Art Wright

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1. 8. Welsh Labour Debate: The M4 around Newport en

   Diolch, Lywydd. I have been asked to shorten this debate, so I'll take no interventions, please, because I'm going to have to cut out as I go, because some people like to talk more than they should need to. [Laughter.] For more than 30 years, the Welsh Government has wrestled with M4 congestion around Newport, yet we are still here facing the same question today: the problem at Brynglas. The Welsh Government review considers several options, but says none alone or combined would fully resolve the M4 problem. Despite previous Governments spending £136.5 million already, the review estimates currently that around 25 per cent of peak-time traffic would need to be removed to avoid congestion unless road capacity is increased. Yet the package considered could only achieve 17 per cent, with planning to fail instead of planning to fix things. Take the proposed junction changes: £14 million could be spent closing junctions 27, 26, 25 for an estimated 3 per cent reduction. These are direct questions from residents. So, where does that traffic go? How much moves into Newport local roads? Which communities take that additional traffic? What happens to congestions on routes such as Queensway and the southern distributor road? And what happens to the journey times for drivers that live around those junctions? These questions matter even more with the housing growth that is coming to the area. Research supplied to me already estimates between 7,100 and 7,400 homes have been built across the four former Gwent authorities since 2019. Most of the councils are now sending out their regional development plans. Newport plans just shy of 400 homes; Monmouth to provide between 5,400 and 6,200 homes. Caerphilly identifies 7,400 new homes by 2035. Torfaen and Blaenau Gwent are still developing theirs, so their numbers will be added at a later date. Now, Minister, not every home puts another car on the M4, but more homes mean more people, more journeys in the long run. The review says that benefits are uncertain because of future growth and that latent demand could take up capacity over time. It also says that no new transport modelling was undertaken in the review. So, Minister, how long will these proposals work? How quickly could the growing demand wipe out the 3 per cent reduction? Where is the modelling that includes thousands of new homes? The review reflects a greater emphasis on sustainable travel and carbon reduction, but the Minister must answer this: is the primary objective to solve the M4 capacity problem or to get people out of their cars in the pursuit of wider net-zero objectives? They are not necessarily the same thing. The review says public transport improvements will help, but to a limited extent. I'm going to have to skip over some, because I'm aware you want me to keep the time down. When Welsh Labour, the Government, cancelled the black route, it was estimated that the cost at the time was £1.4 billion. I'm not suggesting that £1.4 billion would still be today's price, but it would need recalculating. That is precisely the point—why exclude it before the calculation is made? The review says a new motorway was excluded primarily because of likely affordability and environmental and planning challenges. Surely, those must be assessed and compared so that we can compare apples with apples. So, why not give us today's cost of the black route? Give us the full cost of the alternative packages. Show us the congestion reduction that each would achieve. Show us the additional capacity that each would provide. Include future housing growth in every model. And then tell us how long each option's benefits are expected to last. Show us where the displaced traffic goes. Show us what happens to the 1,000 more homes built. Show us what every option costs and delivers, and give the black route the same test. If the Government alternative provides the best long-term answer, let the evidence demonstrate it. But if it costs more, delivers less, and leaves Newport with a capacity problem, the black route should be put back on the table. Finally, Minister, a few weeks ago, when we discussed the M4 before, I asked you if you would listen to the residents of Newport. Two petitions have been raised: one by Labour, which has achieved 5,846 signatures as of yesterday morning, and one sponsored by Reform Members, which has reached 13,713. Will you now listen to their voices?

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1. 3. Business Statement and Announcement en

   Can I request from the Cabinet Minister for Social Justice and Equality a statement on how the Welsh Government will work to end the need for foodbanks in Wales? Around a quarter of adults, or 260,000 people in Wales, are going without enough food because they cannot afford it. Last year, over 150,000 food parcels were distributed by the Trussell foodbanks alone, with many more needing food from food pantries and other sources. With the expected huge increase in the cost of living coming in January, I am concerned that this will drive more people to need emergency food aid. Failure to tackle hunger and hardship leads to Wales spending an additional £560 million a year on public services. Overall, public finances and the economy in Wales could benefit by £3.6 billion each year if people were protected from hunger and hardship. Diolch.

