National Assembly for Wales

Good afternoon, everybody. We will make a start.

Llywydd, our job is to make every £1 work as hard as possible for the people of Wales. That means focusing resources on the priorities that matter most to people and delivering the commitments we were elected to deliver. We're reviewing spending across Government to ensure resources are directed where they can make the biggest difference, whether that's cutting waiting lists, tackling child poverty or strengthening our economy. Alongside this, we will continue to press Westminster, of course, for the fair funding that Wales deserves.

I'll take that as a 'no'. A key component of the Welsh Government's administrative spend is the estate it owns and manages. According to the most recent and cutely named 'State of the Estate' report, published in April, we see that the Welsh Government has around 70,000 sq m of estate at a cost of nearly £20 million a year. Seventy thousand square metres of estate is exactly the same as the 2020 target produced pre COVID and before the boom in home working. We also learnt from the latest report, quote:

'Most Staff continued to work remotely'.

First Minister, smarter management of the estate could save over £10 million a year. My question is: why is the Welsh Government not making these obvious efficiencies?

I know the Member comes from the position of begrudgingly having even a square foot of estate in Wales looking after the interests of the people of Wales. But, I'll tell you what, this Government is a Government that believes in using the resources that we have wisely. We can look at it in terms of square footage or we can look at it in terms of people. What I want to do is make the most of the people that we have, whether that's working in the civil service, whether it's working across public sector, in health and education and in everything this Government does—including encouraging people to get the right balance between remote working and working in the office. We will do our utmost to make, as I say, the best use of every single £1. In that context, maybe he should take my original answer as a 'yes'.

Yesterday, the Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee took evidence from Adrian Crompton, the outgoing Auditor General for Wales. In his evidence, he was clear that value for money is not just about spending less, it's about making the money we do have work better. If we are to address the real challenges facing our communities today, what we need to focus on is better Government, driven by a new leadership. I'm delighted that this is already a core commitment of this Government and something it's getting started on quickly in its first 100 days. Will the First Minister assure us that his Government will maintain a relentless focus on improving outcomes for people and making the best use of the resources that Government does have?

We've made it clear that it's all about outcomes, it's all about looking at how the decisions that we take as a Government impact positively on the lives of the people of Wales. I absolutely agree that good Government isn't about chasing short-term savings, if you like. Though we make every £1 work hard, it is about making every £1 deliver better outcomes for the people of Wales. It's why we're reforming how public services are delivered. That stronger focus on prevention is one that comes to mind immediately—how we can spend money now on stopping some of those problems in health occurring later down the line. It's why the target has been put in place by the enterprise Minister on halving the productivity gap and making the investment now in ensuring that we strengthen the economy in that way. It is all about good Government, with long-term positive outcomes for the people of Wales.

Diolch, Brif Weinidog. One of the key challenges of Government is to manage in-year spend and in-year overspends. You will know, First Minister, that local government is bound by law that they have to balance their books within year. That doesn't go for other governmental departments. Do you accept the principle that all Government departments should manage their budgets to the agreed budgets, or, if not, can you outline what in-year overspends you are prepared to accept this year?

The Member will imagine, I'm sure—and he'd imagine correctly—that this is a Government coming into power that is determined to look afresh at all the budgets that we have, to make sure they are aligned with our priorities, that money is being spent well, with outcomes at the heart of everything that we do. It's not the case that our Government departments can have overspends as such. There are elements of the public service, we know, where there are significant in-year pressures—health being one of those—and this Government has indeed inherited hundreds of millions of pounds of in-year pressures in the health service as a result of the mismanagement of health by previous Labour health Ministers. That's something that doesn't stop us from getting to grips with the challenge now in improving public services, but that is the reality, and everything we do is about making sure that our public funding is dealt with in a prudent way, to deliver the best outcomes for the people of Wales.

First Minister, one of the inquiries that the Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee undertook at the end of the last Senedd term was to look at the Global Centre of Rail Excellence. It was made clear to us that an incoming Government would have to make a critical decision over whether it was going to back this particular venture, and the tag price on that was some £400 million. No small change in the back of the sofa for that, I would suggest. Has the Government had a chance to formulate a view on the future funding requirements for the Global Centre of Rail Excellence, and, if you have, when will you be bringing a statement forward so that we know what the commitment will be, going forward?

The Member is right to point to this as being something that can offer opportunities in terms of the Welsh economy, but he's also right to point out that there are significant expenditure commitments that would need to be made in order to get to that point. The Government has not yet come to a decision around that. That is a consideration that will be ongoing, and I'm unable to give a date on that. As the Member will be aware, there are many, many funding considerations that the Government is grappling with in these early weeks.

We announced an additional £145 million to support a clinically led approach to focus on delivering a sustainable solution to reducing waiting times and driving pathway transformation. We've set up an expert panel to look at the development of surgical hubs and are commissioning an independent review of performance and the impact waiting has on patients.

Well, that doesn't help me, I'm afraid, First Minister. I've got a letter for an appointment here, actually, for myself personally, which was written a year ago, which tells me that I've been placed on an out-patient waiting list in Betsi Cadwaladr trust, and that I'd be contacted as soon as possible, and I've heard nothing since. I've also been told by someone else that they've been waiting three years—three years—for gallbladder surgery, and they've heard nothing since whatsoever. I could be dead by now. What are you actually doing, and what can you do for my constituent, so they can realistically expect to receive the appointment and treatment they've been waiting so long for? Diolch.

I'm grateful for the question. I would respectfully ask the Member to reflect on the code of conduct on pursuing our own particular cases within the Welsh Parliament. But, of course, it is right that we all represent people who have been waiting a very long time on waiting lists. It is the length of waiting lists in terms of numbers and it is the length of time that people are waiting on them that have led this Government to conclude, even before we came into Government, that this was a priority. It's why we prioritised in the last budget, for 2026-27, the need to invest in the NHS now. It's why decisions have been made through the supplementary budget, which we hope can be passed today, in order to spend on bringing down waiting times and making the system sustainable, because it is unacceptable. Wherever people are—and that, of course, includes people here in this Siambr who are on waiting lists—it's not acceptable that we believe this to be normal, and that is why we are placing the utmost seriousness on the work of working with health boards, making the investment, having those performance reviews so that we can build a sustainable NHS and care system for the future.

Brif Weinidog, diolch. And as you've raised Standing Orders, I'm sure the Member who spoke was speaking on behalf of his constituents as well, whilst drawing on a personal experience. But, just to clarify, indeed, speaking on behalf of constituents is our imperative here. Carrie Harper.

Diolch, Lywydd. The issue of parking at the Maelor hospital in Wrexham is raised with us time and time again, and some residents have told us that they've arrived sometimes up to three hours before an appointment just to find a parking space. And that will be contributing to the 27,000 missed appointments at the Maelor last year. We've raised that repeatedly with the health board, alongside other local Members as well, the council and residents, too, yet there are still no concrete plans to tackle the problem. My own mother is currently undergoing cancer treatment, so I've seen first-hand the extra stress that that causes for people who are already worried about their health. I welcome the Government's commitment in the supplementary budget to boost funding for the NHS, and I also hope that this budget passes to allow that support to happen. First Minister, do you agree that accessing healthcare should begin at the hospital entrance and not with a queue for a parking space? And what discussions is the Welsh Government having with Betsi Cadwaladr to ensure that this long-running problem is finally treated as a priority?

Well, I certainly agree that access to healthcare should not begin with anxiety about finding a parking space, and it is something that far too many people face. Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board is responsible for the operation and management of parking across its estate. Welsh Government guidance sets out the principles and best practice that health boards should apply when managing car parking at hospital sites. The health board recognises the parking pressures at Wrexham Maelor Hospital in particular, and I understand that it's considering practical operational and management options to improve access for patients, visitors and staff, keeping emergency routes clear as well, which is very, very important. It's one of those elements on which my health Minister is eager to see improvement, wherever that might be in Wales. 

First Minister, Nigel Williams, the Member, was absolutely right to raise concerns about constituents waiting far too long for planned procedures, surgeries on waiting lists in Fflint Wrecsam. One particular area that I believe requires some extra focus, ironically, is that of cataract operations. People are having to wait two years or more for cataract operations. You'll appreciate, First Minister, during that time, that it can be debilitating for people, especially if they need to drive, in rural areas of my constituency of Fflint Wrecsam, when they're waiting for years for what is actually quite a simple procedure in the grand scheme of things. People who live just over the border in Cheshire are waiting six weeks for exactly the same operation to take place. It strikes me that there's an issue there with the commissioning of services, which could make a big difference to accelerating people's waits when it comes to cataract operations. So, would you look at that, First Minister, to see where, specifically, cataract operations can be accelerated to ensure that those thousands of people who are waiting currently no longer have to wait without being able to see properly?

As the Minister points out, that is something that the Government is doing. We know that, when it comes to the eyes, it is particularly important to pursue treatment as quickly as possible. It was one of those elements during COVID, I remember, when people were facing delays in accessing care because of COVID restrictions, and that was putting eyesight at risk. It's something that the Government is very, very aware of. It's one of those areas that's very much in mind when we look forward to continuing the performance review and putting in that sustainability, which will help across the NHS in time. 

Thank you, Llywydd. Continuing with the theme of the NHS, in this last week before recess I would like to get to the bottom of when two-year waits on the NHS will be eradicated, because thousands of people across Wales are still waiting, in pain and discomfort, for far too long. Now, during the election campaign, the First Minister said that two-year waits would be eradicated within a matter of months, and then his new health Minister said that they would be eradicated by the end of the four-year term. I then asked the First Minister who was right and, in a very long-winded answer, he said that he was. But then, just a couple of weeks ago, his finance Minister, on BBC Walescast, said that two-year waits would be gone in 12 months, so, in other words, a year. Now, a year is a lot longer than a matter of months. So, can the First Minister finally give us some more detail: by which month will two-year waits be finally eradicated in Wales, as they are in England?

We could have a philosophical debate here about how many months is months. All I can say is that all the actions that have been taken by this Government within the first 100 days—. You know, commissioning that work on establishing the surgery hubs, on making sure that we put that investment through this supplementary budget that we want to get passed today, so that we can, both in capital spend and in resource spend, make that investment to drive down those two-year waits—. The actions that Government is taking are aligned with bringing down those two-year waits as quickly as we can. We want to do it in months. I not so much stick to that—that is precisely what we set out to do before coming into Government, and what we are actively delivering now in Government.

The First Minister gave a promise during the election that two-year waits would be eradicated within a matter of months. That clearly is not happening. These promises are coming back to haunt you. It was obviously a promise that was made in the heat of an election debate, just as were your comments about a road solution for the M4. Your Ministers keep punishing you for your off-the-cuff remarks by rowing back on the promises that you're making in the heat of debates.

Now, it is quite clear that the First Minister doesn't do the detail. There's no detail on two-year waits. There's no detail on tackling M4 congestion. There's no detail yet on childcare plans. You had 30 years to wait for this moment, and there's not even any detail on what Plaid's definition of a woman is. So, let's try an easy question, because we know this figure is somewhere in Plaid Cymru HQ: what are the initial costings of Plaid Cymru's childcare offer?

I mean, the costings around the childcare offer have been made public, and they are very much a part of the supplementary budget that is due to be voted on today. The childcare offer is made up of a specific fund of £55 million that is going to be partly in capital, partly in resource, to make sure that we're able to deliver, as the first phase of the roll-out of costed childcare, the completion of the 12.5 hours for two-year-olds. Now, that is what is being done. I literally cannot give you more detail than that. It's the money, it's the timescale, and it's going to be done within this financial year.

Now, I know the Member couldn't decide which question to ask today, so he tried to bring eight into one. But in terms of accusing me of giving an off-the-cuff reply on the M4, it was an off-the-cuff reply based on 15 years of Plaid Cymru policy that we want to see a solution to the problems on the M4 in the Newport area—work that has already begun under my Deputy Minister for Transport and that we will be reporting on in the autumn of this year.

Fifteen years, and all your transport Minister could come up with is closing junctions. Now, one way to stop congestion is to stop cars getting onto the M4. I'll give you that, but the people of Newport will not be very happy with that.

I asked for initial costings. Costings for phase 1 is not the initial costings. You said during the election campaign your promises were fully costed. Then you're downgrading them to initial costings. Then you're downgrading it to costings for phase 1. So, you clearly haven't got a plan. And if we do get those costings within the first 100 days, the 100 days ends during recess. So, we can't scrutinise when you actually issue those, but we will be here in September, waiting to scrutinise those figures.

But, First Minister, if your supplementary budget is voted down today, are you prepared to come back during the summer recess with a revised budget, or is this a part-time Plaid Government? Or are you content for the plans within your supplementary budget to languish for months upon months because you're too stubborn to do a deal?

[Inaudible.]—the idea that, from opposition, we were unable to resolve the problems of the M4—. We were in opposition over those years. He was in the Conservative Party, so I get the confusion there about where his politics land. Listen, I understand that there is frustration in wanting a holiday after eight weeks of being the leader of Reform in here. We will be working through the last 43 days of the 100-day plan, every single day of that reporting on it as we promised the people of Wales we would, and then cracking on with phase 2, which is that programme for government to transform the lives of the people of Wales. But today we need to get a supplementary budget through, to get working on the NHS, on childcare, on additional learning needs and all those issues that matter to the people of Wales. 

Diolch. First Minister, over the past few days, a crisis developed, the like of which I fear we will see again and again. Homes were evacuated, schools were closed, hundreds of acres of land was scorched and businesses hit during the north Wales wildfires and extreme heat. Now, thanks to our emergency services, the loss of human life was averted. First Minister, who is responsible in your Government for responding to such events?

This is a cross-government response, of course. We have Ministers directly involved in working with the particular emergency services, of course. But this is a cross-government approach, in that these fires may have started yesterday, but they are caused by man-made climate change that all of us across Government are committed to addressing.

Thank you, First Minister. Of course, the risk with it being cross-government is that no single Minister actually holds on to the responsibility. Now, that was the distinct advantage of having a Minister for north Wales. This week, the Welsh Government has been pretty much silent in north Wales and about north Wales whilst these fires have taken place. More people may be left homeless in weeks and months to come with further extreme heat predicted, and that means that businesses will also be hit, likely events will be cancelled. Can you assure people across Wales that your Government will support businesses and home owners who are impacted by wildfires and extreme heat?

Of course, my Government will do everything we can and already have done to support those who are affected by these fires. My thanks initially go to the people who responded to them. My thoughts are with the people who are affected by them.

On the question of a Minister for north Wales, I have a Minister for north Wales. It's Siân Gwenllian, and it's Dafydd Trystan, and it's Anna Brychan, it's Mabon ap Gwynfor, it's Sioned Williams—all my Ministers are Ministers for all of Wales. Where was Labour's Minister for the south of Wales, if that matters? Because all my Ministers are Ministers for the south of Wales too, and the west of Wales, and mid Wales, because we are a joined-up Government that has a plan for our nation—all of our nation.

That is why all of us have come together around this supplementary budget today—north, south, east, west, and mid, it's important to remember—with a determination to change the lives of the people of Wales for the better. We have a supplementary budget that is focused on making the NHS sustainable. I will be voting for that sustainability for the NHS. The leader of Labour in Wales is threatening to vote against that. I will be voting for expanding free school meals under this supplementary budget. The Labour leader here is threatening to vote against that. I will be voting for the expansion of paid-for childcare in Wales. The Labour leader threatens to vote against that. And, yes, I will be voting for a package worth £120 million for ALN that he and I negotiated positively on, and he is threatening to vote to not allow that spending to go ahead. This is a Government for all of Wales with a vision for all of our nation.

Diolch, Lywydd. If you'll indulge me, I'd like to pay tribute, on behalf of the Welsh Conservatives, to Bonnie Tyler. Tributes have poured in, of course, across Wales about the loss of this Welsh icon, a singer with global fame and impact, a unique artist with a unique voice, and we want to pay tribute to her and send our best wishes to her family and her loved ones. Of course, we're also in shock at the loss of Ann Widdecombe, a colourful political character, a precious character to people across the whole of the United Kingdom, but especially here in Wales for those who met her.

First Minister, thanks to the members of the public right across Wales, our country now recycles more household waste than anywhere else in the United Kingdom, and our glass recycling rate is amongst the highest in Europe. Yet, in spite of this, your Plaid Cymru Government wants to follow the previous Labour Government's plans to diverge from the rest of the United Kingdom and insist on including glass in its deposit-return scheme from October. We know it's going to push costs on to businesses, manufacturers and consumers. What assessment has your Government made of the additional costs of this scheme and what are you going to do to mitigate them?

