16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782238 0 Cy 2026-11-03T13:32:59 http://www.senedd.tv/en/16420?startPos=179&l=en 261103-0 C 16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782223 1 Cy 261103-0 I This is a draft version of the Record that includes the floor language and the simultaneous interpretation.  [R] indicates that the Member has declared an interest when tabling the business. 16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782224 2 Cy 261103-0 I The Senedd met in the Chamber and by video-conference at 13:30 with the Llywydd (Huw Irranca-Davies) in the Chair. 16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782226 3 Cy 2026-11-03T13:30:01 http://www.senedd.tv/en/16420?startPos=1&l=en 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister C 5053 5053 Huw Irranca-Davies https://business.senedd.wales/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=5053 Llywydd Irranca-Davies, Huw 16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782230 4 Cy 2026-11-03T13:30:03 http://www.senedd.tv/en/16420?startPos=3&l=en 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister C 5053 5053 Huw Irranca-Davies https://business.senedd.wales/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=5053 Llywydd Irranca-Davies, Huw Welcome back to you all. We will begin this afternoon with questions to the First Minister, and first of all, question 1, Steve Bayliss.  16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782227 5 Cy 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister B Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Local Health Board 16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782228 6 Cy 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister O 8696 8696 Steve Bayliss https://business.senedd.wales/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=8696 Bayliss, Steve 1. What assurances has the Welsh Government sought from Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board about their safeguarding arrangements and health visiting capacity? OQ64801 [R] 16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782229 7 En 2026-11-03T13:30:24 http://www.senedd.tv/en/16420?startPos=24&l=en 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister C 2717 2717 Rhun ap Iorwerth https://business.senedd.wales/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=2717 First Minister of Wales ap Iorwerth, Rhun Diolch yn fawr iawn. The Welsh Government has sought comprehensive assurances from Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Local Health Board on safeguarding arrangements and health visiting capacity during the industrial action. The health board provided evidence of safeguarding oversight, risk assessment, multi-agency working and recovery planning. This evidence demonstrated appropriate governance and action to protect children and families. As recovery progresses, ongoing monitoring remains important to identify any emerging needs and ensure safeguarding continues to be prioritised. 16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782231 8 En 2026-11-03T13:30:58 http://www.senedd.tv/en/16420?startPos=58&l=en 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister C 8696 8696 Steve Bayliss https://business.senedd.wales/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=8696 Bayliss, Steve Diolch, First Minister. I accept that the health board is the employer, but holding it to account on child safety is your responsibility. On 16 September, your Cabinet Minister for health told this Chamber that he had sought and received detailed assurances on safeguarding. Eight days later, the board's own nursing director proposed only qualified assurance on safeguarding, and limited assurance on capacity, warning that reduced contact diminishes opportunities to identify hidden harm. That is the child nobody yet knows is at risk. When the First Minister was first told about the safeguarding and capacity concerns, its quality committee's paper records 'ministerial requirements'. On 13 October, you spoke of full transparency. Then let families see the evidence. Within seven days, will you publish what Ministers required, what the board replied and the number of child health contacts missed or deferred—totals, not names? Diolch.  16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782236 9 En 2026-11-03T13:32:10 http://www.senedd.tv/en/16420?startPos=130&l=en 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister C 2717 2717 Rhun ap Iorwerth https://business.senedd.wales/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=2717 First Minister of Wales ap Iorwerth, Rhun This Government, of course, has been transparent throughout, and I should emphasise also that the review was commissioned because of the exceptional duration of the dispute, not because there was evidence of safeguarding failures. And where services experience prolonged disruption, it is of course entirely right that Ministers seek additional assurance and challenge, and that is precisely the action that we took as a Government. Our responsibility is to be satisfied that appropriate safeguards remain in place, that risks are being identified, and that those risks are being managed effectively, and that is exactly what the review was designed to do. I welcome the assurance provided by the health board, while recognising, of course, the need for continued vigilance. And this has all been done, as I say, in a transparent manner. 16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782239 10 Cy 2026-11-03T13:32:59 http://www.senedd.tv/en/16420?startPos=179&l=en 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister C 330 330 Sera Evans https://business.senedd.wales/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=330 Evans, Sera First Minister, on several occasions during this dispute, I and Plaid Cymru colleagues have met with health visitors and, indeed, with Unite. It's clear that the lack of regular family contact as a result of the strike has created, and continues to create, risks for children. We know that the number of safeguarding referrals across the constituencies of the health board has fallen. The longer this dispute continues, the greater that concern.  I know that the Cabinet Minister has been challenging the health board to provide regular updates and robust evidence of the mitigation measures in place, recognising that the best way to ensure the safety of children and families is by finding a solution to this long-standing dispute that started way before this Government came into office. Given that, First Minister, what extra pressure is the Government exerting in order to ensure that this matter is resolved soon? Thank you.  16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782249 11 Cy 2026-11-03T13:34:08 http://www.senedd.tv/en/16420?startPos=248&l=en 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister C 2717 2717 Rhun ap Iorwerth https://business.senedd.wales/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=2717 First Minister of Wales ap Iorwerth, Rhun I, of course, share that concern about the impact that this long-running dispute is having on children and on families. And that's why, as I said earlier, we have asked for assurances in some detail from Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Local Health Board on the safeguarding arrangements that were in place. We continue to keep a very close eye on those arrangements, and we will, of course, hold the health board to account in order to ensure that children and families are protected.  This Government has engaged actively in every way that we can with the health board and with representatives of trade unions in order to try and encourage early resolution of this dispute. We do want to see it resolved as soon as possible, and we will continue to do everything that we appropriately can in order to ensure that a resolution is found. 16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782232 12 Cy 2026-11-03T13:35:00 http://www.senedd.tv/en/16420?startPos=300&l=en 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister C 16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782233 13 Cy 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister B The Autumn Budget 16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782234 14 Cy 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister O 12182 12182 Louise Emery https://business.senedd.wales/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=12182 Emery, Louise 2. What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the impact of the UK Government’s autumn budget on small retail, hospitality and leisure businesses in Wales? OQ64842 16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782235 15 En 2026-11-03T13:35:26 http://www.senedd.tv/en/16420?startPos=326&l=en 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister C 2717 2717 Rhun ap Iorwerth https://business.senedd.wales/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=2717 First Minister of Wales ap Iorwerth, Rhun We are, Llywydd, currently considering the implications of the autumn budget announcements for Wales. The Welsh Government remains focused on prioritising permanent support for the small businesses that are the heart of our vibrant town centres and high streets. We have made significant early progress on delivery of that commitment, with the permanent 30 per cent reduction in business rates for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure premises from April next year. 16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782237 16 En 2026-11-03T13:35:54 http://www.senedd.tv/en/16420?startPos=354&l=en 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister C 12182 12182 Louise Emery https://business.senedd.wales/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=12182 Emery, Louise So, you've probably guessed, First Minister, that I'm going to talk about the threshold, which has been increased to £18,000 for small retail, hospitality and leisure premises in England. In Wales, if we just remind the Chamber, it's £6,000, with tapered relief up to £12,000. Will your Government assess how many Welsh businesses would actually benefit if the threshold matched over in England and publish that estimated cost ahead of the Welsh budget? Diolch. 16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782241 17 En 2026-11-03T13:36:19 http://www.senedd.tv/en/16420?startPos=379&l=en 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister C 2717 2717 Rhun ap Iorwerth https://business.senedd.wales/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=2717 First Minister of Wales ap Iorwerth, Rhun It's not so much looking at what's happening in England as deciding what best we can do and how far we can push the support that we give businesses here in Wales. We showed a real declaration of intent, I think, by taking that permanent measure from April next year with the 30 per cent relief. So, I think we have shown our determination to find every way we can of supporting businesses. We will look at all opportunities, moving forward, including any that might emerge as a result of a budget that still leaves Wales with less money to spend in real terms next year. 16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782243 18 En 2026-11-03T13:36:59 http://www.senedd.tv/en/16420?startPos=419&l=en 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister C 12172 12172 Rebeca Phillips https://business.senedd.wales/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=12172 Phillips, Rebaca Last week's recess gave me the opportunity to speak to many businesses across Brycheiniog Tawe Nedd, many welcoming the decision by this Plaid Cymru Government to cut business rates by 30 per cent for eligible high-street hospitality and leisure businesses. But the UK Government ignored Plaid Cymru's calls during the autumn budget to cut VAT for our high-street businesses, many of which are still struggling. Would the First Minister agree with me that this is a missed opportunity that could have made a real difference to our hospitality, hair and beauty businesses across Wales? Diolch. 