Kiera Marshall

Open this sitting on the stage

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

   This summer, a Muslim woman in my constituency in Cardiff was subject to a physical violent attack in broad daylight. The attacker shouted at her about removing her headscarf, and continued to do exactly this while physically assaulting her. And this is just one example of an increasingly common occurrence where Muslim women are being targeted. This is exactly what the rhetoric that Reform is peddling is doing. Reform claims to protect women and girls, but they don't really, do they? Because only over the weekend did we hear about one of Reform's own MPs say that Reform is chauvinistic and has a male issue. And today, they're trying to control what women wear, and it's quite frankly disgusting and creepy that they're trying to do this. Meanwhile in Wales, 31 per cent of our children live in poverty, the unemployment rate has consistently remained above the UK average, and in this context, it's bizarre that they've chosen to focus their taxpayer-funded time on a debate like this today. To all the Muslim women—to all the Muslim women—who might be watching today, who might be feeling afraid and let down by this debate, Reform may claim that this attack on your faith is in line with British values, but it is not in line with Welsh values. Plaid Cymru stands with you, we will stand up for you, and we will always call out this hate where we see it.

   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 Counsel General en

   I'd like to thank the Member for raising this question and raise a similar issue. Too often, foster children leaving care are not aware of their rights. I recently hosted care-experienced campaigner Sam Gardner to give a question and answer session with Senedd Members here. Sam shared his experience of the foster system, moving between 15 different foster placements and having to research and advocate for his own rights. Sam has six asks of the Welsh Government, and one is for young people leaving care to be made aware of their legal and local entitlement in a clear and accessible way. Currently, this information is a postcode lottery, leaving some care leavers more vulnerable to homelessness or problems with unsupported mental health. What legal advice could the Counsel General give to the Welsh Government on ensuring that there is a legal obligation to make sure that care leavers are aware of their rights and the support services that they can access?

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

2. 6. Statement by the Deputy Minister for Social Care, Mental Health and Women’s Health: Update on the National Care Service Programme en

   Deputy Minister, I am concerned that constituents of mine are being, quite frankly, exploited. I met with some homecare workers in my constituency who are sometimes working 12-hour shifts for as little as four hours of pay. They are expected to drive from home to home, from one side of Cardiff to the other, and they are not getting paid for any of that driving time. They are sometimes forced to work weeks on end without a day off, delivering care to our most vulnerable while stressed and exhausted. These workers are on the health and care skilled worker visas, and when they raise their working conditions with their employers, whom their visas are tied to, the employers threaten their visa status to try and coerce and control the workers. When I heard this, I was actually at a loss for words at how disgusting and shocking this is. These migrant workers are being forced to work without getting paid for their labour. So, would the Deputy Minister work with counterparts in the UK Government and in local authorities to try and root out these exploitative practices associated with this type of visa, to ensure that working conditions reflect the values that she has set out, rightly so, in today's statement, for both domestic and migrant workers in our social care sector?

   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

   British job losses from AI last year were twice the international average. I'm particularly concerned about the impact of this on younger people and particularly entry-level jobs. We already have one of the highest amounts of young people in Wales not in education, employment or training. I'm also concerned about how we ensure that the gains from AI are spread equally across our communities in Wales and not just felt in the pocket of big businesses. We know that there is generally concern among people in Wales with AI. In my constituency, there's been huge pushback against a data centre in Pontyclun, which will have little, if any, benefit for the local community, and I know this isn't unique just to my constituency. So, I wonder if the Government would make a statement on its strategy towards AI, including mitigating job losses, the development of data centres and also ensuring equitable gains from AI as well.

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

Open this sitting on the stage

1. 8. Reform UK Debate: Access to HMOs and social housing for foreign nationals en