I will, of course, firstly, also send my condolences to the loved ones of Bonnie Tyler, a national treasure who was a part of my life as long as I care to remember. She will be fondly, fondly remembered by all of us here in Wales and far, far beyond. And, yes, Ann Widdecombe: we share in the grief of her loved ones, but also in the fear around the safety of politicians and public figures, and these are negotiations and discussions that we should all across this Chamber be eager to engage with in a non-party political way.

On the deposit-return scheme, I note that the Conservatives supported the DRS with glass. This is the starting point, and always at a time of difficulty in the implementation of a policy, it's important to remember where we came from. Why is it that the Conservatives said they supported including glass? Why is it that the last Senedd voted for the inclusion of glass, which is something that this Government is respecting in taking this matter forward? It is because it does go further than recycling. It is the reuse. It is about that environmental responsibility. It is about also being a trailblazer, because there's an agreement in principle in other parts of the UK to progressing with glass. We can be the ones showing the way.

Are there challenges? Yes, which is why exemptions have been made clear for small retailers, for small producers, for example. But given that it's the right thing to do, you don't always allow the fact that there are challenges—very real ones, absolutely—to stop you in your tracks when there's a prize worth aiming for.

Look, First Minister, we all agree that we need to get to grips with litter and improve even further our recycling rates, but we've already got a by-election this summer with a man dressed up as a bin; the last thing we need is another row about rubbish receptacles, if I can put it that way, here in Wales. Now, councils are actually cutting litter bins across the country because they can’t afford to provide them and can't afford to empty them. Fly-tipping is on the up. Ninety per cent of glass is already recycled in Wales because of the kerbside recycling system and the engagement of the public with it. Why does your Government think it's acceptable to impose extra costs on small shopkeepers and force householders to face the inconvenience of having to drive with their cars full of bottles back to the shops, rather than simply leaving those glass bottles at the kerbside for collection and recycling? Why don't you make it simple for manufacturers, simple for retailers and simple for the public and bin this unnecessary policy? 

Bins being a theme here, I like the rubbish receptacle trashing, of course, the reputation of the leader of Reform currently. Again, when you're talking about people driving places to get rid of bottles, at the core of DRS, as a principle, is people taking things places, so that doesn't make a difference whether it's plastic or glass, and the Member does agree that it's the right thing to ask people to take those plastic bottles somewhere in order to deal with that problem of plastic. I understand that there are challenges, and I know that my Minister is dealing with those challenges now, and putting the practical measures in place in order to deliver this. What we're saying is that we believe that this can be overcome. The Member mentions the additional cost to small retailers. There is an exemption for small retailers who don't have that square footage, that space to put the machines in and so on. These are things that the Government is taking into consideration, but we believe that this is doable, and we do not believe the threats of the very large manufacturers of extremely large increases in prices. The sums don't add up.

Prif Weinidog, we can all see that the threats to national security are numerous, but it can't be right that Wales will be denied years of capital funding to cover the failure of consecutive UK Governments to give us an armed forces fit for the future. Once again, the needs of Wales have been, at best, an afterthought. Thirty one of 32 schools in Torfaen require urgent maintenance, and there's a £5 million backlog for repairs in Monmouthshire schools. The money we will lose will directly affect areas like mine, and this means that issues that need to be addressed urgently will have to be pushed back. So, bearing this in mind, how will the First Minister keep making the case to the UK Government to redress this? Diolch.

It is a very important point. We absolutely recognise the changing face of the threats that we face currently and the arguments in favour of strengthening defence spending, including in the cyber sector, in which we have real expertise here in Wales, but Wales should not be peculiarly disadvantaged by the way the UK Government has gone about with its decisions on defence spending. Departments in the UK Government in Whitehall would have been able to make the case for protecting budgets. The handing down in this way without negotiation with Wales of ongoing cuts to capital, which were under severe strain anyway, will inevitably mean needing to cut back on spending on health and education. The first supplementary budget allocates £40 million of additional capital funding this year to support the urgent maintenance and repair works across schools, the kind of which the Members mentions. That is put under threat. But, of course, we need to get the supplementary budget through first in order to make that spending.

First Minister, Reform UK makes no apology for supporting increased investment in Britain's armed forces at a time of growing global instability. National defence is the first duty of any Government, so, rather than blaming Westminster for difficult spending decisions, will you explain what efficiencies the Welsh Government is prepared to make within its own capital programme before claiming Wales cannot cope? How much money could be redirected by cancelling lower priority projects and reducing waste, so that essential infrastructure, such as roads, hospitals and schools, is protected while the UK strengthens our national security?

I would hope that all of us want to see capital spend on schools and hospitals. These are really, really important elements for the future of our nation. As I said, the point here is that we haven't been engaged in any of this discussion that ends up in cuts being made that will inevitably lead to cuts in public service capital spend. I have written to the Secretary of State for Wales, and the Cabinet Minister for Finance has written to the Chief Secretary of the Treasury, to raise those concerns, seek clarity of the impacts for our funding. As I say, it's completely unacceptable that Welsh capital budgets are impacted in this way. That does not take away from recognising the changing face of the threats that exist in the world around us, which are undeniable.

First Minister, rather than solely focusing on the impact to the Welsh Government's budget, what is the Government actually doing to maximise the opportunities of the defence investment plan that it can present to employers such as BAE Systems in Glascoed in my constituency and the wider defence sector? There are over 285 defence companies in Wales, contributing a £1 billion to our economy. Surely we should be focusing on what we can make out of this, instead of just bemoaning the situation.

It's a separate question, but it's a very, very valid question: how, when defence spending is made, or when defence investment is made, there is at least equity in the way that that spend is made. If you look at the way UK Government distributes that investment, Wales has not been getting its share. If you look at the proportion of defence spend going to the south west of England, for example, compared with Wales, there is no comparison. So, the Member is right that there is an economic element to this, and that is something that we would look at in economic terms, and, of course, seeking opportunities for businesses involved in the ethical defence sector in Wales. But that does not mean that we should withdraw our concerns around how decisions are made that affect all of our constituencies, be it schools or hospitals and so on.

In her oral statement of the 9 June, the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Minister for Social Justice and Equality set out our priorities for promoting social justice: fostering respect, solidarity and fairness. We're committed to addressing inequalities in Wales. This includes supporting the delivery of the 'Anti-racist Wales Action Plan', disabled persons' rights plan and delivering on the British Sign Language (Wales) Act 2026.

First Minister, the Welsh Government has a target whereby 20 per cent of all newly hired Government employees should be from ethnic minority groups, who themselves only make up 6 per cent of the Welsh population. It has another scheme that pays £5,000 to ethnic minority students who want to become teachers, money that isn't available to students if they are white. These measures, which are themselves explicitly racist, fall under the scheme ironically named the 'Anti-racist Wales Action Plan'. Put plainly, it is anti-white discrimination, and the Welsh people will not sit idly by as we are racially discriminated against in our own country. First Minister, will it be your Government that delivers the return of race-blind meritocracy in Wales?

I'm sure the Member is pushing the limits of what the Llywydd would deem acceptable in the Chamber. My Government believes in providing opportunities to people in a way that promotes equality of opportunity. The Member chooses to focus on the colour of skin. I would—[Interruption.] I would choose to focus on the fact that there are many people who don't have opportunities because they live in poverty, because they happen to come from a background that has not made those opportunities open to them, as they are to somebody as privileged as I have been. That is something that I would expect to be a core value of everybody in this Senedd who believes in supporting and representing all of the people of Wales, regardless of their background, regardless of the colour of their skin. It is about taking a suite of measures that we can honestly believe reflect those values that were, in many ways, the basis of the election that allowed us to have a Government of which hope was seen as a real mantra.

First Minister, from your previous answer I can tell that you agree with me that, when we talk about equality in Cymru, it's more than a buzz word. We’re talking about people's lives, where families working multiple jobs are struggling to get by, mums have been pushed out of work because their childcare is unaffordable, disabled people face barriers to services, racialised communities experience persistent discrimination. These pressures don’t exist in isolation; they’re the conditions in which inequality deepens and division takes hold. The consequence of this widening inequality is that, when people feel ignored or left behind, it’s fertile ground for far-right extremism—movements that thrive on misinformation, scapegoating and fear, and they target the communities already facing inequality, undermining the joint effort that we need to build a fairer Wales. So, I’d like to ask how the Government is ensuring that it’s addressing the root causes of inequality and protecting those most targeted by hate and division across Wales.

I want to associate myself with all of the words spoken by the Member there. This isn't—. There are elements of policy here, but this is about values. This is about ensuring that, in everything we do as a Government, be it in education, in healthcare, in job creation—all of those elements where people interact with public services—or in supporting communities and putting in place policies that support cohesion, always we are driven by those values. It is something that I know unites the majority within this Senedd: the need to speak the language of tolerance. And to have a Government here that acts in a way that always promotes that cohesion and tolerance is something that is very, very important to us.

Because we know that the pressure is great. And it's in the spirit of understanding that pressure that engagement has happened in recent weeks. And, as I laid out in a letter to the leader of the Labour group yesterday, I appreciated the determination shown by him to make sure that this was an issue on which there was focus, and it enabled us to pursue our determination to build a sustainable future for ALN provision in Wales. That is why we were able to move at pace, working with the education and Welsh language Minister in particular, to not only identify the funding against an extremely difficult funding background, but, crucially, to find a way that we can start spending this money immediately. Now, that has come about as the product of positive negotiation. What we want to do, and I think what the majority of people will sense is the right thing to do now, is to get that across the line in that spirit, which allows us, at the same time, to press ahead with spending on the NHS, on childcare and on free school meals as well, which, of course, the Labour Party agree with and I'm thankful to them for expressing that they do agree with it. 

I'd like to start by declaring an interest. My wife and my mother both work in an education setting, which includes supporting children with ALN.

As I'm sure the First Minister is aware, conditions like autism exist on a spectrum. Different children require different levels of support and intervention. Some, with the right support, can continue in mainstream education; some can't. And then there are the countless individuals who fall somewhere in between. However, those who work within the system, those who I speak to, often tell me of a system that fails to reflect the reality, with many children in need of placement at specialist schools but stuck in a system that is often too slow to respond or sat on waiting lists for months or even years, whilst others are placed in mainstream education without the correct support packages in place, failing both the students and the schools.

First Minister, we need wholesale change and better co-ordination between health boards, mental health services and education authorities to speed up intervention. How are you going to get on and do that?

The Member is quite right to point out those challenging areas. It's not just a matter of thinking of them in isolation, it's the way that they touch on each other. It is about taking that cross-Government approach. It is the way that my Ministers are approaching it. It touches on the ALN issue, again, and the need to get going on how to impact, in the most positive way, on the way policies are delivered within schools. The manifesto on which I stood made this one of the areas that we were absolutely clear we needed to gain ground on. We are confident that, in working in that cross-Government way, we can do that.

We're committed to strengthening palliative and end-of-life care and to developing a sustainable hospice funding model. As a new Government, we're building on important foundations already established across Wales, including the quality statement, national service specification, competency framework and hospice commissioning approach. We're also working with NHS Wales, hospices and carers to improve access, strengthen the workforce, support advanced care planning and ensure long-term sustainability within the sector.

Thank you. First Minister, Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board recently ran a major public engagement process regarding the future of specialist palliative care and end-of-life services across the region. One of the proposals was to close ward 6 at Ysbyty Cwm Cynon, to relocate them to Royal Glamorgan Hospital in Llantrisant. This has drawn significant local opposition and concern. Residents and local councils argue that closing the specialist beds in the Cynon valley could force terminally ill patients in Merthyr and Cynon to travel for further care.

I'm sure that the First Minister agrees with me that hospice and end-of-life services are some of the cornerstones of the Welsh healthcare system. Each year, they provide essential care and support for more than 20,000 children and adults living with terminal illness, easing pressures on the NHS by delivering vital, compassionate care within communities across Wales. However, rising demand and increasing costs are placing these services—[Interruption.] One more thing—under strain. Will the First Minister commit to providing sustainable long-term funding for hospices and end-of-life services in Wales to ensure that they can continue to deliver essential palliative and end-of-life care?

I certainly agree with the Member on the importance of the sector. I say that as a former active member of the cross-party group in the last Senedd, and the previous one, on end-of-life care. On the particular issue of Ysbyty Cwm Cynon, I believe the health board's position is that consolidating specialist in-patient palliative care is necessary in their view to address workforce shortages and to maintain safe and sustainable specialist services. It's true to say, of course, that it is up to health boards in Wales to make those decisions. They hold the statutory responsibilities for the planning and delivery of healthcare services. They have to deliver them in a way that is tailored to the needs of their populations. But we are continuing discussions within the sector. The Cabinet Minister for Health and Care hopes to be meeting very soon, I think, with Hospices Cymru to discuss current pressures and the long-term sustainability of hospice services in Wales.

Small and medium-sized businesses are at the heart of Carmarthenshire's economy. We're supporting them through Business Wales, the Development Bank of Wales, SMART Innovation support, town-centre regeneration programmes, supply-chain opportunities linked to major investments such as Pentre Awel, and targeted funding that helps businesses innovate, expand and create jobs across the county.

Diolch, First Minister. I recently spoke to owners of haulage businesses in my constituency, who tell me that it costs around £3,000 to get a driver their HGV licence for a job that can actually pay up to £50,000 a year, yet they still cannot recruit and retain drivers. They have a practical proposal: a Welsh Government loan to cover that licence cost, repaid by the driver once they're earning. In effect, an income-contingent loan that would cost the taxpayer next to nothing in the long run. England currently offers free HGV skills boot camps, but Wales does not.

And here's a wider point as well: after net migration hit a record 944,000 in 2023, justified as filling labour shortages, these Carmarthenshire businesses still can't find enough drivers. Now, I'm sure I'm going to hear the word 'Brexit' being fired from a cannon over there any second, but having spoken to these people, they tell me that it's not Brexit, it's the prohibitive cost of the licence that drivers and hauliers state is the real obstacle here. So, would you commit today to examining at least an income-contingent loan scheme for HGV licences and support these businesses to drive Wales's economy forward?

Well, I'll commit to considering most things, because we're always on the lookout for good ideas. I know that the barriers to the HGV sector, with drivers, come from multiple sources. Difficulty in getting test capacity, for example, is one issue that is non-devolved, of course, but we as a Government will always seek to work with UK Government to make sure that we have the capacity for testing. There are elements, I know, in my neck of the woods where the further education sector has got involved in providing pathways, perhaps, to people into the driving sector.

I'm very happy to consider what could be done, and I know I speak on behalf of the enterprise Minister in looking at how we look at the various options on the table, to recognise that this really important sector has that need—quite a crucial need, really, for an HGV sector to have enough drivers—and that that need is fulfilled.

Supporting young people who are not in education, employment or training is a priority for this Government. We're investing in support that helps young people develop skills, build confidence and move into education, training, employment or self-employment. Alongside this, our 'Wales means business' agenda is focused on growing Welsh businesses, attracting investment and creating more high-quality jobs across Wales.

Diolch, Brif Weinidog. Earlier this year, Premier Forest Products in Newport became the first private sector company to sign the Welsh Government's corporate parenting charter. Working in partnership with Newport City Council, Premier Forest provides paid work placements for care-experienced young people. Opportunities are offered across all departments, helping participants gain practical experience of the workplace and transition into employment. Terry Edgell, chief executive officer of Premier Forest Products, is clear that commercial success comes with social responsibility, and I've seen and heard first-hand what a difference this makes to young people, the company and also the workforce. So, I'd like to know: what is the Welsh Government doing to encourage and support more employers to give opportunities like this to care-experienced young people across Wales?

Thank you, and congratulations to Terry and the team at Premier Forest Products. It does take good employers to show the way as well, so my gratitude is genuine to the team there in Newport. It takes a whole host of things to come together, doesn't it? It can be Government programmes, both devolved and non-devolved. It can be Jobs Growth Wales. It can be Communities for Work. It can be the Economic Inactivity Trailblazer. It could be work being done within the further education and skills sector itself. Medr is currently developing a more flexible apprenticeship programme for 2027, aligned to employer demand. We've got to make sure that it's aligned to the needs of those young people that we need to bring into the system. Careers Wales is still important in this, and making sure that they're there, at the right place, at the right time, to point young people in the right direction. So, it's an all-Government approach, but finding those trailblazing companies is really important to show others that it is in their interests to make sure that they provide opportunities for young people who otherwise could be missed.

Welsh Government uses a resource allocation formula to distribute the majority of NHS funding according to the relative health needs of the population served by each health board. The formula is commonly referred to as the local health board resource allocation formula.