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1. 1. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Health and Care cy

   3. Pa gamau y mae'r Gweinidog Cabinet yn eu cymryd i nodi Wythnos Ymwybyddiaeth Colli Babanod? OQ64635

   Official English translation

   3. What action is the Cabinet Minister taking to mark Baby Loss Awareness Week? OQ64635

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2. 1. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Health and Care en

   Cabinet Minister, one in two of us, or someone we know, has experienced pregnancy or baby loss. During Baby Loss Awareness Week, from 9 October to 15 October, we remember babies' lives, including those lost before 24 weeks. From April 2027, these parents will be entitled to two weeks of unpaid leave, yet some families still face choosing between time to grieve and paying the bills. These are the words from a bereaved parent: 'Many of us share our experiences as bereaved families because we want things to be better for others. We often know where things were missed and how care could be improved, but many of us struggle to be heard. We're told our experience matters, but it can be hard to find a way to share it with those who can make a difference. Our experiences and those of our babies are an important part of the understanding of what needs to change for other families.' Following 'The path to safer beginnings in Wales' report, will the Minister commit to ensuring bereaved parents' voices are included in the work of the national oversight board, and will she urge employers to go beyond legal minimums in these traumatic circumstances?

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3. 6. Member Debate under Standing Order 11.21(iv): Family Drug and Alcohol Courts en

   I rise today in support of this motion, because, at its heart, this debate is about one thing and one thing only: children. Quite rightly, we have heard a great deal about court processes, social services, addiction, public spending. But behind every statistic is a child whose future may be shaped by the decisions we make in this Chamber today. When a child enters care, it's often because adults around them are struggling with complex problems: substance misuse, poor mental health, trauma, domestic instability. None of those challenges should ever be minimised. But neither should we forget that, wherever it is safe and possible, most children want the same thing: they want love, they want stability, and they want the chance to remain connected to their family. The reality is that children who enter care often face significant disadvantages later in life. We know care-experienced young people are less likely to attend university, to attain the qualification level that they could have, and are more likely to experience homelessness, and even more likely to experience mental health difficulties as they grow up. Those outcomes are not inevitable, but they are deeply concerning and should compel all of us to ask a simple question: is there a better way of helping families overcome the issues that bring them into the court system in the first place, and if there is, why would we not pursue it? What strikes me about family drug and alcohol courts is that they do not lower the standards or compromise children's safety; they do the exact opposite. They recognise the best way to protect children, and it's often to address the root causes that place families in crisis and not simply manage the consequences. The evidence presented today shows that, when parents receive intensive support to overcome addiction and address traumas, and child benefit too, more parents successfully stop misusing drugs and alcohol, more families achieve stability, and more children are able to remain safely or return safely to their parents and family. That matters, because every child who can safely remain within a loving family environment is given something that no institution or service can ever truly replace—a sense of belonging, a sense of identity, a sense of permanence. The Welsh pilot demonstrated that the proportion of children in the care of one or both of their parents more than doubled during FDAC proceedings. Evidence from England shows substantially more children being united with their families compared to conventional proceedings. Those outcomes are not just policy successes, they are life-changing opportunities for children. Children who may stay in the same school, maintain friendships, remain connected to brothers and sisters, preserve relationships with grandparents and wider family networks, and avoid the additional trauma that can accompany family separation. Of course, there will always be cases where children cannot safely remain at home. In those circumstances, protecting the child must remain our overriding priority. But where recovery is achievable, where parents are willing to engage, and where evidence demonstrates better outcomes, we should ensure those opportunities exist. What concerns me is that Wales once had a pilot programme, yet today we have nothing—no family drug and alcohol court operating in our nation at all. Meanwhile, England has continued on the journey and expanded the model. That leaves Welsh children with fewer opportunities to benefit from an approach that has repeatedly shown promise. We often speak in this Chamber about early intervention, about prevention, about breaking cycles that pass from one generation to the next. Family drug and alcohol courts embody those principles more perfectly than anything I've ever seen. They are not simply about responding to addiction, they're about giving children the best possible chance of a stable future, they're about preventing trauma rather than merely dealing with the consequence itself, and they are about recognising that helping a parent recover can transform a child's entire life trajectory. Members, every child deserves safety, every child deserves stability and every child deserves the opportunity to grow up in a nurturing family environment where that can be achieved safely. That is why I support this motion, and that is why I urge my colleagues across the Chamber to support the expansion of family drug and alcohol courts in Wales. Diolch.

