to reduce weather-related disruption, alongside broader work to improve how the two crossings operate together during periods of pressure. We're also progressing options to improve traffic management on the A55, including signalling upgrades and variable speed limits on Britannia bridge, so that disruption can be managed more effectively and when restrictions are required on either crossing. Looking at the longer term, we will now start looking at detailed options for a third Menai crossing, building on the work already undertaken.

Llywydd, turning to the M4 around Newport, this remains one of the most constrained and heavily used transport corridors in Wales, with long-standing challenges around congestion, resilience and reliability. It is a route of national importance for communities, commuters and freight, and disruption on this part of the network can have consequences far beyond the immediate area. While a range of interventions has been considered over many years, no single solution will fully resolve these pressures. Incremental improvements alone have limited impact, and the corridor continues to operate beyond capacity, particularly at peak times. Communities and businesses have lived with this congestion, uncertainty and delay for too long while previous Governments on both sides of the border have failed to turn this debate into delivery.

This Government has committed to renewing work to identify a clear and evidence-based way forward, making use of the substantial body of analysis already available. This Government will not simply return to old positions or repeat work that has already been done. The answer is not another external review that kicks the can down the road one more time. Therefore, today I am announcing a short, focused programme of work to explore realistic options across road, rail and bus interventions. The emphasis is on measures that are practical, deliverable and capable of making a meaningful difference in the near to medium term. That includes accelerating delivery of public transport alternatives, targeted measures to improve flow and resilience on the existing road network and better integration between strategic and local transport systems.

The work will draw on the substantial evidence base already available and focus on identifying practical and deliverable alternatives. To be clear, this Government does not believe the black route is a credible option. Instead, we will focus on a balanced package of measures reflecting the scale and nature of demand in the corridor. I will report back to Members on the outcome of this work in Plenary early in the autumn, setting out the Government’s way forward.

To summarise, Llywydd, both the Menai crossings and the M4 illustrate the wider challenge of managing ageing infrastructure in the face of increasing demand. In the north of the country, we are progressing both immediate measures and longer term options to strengthen resilience across the Menai strait, including considering detailed options for a third crossing. In the south of the country, we are undertaking targeted work to identify a clear and deliverable strategy for the M4 corridor. Whilst these works can be disruptive, they are necessary to ensure safety and to support the longer term reliability of our transport network. 

I will continue to keep Members updated as this work progresses. Thank you.

I'd like to thank the Cabinet Minister for your statement. It's a shame the title said 'key infrastructure resilience' when it's only really covered two parts of infrastructure, but I'd just like to ask, other parts of infrastructure resilience are things like the A470, which goes through my constituency, and there were key safety upgrades planned for that piece of infrastructure by the previous Government. I was just interested, are those things that your Government are going to continue, or are they something you're going to scrap?

Thank you, James, for the question. We've focused on these two parts because they're the two areas that we've named as being key structural problems that the people of Wales are seeing as a real problem today. So, I think what people are asking for is for us to be able to solve the problems that people are facing.

The programmes that are already in train are still going to be in train. So, these are things that we're still looking at across the piece. This isn't something where things have changed. But I've been focused on these two items because they're important for the people of Wales.

I'd like to thank you, Minister, for your statement today and welcome you to your new role. The transport role, of course, holds particular responsibility. It's not just about how we get from A to B, it's also key to investment into Wales. We need road networks that don't hold people up, buses that support people getting to work, an accessible train network, a national airport to raise Wales's global profile and attract inward investment, and we need to ensure that our active travel infrastructure works right across Wales. That's why I'm proud of the work of the last Welsh Government.

The Menai bridge crossing will rightly be a concern to many, not only those living on Ynys Môn, but those working across the island and relying on the port of Holyhead. So, I welcome your early statement on this topic, but, crucially, we need some firm commitments. You talk of the Government acting with urgency and a focus on short-term measures and long-term solutions. Can you therefore tell me: will the bridge work be completed before spring 2027, as had previously been planned for by the last Welsh Government?

Moving on to the M4, I'm pleased to hear that you'll be using an evidence-based way forward, as was previously commissioned by my colleague Ken Skates. So, will you be sticking to the time frame for the roads reliance review to report this summer? Can you inform us of any junction closures that will be necessary on the M4 with measures to improve flow and resilience on that existing network? Will you commit to better integration between strategic and local transport systems that won't lead to more traffic and therefore more pollution on local roads?

