Sera Evans

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1. 2. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Education and the Welsh Language cy

   Weinidog, rydym yn gwybod bod gweithlu addysg sy'n cael ei gefnogi a'i werthfawrogi yn hanfodol er mwyn codi safonau a gwella canlyniadau ein dysgwyr. Felly, rwy'n croesawu’r dyfarniad cyflog o 3.5 y cant, sydd wedi'i ariannu'n llawn ac yn sicrhau cydraddoldeb â Lloegr, yn ogystal â'r buddsoddiad ychwanegol rŷch chi newydd sôn amdano fe i leddfu'r pwysau sy'n gysylltiedig ag ADY. Mae ASCL Cymru, sydd hefyd yn cynrychioli arweinwyr ysgolion, wedi derbyn y dyfarniad cyflog o 3.5 y cant. A yw'r Gweinidog yn cytuno gyda fi ei bod hi er budd staff ysgolion a disgyblion fel ei gilydd i'r rheini sydd yn parhau mewn anghydfod i ymgysylltu'n adeiladol â'r cynigion hyn a cheisio dod o hyd i ddatrysiad heb weithredu diwydiannol? Diolch.

   Official English translation

   Cabinet Minister, we know that an education workforce that is supported and valued is essential for raising standards and improving outcomes for our learners. Therefore, I welcome the 3.5 per cent pay award, which is fully funded and ensures parity with England, as well as the additional investment that you've just mentioned to alleviate pressures associated with ALN. ASCL Cymru, which also represents school leaders, has accepted the 3.5 per cent pay award. Does the Minister agree that it is in the interests of both school staff and pupils for those who remain in dispute to engage constructively with these proposals and seek to find a resolution without resorting to industrial action?

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2. 3. Questions to the Senedd Commission cy

   4. Pa ystyriaeth y mae'r Comisiwn wedi'i roi i gyflwyno hyfforddiant diogelu gorfodol ar gyfer yr holl Aelodau o'r Senedd a'u staff cymorth? OQ64741

   Official English translation

   4. What consideration has the Commission given to introducing mandatory safeguarding training for all Members of the Senedd and their support staff? OQ64741

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3. 3. Questions to the Senedd Commission en

   Diolch, Lywydd. The Commission's own guidance makes clear that while safeguarding is everyone's responsibility, it has designated safeguarding officers who act as a central point of contact for managing concerns. This is standard practice. However, individual Members are responsible for safeguarding arrangements within their own offices, and although the Commission advises Members and their staff to mirror its safeguarding policy, there really isn't an equivalent safeguarding structure, as it were, or central point of contact for Members themselves. You mentioned political groups, Llywydd, but what consideration has the Commission seriously given to how safeguarding arrangements for Members and their support staff could be strengthened, including through that mandatory training I mentioned and clearer procedures to ensure that everyone knows how to raise concerns and that both the people we represent and those working to represent them are properly protected?

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4. 5. 90-second Statements en

   Last week, I was, along with you and other cross-party colleagues, delighted to welcome Danielle Webb to the Senedd women's caucus. Danielle is an inspirational woman and I am fortunate to call her a friend and know her as a former colleague. As vice-chair of Little People UK, she spoke passionately about her experiences as a little person as part of Dwarfism Awareness Month. She highlighted the everyday challenges that many little people face—as students, when entering employment, commuting or simply navigating spaces that too often fail to accommodate them. There are between 3,000 and 7,000 people with dwarfism in the UK and over 200 different types of dwarfism. Depending on the condition, people may experience significant medical complications, including spinal stenosis, hydrocephalus and arthritis. Diagnosis and treatment can require genetic testing, scans and x-rays, as well as a co-ordinated team of medical specialists. Dwarfism Awareness Month is an opportunity to challenge misconceptions, raise understanding and confront the barriers that people with dwarfism face every day. We must listen to people like Danielle, champion their experiences and ensure our public spaces, workplaces and services are accessible and inclusive. Greater awareness must be matched by practical action so that people with dwarfism can participate fully in every aspect of life in Wales. Diolch.

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1. 4. Statement by the Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability: Winter preparedness: Be flood ready cy

   Diolch am eich datganiad heddiw, Weinidog.

   Official English translation

   Thank you for your statement today, Minister.

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2. 4. Statement by the Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability: Winter preparedness: Be flood ready en

   The warnings from NRW have already been highlighted today and will be of particular concern to communities in Afan Ogwr Rhondda, where a number of areas rank highly on the communities at risk register. I want to focus on the immediate measures being taken to protect communities as we prepare for the unthinkable, as NRW have put it. A number of the flood alleviation schemes in train across the constituency are still under construction and will likely not be completed in time for this winter. Although I think key lessons have been learned as a result of previous flooding events and the local lead flood authorities will have a better understanding of the vulnerabilities in their networks, there will be gaps in protection while these schemes are ongoing. So, I'd be very grateful to know what immediate support the Welsh Government is providing to lead local flood authorities to help them manage the risks and protect communities over the coming months. Diolch.

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

   5. Pa asesiad y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi'i wneud o effaith gofynion ansawdd datblygu ar ddarpariaeth tai? OQ64666

   Official English translation

   5. What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the impact of development quality requirements on housing delivery? OQ64666

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

   Diolch am yr ymateb, Weinidog.

   Official English translation

   Thank you for that response, Minister.

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

   Over the summer, I had the opportunity to meet with Trivallis, who are undertaking a development in Penrhys, in the Rhondda, to deliver around 1,000 new homes over the next 10 years. They raised with me some challenges presented by the current development quality requirements. Trivallis has relayed to me that the current development quality requirements require housing associations to build to standards above those set by building regulations, including achieving energy performance certificate A or an alternative approved design. In Penrhys, I've been told that this is adding around 15 per cent to construction costs and achieving the required standard can be technically challenging for high-rise developments and other homes in urban areas. I'd be keen to hear your view on this, Cabinet Minister, particularly around whether we are striking the right balance between ensuring high-quality, energy-efficient homes and cost-effectiveness. Diolch.