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1. 4. Statement by the Deputy Minister for Transport: Strategic Priorities for the Menai Strait Crossings and M4 around Newport en

   Deputy Minister, much of what I'm going to say some people have already asked, so I'll try to skirt around the edges. These words aren't mine, but those of my residents within Newport. They're deeply concerned by reports that your Government is considering closing M4 junctions around our city. Local commuters have warned that this would mean turning local roads and school routes into highway relief tracks, forcing motorway traffic off the M4 into residential streets, where families live and children travel to and from every day. The lack of an overall system basis taking into account flows from junction 23 to junction 28 is short-sighted. We seem to fixate on junction 25 onwards, but it starts before then. It will lead to continued use of the well-known runs to divert around any issues that happen on the M4, whether Brynglas or accident related. There are also serious concerns for Newport's economy. Small and medium-sized businesses are already operating in challenging conditions, and restricting motorway access risks making it harder for customers, employees and suppliers to reach their destinations. Will the Minister rule out closure of M4 junctions if the public's voice says that they oppose it and commit to solutions that reduce congestion without putting children, communities and the local economy at greater risk?

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1. 2. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability en

   We are very similar in the questioning, Lyn, so I'll try and skirt around some of the other parts of it. Cabinet Minister, it's not just community green spaces at risk in Casnewydd, but also agricultural land. Currently, plans see 578 acres of farmland given over to solar development at the Candwr and Craig y Perthi sites. Residents have raised serious concerns about flood risk, traffic, landscape damage and impact on wildlife, including the important lapwing habitat on the Gwent levels, particularly around Bishton, which is their only site. What cumulative assessment has the Government made of the impact that these developments will have on food production, biodiversity and local flood risk? And does the Cabinet Minister believe that removing hundreds of acres of agricultural land is compatible with the Government's stated commitment to food security?

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2. 5. Member Debate under Standing Order 11.21(iv): Contaminated land en

   Good afternoon, all. My only contribution is to state that also in Casnewydd Islwyn, we have three of these sites. Monsanto itself, very famously, is the site within Newport that was creating much of this, but we also have Glebelands and the Severn river estuary. The Severn river estuary was, essentially, used as a point to just pump out tonnes and tonnes of toxic waste, which would have found its way all the way down the Bristol channel and out into the ocean—shameful, at best. But Glebelands, Glebelands is a site that's very close to where I live; I have a lot of friends that live around that site too. Lots of them played there as children, and now, as my colleague in front stated earlier, they are coming through with very rare forms of cancer. It's really good that we've got consensus across the house, especially how much support is there. But one area I haven't heard yet that I think is quite critical for us to think of as well, is that, when we do start to look at where there are areas of blame and we can actually hold these people to account, these poor people that have suffered need compensation too. Diolch.