   I'd like to start by declaring an interest as a recent tenant in the private rental sector. Hopefully, this makes it clear from the outset where my priorities lie, because my priority lies with people who need a home, not people who profit from other people's basic need for shelter—and I'm not sure the same can be said about the party opposite on that. However, Nigel Farage's Welsh branch have identified a genuine problem: Wales does not have enough affordable housing. But, once again, they are taking a genuine problem and looking for someone to blame. People who arrive here illegally, asylum seekers and migrants on student or work visas are not eligible for social housing. According to census data, there are an estimated 28,000 non-UK-born people living in social housing in Wales. Meanwhile, an estimated 170,000 people are waiting for social housing in Wales. The housing crisis is way bigger than the question of migration. Even if the party opposite got their disturbed dream of making 28,000 people homeless, it would not begin to tackle the problem. And this is the only answer they have got: scapegoating migrants. The Reform UK Wales manifesto does not even commit to building a single council or social home. Not one. Not a commitment to a single one. They have no plan to ensure the adequate supply of social housing for everyone, whereas this Plaid Cymru Government is getting on with their commitment to build 20,000 social homes. The only plan Reform do have, actually, would make the problem worse. Thatcher's right to buy decimated the supply of council homes in the UK, and the Conservatives' right to buy in the 2010s—which many of them will remember as they were members of the party at the time—contributed massively to the UK housing crisis. More than 40 per cent of homes that were sold under that scheme are now in the private rental sector. So, it is laughable that a party advocating for right to buy is complaining about HMOs in Wales, because right to buy would actually increase the number of HMOs in Wales. And take this in—I won't say it often—Reform is right: there are issues with HMOs. But they have not identified the right issue. Houses in multiple occupation too often result in overcrowding and poor living conditions, while generating profits for the wealthy from this poor standard of living. Instead of asking, 'What kind of home does someone need to thrive?', the market asks, 'What is the minimum amount of private space that someone will pay for?' It is exploitative. We will not solve this housing crisis by making people live more densely on top of each other inside existing homes. I'm not objecting to shared living, because students or friends may genuinely choose it—I've been in that situation myself many times—but too often, with HMOs, economic necessity is masquerading as consumer choice. When someone is living in a bedroom in subdivided housing simply because they cannot afford anything else, that's a housing crisis. Why should people with money get proper homes to live in, but people without money get a bedroom in a subdivided house? Reform UK are on the record complaining about HMOs, but would Reform UK be willing to take on the landlord lobby and reduce the number of legal rooms in HMOs, or strengthen tenants' rights, or end no-fault evictions? What do you think? Because the Reform 2024 manifesto wanted to abolish the Renters' Rights Bill, which set out to end no-fault evictions and strengthen renters' rights, and it will be really interesting to see how they vote on the package of renters' rights that this Welsh Government wants to bring through. So, to summarise, Reform don't want people born outside the UK to access social housing, but they also don't want them to access HMOs. Their manifesto means they're clearly not interested in building social housing and, through right to buy, they actually support decreasing the supply of council housing, which will increase dependence on the private rental sector and increase the number of HMOs that they want to see fewer of, but they aren't planning on building social or council homes as an alternative and actually support selling them off, remember. Does that make any sense to anyone here? No, it doesn't. But at least one thing is clear from Reform's motion today—Reform don't like people born outside the UK—. Sorry, Llywydd, let me correct that. Reform don't want people born outside the UK in social housing or private HMOs in Wales. Diolch yn fawr.

   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

   3. Beth mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i sicrhau bod ei chynnig gofal plant yn hyblyg ac yn diwallu anghenion rhieni? OQ64647

   Official English translation

   3. What is the Welsh Government doing to ensure that its childcare offer is flexible and meets the needs of parents? OQ64647

   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

   Diolch, Brif Weinidog. I'd like to give an example of how the current system isn't flexible for parents. One nursery I know of in Cardiff can only provide Flying Start provision for 2.5 hours a day for the children who are eligible, but, meanwhile, the same nursery group in Newport can provide Flying Start in blocks so that parents can return to work part-time and use their Flying Start hours all in a couple of days. Parents in Cardiff aren't offered the same opportunities. Currently, funded childcare provision is too fragmented. It's a postcode lottery between local authorities and even different sides of the street. Too many who need it cannot access it. Labour are complaining about a universal childcare offer. We've heard it again today—Labour complaining about universal childcare. The party of Aneurin Bevan and universal healthcare is complaining about universalism. They've lost touch with their roots. Meanwhile, Reform in England are closing publicly funded nurseries. So, does the First Minister agree with me that the universality of this childcare offer is key, so that parents can get back to work and not a single child slips through that gap in provision?

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

Open this sitting on the stage

1. 3. Topical Questions en

   I've been hearing from constituents who are concerned about the job losses at Admiral and Legal & General, and I know my colleagues both in Gŵyr Abertawe and Brycheiniog Tawe Nedd have also shared concerns with me about the impact these jobs will have not only on people in Cardiff, but also in Swansea and the local economies. Workers need certainty about their futures and how they're going to support their families and pay ever-increasing bills and rent. And, given the uncertainty around who will be impacted currently by these job cuts, I wonder if the Welsh Government could provide some certainty about what support can be offered to impacted workers.