And finally, as ever, commitments require funding. What assessment has your Government made of the costs required, and where will this funding be drawn from?

Thank you, Vikki, and I look forward to working with you. One of the things I'm quite keen to do is to make sure that we all work from an evidence base across this Siambr, because one thing I've learned quite quickly in this brief is that, when you start to want to deliver things, they take a long time to do. So, these are things that, basically, we were looking for, across this Siambr, people looking to support measures that we're taking ahead.

I'm really pleased that you identified the importance of transport across portfolios. I think one of the things that I'm excited to do is to support Members from across the Government in their roles as well, to make sure we support them. Whether it's on the economy, health or whatever, I think it's a societal basis for what we do more than anything else, so it's hugely critical.

You asked a question about whether or not the works would be finished on Britannia bridge before spring 2027. I think what's happened is that there have been other things that have been found, as I referenced in my statement, and those are the things that—. We're going to try and keep to spring 2027 as the delivery date; that looks the most likely date. I think one of the things we've got to be careful about is suggesting dates that don't happen. Spring 2027 is looking like the date that we can achieve on this now, providing other things don't come and stand out even more.

The roads review, and also linking into junctions. So, these are things that we're going to get into as part of this review. When we report back to Members in the autumn, we'll go into detail about this, about how these things will change. Because I think you're right; one of the things that I think you referenced is that, to deliver the changes on the M4, it will have an impact to the side, and it'll have an impact in Newport. So, we've got to think about all of these things in the round, and one of the things that's critical is that we communicate with people as to how these things will affect them. I think that's probably the most important thing. Early communication will be essential, not just for people in this Siambr, but also people beyond, so that they understand how their lives will be impacted.

One of the things I think we've also got to reference is that the M4 is an ageing structure as a general entity, so it will require lots of work over the coming years. So, we're expecting some disruption now even without this work, so we've got to make sure that we communicate that clearly to people, because the longer-term benefits will be clear.

Better integration. Absolutely, I think this is one of the key things. Ultimately—hopefully, you got this from my statement—there is no easy answer to this. This is multifaceted. So, better integration is key. I think there's a lot to build on from the work that's been done before, because this is tricky stuff, but it needs to be integrated, and, actually, it's about how do we find ways of making sure—. Because the journeys that are taken on this part of the M4 are, basically, between Swansea and Bristol and in between that, how do we help people to make better use of those journeys as well over time?

Costs, the final thing. We'll reference this in the autumn. I think some of the things that we want to try and do are to make sure what our clarity over the way forward is going to be, which is critical when you're looking at things like Menai, with the infrastructure that's been developed on Ynys Môn with regard to the nuclear small modular reactor facilities. So, some of those may be opportunities for us to look at, but the cost of these things is going to be a secondary piece of work that we do as part of this work that we'll come back to Members with in the autumn. Thank you.

Well, congratulations, Mark, and welcome to your role. I suppose I can't really blame you for anything, because you're new to the Senedd and you're new to your role. [Laughter.] I won't blame you just yet. But let's just be realistic now. So, under the last Welsh Labour Government—supported, of course, by your party now, Plaid Cymru—we did see significant damage done to our transport system through a series of misguided policies and decisions. The scrapping and freezing of major road-building projects has definitely been very retrograde in terms of north Wales and the travel there. The prioritisation of active travel schemes that Lee Waters introduced, which saw everybody supposed to suddenly start wearing Lycra and going on cycles on cycle paths, when, in fact, after the £184 million spent, when I asked what the increase in actual numbers of cyclists using these very expensive active travel routes was, the percentage increase was nil. The continued funding, or—I don't think you can just call it funding, really—the giveaways to Cardiff Airport at significant public and taxpayer expense. Thirty-two million pounds spent implementing the 20 mph policy. A loss of around 20 per cent of bus passengers across Wales. Poor reliability across large parts of the rail network—and, for any of the north Wales Members, we know. We've been there. We've been on those trains that have been late, not attended—a really, really poorly performing rail service.

