Carrie Harper

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

   5. Sut mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn cefnogi busnesau i elwa ar wariant caffael cyhoeddus? OQ64792

   Official English translation

   5. How is the Welsh Government supporting businesses to benefit from public procurement spending? OQ64792

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

   Diolch yn fawr. The Plaid Cymru manifesto sets a target to significantly increase the amount of public procurement spending within Wales to 70 per cent. Given that we spend £11 billion every year on public procurement, there's enormous potential there, isn't there, to better support Welsh businesses, potentially to create tens of thousands of jobs and to boost local supply chains as well. And the best bit, of course, is that this isn't new money; this is money that we're already spending. We need to spend it smarter; we need to make sure more of it goes to local businesses, to our workers and to our communities. So, can the Minister outline what practical steps he's taking to attain that 70 per cent target, and how we plan to measure progress? Diolch.

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3. 10. Short Debate: Full-face coverings are against British values en

   Diolch, Lywydd. I think we're all entitled to question Reform's real intentions when they raise a debate on face coverings, especially given, just in the last fortnight, a very similar debate was raised in the Scottish Parliament as well, which explicitly called for banning the burqa and the niqab, and we've heard the same statements here today. So, let's not pretend that this is about criminality and balaclavas. That's nonsense, and we can all see through that. This is a thinly veiled attack on the religious rights of women. That's blatantly obvious to everybody. I think it's really ironic as well that Reform have chosen to frame this debate about values in the same week that we've had an ITV investigation exposing deep-rooted racism and sexism in your party. One of the worst things that I heard from that programme was then Reform councillor Chris Whelan talking about a fellow Reform candidate. He said, 'If she were my daughter, it would still be bath night on a Thursday'. Vile, disgusting and disturbing in the way it sexualised a child. There were multiple examples of sexism and racism in that programme, from the party that claims to want to protect women. So, seriously, how can Reform lecture us about values when they're in the midst of a scandal about racism and sexism? How on earth can you claim to stand up for women when you are trying to dictate what Muslim women can and cannot wear? Complete hypocrisy—complete hypocrisy.

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1. 7. Statement by the Cabinet Minister for Finance: An Update on Council Tax en

   As a former councillor, I understand the financial pressures on councils in terms of delivering essential services, and, of course, we all understand the pressures on household budgets as well, and there's no doubt that council tax plays a part in those pressures as well. Whilst I understand the reasons for delaying these reforms, the principle of moving towards a fairer council tax system is still important. So, could the Minister outline what progress we can make during this Senedd term to move towards that fairer system, in line with the programme for government commitments, please?

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1. 6. Reform UK Debate: Local referendums on council tax rises en

   I think we all know that communities are really struggling in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis, and, of course, nobody wants to pay more council tax, especially in these circumstances, and the pressures that are on people at the moment are very real. We recognise that, and that's why this Plaid Cymru Government has prioritised supporting our communities by extending free school meals, expanding free childcare and cutting business rates by 30 per cent for thousands of businesses across the country. But we also have to recognise, as others have said, that county councils deliver essential services that people rely on every single day, from social care and children's services to schools, highways and waste collections, and those services cost money to run. I was a county councillor in Wrexham for almost 20 years, so I've seen first-hand how difficult budget decisions can be, and I know many of us here understand that reality. I can assure Reform that no county councillor wants to increase council tax, but councils have statutory responsibilities. They have to protect vulnerable children, care for older people, and maintain essential services. And let's remember that councils have had to deal with the consequences of austerity for the last 16 years, as well as rising demand and also increasing costs. And why 4.99 per cent? What happens if the cost of delivering statutory services rises by more than that? What happens if a referendum rejects the increase needed to maintain those services? Which services would Reform cut? Would it be social care, children's services, support for people with disabilities? Because those are the difficult questions Reform have to answer. And let's look at Reform's own record across the border as well. Every major council controlled by Reform in England with responsibility for services like education and social care increased council tax this year. When Reform ran Worcestershire County Council, you increased council tax by almost 9 per cent. There wasn't a referendum. So, why is it acceptable for Reform councillors in England to raise council tax by 9 per cent without a referendum, while you're demanding that councils here in Wales face a referendum for anything above 4.99 per cent? There's a wider point about local democracy here as well. We already elect councillors to make these decisions on behalf of our communities. And in just a few months' time, people right across Wales are going to have the opportunity to hold those councillors to account at the ballot box. Now, of course councils should be challenged, they should be transparent about their budgets, they should explain why increases are necessary, and they should consult meaningfully with residents about their priorities. But we should also recognise that every council faces different pressures, different levels of need, and different financial circumstances. So, it might sound simple to draw a line at 4.99 per cent, but running a council isn't that simple, as Reform's own councillors in England have found out. Despite promising to root out waste, the reality is there isn't some vast army of diversity officers whose salaries can fund our schools and social care. And when you're responsible for delivering services and protecting the most vulnerable, you can't just ignore the financial realities. And I think the people of Wales deserve to know what Reform's proposals would mean in practice, which services—.