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4. 10. Short Debate: The importance of port infrastructure and maritime traffic to the Welsh economy en

   I'd like to thank Ben Hodge Mckenna for giving me a minute of his time to contribute to this short debate. Let me be clear, I am also championing the brilliant Port Talbot. I worry that some of our work, however, around port readiness has come to a bit of a standstill. As our ports evolve into multifunctional industrial hubs, there has to be an expansion of their capacity and readiness to capture the value resulting from flow. It needs to happen simultaneously and at scale. We know that ABP has plans to invest £500 million to this end, as well as an additional £64 million, which was committed in March by the UK Government. But we really still have little idea as to who, in practice, is exercising strategic leadership over port readiness. At present, no single body appears to be orchestrating efforts around Port Talbot's investment needs. It strikes me that the Welsh Government and the local authority should co-lead, but lines of accountability remain opaque. Numerous overlapping groups, with variations of the same individuals appearing across them, have generated, I fear, a diffusion of responsibility. The anticipated capital requirement for Port Talbot of just north of £500 million raises questions that I hope the Cabinet Minister can illuminate for us in his response, namely: do we know who this funding is or should be going to, what it is delivering, and over what timeline? Diolch.

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1. 1. Questions to the First Minister cy

   7. Sut bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn cefnogi capasiti presgripsiynu cymdeithasol yn Afan Ogwr Rhondda? OQ64651

   Official English translation

   7. How will the Welsh Government support social prescribing capacity in Afan Ogwr Rhondda? OQ64651

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2. 1. Questions to the First Minister cy

   Diolch am eich ymateb, Brif Weinidog. Er mwyn i bresgripsiynu cymdeithasol fod yn effeithiol, nid yn unig mae angen y gallu i wneud atgyfeiriadau arnom, ond mae hefyd angen rhwydwaith cryf a chynaliadwy o sefydliadau cymunedol sydd â'r adnoddau i allu eu derbyn. Yn ddiweddar, cwrddais â Kate o Gymdeithas Gymunedol Gilfach Goch, sy'n darparu ystod eang o gymorth i dros 1,500 o drigolion lleol, gyda'r galw yn parhau i gynyddu. Sefydliadau fel hyn yw'r union leoedd y mae pobl yn cael eu hatgyfeirio iddynt, ond un o'r pryderon rwy'n eu clywed dro ar ôl tro yw y gall ffrydiau cyllidol ogwyddo'n sylweddol tuag at gyllid cyfalaf, gyda llawer llai o hyblygrwydd o ran y cyllid refeniw sydd ei angen i dalu staff, talu costau gweithredol a chadw gwasanaethau i fynd. Ychydig o ddefnydd sydd i adeilad os nad oes pobl ac adnoddau i gadw drysau ar agor a darparu'r gwasanaeth ynddo. Felly, a all y Llywodraeth ystyried sut y gellid ymgorffori mwy o hyblygrwydd rhwng cyllid cyfalaf a refeniw mewn rhaglenni grant yn y dyfodol, fel bod gan sefydliadau fel Cymdeithas Gymunedol Gilfach Goch y gallu a'r sefydlogrwydd sydd eu hangen arnynt i ddiwallu'r galw cynyddol, ac fel bod presgripsiynu—lot o eiriau mawr heddiw—cymdeithasol yn arwain at barhad cymorth sy'n sail i agenda ataliol y Llywodraeth hon? Diolch.

   Official English translation

   Thank you for your response, First Minister. For social prescribing to be effective, we not only need the ability to make referrals, but we also need a strong and sustainable network of community organisations that have the resources to be able to accept them. Recently, I met Kate from the Gilfach Goch Community Association, which provides a wide range of support to about 1,500 local residents, with the demand continuing to rise. Institutions like this are exactly the sort of places people get referred to, but one of the concerns I hear again and again is that funding streams can lean heavily towards capital funding, with much less flexibility in terms of the revenue funding needed to pay staff, cover operational costs and keep services running. A building isn't much use if there aren't people and resources to keep the doors open and provide the services inside.  So, could the Government consider how more flexibility could be built in between capital and revenue funding in grant programmes in the future, so that organisations like the Gilfach Goch Community Association have the capacity and stability they need to meet the growing demand, and so that—many large words here today—social prescribing leads to continuous support that underpins this Government's preventative agenda? Thank you.

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3. 5. Statement by the Deputy Minister for Social Care, Mental Health and Women’s Health: Stronger Safeguarding for a Safer Wales cy

   Diolch i chi am eich datganiad hollbwysig heddiw, Ddirprwy Weinidog.

   Official English translation

   Thank you for your crucial statement today, Deputy Minister.

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4. 5. Statement by the Deputy Minister for Social Care, Mental Health and Women’s Health: Stronger Safeguarding for a Safer Wales en

   I very much welcome the emphasis on a whole-system approach to safeguarding, and the ambition to strengthen the system's capacity for early identification and intervention, moving us away from a predominantly reactive model towards one that is genuinely preventative and intelligence led. I want to focus on design principles, which you've mentioned already, particularly on the commitment that the voices of children, young people, adults at risk, victims and survivors will be central to service design. As you've said, centring lived experience at the heart of safeguarding means that experiences should actively inform the systems and practices designed to protect children, and organisations should be able to demonstrate what has changed as a result. This is where there can be a danger of coming up short, because listening can feel like an achievement in and of itself, as opposed to a basis for action. So, how will the Government ensure this doesn't become the case? Like Natasha Asghar and Lynne Neagle, I wanted to ask you about how children, young people, adults at risk, victims and survivors will be engaged in the development and design of safeguarding services. Now, whilst you've answered that question, I'd also like to know—

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5. 5. Statement by the Deputy Minister for Social Care, Mental Health and Women’s Health: Stronger Safeguarding for a Safer Wales en

   —what ongoing scrutiny mechanisms will be developed to enable these people to engage meaningfully, and over a sustained period of time, to ensure a culture of constructive challenge and continuous improvement. Diolch.