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1. 2. Questions to the First Minister cy

   9. A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog sylwadau i Lywodraeth y DU yn cefnogi ymgyrch y Gwarchodlu Cymreig i geisio'r gwir am ddigwyddiad RFA Syr Galahad ar 8 Fehefin 1982? OQ64576

   Official English translation

   9. Will the First Minister make representations to the UK Government supporting the Welsh Guards' campaign seeking the truth over the RFA Sir Galahad incident on 8 June 1982? OQ64576

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2. 2. Questions to the First Minister en

   Thank you for your answer, First Minister. I would like to follow that keenly. As a veteran myself, we need to know when we deploy that our people and our Government have our backs. Over the past few months, many veterans have been stating to me that the messaging coming out from the Governments at both ends of the M4 is very confusing. Both seem to state that they care, but when put under the microscope, a different tale begins to emerge. Over recent weeks in this Chamber, we've seen you calling Sinn Féin your sister party—the political arm of the IRA who were responsible for 24 soldiers' deaths linked to Welsh regiments, including the Welsh Guards, and numerous casualties in Northern Ireland. Next, we see the ethical framework that might risk vital equipment getting into the hands of those fighting on our behalf. Numerous cases are being reported to MSs across this Chamber, and I have a couple, on the ongoing assistance for veterans who, despite councils signing up to the armed forces covenant, are being left wanting: a veteran who has had to sleep with their own mother, in the same bed, for eight years, for lack of getting a house; a recovering alcoholic placed above a pub; homeless veterans having to prove that they've rough-slept for three to four days before assistance will even begin. Does the First Minister agree with me that this is simply not good enough, and a betrayal of those who have fought for our safety?

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1. 2. Questions to the Counsel General en

   I'm sure that, as a former Member of Parliament, the Counsel General is well acquainted with the concept of parliamentary sovereignty. Will the Counsel General acknowledge that the Senedd's legislative competence is defined by the Parliament of the United Kingdom and that the Senedd lacks the legal capacity to legislate on matters explicitly reserved to Westminster? Schedule 7A reserves the union. Does the Welsh Government accept that a Senedd Bill for independence or for an independence referendum would be outside the competency of the Senedd?

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2. 5. Statement by the Cabinet Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy: Welsh Defence Ethical Framework en

   Diolch, Lywydd. I must, firstly, declare an interest as a former Ministry of Defence supply chain specialist. Many Welsh defence companies operate several tiers down complex and dual-use supply chains and may have little control over or even knowledge of the eventual end use of the components they produce. I'm happy that you spoke about Ireland earlier. They've already been through something, and Invest NI has already recognised that neither it nor its client companies can fully track the final destination of goods once they enter into complex global supply chains. While military and dual-use exports are already subject to UK export control regimes, this new framework will add additional uncertainty and compliance costs to Welsh companies. How will the Minister ensure that Welsh companies are not expected to undertake due diligence that they cannot practically perform or duplicate functions already being carried out by the UK export control authorities?

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1. 5. Reform UK Debate: Grooming gangs en

   The victims of these appalling crimes and their families deserve the truth. I'll begin by paying tribute to my colleague Paul Marr for the powerful and courageous way in which he opened this debate. Every Member here present, and those that could not be, should imagine being the victim or the parent fighting for answers, only to be ignored or failed by the authorities that are meant to protect them. Grooming gangs represent some of the most sickening organised criminality our country has witnessed. Unless we establish the full scale of what has happened and confront the failures that allowed it to happen, we cannot protect children going forward. Last year, the Welsh Government claimed there were no current widespread issues with grooming gangs in Wales. Let's have a look at the past 10 weeks alone. On 10 July, Azad Ahmed and Wasee Shikel were imprisoned in Cardiff. On 15 July, eight men were charged across south Wales as part of Operation Oak. On 3 August, five people in Rhyl were convicted of grooming gang offences. That is why our motion calls on the UK Government to ensure that Wales is investigated at the earliest opportunity as part of the statutory independent inquiry into grooming gangs. Victims in Wales deserve the same truth, the same justice and the same accountability as victims elsewhere in the United Kingdom. Those cases demand answers. How can the Welsh Government confidently claim there is no widespread problem when serious gaps remain in the evidence? Reports elsewhere in Britain have identified cases involving predominantly Pakistani-heritage Muslim men targeting white British girls. For years, legitimate questions about those patterns were avoided by the authorities, who seemed more concerned about causing offence than protecting children. We cannot allow political correctness or institutional cowardice to stand in the way of safeguarding. If similar patterns exist in Wales, they must be exposed. Transparent data on offender ethnicity is essential to understanding the threat and preventing further abuse. The Welsh Government must also scrutinise every relevant policy, including its nation of sanctuary approach, to ensure proper safeguards prevent dangerous individuals from entering or remaining in our communities.