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

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

   I want to thank Niamh Salkeld for bringing forward this important debate today, and also Elwyn Vaughan for his work on it as well, because like many people, I recently watched the Michael Sheen documentary on contaminated land, and I didn't really know what to expect, so I was horrified when pretty much straight away in the documentary it focuses on Brofiscin quarry near Groesfaen in my constituency of Caerdydd Penarth. The Environment Agency named this site one of the most polluted sites in Britain, with 67 different toxic chemicals, including seven different PCBs, leaking into the porous ground at the former limestone quarry. Decades ago, people purchased homes in Groesfaen, unaware they were now living next to one of the most contaminated places in the whole of the UK. Children grew up there and played around the quarry, and for decades families were uninformed of the risks. In 2011, after decades of campaigning, the quarry was finally capped to prevent PCBs from leaking. So, although Brofiscin has been designated a contaminated site, thousands of sites are yet to be classified. Communities have the right to know if they're living next door to contaminated land, and they should not be left footing the bill for toxic waste clean-ups. The site in Brofiscin immediately brought the issue home, because when we talk about contaminated land, it may sound like a historical issue, but these places exist right now all across Wales in our communities, where people live and work and walk and exercise and raise their families. I want to recognise the important work that has been done to remediate the site in my constituency, but I am aware this isn't the case for similar sites across Wales, and those responsible must be held to account and made to clean up. PCBs were banned decades ago, yet all across Wales you'll still find them. And because these chemicals persist for such a long time, we're now dealing with another legacy of the industrial past of Wales. We cannot change the past, but we can decide how we deal with the consequences. Polluters should pay, and if they won't or can't, Westminster needs to step up and introduce a funding mechanism to support investigations and remediation. The motion rightly points out the absence of a clear and consistent national picture of potentially contaminated land across Wales, and I think this lack of a clear picture is causing fear unnecessarily in our communities. In Gwaelod-y-garth, there was recent flooding caused by blasting at a nearby quarry shortly before the release of this documentary. Residents were then understandably concerned that perhaps PCBs were involved in this case, which is why establishing this framework for testing and assessment of contaminated land is so crucial, so people feel informed and confident. And where there is credible concern, communities should be able to have the confidence that the site will be properly investigated and that the appropriate action is followed. I think Brofiscin demonstrates the two sides to this issue. It demonstrates the scale of the industrial legacy that Wales has inherited, but it also demonstrates that we can do something about it, as Brofiscin underwent remediation in the early 2010s. Monsanto initially refused to contribute to clean-up. They said they'd hired a third-party waste disposal company to dump the chemicals, so they weren't responsible. But, fortunately, an agreement was eventually reached where they did contribute towards the clean-up. The industrial history of Wales is something we should be proud of, but we also have a responsibility to deal properly with the environmental legacy it leaves, and never again should Wales be used as a dumping ground for toxic chemicals by large corporations. Diolch.

   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

   Last week, I met with residents in Gwaelod-y-garth impacted by flooding caused by nearby quarry blasting, as well as the quarry operator and other elected representatives. Residents are living in fear that there's this huge body of water sitting above their village, and the quarry is about to restart blasting imminently, before the Health and Safety Executive investigation is even complete. Residents are traumatised by the events that happened this summer and are scared to hear another blast happening above their village. So, can I please ask the Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability to make representations to the UK Government and Cardiff Council about steps they can take to ensure the safety of quarries and quarry blasting in and around Cardiff, particularly given investigations aren't complete? And please could the Government provide a statement on what it's doing to ensure the safety of those living near quarries, to prevent this from ever happening again? 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 Education and Welsh Language en

   Everybody should have access to Welsh-medium education. Sadly, I missed out on this when I was growing up and I'm now having to learn as an adult. At the moment, our constituency of Caerdydd Penarth is only served by one Welsh-medium secondary school. We know that communities in the south of Cardiff are travelling further to access Welsh-medium education, which is disincentivising parents and guardians from sending their children to Welsh-medium education. I am mindful, though, that responsibility for the planning of local schools does rest with local authorities and that statutory procedures have to be followed. So, I was wondering if the Cabinet Minister could confirm what communication she's had with Cardiff Council in relation to this matter.

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

2. 3. Questions to the Senedd Commission cy

   1. Sut mae'r Comisiwn yn sicrhau bod digon o gyfleusterau ar gyfer tynnu llaeth o'r fron ar ystad y Senedd? OQ64539

   Official English translation

   1. How does the Commission ensure there are sufficient facilities for expressing breast milk on the Senedd estate? OQ64539

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

3. 3. Questions to the Senedd Commission en

   Thank you for that. I just wanted to flag some of my lived experience, because as a mother of a young baby, I had the experience of trying to find a suitable place to pump on the Senedd estate. I was initially offered the medical room you mentioned, but it only had a bed in it, and you can't pump lying down, and I do need a desk and chair to work, and I couldn't possibly lose two hours of my working day. I was then offered the quiet room, but if you look on the internal intranet, this room is listed as a place for prayer and contemplation, so that wasn't appropriate. I then had to use a printing room, which had no lock on the door, until I got in touch with the Senedd estate, and it also had no access then to the fridge that was in the medical room. So, given that the Senedd aims to be family friendly and inclusive, I was surprised that these facilities don't seem to support pumping on the estate, and the NHS does recommend breastfeeding up until two years, when most parents will have returned to work. Only 32 per cent of babies are still being breastfed at six months, despite all of the known benefits. So, I was wondering if you would look at creating a space for pumping that enables people to work at the same time, and confirm to me that no member of staff or Member will face the same circumstances I was in.

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

4. 5. 90-second Statements en

   Diolch. This week is Adult Learners' Week, and I'd like to pay tribute to all the adult learners across Wales. It's sometimes difficult to step back into education, so it's so important that there's support there for them. The impact of adult learning is life-changing, and extends far beyond education. It improves health and well-being, and is fundamental to Wales's economic growth. It enables adults to access upskilling and reskilling and enhance their lives in ways that we will never understand.  The adult community learning programme in particular offers people an important route into education, supporting people to access learning in a setting and at a pace that is right for them. Tonight, the Inspire! adult learning awards are going to take place, and I'd like to congratulate Hannah from my constituency in Caerdydd Penarth who will be receiving the new Welsh speaker award.  Hannah will be recognised alongside 10 other award winners who are all being celebrated for their commitment, dedication and achievements—learners who have changed their lives through adult education. I hope these stories, and thousands like them across Wales, can encourage more people to embrace the message of Adult Learners' Week—to never stop learning. 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 Counsel General cy