16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782245 19 En 2026-11-03T13:37:35 http://www.senedd.tv/en/16420?startPos=455&l=en 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister C 2717 2717 Rhun ap Iorwerth https://business.senedd.wales/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=2717 First Minister of Wales ap Iorwerth, Rhun I'm pleased to hear that businesses in the Member's constituency welcome our early action to rebalance the business rates system. This permanent reduction will apply to 20,000 or so retail, hospitality and leisure properties across Wales. It's a significant number. It will provide a total benefit worth over £30 million to eligible businesses from April next year. We are using the levers available for us to support businesses in the sector, using our devolved powers. VAT isn't one of those, of course. Whilst those calls on the UK Government to take action are on one side of the balance, we also look at what we can do within our powers now, and that, as I say, is what we will continue to do, moving forward, looking at every opportunity to make sure that we target those businesses that are most in need of our help. Helping those leisure, retail and hospitality businesses in Wales, we thought, was a very, very important step to take. 16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782248 20 En 2026-11-03T13:38:39 http://www.senedd.tv/en/16420?startPos=519&l=en 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister C 12175 12175 Shav Taj https://business.senedd.wales/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=12175 Taj, Shav I think we can all agree that we want to see our high streets thriving and keenly await some of the decisive action from the Government in relation to the budget. But there also, I guess, really does now need to be a conversation about where we target that support and how we sustain strong and vibrant communities in all of our constituencies, which is why I welcome the fact that the UK Labour Government is raising taxes on gambling, increasing machine games duty from 20 per cent to 25 per cent for higher stakes machines. Following this Labour budget, vape and adult gaming centres in England will no longer be eligible for small business rates relief. The extra revenue that then this creates will help fund and support the kinds of businesses that support stronger communities and healthy high streets, which, again, we all want to see here in Wales. So, when it comes to supporting small businesses in Wales, will this Government, then, consider following the example of the UK Labour Government and ask that vape and gambling shops also pay their fair share? 16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782255 21 En 2026-11-03T13:39:37 http://www.senedd.tv/en/16420?startPos=577&l=en 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister C 2717 2717 Rhun ap Iorwerth https://business.senedd.wales/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=2717 First Minister of Wales ap Iorwerth, Rhun Again, I make the case that it's not a matter of us following what happens in England, where the UK Government is able to take action using reserved powers. That is one thing. We must always look at the way in which we can use our powers in the most effective way. We have limited funding. The fact that public spending is going down next year in real terms as a result of the budget doesn't make things easier, but it's a matter then of targeting those specific areas that we believe can benefit most from the help that we can put in place. If we have a focus on the kinds of high streets that we want to build, and the way that the help that we put in there, including through the work of the taskforce, helps to create those vibrant high streets, I think that is the way that this new Plaid Cymru Government shows that we are serious about supporting towns and city centres the length and breadth of Wales. 16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782240 22 En 2026-11-03T13:40:00 http://www.senedd.tv/en/16420?startPos=600&l=en 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister C 16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782246 23 En 2026-11-03T13:40:41 http://www.senedd.tv/en/16420?startPos=641&l=en 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister C 16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782247 24 En 2026-11-03T13:40:45 http://www.senedd.tv/en/16420?startPos=645&l=en 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister C 16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782256 25 Cy 2026-11-03T00:00:00 http://www.senedd.tv/en/16420?startPos=-48600&l=en 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister C 16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782244 26 En 2026-11-03T13:40:33 http://www.senedd.tv/en/16420?startPos=633&l=en 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister C 145 145 Paul Davies https://business.senedd.wales/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=145 Davies, Paul First Minister, I recently visited the Wolfscastle Country Hotel and Spa, and restaurant, in my constituency, which is celebrating its fiftieth anniversary this year. It's a fantastic hospitality business that is a significant employer, supports local suppliers and helps boost the local economy. During my visit, we had a frank discussion about the significant challenges facing the hospitality sector and the need for Governments at both ends of the M4 to do more to support the sector and safeguard its future. As we've just heard, whilst some announcements were made in relation to business rates, unfortunately the UK Government's autumn budget failed to deliver the support that many hospitality businesses in Wales had hoped for. In addition to your earlier answer, can you give us an indication what the Welsh Government will be offering in its own upcoming budget to specifically support hospitality businesses like the Wolfscatle hotel so that they can continue investing in the local economy and providing vital jobs in the local community? 16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782250 27 En 2026-11-03T13:41:41 http://www.senedd.tv/en/16420?startPos=701&l=en 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister C 2717 2717 Rhun ap Iorwerth https://business.senedd.wales/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=2717 First Minister of Wales ap Iorwerth, Rhun Let me wish the Wolfscastle hotel a happy fiftieth birthday and hope it remains a thriving local business for many, many years to come. I agree with the Member that this is a budget that fails to deliver for Wales in a number of different ways. But, again, I make the case that we haven't waited for just the results of the UK budget; the announcement that was made by the finance Minister and I—she even pulled a pint for me while making that announcement—was a clear declaration that we wanted to act as quickly as we could. Having said that, we will always look for opportunities to see how we can use the powers that we have to identify those businesses that are most in need of support. We have identified this as a sector that is important to us in terms of the economy, in terms of the vibrancy of our high streets and our communities. We will always look for different ways, more ways, and push the boundaries of what we can do as a Government within the limitations that we all know arise from that budget, which did indeed let Wales down. 16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782257 28 Cy 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister B Questions Without Notice from the Party Leaders 16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782254 29 Cy 2026-11-03T13:42:59 http://www.senedd.tv/en/16420?startPos=779&l=en 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister C 5053 5053 Huw Irranca-Davies https://business.senedd.wales/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=5053 Llywydd Irranca-Davies, Huw I now call on the party leaders to question the First Minister. First of all, the leader of Reform UK, Helen Jenner. 16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782260 30 En 2026-11-03T13:43:07 http://www.senedd.tv/en/16420?startPos=787&l=en 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister C 12153 12153 Helen Jenner https://business.senedd.wales/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=12153 Leader of the Opposition Jenner, Hellen Diolch, Lywydd. First Minister, when you were in opposition, you said that Wales needed its own COVID inquiry and that the bereaved families deserved answers. Now you're in Government, you're offering them a review without the powers of public inquiry. Are you becoming Wales's answer to Keir Starmer, saying one thing in opposition and doing another in office? 16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782262 31 En 2026-11-03T13:43:01 http://www.senedd.tv/en/16420?startPos=781&l=en 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister C 2717 2717 Rhun ap Iorwerth https://business.senedd.wales/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=2717 First Minister of Wales ap Iorwerth, Rhun This Government is doing exactly what we said. Just as we said we would introduce the most generous childcare offer anywhere in the UK, we're pressing ahead with it; prioritising the NHS, we're pushing ahead with it; supporting farmers, we're pushing ahead with that. On the COVID issue, we were very, very clear in the manifesto, and for some time before the manifesto, that what we wanted was a means to find the answers that we need to give people assurances that, when another pandemic happens—I hope it's not for a very, very long time, but when it happens—we have learnt the lessons from it. We have an ability now—and we will get more detail this afternoon from this Government—and we have now a mechanism that helps us, yes, to learn from what has happened, but, in doing so, looking forward to giving the people of Wales what they deserve, which is the answers about that future response to COVID. That, surely, is what we're looking for as a nation now. 16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782263 32 En 2026-11-03T13:44:28 http://www.senedd.tv/en/16420?startPos=868&l=en 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister C 12153 12153 Helen Jenner https://business.senedd.wales/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=12153 Jenner, Hellen Will witnesses be compelled to give evidence under oath—yes or no? The fact is the answer is 'no', First Minister, isn't it? I want to remind you of some of the commitments your party made to COVID bereaved families. You've stood in this Chamber and been on the airwaves to argue that Wales needs its own specific COVID inquiry. You criticised the then Labour Government for resisting scrutiny and said the families deserved answers. Your party repeated that commitment in your 2024 general election manifesto. In March this year, your Trefnydd privately reassured one of the bereaved families campaigners that there would be no rolling back on that commitment—no rolling back, First Minister. And on 20 March, just seven weeks before the Senedd election, your now health Minister confirmed to BBC Wales that witnesses would be compelled to give evidence under oath. His words, not mine, First Minister. Yet, on 22 October, you confirmed that the Government's review would have no statutory powers to compel witnesses. First Minister, these families were given repeated assurances by senior members of your party, including you. So, what has changed? Did you dupe bereaved families for votes? 