Thank you for your answer, First Minister. I've raised on the floor of this Chamber a number of times the decisions that the Powys Teaching Health Board have taken: reducing bed numbers, closing hospitals, reducing access to minor injury units, ward closures, and also delaying care across the border in England to meet their financial challenges. Your legislative statement this afternoon is bringing forward a rural-proofing element to legislation. I'm interested, First Minister, in whether that rural-proofing then applies to rural health boards, to make sure that the funding that they receive actually protects the people who pay the same amount of tax as anybody else in this room, but receive a lower standard of service. So, I'd like to hear from you: what is your Government going to do to protect those rural health boards to make sure they get the funding they need, so my constituents can get the care they need and they pay for in their taxes?

The Member is right, and I expect every Member here to want to make sure that the health board serving their constituency is funded according to its need. I should say that the resource allocation formula does take into account the excess costs of rurality. It is one of the factors that is factored into that particular formula. We've got to make sure that it's effective, that it works. Does rural-proofing have a direct impact on that particular formula? I wouldn't say that the legislation that we have in mind would lead to there being a direct impact, but it's a principle. What that legislation shows is that this is a Government that, as a matter of principle, wants to make sure that no rural part of Wales is left behind because of its rurality. That should be as relevant in health as in anything else.

The Welsh Government uses a range of measures to assess effectiveness across departments, depending on the policy area and the outcomes being delivered. These include management information, official statistics, evaluation evidence, financial and performance reporting, and feedback from service users and those with lived experience.

Thank you, Minister. I'm glad to hear it's so full. Your published ministerial responsibilities include official statistics, including the census, social research and the national survey for Wales. Effective government depends on understanding how Wales is changing and ensuring that future planning reflects that evidence. What research has your department undertaken into the demographic changes in Wales since the implementation of the nation of sanctuary policy and how are those findings being incorporated into the evidence used to forecast future demand for housing, NHS services, school places, transport infrastructure and other public services across Wales? If those demographic changes are not being factored into Government planning, how can you be confident that your forecasts accurately reflect the future needs of Wales? This is not being divisive or any other adjectives you may wish to throw at our party; the people of Wales deserve to understand how the Government determines the future requirements of our nation, and your portfolio is central to ensuring that those decisions are informed by robust evidence and accurate data. Thank you.

Thank you. I can offer the Member some reassurance here, because my colleagues in the statistics team plan meticulously based on the evidence, based on the demographic figures, and based on the whole range of factors that impact on the population of Wales, on the health of Wales, on the economy of Wales. The Member will be familiar with a number of the statistical publications that appear on a weekly basis, if not more so, from the statistics team that undertake that detailed analysis. You will also be familiar with the fact that those statistics teams look at the future population of Wales and the changing demographics in local areas. So, I can offer that reassurance to the Member.

If the Government's effectiveness is itself constantly being reviewed and reset, does that suggest that the current measures aren't actually working? How many more reviews will be required before Ministers can demonstrate sustained improvement? In short, how many reviews are there and will there be yet another review of the outcome of that review?

I do fear the Member is a little pessimistic about our plans for Government efficiency and delivery on outcomes. I set out in my oral statement, and I've set out in this Senedd before, how we're going to focus on outcomes. What I'm doing and what we're doing as a team in the Cabinet Office, supporting my colleagues right across Government, is ensuring that every one of our plans, every one of our developments, is focused on changing the lives of the people of Wales for the better. That is what we will do. That is what we will continue to do. Again, as I alluded to in a previous contribution to this Senedd, the first 100 days puts the foundation blocks in place. We will then move rapidly into that delivery phase and ensure that the lives of the people of Wales are duly improved.

Work is progressing on the Government’s priorities dashboard, which will provide a clear way to track progress against our five priorities. An initial version of this dashboard will be published during the first 100 days of this Government, with key measures to support transparency, delivery and accountability.

Diolch, Weinidog. I thank the Minister for his commitment to the timely publishing of digital dashboards to better enable this Siambr to scrutinise the Government. What benchmarks or targets will be used to measure effectiveness using these dashboards? If the dashboards reveal that individual departments are not performing as expected, what action will the Minister take in his role as Cabinet Minister for Government effectiveness to ensure that the Government is actually performing effectively?

Thank you to the Member and thank you for his support in the work that we will be doing at the Cabinet Office and across Government. I think the first thing to point out clearly is that these dashboards are going to be focused on the five priorities we've set out as a Government. We have said we will cut waiting lists, we will tackle child poverty, we will help families with childcare, we will raise school standards and we will improve productivity in the Welsh economy. [Interruption.] Colleagues opposite ask, 'When?' The Minister for enterprise and connectivity has already set out the time frame for the productivity goals. But there is an interesting point here that we should reflect on, which is that we've set out a 10-year productivity goal. My colleague the Cabinet Minister—[Interruption.] Wait for it, wait for it. But what we need to do is to have interim measures so that we may track progress along the way, and we're committed to developing those measures.

Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd. Minister, last week, your Government came to the Senedd and asked for permission to go to Westminster and argue for a different funding model. In a crushing defeat for you and your colleagues, this Senedd refused to grant that permission. Reform, with the support of Labour and the Conservatives, potentially saved £1.5 billion annually for the Welsh Government's budget—you're welcome. Now that the Senedd has spoken, will you abandon your plans to argue for a change for the funding model for Wales?

Thank you for your answer, Minister. You are responsible for your party's programme for government, and that programme did take a significant blow last week. Just like the supplementary budget that you are hoping to pass, with votes you don't have, your minority Government has to follow the first rule of politics, which is learning to count. There's little doubt that much of Plaid's manifesto hinged on an optimistic change of the funding model from Westminster. Now that the Senedd has rejected your calls to change the funding model, what changes have you made to your programme for government?

Responding to the COVID inquiry's fifth report today, the First Minister rather vaguely said that Plaid remains committed to reviewing the Wales COVID response. In March, Plaid said it would hold a short, sharp and focused review of the Welsh Government's COVID response, a far cry from the full-fat all-Wales inquiry Plaid previously called for for years, including during your 2024 manifesto. Now, following that u-turn, nobody knows what your review actually is—not when it's happening, not for how long, not even what elements of the COVID response it would focus on. Surely, Minister, now is the time to make it clear to bereaved families what actions exactly your Government is going to take.

There are huge concerns in parts of Wales that Plaid will copy what Rishi Sunak did in England and redistribute funding via the funding formula away from poorer urban areas towards relatively wealthier rural ones. As the Minister with responsibility for statistics, can you confirm what issues you identified in the underlying data and indicators that prompted this review, and when will the review be concluded?

Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. Minister for delivery, it is vital that Plaid Cymru stick to their commitment prior to the election, and voted on many times in this Chamber, that they would enact a COVID inquiry—not a review, an inquiry. Can you confirm that the Government's thinking, whatever emerges, will be set up under the Inquiries Act 2005, which would compel witnesses to come before that inquiry and give evidence, because anything else will be a whitewash?

I thank the Member for the question. Work is progressing on our COVID review. As I indicated earlier, I will be making a statement to this Senedd in due course about that review, and I will be liaising closely with a number of those groups—the COVID bereaved families, amongst others—who have made very strong representations to this Government and to previous Governments about the importance of that review being thorough, looking at the issues from a Welsh perspective, and ensuring that the lessons that can be learnt are fully learnt for the future.

Warm words, Minister, but little substance. The reality is that we found out, with the COVID committee that was set up in the previous Senedd term, that unless witnesses were compelled to give evidence, that committee was thwarted in its endeavours to get to the truth. Today, for example, the COVID inquiry reports that, on the FFP3 respirator masks that we were told Wales was well stocked with prior to the COVID pandemic in its emergency allocation, there wasn't a single mask in Wales available for the health service to use. These are the things we need to get to the core of as to what was not provided, what was mislaid, what was deliberately not ordered to save money, and what was not acted on on the emergency planning trials that were held prior to the COVID pandemic. If you don't set it up with the Inquiries Act 2005 in mind, whatever you bring forward will be pointless. So, I implore you and the Government to stick to your guns, stick to your morals, stick to the votes that you made prior to the Senedd election and have a full-blown inquiry that gets to the truth and, ultimately, prepares Wales for any future pandemic.

I heard the opposition spokesperson's passion for the issue and the importance of the issue. Reading the most recent module report on COVID brings home the sobering impact of COVID right across this country. Those lessons must be learnt, and the review that we are committed to undertaking must have the ability to address those precise issues that you have set out and that is what we will seek to do.

Sorry, I'm just—. Thank you, Dirprwy Lywydd. Minister—. I'm lost at the moment, sorry.

I can go to question 4 and come back, if you like.

No, no, it's all right, I've got it now. Sorry.

That's okay.

I've got two.

Delivering meaningful change for people in Pen-y-bont Bro Morgannwg, and across Wales, is at the heart of this Government's approach. That starts with our first 100 days plan, on which I'm working collaboratively with Cabinet colleagues to deliver. The programme for government will build on this foundation, with improved cross-Government working and a clear focus on delivery.

Cabinet Minister, the Welsh Government has repeatedly identified health, education, tackling poverty and the cost of living as key priorities, yet many families in Pen-y-bont Bro Morgannwg tell me they're still facing long waits for health care, are worried about educational standards and are struggling to make ends meet as their household costs continue to rise. For many, a family holiday this summer remains out of reach. Given the clear gap between the Government's ambitions and the reality facing many constituents, what evidence can you provide that these policies are delivering meaningful improvements? And how are you working across Government to ensure departments are not operating in silos, but together delivering tangible, measurable benefits for families in communities like mine?

Well, I thank the Member, Dr Thomas, for his question. The analysis of the challenges facing families in Pen-y-bont Bro Morgannwg, and across Wales, is one that we share. Standards in education need to improve, waiting-list times need to come down, far broader childcare needs to be provided for families to make lives easier for people who are today struggling. We've been here for, I think, eight weeks. We are working at pace to seek to deliver meaningful change for those people in Bro Morgannwg and in other areas. For me, fundamentally, if we are to succeed as a Government, those very people you refer to have to feel the measurable change to their daily lives, and if we succeed in that, then we can be pleased, in four years' time, that it is a job well done. Our dashboards and our progress mechanisms across Government will allow us to track progress, but they will also allow us to work with Cabinet colleagues right across Government to ensure that, where one part of the system isn't necessarily supporting those aims, we work together to break down those silos and make progress. It is work in progress. It is a significant task of work after 27 years of Labour Government. It is a task that I am committed to doing right across this Government. Diolch.

Minister, as a sea dipper, I know the health and well-being benefits of being able to swim safely in our waters. Ending pollution in our waterways and seas is a priority for many residents in Pen-y-bont Bro Morgannwg, especially after Natural Resources Wales recently reported poor water quality at two of our local beaches. Since becoming a Senedd Member, I've heard directly from local swimming groups, like the Watchtower Waders in Barry, I've met with Ofwat, and I've welcomed NRW and Dŵr Cymru's South Central Bathing Waters project, which aims to identify the sources of pollution ahead of the statutory targets that come next spring. So, I'd like to ask what further action this new Government is taking to ensure that the bodies responsible for our water systems are delivering effectively, so that every part of our rivers, streams and coastal waters reach the highest possible standard of water quality.

I thank the Member for the question. I'm familiar with the Penarth Dawnstalkers who head to the water in Penarth on a daily basis, come rain, shine or however cold it is—braver people than me. On the matter of water, we are taking a whole-system approach to improving water quality in Wales, strengthening regulation, accountability and investment across the sector. Through our water reform programme, targeted action on pollution sources and closer collaboration with regulators, water companies and land managers, we are seeking to drive long-term improvements in rivers and coastal waters.

Diolch yn fawr. As a consultant myself, I'm well aware of the inefficiency of the NHS, and clinicians and consultants have been calling for change—meaningful change—for years now. We need a fundamental change in culture, one that promotes accountability, performance and continuous improvement, while moving away from the previous blame culture and the toxicity that can too often hinder progress and, in fact, has hindered progress. Above all, the focus must be on patients and on ensuring that their voices are heard throughout the system. We need a far more joined-up approach across the health boards in particular, which we spoke about last week, and organisations such as Digital Health and Care Wales. Despite spending millions of pounds on digital transformation, progress on different electronic patient records has been slow, with work most often delayed due to health boards not collaborating or working with each other. We are already lagging behind countries with integrated national systems, remaining reliant on fragmented digital infrastructure, which is cost inefficient and unable to communicate effectively. Can the Cabinet Secretary outline how he will work with the Minister for Health and Care to deliver the hard reset that is needed across our health boards to deliver this meaningful change? Diolch yn fawr.

I'm sure all Members in this Chamber have a strong interest in the performance of the NHS, and particularly in terms of its staff. Therefore, after last week's debate on eyecare, I picked up the latest issue of Eye News magazine, volume No. 33. And I came across a fascinating article written by Dr Gwyn Williams of Plaid Cymru, where he blasts the high levels of sick leave being taken by staff in his own department. He then goes on to create a humorous quiz, poking fun at the various excuses he feels are being made by NHS staff to take sick leave. These include,

'thrashing the Equality Act 2010 to within an inch of its life to get the very most out of the NHS.'

Dr Williams finishes the quiz by saying that, for nurses and other staff who take too much stress-related sick leave,

'A gulag is too good for you. You are the reason the NHS is in the state it's in'.

So, I ask the Minister: does he agree with the comments made by Dr Gwyn Williams, Member of the Senedd, and does the questioner align with Plaid's measuring of NHS staff performance?

Thank you for that question and those choice quotes. I haven't had the pleasure of reading Eye News yet, but I'm sure the library will provide me with a copy in due course so that I may read the whole article in context. I think there's an interesting issue here around public sector absence and how you work with people to tackle that absence. This may not win favour with the opposition benches there, but I had a very interesting conversation with colleagues from the trade unions about a health board that had proactively put an absence management team in to support people to return to work more effectively and quicker and, in light of that, saw a significant fall in absence rates. So, it can be done, working with staff. Our NHS professionals are ones that want to serve the NHS, and I believe that collaborative and co-operative work is rather better than potentially sending people to the gulag.

Thank you for the question. The assessment I have undertaken concludes that the United Kingdom is a deeply unequal and unfair state with too much power and wealth concentrated in London and the south-east of England to the detriment of Wales and other parts of the UK, as indeed has been noted by Members of this Senedd across this Senedd in debates in recent weeks.

Minister, the most recent available data published by the Office for National Statistics demonstrates that the net fiscal deficit for Wales in 2024-25 was between £22 billion and £23 billion, the second largest fiscal deficit per person of any country or region in the United Kingdom. Only Northern Ireland had a larger per capita fiscal deficit. Expenditure per capita in Wales in 2024-25 was higher than the UK average, while revenue per capita was below the UK average. Has the Welsh Government made any assessment as to the net public sector fiscal balance in Wales for the 2025-26 fiscal year, and does the Minister accept that Wales is a net fiscal beneficiary of the United Kingdom's fiscal transfers?

Thank you for the question. As somebody who is a fan of net fiscal statistics, it is plainly evident that Wales is a net fiscal beneficiary of the United Kingdom. But I put this to the Member: isn't that a remarkable indictment of the United Kingdom's stewardship of this country that we call home, that we remain one of the poorest parts of the United Kingdom, we remain an area where child poverty is at its highest, where our economic development is behind, where our wage growth is behind? The Member has usefully highlighted the truth of the United Kingdom, and if he'd like some figures, let me tell him, too, about some smaller independent successful countries. Since 2014, New Zealand has seen a 30 per cent growth in gross domestic product, Latvia has seen a 20 per cent growth in GDP, Slovenia 33 per cent, Slovakia—Slovakia, from the former eastern bloc—27 per cent, where the UK has seen growth of 15 per cent. Small, independent, successful countries.

For nearly 50 years, successive UK Governments, Conservatives and Labour, have followed Margaret Thatcher's broken neoliberal ideology—[Interruption.]—which puts profit before people. Our national utilities have been sold off at a fraction of their value—[Interruption.]—and tens of billions of pounds of dividends have been extracted.

Can you give the Member a chance to read his question, because I can't hear it from here? Please start again, Nick.

For nearly 50 years, successive UK Governments, Conservative and Labour, have followed Margaret Thatcher's broken neoliberal ideology that puts profit before people. Our national utilities have been sold off at a fraction of their value, and tens of billions of pounds of dividends have been extracted. The French Government now owns our nuclear power industry. A Czech billionaire owns the Royal Mail. Here in Cymru, our heavy industry and the communities it supported have been abandoned, while Westminster is spending £100 billion on HS2 for half a railway that costs more than NASA's mission to the moon.