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6. 6. Debate: Fiscal Reform en

   I'll begin by stating the obvious: the case for Wales's fiscal reform is, as far as Plaid Cymru is concerned, cut and dried. Independent commissions and expert reports have repeatedly identified the limitations of the current arrangements. Most recently, the Independent Commission on the Constitutional Future of Wales set out a clear case for greater fiscal autonomy, and now with Plaid Cymru in Government, we have an opportunity to take that clear-eyed analysis and turn it into a programme of practical reform. Because, ultimately, the question we should ask of our fiscal framework is a very straightforward one: does it give Wales the flexibility we need to sufficiently deal with the scale of the challenges we face? The fiscal framework established limits on both the size of the Wales reserve, £385 million, and annual draw-downs with limits of £137.5 million for revenue and £55 million for capital. This is, of course, in contrast to the Scottish fiscal framework, within which the Scottish Government can draw down as much as they need to. There is simply no justification or compelling reasoning for Wales being treated any differently—none whatsoever. And while it's welcome that the overall limit on the size of the reserve and the annual limit for drawing down both capital and revenue spending has increased by 10 per cent, it still falls woefully short and does nothing to restore the large inflationary losses to these limits since they were set in cash terms a decade ago. This is not bloodless constitutional abstraction. It has implications for our ability to build up and use resources for future investment, whether that be in infrastructure, public services or the economy. And where there is insufficient capacity within the reserve, the ceiling for putting money in is set at 1.4 per cent of our budget. The Treasury can simply claw that money back. The same absurdities apply to our borrowing powers, and whilst not included in this motion, Llywydd, I'm going to mention it anyway. Less expensive forms of borrowing are subject to strict limits: £1.1 billion, with an annual limit of £165 million via the national loan fund. If the Welsh Government wishes to undertake a project above a certain scale, it must either take this money from public services, borrow it privately via the mutual investment model, or hope that the UK Government decides to undertake a project of a similar scale in England and that it delivers on Barnett consequentials. The Welsh Government has responsibility for huge areas of policy. The very principle of devolution is predicated on the notion that the people of Wales should be able to elect a Government that can pursue different priorities and make different choices from Governments elsewhere in the UK. But meaningful political responsibility requires meaningful fiscal powers, and we currently operate within a system that actively inhibits our ability to raise, save and borrow the resources necessary to deliver on the vast range of devolved responsibilities. I'm conscious that the word 'limit' is one that I've used a lot during this contribution, but it's an apt characterisation of our fiscal framework: it is both limited and limiting. The current system of occasional ad hoc flexibilities afforded to the Welsh Government at the Treasury's discretion militates against our democracy. This is not a sustainable basis on which to take our ambitions for Wales forward. The restrictions on the Welsh Government's access to the reserve should be removed permanently, bringing Wales in line with Scotland. The current limits are debilitating and the fiscal framework needs to be reformed.

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1. 3. Topical Questions cy

   2. Pa asesiad y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi'i wneud o effaith economaidd cynnydd sylweddol mewn prisiau tanwydd? TQ1502

   Official English translation

   2. What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the economic impact of significant fuel price increases? TQ1502

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2. 3. Topical Questions cy

   Diolch am eich ymateb, Weinidog.

   Official English translation

   Thank you for your response, Minister.

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3. 3. Topical Questions en

   The issue is, of course, global in nature, but the impact is very much being felt locally. The price of fuel, especially diesel, is approaching an all-time high, and is already the most expensive anywhere in Europe at just under £2 per litre in many areas, but well over that in others, and there appears to be no end in sight. Welsh hauliers are reporting that this is adding many tens of thousands of pounds to their weekly fuel bills. Bus operators are reporting an increase in their fuel prices of 50 to 60 per cent since January this year. These costs cannot be absorbed indefinitely, and will eventually feed through into inflationary pressures. Throughout my constituency, many are forced to commute by car. It isn't a decision my constituents get to make, they have to drive, and they will be hit very hard by this, not only at the pumps, but in those goods and services they purchase that rely on logistics. Gweinidog, you've mentioned work with the UK Government, but given the potential impact on household incomes, inflationary pressures and economic activity across Wales, could you tell us in more detail what those discussions have been like, when they've taken place with our UK Government counterparts, and whether any assessments have been made as to the projected duration of this spike in fuel prices? I'd also be keen to know, depending on the forecast, whether any measures will need to be taken to protect households and businesses from these escalating costs. Diolch.

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4. 4. 90-second Statements en

   Tomorrow marks International Day of Older Persons, a fitting occasion to pay tribute to the array of community centres and organisations across Afan Ogwr Rhondda, and indeed the whole of Wales, that do absolutely vital work supporting older people. Today, I want to focus particularly on overcoming isolation and loneliness, the hugely important but often overlooked social determinants of health for older people. There are many community organisations in Afan Ogwr Rhondda that do life-affirming work by bringing older people together with people of all ages. They help make sure that getting older does not mean becoming isolated. In Caerau, Noddfa community centre, run by Matthew Rowlands, is at the heart of the community, offering a dizzying array of activities from fitness classes to craft sessions. I'd be remiss not to mention the Caerau Men's Shed here as well, where Phil, Gyp and everyone involved there do brilliant work. Then over to Gwynfi Miners Community Hall, where Simon is doing an unbelievable job providing a space that genuinely makes people's lives better, with walk-and-talk groups, book clubs, a gym, and much more. There's Gilfach community centre, Pen Rhondda Support Group, Treorchy Senior Citizens Club, and Action for Elders in Aberavon. I've had the privilege of seeing first-hand and hearing about the difference all of these organisations make for older people in our communities, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to live a long life while remaining connected to the people and places around them.

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5. 4. 90-second Statements cy

   Diolch iddyn nhw i gyd.

   Official English translation

   Thank you to them all.

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

   I'd also like to thank Niamh for bringing forward this important debate, and Elwyn for his support in so doing. We've heard a range of very sobering statistics and analysis today and I'd like to very briefly add to that by drawing attention to the numbers for Afan Ogwr Rhondda. There are 6,000 sites identified in Neath Port Talbot, and a further 4,600 identified in Rhondda Cynon Taf. Alongside these, there are some very troubling unknowns. Bridgend County Borough Council currently does not have, to the best of my knowledge, a public register of contaminated sites. This mosaic of differing standards of practice underscores the need for a clear national picture, as Kiera Marshall has already referenced. This brings me on to the UK Government's first comprehensive statement on forever chemicals, which was published in February. The previous Welsh Government had worked with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to develop this, with a list of indicative actions. I'd be very keen to hear from the Cabinet Minister today about the extent to which there's been collaboration on this—appreciating, of course, that there have been some disruptions, shall we say, in Westminster. The more comprehensive our understanding of contaminated land, the better able we are to prioritise action and, most importantly, protect the communities who have to live alongside this legacy. Diolch.