16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782222 33 En 2026-11-03T13:45:00 http://www.senedd.tv/en/16420?startPos=900&l=en 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister C 16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782242 34 En 2026-11-03T13:45:37 http://www.senedd.tv/en/16420?startPos=937&l=en 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister C 2717 2717 Rhun ap Iorwerth https://business.senedd.wales/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=2717 First Minister of Wales ap Iorwerth, Rhun Again, I'd make the case that we are delivering exactly what it said in our manifesto we would deliver, which is to provide answers in order to prepare us for the eventuality of another pandemic in future. I've been here for a few years longer than her, and most of those years— 16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782300 35 En 2026-11-03T13:45:55 http://www.senedd.tv/en/16420?startPos=955&l=en 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister C 12153 12153 Helen Jenner https://business.senedd.wales/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=12153 Jenner, Hellen You can't tell. 16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782301 36 En 2026-11-03T13:45:58 http://www.senedd.tv/en/16420?startPos=958&l=en 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister C 2717 2717 Rhun ap Iorwerth https://business.senedd.wales/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=2717 First Minister of Wales ap Iorwerth, Rhun —were spent as health spokesman for my party. And the Member is right that we were the first, back in probably April or May 2020, to call for a COVID inquiry for Wales. There was no talk of a COVID inquiry at all. The reason we wanted that was not that we wanted a particular model of inquiry, but that we wanted answers to whatever it was that was emerging around us in those early days of COVID. We knew that this was of such a serious nature that we would want to make sure that we were prepared to face a pandemic in future, learning lessons.  Now, standing here, I'm not interested in a witch hunt, I'm not interested in particular models, I'm interested in the answers. And in the election and for a long time before the election, it is this model that I totally believe—. She may disagree with me, but I am totally convinced, and have been for some time, that this is the best way to provide the answers that we owe the people of Wales and the victims and their families. 16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782252 37 En 2026-11-03T13:47:03 http://www.senedd.tv/en/16420?startPos=1023&l=en 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister C 12153 12153 Helen Jenner https://business.senedd.wales/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=12153 Jenner, Hellen First Minister, these were your commitments, not mine, not Reform's, and I'm simply holding you to account by asking you why you haven't kept to them. And I'll say once again, the question is: will witnesses be compelled to give evidence under oath? And the answer is 'no'. And that's simply not good enough for these families. First Minister, a leaked letter to Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board staff has revealed that the health board has approved a formal consultation on proposals to cease its urgent primary care centre services across north Wales by 31 March next year. These centres were established to relieve pressure on GP surgeries and emergency departments. And you know as well as anyone in this Chamber what that pressure looks like, especially at hospital emergency departments. Penrhos Stanley hospital in Holyhead has already lost the St David's Hospice ward. The award-winning specialist leg ulcer and complex wound service has been reduced to just one member of staff, while the minor injuries unit has, on occasion, operated on reduced hours. Where does this end, First Minister? What next? Are we eventually going to see somewhere like Penrhos Stanley hospital close altogether? Betsi Cadwaladr remains in special measures, and I don't want to hear that these decisions are simply a matter for the health board. Your Government has responsibility for overseeing this health board, and your health Minister, sitting right there, has statutory powers of intervention. So, will you ask your health Minister to urgently examine the use of those powers to prevent these proposed cuts? Because the people of north Wales expect their Government to take responsibility, not stand by and wipe their hands while more local healthcare services are put at risk. 16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782264 38 En 2026-11-03T13:48:36 http://www.senedd.tv/en/16420?startPos=1116&l=en 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister C 2717 2717 Rhun ap Iorwerth https://business.senedd.wales/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=2717 First Minister of Wales ap Iorwerth, Rhun So, just as this Government did exactly as we promised we would on finding answers following the COVID pandemic, we are delivering exactly as we said we would on Betsi Cadwaladr—a troubled health board that all of us want to see desperately turning a corner. We are in the privileged position of being able to try to help it to turn that corner. It's why my health Minister pressed on in the early days of this new Government to find what those steps are that need to be taken. Measures were announced in June, commissioning an independent review of leadership, governance and culture at the health board, which is expected to be submitted to the Welsh Government imminently so that we can move forward.  When it comes to operational decisions by health boards, we all know, of course, that those are decisions for the health board itself, and this has to be put, though, in the context of the sustainable GP services that we all want to see in place. There is an expectation by this Government that health boards engage openly and transparently with patients, with staff, with communities about proposals that they have, and my understanding is that no decision has been taken by the health board on this matter. But we also, of course, as a Welsh Government, expect very, very clearly that health boards, wherever they are, deliver sustainable, accessible GP services, and that is our expectation for Betsi Cadwaladr, as for the rest of Wales's health boards. 16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782258 39 En 2026-11-03T13:50:00 http://www.senedd.tv/en/16420?startPos=1200&l=en 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister C 16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782259 40 Cy 2026-11-03T13:50:14 http://www.senedd.tv/en/16420?startPos=1214&l=en 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister C 5053 5053 Huw Irranca-Davies https://business.senedd.wales/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=5053 Llywydd Irranca-Davies, Huw Leader of Welsh Labour, Ken Skates. 16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782261 41 En 2026-11-03T13:50:16 http://www.senedd.tv/en/16420?startPos=1216&l=en 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister C 267 267 Ken Skates https://business.senedd.wales/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=267 Leader of Welsh Labour Skates, Ken Diolch, Lywydd. First Minister, before May's elections, your party made a raft of promises. But, six months on, health visitors in Cwm Taf are still waiting for you to end a dispute that you'd promised to end within days; parents on low incomes are still waiting for payments that you promised within weeks of the election; council tax revaluation, one of the key issues on which you walked away from the co-operation agreement in the last Senedd, has been kicked into the long grass; and you promised never to repeat the injustice of Thatcherism, but you're looking at snatching free milk from schoolchildren. We thought that The Traitors season had come to an end, First Minister, but isn't it the case that people in the public gallery today and across Wales have found themselves with a Government that isn't being faithful to its promises? 16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782272 42 En 2026-11-03T13:51:03 http://www.senedd.tv/en/16420?startPos=1263&l=en 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister C 2717 2717 Rhun ap Iorwerth https://business.senedd.wales/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=2717 First Minister of Wales ap Iorwerth, Rhun All those, with respect, are nonsense, of course, because, on council tax, whereas the previous administration kicked it to one side and did nothing, we are determined that we need to find a more progressive solution to council tax as it is. On school milk, a consultation is happening because a contract came to an end, and milk continues to be delivered in schools as part of free breakfasts. We're looking at a Government here that made a set of promises, and I know it's a new concept, but it's a Government that's sticking to those promises in making sure that we are delivering the free childcare; that we are delivering those free school meals, with further announcements this week on expansion; that we are delivering help for families with the cost-of-living crisis. That is what people are seeing in this Government: a Government of action. 