David Hughes

Open this sitting on the stage

1. 1. Questions to the First Minister cy

   8. Pa gamau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i sicrhau effeithlonrwydd a gostyngiad mewn gwastraff wrth ddarparu gwasanaethau cyhoeddus er mwyn sicrhau gwell gwerth am arian i drethdalwyr? OQ64796

   Official English translation

   8. What action is the Welsh Government taking to ensure efficiency and waste reduction when delivering public services to achieve better value for money for taxpayers? OQ64796

   Read in full No broadcast timestamp published, so this contribution cannot be placed on the stage. Senedd TV Read this in the Record

2. 1. Questions to the First Minister en

   Minister, Welsh taxpayers are continually being asked to pay more, yet many feel they are receiving less in return. Does the Minister agree that rather than continually demanding more from Welsh taxpayers, the Welsh Government should first demonstrate that it can spend the money it receives responsibly? And will the Minister commit to an independent, comprehensive audit of Welsh Government spending, identifying wasteful projects, unnecessary bureaucracy and duplication of services, with a clear commitment to redirect those savings towards front-line NHS services, education and local communities, because surely the priority should be delivering value for taxpayers, not simply spending more money?

   Read in full See it in the chamber Senedd TV Read this in the Record

3. 4. Statement by the First Minister: 60th Anniversary of the Aberfan Disaster en

   Like Lis, I was brought up in Aberfan and had many friends who were there that day. So, today, we pause with heavy hearts to remember the lives lost in Aberfan's disaster. Sixty years on, the pain of that terrible day remains deeply felt by families, friends and the community whose lives were forever changed. We remember the children whose lives were taken far too soon, the adults who lost their lives and all those who witnessed such unimaginable grief. Aberfan was not simply a tragedy in history; it was a community's heartbreak and a reminder of how precious every life is. Today we honour those who were lost, remember all those who carry on and hold the families and people of Aberfan in our thoughts. May the memories never fade, may the compassion, courage and strength shown in the aftermath continue to inspire us. We will remember them, we will grieve and we will never forget. That's all I ask of this place: that we never forget. Thank you.

   Read in full See it in the chamber Senedd TV Read this in the Record

Open this sitting on the stage

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

   Do you think that the taxpayer, local tax payers, should pay for everything, Mike? How high do you think the council tax should go up every year, because, under Labour, it's going up and up and up?

   Read in full See it in the chamber Senedd TV Read this in the Record

Open this sitting on the stage

1. 2. Business Statement and Announcement en

   Business Manager, can I ask for a joint statement from the Deputy Minister for social care, the Minister for local government and the Minister for education on the pupil development grant for children looked after? The issue I raise is complicated and cuts across multiple portfolios. A recent Estyn report highlighted concerns about the current PDG-CLA funding arrangements. Corporate parenting responsibility remains with the placing authority, but the receiving authorities are required to provide support from their own PDG-CLA allocation. Estyn also reported existing arrangements did not always operate effectively, including inconsistent information sharing and joint working, particularly when learners move between settings, services and local authorities. So, can I have a statement on how the Welsh Government intends to address these issues highlighted in Estyn's report? Diolch.

   Read in full See it in the chamber Senedd TV Read this in the Record

Open this sitting on the stage

1. 2. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning cy

   8. Pa gamau y mae'r Gweinidog Cabinet yn eu cymryd i gyflymu'r gwaith o brosesu ceisiadau cynllunio gan awdurdodau lleol? OQ64640

   Official English translation

   8. What action is the Cabinet Minister taking to speed up the processing of planning applications by local authorities? OQ64640

   Read in full No broadcast timestamp published, so this contribution cannot be placed on the stage. Senedd TV Read this in the Record

2. 2. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning en

   Minister, people in Pontypridd Cynon Merthyr have been asking me how many more years will communities and businesses have to wait for a planning system that delivers decisions promptly. Will you commit to clear, measurable targets for reducing delays? Will you introduce clear planning performance targets for councils and Welsh Government, and publish the results so that the public can hold both to account for the delays? Thank you.