Then there are the scandals: PFI, PPE, the sale of MOD homes, not to mention an illegal war in Iraq, 20 wasted years in Afghanistan, and now complicity in Israel's genocide in Gaza. So, on the contrary, Cabinet Minister, what assessment is being made into the benefit to Wales of not being part of the United Kingdom? Diolch.

I thank the Member for the question. I think I'd probably add to his list that we should also note that the UK has been responsible for a decade of austerity, which has led to the unravelling of the fabric of our society: community centres, leisure centres, banks, libraries and all those facilities that are the beating heart of Welsh communities. Now, let me be clear: whether Wales should or should not be part of the UK is a question for the people of Wales, and for the people of Wales alone.

[Inaudible.]—now?

No, thank you, Mike. We answered that question several times in our previous session, I believe. But for my part, I want to see our nation empowered so that more decisions are taken in Wales for the benefit of Wales. This would mean greater control over fiscal levers, over natural resources, over the Crown Estate, justice, policing, welfare and rail. Put simply, Wales shouldn't be denied the powers granted to Scotland, so that the primary driver of policy making is the best interests of our community, not the vested interests so entrenched in the broken Westminster system.

We are working closely with the UK Government on their forthcoming clean water Bill to ensure that the final proposals avoid any regulatory gaps, establish the powers needed for a new Welsh regulator and support effective cross-border working arrangements where these are required.

Before I ask my supplementary, I declare my registered interest as a former employee of Abercarn rugby club. Abercarn welfare ground shows the real impact that flooding and sewerage contamination has on a community. The ground supports rugby, football and cricket. Sewage has surfaced on the field and pitches have sat unusable for weeks at a time, disrupting local sports and raising clear public health and environmental concerns. The wider issue is ageing sewerage infrastructure, polluted waterways, flood risk and contaminated land, with community facilities left to carry the consequences when systems fail.

What discussions is the Cabinet Secretary having with Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water, National Resources Wales, Caerphilly County Borough Council and the UK Government to bring forward plans with clear deadlines for Abercarn welfare ground, covering testing, clean-up, public health advice and long-term sewerage and drainage works, and what is the Welsh Government doing to secure the powers, regulation and resources needed to stop sewage contamination and flooding from damaging community facilities in the future? 

I thank the Member, whose made a very clear question and statement about the dangers of sewage and the very real impact on communities and community facilities, and for that very reason, we are seeking to take control of water in Wales. Our approach is to work collaboratively with the UK Government, focusing on practical delivery and maintaining system stability. The Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability is meeting Minister Hardy from the UK Government this Thursday to progress those discussions.

Cabinet Minister, across Wales, people are struggling with the cost of water bills. They're not interested in devolution or additional devolution. They're more interested in the increase of their bills by 27 per cent. Cabinet Minister, as you're well aware, water networks in Wales cross the Wales and English border. In light of this, what clear problems would devolution solve, and how would this improve services or cut bills for the Welsh household?

We are committed to working with a new Welsh water regulator to improve sewage discharges in Wales, to bring down bills in Wales. The performance of water companies right across the UK has not been good enough in recent years, and I think that has led to the UK position where we're moving towards a UK clean Water bill. I've been pleased with the engagement we've had with colleagues in the UK Government—productive, collaborative engagement—to ensure that we have the powers in Wales to deliver a better deal for people in Wales on water, as on many other matters. 

All Ministers have a duty to promote sustainable development throughout our work. We are committed to working collaboratively to deliver our requirements under the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015, and it's central to the way policy options are developed across the Welsh Government and in the advice provided to Ministers.

Thank you. Active travel as a preventative health measure is to be encouraged within communities. This also plays across a number of well-being goals, such as a healthier Wales, a Wales of cohesive communities and a globally responsible Wales. Will such activity be included in the proposals to improve measurable outcomes of our well-being goals to help assess the impacts of such measures?

Thank you to the Member for the question. Colleagues will know that I have in the past taken some interest in matters of active travel, but I know my colleague the Deputy Minister for Transport is developing plans across the whole range of transport interventions. But the approach of the well-being Act is to embed issues like active travel right across Government, in the ways of working and in delivering on the seven well-being goals. It is important for me in active travel, as in all of the issues we face, to ask the question, 'What outcomes are changing?'—not how much money is being spent on something, but are more people, in that case, walking and cycling?

I'm working closely with the Cabinet Minister for Finance to ensure reform of Wales’s funding arrangements, and that is at the forefront of our engagement with the UK Government. I raised fair funding at a meeting of UK Ministers at the Interministerial Standing Committee on 24 June in Belfast.

Thank you, Minister. This underscores a truth known that decisions about Wales must be made in Wales. Devolution is about the reality on our doorsteps, our schools, our hospitals, our right to shape our own future and the right to control our own resources. Now, having served in local government for just close on 50 years as a councillor, I have seen the damage first-hand. Our councils are stretched to the limit and public services are under unprecedented strain. It is time now to demand a system that works for Wales, not one that holds us back.

Minister, what other steps can you take, as a Welsh Government, to push, as a matter of extreme urgency, in my opinion, for the replacement of the current funding formula, which is limiting the full potential of devolution? Together, this Senedd, with all of the councils across Wales, could be a united force to ensure better funding for our country.

Thank you for the question. I very much hope that this Senedd and councils across Wales will speak with one voice, securing fair funding for Wales. We will continue to press the UK Government for improvements to the current funding arrangements, through discussions on the wider fiscal framework and inter-governmental finance mechanisms. I should say to the Senedd that in our initial discussions with colleagues from the UK Government, they have been co-operative and collaborative, and that forms a sound basis, I think, for future engagement.

As I've already spoken on in this Chamber, councils are in real financial distress. We are seeing massive increases in council tax, growing debt bubbles and serious service cuts. This is why the Government's plan to review the funding formula is so important. However, as with everything, Minister, detail is key. Strong words and bold promises aren't enough. So, with local government on tenterhooks waiting for this review, can you tell us how you intend to review the formula? What components are you looking to change and, most importantly, how will the Welsh Government define success when it's reviewing the formula? What does a successful review look like to the Welsh Government? Minister, this place and, most importantly, local government need answers.

I thank the Member for the question. I think there are two fiscal—. I mean, we are ambitious—we're aiming for two funding reforms at the moment. There's the funding reform that the Welsh Government seeks from the UK Government, for which I take responsibility, working with my colleague the Cabinet Minister for Finance, and we are pressing the UK Government for progress there. My colleague the local government Minister is working on the funding system to ensure fairness right across our councils for local authorities in Wales. But I do very much hear the point about the pressure on local authority budgets in Wales, which I am sure my colleague will be taking into account as that work develops.

Public services boards are central to bringing public service partners together to collaborate on assessing and addressing the well-being needs of their areas. I will work closely with all public services board chairs to provide national support and ensure their implementation is efficient in enacting existing legislation.

Minister, the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 gives unpaid carers the same legal rights as the people they care for. It promises a carer's needs assessment and clear information and advice to help them in their caring role. But the reality is very different. Very few unpaid carers actually receive those assessments, and even fewer get the statutory support that they are entitled to after them. A new round of population needs assessments is under development for May 2027, but if unpaid carers don’t receive the support that they’re entitled to, more are at risk of being pushed into poverty, their health deteriorating and having to give up or cut back on paid work. What will this new Government do to ensure that public services boards, regional partnership boards and others use these plans to close the implementation gap in the social services and well-being Act and finally deliver on the promises that were made to unpaid carers over a decade ago?

I thank the Member for the question. My understanding, and colleagues will be aware, is that the public sector, the PSBs and the regional partnership boards are separate bodies that have separate responsibilities, and, as such, the RPBs, established under the social services and well-being Act, are the responsibility of the Cabinet Minister for Health and Care. However, recently I’ve been looking at how we might tie together more effectively the work of the public services boards and the regional partnership boards, because what’s been happening here is that assessments of the local community needs have been happening by one board at a given timescale and not necessarily on the same, consistent data, and then by another set of people, for the same area or for a very similar area, at the same time. So, I'm working with colleagues in Government to make progress as to how we might better use evidence—use the same evidence, use robust, independent data—to build more effective performance from both the regional partnership boards and the PSBs. I hope that that kind of work will then lead to improvements in both social services and in public services more generally.

Members will have seen yesterday that the Scarlets signed a new deal with the Welsh Rugby Union, but, rather than seen as a success, it was described on the BBC as 'peace is temporary'. Welsh rugby is in an uncertain time, especially its professional side. Now, I found myself on a side where I was agreeing with the Deputy First Minister when she said to the Chamber, on 3 February 2026:

'It’s disappointing that the Welsh Government has failed to recognise its role in the matter'.

She also then went on to say,

'it’s not good enough for them'—

the Welsh Government—

'to wash their hands of the matter.'

Now, I wrote a written question to you, Trefnydd, with your other ministerial hat on as the Minister for sport, in which I asked you if you'd spoken to the WRU and will you step in and protect the regions. You wrote back to me saying that decisions on the future of the game in Wales are a matter for the WRU. So, I was interested, Deputy Llywydd, if the Minister would come to the Chamber when we come back and state what the Welsh Government's position now is. Because Plaid Cymru seemed to say one thing when they weren't in power and are saying something totally different now. Can the people of Wales have assurances that the national game will be protected and that their voices will be heard when the Government steps in?

Once again, yesterday, trains on the Ebbw Vale line stopping in Newport were cancelled. Transport for Wales said this was due to more trains than usual needing repairs, and this is not the first time that this has happened. I know how disruptive these cancellations are for local people, and this is in addition to frequently overcrowded trains due to the limited number of carriages. People rely on these trains to get to work and college, and delays and cancellations have a big impact. It does seem that every time there is a problem on another part of the network it is this line that is most often hit. This is not fair and has a disproportionate impact on people relying on the Ebbw Vale line. I'd like to hear from the transport Minister how he will ensure a full and regular service on the Ebbw Vale line.

Business Minister, can I please request a Government statement about the Supreme Court's clear ruling that sex means biological sex only? I'm sure you'll appreciate that sporting opportunities for women and girls are vitally important for their health, social inclusion and development. Yet the Football Association of Wales, a body that receives significant and ongoing Welsh Government investment, continues to operate an eligibility policy that allows some men to play in the women's game whilst girls have no category to call their own. Following the Supreme Court's judgment on 16 April 2025, the Scottish Football Association acted within 14 days to uphold the Equality Act 2010 protections for the female game. The English Football Association followed just one day later with a legally compliant policy in place. It is now over 445 days since the judgment, yet women in Wales are still waiting for any announcement on their own sporting category.

Silence from the Football Association of Wales prompted the Women's Rights Network Wales to meet with the CEO, Noel Mooney, last year. They were assured that FAW intended to review their policy, but also that the organisation felt it necessary to wait for guidance from the Welsh Government. Will the Welsh Government now take responsibility and explicitly direct Sport Wales to inform the FAW that maintaining a fair, sex-segregated category is not optional but a fundamental requirement for any organisation receiving public funding, to ensure that women and girls can enjoy fair opportunity and fair participation in their own sport? A statement from the Welsh Government addressing the above points would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

I'd like a statement from you, Trefnydd, in your capacity as the Minister for culture, on how the books council funds news outlets in Wales. One such news outlet approached me this week asking for the location of a family home. They have also asked other members of the group that I sit in for the names of their family members and also their homes as well and details of their addresses and family members. They say they don't want to publish it, but why ask for it in the first place?

I was also told that they have sources who have been to my home and can tell them exactly where I live. They also said they wouldn't publish that, but I can inform you, Trefnydd, and the Senedd, that I've passed it on to Senedd security with the hope of them passing it on to South Wales Police. With attacks on politicians on the rise, and the sad murder of Ann Widdecombe this week, asking for this level of detail is totally unacceptable. So, will you please bring forward a statement on the funding that the books council provides to these news outlets to ensure that they are not putting any politicians at any undue risk or harm? 

Trefnydd, could I possibly request a statement from the Cabinet Member for Rural Resilience and Sustainability on the fact that greyhounds were allowed to race at Valley track last week at temperatures reaching 30 degrees, when the advice of vets is not to even walk your dogs at temperatures of 21 degrees or above? What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the welfare implications for greyhounds racing in these extreme temperatures?

Well, thank you for raising that. Obviously, many Members here will have been sharing those warnings about not walking dogs or taking care of animals and livestock during the extreme weather, and greyhounds are no exception.

The welfare of greyhounds must be a primary consideration whenever racing takes place, including during periods of hot weather. We know the high temperatures can present additional welfare risks for racing dogs, which is why it is important that track operators carefully assess local conditions and implement appropriate measures to protect animal welfare. Those responsible for racing greyhounds also have a duty to monitor dogs closely, ensuring access to shade and water, and, as a Government, we would expect any decisions relating to racing in hot weather to be informed by veterinary—oh, sorry—veterinary advice—veterinary, sorry, advice; you can tell I usually say that word in Welsh—and welfare considerations for the specific circumstances at the track.

Diolch, Deputy Llywydd. Can I have a statement from the housing Minister on the latest housing policy for women fleeing abusive relationships? A few weeks ago I met with Grace Andellten, a brave and courageous domestic abuse survivor. From her harrowing experience, she found the strength to write a book to help other women in the same situation. Now her book is a powerful testimony of her story. She survived sexual assault, physical assault, coercive control, as well as being pursued, after leaving the relationship, by her ex-partner. She's personally reached out to all Members of the Senedd to seek support, but, instead of taking up her recommendations for Georgia's Law, around rapid rehousing for working women fleeing high-risk abuse, many Members of this Senedd and the previous Senedd have chosen to ignore her cries for help. Trefnydd, domestic violence is not party political. We all have a duty to act in this Chamber, so I've written a letter to the Cabinet Minister for housing relaying her concerns, and, in the meantime, it would be much appreciated if everybody here went online and enacted the support for women fleeing violent relationships they so desperately deserve. Diolch.

Thank you to the Member for raising such an important issue. Obviously, the Deputy First Minister is here as well, and, in terms of our commitment as a Government to eradicating any violence, that is paramount. I will ensure that I flag to the Cabinet Minister for housing that you have written to her and ask that you have a full response.

Trefnydd, yesterday the Association of School and College Leaders and the National Association of Head Teachers notified the Welsh Government that they are declaring a trade dispute with the Welsh Government, citing additional learning needs funding as one of the reasons for that dispute. They are asking for ACAS to now be involved to resolve this matter with the Government. This comes at the same time as the National Education Union are also undertaking an indicative ballot, based on concerns they have about Welsh Government's approach to funding. This is an unprecedented situation for this Welsh Government to be in, just 64 days into your first 100 days. I'd like to ask for a statement from the Cabinet Minister for Education and Welsh Language on what steps will be taken to resolve these disputes with our trade union partners, so that we can ensure that the needs of children and young people are met.

The Member will be aware that there is an offer on the table, and a subsequent offer made since the unions made contact, that is more than what was on the table had Labour been re-elected to lead this Welsh Government. So, very clearly, there is now a pathway this afternoon for yourselves, ourselves, to join forces and unlock the substantial additional funding for ALN this year and in future years. That is within our power today: £40 million for ALN today; £40 million the following year; £40 million—[Interruption.] More than the £9 million you had on the table. So, we can play politics or we can think of those children with additional learning needs. We can work together for those children with additional learning needs and put in place a plan that is workable, deliverable and meaningful. That is your choice today, and I really hope that you make the right choice.

Trefnydd, the Bassaleg residents of Forge Mews have been abandoned from the life we all know for close to five years. The old Bassaleg bridge was deemed to be unfit to be unfit for use, leaving the residents with no direct access to their properties other than on foot. Newport City Council have attempted to resolve the matter, but due to funding needs denied by the former Welsh Labour Government in the last Senedd, they are still locked out of normal life, with a resolution still to be found. Imagine, Minister, five years of having to walk home instead of arriving on your own doorstep, five years of having to factor in extra travel time for work or school runs, five years of having to rely on emergency access for fire, ambulance and police support delaying response times, and five years of seeing your house price fall in value, locking you into negative equity. Those residents don't have to imagine; it's their lived reality. To add insult to injury, the council has not even offered them a reduction in their council tax across the last five years, despite a clear lack of services for them. Will the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning agree to meet with me and the resident body to find a lasting solution to their plight?

Trefnydd, can I request an answer on the Welsh Government's programme for identifying and eliminating waste spending across departments? As this Plaid Cymru Government continues to look down the back of every departmental sofa in search of the money needed to prove its so-called fully funded manifesto commitments are in fact fully funded, what reviews have been initiated or completed to identify duplication, unnecessary bureaucracy, inefficient spending and programmes that are no longer delivering value for taxpayers, including any legacy issues inherited from the previous Government? Given that the Government has now been in office for over 60 days, there has been ample opportunity to begin this work. What waste has already been identified and corrected? What further efficiencies are planned? When will the Government publish a report so that Members and the people of Wales can scrutinise the findings and see how taxpayers' money has been saved and spent more effectively?