16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782277 43 En 2026-11-03T13:51:55 http://www.senedd.tv/en/16420?startPos=1315&l=en 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister C 267 267 Ken Skates https://business.senedd.wales/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=267 Skates, Ken I apologise for laughing. This is no laughing matter, I'm afraid. People do feel let down by broken promises, and perhaps a review or a plan to review or a plan to establish a commission to review the broken promises of your Government is required. Six months into your Government's term, families caring for children with complex and additional needs are finding that support is disappearing rather than getting better. Last week, funding ran out for Clwb Cwtsh, Wales's only provider of support for children with complex needs over the school holidays, and Sarah, a parent who relies on this service, has contacted me about the impact that it's having. Her son, Thomas, attends Ysgol Pen Coch in Flint. She wants to know why children with disabilities are being left behind by this Plaid Cymru Government. And, First Minister, it goes without saying that Welsh Labour will be seeking reinstatement of this vital support, obviously, through the process of budget negotiations and through correspondence. But that, surely, shouldn't be necessary. Will you, today, make a commitment, to Sarah and so many others, on what they are calling for, for this Government to reinstate the support immediately? 16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782290 44 En 2026-11-03T13:53:09 http://www.senedd.tv/en/16420?startPos=1389&l=en 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister C 2717 2717 Rhun ap Iorwerth https://business.senedd.wales/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=2717 First Minister of Wales ap Iorwerth, Rhun So, we remember, don't we, Labour going into the recent election with £9 million for additional learning needs. We didn't think that was enough. And I'm pleased that we now have come to an agreement where we're able to, hopefully, release some £60 million as a first step towards strengthening additional learning needs, which is something that the Member and I want to see happening. This is about using our position here, and working constructively with other parties, to make sure that we do deliver on additional learning needs. We have now a position where an opposition Member here in the Senedd, after last week's budget, seems to be hanging out the bunting, celebrating great wins for Wales, despite the truth being that we are now receiving a real-terms decrease in the public spending that we have in order to spend on matters such as additional learning needs. When we have a Labour Party that, on paper, says it has £14 billion for rail, but the Labour leader here was again hanging out the bunting, celebrating £30 million, one five hundredth of what the Labour Party in Government say they will offer Wales. Let's be realistic about the need for us to all work together, recognising the pressures that we are under and finding the ways that we can work together, such as on ALN, to make a difference to people's lives, and it comes from co-operation. 16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782308 45 Cy 2026-11-03T13:54:41 http://www.senedd.tv/en/16420?startPos=1481&l=en 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister C 5053 5053 Huw Irranca-Davies https://business.senedd.wales/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=5053 Llywydd Irranca-Davies, Huw Leader of the Welsh Conservatives, Darren Millar. 16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782311 46 En 2026-11-03T13:54:44 http://www.senedd.tv/en/16420?startPos=1484&l=en 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister C 171 171 Darren Millar https://business.senedd.wales/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=171 Leader of the Welsh Conservatives Millar, Darren Diolch, Lywydd. I will say, it's a bit rich of the Labour leader complaining about broken promises when we've still got hundreds of thousands of people on waiting lists and lots of people waiting over two years in spite of your broken promises. Now, if I can turn to the First Minister. First Minister, back in early 2025, I was contacted by Emily Vaughn. She was a victim and survivor of grooming gangs. She was trafficked around the UK and raped more than 1,000 times by hundreds of men. Your predecessor as First Minister declined every invitation I made to meet with Emily Vaughn. Instead, she said that Emily would be involved in the Welsh Government's own work on tackling this issue, but there's been a lack of progress. I raised concerns about this last year, and again in February. Emily contacted me again just a couple of weeks ago. She's still heard nothing now for months, in spite of these assurances. She's heard nothing about the work that Ministers are doing on modern slavery; she's heard nothing about the promised adult victim survivors advisory group. And yet this is in spite of the fact that, in September, the Deputy Minister for Social Care, Mental Health and Women's Health told this Chamber that survivors' voices would be heard and that their experiences would drive change. Well, I say this to you, First Minister: Emily has a voice, she wants to be heard, but she doesn't feel as though anyone in the Welsh Government is listening. Will you take the opportunity today to agree to meet with Emily and me in order to listen to what she has to say? 16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782251 47 En 2026-11-03T13:55:00 http://www.senedd.tv/en/16420?startPos=1500&l=en 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister C 16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782268 48 En 2026-11-03T13:56:24 http://www.senedd.tv/en/16420?startPos=1584&l=en 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister C 2717 2717 Rhun ap Iorwerth https://business.senedd.wales/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=2717 First Minister of Wales ap Iorwerth, Rhun Listening is at the heart of everything that we do. I'm a firm believer that we as politicians are conveners of the ideas that we need to bring together to sort out the many issues that we have as a nation and to make the most of the opportunities that we have, and that absolutely includes learning from lived experiences. It's why I want bereaved families to take part and to contribute towards the review that we are putting in place, to learn lessons for the future following the COVID pandemic. And the same is true in this case. If Emily wants to speak with Government Ministers to share her lived experience, why would I not want to engage with that? 16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782274 49 En 2026-11-03T13:57:12 http://www.senedd.tv/en/16420?startPos=1632&l=en 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister C 171 171 Darren Millar https://business.senedd.wales/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=171 Millar, Darren Well, thank you for that response, First Minister. I think it is important that she meets with you, as the leader of the Welsh Government, in order that we can assure her and other brave victims who have talked about their experiences that you will be determined, as we all need to be, to stamp out the abuse, the horrible abuse that's been experienced by people like Emily and many others, especially when they were children, at the hands of these evil and wicked perpetrators. One of the things that you and I still have yet to agree on is the need for a Wales-wide inquiry. We clearly have a UK Government-initiated inquiry into grooming gangs. That has taken the decision now to undertake an investigation in Wales, and that is welcome. But in spite of that, we know that Wales is very different from England. It's a more rural nation; we have more fragmented local government; social services legislation is different; we have a rights-based approach to legislation around children; and community safety is devolved, while policing isn't. These are the same sorts of arguments that you used to posit when you called for a Wales-specific COVID-19 inquiry. So, after meeting with Emily, which I hope can be scheduled very, very soon, will you agree to look again at the case for a Wales-specific inquiry into grooming gangs, so that we can be sure that we learn lessons and prevent more vulnerable children from being groomed and raped by gangs of paedophiles across our country, and so that we can hold public services to account for any failures? 16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782276 50 En 2026-11-03T13:58:48 http://www.senedd.tv/en/16420?startPos=1728&l=en 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister C 2717 2717 Rhun ap Iorwerth https://business.senedd.wales/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=2717 First Minister of Wales ap Iorwerth, Rhun I will repeat what I've said before, because there's nothing more important than making sure that people are safe, that people feel safe, that they trust authority to look after them, and goodness knows people have plenty of reason to mistrust authority. I have said previously that I will always be open to considering what are the best means to find answers on these issues. It could be on a whole raft of issues. We've returned again to the COVID issue. I believe we're doing the right thing on that. I believe we're doing the right thing in engaging with the UK inquiry on grooming gangs, especially given the engagement that we had as a Government with that inquiry, wanting that inquiry to be as intensely involved in looking at what was happening in Wales as possible. And now that we have that assurance that work specifically is being done to learn the experience of Wales as a part of that inquiry, that gives me confidence that this is an inquiry that is very relevant to our situation in Wales and that will help us find answers. We'll wait and see what comes out of that, and if we feel that that is woefully inadequate and has failed to get to grips with some of the issues that we face here, let's look again. I am satisfied that the measures being taken now have, at their core, the interests of women, young people and vulnerable people in Wales who need answers about whether authority can be trusted to look after them. 16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782279 51 Cy 2026-11-03T00:00:00 http://www.senedd.tv/en/16420?startPos=-48600&l=en 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister C 16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782280 52 Cy 2026-11-03T14:00:00 http://www.senedd.tv/en/16420?startPos=1800&l=en 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister C 16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782281 53 En 2026-11-03T14:03:20 http://www.senedd.tv/en/16420?startPos=2000&l=en 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister C 16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782266 54 En 2026-11-03T14:00:00 http://www.senedd.tv/en/16420?startPos=1800&l=en 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister C 2717 2717 Rhun ap Iorwerth https://business.senedd.wales/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=2717 First Minister of Wales ap Iorwerth, Rhun to our situation in Wales and that will help us find answers. We'll wait and see what comes out of that, and if we feel that that is woefully inadequate and has failed to get to grips with some of the issues that we face here, well, let's look again. I am satisfied that the measures being taken now have, at their core, the interests of women, young people and vulnerable people in Wales who need answers about whether authority can be trusted to look after them. 16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782269 55 Cy 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister B Sustainability of Community Pharmacies 16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782270 56 Cy 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister O 12179 12179 Claire Archibald https://business.senedd.wales/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=12179 Archibald, Claire 3. What is the Welsh Government doing to ensure the economic sustainability of community pharmacies? OQ64809 16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782271 57 En 2026-11-03T14:00:40 http://www.senedd.tv/en/16420?startPos=1840&l=en 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister C 2717 2717 Rhun ap Iorwerth https://business.senedd.wales/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=2717 First Minister of Wales ap Iorwerth, Rhun We are putting community pharmacy at the heart of a stronger primary care service. Record investment is enabling pharmacies to provide more clinical care closer to home. We want to build on that, working in partnership with the community pharmacy network to secure its sustainability and build on the vital role pharmacies already play in communities across Wales. 