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2. 6. Reform UK Debate: Local referendums on council tax rises en

   Yes.

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3. 6. Reform UK Debate: Local referendums on council tax rises en

   I've just explained that councils have faced austerity for the last 16 years. As a county councillor, I've seen that first-hand. But, look, the question that you've got to answer is: if a referendum rejects the increase needed to maintain services, what are you going to cut? Whose jobs are going to go? Is it going to be teachers? Is it going to be social workers? Who? Who is it going to be? Because that's the reality of what you're proposing. It's really easy to promise lower taxes, but it's much more difficult to explain to people how you'll protect the services those taxes actually pay for. [Interruption.]

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4. 6. Reform UK Debate: Local referendums on council tax rises en

   I took your intervention.  Councillors have to make difficult decisions, but that's how local democracy works. That's what accountability means. Political leadership isn't just about the promises you make. It's about being responsible for the consequences of your decisions. And the consequences of what Reform are proposing here today could be very, very serious for our councils delivering essential services, and, importantly, for the communities who rely on them.

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1. 6. Debate: Fiscal Reform en

   Firstly, I'm amazed to hear that Reform don't think that fair funding is important and don't want more money for Wales. That's quite a statement. [Interruption.] Even though I wouldn't want to bore you, Cai, I'll crack on. My comments are in relation to the Barnett formula. As we've heard, designed in the 1970s and, as we know, it was never designed to reflect need. Population is a key part of how it operates, but Wales isn't simply a smaller version of England. We've got an older population, higher levels of ill health, deprivation, greater rurality, and communities where delivering public services can cost significantly more. That's the fundamental problem for me. Barnett takes account of how many people live in Wales; it doesn't properly assess what Wales needs. Almost 50 years after it was introduced, I think we're entitled to ask whether that's still the right basis on which to fund our country. If we're serious about fairness, then need has to play a much greater role in how Wales is funded. Reform of Barnett is long, long overdue. The reforms this Government are pursuing are important. We need to be able to see clearly how decisions are made, how spending is classified and how our share has been calculated, and we need independent oversight rather than leaving the Treasury effectively marking its own homework. The funding rules also need to reflect the reality of devolution. If Wales takes responsibility for infrastructure, as we have with the core Valleys lines, then the way our funding is calculated should recognise that. I'm pleased that this Government is prepared to go further in the longer term and explore ultimately what could replace Barnett, because the Welsh fiscal framework already recognises something important: need matters. And these are precisely the kinds of things a fair funding system should take into account. Because surely the test shouldn't be whether every part of the UK gets the same amount per head, the test should be whether every part of the UK has the resources it needs to provide a comparable standard of public services. For me, that's where the debate now needs to go. If the fundamental weakness of Barnett is that it doesn't properly assess need, then the starting point for whatever comes next should be a proper independent assessment of relative need across the nations of the UK, and it should be regularly updated so that our funding reflects the Wales we actually live in rather than relying on a formula that's inherited from the 1970s. That would be a much more rational basis for funding our public services. And of course, as we've heard, Barnett is only one part of the wider fiscal settlement. The treatment of major infrastructure projects like HS2, control over the Crown Estate and the limits placed on Welsh Government borrowing all raise their own questions about whether Wales has a fair settlement and the freedom to invest in our own priorities.  So, this motion isn't simply about making the existing system work a bit better, it's also about being prepared to ask what should come next, because almost 50 years after Barnett was introduced, we have the opportunity to do something we haven't really done before—to start with Wales, to start with the needs of our population and our communities, to look honestly at what it costs to deliver public services that people rely on and to make sure that we've got the resources and powers to invest properly in our future. That is, I think, a much stronger basis for a fiscal settlement than simply asking what Wales gets as a consequence of decisions made somewhere else. Ultimately, that's what fairness should mean—not asking Wales to fit the formula, but building a funding system that properly reflects us, a system where the rules are clear and independently overseen, where funding reflects the actual needs of our country and where we have greater control over the resources and fiscal levers we need to invest in our nation. Because after nearly 50 years of Barnett, we shouldn't be asking how much longer we can make an outdated funding formula work, we should be asking what a fair funding system for Wales looks like and be making the case for it. Diolch.