Trefnydd, I want to raise a concerning matter that was brought to my attention by residents in Redwick, in my constituency. They have endured low water pressure for years, but during the drier summer months, the situation is exacerbated considerably, for example, not being able to use washing machines or have showers. Then there's the impact on dairy and beef farmers in the area. In low-pressure conditions, water butts for cattle cannot be filled to keep pace with how much the cows are drinking in this heatwave. This is therefore becoming an animal welfare issue, with one farmer telling me that their back-up supplies of water are depleted and they are, I quote, surviving from day to day. 

The response to the issue from Welsh Water has fallen far short of residents' expectations, and they are becoming increasingly frustrated that the seriousness of the situation is not being grasped, and there is no talk of a long-term solution. Can I therefore ask for a statement on water provision and the Government's response to the extended drought period we are facing, as it increases pressure on water supplies?

Well, thank you to the Member for raising that extremely important issue, and given that the hot weather is expected to be extended as well, I would ask the Member to urgently write to Dŵr Cymru, with the fact that you've raised it on the floor of the Chamber today. As we know, extreme weather can pose a major threat to animal welfare. Similar to my response to the previous Member around greyhound racing, we know that farmers must remain alert to weather conditions and forecast and take appropriate action to mitigate the risk. But if that is impossible because of issues with the water supply, then obviously that needs to be raised with Dŵr Cymru, and I would encourage the Member to do that as quickly as possible. 

For almost two years, my constituents in Pontardawe have been without their local swimming pool. Families, schools, swimming clubs and older people are now having to travel to either Neath or Ystradgynlais. And, as we've heard, it's really important for children as well to learn to swim. That's really, really important. Neath Port Talbot Council has done its part in completing a feasibility survey and identifying a preferred option for replacement, but there's still an £11 million shortfall. So, I was just wondering what could the Welsh Government do in order to help Neath Port Talbot Council to get that money in order to ensure that there is a swimming pool in Pontardawe. Diolch yn fawr iawn.

Diolch, Deputy Presiding Officer. Trefnydd, I would like to call for a Welsh Government statement on what support can be provided to constituents and local communities who wish to challenge the actions of well-funded infrastructure developers. As you will know, High Court proceedings are simply beyond the means of most families. Many of the constituents that I represent in Carmarthenshire have been subjected to survey notices that the High Court found were not issued in accordance with the statutory scheme. Concerned landowners and occupiers have faced significant stress and expenses because of the actions that they have been subjected to. They would welcome reassurances from this Welsh Government on what support can be provided to them. Therefore, I call for a Welsh Government statement on this matter. Diolch.

Today I'll talk about our first phase of legislation. This recognises the dual importance of bringing early momentum to this legislature's work whilst allowing space to build agreement and develop genuinely impactful legislation across a full four-year term. There are several areas where action can be taken swiftly.

Firstly, we want to protect and enhance Wales's unique sense of community. Our nation is a rich tapestry of urban and rural, north and south, young and old, but the legacy of a decade and more of austerity has chipped away at our sense of place. We will therefore proceed with the development of a community right-to-buy scheme and provide the legislative basis to enable eligible community groups to nominate and register valuable community assets to be given the right of first refusal when the owners decide to sell. We want more, not fewer, places that allow people to meet, learn, organise and make decisions together, and we want these to remain in the hands of our communities.

Secondly, the value my Government places on fairness has motivated us to take action to strengthen the rights of tenants in the private rented sector. We will initially bring forward legislation focusing on strengthening our enforcement framework and the regulatory role of Rent Smart Wales, as well as requiring the sharing of rent data. This will lay the groundwork for more substantial changes that will improve housing affordability, make rents fairer, and limit no-fault evictions, to be brought forward later in this Senedd term. We're also developing proposals to legislate for the right to adequate housing, because nobody should be forced to suffer the anxiety and unacceptable stigma that so often comes with having nowhere to call home.

Thirdly, to leave a greener legacy for generations to come, we will bring forward environmental proposals that support the developing climate and nature action plan. We will make existing legislation clearer, more workable and better able to support delivery on climate change, nature recovery, woodland protection, waste management improvements, environmental enforcement and the sustainable use of natural resources.

We also intend to develop a statutory duty on rural-proofing, to ensure rural needs are considered consistently when policies are developed and delivered. I made a promise to lead a Government for the whole of Wales and this long-overdue change honours that. Consultation will begin imminently on these environmental and rural resilience proposals. As a package, they will strengthen legal and policy tools, support fair and effective regulation, and help deliver cleaner places, healthier ecosystems and stronger rural communities.

Finally, on the first phase of the legislative programme, I turn to the economy. Whilst far too many major economic levers still reside in Westminster, we will not stop making the case for their transfer. But, as an immediate step, a tax maintenance Bill will continue Wales's tax devolution journey. These proposals will help the Welsh Revenue Authority continue to administer the land transaction tax and landfill disposals tax effectively by making operational and technical changes to clarify, enhance and futureproof the Welsh tax Acts and to support information sharing between the WRA and local authorities.

My Government will never place limitations on our level of ambition for Wales. The new national development agency will spearhead our mission to halve Wales's productivity gap with the rest of the UK in the next decade. With the Minister for enterprise already having announced an expert advisory panel, there is considerable momentum behind this goal. We won't take a final decision on the form of that agency until we've been able to consider the panel's advice, but we will be ready to bring forward legislation should that be required.

This practical approach will underpin our activity in a number of areas, including child poverty and the Welsh language. We will review the evidence, we will consider the options available, and we will bring forward legislation where that is what is needed to deliver the outcomes on the ground that we want to see.

Before concluding, Llywydd, I'll say a brief word about other legislation. It's the combination of primary and secondary legislation that makes up the backbone of the developing Welsh statute book. The Government's vision is not only to bring forward individual instruments that improve the lives of the people of Wales, but at the same time to create a body of Welsh law that is clear, coherent and accessible to those who rely on it. Central to this vision is our continuing programme of consolidation and codification of Welsh legislation.

Whilst I'm grateful to the Government for the advance notice of these legislative priorities issued via the media this morning, surely Government announcements, especially when they relate to Bills to be introduced in this place, should be first made in this place, out of respect for all Members of this Parliament. I would encourage the Government to reflect on that and treat this place with the respect that it deserves.

The statement refers to this programme as a far-reaching and ambitious programme that reflects the values of the Government. That may be so if the bar is set low. It doesn't squarely reflect the priorities of the people of Wales. On the cost of living, making rents fairer is a noble aim, but the root cause of unaffordable rents is the housing shortage. The Government should be tackling the root cause of this by overhauling the planning system, giving house builders more certainty and skilling up our young people for a lifetime of work in construction. We should also be giving councils more powers to say 'no' to houses in multiple occupation.

The new development agency is an admission that this Government does not possess the expertise to directly deal with business and industry. For a moment there during the First Minister's speech, I thought that the Minister for enterprise was coming to sit next to me to tell me so. He got a little lost in the Chamber, and I think that's an omen for how lost the Government is on its policy with the economy. But businesses want to deal with decision makers, not agencies acting as a sales force. They want decisions on planning, on land assembly, on grant funding and business rate incentives. No quango can offer that. Plaid have finally got power and they're handing it over to yet another quango. Far from creating more quangos, we should be consolidating them and bringing their functions in-house and saving on the extortionate management costs.

On rural-proofing, as was the case with the sustainable farming scheme, the devil will be in the detail. It sounds like another environmental sustainability scheme, but what rural communities need is the Government off their backs when it comes to food production, and acting fairly when it comes to transport, health and education. Food security and increasing food exports is a large part of rural-proofing. Where is the legislation to safeguard those sectors?

On tribunals, not one voter in Wales told me they wanted tribunal reform, but I do understand the importance of the tribunal system. But the language used to justify it is all about making the case for further devolution of justice and taking us on Plaid's journey to independence.

On water reform, my group tabled a motion to clean up our waters, our seas, our rivers, which Plaid shamefully voted against. Today's announcement is a welcome u-turn, and I'm pleased that Plaid are now following Reform's lead on this topic. And there could be room for consensus on this—hopefully so; you talked about consensus, First Minister. 

Tackling child poverty—sadly, three decades of devolution has done little to eradicate poverty in Wales, and giving free childcare to all families, even those where the parents are millionaires, isn't going to make the impact the Government expects. I understand the aim is for parents to be able to go out and work, but where are the jobs? Where is the plan for an economic boom in Wales?

This Government appears to have chosen topics where it thinks there is consensus, and I understand why a minority Government would do that. But another approach would be to unite this Chamber with a more ambitious vision for Wales—a vision that sees Wales lead in certain sectors, such as nuclear energy and logistics, a vision that sees farmers produce even more of our high-quality food to export, to enable a radical step change in house building, and to significantly tighten up the performance management of the health boards, the health chiefs and the education sector.

Wales has so much potential, but this programme does little to unleash it. We've seen these kinds of Bills and measures before. They have made little difference to the daily lives of the people of Wales. People voted for change, but they've ended up with continuity. Where Reform can see merit in legislation, we will support, we will offer our own ideas, but this is a missed opportunity to take Wales's story to another level, and I can't help but feel that the people of Wales will be underwhelmed when they see this programme as a whole.

Now, I know much can be achieved without laws and with the normal levers of Government, but we have waited 30 years for this moment. There are just under four years left of this term, and Reform will do all it can to increase the level of ambition in this Parliament. Diolch.

I'll respond on a few of those points. I am still waiting for any sign of ambition from Reform for Wales, but I'll address a couple of issues. On rural-proofing, I think the Member confuses what this is. Yes, there's an element of that legislation that is about empowering us as a Senedd and as a Government to take our environmental responsibilities more seriously, and to act in clearer ways. The rural-proofing element is about recognising the specific challenges that we have in rural Wales, and this Government is taking the necessary action to show that we are here to govern for all of Wales. And I'm very, very surprised to hear Reform, that champion themselves as supporters of rural Wales, objecting, essentially, to a measure that is about promoting the interests of rural Wales. Maybe he'd like to reflect on that. 

On the development agency, the Member on one hand asks, 'Where's the plan for growing the Welsh economy?', and on the other hand he objects to the idea of having this development agency, which is all about growing the Welsh economy and creating a new impetus. I'm afraid he is totally out of step with business in Wales, that, from my experience, if not all of them, then pretty much all of them agree with us that this is a positive step.

If we look at the positive impact of development agencies within these islands—in Scotland and in Ireland, for example—this is something that we could benefit from. I agree with him that there is a recognition here that Government doesn't have all the answers, but the point made is that Governments can't have all the answers. We are bringing in business to lead this with us because it is the ingenuity and the agility of business that will allow us to move forward.

On tribunals, I'm not sure why he decided to focus on that, but I think the Member's objection to making tribunals work better for Wales betrays Reform's opposition to empowering Wales in any way, not least, heaven forbid, to make devolution work better.

Diolch, Brif Weinidog. Before I turn to the leader of Welsh Labour, can I just pick up on the point that was just made? This is a gentle reminder but a clear reminder that normally, out of respect for this Chamber, significant announcements would be made in the Chamber and then face scrutiny within the Chamber. So, I just ask the Government and the First Minister to reflect on that, rather than it being announced outside of this Chamber and then coming here. Ken Skates. 

Diolch, Lywydd, especially for that kind and polite reminder of bringing announcements like this first to the Senedd.

First Minister, there are many aspects to welcome, I believe, in this statement, but I would appreciate clarity on a number of points. It was of course one of the Government's key commitments to put rural-proofing on a statutory footing, and I look forward to scrutinising that legislation. I'll be particularly interested to understand what outcomes it'll drive for rural communities, because the test, of course, is not the drafting and the passage of the Bill, but what changes for rural communities. Likewise, on the fair rent Bill, I'm proud of how the last Welsh Labour Government strengthened protections for tenants, and my colleagues and I look forward to scrutinising the Government's proposals in this area.

I'd particularly like to welcome the Government's announcement of a new law creating a community right to buy. This is a long-standing priority for many communities across Wales, and is particularly championed by the Co-operative Party. It empowers local people to bring valuable community spaces back into community ownership, and I know that work on this started under the last Welsh Labour Government. Of course, in England there is already a community right to buy, introduced by the UK Labour Government, and I'm a huge advocate of giving communities more power in decision making over their own areas. It's exactly what the community right to buy helps to achieve—places like The Raven Inn in Llanarmon-yn-Iâl; I believe it's frequented by Darren Millar many times. That shows just how powerful a community right-to-buy scheme can be in empowering and uniting a community. I think it's an important tool in helping community groups to buy places like pubs, but also like schools, shops, open spaces and other places in towns and villages, and indeed in our cities. It protects places that make our communities special, that matter to people, and gives people more of a say in designing their own high streets.

Now, the UK Labour Government's backed this up with a fund to help communities to buy assets. So, what additional practical support will this Government put in place to ensure that communities can actually make use of the new law? I'd particularly suggest that the community facilities programme could be a useful vehicle for providing financial support and indeed advice to communities that need it.

The First Minister won't be surprised to hear me raise legislation for a school staff negotiating body in the Siambr. I'm disappointed to see that it's not included in the statement today. We committed, when we were in Government, to a school support staff negotiating body, and much of the preparatory work is done. It's ready to go, in fact. And, of course, when the Senedd recently voted on this matter, there was cross-party support for it. We were always clear, though, in Government that a new negotiating body would have addressing year-round pay as its first priority, because across Wales, 27,000 school support staff—the teaching assistants, the kitchen staff, caretakers and many others that schools rely on—are only being paid during term time. And, of course, we're mere days away from the school summer holidays, a time at which, at least symbolically, these vital staff members are without pay. And it is about fair pay, it's about job security, it's about social justice, it's about stability for children, and it's also about equality, because 90 per cent of school support staff are women. For thousands of families across Wales, year-round pay would be a huge step forward, and I would urge the Government to commit to taking this forward as soon as possible.

Now, another Bill I'd hoped to see in today's statement was a taxi and private hire vehicles Bill, which, as many Members will know, was developed as a White Paper under the Welsh Labour Government. Such a Bill would legislate to regulate the taxi and private hire vehicle sector, including addressing the problem of cross-bordering, which is particularly prevalent in Cardiff and Newport. Now, since the White Paper, the need for this legislation has only increased. There's no doubt about it. We now live in an age of rapidly evolving technology, particularly with regard to automation, that will fundamentally change how people across Wales work, how they travel and therefore how they use taxis and private hire vehicles. This legislation, I believe, will only become more relevant and necessary as the pace of change continues to increase, and I'd urge the Government to give this matter close consideration. Diolch.

Thank you very much for those comments. On the timing of this statement, I would make it clear, Llywydd, that we are following in both spirit and in practice the precise protocols that have always been followed and were followed by the previous Government, and this is the statement that I'm making in the Senedd Chamber this afternoon.

I welcome the Member taking an opportunity to speak about a number of the legislative opportunities that he would like to pursue. Commenting on the ones in our programme that he referred to, I welcome his support for the principle of introducing the rural-proofing legislation. There's a lot of work to be done around even defining what 'rural' means, because currently, in statutory terms, we don't have that. So, it's a matter of ensuring that we have the frameworks within which, then, we can say that, in everything Government does, it has to take into account the impact of decisions on rural Wales. It's very, very important.

Also on protecting renters, I welcome that support. This is building, indeed, on current legislation, and bridging to future legislation. There is further legislation that this Government would wish to introduce to protect renters further, but I think it's important that we keep an eye on how we can build consensus on the need to protect renters in this key sector.

On the statutory school support staff legislation, you're right, this has been a topic of conversation, debate and vote in this Senedd recently, and as was implied in the way the vote went, I can see that benefits of a statutory body that would give support staff similar arrangements to those set up in England, giving them a similar status to our teachers, who already have an independent pay review body. So, I'm very keen, as was said during that particular debate, to investigate how that could be taken forward. I would say, though, as I referred to in the statement itself, we legislate where we need to legislate, and we always look if there are other ways in which we can get the results we want. So, this Government is determined to make an immediate difference to people's lives, and I'm keen to explore what we can do without legislation too, and I would invite those who would work with us on those aspects of that particular potential legislation.

On community right to buy, again, I welcome the support in principle, and, yes, Wales has slipped behind here. I appreciate that work has been done in previous Governments, but those Governments didn't get it over the line. So, we have an opportunity now to do that. We believe in our communities, we believe in empowering communities, and if we're able to work on this, because working together can bring results, we will drive this forward in the interest of communities the length and breadth of Wales.