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2. 5. Reform UK Debate: Grooming gangs en

   Go ahead.

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3. 5. Reform UK Debate: Grooming gangs en

   An abuser is an abuser. Correct. Yes.  Compassion cannot mean naivety. Anyone who comes to this country must respect our laws, our culture, and the rights of women and girls. We need to know whether social services, police forces and local authorities failed in their duty of care, whether warning signs were ignored, and most importantly, what has changed. Victims have waited far too long. They deserve truth, justice and accountability, and this Senedd must not rest until they receive them. That's the speech over, but I've got a few minutes, so I've got free reign, Llywydd, if you don't mind. Some of the voices here today have been brilliant, and they've got to the heart of the problem. We have an issue going on across our land, and we need to grasp that mantle and do whatever we need to do to ensure our future generations and our young children now are safe and kept safe. There have been some brilliant points made from across the parties. Beca, I agree with many of the points that you made. This should not be a political football; it's a shame you never got the memo.

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1. 4. Statement by the Cabinet Minister for Finance: Rebalancing the non-domestic rates system en

   Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd. First, I'd like to thank the Minister for the statement. Newport and Islwyn have seen a worrying number of pub and hospitality closures in the past few years. These businesses are at the heart of our communities, yet they continue to face mounting pressure from rising costs. Their closure results in lost jobs, reduced economic activity, lower footfall in our town centres and the loss of valuable community spaces. It also reduces the opportunity for young people to gain vital first-job experience and develop the skills needed to enter the wider workforce. Whilst the Welsh Government's 30 per cent reduction in business rates is welcome, many hospitality businesses continue to face significant financial pressures. As David Chapman, and I'll quote, from UKHospitality Cymru has observed, running a hospitality business in this current climate is like 'plate spinning when you're riding an exercise bike'. It's a good start, but we must go further. Given the continued loss of jobs in community pubs across Newport and Islwyn, does the Cabinet Minister believe that a 30 per cent reduction in business rates goes far enough? And what further action will the Welsh Government take to support the sector to prevent further closures? Diolch.

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1. 2. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Government Effectiveness and the Constitution cy

   5. Pa asesiad y mae'r Gweinidog Cabinet wedi'i wneud o'r manteision i Gymru o fod yn rhan o’r Deyrnas Unedig? OQ64386

   Official English translation

   5. What assessment has the Cabinet Minister made of the benefits for Wales of being part of the United Kingdom? OQ64386

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2. 2. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Government Effectiveness and the Constitution en

   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?

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3. 3. Business Statement and Announcement en

   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?

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1. 3. Statement by the Cabinet Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy: New Development Agency for Wales en

   Could I thank the Cabinet Minister today for bringing forward this statement on the new development agency for Wales? Cabinet Minister, residents in Newport and Islwyn of course want to see increased productivity, an increase in economic growth and, in particular, Welsh businesses supported. Because, regretfully, Newport and Islwyn see some of the worst economic outcomes in the whole of Wales, and has already seen major industry leave over the past years, in particular steel, and the reduction of exports from ports. For this agency to be successful, businesses need financial certainty, and they need to be able to plan for the years to come. Cabinet Minister, what assurances can you give to multi-year funding cycles, to ensure businesses get the certainty they need? Diolch.