   8. Sut mae'r Cwnsler Cyffredinol yn hyrwyddo mynediad at gyfiawnder i oroeswyr treisio? OQ64490

   Official English translation

   8. How is the Counsel General promoting access to justice for rape survivors? OQ64490

   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 Counsel General en

   Thank you for that. I was pleased to see the UK Government announcement that specialist courts to deal with rape and sexual offences are to be introduced across England and Wales, and, hopefully, this begins to tackle the shamefully low prosecution rates of rape in the UK, which has, effectively, been decriminalised. However, we also must look at prevention, not just justice. I met with a group of young women at Cardiff University, so I was glad to hear you talk about the university sector. They're called Time to Act, and they've been campaigning to eliminate sexual assault and sexual harassment from campuses, alongside supporting survivors. In England, as you'll know, there are currently regulatory consequences for institutions that fail to prevent and to tackle harassment and sexual misconduct. Students in Wales don't have this equivalent protection, so I was wondering if you would, potentially, look at what avenues are available for the Welsh Government to legislate and prevent sexual harassment and violence on university campus.

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

Open this sitting on the stage

1. 4. 90-second Statements en

   Diolch. I'd like to declare an interest, as I'm looking forward to becoming a trustee of the Living Room in the near future. On 11 September this year, the Living Room in Cardiff celebrated 15 years of transforming people's lives. It was established by Wynford Ellis Owen with the support of the Welsh Council on Alcohol and Other Drugs, which itself is now marking 55 years of service. Since the beginning, the centre has offered hope to people living with addiction and harmful behaviours, as well as supporting their families and their local community. Through counselling, therapeutic groups, peer support and education, thousands of people have had the opportunity to rebuild their lives. Stafell Fyw demonstrates that recovery is possible when people are treated with dignity, compassion and respect. It also highlights the value of investing in our community services, preventing problems from escalating and reducing pressure on our health, social care and criminal justice services. As we mark this milestone, I'd like to thank the staff, volunteers, trustees and everyone who has contributed to the work of the Living Room over the last 15 years. Above all, I'd like to pay tribute to the individuals in recovery who remind us every day that change is possible and that hope is stronger than addiction.

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

Open this sitting on the stage

1. 5. Statement by the Deputy Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education: Review of Higher Education en

   Diolch, Weinidog, for the update today. I want to see more opportunities for learners—not only in Cardiff, but across Wales—who are from the most disadvantaged backgrounds. Since 2020, we haven't seen any meaningful movement in closing the gap between the amount of young people from the most affluent areas going to university compared to those from the most disadvantaged areas. Growing up in Townhill in Swansea, I saw the impact of this gap first-hand on my friends and my neighbours and I'm really keen to support the Government to ensure that the next generation from similar areas across the whole of Wales are given fair opportunities into education. We must have more ambition in providing opportunities to communities that need it most, and at the same time tackling the widening inequality that's happening across the UK. What will this review do to support widening participation across higher education? I think one way we'll agree that we could do this is through degree apprenticeships, but the pathways and the general awareness of degree apprenticeships haven't helped close this gap as of yet. So, how could this review look at furthering the use of degree apprenticeships to help close the widening participation gaps?

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

Open this sitting on the stage

1. 6. Member Debate under Standing Order 11.21(iv): Young people and employment en

   I'll declare an interest as a youngish person. But thank you, Shav, for bringing forward—

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

2. 6. Member Debate under Standing Order 11.21(iv): Young people and employment en