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1. 4. Statement by the First Minister: 'New Ambition for Wales: Programme for Government 2026-2030' cy

   Diolch am y datganiad, Brif Weinidog. Mae'n wych gweld bod codi safonau yn ein hysgolion yn un o ddyheadau allweddol y Llywodraeth hon. Ac rwy'n credu bydd hynny hefyd yn amlwg o ddatganiad y Gweinidog Cabinet dros Addysg a'r Gymraeg yr wythnos diwethaf. Mae'r cynllun llythrennedd a rhifedd sylfaenol yn cynnig cyfle gwirioneddol i gael y seilwaith yn iawn. Heb os, bydd y broses o weithredu a chyflawni canlyniadau gwell yn y pen draw yn her enfawr. Ond, fel y dywedodd Gweinidog y Cabinet yr wythnos diwethaf, ni ddylem ymddiheuro am osod safonau a disgwyliadau uchel. Mae amserlen glir ar gyfer cyflawni'r gwaith ac mae'n rhaglen uchelgeisiol. Mae'n dod ar adeg pan mae ysgolion eisoes yn delio ag anghenion disgyblion sy'n mynd yn fwyfwy cymhleth, pryderon ynghylch ymddygiad, llwyth gwaith athrawon, a heriau o ran recriwtio a chadw staff. O ystyried pwysigrwydd y cynllun a'n huchelgeisiau o ran addysg, pa gymorth pellach bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei ddarparu i athrawon ac i staff ehangach yn ystod tymor y Senedd hon er mwyn sicrhau eu bod yn cael y gefnogaeth briodol i gyflawni'r cynllun?

   Official English translation

   Thank you for your statement, First Minister. It's great to see that raising standards in our schools continues to be one of this Government's key aspirations. And I believe that this was also clear from the statement made by the Cabinet Minister for Education and the Welsh Language last week. The foundational literacy and numeracy plan offers a golden opportunity to get the infrastructure right. There's little doubt that the process of implementation and of delivering better results will be a major challenge. But, as the Cabinet Minister said last week, we must not apologise for setting our standards and our expectations high. There is a clear timetable for completing this task and it is an ambitious programme. It comes at a time when schools are already dealing with increasingly complex pupil needs, concerns regarding student behaviour, teachers' workload, and challenges in recruiting and retaining staff. Bearing in mind the plan's importance and our aspirations for education, what further support will the Welsh Government be providing to teachers and to staff more broadly during this Senedd term in order to ensure that they receive the appropriate support to deliver this plan?

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1. 6. Reform UK Debate: Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board health visitor pay dispute en

   For many families, health visitors are a vital source of support during some of the most important and sometimes most difficult periods of their lives. This is highly skilled, highly responsible clinical work, and I am concerned that there are significant safeguarding risks posed by the fact that child and family health are not being prioritised by Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board in some of the most deprived and vulnerable parts of Wales. The way in which the health visitors have been treated by the health board is utterly contemptible, and their recent social media post regarding the dispute is an example of the inflammatory and derogatory language they've used to describe the dispute. Having met and spoken to the health visitors repeatedly throughout this dispute, I know that industrial action is not taken lightly. Strike action is a last resort—it always is. But, ultimately, responsibility for resolving this dispute lies with the health board. This is a dispute of its own making, and it is for the health board to engage meaningfully with its workforce and find a resolution, and that needs to happen now. The Cabinet Minister for Health and Care has repeatedly urged the health board and Unite to come together to resolve this dispute and minimise the impact on babies, families and staff. There remains a clear commitment to encouraging positive partnership working at every level, and to seeing this dispute resolved through negotiation as soon as possible. And I find it extraordinary that Reform has suddenly tried to position itself as the party of workers' rights. Where have they been until now? If Reform genuinely believe this issue is so important, they could have been listening to the workers themselves and hearing directly about their concerns from the start of this dispute. And I know for a fact that hasn't been the case. Little wonder, maybe, from a party whose boss wants to axe the Employment Rights Act 2025 and has little regard for equality, diversity and inclusion policies. But I'll finish, Llywydd, by saying this: we stand firmly with our health visitors and we will continue to support them in this dispute. The message from us is clear: the health board must take responsibility for the situation it has created, engage meaningfully with its workforce and resolve this dispute.

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

   I'd also like to refer you to my register of interests, please. Until May, I used to work at a university in Wales, and I still have family members who work in the HE sector in Wales.

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

   Weinidog, daw’r adolygiad hwn ar adeg hollbwysig i addysg uwch yng Nghymru. Mae cylch gorchwyl yr adolygiad yn gyffrous ac yn rhoi cyfle i ni feddwl yn feiddgar ac yn greadigol am sut rydyn ni am i addysg uwch weithredu ac, yn y pen draw, gyflawni ar gyfer Cymru. Un o'r materion rydyn ni wedi'u hwynebu ers peth amser bellach yw cyflogadwyedd graddedigion ac, yn benodol, sut rydym yn sicrhau bod y sgiliau a'r cyfleoedd sydd yn cael eu datblygu drwy ein system addysg uwch yn arwain at yrfaoedd llwyddiannus yng Nghymru. Rwy'n credu bydd yr adolygiad hwn yn dwyn yr agweddau hynny ynghyd. Yn aml, mae busnesau bach a chanolig yn wynebu mwy o heriau o ran denu a recriwtio talent graddedig. Sut mae'r Gweinidog yn gweld yr adolygiad yn ein helpu ni i gysylltu ein graddedigion yn well ag anghenion a chyfleoedd busnesau Cymru, yn enwedig busnesau bach a chanolig, fel y gallwn gadw mwy o dalent graddedig yma yng Nghymru, tra hefyd yn cefnogi twf ein heconomi? Diolch.