16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782265 58 En 2026-11-03T14:01:07 http://www.senedd.tv/en/16420?startPos=1867&l=en 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister C 12179 12179 Claire Archibald https://business.senedd.wales/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=12179 Archibald, Claire Thank you, First Minister. It's quite nice to hear you say about funding. I've been speaking to pharmacies across my constituency and the wider area, and they tell me that their colleagues across Wales share the same concerns about underfunding and rising costs. They tell me they are regularly dispensing medicines for less than they pay for them; how is that fair? And how can we expect them to keep absorbing these losses alongside rising staffing and running costs? Our pharmacies are pillars of our community. We rely on them, our GPs rely on them and so do our accident and emergency departments. They need our support and we cannot afford to lose them. So, I'm asking today will your Government review how pharmacies are reimbursed for medicines and take action when they are constantly being paid less than the medicines cost them—'yes' or 'no'? Diolch. 16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782278 59 En 2026-11-03T14:01:50 http://www.senedd.tv/en/16420?startPos=1910&l=en 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister C 2717 2717 Rhun ap Iorwerth https://business.senedd.wales/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=2717 First Minister of Wales ap Iorwerth, Rhun Again, I can only emphasise how important it is that we have a sustainable community pharmacy network. We talk about primary care and all too often, we can think that we're only talking about GP surgeries; GP surgeries are very, very important, but we're talking about the whole raft of providers of primary care. And I think positive steps have been taken in recent years around the expansion of the minor ailments scheme to emphasise the fact that a community pharmacy really is a first-contact point for more and more people, but we have to make sure that the support is there for them. Our manifesto committed to putting the NHS on a new and sustainable footing, with greater emphasis on prevention, keeping people well and shifting focus and resources towards day-to-day health services, and the role of community pharmacy in that clearly is vital. A strong, sustainable community pharmacy network is absolutely essential to our ambition to shift towards prevention and deliver more care closer to home. And, in our deliberations about how we make sure that we get money to the front line in the context of falling funds as a result of the UK Government, we will absolutely have a focus on how we can work as positively as we possibly can to make the most of our community pharmacy network. 16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782282 60 En 2026-11-03T14:03:20 http://www.senedd.tv/en/16420?startPos=2000&l=en 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister C 518 518 Lindsay Whittle https://business.senedd.wales/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=518 Whittle, Lindsay First Minister, the Welsh Government has a vision to shift more emphasis onto primary care, which, of course, is so welcome and so long overdue. We've heard that community pharmacies are a central component of that and I'm sure there's no Member here who disagrees with that statement. I was going to ask you what work you're doing to invest in the community pharmacy network, but I'm going to ask you what we can do to stabilise the network so that the sector can continue to bring their expert care closer to the people. And if I could sneak—. And what further work can be done to improve public awareness of pharmacy services to strengthen their role in front-line services and help to ensure that sustainable future? Because it's what they do and they do it very well. 16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782283 61 En 2026-11-03T14:04:12 http://www.senedd.tv/en/16420?startPos=2052&l=en 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister C 2717 2717 Rhun ap Iorwerth https://business.senedd.wales/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=2717 First Minister of Wales ap Iorwerth, Rhun Public awareness is very, very important, Llywydd, and, just as we were mentioning earlier, making sure that more and more people know about what they can get out of visiting their community pharmacy first is very, very important; we can all play a part in that. In terms of sustainability, yes, I use that word a lot, but it's not just freezing what we have. We want to expand clinical services, don't we? And expanding those clinical services is key to the sustainability of community pharmacy in Wales. The more people who know about the services that they can offer, the more that they are able to offer. They're at the business end of health within our communities. They are the ones who are there, able to nip problems in the bud, 16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782302 62 En 2026-11-03T14:07:46 http://www.senedd.tv/en/16420?startPos=2266&l=en 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister C 16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782267 63 En 2026-11-03T14:05:00 http://www.senedd.tv/en/16420?startPos=2100&l=en 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister C 2717 2717 Rhun ap Iorwerth https://business.senedd.wales/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=2717 First Minister of Wales ap Iorwerth, Rhun able to nip problems in the bud, their doors open to the communities that they serve. Through the Help Us Help You campaign, for example, we provide pharmacies and health boards with national communications materials to promote services locally, ensure more people understand what their pharmacy can do. Creating that momentum behind the growth of the sector is key to its sustainability long term. 16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782275 64 En 2026-11-03T14:05:26 http://www.senedd.tv/en/16420?startPos=2126&l=en 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister C 332 332 Mike Hedges https://business.senedd.wales/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=332 Hedges, Mike We all depend on community pharmacies. There was a pharmacy in Morriston, run by Jhoots, which had a shortage of medicines and where the staff were not paid for several months. In January this year, Jhoots Pharmacy entered administration, with the administrators' statement outlining £90 million of debt. Fortunately, the pharmacy was taken over, and also fortunately, Morriston, where I live, has a large number of pharmacies. This is not true across Gŵyr Abertawe. Pharmacies need more support. I support better publicising of what pharmacies can provide, such as flu vaccines. Will the Welsh Government consider increasing the number of items pharmacies can prescribe? For example, rosacea cream needs a prescription. If we do let pharmacies prescribe more, it will reduce pressure on GP surgeries and help pharmacies. 16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782288 65 En 2026-11-03T14:06:15 http://www.senedd.tv/en/16420?startPos=2175&l=en 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister C 2717 2717 Rhun ap Iorwerth https://business.senedd.wales/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=2717 First Minister of Wales ap Iorwerth, Rhun I think we should always have a view to looking at how we can expand the services that are provided by community pharmacy. We have learnt, through the minor ailments and people's engagement with it, that there's a lot more that a community pharmacy can offer than most people think. It would be a mistake by any government not to work very closely with community pharmacy to see what can be expanded, how that would work. Of course, we have now more direct prescribers within community pharmacy. That is the direction of travel that we want to continue on.  16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782289 66 En 2026-11-03T14:06:55 http://www.senedd.tv/en/16420?startPos=2215&l=en 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister C 336 336 Natasha Asghar https://business.senedd.wales/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=336 Asghar, Natasha First Minister, community pharmacies are often the first point of contact in people seeking healthcare, playing a vital role in keeping people well, supporting our NHS and taking pressure off already stretched GP practices and emergency departments. Not only that, they also deliver more than 84,000 NHS clinical service consultations each and every single month, yet the network has fallen from 716 pharmacies, in 2019, to 683 today. That's 33 fewer local pharmacies at a time when prescription volumes, clinical activity, workforce costs and expectations are, indeed, all increasing. The loss of a local pharmacy can have significant impact, particularly on older people, those with long-term health conditions, and people who may struggle to travel further afield. So, as well as outlining what the Welsh Government is doing to support the sustainability of community pharmacy networks in Wales, will the First Minister also explain what steps are being taken to reverse the drop in the number of pharmacies here in Wales? 