   Young for politics. Thank you, Shav, for bringing forward this debate and also for joining the cross-party group on youth employment. The group is focusing on supporting young people and addressing the barriers they face in accessing employment and education, so I’d invite any Members here today to come and join the group. Because this is one of the most important issues facing this Senedd, but I also think it's one of the issues where we do have cross-party support. There are over 56,000 young people in Wales not in employment, education or training, which is about the size of Barry. We know this is not an issue that affects all our young people equally. We know it disproportionately impacts young men, and we know it disproportionately impacts young men in our most deprived areas. I grew up in one of Wales's poorest estates, in Townhill in Swansea, against the backdrop of Tory austerity. I saw first-hand what a lack of opportunity can do. I saw it fail my friends, I saw it fail my neighbours. I’m so lucky and privileged to be here today, and I'm determined to use my voice to focus on this issue, because we cannot fail another generation. Young people have limitless potential, the passion to learn and to grow, but the system limits them rather than supporting them. I’ve been speaking to sports leaders in Ely on this issue, and it’s like déjà vu. But it isn't all doom and gloom, because, often, as they do, communities have the solutions. Everything I’m about to mention to you has come to me directly from people in my constituency involved in youth work, or from young people themselves—simple, tangible ways we can change things to begin to tackle this problem. Firstly, there is transport, with the £1 bus fare for young people. I'm so grateful to everyone who has been a part of this: the previous Government for the pilot, Jane Dodds for negotiating on it and the new Government for continuing it. But it doesn't go far enough yet, because we know the cost of travel is a barrier to learners trying to access educational opportunities, and fixing this has to be a priority of ours over this Senedd term. Secondly, there's distance. If young people are at risk of disengaging with the education system, they're not going to travel halfway across Cardiff to access education that they're not sure is for them. Expanding vocational education and apprenticeships gives us this unique opportunity to provide education in our communities. We know there are other countries that offer vocational education, like junior apprenticeships, at a much earlier age, before young people reach crisis point and in a way that presents it as parity of qualification.  Thirdly, there's access. We have a diverse offer out there for our young people, and hopefully that's only going to grow over this Senedd term, but Cardiff and Vale College tell me they've got learners on waiting lists and they're having to turn young people away or put them on courses that don't align with their preferences, which will only worsen the issue of young people not in education, employment or training. And similarly, unless our young people know about the breadth of the opportunities available to them and what they can aspire to be, they cannot possibly make decisions on it. Last week, I spoke to apprentices at Cardiff and Vale College, and every single one of them told me they'd had to drop out, change pathways or do their own research to find what was available to them. We just can't let this go on any longer. It seems like nothing has changed since I left school a decade ago, where the only employer that came into my school was the army. We didn't get to hear about the science, tech and engineering happening in Swansea University, about the tourism industry in the Mumbles. We just didn't get it at all. And constituents have flagged with me examples of best practice, like the Cardiff Commitment, and hats off to Huw Thomas and Cardiff Council, because I hear brilliant things about this project, and we should be looking at how we can roll that out on a larger scale. And finally, I'd like to talk about local skills pipelines. I've been speaking to young people in Butetown, and they tell me about the significant developments happening in Cardiff Bay and in Butetown, but how, though they often get public money, no real effort has occurred to utilise the skills available in the community, and instead we're using companies from elsewhere to pursue these projects. So, if we're serious about creating a Wales for the future, about nation building, we must ensure that we support those at the beginning of their journey to reach their potential and achieve great things, because we have the solutions, we've heard some of them today, and by acting upon these, we'll impact countless lives in amazing ways that we will never know. Diolch yn fawr.

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

Open this sitting on the stage

1. 5. Statement by the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Minister for Social Justice and Equality: Update on Early Years Childcare and Play en

   Diolch, Lywydd. I'd like to declare an interest, as I have a beautiful 11-month daughter who will be going into childcare next month. But I'd like to thank the Government and the Deputy First Minister for her statement today and all the work that's clearly being done on this policy. I don't think we can overstate how transformational this policy is going to be, and I think, when people ask what has Wales done differently and what has devolution achieved, previously, they might have pointed to free prescriptions or the 5p bag charge, and I think, at full roll-out, I really believe it's going to be this policy. But it needs to be done right—no pressure there. One issue that's being raised with me a lot is general workforce capacity for the expansion, and specifically Welsh-medium provision. I know from my own experience that one nursery I approached in Cardiff was at full capacity until 2027, and there are not many Welsh language providers already.  And then I've also had providers raise issues specifically with support for younger babies, from nine months until two years, and I was assured in your statement today that that's going to be in the later part of the roll-out, which will allow for this capacity building up. But I just wonder if you could provide some clarity there. I think investment in the supplementary budget is obviously going to really help this as well. But yes, once this—

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

2. 5. Statement by the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Minister for Social Justice and Equality: Update on Early Years Childcare and Play en

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

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

3. 7. Statement by the Deputy Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education: Priorities for Skills and Tertiary Education en

   Diolch. Last week I visited Cardiff and Vale College to meet with learners, staff, unions and the college leadership about what they're doing. I heard directly from apprentices and junior apprentices about the life-changing opportunities they've been given by the apprenticeships. I think one issue that was consistently raised by all of the learners I spoke to was about how they made the decision to go onto those courses and those pathways. Basically, every single one of them told me that they originally chose or they were pushed into a more traditional pathway and had to drop out or change or do their own research to find out what was available for them. Our young people shouldn't be left without support to make decisions like this, and we want to make sure they're pursuing and doing what is best for them and right for them. So, I wonder if the Deputy Minister could outline what this Government's going to do to improve careers advice, guidance, work experience and information for young people on all the options available to them, to ensure they have the best experience and they aren't disadvantaged and, at worst, they don't disengage with the education system altogether. 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 Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Minister for Social Justice cy

   4. Pa gamau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i sicrhau bod goroeswyr trais yn erbyn menywod, cam-drin domestig a thrais rhywiol yn gallu cael mynediad at y cymorth sydd ei angen arnynt? OQ64342

   Official English translation

   4. What steps is the Welsh Government taking to ensure survivors of violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence can access the support they need? OQ64342

   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 Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Minister for Social Justice en

   Diolch, Weinidog. For the last three years, Time to Act have been campaigning to eliminate sexual assault and harassment, alongside supporting survivors of sexual violence in Cardiff University. This has been done completely in their spare time alongside their studies, and they're a tribute to how students campaign for what is right. It's really commendable what they're doing. In England, there are currently regulatory consequences for institutions that fail to address harassment and sexual misconduct. In Wales, we currently don't have that equivalent protection, despite nearly a quarter of students experiencing sexual violence, according to the Office for Students, which leaves our Welsh students behind. I'm really glad to hear about the support that the Government's putting in place for survivors generally, but I do wonder if you could let me know what the Government is doing to afford the same support to students on our campuses and improve data reporting methods, so that we can really understand the scale of this problem.