   Official English translation

   Minister, this review comes at a vital time for higher education in Wales. The remit of the review is exciting and provides an opportunity to think boldly and creatively about how we want higher education to operate and, ultimately, deliver for Wales. One of the issues that we have faced for some time now is the employability of graduates and, specifically, how we ensure that the skills and opportunities that are developed through our higher education system lead to successful careers in Wales. I believe that this review will bring those aspects together. Often, SMEs face more challenges in terms of attracting and recruiting graduate talent. How does the Minister see the review helping us to better connect our graduates with the needs and opportunities of Welsh businesses, particularly SMEs, so that we can retain more graduate talent here in Wales, while also supporting the growth of our economy? Thank you.

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3. 6. Statement by the Cabinet Minister for Education and the Welsh Language: The Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Plan cy

   Weinidog, rwy'n croesawu'n frwd y rôl ganolog a chlir y mae'r Llywodraeth yn ei nodi ar gyfer ffoneg synthetig systematig, a bydd hynny ddim o syndod i chi, dwi'n siwr. Credaf fod uchelgais gyffredin ar draws y Senedd i weld y dull hwn yn sicrhau'r canlyniadau gorau posib i'n dysgwyr. Os ydym am wreiddio ffoneg synthetig systematig yn effeithiol ledled Cymru, fel rŷch chi wedi dweud, mae angen i ni hefyd sicrhau bod yr amodau'n iawn iddo fe lwyddo. Ac eto, fel rŷch chi wedi sôn, mae hynny'n golygu sicrhau bod gan yr athrawon yr hyder, yr hyfforddiant a'r datblygiad proffesiynol sydd eu hangen arnynt, fod gan ysgolion fynediad at adnoddau o ansawdd uchel, a bod digon o gysondeb yn y ffordd y gweithredir y dull ar draws y system. Rŷn ni wedi clywed yn eich ateb i Sam gynnau, ond dwi eisiau clywed mwy os gallaf, plîs, Weinidog, am sut mae'r Llywodraeth yn bwriadu cefnogi ysgolion a'r gweithlu addysgu wrth weithredu'r cynllun, yn enwedig o ran y disgwyliadau y bydd y Llywodraeth yn eu nodi yn y canllawiau a'r gefnogaeth fydd yn cyd-fynd â'r canllawiau newydd hynny, yn ogystal â'r asesiad o'r effaith ar y gweithlu a nodwyd yn y ddogfennaeth a dderbyniwyd heddiw. Diolch yn fawr.

   Official English translation

   Minister, I warmly welcome the more central and clear role that the Government has identified for systematic synthetic phonics, and that won't be a surprise to you, I'm sure. I believe that there is a shared ambition across the Senedd to see this approach ensuring the best possible outcomes for our learners. If we want to embed systematic synthetic phonics effectively throughout Wales, as you've said, we also need to ensure that the conditions are right for it to succeed. And again, as you've mentioned, that means ensuring that the teachers have the confidence, the training and the professional development that they need, and that schools have access to high-quality resources, and that there is sufficient consistency in the way the approach is implemented across the system. We heard in your response to Sam earlier about this, but I'd like to hear more, please, if I could, Minister, about how the Government intends to support schools and the teaching workforce in implementing the plan, particularly in terms of the expectations that the Government will set out in the guidelines and the support that will accompany those new guidelines, as well as the workforce impact assessment outlined in the documents received today. Thank you.

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

   Gweinidog, in the case of Maesteg hospital that my colleague has referenced, Llais highlighted the strength of feeling locally about retaining community bed capacity, and, indeed, you've just referenced that strength of feeling. They also emphasised the importance of continued engagement with residents as proposals develop. There remains considerable worry locally about how alternative community provision, including step-down and respite care, will be delivered in practice. I was grateful for your response earlier this month to a letter from myself and my fellow Plaid Cymru colleagues representing Afan Ogwr Rhondda, following the health board's decision to proceed with these proposals. In your reply, you noted that the Welsh Government officials would continue to engage with the health board as this work progresses. With that in mind, could you outline, please, what assurances the Welsh Government is seeking from Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board to ensure that any changes to community bed provision are supported by robust evidence, with solid working assumptions and meaningful engagement with local communities before any existing capacity is lost? Diolch.

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2. 3. Topical Questions en

   I welcome the Gweinidog's acknowledgement that improving educational outcomes requires meaningful engagement with teachers, ensuring they feel supported, valued and listened to. It is somewhat ironic that when similar pay uplifts were offered to teachers in previous years, under previous Governments, they did not attract the same level of scrutiny. For too long, Wales has faced persistent challenges in retaining teachers. If we are serious about raising standards, we must work in genuine partnership with our education workforce. Teachers are central to our education system and should be able to focus on teaching and supporting learners, rather than being overwhelmed by unnecessary pressures. Therefore, Gweinidog, at a time when teachers face growing demands and expectations, how will the Welsh Government work with teachers, unions and local authorities to ensure that the profession is properly supported, teacher well-being is prioritised and schools can attract and retain the staff they need?

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

   Diolch, Lywydd. I appreciate you squeezing me in, and thanks to Shav Taj for bringing this debate forward. I'd like to focus my hopefully more positive remarks today on a solution to many of the points raised in the motion—which, it should be said, the motion does acknowledge—the need to expand high-quality apprenticeships and vocational pathways. In particular, I'd like to touch again on the important role that junior apprenticeships and strong 14 to 19 alternative routes play in supporting young people to find the right pathway at the right time. Our success in so many areas depends on our ability to nurture a highly skilled workforce, and in many ways we have the raw material, as it were, a fantastic skills system, but a more efficient rearrangement of the nuts and bolts is required. And it must be said, the Deputy Minister's statement yesterday was a promising start in terms of providing that stability for the tertiary sector. The Government has outlined productivity as a key metric against which it will measure its success, and that might sound like an abstraction, but it's ultimately about people. It's about every young person who leaves school without a clear pathway into work, education or training. That's a missed opportunity for them, for their community, for the economy, the health service, whatever it may be. Junior apprenticeships can change that. By giving young people practical skills, confidence and a direct route into further learning or employment, they help break the cycle of becoming NEET. The results can be transformational. I mentioned in the Chamber yesterday the junior apprenticeship partnership between Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhondda and Coleg y Cymoedd, which has provided young people at risk of disengaging with a practical, supportive route that keeps them engaged in learning. And I will, Llywydd, draw Members' attention to my register of interests, noting that I am a governor at Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhondda. One learner, Alice, over time developed confidence and self-esteem, enabling her to find her voice and become increasingly independent. She's achieved GCSEs in maths, numeracy, English and science, as well as an Agored Cymru level 2 extended certificate. This is an exceptional achievement for a learner who was at risk of disengaging completely from mainstream education. Alice's story demonstrates exactly why these pathways matter, and I was glad to hear the Deputy Minister acknowledging yesterday that developing Welsh-medium alternative curriculum pathways will be a priority for this Government, as this is currently a gap in provision. Broadly, there is good practice that the Government can build on and ensure these pathways have a lasting impact in our efforts to eradicate youth unemployment.