First Minister, you've had months to prepare for your legislative statement today, for this moment, in this Chamber, and I have to say, is this it? Is this all you've got to offer the people of Wales? You tried to present yourself as a Government in waiting before the previous election, yet it's quite clear that you don't have a very well-developed plan as to what you actually want to do and deliver for the people in Wales. Tribunal reform, tinkering about with the Welsh tax system—hardly the stuff that people on the doorsteps during the recent Senedd elections were concerned about.

You had absolutely nothing to say about the Welsh NHS, which we know is on its knees, nothing to say about the Welsh education system, which is delivering the worst educational outcomes in the UK, very little to say on the Welsh economy, which is lagging behind other parts of the United Kingdom. And your statement, of course, was made in the sort of casual and presumptive way that we've become familiar with. It seems to make an assumption that your legislative programme will get the support across the Chamber that you want it to get. But if I can just remind you, you're a minority Government, right? You can't make assumptions without engagement with other political parties prior to making your statements. Not engaging with the media prior to making your statements, but engaging with other political parties and trying to seek a little bit of consensus.

Now, we've made it clear, right from the outset of your term of office, that we're prepared to work with you, we're prepared to work with any political party in this Chamber, to support legislation that is in the interests of the people of Wales. But you've made no attempt whatsoever to reach out to my party, and, to my understanding, either Reform or the Labour Party, about this legislative programme that you've set out today.

So, let me set out some alternative proposals on the things that are a matter of concern to the people of Wales. The NHS is in crisis. Some of that crisis is down to failing leadership. So, we need an NHS accountability and governance Bill to ensure that senior leaders in our health service are competent and can be held to account when things go wrong. We need to deliver that mobile phone ban in schools that you're, sluggishly, going to consult on, without giving a clear commitment as to how you're going to introduce it. We need a new additional learning needs and autism Bill to help young people to reach their full potential. And we need to protect those female-only spaces in schools, leisure centres and other buildings to keep women and girls safe and to make sure that that Supreme Court ruling on sex is fully implemented.

We do need a national development agency, and this is one of the things that I hope we can work together on. But it needs to be a reformed development agency that will deliver true benefits for the people of Wales. And it's not just a national development agency. We also need to reform business rates here in our country so that we can revive our high streets, and help shops, pubs, cafes and post offices to be able to thrive and to prevent the further closure of buildings in our town centres.

And while we do support the community right-to-buy plan, which we've been calling for for years, by the way, in this Chamber, because we do want to protect those community assets that are at risk of closure, what about legislating for another right to buy—housing? Why don't we restore the right to buy to help people get onto the housing ladder—a reformed right to buy that puts the proceeds back into developing more affordable housing? Why don't we legislate to bring empty homes back into use so that we're not having these terrible empty properties plaguing our towns and communities? Why don't we take some action on council tax to help people keep their council tax costs down, with referendums for excessive rises?

Now, I heard what you had to say about this rural-proofing legislation that you want to bring forward, something that we welcome. But, in your 100-day plan, you specifically refer to funding in relation to that. You didn't mention funding at all today. And, of course, we all know that we actually need wider reform. It's not just rural areas. There are certain geographic parts of Wales that are missing out on fair funding. North Wales, mid Wales, west Wales—they've not been receiving a fair share of investment under successive Welsh Governments as a result of your budget deals with the Labour Party, and we need to change the law to make sure that they do.

So, I am surprised at the lack of cross-party engagement in advance of your statement today. I don't think your statement is sufficiently ambitious, and, if you want some ideas, I'll send you a copy of our manifesto so that you can implement that instead. Thank you.

I did see a copy of the manifesto and decided it wasn't for me, as did most of Wales, to be fair. [Laughter.]

Most of Wales voted against yours too.

I recognise the platform that the Member has to lay out a number of political viewpoints, on much of which legislation is not needed. I could refer to legislation that he did propose that I just disagree on—to bring back the damage caused by Margaret Thatcher on right to buy, the damage that we are still trying to undo in terms of delivering more social housing now. So, we just disagree, okay; we're just going to have to agree to disagree on that point.

On the mobile phone ban, we're taking action. Statutory guidance means we can move quicker without waiting for legislation. Though this Government has said we will legislate if we need to, we reckon we can work quicker than that.

On tax maintenance, he somehow rubbishes the idea of tax maintenance. This is an important part of a well-functioning tax system, and, for a party that pride themselves on prudence, I'm surprised at the Member for taking such a cavalier attitude to making sure that we have good and effective taxation systems.

On business rates, again, we don't need to wait to act. Why doesn't the Government legislate to bring back disused properties into use? Because we don't need to legislate on that, necessarily. There's action that is being taken right now on that.

On fair funding, and making sure that we have a formula, not legislation, that ensures that money is shared out in an equitable way, well, those meetings are already meetings that my Minister for local government is having.

Finally, there's a theme from the Member, and I will allow him to follow whichever theme he wants, but the idea that this is a Government that hasn't, in everything that we've done, made clear our determination to be consensual, from the very first comments that I made here in this Siambr—. I will read out again, Llywydd, my concluding statement in this statement this afternoon. I said that this is a programme that reflects the core values of this Government, and one that I hope will lead to co-operation and the sharing of ideas further among everybody within this Chamber. We are determined to develop legislation on the grounds of building consensus and through co-operation in the interests of all communities in Wales. I'm sorry that he'd switched off at that point.

Now, we're going to move to one-minute contributions. I'm going to see if we can call everybody, but let's see how we get on.

As the former Chair of the Finance Committee, I reflect on what we were told by former finance Ministers about the fiscal position of the previous Government. I've also been following what the new finance Minister has had to say in her analysis of her inherited tight fiscal position, once the actual line-by-line detail has been seen. It also appears that things have got even tighter in recent months as a result of events out of this Government's control. Nevertheless, it's good to see that Plaid Cymru's manifesto commitments are being delivered in this legislative programme this afternoon. I firmly believe that these commitments are for the benefit of the people and communities that we all represent—for example, the community right to buy.

Not only that, these commitments are in line with the pledges of some of the opposition parties in this Siambr, as we've heard this afternoon. I've even agreed with one or two things that Darren Millar has said this afternoon, which is quite something. I hope, therefore, that we're able to put aside some of the political posturing and point scoring in order to find the common ground. So, First Minister, will you agree with me that we should focus on the common ground and those outcomes that benefit people the length and breadth of Wales? Diolch.

I certainly do agree with the Member, and I take heart—. I get the politics, but I take heart from the fact that, across this Chamber, on rural-proofing, for example, there is an agreement, it seems, that this is a good thing to do. The way legislation works, of course, is that we have an outcome that we seek to achieve, legislation is published, it is consulted on and it is us here, it is you as legislators, who are able to shape that legislation with amendments, through committee scrutiny, and so on. The clearer the determination to co-operate in order to strengthen draft legislation on which we have a common agreement that it's a good thing, well, the more likely it is that that will turn into good legislation. And I start from that starting point: we can find that there is common ground; let's see how we turn that into good law.

Having worked in government, I know that arm's-length bodies most often fail on one thing, blurred accountability, where, when a target is missed, the Minister points to the agency and the agency points to the Minister. The First Minister has set out a decade-long target to halve the productivity gap, which is something we should all welcome. So, who, precisely, will be accountable to this Senedd if that target is missed—the responsible Minister or the agency's leadership? And will that accountability be written into the agency's remit in the terms of reference from the outset?

I'm really glad to have that question; it's a chance for me to share my views on this as a matter of principle and to lay out the practical.

It was a belief of the former First Minister Rhodri Morgan that there needed to be a bonfire of the quangos because of the lack of democratic accountability. That was before our Senedd, or Assembly as it was then, was set up. Once we had our Assembly, we had that accountability. So, that's why I believe it was a mistake to bin the Welsh Development Agency at that time. I mean, it needed fixing, but I think it was a mistake to bin it. We have that accountability now. We have many arms-length bodies doing very, very good work. There's very good reason why we need things at arm's length from Government. The reason business has really strongly supported the idea of having a development agency is because it is able to be more fleet of foot than a Government ever can, because I see the limitations that Government has. I believe the accountability is there within our systems, within our committee structures. And it is up to the Government to say, 'We are setting these targets.' It is up to the Government to own those targets. The bodies, within their remits—. And you're right, the remit has to be right, the remit has to make it clear that the buck stops with Government; that's what we would expect always.

On legislation, I always think about how comprehensive education was initially brought in following a Department for Education and Science circular by Anthony Crosland—no legislation. 

I'm a member of the Co-operative Party, who have long campaigned for a community right-to-buy scheme, and I support legislation to enable eligible community groups to nominate and register valuable community assets and be given the right to first refusal when the owner decides to sell. Far too many community buildings are left to deteriorate, and community action could stop some of these becoming derelict. Is any funding going to be made available to help these community purchases?

I also want us to leave a greener legacy for generations to come, and I welcome the environmental proposal to support developing a climate and nature action plan. What I will ask, though, on animals, is: will the proposed legislation provide additional support for animals in Wales? And again I ask for legislation to stop the private ownership of primates.

I note in the First Minister's statement that control over water runs far deeper in Wales's collective memory than it being seen merely as a matter of policy or regulation. Your economy Minister joined me in the last Senedd in supporting the public ownership of water. Will the Welsh Government consider nationalising Welsh Water?

Finally, on the economy, will the Welsh Government consider funding university research in computing and life sciences and the spin-offs that come from it?

Diolch yn fawr iawn. Thank you for those questions. Again, some of those last elements on funding are not necessarily relevant to legislation. On water, yes, I do believe absolutely in the principle of public ownership of water. That's my starting point always. We have now quite an exciting process that we are following with positive engagement from the UK Government currently, on handing us the ability to control and regulate our water in future. Legislating on water isn't necessary to be part of this, if you like, first 18 months of legislative programme, because we are involved in those negotiations with the UK Government now on empowering ourselves in Wales. But, legislation, we will look at how we can use law to protect Welsh water in future because it is so, so important to us.

And on community right to buy, I appreciate the support there for that principle. There's a lot of work to be done in defining what exactly, for example, should be included. Some of the work has begun already, but we will get down to that work in earnest. I should have answered the question earlier on the question of funding. There is already a range of grant and loan funding arrangements available that community groups can access. I'm always interested in seeing how those can be developed further, but I think the important thing here is laying down the legal framework within which we can identify who can be the responsible bodies locally; which community assets need to be protected; and how we put those protections in place. Let's get that work done first.

I welcome so much in the First Minister's legislative statement this afternoon, but I'd like to add my voice, alongside others across the Chamber, to welcome the statutory duty on rural-proofing. For too long, our rural communities have felt let down and forgotten, feeling that policies have been designed by and for our urban population, with only lip service being paid to rural communities. But this statutory duty on rural-proofing, ensuring that rural needs are considered consistently in the development and delivery of policy, is an important step change and shows this Government truly appreciates our rural needs. How does the First Minister see these statutory duties working to address the different ways in which rural communities experience policy and access to services, from healthcare and transport to the urgent climate and nature crises?

To all intents and purposes, the exact form and scope of the statutory duty is not decided yet, and that's very common, of course, if we think of legislation that we're collectively proud of here on the well-being of future generations, as that started its journey in a very different form to the one it ended up in, but the principle stayed true throughout, so we're setting an important principle. We'll need to develop, as I said earlier, the policy to define 'rural', to actually define 'rural-proofing', that technical aspect of what it is legally that we're setting out to do; the exact form of the duty and what it requires someone to do, and the discretion it provides them to do it. We'll need to propose which public authorities it should apply to and why, and a couple have been mentioned already here today. Health has been mentioned; there are other aspects too that we need to consider.

So, it's a tool. Rural-proofing is a tool that decision takers can apply when designing or delivering a policy—that's the idea—when designing or delivering a programme, a service. Welsh Government already uses a template and guidance for internal integrated impact assessments. Those templates are already in place. Other nations in the UK have comprehensive guidance and toolkits to support specifically rural-proofing. Well, we want to have that too, so we'll be developing proposals for supporting mechanisms as part of the Bill's development, so it can be, I trust, implemented effectively.

Diolch, Lywydd. First Minister, your Government says it's going to legislate for rural-proofing, but England's experience shows how easily this can just become another meaningless tick-box exercise, only carried out after decisions have been taken. I welcome anything to strengthen rural communities, but the devil is in the detail, because the key question is not whether rural-proofing should be put into law, but actually what the law forces Ministers and other bodies to do. Will your law require rural impact assessments to be published before policies and budgets are agreed? Will it force Ministers to act on the findings and ensure that funding formulas reflect the higher costs of delivering services in rural Wales? Is this going to end up being a framework Bill with all the power transferred via regulations to Ministers?

These are key questions, First Minister, that your Government should have a steer on, because otherwise, is this just not simply going to be another piece of paperwork that's going to be shuffled around Cathays Park, then given to a Cabinet meeting, and then ignored because the decision has already been taken? So, I'd like some assurance from you that you've actually done some detailed work around this before announcing it to the Chamber today.

Yes, absolutely. I mean, we've been talking about this across rural stakeholders for a long time, and in fact, the fact is that we can see it in action and working effectively; Northern Ireland, for example, have a system that works and is really interesting to us.

I'll end on a positive note, as I always try to do, and say that I think that the Member is correct in stating that we can't afford this to be a meaningless tick-box exercise. Some of the criticisms levelled, sometimes, at legislation passed in previous Senedds have been maybe that they have lacked a focus on actually what they were trying to achieve; 'They've sounded good, but have they done what we need them to do?' That is why I said at the outset of my statement today that we shouldn't be legislating for legislating's sake. We should be legislating where we can see a need for it. We have done that work in recognising, 'You know what, we think that this needs to be done.' A lot of that work was done in the previous Senedd actually. Cefin Campbell, in his constituency role, published a report on rural-proofing, which was very, very useful in guiding us, as a prospective Government and now a Government, to a place where we have been convinced. But every single Member in this Senedd will have a contribution to make and to amend and to improve and strengthen. The Welsh word for amendment is 'gwelliant', literally meaning 'an improvement'. So, we will be bringing forward legislation that you will be able to improve and strengthen. We are legislators—that's our job.

Partnership working is a key element of delivery, and I met local authorities and Cwlwm earlier today as part of a workshop to discuss the practical challenges and opportunities of delivery and how to work together to deliver accessible childcare to more families at pace.

The childcare landscape in Wales is unnecessarily complex—for providers, partners and parents—and we are building on existing programmes, entitlements and delivery arrangements, while looking honestly at complexity, barriers and unnecessary burdens. I am determined to maintain momentum and enable local authorities and providers to move as quickly as possible through the phases of delivery.

So, after rolling out 12.5 hours for all two-year-olds, the focus will be on increasing provision for two-year-olds to 20 hours and 48 weeks. We will consider flexibility on the pace of the roll-out, based on local circumstances, encouraging expansion to go further and faster where possible, so that families are supported quickly. Some areas and providers will be able to increase hours, weeks or both more quickly than others, however, I am encouraging and expecting a laser focus on delivering this commitment. 

In areas that have already rolled out 12.5 hours, they will be encouraged to take the next step of expansion, offering additional hours and weeks of the year, depending on practicalities locally. And, in parallel, I want local authorities to start working with all providers to roll out the expanded offer to three and four-year-olds on a universal basis, and will be working with officials later this year to plan the resources and funding that this will require.

This element will build on nursery education and will ensure that all children in this cohort, not just those whose parents meet the current eligibility criteria, will be able to access the benefits and enrichment of quality childcare. We will sequence this carefully, building on our existing offers for two-year-olds and three and four-year-olds, before moving to the final phase: 20 hours of universal childcare for children aged nine months to two years.

The childcare workforce is central to expansion, which depends on the capacity, skills and support needed to deliver high-quality provision. Our economists and analysts are developing projections of how many staff we will need and where we will need them as we work through the delivery of these next phases. In partnership with the sector, we are exploring ideas and developing options to support workforce growth. We will produce a workforce plan that will outline how we will support the growth, recruitment and retention of the childcare workforce, improving working conditions and career pathways.

I fully expect that Members and colleagues—and, most importantly, parents and carers—will continue to monitor our further announcements as we deliver on this commitment. But it is a pleasure to be here to not just discuss but begin to deliver universal funded childcare. We are moving the dial for children and families after years of treating childcare support as an optional add-on. We know that this will require significant investment. We know that this is an ambitious, complex commitment, but it is absolutely the right thing to do. Wales has the highest childcare costs in the UK, with many households spending more than their rent or mortgage on childcare costs. Women are disproportionately affected by this, and Wales has a persistent gender pay gap. Wales has some of the poorest children who cannot currently access the benefits of early years provision. We are making our commitment to change this a reality by delivering a childcare system that works for children and families. Diolch yn fawr.