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

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

   8. Sut mae'r Llywodraeth yn gweithio i gefnogi cynhyrchwyr bwyd i roi cynnyrch dros ben i fanciau bwyd ac elusennau? OQ64341

   Official English translation

   8. How is the Government working to support food producers to donate surplus produce to foodbanks and charities? OQ64341

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

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

   Diolch, Weinidog. As you mentioned, charities like FareShare ensure that foodbanks all over the country can access surplus food from producers and traders, and this is an essential source of food for them. Schemes like Surplus to Purpose ensure that good food doesn't go to waste and can be used for a good purpose. I previously volunteered with FoodCycle in Ely and Riverside. They provide free community meals from surplus food, and aim to reduce food waste, hunger and social isolation. It's estimated that each year around 400,000 tonnes of food waste happens in Wales, which is so shameful, because I've been to the Dusty Forge in Ely where FoodCycle is based, and I've seen the empty shelves there and what they're trying to make meals out of. I'm grateful to the Minister for outlining how the Government will support food producers to donate surplus food, but could you outline how you'll also support projects like FoodCycle to ensure that food doesn't go to waste and they get the support they need to maintain their projects?

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

Open this sitting on the stage

1. 4. Statement by the Cabinet Minister for Education and the Welsh Language: Welsh Language Priorities cy

   Diolch. Dwi'n dysgu Cymraeg ers yr ysgol gynradd, ond gadawais yr ysgol yn methu â siarad Cymraeg bron o gwbl. Rwy'n drist i ddweud mai fi yw'r mwyafrif.

   Official English translation

   Thank you. I am learning Welsh since primary school, but I left school not being able to speak Welsh at all. I'm sad to say that I'm in the majority.

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

2. 4. Statement by the Cabinet Minister for Education and the Welsh Language: Welsh Language Priorities en

   Research from Cymdeithas yr Iaith suggests around 80 per cent of children leave school in Wales not confident in speaking Welsh.

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

3. 4. Statement by the Cabinet Minister for Education and the Welsh Language: Welsh Language Priorities cy

   Methodd y system addysg fi ac, o hyd, mae system addysg Cymru yn methu ein plant.

   Official English translation

   The education system failed me, and the education system in Wales is still failing our children.

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

4. 4. Statement by the Cabinet Minister for Education and the Welsh Language: Welsh Language Priorities en

   Firstly, could the Minister please outline how she intends to improve Welsh language education for second-language learners in English-medium schools?

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

5. 4. Statement by the Cabinet Minister for Education and the Welsh Language: Welsh Language Priorities cy

   Pam ddim dysgu Cymraeg yn iawn ym mhob ysgol? Pam mae fy nghariad yn rhugl? Pam ei fod ef yn ddwyieithog a dydw i ddim? Rŷn ni yr un oed. Aethom ni i'r ysgol yn yr un wlad. Pam na chawsom ni ddim yr un iaith—iaith y wlad rydw i'n byw ynddi? Felly, rydw i wedi treulio cannoedd o oriau a channoedd o bunnoedd a llawer o ymdrech i ddysgu fy iaith. Rydw i'n lwcus i gael yr amser, yr arian a'r swydd i ddysgu. Mae gormod o bobl nad ydynt yn cael y cyfle.

   Official English translation

   Why not teach Welsh properly in every school? Why is my partner fluent and I'm not? We're the same age. We went to school in the same country. Why didn't we get the same language opportunities? It's the language of the nation I live in. So, I've spent hundreds of hours and hundreds of pounds and a great deal of effort to learn my own language. I'm fortunate to have the time, the money and a job that lets me learn. Too many people don't have that opportunity.

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

6. 4. Statement by the Cabinet Minister for Education and the Welsh Language: Welsh Language Priorities en

   Secondly, could the Minister please outline what support she wants to see for adult learners like myself, who weren't given the gift of Cymraeg in our schools and never got that choice to use the language in the first place?

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

7. 7. Debate: Fair Funding en

   It's interesting to see that the Labour amendment today claims that redistribution of wealth is a major benefit of being part of the UK, given their history of supporting reforms to the funding formula. Their own manifesto stated that: 'The next chapter of devolution must be underpinned by fair funding', yet today they refuse to stand up for fair funding. We would be forgiven for believing that their amendment is political posturing. [Interruption.] Perhaps support for fair funding was the policy of Welsh Labour at the last Senedd, Mike, and they have new ideas now. This might make sense if the current leader of Welsh Labour didn't say that a fair funding settlement remains their longer term ambition, in only October 2025. But maybe 'longer term' means only nine months to the leader of Welsh Labour. We need to fix the funding formula and we know that a majority of the parties in the Senedd agree and have agreed for years. We know that Wales gets the worst deal out of the current model compared to Scotland and Northern Ireland—Huw said it himself earlier. 'We're all too aware of the vagaries of the existing Barnett system'—another quote from the leader of Welsh Labour—'like HS2 or the Oxford to Cambridge line'. But, of course, with another new boss in London, Labour can't rock the boat. We're once again seeing where their priorities lie, and it shows that Plaid Cymru is the only party wholly answerable to the people of Wales and not to bosses in London, or Manchester. The obvious contradiction in their amendment is the pointing out of the supposed benefit of economic redistribution, while, in the very next line, pointing out the intense centralisation of the United Kingdom and its regional economic inequality. This was only highlighted in Huw's speech as well—the same contradiction. Which one is it? Do we have economic redistribution or do we have intense economic inequality? The Welsh Labour amendment also reads like they're trying to cause a rift between Wales and Scotland, instead of standing up for their own country with serious policies. I know the Members on these Labour benches can be better than that, and I'd urge you to vote for Plaid Cymru's motion today and join us in truly standing up for Wales.