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1. 7. Statement by the Deputy Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education: Priorities for Skills and Tertiary Education cy

   Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd. Ddirprwy Weinidog, mae bach o running theme fan hyn, mae gen i ofn. Rŷn ni'n gwybod fod prentisiaethau yn rhan graidd o bolisi ar draws y Llywodraeth ac yn cefnogi blaenoriaethau yn yr economi, iechyd, amaethyddiaeth a llawer mwy. Mae gwella mynediad at wybodaeth a chanllawiau gyrfaoedd diduedd o ansawdd uchel, fel y clywsom ni gan Kiera heno, yn rhan hanfodol o'r ecosystem sgiliau, ac mae'n rhaid inni ei gael yn iawn.

   Official English translation

   Thank you, Dirprwy Lywydd. Deputy Minister, there's a bit of a running theme here, I'm afraid. We know apprenticeships are a core pillar of policy across Government, supporting priorities in the economy, health, agriculture and much more. Improving access to high-quality, impartial careers information and guidance, as we heard from Kiera this evening, is a crucial part of the skills ecosystem, and we must get it right.

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2. 7. Statement by the Deputy Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education: Priorities for Skills and Tertiary Education cy

   Rydym am helpu pobl ifanc i wneud y dewis cywir iddynt ar yr amser iawn, ond mae yna risg bod modelau presennol yn gyrru cystadleuaeth yn anfwriadol rhwng darparwyr addysgol. Fodd bynnag, fel y clywsom ni gennych chi, mae yna hefyd enghreifftiau rhagorol o ysgolion a cholegau yn cydweithio. Mae'r bartneriaeth prentisiaethau iau rhwng Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Cwm Rhondda—ble rydw i, gyda llaw, yn is-gadeirydd y llywodraethwyr, fel y nodwyd yn fy nghofrestr buddiannau—a Choleg y Cymoedd, er enghraifft, wedi trawsnewid canlyniadau i bobl ifanc sydd mewn perygl o ddatgysylltu o addysg draddodiadol. Er enghraifft, cynyddodd disgybl o'r enw Gwenni ei phresenoldeb o dim ond 8 y cant ym mlwyddyn 10 i 70 y cant ym mlwyddyn 11. Cyflawnodd TGAU mewn mathemateg, rhifedd, Saesneg a gwyddoniaeth ochr yn ochr â thystysgrif estynedig lefel 2 Agored Cymru. Bydd hi'n symud ymlaen i gwrs celf a dylunio lefel 1 ar gampws Nantgarw Coleg y Cymoedd ym mis Medi, ac fe'i henwyd hi yn ddysgwr darpariaeth amgen y flwyddyn yng ngwobrau dysgwr y coleg eleni. O ystyried llwyddiant rhaglenni fel hyn—

   Official English translation

   We want to help young people make the right choice for them at the right time, but there is a risk that current funding models unintentionally drive competition between educational providers. However, as we heard from you, there are also excellent examples of schools and colleges working together. The junior apprenticeship partnership between Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Cwm Rhondda—where, by the way, I am vice-chair of the governors, as noted in my register of interests—and Coleg y Cymoedd, for example, has transformed outcomes for young people who are at risk of disengaging from traditional education. For example, a pupil called Gwenni increased her attendance from just 8 per cent in year 10 to 70 per cent in year 11. She achieved GCSEs in mathematics, numeracy, English and science, alongside an Agored Cymru level 2 extended certificate. She will move on to a level 1 art and design course at Coleg y Cymoedd Nantgarw campus in September, and she was named alternative provision learner of the year at the college's learner awards this year. Given the success of programmes such as this—

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

   Sut bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn gweithio gydag ysgolion, colegau a darparwyr eraill i ehangu mynediad at lwybrau galwedigaethol o ansawdd uchel i bobl ifanc 14 i 16 oed ac annog mwy o gydweithio ar draws y system? Diolch.

   Official English translation

   How will the Welsh Government work with schools, colleges and other providers to expand access to high-quality vocational pathways for 14 to 16-year-olds and encourage greater collaboration across the system? Thank you.

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4. 7. Statement by the Deputy Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education: Priorities for Skills and Tertiary Education cy

   Gwenni.

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5. 9. Debate: The First Supplementary Budget 2026-27 cy