Deputy First Minister, let me begin with what should unite us today. Every Member in this Chamber wants children to have the best possible start in life and families to have access to affordable, high-quality childcare. But you've just said today that whether or not to expand funded childcare is, quote, 'not up for debate'. With respect, Minister, everything on which this Government spends taxpayers' money is open to debate in this Chamber. Nobody disputes the importance of childcare. What is very much open to scrutiny is whether this Government has a credible, affordable and deliverable plan to provide it.

Today's statement contains a contradiction at its very heart. You tell us that, whilst developing the manifesto, Plaid Cymru, quote, 'carefully costed' the expanded childcare offer, yet only moments later you tell us that officials are now developing clearer costs, reconsidering the assumptions behind them, modelling potential take-up rates and testing a range of variables. Deputy First Minister, you tell us this policy will cost £375 million a year, yet immediately describe that as only a midpoint estimate. A midpoint between what and what exactly? What is the Government's highest estimate? What is the maximum financial liability Welsh taxpayers could ultimately face? If Ministers know those figures, why have they not shared them with this Chamber? If they do not, how can they claim this policy was fully costed before the election?

You also confirm that workforce projections are still being developed and that a workforce plan will be produced in the future. So, which is it? Was this policy properly costed before the election or are the central assumptions only now being worked through after Plaid entered Government? Because both claims cannot comfortably stand together. In fact, today's statement sounds less like a delivery plan and more like a plan to plan another plan. Officials are still modelling the cost, testing the assumptions, preparing workforce projections and promising a future workforce plan. That is not implementation. It is planning to plan some more. And this follows precisely the same pattern Reform Wales identified recently in relation to the proposed Cynnal child payment. Our written question revealed that an expert group is still considering the legal, policy and delivery issues surrounding this flagship commitment.

Today's statement reveals that childcare costings, workforce requirements and delivery assumptions are also still being refined. That matters because these promises made a real difference on the doorstep. I met parents working long hours and families forced to choose between childcare and other essential household bills. Many saw these commitments as a lifeline. They believed that once Plaid Cymru entered Government, the support would begin to arrive, not that Ministers would then establish groups, test assumptions and begin working out how the promises might operate. Those families were entitled to believe the flagship policies put before them had been fully prepared. Instead, they are now discovering how much remains unresolved.

When Reform asks about those unresolved questions, the answers are too often ambiguous. We ask for costings and receive aspirations. We ask for delivery and receive a direction of travel. We ask about workforce capability and are told that projections are still being developed. We identify discrepancies, and before long, yesterday's firm commitment becomes today's flexibility. Perhaps that is the new policy cycle: announce first, avoid the detail, and call the eventual u-turn a phased approach.

The statement also tells us that 16 local authorities expect to complete the roll-out of 12.5 hours for two-year-olds by the end of this financial year, whilst officials continue to work with the remaining two. That progress is welcome, but the real promise is 20 hours for 48 weeks for every child from nine months to four years. That requires far more than urging local authorities to move quickly. It requires enough qualified staff, sustainable providers, adequate premises, Welsh-medium capacity, provision for children with additional learning needs and sufficient support in every part of Wales.

Yet the Government still cannot tell us how many additional practitioners will be needed, where they will be needed, how they will be recruited, how retention will be improved, or what the full capital requirement will be. Those are not minor details. They are the foundations on which the entire promise depends. The more closely today's explanation is examined, the more gaps appear.

Deputy First Minister, ambition is not the issue; preparedness is. Good intentions are not a delivery strategy. A midpoint estimate is not the final costings. The people of Wales deserve a Government that arrives with answers, not one that writes the manifesto first and the implementation plan afterwards.

It does baffle me, you know. You said that this was very much welcomed on the doorstep. Well, we've seen the result of that, haven't we? We know that for years and years anti-poverty researchers and people who are trying to promote equality in Wales and in our society have seen this as a keystone, a foundational part of addressing that inequality. And yet all we get from Reform is talk about a worst-case scenario, a financial liability. And, of course, you didn't even mention it in your manifesto, because you had not realised, actually—. Or perhaps you're just not interested in reducing inequality. But this Government is, and this Government is delivering. 

You asked me about delivery. I have just outlined to you the first phase and the initial costing of that. I have told you that by the end of this financial year, working with our partners in local authorities and providers, every child that is two years old in Wales will be entitled to 12.5 hours of childcare. That's the first phase. We have delivered at pace on that. We are delivering at pace on that. When we came into this Government, three local authorities had managed to achieve that after many years of this being a Welsh Government policy under the last administration.

So, I'm not going to take the criticism that we are not delivering. We absolutely are. Fifty-seven days into this Government, we absolutely are delivering on this first phase. I've been extremely clear from the beginning. Perhaps you weren't listening to the debate. Perhaps you would have done better in the election if you had. But our party made it absolutely clear that this was a phased plan. Anyone who knows anything about childcare is going to understand the complexity of the current system. I suggest you do a little bit of reading in order to see what the complex landscape is at the moment. That's why we have an expert group steering us in this work.

I have also mentioned the midpoint. As I set out in my statement, there are variables here. There are variables as regards the modelling, and that's the work we're doing. The figure that I set out is the midpoint of the take-up that we have seen in other parts of the UK that have similar demographics, which we could then reasonably expect would be reflected here in Wales. But, of course, we know that the full cost of this modelling—. The maximum is usually about 80 per cent take-up. The additional funding that would be needed would be between £250 million and £500 million. The £375 million is a midpoint estimate. The precise funding will always depend on take-up rates. We have to have estimates and modelling around all those scenarios. That's why the work is ongoing. It's not about making a plan, it's about making sure that we can deliver what is actually needed as we work through these phases. We will always be able to respond then to any emerging trends that we see happen. This is an ambitious policy. We would hope that, if we build it, they will come.

Can I thank the Deputy First Minister for the update today, which is very helpful for us to receive before we go into recess? I was going to ask about the other points on the scale of the costings that you've done, so it's helpful to have the information that you provided in response to the previous speaker.

As you're aware, a particular concern of mine is the impact of this commitment on Flying Start provision. I've said repeatedly that Flying Start is so much more than just childcare. It's enhanced health visiting, it's speech and language therapy, and it's parenting support. And we know how critical those first 1,000 days are for our children. I have asked you before about what the ramifications of this commitment are for Flying Start. What I'm worried about is that we could see a reduction in the numbers of children who are receiving all four elements of Flying Start in order to fund this, and I would be grateful for a clear answer on that today.

I very much welcome the commitment in the statement to a workforce plan. Clearly, that is going to be vital. I wanted to ask if you had any timings for the development of that workforce plan. Also, under the previous Government, there was a commitment to promote fair work within the childcare workforce, who we know are some of the lowest paid, and mostly women workers. So, I wondered how you would be embedding the principles of fair work into any workforce plan.

I did want to ask about the childcare expert steering group—and thank you for the letter that you sent, which I've now mislaid in front of me. I don't mean any criticism of anybody who's on the steering group, because there are people there who I know and respect: officials, people involved in Welsh public life. But what I was surprised about was that there weren't more independent experts on there. There is someone there from the London School of Economics, or an institution like that, but I would have liked to have seen some more independent experts on there given the scale of this expansion, so that we have some expert advisers who can identify any unintended consequences and also advise on the child development aspects of this offer. So, I was interested in your comments on that and whether you've got any plans to extend the expert group.

Your statement highlights the fact that some areas and providers will be able to move faster than others. Obviously, it's acknowledged that some areas have got less childcare provision, and some of those are the poorest areas and the ones where we most need that provision. So, I wondered if you'd be doing any focused work to ensure that we don't entrench inequalities as we roll out this offer.

And then, just finally, you've committed to maintaining the 30 hours for working parents at the same time as rolling out the 20 hours for other parents. Now, it's my understanding that, in England, there was some evidence that where there was a lower threshold for some parents, there was a bit of a disincentive to childcare providers giving the childcare offer to parents who were accessing the lower number of hours, and I wondered if you'd considered that and what steps you'd be taking to mitigate that risk, so that everybody gets genuinely high-quality childcare. Diolch.

Diolch yn fawr for the questions. As regards Flying Start, as I've said, this isn't about—and I've said in previous statements, and I hope I've outlined it here again today—just adding hours; absolutely not. This is about taking a system-wide approach to transforming support for children in the early years. Childcare, as I said, is our manifesto commitment. It's absolutely a key part of that, and so, of course, the immediate priority is to make sure that we can start that work of rolling out what we've promised to the Welsh electorate, and then build, as I say, towards the next stages of expansion, as I've mapped out today.

But the wider support services that are associated with early intervention and prevention programmes, such as Flying Start and Families First, of course, with that enhanced health visiting, with the parental support and speech, language and communication support, of course—they're absolutely fundamental to the preventative agenda of this Government. I absolutely recognise that they are vital for supporting children and families who need that additional help in the work that we want to do to reduce inequalities for disadvantaged children specifically. So, the expansion itself is focused on funded childcare, but as an absolute part of that work, we want to move towards a clearer, more consistent and more unified system across the piece, protecting the wider support that children have that helps them get the best start in life. So, that approach will evolve over time.

As regards the workforce, you're absolutely right as regards the workforce. We know that we've got a lot of work to do here. That's why we're going to bring forward a specific plan. That will be in the autumn, because I think it will be aligned with what we're going to need to have conversations with the Cabinet Minister for Finance about. But our expert steering group absolutely has workforce planning at the top of its agenda, and we are listening to partners in the sector around what we can do, the creative solutions we can have and the incentivisation around recruitment and retention that we can bring forward there. So, as I say, it's absolutely central. We have to have the capacity, the skills and the support in place to deliver the provision that we want for our children. We're currently working on estimates, as I said, based on the modelling that we're doing. We'll turn that into a workforce plan, building on existing provision with our partners, with Social Care Wales, with local authorities and Cwlwm to have that sharp focus. As I said, it will build on existing provision, but we know we need to go further.

You also asked me about the role of the expert steering group. The economist that you mentioned is one of the lead economists in the UK that looks at early years and childcare provision throughout the UK. He's published papers on what's happened, for instance, in England. That group, I think, very well represents the voices we need in the room, but it isn't limited, and that's in the terms of reference of the steering group. We do bring in independent experts and have presentations from them. We had somebody from the Department for Education last week, someone who was key in designing the roll-out in England, for us to be able to hear from him and also to hear about the lessons that need to be learned, because we don't want to replicate any of the unintended consequences that we've seen in some regards in what's happened with the roll-out in England. So, those unintended consequences or worsening inequalities are absolutely not what we want to have, and so we are thoroughly considering that. Diolch.

I'd like to, first of all, thank the Cabinet Minister for today's statement and for the advance notice of it that she provided to Members. Absolutely, every parent and carer wants the best start for their child, but for too many families the cost of childcare is making that much harder. We all know parents who are weighing up whether it's even worth returning to work because those childcare costs take up such a large proportion of their income, and, as the Cabinet Minister outlined, in some cases, those costs are higher than rent, mortgages or other headline costs.

Of course, the challenge that we're discussing today also feeds into this broader issue of falling birth rates and the challenge that that's going to present to us as a nation in the years to come. That's why we, on these benches, welcome any genuine attempt to make childcare more affordable and more accessible to parents. But I guess the question in this place today is whether what's being discussed can actually be delivered. Because, of course, warm words, on their own, aren't enough.

To begin with, we believe that the childcare system in its current form is far too complex, especially for parents to navigate and understand what they are entitled to, and I acknowledge the Cabinet Minister's reference to that in her statement here today. We believe that one of the first things that the Welsh Government should be looking at is how to streamline and simplify childcare funding so that parents in particular can easily understand what support is available to them so that they can properly plan for the future. So, I'd be interested to know, Cabinet Minister, what actions you'll be taking to engage with parents and carers to ensure that any unnecessary complexity is taken out of the system for them.

Secondly, the announcement of the £55 million investment is, of course, welcome. However, families and providers need greater clarity about how this funding will, exactly, be used—how many additional children will benefit—and certainty that it will reach those who need it most. On the funding point, I do want to pick up on the comments made by my colleague in Fflint Wrecsam, who was absolutely right to call out this midpoint estimate of £375 million. I believe, in your response, you suggested that there is a range there, of course, and the maximum could be up to a £500 million cost. That is, of course, significantly higher than initially expected from your manifesto, so I'm interested to understand how you're planning to manage that potential cost. I appreciate it's not necessarily what the cost will be, but how are you managing to mitigate any unnecessary escalation in costs?

I'm interested also, Cabinet Minister, in the response you gave to our Labour colleague on the broader support services for families and for children, and how you'll be working with health services to ensure that holistic support is available and the capacity is there in those health services to deliver on that ambition that you mentioned in your response to Lynne Neagle.

I also want to recognise the pressures that childcare providers are under, as colleagues have done already. We know that these are often small businesses delivering an essential service, often on very limited margins. We know that they're often struggling with rising costs, recruitment challenges and tight budgets. You have already acknowledged the necessity of a workforce plan and you've outlined that the plan will come forward in the autumn. I'm interested to understand how you expect to work with skills providers to ensure that the workforce is available quickly, because you will know, of course, that those skills take years to be in place, and you want to move at pace on this issue.

I also welcome the updated national minimum standards. Every child deserves a safe environment where they can learn, develop and enjoy being a child. Higher standards matter, but so does ensuring providers have the support and resources to meet them. Would you be able to explain what support will be available to help settings implement these new standards?

Finally, Cabinet Minister, you may have noted that in our manifesto we talked about an idea around a grandparent payment scheme or a nominated family payment scheme to recognise the role of the wider family in bringing up children. You say that it takes a village to bring up a child. I wonder what consideration you’ve given to a scheme similar to that, where a nominated family member is able to be supported to support bringing a child up, rather than, perhaps, necessarily, that money always going to a childcare provider setting. At the end of the day, parents want childcare that is safe, affordable and reliable. Providers want a system that is properly funded, sustainable and workable. Those are the priorities that we should all be focused on. Diolch yn fawr iawn.

In the first point, really, you were querying about the midpoint, and I think I've tried to explain. I think we said in our manifesto it was going to be around £400 million additional, so what we're seeing as the midpoint—that was modelled on a midpoint as well. It’s the common practice. So, the midpoint that we've modelled here is £375 million. But as I said, obviously—because this is demand-led, this is a new thing—we're hoping that all the discussion around childcare will make sure—. And the point you made around simplifying the process too—we know that many people don't take up childcare, not only because it's disjointed, but because it's difficult, it's complex and there are so many different eligibility thresholds, things you've got to apply for at different points during your child's life. So, I can assure you that the point around simplification and what that looks like, what that front door looks like, is absolutely part of this work as well. And my officials are already working on that. So, it isn't higher, actually; it's around the same as what we projected, but we do recognise, of course, that there are all kinds of variables as we push forward towards the next phases that we need to allow for. But I do welcome your support for this initiative, for this policy, and, as I said, I agree absolutely on your point around simplifying the system.

On your point around the way this policy interacts with other policy areas, it does, obviously, around education. Part of this work is about—. We've seen, haven't we, it's been exacerbated since COVID, but we've seen for a long time that families do need more support in order to make sure that their children are ready to learn, and this is going to play a big part in that. So, I'm having conversations—I actually met yesterday again with the Cabinet Minister for Education and the Welsh Language. We are working on how we can measure that, how we can evaluate the effect that this will have on that readiness to learn while keeping that absolutely child-centred, that evaluation. So, it will interact across Government and, as I said, especially with health, the interventions, the team around the family, and that support we will absolutely retain, but in a different form as we roll out this universal system.

You asked me about exactly how the additional funding from the supplementary budget was going to be utilised. We've said that we're going to invest an additional £55 million in the additional budget. So, hopefully, if you support this policy, you can support that budget this afternoon. Twenty million pounds of that will help to accelerate the roll-out, so that's the work we've indicated to local authorities that they're able to utilise in order to make sure that we get to the point where funded childcare is available to all two-year-olds in Wales by the end of this financial year. Then there's £10 million of capital funding, which is going to help enhance and expand childcare settings, improving quality and capacity and accessibility of early years provision. And then £25 million of that is going to be used to support the wider system, including managing rising demand, because we're talking about it a lot more now—it's been such a front-and-centre policy during the election. People are coming to access more provision, which is great. We need to make it easier for them and more affordable for them. We want to strengthen the long-term sustainability of providers, and that's something you talked about as well. And that is something that is absolutely crucial as well, and, again, is part of the work that we're doing. So, we're already investing in that, and, of course, supporting Welsh-medium childcare is part of that as well.