   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 Education and the Welsh Language en

   I thank the Member for raising this issue. Apprenticeships are a key part of improving opportunities for learners of all ages, but particularly to tackle the concerningly high level of young people not in employment, education or training, as you've highlighted. Again and again, I hear from constituents about how there's just nothing for young people. Only last night, I spoke to a constituent in Grangetown who is worried about his younger brothers and saying how they've just got nothing to do—they spend day after day hanging about on the streets with their friends. While we saw the last Government play with the apprenticeship figures to make it appear like they'd reached their apprenticeship target, failing the young people who really needed those opportunities, I'm glad to see this Government working towards providing learners with access to education and training that suits them. I wonder if the Deputy Minister could tell me what work is being done to ensure that junior apprenticeships are available and taken up as well by young learners.

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

2. 6. Member Debate under Standing Order 11.21(iv): Trauma and Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) en

   I'd like to thank Beca Brown for bringing forward this debate today, and I'd also like to thank Sarah Cooper-Lesadd for her contribution and for sharing that with us. Like the Member, I want to use this opportunity to talk about the unique experience of adopted people. I've been speaking with an advocate from Cardiff on this, James Evans, and he was adopted from foster care in 2004, and with his permission, I'd like to tell a small part of his story. So, once his adoption order was granted, James and his parents were sent off by the local authority and regional adoption agency without support and expected to cope by themselves. Like a two-year-old being adopted was some happy fairy-tale ending that you'd see in a Disney movie and that, because he now had a loving and caring environment, a forever home, he would be like every other child, but it was, in fact, the very opposite. He grew up as a hypervigilant, traumatised child, drowning in the trauma he'd sustained and witnessed in his early years, constantly trying to survive. Without his trauma being recognised, neither he nor his parents were able to access the support they needed. He's been left fighting for and advocating on this issue ever since. If we're serious about supporting young people to reach their potential and to thrive, we must not only support them, but recognise the trauma they've experienced. Without the recognition and support, an adopted child can be left with trauma, poor mental health and behavioural issues. And this is unfair, not only on the adopted young person, but also their adoptive families. What we need to see is recognition of previous trauma and the support that goes alongside it, which is why I wholly support the Member's motion today. On top of this, I'd really like to see the unique status of adopted people legally recognised, so that the support can be put in place. I can't see a better way to end my contribution than with some words from James himself: 'Support should not be something that adoptive parents, kinship carers, and special guardians should have to fight for; it should be there from the start. Like how you can't expect a flower to bloom without water, you can't expect an adopted child to thrive without continual therapeutic support as they grow up. The love an adoptive family brings is like the soil a flower is planted in, but without the water to help it grow, the love isn't enough to help the child grow.' 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 cy

   10. Sut mae'r Llywodraeth yn mynd i'r afael â chamwybodaeth a thwyllwybodaeth am geiswyr lloches, ffoaduriaid ac ymfudwyr? OQ64226

   Official English translation

   10. How is the Government combating misinformation and disinformation about asylum seekers, refugees and migrants? OQ64226

   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

   Last week was Refugee Week, a chance to celebrate the contributions refugees make to our communities across Wales. I was really lucky on Sunday to attend a seven-a-side football match hosted by the Ely Rangers, with teams from Ukraine, Afghanistan, Iraq, Eritrea, Kurdistan and more—communities coming together as one for an amazing day of sport. Last week, I also attended the Nation of Sanctuary Awards, where I heard about some of the amazing things that refugees and asylum seekers are doing in our communities in Wales. Despite this, there's often a gap between public perception and the reality when it comes to the asylum system. So, I wonder if the First Minister could answer what role the Welsh Government sees in ensuring public debate about the asylum system is informed by accurate information and supports strong and cohesive communities? And does the First Minister agree that all elected representatives and public figures have a responsibility to challenge misinformation and ensure debate is grounded in fact and evidence? Diolch.

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

3. 5. Statement by the Cabinet Minister for Finance: The First Supplementary Budget 2026-27 en

   Diolch. I'm so glad to see the Government taking childcare seriously and providing it with the funding it needs and deserves. Parents across Wales are struggling with the impossible costs of childcare. I spoke the other week about my own search for childcare for my daughter, costing around £75 per day, and then only this week did I hear of one place charging £105 for childcare per day—that's £525 a week. The median weekly pay in Cardiff is only around £610. That's an impossible choice for a huge proportion of my constituents and people all across Wales. So, not only does this Government's commitment to childcare provision tackle the cost of living and bring benefits to the economy, but childcare is a public good. Children are a public good; we need future generations. People in Wales cannot feel like they can't have children or families because of the level of severe wealth inequality facing people in Wales. I'm really glad to see the £55 million allocated in this supplementary budget to build capacity. I do wonder if the Minister could share with me what assessment has been made as to how this investment will benefit our economy.