Now, I don't need to tell you, Mark, that the key to a strong economy and a strong society is a strong transport system and modern infrastructure. Our businesses, our visitors, our residents and all those people using our roads, like our road hauliers, depend on reliable transport to move goods and services. Employees need dependable routes to get to work, communities rely on good connectivity to access education, healthcare and leisure opportunities. But, despite how we all know what the importance of transport is, we've seen these continued challenges. Seven point six per cent of planned Transport for Wales services—sorry about this, Ken—between January and September 2025 were cancelled. It doesn't sound a lot, but that amounts to 15,958 cancellations, causing disruption for thousands of people. The closures of the Menai bridge—. Now, you've highlighted the recent closures; that's been going on over four years now whilst those works have been going on. It's not something new. Those closures have been happening on a frequent basis. [Interruption.] James.

In my constituency of Bangor Conwy Môn, strong transport links are absolutely vital. Our area is one of Wales's—. If Paul Davies was here, he'd argue with me, but he's not. Our area is one of Wales's premier tourism destinations, attracting thousands of visitors from across the United Kingdom and internationally. Tourism supports thousands of jobs and contributes significantly to our local economy. When our transport networks fail, it is not a good look. And when I see the traffic gridlocked along a lot of the A55, to include Menai Bridge, it does make you ask the question. It's just not a good thing, is it, for tourism.

To be fair there has been some progress in improving transport infrastructure in north Wales. In north Wales we have seen major service improvements, but some of these, we, the Welsh Conservatives, have called for. So, the increased rail services linking Llandudno with Liverpool—we'll take credit for that—the extension of Manchester Airport services through to Holyhead, and continued investment in parts of the rail network to improve regional connectivity. These improvements are welcome, and you've mentioned about us all working together—we need to do that in terms of this infrastructure and transport ambition.

We need to see a lot of unfreezing of those road projects that are currently on hold. We need to deliver the long-promised M4 relief road. We need to electrify the north Wales main line. We need to upgrade the A55, removing the junction 15 and 16 roundabout bottlenecks. We need to build the third Menai crossing. And I have to say, it's only relatively recently that it's been mentioned that a plan has—

Janet.

—been looked at before and it might come forward. I'm just looking at the time. I wish you well in your role. I want us to work together positively, not for any other reason than that we are in a bad way in terms of transport infrastructure in Wales. I'm going now. [Interruption.] Yes. I look forward to working with you, Mark.

I sometimes wonder what I just walked into there, and whose responsibility. So, there's a lot in what you said, Janet, that I think is really important. One of the things that's important is that we're talking about how we make sure that our transport system works for the whole of Wales. I think that's something that's central to how I want to tackle this job and the things that are really important to me. There are things that will be different in the way we approach it, but one of the things that I'm keen for us to do in the relationship that we have, broadly, across this Siambr, is that we work with data. You've heard that quite a lot from this Government. It's been repeated, and it's been repeated for a reason, insofar as we're on the same page to know how the impact of these things can happen, because we're working in a constrained budget. So, we need to do things that are most appropriate to make the things work.

There's a number of items—. I've been focused on the resilience of two areas in this statement. There's a number of items that I think I look forward to you talking to me about at questions. I'll deal with those ones separately, if that's okay. So, on the rail network, on active travel and the scrapping of—. There's a number of things there that are related, which I'll take separately.

One thing that I think is important is that we, like I say, as a Siambr, understand the complexity of what we're dealing with, and just trying to get some compromise as to how we move this thing forward, because the people outside here want progress, and that's what I'm here to do. So this is about making sure that we take action on things. But we all recognise that, in the four years, some of these things won't get delivered in the four years, because some of these things are complicated. [Interruption.] Some of these things are—. Thank you, Janet. Some of these things are complicated. So, what they need is a commitment that we can move forward on, and that's what I'm committed to do. Thank you.

Thank you very much.

Now, with your forbearance, colleagues, we're going to slightly change the order here, because James Evans, fair play to him, found himself cast in the role of frontbench spokesperson on transport for a moment there. We're actually going to go to the last frontbench spokesperson now—Jason O'Connell.

Thank you, Llywydd, and thank you for the statement, Minister. But if I can start just by responding to Janet. There were a lot of sound bites in that statement, Janet, and you really shouldn't talk Wales down so much. You really shouldn't. [Laughter.]