16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782291 67 En 2026-11-03T14:07:45 http://www.senedd.tv/en/16420?startPos=2265&l=en 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister C 2717 2717 Rhun ap Iorwerth https://business.senedd.wales/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=2717 First Minister of Wales ap Iorwerth, Rhun The answer to that last question is the sustainability of the sector as a whole, and making sure the contracts that are in place allow those businesses to be viable. We need them to be viable and, when deciding on how contracts work between Government and pharmacies, that's at the core of it. I mean, the Member mentioned some statistics, here are some more: 0.5 million common ailment scheme consultations have been delivered through the common ailment scheme. I think it was 200,000 independent prescribing consultations in community pharmacies last year. I mean, that is significant, as the Member says, in terms of the pressure that it takes off general practice. I also make the case—we often have questions here, as we have had today, on the vibrancy of high streets—the pharmacy plays a key, key role in terms of footfall on our high streets. It's very, very important that we maintain and support pharmacies as a beating heart of town centres. 16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782303 68 Cy 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister B Stonger Links between Wales and the Rest of the UK 16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782304 69 Cy 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister O 8734 8734 Sam Rowlands https://business.senedd.wales/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=8734 Rowlands, Sam 4. How is the First Minister promoting cooperation and building stronger links between Wales and the rest of the United Kingdom? OQ64843 16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782305 70 En 2026-11-03T14:08:57 http://www.senedd.tv/en/16420?startPos=2337&l=en 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister C 2717 2717 Rhun ap Iorwerth https://business.senedd.wales/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=2717 ap Iorwerth, Rhun Co-operation takes many forms, of course. In recent weeks, for example, I proposed an economic partnership, to make sure that the Welsh Government and the UK Government work better together in delivering prosperity to people in Wales. It's an issue I was able to discuss with the Prime Minister at the National Economic Council last week. That partnership, which must be based on respect, has to also sit alongside changes to our devolution settlement, so that we have the tools we need to improve delivery of Welsh public services. 16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782309 71 En 2026-11-03T14:09:29 http://www.senedd.tv/en/16420?startPos=2369&l=en 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister C 8734 8734 Sam Rowlands https://business.senedd.wales/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=8734 Rowlands, Sam Thanks for your response there, First Minister, and I was pleased to see you at the National Economic Council in Glasgow as well. I'm sure you entered into those discussions with a genuinely open mind, because it's clear from the people of Wales, First Minister, that people want close collaboration within the United Kingdom, not just to drive growth, but because they understand the deep, long-held links we have, and because we want to see Wales,  16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782273 72 En 2026-11-03T14:10:00 http://www.senedd.tv/en/16420?startPos=2400&l=en 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister C 8734 8734 Sam Rowlands https://business.senedd.wales/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=8734 Rowlands, Sam we want to see Wales, England, Scotland and Northern Ireland work together for an ambitious future. This seems at odds, First Minister, with your separatist summit held with the leaders of Sinn Féin and the SNP here in Cardiff just a couple of months ago, where you spent time plotting to break up our United Kingdom—completely the opposite to promoting co-operation and building the stronger links that the people of Wales want to see. It is clear that Plaid Cymru’s plans to sever those crucial economic, cultural and human links that Wales has with the rest of the UK would be disastrous for Wales. So, First Minister, I'll ask you now: what plans do you have to listen to the people of Wales and strengthen Wales's future inside the United Kingdom? 16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782285 73 En 2026-11-03T14:10:30 http://www.senedd.tv/en/16420?startPos=2430&l=en 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister C 2717 2717 Rhun ap Iorwerth https://business.senedd.wales/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=2717 First Minister of Wales ap Iorwerth, Rhun Still shuddering at the idea of three First Ministers meeting to talk about how we can work together in the interests of the people that we serve. Let me go back to his opening remarks. It might come as a surprise to him—I'm not sure why it should, given what I've said over the years—that I also believe in close collaboration between us as nations within these islands, and I also appreciate and think we should make the most of the deep, long-held links between us in these islands. The difference between he and I is that I don't believe the way that we work together in these islands works particularly well when all the cards are held by a UK Government that cares very, very, very little about the well-being of the people of Wales. I say, let us have the powers in our own hands, and use those powers to build those very close, collaborative links that make the most of the deep, long-held links between us in these islands. That's the difference between us: I don't think things as they are now work as well as they could for Wales. Now, we are within the United Kingdom now, which is why I engaged with the Prime Minister and his Cabinet colleagues in Glasgow last week in a positive spirit, and why I was pleased to leave with genuine gains for Wales, with a significant step forward on fiscal flexibility and on borrowing powers, so that we can use our tools as a Parliament and as a Government in the interest of the people of Wales, while we now have an assurance that the Prime Minister personally will look at how he can invest more politically in understanding the injustice of rail underfunding for Wales. That's an important step forward, and where we have agreement that the proposal I put on the table for a partnership of growth will be looked at in detail now, between Welsh Government and UK Government officials, so that we can find that common ground to create prosperity in all parts of Wales, which is what I've always wanted, and what I'm reading that Andy Burnham wants, too. This is positive. I believe in positive collaboration. Don't be scared. 16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782296 74 Cy 2026-11-03T14:12:42 http://www.senedd.tv/en/16420?startPos=2562&l=en 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister C 8371 8371 Elwyn Vaughan https://business.senedd.wales/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=8371 Vaughan, Elwyn Wales's interests are best served by making its own decisions, and the current constitutional setup is essentially unfair. But as long as the current arrangements continue, they need to genuinely empower Wales. Last week, as a result of a meeting with the Prime Minister, you came out of the meeting with more of an agreement from the UK Government on what is needed for Wales. However, would you agree with me that the assurance from the Prime Minister that allowing more financial flexibility for the Welsh Government is a matter of how and when, and should become a reality without delay? And does he further agree with me that if the Prime Minister is to be guided by what's best for Wales rather than what's best for some MPs in Westminster, that has to mean immediate and meaningful talks about devolving policing and justice? 16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782325 75 Cy 2026-11-03T14:13:33 http://www.senedd.tv/en/16420?startPos=2613&l=en 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister C 2717 2717 Rhun ap Iorwerth https://business.senedd.wales/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=2717 First Minister of Wales ap Iorwerth, Rhun I strongly agree, and I'm grateful for that question to be able to build on the comments that I made just a few moments ago. I agree that the constructive calls made by this Government have led to positive comments from the Prime Minister on fiscal flexibility for Wales. As I said, I had an opportunity, as I said, to set out a number of other areas with the Prime Minister—on the growth partnership and the railways—where there are real gains to be made, I think. But it's very clear that the argument on the devolution of justice and policing isn't moving at the pace that the Welsh Government would want to see. So we will, again, strengthen and reinforce how we take that argument to convince Ministers in Westminster that the case for the devolution of justice and policing is stronger than ever. All of the evidence points to that as a step that would benefit the people of Wales. Likewise, we are still awaiting for the Treasury to move to allow the Welsh Government to proceed with the Cynnal trial payment pilot, and we would encourage the Government not to hamper Welsh Government's efforts to deal with child poverty, where there are great steps needed to be made by the UK Government. 16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782326 76 En 2026-11-03T14:14:56 http://www.senedd.tv/en/16420?startPos=2696&l=en 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister C 5113 5113 Nigel Williams https://business.senedd.wales/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=5113 Williams, Nigel Well, First Minister,  16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782287 77 En 2026-11-03T14:15:00 http://www.senedd.tv/en/16420?startPos=2700&l=en 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister C 5113 5113 Nigel Williams https://business.senedd.wales/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=5113 Williams, Nigel Well, First Minister, you've certainly succeeded in one kind of cross-border co-operation, haven't you? People travelling from Wales to England to buy alcohol for a start—good news for English retailers, but not for Wales businesses.  Turning to a matter of a more serious nature, I know personally the pain of losing someone close from the scourge of cancer, and there are other people in this Chamber where the same has happened to them. So, what practical arrangements are you pursuing with NHS services elsewhere in the UK so that people in north Wales waiting for cancer treatment or specialist treatment can access available capacity when services here cannot meet their needs? And how will you show that those arrangements are reducing delays?  16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782292 78 En 2026-11-03T14:15:39 http://www.senedd.tv/en/16420?startPos=2739&l=en 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister C 2717 2717 Rhun ap Iorwerth https://business.senedd.wales/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=2717 First Minister of Wales ap Iorwerth, Rhun On alcohol pricing, Members might laugh, but this is a serious health issue. The question of cross-border trade is one that was taken very seriously on a serious issue by the committee that looked at this and in the previous Government, when it introduced this legislation. These are serious issues. As is the question of cross-border health provision, with people travelling both directions, of course, for healthcare across the border, as is normal. Making sure that those agreements are solid and in place to provide for patients in Wales when they go across the border is something that my health Minister works on with his team, to strengthen and to make sure those arrangements are as resilient as possible. And, of course, on cancer services in particular, we will become the first Welsh Government to have a long-term cancer plan, because we recognise that this is something that the people of Wales deserve.  