   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 en

   I'm glad the Member has raised this with the Cabinet Secretary today, because we all know that the previous Labour Government have left our hospitals crumbling. For years—in fact, decades—we've heard about persistent issues, like sewer leaks, water damage and outdated IT equipment—all a result of underfunding accumulating over time. But this isn't just about fixing buildings, because there are governance issues too. The culture of short-term firefighting within health boards has only made things worse, which is why I welcome the Government recognising that this is a rooted-in problem. So, does the Minister agree with me that it is on the Labour Party to explain why, while they were in Government, they allowed the maintenance backlog in the NHS to reach such a state and that the new Welsh Government is doing the right thing in not burying their heads in the sand on this issue and tackling it head on?

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

Open this sitting on the stage

1. 5. Reform UK Debate: Childcare offer en

   What we're seeing here today is not genuine policy scrutiny, but is deflection dressed up to sound like seriousness. Reform say they want to see the costings. They say they want a proper debate about childcare. But if you listen carefully to what's been said in their own ranks, by their own candidates, a very different picture emerges. Because this is not a conversation about how we build a functioning childcare system. The opposition are trying to question whether we should have an accessible childcare system at all. We heard Reform candidates suggest that the solution to childcare is not investment but complete withdrawal, that women should stay at home. I've just had a baby. They don't think that people like me belong in the workplace, that people like me belong in this Parliament. They say that nurseries are unsafe, that abuse will skyrocket. Instead of answering this by strengthening provision, they question whether—[Interruption.] Yes, go for it.

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

2. 5. Reform UK Debate: Childcare offer en

   Yes, I have. They say that nurseries are unsafe, that abuse will skyrocket, and that the answer is not to strengthen provision, but to question whether working mothers should be relying on it in the first place. Today, when costings have suddenly become an essential concern, we have to ask what is actually going on here. Because we all know that this is not their way of demanding accountability. It is Reform's way of reframing the debate to move the conversation away from what is being said out loud by their own people in plain language. The reality is simple. We know their position on childcare. As I said, I've just had a baby. I'm in the minority in this Chamber who actually know what this looks like in real life in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis. This is exactly why Plaid Cymru's childcare offer is so important. We know that childcare largely falls on mothers, and without accessible childcare, the voices of mothers are not in the room and they're not in the workplace. And nowhere is the seriousness of this reality starker than here today, because—[Interruption.] No, not another one, sorry. Voices like mine, of new mothers, should be at the front and centre of this debate, on an issue that disproportionately impacts them. But because of issues like extortionate childcare, new mothers are under-represented in this Parliament, in our politics and in our workplaces. In Cardiff, childcare can cost around £85 a day. That's what I've been quoted. That could be around £1,700 some months. No tax cut will solve that. At that price, it would make more sense for my partner to stop working. And unfortunately for the opposition, that sits directly at odds with the rhetoric we've heard from their own candidates about women nurturing and men providing. What we've heard today is not really a debate about affordability. It's a debate about whether Reform believe that childcare should exist in a way that allows both parents to work. And on that question, the public is already hearing their answer loud and clear.

   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

   7. Pa gamau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i gefnogi tenantiaid y mae'r sgandal cladin yn Victoria Wharf yn effeithio arnynt? OQ64124

   Official English translation

   7. What steps is the Welsh Government taking to support tenants affected by the cladding scandal in Victoria Wharf? OQ64124

   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

   Diolch, First Minister, for your answer. Residents of Victoria Wharf in Cardiff were sold dream homes, yet due to serious building defects and fire safety failures, including cladding issues, many now face uncertainty and risk, unaffordable and extortionate service charges, insurance costs and ongoing safety concerns. My constituents in Victoria Wharf are living day to day feeling unsafe in their own homes and are dedicating their time to battling developers and having to campaign to be heard and live in safety. I welcome the fact that our Cabinet Minister for housing, in her previous role, consistently raised these issues and secured commitments in our manifesto to building safety. You've already outlined some of the points, but could the First Minister please outline what further action this new Welsh Government can consider to accelerate remediation at sites like Victoria Wharf, and will you look to ensure that developers responsible for unsafe buildings are prevented from securing public contracts until all these necessary works are completed? Diolch.

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

Open this sitting on the stage

1. 6. Statement by the Cabinet Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy: Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy Priorities en

   Diolch, Llywydd, and diolch, Cabinet Secretary, for your statement today. I consistently hear from young people all across Wales that there is a lack of opportunities for work and training in their communities. In Wales, we've consistently had one of the highest proportions of 18 to 24-year-olds not in education or training, limiting their life chances and holding back our economy. This also leads to young people leaving Wales. Too many people my age and younger feel like they have no choice but to leave Wales. So, in light of missed apprenticeship targets and the previous Labour Government's poor record on supporting young people into work, will the Cabinet Minister outline how this new Welsh Government will improve access to education, employment and training, and ensure that young people, particularly those who have grown up in poverty, are able to build their futures in Wales?

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