   Read in full See it in the chamber Senedd TV Read this in the Record

Open this sitting on the stage

1. 3. Business Statement and Announcement en

   Thank you. Business Manager, can I ask for a statement from the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning on how local government's funding supports the third sector and charitable organisations? The Welsh Local Government Association estimates budget pressures of £560 million for 2026-27, but this year local government's settlement only increases councils' core funding by £292 million. When budgets are tight, grants and contracts with local charities and voluntary groups are often among the first to be cut. Yet these organisations provide early support to vulnerable people, and can help ease the demand on statutory services. So, can we have a statement on how the Government is working with councils to protect funding for the third sector, and whether assessments have been made of the impact of funding pressures on voluntary organisations? And can I say that I've got to declare an interest because I've got family working in both sectors?

   Read in full See it in the chamber Senedd TV Read this in the Record

Open this sitting on the stage

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

   Minister, many people in Pontypridd Cynon Merthyr still struggle to access jobs, education and healthcare because of poor transport links. Given the significant amount of public money already spent on transport projects in Wales, can the Cabinet Secretary please explain why so many communities remain poorly served, and what steps will be taken to improve reliability and accessibility before asking taxpayers to fund further major schemes? Thank you.

   Read in full See it in the chamber Senedd TV Read this in the Record

Open this sitting on the stage

1. 7. Statement by the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning: Building Safety Programme Update en

   Cabinet Minister, the building safety programme risks becoming yet another example of taxpayers being asked to foot the bill for failures that they did not cause. England regulates buildings above 18m under its strictest duties. Wales has brought every multi-occupied residential building of any height into the new framework. That's over 51,000 buildings, mostly owned by small private landlords. The Senedd's own committee called the compliance timeline 'unrealistic'. Has the Minister modelled the impact on housing supply and on the capacity of authorities that must enforce it, while residents living in the most dangerous buildings still wait? With housing affordability worsening and house building targets already being missed, can you provide evidence that these measures will not further slow housing delivery? Thank you.

   Read in full See it in the chamber Senedd TV Read this in the Record

Open this sitting on the stage

1. 2. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Finance en

   Minister, Plaid's inability to pass the budget has left councils in limbo. Local authorities needs as much time as possible to budget for the upcoming financial year. Audit Wales said that the Welsh Government's handling of restricted grants makes it hard for councils to plan. Audit Wales also found that £1.5 billion was allocated to councils in March 2025—the final month of the 2024-25 financial year. That represents 20 per cent of the annual total of this funding grant. So, Minister, what is the Welsh Government doing to give councils more certainty when setting their budgets, instead of leaving it to the last minute?

   Read in full See it in the chamber Senedd TV Read this in the Record

Open this sitting on the stage

1. 1. Questions to the First Minister cy

   5. A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog nodi amserlen ar gyfer cyflwyno mesurau newydd i amddiffyn rhentwyr yn well? OQ64467

   Official English translation

   5. Will the First Minister set out a timeline for the introduction of new measures to better protect renters? OQ64467

   Read in full No broadcast timestamp published, so this contribution cannot be placed on the stage. Senedd TV Read this in the Record

2. 1. Questions to the First Minister en

   Thank you. First Minister, we know that immigration increases demand on housing, which, in turn, leads to increased rents. So, can the First Minister confirm that any planned changes to private and social renters' protections will be prioritised for Welsh people over recent arrivals?

   Read in full See it in the chamber Senedd TV Read this in the Record

Open this sitting on the stage

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

   Cabinet Minister, patients in Pontypridd Cynon Merthyr continue to face unacceptable long waits for diagnostic tests and orthopaedic treatment. Can the Cabinet Minister outline the specific actions and investment the Welsh Government is providing to support Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board in reducing waiting times? And when can patients expect to see measurable improvements in access to care?