16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782297 79 En 2026-11-03T14:16:40 http://www.senedd.tv/en/16420?startPos=2800&l=en 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister C 12156 12156 Huw Thomas https://business.senedd.wales/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=12156 Thomas, Huw On the First Minister's reference to what he's on the Record saying, can I give another quote by the First Minister? When he met the European Union's ambassadors of the UK last year, he said that 'Brexit has caused deep damage to Wales’s economy, and unless the structural barriers to trade and investment are removed, the UK Government’s growth ambitions will remain unrealised.'  Now, I entirely agree with him, and I hope that he will join me in welcoming today's news of an UK-EU draft deal removing post-Brexit checks on food and agricultural exports. The UK Labour Government is getting on with delivering for the Welsh economy; Welsh voters will be expecting the Welsh Government to do likewise. But the First Minister has devoted a significant amount of time since coming into office promoting Welsh independence. Now, do you accept, First Minister, that you are campaigning to introduce the very trade barriers, frictions and, indeed, borders that, in the case of Brexit, you have argued have caused such damage to the Welsh economy? 16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782307 80 En 2026-11-03T14:17:38 http://www.senedd.tv/en/16420?startPos=2858&l=en 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister C 2717 2717 Rhun ap Iorwerth https://business.senedd.wales/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=2717 First Minister of Wales ap Iorwerth, Rhun We're getting used to the Labour, Conservative and Reform alliance against Wales daring to have ambition. 16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782306 81 En 2026-11-03T14:17:46 http://www.senedd.tv/en/16420?startPos=2866&l=en 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister C 12156 12156 Huw Thomas https://business.senedd.wales/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=12156 Thomas, Huw Come on.  16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782310 82 En 2026-11-03T14:17:49 http://www.senedd.tv/en/16420?startPos=2869&l=en 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister C 2717 2717 Rhun ap Iorwerth https://business.senedd.wales/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=2717 First Minister of Wales ap Iorwerth, Rhun Let me respond to the question on Europe. 16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782312 83 En 2026-11-03T14:17:51 http://www.senedd.tv/en/16420?startPos=2871&l=en 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister C 12156 12156 Huw Thomas https://business.senedd.wales/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=12156 Thomas, Huw We want to see Wales succeed, First Minister. What are you doing? 16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782315 84 En 2026-11-03T14:17:55 http://www.senedd.tv/en/16420?startPos=2875&l=en 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister C 2717 2717 Rhun ap Iorwerth https://business.senedd.wales/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=2717 First Minister of Wales ap Iorwerth, Rhun Welsh Government has been working— 16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782314 85 En 2026-11-03T14:17:57 http://www.senedd.tv/en/16420?startPos=2877&l=en 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister C 5053 5053 Huw Irranca-Davies https://business.senedd.wales/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=5053 Llywydd Irranca-Davies, Huw Can we listen to the response from the First Minister? 16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782313 86 En 2026-11-03T14:18:01 http://www.senedd.tv/en/16420?startPos=2881&l=en 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister C 2717 2717 Rhun ap Iorwerth https://business.senedd.wales/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=2717 First Minister of Wales ap Iorwerth, Rhun Welsh Government has been working constructively with the UK Government on the sanitary and phytosanitary issue. I was able to discuss with the UK Prime Minister last week the question of our relationship with the European Union. I am pleased that we have warmer words from a Labour Prime Minister. I encouraged him, though, to be braver. I encouraged him to go further and to talk about now getting back into the customs union and back into the single market. That is where we want to see an alliance being built of people who are genuinely pro a close relationship with the European Union. Plaid Cymru is clear that that is the relationship that we want to have. I invite the Member to join me in calling on the UK Prime Minister to act in the same way. 16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782319 87 Cy 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister B A Welsh Benefits System 16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782320 88 Cy 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister O 4491 4491 Alun Cox https://business.senedd.wales/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=4491 Cox, Alun 5. What progress has the Welsh Government made in implementing a Welsh benefits system? OQ64827 16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782321 89 En 2026-11-03T14:18:57 http://www.senedd.tv/en/16420?startPos=2937&l=en 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister C 2717 2717 Rhun ap Iorwerth https://business.senedd.wales/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=2717 First Minister of Wales ap Iorwerth, Rhun We are making good progress towards our programme for government commitment for a compassionate Welsh welfare system. As an initial priority, we are improving the administration of existing Welsh benefits, helping more people receive the support they are entitled to. We will continue to press for additional welfare powers to deliver made-in-Wales support schemes that reflect our values and meet the needs of communities across Wales. 16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782323 90 En 2026-11-03T14:19:21 http://www.senedd.tv/en/16420?startPos=2961&l=en 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister C 4491 4491 Alun Cox https://business.senedd.wales/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=4491 Cox, Alun Diolch, Brif Weinidog. I recently met with the Bevan Foundation and discussed a Welsh benefit system and how it could help deliver real outcomes for some of the poorest households in Wales, without stigma or requiring people to provide duplicate information and navigate duplicate systems. The Bevan Foundation has also long called for a Welsh child payment, and I'm pleased that the Welsh Government is working to develop the Cynnal pilot. This represents not only an important part of a Welsh benefits system, but something that could be life-changing for so many low-income families. We know the payment could interact with benefits and tax, but the UK Government could 16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782284 91 En 2026-11-03T14:20:00 http://www.senedd.tv/en/16420?startPos=3000&l=en 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister C 4491 4491 Alun Cox https://business.senedd.wales/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=4491 Cox, Alun the UK Government could introduce a disregard so that families living in poverty in receipt of these payments would not be penalised. What assurances has the First Minister had from the UK Government that these barriers will be lifted so that the Welsh Government can proceed to roll out Cynnal and support can reach those that need it most? 16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782286 92 En 2026-11-03T14:20:21 http://www.senedd.tv/en/16420?startPos=3021&l=en 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister C 2717 2717 Rhun ap Iorwerth https://business.senedd.wales/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=2717 First Minister of Wales ap Iorwerth, Rhun This is a crucial issue. We're still awaiting confirmation from the UK Government on the treatment of Cynnal payments for tax and reserved benefits. We continue to press for the assurance needed to maximise support for families. Ministers and officials have consistently raised these issues with UK Government counterparts and stressed the importance of resolving how the payments are treated in relation to tax and benefits. I should report that there's still positivity around this. We hold the UK Government to account over it because we remain committed to delivering the Cynnal pilot as intended, to ensuring that eligible families receive the full benefit of the support available, as we make the case for the devolution of broader welfare powers. So, we'll continue to engage closely with UK Government on this and press for the decisions needed to remove those barriers to implementation. 16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782293 93 Cy 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister B Mental Health Support Services for Young People 16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782294 94 Cy 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister O 12188 12188 Claire Johnson-Wood https://business.senedd.wales/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=12188 Johnson-Wood, Claire 6. What recent discussions has the First Minister had with the Cabinet Minister for Health and Care regarding mental health support services for young people? OQ64844 16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782295 95 En 2026-11-03T14:21:34 http://www.senedd.tv/en/16420?startPos=3094&l=en 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister C 2717 2717 Rhun ap Iorwerth https://business.senedd.wales/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=2717 First Minister of Wales ap Iorwerth, Rhun The Deputy Minister for Social Care, Mental Health and Women’s Health keeps me and Government routinely updated on the implementation of the strategy. That includes how the work to develop the open access model for mental health services will support our children and young people. 16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782299 96 En 2026-11-03T14:21:52 http://www.senedd.tv/en/16420?startPos=3112&l=en 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister C 12188 12188 Claire Johnson-Wood https://business.senedd.wales/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=12188 Johnson-Wood, Claire Given that specialist psychological therapy waiting times in Wales remain at the highest levels since the pandemic, with thousands waiting more than 26 weeks, what concrete commitments, if any, emerge from those discussions with the Cabinet Secretary to reduce specialist child and adolescent mental health services and therapy waits for young people in the Betsi Cadwaladr and Powys health board areas that serve Gwynedd Maldwyn? 