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

   6. Pa gamau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i fynd i'r afael â thlodi plant? OQ64596

   Official English translation

   6. What action is the Welsh Government taking to tackle child poverty? OQ64596

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

   Diolch yn fawr iawn. In my constituency of Fflint Wrecsam, there are currently 12,786 children living in poverty. In Caia Park, where I live, we have one of the highest levels of deprivation, not just in the constituency, but one of the highest levels across Cymru. We all know that children who grow up in poverty are far more likely to find themselves categorised as not in education, employment or training later in life, becoming trapped in a cycle of poverty. It's vital that we break that cycle, isn't it, and ensure that every child gets a fair chance to succeed. We know that progress is possible. The only nation in the UK where child poverty rates are improving is Scotland. And Scotland acts as an example to all of us in Cymru in terms of what can be achieved when Governments have the tools to do more for their own people. The Scottish child payment and their additional powers on welfare are making a tangible difference there. So, my question in many ways follows on from Paul Marr's, which you very eloquently just answered, in terms of the progress the Government is making in implementing Cynnal, our Welsh child payment pilot, and ensuring that under a Plaid Cymru Government, child poverty statistics finally start moving in the right direction.

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1. 2. Questions to the First Minister cy

   6. A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog roi diweddariad ar drafodaethau Llywodraeth Cymru gyda Llywodraeth y DU ynglŷn â datganoli pellach i Gymru? OQ64589

   Official English translation

   6. Will the First Minister provide an update on the Welsh Government's discussions with the UK Government regarding further devolution to Wales? OQ64589

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2. 2. Questions to the First Minister en

   Diolch. Although conversations with UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham have so far been positive in terms of devolution, it's clear that we need to reiterate to Westminster that we are a country and not a county. Devolution to the devolved nations is clearly not the same as devolution to the English regions. As Chair of the Constitution, Justice and External Affairs Committee, I wrote last week to Andy Burnham to invite him to give evidence to our committee to explain his priorities for devolution in Cymru. The Welsh Government has been clear that we need parity of powers with Scotland as a basic, in order to do the day job—something that others in this Chamber seem to struggle to understand. We need more borrowing powers in order to invest in services and infrastructure here; the devolution of policing and justice in order to align policy in order to deliver better outcomes; and basic fairness with powers over rail and the Crown Estate. We will no longer tolerate a third-rate devolution settlement. So, can the First Minister outline what discussions he's having with the UK Government to make that clear?

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1. 7. Reform UK Debate: Wales and the United Kingdom en