But back to the statement itself. Road infrastructure should be an absolute top priority for this Government. From Newport to Llandudno, Wales is full of economic potential, but it needs a transport network that can actually unleash that potential. Now, if we take the A55, which has been discussed quite widely today, the economic backbone of north Wales, it's used every day by hundreds of thousands of commuters and hauliers carrying freight between Chester and Holyhead, but it's being held back by congestion bottlenecks and tinkering at the edges of what needs to be a long-term solution in that area. When the A55 stalls, north Wales stalls, businesses lose out, productivity is hit, and Wales's economy takes a hit as well as a result. Signalling upgrades of variable speed limits will not be enough, and, while Plaid offer patch-job fixes, Reform back proper road-building solutions. Minister, will you confirm if you intend to widen the A55 where appropriate, and, if not, can you guarantee that what you've proposed in this statement will be enough to match the economic benefit that Reform are planning with widening the A55?

Also, the Minister is right to recognise that the Menai crossings operate as a system, but that system is already under clear and growing strain. Now we welcome proposals such as wind deflectors on the Britannia bridge and improved traffic management on the A55. These are sensible, practical steps to manage immediate disruption. As we said last week, we will back sensible solutions where we see them. But these are short-term mitigations. They're not the long-term solutions that our economy demands. Now when either crossing is restricted, the impact is immediate and severe across the whole of north Wales. An entire community of 70,000 people are cut off. Community, freight and businesses are punished as a result. So, whilst it's welcome that the Government is now beginning work on options for a third Menai crossing, can the Minister be clear: what timelines do you have regarding that work, and how will they ensure that motorists and businesses using the crossings will face the least possible disruption in the meantime?

And finally, if I can return to the M4 relief road, which I know will be widely discussed not only up til now, but during the entirety of this Senedd, it's key to a better connected, stronger economy for Wales. Now, hundreds of thousands of vehicles use the M4 around Newport daily, countless business leaders have called for a relief road to be built, and yet Plaid today offers plans for plans in this statement, despite having, for years, not come up with a firm solution.

Motorists have been stuck with a Plaid-backed Labour Government that's been tough on motorists and soft on infrastructure for the last 27 years. They pushed excessive 20 mph speed limits, slowing down the Welsh economy, wasted £150 million of taxpayers' money on cancelled plans for the M4 relief road. Now, Minister, many motorists are waiting with bated breath to see how this new Government will treat motorists. So, what are your actual specific plans for a 'road-based solution', whatever that means? How much will it cost? When will you deliver on your pre-election promises? Because your statement was severely lacking in details, and that is becoming a hallmark of this Plaid Government early on. Reform will hold you to account on the M4 relief road, and when you fail to deliver your roads-based solution, we stand by, ready with a costed, credible and concrete plan, ready to execute for the people of Wales. Diolch.

Thank you, Jason, and I think there's some stuff there that we could actually work together on, because I think you've talked about the need that we need to be working together for the benefit of the entirety of the people of Wales. You asked for a lot of detail, and what I've committed to do is to come back to Members in the autumn. We've effectively added it to the 100-day plan, so you will have that detail and you'll have it in readiness. And then I expect the scrutiny to be demanding, and I look forward to it. It's something that I think the people of Wales expect the same level of scrutiny to come to us in that regard as well.

I don't accept that this is a patch-job job, because I think what we're looking at is something that is really going to make a difference to the people of Wales. That's what we're intending to do. I think that some of these things, there are restrictions around the M4. It's clear you've got the Severn one side and you've got mountains and hills the other side that restrict what you do, with a growing population in the middle of it. So, you need to make things work. Ultimately, part of this solution is about making sure that public transport works as well. Public transport will be the key that unlocks productivity here, and it's something that we're committed to. And public transport not just being rail, being bus as well, so, linking into the bus franchising work that's already been done too.

You talk about previous administrations spending money on the M4. One of the reasons that we're keen to be able to move on this at pace is that we believe that a lot of the work is there. There's a lot of evidence already there, so we're going to dig into this, because we've got no interest in wasting time or money on doing things that take an excessive amount of time. So, we want to make sure we get to this quickly and get back to it. But I look forward, as I said to you earlier today when we met, to us sharing data that gives us guidance to how we move forward on all these things. Thank you.

We now move to one-minute contributions. Paul Rock.