   Diolch, Lywydd. Fel y nodwyd, dyma'r tro cyntaf i mi siarad mewn dadl yn y Cyfarfod Llawn yn rhinwedd fy rôl fel Cadeirydd Pwyllgor y Blynyddoedd Cynnar, Plant, Pobl Ifanc ac Addysg. Trafododd y pwyllgor y gyllideb atodol fel mae'n ymwneud â'n cylch gorchwyl yn ei gyfarfod cyntaf ar 8 Gorffennaf. Cytunodd y pwyllgor i ysgrifennu at y Gweinidog cyllid, a chafodd y llythyr hwnnw ei gyhoeddi ddydd Llun. Yn ystod ein trafodaethau o ran ein rhaglen waith, daeth yn amlwg bod anghenion dysgu ychwanegol yn flaenoriaeth allweddol i'r pwyllgor. Nododd y pwyllgor ei siom nad oedd dim o'r arian sy'n cael ei ddyrannu fel rhan o'r gyllideb atodol yn mynd tuag at anghenion dysgu ychwanegol fel y bu ar y pryd. Nodwyd gan aelodau'r pwyllgor bod ysgolion ac awdurdodau lleol yn wynebu pwysau ariannu sylweddol o ran anghenion dysgu ychwanegol ac mae angen mynd i'r afael â'r pwysau hynny. Gofynnodd y pwyllgor hefyd am amserlen ar gyfer y cynllun ariannu cynaliadwy tymor hwy ar gyfer anghenion dysgu ychwanegol. Hoffai'r pwyllgor fwy o eglurder ynglŷn â meysydd allweddol eraill, megis prydau ysgol am ddim, gofal plant ac iechyd plant. O ran prydau ysgol am ddim, rydym am gael eglurder ynghylch y rhagdybiaethau sy'n sail i'r niferoedd disgyblion, y gyfradd uned sy'n gysylltiedig ag ehangu'r rhaglen prydau ysgol am ddim hefyd, os gwelwch yn dda. O ran gofal plant, hoffai'r pwyllgor ddata cliriach ar y cynnydd sy'n cael ei wneud o ran cyflwyno'r 12.5 awr bresennol o ofal plant o dan raglen Dechrau'n Deg ar gyfer pob plentyn dwy oed ledled Cymru, fel y gallwn weld beth sydd eto i ddod a beth fydd y gost o'i ddarparu. Mae'r pwyllgor hefyd yn awyddus i graffu ar effaith gwariant iechyd ar blant a phobl ifanc yn benodol. Fel rhan o hyn, mae angen sicrwydd y bydd plant yn cael budd o'r cyllid ychwanegol ar gyfer yr NHS a ddyrannwyd yn y gyllideb atodol. Roedd y pwyllgor yn lled gefnogol o'r dyraniad o ran iechyd, ond hoffai ddeall effaith y buddsoddiadau ar blant yn benodol. Yn ogystal, hoffem eglurder ynghylch yr effaith a ddisgwylir ar wasanaethau ac amseroedd aros pediatrig yn sgil y buddsoddiad. Diolch.

   Official English translation

   Thank you, Llywydd. As noted, this is the first time that I have spoken in a Plenary debate in my capacity as Chair of the Early Years, Children, Young People and Education Committee. The committee discussed the supplementary budget as it relates to its remit at its first meeting on 8 July. The committee agreed to write to the Minister for finance, and that letter was published on Monday. During our discussions regarding our programme of work, it became clear that additional learning needs are a key priority for the committee. The committee noted its disappointment that none of the money allocated as part of the supplementary budget was allocated for ALN, as was the case at the time. Members of the committee noted that schools and local authorities are facing significant funding pressures in terms of ALN, and there is a need to address those pressures. The committee also asked for a timetable for the sustainable longer term funding plan for ALN. The committee would like more clarity regarding other key areas, such as free school meals, childcare and children's health. Regarding free school meals, we are seeking clarity regarding the assumptions that underpin pupil numbers and the unit rate associated with the expansion of the free school meals programme as well, please. Regarding childcare, the committee would like clearer data on the progress being made in terms of delivering the current 12.5 hours of childcare under the Flying Start programme for all two-year-olds throughout Wales, so that we can see what is left to deliver and how much this will cost. The committee is also eager to scrutinise the impact of health expenditure on children and young people specifically. As part of this, we need assurance that children will benefit from the additional funding for the NHS allocated in the supplementary budget. The committee was relatively supportive of the allocation in terms of health, but it would like to understand the impact of the investments on children specifically. In addition, we would like some clarity regarding the expected impact on paediatric services and waiting times as a result of the investment. Thank you.

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1. 9. Short Debate: Health inequalities in the south Wales coalfield en

   Can I thank Matthew for giving me a minute of his time today to speak in this debate? In a debate like this, it would be easy and entirely justified to dwell on the injustices of the past, but, while we must acknowledge that history, we also have a responsibility to look ahead. There is much that could be said, but, like Matthew, I want to focus on one aspect in particular, and it is one that Matthew has already mentioned, and it may seem a little left field, but that is the role of our town centres in supporting healthier, stronger communities. The insecurities of the post-mining economy in south Wales brought new health challenges, compounded by the degeneration of town centres that once fostered association and community, that once housed places that gave people connection and purpose. Communities have paid a high price as a result of their loss, reflected in rising levels of isolation and loneliness, as Matthew so eloquently mentioned, leading, inevitably, to poorer health outcomes. This is why the regeneration of our town centres is an economic question, but also, in part, a public health intervention. Some coalfield communities have managed to avoid the hollowing out of their town centres, and while not without their challenges, they're doing more than simply surviving. My home of Treorchy was recognised as the UK's High Street of the Year in 2020, and, awards aside, if we're serious about tackling health inequalities in our former coalfield communities, then surely we must also be serious about rebuilding the places that bring people together and restoring that culture of communal life that orbited the old industries, thereby combating loneliness and isolation. As Matthew said, again, there's plenty of local initiative and imagination, and I'm confident that our Government will provide the support to enable this generation to support improved health outcomes for our coalfield communities. Diolch.

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

   1. A wnaiff y Gweinidog Cabinet roi diweddariad ar gefnogaeth Llywodraeth Cymru i gwmnïau cydweithredol a busnesau sy'n eiddo i weithwyr? OQ64285

   Official English translation

   1. Will the Cabinet Minister provide an update on the Welsh Government's support for co-operatives and employee-owned businesses? OQ64285

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

   Diolch am eich ymateb, Weinidog.

   Official English translation

   Thank you for that response, Minister.

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

   If improving productivity is at the heart of the Government's economic agenda, then we also need to consider the business models that consistently deliver stronger performance. Recent research for the Employee Ownership Association and Ownership at Work found that employee-owned businesses are estimated to be 8 per cent to 12 per cent more productive than comparable non-employee-owned businesses on a gross value added per employee basis, and are also more likely to have increased profits over the previous five years. I've been contacted by a constituent who has been exploring the possibility of setting up an employee-owned business but has found the current landscape quite prohibitive, which raises questions about whether the system is sufficiently geared to wider adoption of this model. As the Government develops its support infrastructure for social enterprise, co-operatives and employee-owned businesses, will it look at how existing financial and business support can be reconfigured to better support employee ownership and unlock its productivity benefits? Diolch.