   I welcome this discussion. I was brought up on a council estate in Wrexham and I still live there, and I know there aren't many people from that background in this Chamber, so I'm always conscious of the enormous privilege that it is to stand here and represent the community that raised me. I was also a county councillor for almost 20 years, so I also understand people's frustrations as well. Over the decades, I've watched communities like mine lose industries, lose opportunities and lose public services, all whilst the cost of living has skyrocketed. So, I can understand why, after years of that, people start to wonder whether managed decline is just our fate, but I don't believe that it is, because I come from a country that has endured. Over the centuries, through enormous upheaval, despite everything that's happened to us, Cymru is still here. Our language is a living language, our culture is thriving and our communities still carry a powerful sense of identity and belonging. And we still have that stubborn determination to be Welsh. Now, we've got quite the inheritance, but our responsibility isn't simply to preserve it, it's to decide what we're going to do with it. And that, I think, exposes one of the fundamental differences between Reform's politics and ours. Last week, we heard a Reform Member tell this chamber that the British empire was, ultimately, a force for good in the world. Now, many people in Cymru and across the world would profoundly disagree with that view, but it tells us something about the political imagination on offer, doesn't it? Because theirs looks backwards to an idea of what they believe Britain once was. Ours looks forward to what Cymru can become. Now, I didn't come into politics to recreate some rose-tinted version of the last century. I want to build the next one, to build a country with the power, confidence and the ambition to improve people's lives. And that, for me, is exactly what this constitutional journey is about. It’s about confidence: the confidence to believe that more than 3 million people are perfectly capable of shaping our own future, the confidence to stop asking whether we're too small, too poor or too dependent and to start asking what we can create—a country that takes responsibility for our future, that co-operates confidently with others in these islands and right across the world, and that refuses to accept that decline is the best we can hope for. My community deserves better than that. Communities across Wales deserve better than that. Because history should give us more than nostalgia. It should give us confidence—confidence that the next chapter of our national story won't be written by someone else, somewhere else; it will be written by us. The people of Wales have elected the first-ever Plaid Cymru Government, the first Welsh Government in over 600 years answerable solely to the people of Wales. And that matters, because, for too long, too many decisions about our country have been made elsewhere. But the future of Wales belongs here, and it's for the people of Wales to decide what comes next.

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1. 2. Questions to the Counsel General en

   My question has some crossover with the question that Mike Hedges asked earlier.

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2. 2. Questions to the Counsel General cy

   6. Pa asesiad y mae'r Cwnsler Cyffredinol wedi'i wneud o effaith pwysau ar ddarpariaeth cymorth cyfreithiol ar fynediad at gyfiawnder yng Nghymru? OQ64498

   Official English translation

   6. What assessment has the Counsel General made of the impact of pressures on legal aid provision on access to justice in Wales? OQ64498

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3. 2. Questions to the Counsel General en

   Diolch yn fawr iawn. We know how vital legal aid is to helping those in need and ensuring that everybody has the right to adequate legal representation. A report by the House of Lords select committee last year concluded that there are people who are both unable to access legal aid and unable to afford to pay for legal services privately. As the Law Society have noted, proposals put forward by the UK Government have not addressed the distinct issues facing the legal sector in Wales and that the part or full devolution of justice, if implemented and funded appropriately, offers significant potential opportunities to the people of Wales. What advice has the Counsel General given the Welsh Government on the adequacy of legal aid in Wales?

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1. 1. Questions to the First Minister en

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

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

   5. Beth yw polisi Llywodraeth Cymru ar reoleiddio safleoedd tirlenwi? OQ64322

   Official English translation

   5. What is the Welsh Government's policy on the regulation of landfill sites? OQ64322

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

   Diolch yn fawr. I know you've long shared the frustrations of residents around the Hafod landfill site in Johnstown and have stood alongside campaigners who have endured this nuisance for far too many years. Families have repeatedly told us they can't open their windows, enjoy their gardens or simply live normally because of the persistent smell, and, of course, there's growing frustration particularly because the licence still has decades yet to run. Despite Wrexham's excellent recycling record, local communities continue to bear the burden of a landfill that receives much of its waste from across the border, leaving residents to live with persistent odour that affects their health, well-being and quality of life. Will you outline what further action the Welsh Government can now take to improve the transparency of monitoring at Hafod and what milestones you expect the operator to meet before the Government concludes that this long-running nuisance simply cannot continue and that closure to stop the stink at Hafod should be pursued?