Diolch, Lywydd. I'd like to congratulate the Minister on this important role. I'm pleased and relieved to hear the Minister confirm that the black route for the M4 relief road won't be revisited. I think it's worth remembering that the black route was abandoned because of both its appalling environmental impact and enormous cost. Of course, road building generally increases traffic, and the worry is that money spent on increasing the capacity of the M4 will be lost to public transport investment, driving modal shift in the wrong direction. Can the Minister explain how any new M4 relief road would be funded without impeding the Government's ambitions for rail and bus infrastructure?

Thank you, Paul. So, I share your view on the black route, which is the reason I referenced it directly in this statement. We need to also recognise where people actually are. So, I believe that we need to move people into public transport, and it needs to be done as soon as we can. I think there's data out there that shows that people aren't moving as quickly as they could or should be. So, we've got a situation where people are angry with what's happening to them when they're stuck in traffic jams, so we need to do something that will help them do that, which is part of the priority.

But ultimately, like I said in the previous answer, we're constrained in this area, so we need to make sure that the solutions are largely public transport related. So, that's going to be the key focus. But when I answered Vikki's question earlier, it's about making sure we recognise that if we do things—. The M4 is not just a through-route beyond Newport; it's also an intra-Newport route as well, so it gets used by other people within Newport. So, we have to recognise that if you make a change within Newport that solves some of these problems, you'll start to have knock-on effects elsewhere. So, this has got to be an activity that recognises the complexity of what we're talking about, and that's why it will be a detailed piece of work. But like I said, the detail I think is largely there for us to dig into. 

I'm grateful to the Minister for his statement on Menai bridge, and I'm also grateful to him for meeting with Elfed Williams and me earlier today to discuss this matter, which affects so many people on Ynys Môn and across Bangor Conwy Môn. I welcome the news that the Government is working closely with stakeholders to ensure compliance with the weight limit. I would appreciate it if the Minister could expand a little on what specific measures he now has in mind. I'm also pleased to hear that there is no further delay to the programme of works at this point, and I encourage him to work closely with the project managers to ensure that this continues to be the case.

And finally, it's good to see the new Government recognising the scale of the problem and taking immediate steps to put long-term solutions, such as a third bridge, back on the table. May I ask what conversations the Deputy Minister hopes to have with the UK Government about what possible contribution it could make to a long-term solution, considering how strategically important connectivity to and from Ynys Môn is, especially as projects like Wylfa and the free port continue to develop? Thank you.

Diolch, Mair. I think that, on the first thing, in terms of what's happening now to try and make sure that we have fewer issues, only vehicles under 7.5 tonnes, as we know, may use the bridge while restrictions remain in force, and overweight vehicles will be turned away. I think, where appropriate, instances of non-compliance also need to be and will be reported to the police for enforcement. We have increased the presence of both police and traffic officers to support compliance and to help ensure the bridge can open safely. If breaches continue, we must be clear that closing the bridge may be the only safe option available. So, we've really got to make sure we stop the breaches, that's the critical thing.

On the works programme, the works form part of the necessary long-term refurbishment programme to protect this historic bridge, and to ensure that it can continue to operate in the future. So, they're necessary. We believe that we will hit the spring 2027 deadline, which is obviously critical.

When it comes to UK Government, I think this talks back to how we need to collectively understand what our ask is from this Siambr as well, so that we can point to the UK Government and say we want their support and help to do it. This is going to be one of the key issues I bring up when I meet the UK transport Minister, alongside a number of other issues, including in the south of the country as well. We'll be covering that and also rail infrastructure too. But, ultimately, the UK Government has a part to play, Ynys Môn being a strategic part of the route for a number of things, not just the links to Europe. These things have got to be seen, as we can't leave the resilience of this crossing to be with the gods as it is at the moment, which doesn't work for communities nor for the businesses that use it either.

I'd like to welcome the Minister to his position. As a local resident, I know all too well that every time there's an accident or congestion at the Brynglas tunnels, motorway traffic from the M4 is pushed onto our local roads. This creates gridlock, choking the city of Newport and moves air pollution closer to homes and schools.

You said today that you will not repeat the work that has already been done. Are the targeted measures to improve flow and resilience on the existing road network, which you've referred to today, part of the resilience studies for our motorway and trunk roads that were announced by the previous Cabinet Secretary for transport, Ken Skates, last summer? And if this is something different, when will the findings of the reports that were commissioned last year be published? And you ruled out the black route. Will you today rule out the blue route and rule out any closures of junctions?