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1. 1. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy en

   I must state an interest as a former soldier and a Ministry of Defence contractor. It is clear, with the current advancement in artificial intelligence, the internet of things, data centres, 5G technology, and the current demand for semiconductors, we will only see an upwards trajectory. Add in the various needs of the weapons industry in the British military, and we ourselves have a vital asset within Casnewydd Islwyn, and I for one am proud they've chosen Newport as their home. Their pathway is to employ 500, rising to 900, in highly skilled, well-paid jobs and, as my colleague has already stated, massively above the common average for the area itself. The chief technology officer has already stated, and I quote him directly, that they will draw upon the skilled workforce of Newport. Given that the UK Government deems this worthy of circa £250 million plus planned investment over the coming years, and much of this coming from the parent company themselves, what are the Minister's plans to ensure that the vital industry will have the support of the Government going forward, and to assist them by lowering energy costs?

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1. 1. Questions to the First Minister en

   First Minister, it's now been 440 days since the Supreme Court ruled that the legal definition of a woman under the Equality Act 2010 referred to biological sex and not gender identity. Does the First Minister not agree that 440 days is a very long time in which to wait for the essential protections outlined in the ruling, which are still being denied to 51 per cent of the population and ignored across multiple sectors, including governmental, education, health and the commercial sector? Numerous cases across the UK are being brought forward and won, correctly, based on this ruling. The Equality and Human Rights Commission recently provided an updated code of practice for services, public functions and associations. This code has specific provisions for the creation of single-sex spaces. Do we wait and dither, allowing such cases to be brought here in Wales, or will the Welsh Government issue a definitive timeline on how and when they intend to update the policies and guidance in Wales in light of these developments? And does the First Minister respect the ruling of the Supreme Court?

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1. 1. Questions to the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Minister for Social Justice and Equality cy

   2. Beth yw cynlluniau'r Llywodraeth i weithredu mannau un rhyw yng Nghymru yn unol â'r gyfraith? OQ64113

   Official English translation

   2. What are the Government's plans to implement single-sex spaces in Wales in accordance with the law? OQ64113

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2. 1. Questions to the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Minister for Social Justice and Equality en

   I have tabled the question today out of provenance from a direct ask from concerned citizens and many women's advocacy groups across Wales who are tired of waiting for the protections our laws set out.

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3. 2. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability en

   Firstly, Minister, congratulations on your new role.

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4. 2. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability cy

   2. Pa gamau penodol y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i sicrhau prawfesur gwledig digonol wrth lunio polisïau ar gyfer y cymunedau mwy anghysbell yng Nghasnewydd Islwyn? OQ64118

   Official English translation

   2. What specific action is the Welsh Government taking to ensure adequate rural proofing in policy-making for the more remote communities in Newport and Islwyn? OQ64118

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5. 2. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability en

   Thank you for that answer, Minister. I'm very new into the area myself, so I do need to go to see all of my farmers, and I will be doing that over the next few weeks. Will the Minister agree to a meeting in the next few months where I can bring forth their concerns directly?

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1. 1. Questions to the First Minister cy

   1. Pa asesiad y mae'r Prif Weinidog wedi'i gynnal o berfformiad unedau damweiniau ac achosion brys yng Nghasnewydd ac Islwyn? OQ64075

   Official English translation

   1. What assessment has the First Minister made of accident and emergency performance in Newport and Islwyn? OQ64075

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2. 1. Questions to the First Minister en

   I thank the First Minister for his answer. It is already clear from my constituents what the majority of issues that they face are. Given the continuing pressures upon emergency healthcare services across Gwent, do you agree that the lack of a full and properly functioning accident and emergency service in Newport is now having a serious knock-on effect on residents in Cwmbran and the wider Torfaen area, with constituents facing longer journey times, increased waiting times and added pressure on already stretched hospitals? Diolch.

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