16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782298 97 En 2026-11-03T14:22:21 http://www.senedd.tv/en/16420?startPos=3141&l=en 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister C 2717 2717 Rhun ap Iorwerth https://business.senedd.wales/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=2717 First Minister of Wales ap Iorwerth, Rhun I'm not sure if it is one issue. Whether it's child and adolescent mental health or adult mental health, it will always be a range of measures that we need to make sure are robust. So, on children and young people, we can look at the broad range from school-based counselling to the open access support that I mentioned, and, of course, there's the CAMHS in-reach itself. The in-reach to schools teams focus on early intervention rather than waiting for problems to escalate. That's the key thing, and they do that by providing expert consultation, liaison advice and training. What we want to do as a Government is to make sure that that suite of measures that young people are able to access, depending on the nature of the issues that they face, are there for them where they want to access them, and that we genuinely have a no-wrong-door approach to the delivery of mental health services. 16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782316 98 Cy 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister B Community Sporting Facilities in Rural Wales 16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782317 99 Cy 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister O 12187 12187 Andrew Griffin https://business.senedd.wales/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=12187 Griffin, Andrew 7. What assessment has the First Minister made of the adequacy of funding for community sporting facilities in rural Wales? OQ64806 16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782318 100 En 2026-11-03T14:23:34 http://www.senedd.tv/en/16420?startPos=3214&l=en 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister C 2717 2717 Rhun ap Iorwerth https://business.senedd.wales/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=2717 First Minister of Wales ap Iorwerth, Rhun As the Cabinet Minister for Culture and Sport said in Plenary here on 14 October, Sport Wales is right now working with governing bodies, local authorities and other partners to develop, for the first time, a national picture of sports facilities across Wales. This initial phase of the work will identify gaps in the evidence that we have on what provision is in place and then establish how that information can be maintained, creating a stronger evidence base to support policy and  future strategic capital investment. 16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782322 101 En 2026-11-03T14:24:11 http://www.senedd.tv/en/16420?startPos=3251&l=en 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister C 12187 12187 Andrew Griffin https://business.senedd.wales/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=12187 Griffin, Andrew Thank you, First Minister. Grass-roots sport is essential to the health and well-being of our communities, particularly in rural areas where alternative facilities can be many miles away. In Powys alone, the council estimates that £16.8 million is needed over the next decade simply to bring its leisure facilities into good repair. Meanwhile in Gwynedd, concerns have been raised about the equality of leisure facilities and the declining number of children receiving swimming lessons. Your Government recently announced £13 million in capital funding for sport across Wales. What assurances can you give that rural communities, such as those in Gwynedd Maldwyn, will receive a fair share of that investment, and that access to basic sporting facilities will not become another casualty of the pressures facing local government? 16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782342 102 Cy 2026-11-03T00:00:00 http://www.senedd.tv/en/16420?startPos=-48600&l=en 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister C 16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782328 103 En 2026-11-03T14:25:00 http://www.senedd.tv/en/16420?startPos=3300&l=en 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister C 12187 12187 Andrew Griffin https://business.senedd.wales/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=12187 Griffin, Andrew facing local government? 16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782253 104 En 2026-11-03T14:25:01 http://www.senedd.tv/en/16420?startPos=3301&l=en 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister C 2717 2717 Rhun ap Iorwerth https://business.senedd.wales/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=2717 First Minister of Wales ap Iorwerth, Rhun Government is determined to look at all the options that are for us. The Member mentions swimming lessons; of course, we have a programme that is rolling out swimming lessons to children throughout Wales. We've identified that as something that's important for health, for safety and so on. But the truth of the matter is we don't have a sense of the scale of the problem that we face. The Member references a number of estimates that have been brought forward by local authorities, and I've no reason to doubt those figures at all, but the totals that we're looking at in terms of the gaps in provision are going to be greater than that, aren't they? So, the answers that we need to be putting in place are long-term. The truth is, though, that we need to understand the scale of the problem. There are examples of investments going on right now. Bro Dysynni in Towyn, new all-weather hockey and football pitch, supported by £360,000 of partnership investment between Welsh Government, Sports Wales and partners. Again, in that part of Wales, Byw'n Iach facilities across Gwynedd, seeing investment in improved leisure, fitness and wellbeing facilities, supporting that sort of broader agenda of local participation across all age groups. But on rurality in particular, I'd include this in the work that we're doing on rural proofing. So, when we make decisions as a Government on investment in improving our estates for sports and leisure, that we remember, as the Member says, those specific requirements of rural areas where rurality and distances make access to provision more challenging than it does in many urban areas. 16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782330 105 Cy 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister B Further Education in Pontypridd Cynon Merthyr 16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782331 106 Cy 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister O 5107 5107 Vikki Howells https://business.senedd.wales/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=5107 Howells, Vikki 8. How will the Welsh Government support the delivery of further education in Pontypridd Cynon Merthyr? OQ64805 16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782332 107 En 2026-11-03T14:26:50 http://www.senedd.tv/en/16420?startPos=3410&l=en 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister C 2717 2717 Rhun ap Iorwerth https://business.senedd.wales/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=2717 First Minister of Wales ap Iorwerth, Rhun The Welsh Government makes a significant investment, of course, in further education in Pontypridd Cynon Merthyr and across Wales. We recognise the vitally important role of further education in supporting economic growth and skills development too, with some £466 million being provided for mainstream further education provision via Medr in this financial year. 16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782335 108 En 2026-11-03T14:27:11 http://www.senedd.tv/en/16420?startPos=3431&l=en 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister C 5107 5107 Vikki Howells https://business.senedd.wales/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=5107 Howells, Vikki Thank you for that answer, First Minister. Naturally, I'm really pleased that thanks to the UK Labour Government and pressure from Welsh Labour MSs, there will now be an additional £60 million to support ALN, including £2.5 million for the FE sector through that second supplementary budget. Now, FE is really under pressure to support learners with ALN. My local college, Coleg y Cymoedd, has noted a 50 per cent increase in demand, and that's before we look at the participation pressures, which have now risen from an estimated 5,000 learners this year to 5,500 learners unfunded, the equivalent of an entire college of young people without funding. Now, as the Finance Minister confirmed, the extra money for ALN that Labour has secured will include an allocation of funding for long-term planning, which is vital. The college in Merthyr Tydfil has told me they're experiencing increased need within year, as learners are diagnosed. So, how will that resilience and flexibility that's really needed to address this be built into future funding? 16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782336 109 En 2026-11-03T14:28:21 http://www.senedd.tv/en/16420?startPos=3501&l=en 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister C 2717 2717 Rhun ap Iorwerth https://business.senedd.wales/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=2717 First Minister of Wales ap Iorwerth, Rhun Again, I'll take this opportunity to say that I'm pleased that we were able to deliver on this joint determination of ours to deal with the pressures on ALN, and as I have maintained, an element of it has been about agreeing on a quantum of money, but it's about how we can use that and how that's rolled out. So, it's not just that we've been able to talk about a sum of money, it's that we've been able to sit around the table and decide between us how we spend that money, and I think that's very positive co-operation between us, and I'm very pleased that within that is the £2.5 million that's specifically around ALN in further education. Now, the Member knows full well, as a former tertiary education Minister, that we have seen increasing pressures on FE in recent years, and we inherited from her, from the last Government, a significant set of pressures. That's something now that we deal with, but that we look to building partnerships to make sure that we are as able as we can to build an FE sector that really is fit for the future. We have such great strengths within FE, and that represents opportunities for our young people. That is the key thing; our job as a Government, and we're always looking for partners to work with on that, is to unlock those opportunities. 16420 7 2026-11-03T13:30:00 782339 110 Cy 2026-11-03T14:29:54 http://www.senedd.tv/en/16420?startPos=3594&l=en 261103-1 1. Questions to the First Minister C 5053 5053 Huw Irranca-Davies https://business.senedd.wales/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=5053 Llywydd Irranca-Davies, Huw Thank you, First Minister. We have a long day ahead of us.