Thank you, Jayne, for that, and I recognise that you've written to me a number of times about it since I've been in post. I think you're the person I've received most letters from with regard to this issue, so I recognise that you find it hugely important to you and your constituents.

To start on the black route and just repeat: the Government does not believe the black route is credible, so that's off the table, and we're taking it off the table today. All other road options except the black route are in scope, so we're looking at things that can solve the problems here. We're looking across the piece and that will be part of the work that we're putting together.

Are there other credible road options? That's part of what we'll come back to, and we'll be back in front of Members in the autumn to talk to. But, as I'm hopefully stressing, this is a multifaceted approach. This is about making sure that everything works together. So, there may well have to be some junction closures, but this will be stuff that we deal with in the round. This road network is not designed for the amount of traffic that it’s taking at the moment. Everyone knows that in this Siambr. The solutions are public transport focused—the ultimate solutions—and that will be where we put a lot of effort. But this is where we're going to come back.

In terms of the question about the previous work that's been done, what I was referencing is that we're going to dig into the work that's been done and that will form part of this announcement that we make in September, when we come back after recess. So, the work that's been done will be a key part of what we talk to Members about then.

Welcome to your role, and thank you for your time in meeting with me as well. I very rarely agree with James Evans, but in this regard, I have to say, this is not a statement that covers the whole of Wales. And that is a real shame because that's what I think many of us were expecting. A modern transport strategy cannot just be built around roads, and not in just two parts of the country. It must also include sustained investment in our rail and bus network across the whole of Wales.

Looking at rail, we know that Transport for Wales carried around 31 million passenger journeys, an increase of 20 per cent, which shows that actually people are wanting to go on trains if they can be improved and invested in. And on buses, I was particularly proud to work with the Welsh Labour Government on the £1 bus fare for children and young people. So, I'd like to hear from you how you are going to invest in our buses and how we're going to look at how we can have a modern transport strategy for the whole of Wales. Please can you outline exactly how that's going to happen? Diolch yn fawr iawn.

Diolch, Jane. This wasn't intended to be a transport strategy message today, so we will be coming back with a fuller transport strategy to be able to update Members in that regard. But just to put your mind at rest, like you, I think we need an integrated strategy that covers the whole of Wales. So, this is something that I'm really keen to make sure that we do properly, and I think that ultimately rail and bus travel are central planks of that solution. We've got to recognise that lots of people still see their car as being really the way that they travel at the moment, so there's still a big piece of work to encourage people to use the buses and use the trains. And the bus franchising that's going to be rolled out is part of making sure that happens, with routes that suit people's needs, and making sure that they actually work for the people. Rail network, the same. We need to make sure that these things work for people in the way that they do, and lots of that's about making an integrated transport policy that works, a cross-modal policy as well. 

I'm grateful for the statement today, especially on the topic of the M4 relief road, which is a major talking point among my constituents. People would appreciate any further clarification that you could give on potential solutions to the bottlenecks that are experienced around the Brynglas tunnels, especially maybe some comments around the Burns stations. I also know that Plaid Cymru's Government agrees with me on the need to protect the Gwent levels. It's truly a unique site of special scientific interest landscape and has been described by some conservationists as the Amazon of Wales due to its rich diversity, so any comments that you could make on that would be very much appreciated.

Finally, I'd like to know how you intend to engage with other interested parties, such as the local authorities, to come up with solutions that ensure that traffic flow in and around Newport is eased in the most cost-effective, efficient and sustainable way. Diolch yn fawr.

Diolch, Peredur. The first thing, in terms of the Burns stations, is these are a key part of the solution, I think, in terms of this, so we'll come back in terms of how we expect the UK Government to do more than they've done so far. There's a promise in the ether, but we need these things to be in sight as to how we actually make the stations a reality. Because one of the key things is to make sure we can get people to utilise the trains and see the trains as an effective solution for those journeys that we're needing to get off the M4. They're critical, and the UK Government has a part to play to make sure that these things happen in a timescale that suits the people of Wales. Ultimately, that's what we've got to focus on. 

I agree entirely with your point about the Gwent levels, and that's one of the key reasons why the black route is off the table. We think they need to be protected. It's not something that we would countenance doing. When it comes to the solutions, even if it were built now, the timescales associated with it mean that it isn't the key long-term solution. There are other long-term solutions that relate to rail that would be better suited, and better suited to the environment as well. So, that's critical.