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1. 1. Questions to the First Minister cy

   1. Pa gefnogaeth y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei rhoi ar gyfer cais Wrecsam i fod yn ddinas diwylliant? OQ64321

   Official English translation

   1. What support is the Welsh Government providing for Wrexham’s bid for city of culture? OQ64321

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2. 1. Questions to the First Minister en

   Diolch yn fawr iawn. Wrexham has an extraordinary story to tell, from our industrial heritage and culture to our vibrant arts scene, football club, communities and the Welsh language. We have everything needed to deliver a city of culture that belongs to the whole of Wales. Winning this bid would bring significant economic benefits, as it has for previous winners, and leave a lasting cultural legacy for local people. I was, therefore, very disappointed to see the leader of Labour in Wales issuing a press release suggesting Plaid Cymru had not supported Wrexham's bid last week. That simply isn't true and, quite frankly, was a rather petty attempt to generate a headline. Plaid Cymru has consistently backed this bid, and the Welsh Government allocated £60,000 in 2026-27 to support the development of the application, because we all want to see Wrexham succeed. In fact, one of the first things that we did, as new MSs for Flint Wrexham, was to arrange a showcase for the bid here in September. Will the First Minister join me in putting politics to one side, reaffirm the Welsh Government's full support for Wrexham's culture bid, and work with us to bring this opportunity home for both Wrexham and north Wales? Diolch yn fawr.

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3. 7. Debate: Fair Funding en

   I grew up believing in a simple principle: if you put in, you deserve a fair share out. That's not asking for special treatment or a begging bowl, as Reform seem to like to describe it. It's called chwarae teg, and it's a value that people across Wales instinctively understand. We work hard, we pay our taxes, and, whilst we're part of this union, we expect Wales to be treated fairly—and that's why this debate matters. Because when I look at the way Wales is funded, I don't just see individual injustices, I see a pattern stretching back generations. Cymru creates wealth, but the benefits flow somewhere else. Perhaps nowhere is that clearer than our rail network. Our railways weren't built to connect Wales to itself, they were built to extract Welsh wealth—coal, steel and slate—to English industrial centres and ports. Wales helped fuel the industrial revolution, yet when those industries declined, many of our communities were left with the scars, while much of the wealth had already flowed elsewhere. Two centuries later, we're still living with that legacy. We're one of the very few countries in Europe where travelling from the north to the south of our own nation often means leaving Wales altogether. This isn't just inconvenient, it's an economic disadvantage. Because infrastructure doesn't just move people; it builds economies and shapes where businesses invest, where jobs are created and where opportunity exists. Instead of recognising that historic imbalance and beginning to put it right, Westminster has chosen to embed that injustice and make it a feature of the system, and nowhere is this clearer than HS2. Without a single mile of track in Wales, somehow it's classified as an England and Wales project, denying Wales billions of pounds that Scotland and Northern Ireland rightly received. Money that could transform our rail network, strengthen north-south links and unlock economic growth. This isn't just about the past, it's about our future. Every time Wales misses out, catching up becomes harder and today's underinvestment becomes tomorrow's disadvantage. And, as we've heard, rail is only one example. The Barnett formula itself was never designed to reflect Cymru's needs. It largely measures population—not age, ill health, rurality or the real cost of delivering public services. Even Lord Barnett himself accepted it was never intended to last this long. Yet almost 50 years later, Wales is still expected to rely on a formula that everybody knows is no longer fit for purpose. [Interruption.] No, I won't, sorry. Then there's the Crown Estate. I'll never forget standing on the beach in Rhyl, looking out towards the Gwynt y Môr windfarm. Behind me was one of the most deprived communities in Wales, yet in front of me was enormous wealth being generated from Welsh natural resources. I remember thinking how familiar that story felt. The wealth is created here, but yet again, the rewards go somewhere else, usually to the already wealthy—in this case, to the UK Treasury and the royal family. As the next generation of offshore wind develops around our coastline, Wales should have the same opportunity as Scotland to shape and benefit from those assets. Treating Wales as a second-class nation, whether it's fair funding or equality on powers, has to end. These are not separate issues, they all stem from a lack of fairness. They stem from decisions about Wales being made elsewhere by people whose priorities conflict with Welsh interests. That fact has to be acknowledged and it has to change. Not because Wales is asking for favours or has a begging bowl, not because Cymru wants special treatment, but because our nation deserves respect. We deserve the well-earned opportunity to build our own prosperity and we deserve the tools to shape our future. Fair funding isn't about accounting; it's about opportunity, it's about prosperity, it's about building a Wales where the wealth we create finally stays here to benefit our communities. If you put in, you deserve a fair share out. That's not a radical idea, it's simply chwarae teg. Going forward, Cymru will settle for no less.