   Read in full See it in the chamber Senedd TV Read this in the Record

Open this sitting on the stage

1. 1. Questions to the First Minister cy

   6. Pa gamau mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i gefnogi'r sector gofal lliniarol yn well? OQ64427

   Official English translation

   6. What action is the Welsh Government taking to better support the palliative care sector? OQ64427

   Read in full No broadcast timestamp published, so this contribution cannot be placed on the stage. Senedd TV Read this in the Record

2. 1. Questions to the First Minister en

   Thank you. First Minister, Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board recently ran a major public engagement process regarding the future of specialist palliative care and end-of-life services across the region. One of the proposals was to close ward 6 at Ysbyty Cwm Cynon, to relocate them to Royal Glamorgan Hospital in Llantrisant. This has drawn significant local opposition and concern. Residents and local councils argue that closing the specialist beds in the Cynon valley could force terminally ill patients in Merthyr and Cynon to travel for further care. I'm sure that the First Minister agrees with me that hospice and end-of-life services are some of the cornerstones of the Welsh healthcare system. Each year, they provide essential care and support for more than 20,000 children and adults living with terminal illness, easing pressures on the NHS by delivering vital, compassionate care within communities across Wales. However, rising demand and increasing costs are placing these services—[Interruption.] One more thing—under strain. Will the First Minister commit to providing sustainable long-term funding for hospices and end-of-life services in Wales to ensure that they can continue to deliver essential palliative and end-of-life care?

   Read in full See it in the chamber Senedd TV Read this in the Record

Open this sitting on the stage

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

   Cabinet Minister, having grown up in the Merthyr valley in the 1970s and 1980s, I had many work colleagues, team mates and friends whose lives were devastated by the tragedy in Aberfan. Communities in Ponty, Cynon and Merthyr, along with many others across Wales, continue to live alongside legacy coal tips. Can the Cabinet Minister provide an update on discussions with the UK Government to ensure that these communities receive the long-term investment they need to make those tips safe, because I, for one, believe that, after nearly 60 years since the Aberfan disaster, we still haven't received sufficient funding needed to make these tips clear and to make these tips safe? Diolch.

   Read in full See it in the chamber Senedd TV Read this in the Record

Open this sitting on the stage

1. 1. Questions to the First Minister en

   First Minister, I'm sure you will agree with me that unpaid carers are the backbone of our health and social care system. They save the public purse billions of pounds each year, yet many still struggle to access the respite and short break services they desperately need. What additional funding is the Welsh Government providing to local authorities and third sectors to expand those services, and when will the unpaid carers see that support delivered? I'd like to make a quote from an unpaid carer: 'Unpaid carers across Wales give so much but get very little support in exchange.' Thank you.

   Read in full See it in the chamber Senedd TV Read this in the Record

Open this sitting on the stage

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

   4. A wnaiff y Gweinidog Cabinet ddatganiad ar ddyfodol yr uned strôc yn Ysbyty'r Tywysog Siarl? OQ64155

   Official English translation

   4. Will the Cabinet Minister make a statement on the future of the stroke unit in Prince Charles Hospital? OQ64155

   Read in full No broadcast timestamp published, so this contribution cannot be placed on the stage. Senedd TV Read this in the Record

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

   Cabinet Minister, Cwm Taf Morgannwg health board put on a consultation about the temporary move of the stroke unit from Prince Charles Hospital to the Royal Glamorgan Hospital in Llantrisant, but despite the large majority of objections to the move, including from senior health staff, local authority councillors and members of the public, the move still went ahead. One healthcare worker said, and I quote, that the removal of such a critical service has the possibility of patients experiencing delays receiving critical care and increasing the risk of long-term disability. The health board has now extended the temporary move by a further 12 months without any consultation. When speaking with Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board, will the Cabinet Minister ask when we are going to see the same service in Prince Charles as in the Royal Glamorgan? The service is needed in both hospitals. Thank you.

   Read in full See it in the chamber Senedd TV Read this in the Record