You talk about talking to people. I think that's probably the most important thing. I think communication has got to be something that we dig into in a big way in this thing, and that's about taking people with us. That's not just the interested parties in Newport; that's the people of Newport, that's the people of the wider area. This is about an exercise in us having engaged conversations that we listen to as well, rather than it just being a one-way street. I'm really looking forward to those. I want to make sure that I'm personally engaged in those conversations as well, and the same goes for the Menai in that regard too. I think it's important that we're out there engaged with those conversations. Thank you.

Congratulations and best wishes in this role, Mark.

As others have said, it is a pity that your first statement in the Chamber has focused so narrowly on just two areas, two pieces of road, with lots of questions across all of Wales. Clearly, taking the M4, much of the congestion around Newport is driven by traffic coming in towards Cardiff, with both daily commuter traffic and traffic towards major events. Cardiff, of course, by most measures, is one of the fastest-growing major cities in Britain over recent years. It's the dynamo of the Welsh economy. And yet, when they come into the eastern side of Cardiff, they're actually channelled into just a two-lane road, along Rover Way, the unfinished eastern bay link. That, in turn, pushes traffic into areas like Splott, Tremorfa, Butetown, Adamsdown—some of the poorest communities in Wales. So, my ask is simple, Minister: not the billions wishlist we heard a minute ago, but rather, less than £2 million funding to deliver the next phase of the business case for the eastern bay link and the wider master planning for dualling of Rover Way. Can you commit to that today, Minister? That would be very welcome and well received in my constituency. Diolch yn fawr.

Diolch, Huw. I'm not going to commit to it today. I think the point you made is about the system. We're dealing with a transport system here, and when things go wrong in one part of the system, it has a rolling effect elsewhere. I think the way you described what happens in the eastern part of Cardiff is pertinent to all these conversations. I think what you end up doing is if you don't solve the problems and take people out of their cars and into using public transport, or you give them other alternatives, then we're just never going to solve the problem, frankly. So, it's really important we get to grips with the issues at hand.

What you talked about in the eastern side of Cardiff is true in other parts—Newport in particular. We've got to be really mindful about the impact of things we do on communities that we go into. This is a critical part of the thinking, because it's all too easy to see some of the solutions without seeing the communities that they affect. The system problems are the things that we need to be looking at. Thank you.

And finally, and very briefly, Darren Millar.

Diolch. Can I congratulate you too, Cabinet Minister, on your new role? I'm a little bit concerned about the attitude towards the M4. It is an absolutely critical part of our road infrastructure network here in Wales. It's important not just to Wales, but indeed to the whole of the United Kingdom, because, of course, it helps to get goods from A to B and from some of our major port infrastructure in west Wales too. I appreciate that you might not like the black route, but it is the fast-track option in terms of being able to deliver a solution to the problems with congestion on the M4. Anything that departs from that route, which has already been the subject of a public inquiry, is going to take many, many years beyond, probably, the four years that this Government will be able to have in this particular Parliament. Why isn't it the case that you're prepared to look in more detail at the black route, in conjunction with mitigation measures against the potential environmental impact—because I recognise that there are genuine concerns—so that we can work together to solve this issue once and for all?

Thank you for the welcome. I'm really pleased that you're prepared to work together on these things. I think that's an important starting point, and I welcome that support. I've outlined why the black route isn't a credible option for us. I think you described it as 'fast track'; I don’t think there's anybody else who would consider that to be a fast-track option for the solution to this, and neither is it something that has the long-term benefits that will solve the problems over the long term.

Everything else I'm keen to engage with you and your colleagues on, and I think that these are things that will try and solve the problem. But ultimately, what we've got to do is utilise the other roads in the network that we could be utilising more. The Heads of the Valleys road, newly redesigned, is a really good example of something that could be used for more freight, so how do we make sure that that fits into this solution as well? I think there are solutions that are out there that form part of this conversation.

The thing I think we share and we agree on is that, ultimately, a lack of action is not a credible solution, so we have to be action orientated, and we have to help those people who are stuck in queues at the moment to have better alternatives. Those better alternatives may not be more road space for them, it just may be better trains that work, which is part of what came out of the Burns review, so we lean into some of those things and get those things moving quicker as well.

Thank you, Deputy Minister. That brings today's proceedings to a close. Thank you very much.