So, on the last point on safeguarding, I think it is a really important point, and quality, you know, with the national minimum standard, which was updated last month. Wales has the highest national standards issued under the Children and Families (Wales) Measure 2010, and the Child Minding and Day Care (Wales) Regulations 2010, and Care Inspectorate Wales, of course is a regulatory body, so we will always make sure that anyone who is registered for providing day care and child minding will be inspected according to those regulations.

We are looking at creative solutions. You know, I think we really need to consider child minders in this, who are constantly coming up as 'excellent' and 'good' when they're inspected. They provide such a valuable service for people who work irregular hours, especially in places where there isn't a density of population. So, we will absolutely be considering other models of provision as we roll this out.

We'll move now to the one-minute contributions. We have many speakers, but not enough time, I think, to accommodate all, but, bear with us, we'll see how we can do with everybody's help. Kiera Marshall.

Diolch, Lywydd. I'd like to declare an interest, as I have a beautiful 11-month daughter who will be going into childcare next month. But I'd like to thank the Government and the Deputy First Minister for her statement today and all the work that's clearly being done on this policy. I don't think we can overstate how transformational this policy is going to be, and I think, when people ask what has Wales done differently and what has devolution achieved, previously, they might have pointed to free prescriptions or the 5p bag charge, and I think, at full roll-out, I really believe it's going to be this policy. But it needs to be done right—no pressure there.

One issue that's being raised with me a lot is general workforce capacity for the expansion, and specifically Welsh-medium provision. I know from my own experience that one nursery I approached in Cardiff was at full capacity until 2027, and there are not many Welsh language providers already. 

And then I've also had providers raise issues specifically with support for younger babies, from nine months until two years, and I was assured in your statement today that that's going to be in the later part of the roll-out, which will allow for this capacity building up. But I just wonder if you could provide some clarity there. I think investment in the supplementary budget is obviously going to really help this as well. But yes, once this—

—capacity review is complete, what creative solutions, as you said, will the Government be using to build that capacity in these areas? Diolch.

Diolch yn fawr. I really do welcome the support. I'm really excited about this policy, and we saw that excitement on the doors, didn't we? Because I think you can compare it. When we deliver this, it will be up there with the most—well, the most—generous offer in the UK, certainly—world leading, actually. There are nations that are very much ahead of us, but I think that this is something that should be a real badge of honour for Wales. More than that, it won't be an empty badge of honour; this will be something that makes a real difference to people's lives. So, I think it's great to see the enthusiasm for this expansion. I'm hearing it from stakeholders and partners.

It is a significant commitment, and, yes, it will require a substantial increase in workforce numbers. So, as I said, this is a key theme of the work of our expert group. We are developing those projections of how many staff we're going to need, where we're going to need them as we're working through these phases. A specific phase of that expansion is to extend the funded childcare to nine months to two years. We know that will require a step change in provision. This is completely new. The first two phases are building on something that is already provided in part. This will be new, so there will be specific actions needed there to grow the workforce. That'll be informed by the work we're currently doing. I'll update colleagues regularly as we reach that phase.

Of course, Welsh-medium provision, as you would expect, is a core element of this expansion and a core concern of this Government. So, we're working closely with Mudiad Meithrin. The chief executive, Dr Catrin Edwards, is a member of the expert steering group. We are already taking measures now. We announced a new pilot scheme, which is coming through the National Centre for Learning Welsh, to build the Welsh language skills of our childcare workforce in order to increase that capacity.

We have a statement on early years childcare and play, but I note in it that play is not mentioned once. When we look back to our own childhoods, play develops resilience, communication skills and emotional well-being. For many children, particularly those that are facing disadvantage, play can be the difference between isolation and inclusion, between struggling and thriving.

In my constituency, I've had people complain—this is Blaenau Gwent Caerffili Rhymni—about play services there. So, I took the opportunity last week to go over to Torfaen, where they've got absolutely excellent play services. Torfaen Play are offering to young people of all ages—so, these are little ones as well—they support children with additional needs, care-experienced children, young carers and families across the community. What stood out for me was not only the breadth of work, but the life-changing impact.

So, what we've got is, in Blaenau Gwent Caerffili Rhymni, we've got children that are really struggling through lack of play facilities, but, in Torfaen, it's the opposite way round. So, for a Government who talks persistently about equality, could I ask what measures they are taking to ensure that high-quality play opportunities are available for everybody, regardless of where they live, and is there funding specifically for play?

This statement is specifically on the childcare expansion, but I accept, of course, that these things are linked. Play is within my portfolio; I'm not speaking about that today, but I would encourage you to ask me questions about that when I am here to answer questions on my broader portfolio. But I would say that ensuring children have access to childcare absolutely helps to socialise them, to bring out that play, which we know is absolutely key to children's development. As I said before, this is about making children also more ready for school and learning, getting into that foundation phase. But I would encourage you to perhaps ask me a question or write to me specifically about your concerns as regards play.

Cabinet Minister, families in Cardiff already face some of the highest childcare costs in Wales, with average fees significantly above those in other areas. One constituent of mine in particular, Lizzie, recently told me that she is paying £92 a day for a local nursery. She says, in her words, 'Childcare is single-handedly the biggest financial issue for my family and the reason we cannot yet afford to have a second child. We currently pay over £1,400 a month, which is £400 more than our mortgage.'

Llywydd, given the significant childcare costs faced by many families in Cardiff specifically, it is crucial that the expanded offer reflects the pressures being felt in our higher cost communities, in addition to the needs of the rest of Wales. So, I wanted to ask: when can Lizzie and other families across Cardiff, specifically, expect to be included in the expanded offer, what factors are determining which areas are being prioritised, and how can you ensure fairness for families in higher cost areas like Cardiff in the meantime?

I absolutely agree that childcare costs across Wales are prohibitively high. One of the reasons for this policy is understanding that it will be a mitigation against the high cost of living for families. It will put money back in people's pockets, and parents, especially mothers, of course, can find themselves locked out of the labour market, and children then, of course, prevented from accessing all the benefits of quality childcare. So, as regards prioritisation, we're committed to make progress on the expansion as soon as we can. As I mentioned in my statement, we're making very good progress to offer childcare to all two-year-olds all over Wales, and we're urging all local authorities to work with us to complete this stage, and, as I say, the vast majority of them are there and will be there.

So, at the moment, thousands of children across Wales don't get any childcare support, and so we're going to go from that current reality to a system where all families are able to access support, but we have to add to that support incrementally until we reach our full commitment. But by proceeding with and getting early momentum with this initial phase, I think, of getting 12.5 hours funded childcare to all two-year-olds, we're really laying the foundations of that truly universal funded childcare offer, which, as I say, is something only a handful of countries in the world have achieved.

I'd like to thank Kiera Marshall for her excellent question on capacity. The Minister has characterised these benches as focused on worst-case scenarios. I asked whether she'd modelled for very high demand, because planning for a policy that succeeds beyond expectation isn't negativity, it's prudence, but today my question is about proving success. Last week, the Minister told this Senedd we're not able to measure the difference in Wales that having early years education makes. You stated last week that early years provision transforms children's potential, but I'm asking about benchmarking, yet she has told us Wales cannot currently measure that difference. So, this roll-out is happening now. How will the Minister prove that this £375 million policy delivers the transformation she describes when the children reached first will have received the offer before any baseline would have been analysed or met? So, this is about benchmarking.

Thank you for the question. I think I just answered the question in that we absolutely recognise the need for better benchmarking; we simply haven't got that in place. It exists in parts, but it isn't satisfactory and isn't measuring what we think we need it to measure.

Having seen learning from childcare provision both in the UK and internationally, we can see that, for instance, 100 per cent is unlikely. However, as work continues on developing this policy, we are, as I said, going to respond to any emerging trend, and that will include demand. And we remain ready and willing—and that's why this work has to be planned and phased in this way, in order to respond to those things—to adjust and refine our plans. But this is an ambitious Government, as I said, and we fully hope that as many children as possible take up the offer that we'll be able to give them. 

I do welcome this statement. Thank you very much for all of the work that's gone into it. You've said that you've got a laser focus on delivering this, having had the ambition that many of the parties here in this Siambr had. So, I really take issue with Reform UK and your spokesperson criticising the ambition, because you never had an ambition—nothing in your manifesto talked about childcare whatsoever. So, the criticism of the ambition is actually without any foundation. 

My question to you, though, if I may, is about our private providers. We do rely on private providers across Wales, and particularly in rural areas we see that they're really up against it. So, how will their interests be represented on your panel, because currently it's only through Cwlwm? Will you be looking to get more views from independent providers? And also how will that be rolled out in rural areas? Diolch yn fawr iawn. 

'the victories won by preventive medicine are much the most important for mankind.'

I have agreed with the First Minister that Government decision making will be informed by a shared focus on public and preventative health. Official and ministerial-level cross-Government governance arrangements are being established to support this. These arrangements will provide the foundations for a comprehensive new public health strategy and framework for Wales. Embedding prevention and health into decision making will be supported with the guidance and support for public bodies in preparing for when the Health Impact Assessment (Wales) Regulations 2025 come into force next year.

Being serious about prevention also means having the budgetary mechanisms to match, and in line with our first 100 days commitments, officials are in the process of exploring better defining preventative spending within the Welsh budget, with the aim of instilling greater coherence in the deployment of resources. I have also held discussions with the Cabinet Minister for Finance and Treasury officials on options for the introduction of a designated preventative departmental expenditure limit—PDEL—within the Welsh Budget.

In addition to the strategic cross-Government work, there are immediate priorities that we will be tackling, in addition to rolling out the 100-day commitments. I fully recognise the need for us to provide healthy environments that support people to make healthier choices and maintain a healthy weight, to reduce the risk of severe, life-threatening conditions, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke and certain cancers. This includes the roll-out of prevention programmes to encourage and support children and adults to be more active in line with the recent changes to the UK Chief Medical Officers' evidence-based physical activity guidelines.

I recognise that weight-loss medications have a place for some patients, but we cannot simply medicate our way out of the high levels of obesity that we see across Wales and the UK. It must form part of a blended approach that includes looking at the food systems, regulation, availability and promotion of physical activity, alongside more medicalised interventions.

We're getting to work straight away, through our first 100 days commitments. Firstly, on advancing the active mile and the Daily Mile Foundation work across primary schools, with preliminary work well under way with stakeholders to begin the roll-out. Secondly, I have discussed with the Cabinet Minister for Culture and Sport strengthening partnership working between health services and sport organisations, and the wider role both arts and sports can have in health pathways, and have agreed we will embed a workstream for this work within our new cross-Government structures.

I will also be working closely with my colleague the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Resilience and Sustainability on the development of the food strategy for Wales. Together, we will consider the fundamental changes needed to strengthen our food systems and the opportunity this presents to improve access to affordable, nutritious food, support locally produced Welsh food, and embed healthy, sustainable food choices, education and awareness within our schools.

Alongside this, we will be examining how we create healthier food environments across Wales. This includes considering the levers available to us to support healthier choices in the retail sector, across the out-of-home food settings, and within our communities, helping to make the healthy choice the easy choice.

I am firmly committed to addressing the concerning rise in vaping among children and young people. Nearly one in four of our 11 to 16-year-olds has tried vaping, despite these products having been developed as a smoking cessation aid for adult smokers. The unintended consequences of their widespread availability and appeal to young people are deeply concerning, and this Government is determined to take action. The consultation we launched last week marks the first step in delivering the robust measures needed to protect the health of the next generation.

Lung cancer disproportionately affects those from the most deprived communities, with a higher incidence rate in these areas. I am committed to improving outcomes with the development of a national lung cancer screening programme with integrated smoking cessation services. Smoking remains one of the leading causes of preventable illness and deaths in Wales and highlights stark inequalities. And through the groundbreaking Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026, we will progress towards the goal of creating the first smoke-free generation in Wales, and this will include work to further reduce smoking rates during pregnancy, which in Wales are the highest amongst the UK nations.

My approach to addiction includes tackling substance misuse and is based on the principle of harm reduction, to support and protect families and communities from the problems associated with harmful substance use. I am focused on working across the Welsh Government to do all that we can to tackle the risk factors for substance misuse, alongside work to strengthen support for those that need it, ensuring our work is informed by the voices of those with lived experience.

Reducing the equity gap will play a key role in my future vision for preventative services. This includes work to promote vaccinations and screening, which are disproportionately less prevalent amongst our most deprived communities. This will involve better engagement with our underserved communities, better access to services, and digital enablement. I have already taken action to introduce a time-limited meningitis B vaccination programme ahead of the winter peak, and an expansion to the respiratory syncytial virus programme to include those aged 65 to 74 who are immunosuppressed or with chronic respiratory disease. Both these actions will help reduce those affected by serious disease this winter.

This national focus on prevention will be informed by and support local action, working with local government and the community and third sector. I'll be building on the work of Marmot places under the Health Equity Wales initiative that builds on learning from Torfaen and Blaenau Gwent in taking a more preventative approach with communities to the delivery of services and tackling inequalities.

The importance of having a healthier, more resilient population is also clear in the context of the increasing frequency and severity of public health risks. The impacts of climate change on the health of the population have come to the fore with the recent extreme heat, but other linked risks include antimicrobial resistance, environmental hazards, and outbreaks of communicable diseases. A fundamental priority of any Government is to protect its population. This will include work to plan, prepare, and respond to existing and emerging public health risks, working with colleagues and partners to embed a one-health approach across human health, animal health and the environment, and looking internationally to share and learn best practice. 

I'd like to welcome the Minister to her post. I'll stop the pleasantries here because people are watching the clock and we'll be here all night. So, anyway, I'll move on to your statement, Minister.

It says here that you've had bilaterals with Cabinet Ministers and Deputy Ministers across Government. That's lovely, but I'd like to know what the next steps of those are going to be, really, because if we don't know what's coming out of it, they're just lovely meetings to have, aren't they? You said here as well that you've talked to the First Minister and that Government decision making will be informed by a shared focus on public health. Well, I think we can all agree with that, but what does that look like in practice? We've heard these things before, and it would be quite good if we could get some understanding today as to what actually that looks like.

You did say that officials and ministerial and cross-governance and arrangements are all being established. Fantastic, but what does this mean? How much is this going to cost the Welsh civil service, in terms of having all these cross-ministerial portfolios? Is this more civil servants to do this? Is this going to be managed within the current health portfolio? You also mentioned, further down in your statement, about creating a new budget line within the Government's overall budget-setting process. Is there a risk with that, even though I'm not against it in principle, that we could end up with a bit of silo working here? That, actually, other departments are all chipping in, trying to look for this pot of money, while, actually, if it sat directly within the departments, it would be easier to spend. If the cross-governmental work was focused on prevention, you maybe wouldn't need a budget line there. I'm sure the Finance Committee would be quite pleased if it wasn't there, as it's something else to look at.

You also talked about weight-loss medication. This is something I've been quite involved in, actually. I haven't taken it personally. But I think one thing we have to be careful with

Our future economic success depends on developing a highly skilled workforce. I will work closely with the Cabinet Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy to ensure that the skills system supports our wider economic ambitions. A comprehensive national skills audit is currently under way. It will bring together evidence, analyse available data and gather views from employers, industry representatives, providers and other stakeholders. Its purpose is to provide a clear, cross-Government view of current and future workforce needs across Wales, including where shortages exist, where demand is likely to grow, and how the system can respond for learners, employers and the economy. The findings will help us target investment more effectively and align education, employment and training pathways with Wales’s priorities. Early findings will inform the future skills summit this autumn, bringing together business, the tertiary sector, training providers and other stakeholders to develop a shared vision and strategic direction for the future skills system and its funding. We will take an employer-led approach to identifying skills needs and we'll work together with business and industry to co-design solutions that meet key sector needs.

Our manifesto also commits to developing a national strategy for skills and vocational education. This will draw on evidence from the skills summit and the skills audit, supporting learners in a changing labour market, strengthening economic growth, and promoting genuine parity between vocational and academic pathways. It will also build on the priorities set out in the strategic direction for vocational education and training.

On higher education, we are aware of the challenges that universities face, including rising costs and constrained income. That is why one of our first 100-day commitments is to take forward a review of higher education funding, and we will publish the terms of reference for that review in the summer. I am grateful for the responses to the recent call for submissions on the future of tertiary education in Wales. These views are informing our thinking. I will publish a summary report of those responses, followed by a fuller report in the autumn, to support transparent, evidence-led policy development. 

I am also examining options for reforming Seren, so that it has a stronger focus on addressing participation gaps, on supporting learners from Wales’s most disadvantaged communities and strengthening pathways so that learners can reach their full potential.