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1. 3. Statement by the Cabinet Minister for Government Effectiveness and the Constitution: Priorities for Government Effectiveness and Constitution en

   I welcome the Cabinet Minister's commitment to devolving justice and policing for Wales as an immediate priority, and for opening dialogue with the UK Government early on this issue. We know that policing and justice aren't delivering the outcomes needed in Wales and this is, in large part, due to the interrelation between devolved and reserved matters. We know that fragmentation isn't conducive to effective governance—the fact that justice and policing are reserved while supporting services like healthcare, housing and education are devolved. As my colleague Alun Cox noted last week, this jagged edge causes the Welsh Government to operate in reserved areas, with around 40 per cent of the total funding for the justice system being contributed in Wales. Given the current political developments, it also seems apt to remind people that Greater Manchester currently has more powers on policing than we do here in Wales. Does the Cabinet Minister agree that the devolution of policing and justice will support pressures on the Welsh Government budget as well as improving outcomes for those in our justice system and society more broadly?

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

   8. Beth yw safbwynt y Gweinidog Cabinet ar ddatganoli plismona, yng ngoleuni diwygiadau plismona yn Lloegr? OQ64143

   Official English translation

   8. What is the Cabinet Minister’s position on the devolution of policing, in light of policing reforms in England? OQ64143

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

   Diolch, Cabinet Minister. Before being elected to the Senedd, I served on the north Wales police and crime panel. There still remains considerable uncertainty about the future of policing in Wales. We are in the extraordinary position of being the only UK nation without responsibility for policing. Indeed, as has been said, many metropolitan areas in England now have greater powers over policing than Wales does, yet the services that interact most closely with policing every day—health, education, housing and social services—are already devolved. As the UK Government pursues the biggest reforms to policing in England since the 1960s, does the Cabinet Secretary agree that the case for devolving policing to Wales has never been stronger? As a point of principle, if powers over policing are considered appropriate for Greater Manchester, the west midlands and other English regions, then surely they are appropriate for Wales. So, can the Cabinet Secretary outline what discussions he has had with the UK Government to ensure that Wales is not left behind once again and to secure the devolution of this vital service?

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1. 1. Questions to the First Minister cy

   8. A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog amlinellu pa waith y mae'r Llywodraeth yn ei wneud i hyrwyddo dull cynllunio a arweinir gan gymunedau? OQ64100

   Official English translation

   8. Will the First Minister outline what work the Government is doing to further a community-led approach to planning? OQ64100

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2. 1. Questions to the First Minister en

   The First Minister will be aware of the situation in Wrexham regarding the local development plan, which was withdrawn by the previous Welsh Government due to a successful court case brought by Wrexham councillors. The thrust of objections to that plan were based on the rigid approach taken by the previous Labour Government who were aggressive in their response to concerns raised by councillors, specifically around outdated housing numbers based on inaccurate population projections, and there were also concerns regarding the low level of affordable housing in the plan, which did not align with 'Future Wales: The National Plan 2040'. Can the First Minister outline what steps a new Plaid Cymru Government will take to ensure that local development plans can be amended in response to real-time changes in local housing needs, and that the new Welsh Government will work in the spirit of co-operation with local authorities to ensure that local plans work for our communities?

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1. 3. Statement by the First Minister: The First Minister's Priorities en

   The recent election has shown that people in Wales want a government that stands up confidently and consistently for our nation. Constituencies like mine in Fflint Wrecsam want constructive and effective co-operation between the Welsh and UK Governments. We know that's essential to delivering for our local communities. Unlike previous Welsh Governments that, at times, have treated standing up for Wales as an add-on, I know my constituents welcome the fact that we now have a Government committed to being unrelenting in standing up for Wales, including challenging Westminster where necessary, while also building strong and constructive working relationships. Will the First Minister set out how this Government will deliver that approach in practice, ensuring Wales secures fair funding, progress on rail and the powers we need, whilst maintaining a productive partnership with the UK Government? Diolch.

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