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4. 8. Welsh Labour Debate: Funding for additional learning needs in the first Supplementary Budget 2026-27 en

   We can all agree in this Siambr that improving the situation for children and young people with additional learning needs is crucial, and that these children and young people deserve the best support we can offer. Further, as many Members will know and as someone with significant lived experience of ALN, I am personally and acutely aware that improving the current system and support is critical, and this is why it's important that we look at how best to do this, how we can change the structures of ALN support and not just provide more sticking-plaster solutions. Our children and young people deserve that. Therefore, I welcome Lynne Neagle bringing this debate on such an important topic forward, and I thank you, Lynne, for your constant championing of education and specifically ALN. However, it is important that we are clear about this issue. Some of the opposition have tried to frame the Government's plans as taking money away from ALN, but this is not true. ALN will not receive a penny less from the supplementary budget. Thanks to Plaid Cymru, we have secured an additional £113 million of funding for local government to support the growing demand on their services, including ALN. However, we know that there are still growing pressures and that further work is needed to ensure the long-term stability of local authorities, including a lasting and sustainable change to the way we support those with ALN. We need a new approach that focuses on the long-term sustainability of the sector, which alleviates the pressure not just for the present, but also for the future. We need an approach that sees the outcomes of our work as the goal and not just the headlines of the amount spent. It is clear that we need a different way forward, one that ensures long-term sustainability, working with key stakeholders and partners to ensure the best outcomes for the benefit of those that need it. We must look past the immediate supplementary budget towards the Cymru we want to see, a Cymru that truly and meaningfully supports those with ALN. Diolch.

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1. 1. Questions to the First Minister cy

   6. A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am adolygiad Llywodraeth Cymru o addysg uwch? OQ64284

   Official English translation

   6. Will the First Minister provide an update on the Welsh Government’s review of higher education? OQ64284

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2. 1. Questions to the First Minister cy

   Diolch am yr ymateb, Brif Weinidog. Rydym i gyd yn y Siambr hon yn gwybod bod addysg uwch yng Nghymru yn wynebu heriau ariannol sylweddol am nifer o resymau, tra bod y gyfran o bobl 18 oed sy'n dewis mynd i'r brifysgol yn parhau i ostwng. Mae data diweddar UCAS yn dangos bod y gyfradd mynediad i addysg uwch yng Nghymru ar ei lefel isaf ers degawd. Fy etholaeth i, Afan Ogwr Rhondda, sydd â'r bwlch cyfranogiad mwyaf o unrhyw etholaeth yng Nghymru, sy'n sefyllfa go ddifrifol y mae'r Llywodraeth hon wedi ei hetifeddu. Sut bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn sicrhau bod mynd i'r afael â'r bwlch cyfranogiad rhwng dysgwyr o gymunedau mwyaf a lleiaf difreintiedig Cymru yn rhan ganolog o'r adolygiad sector eang o addysg uwch?

   Official English translation

   Thank you for that response, First Minister. We all in this Chamber know that higher education in Wales faces significant financial challenges for a number of reasons, while the proportion of those aged 18 choosing to go to university continues to decrease. Recent data from UCAS shows that the access rates in Wales for higher education are at their lowest level for a decade. My constituency, Afan Ogwr Rhondda, has the largest participation gap of any constituency in Wales, which is a very serious situation that this Government has inherited. How will the Welsh Government ensure that tackling this participation gap between learners from the most and least deprived areas of Wales are a central part of this sector-wide review of higher education?

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3. 3. Business Statement and Announcement en

   Trefnydd, I would like to request a statement from the Deputy Minister for Transport on local bus provision in the Ogmore Valley, particularly the restoration of services to the Caedu and Stormy Lane areas, as well as proposals to extend evening runs. Since the reorganisation of the network in 2019, residents have been left without a regular bus service, impacting many older residents, disabled people and families with young children. There's also a strong case for extending the current evening timetable. The last departure from Bridgend to Nantymoel is currently around 8.30 in the evening, limiting access to evening employment, leisure and onward rail connections. As the Welsh Government develops proposals for improved north-south coach services and progresses bus franchising, these improvements must be matched by stronger local feeder bus services. A statement outlining how the Welsh Government will work with local authorities to restore those local routes and feeder services would be greatly welcomed. Diolch.

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1. 4. 90-second Statements en

   I'm very pleased to speak today to mark the unveiling of a new statue celebrating the life and legacy of Elizabeth Andrews, one of Wales's most remarkable political activists and champions of social justice. Tomorrow, at Rhondda Heritage Park in Trehafod, a statue created by sculptor Billy Bond will be unveiled as the fifth and final monument installed by the Monumental Welsh Women campaign to honour those Welsh women whose contributions have too often been overlooked. Born into poverty in Hirwaun as the seventh of 11 children in a mining family, Elizabeth Andrews left school at 13 to help support her family. Arguably because of those circumstances, she became a pioneering internationalist, suffragist and socialist who dedicated her life to improving the lives of working-class women, children and families across Wales. She helped women exercise their newly won right to vote, she campaigned tirelessly for better maternity and childcare provision, helped establish one of Wales's earliest nursery schools and led the successful campaign for pithead baths, transforming conditions for mining families. She also gave evidence to a royal commission on mining, highlighting the impact of the industry on family life and played a pivotal role in supporting communities through the hardships of the 1926 lockout. Elizabeth Andrews understood that social justice begins with giving a voice to those too often unheard. This statue is a fitting tribute to a woman whose work changed lives and whose example continues to inspire us today. Diolch.

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2. 7. Reform UK Debate: A Welsh Rivers Act en

   The state of our rivers, lakes and seas is one of the most pressing environmental challenges facing Wales today. Communities across the country have watched waterways deteriorate, while confidence in the bodies responsible for protecting them has steadily eroded. Plaid Cymru has long argued that the current system is not delivering for the people of Wales. We have consistently called for the establishment of a new Wales-specific regulatory body for water, one that is capable of holding water companies properly to account, driving up environmental standards and ensuring better value for money for customers. The evidence before us demonstrates why that reform is urgently needed, and we've heard from other Members this afternoon. After years of increasing water bills, well over 100,000 people in Wales live in water poverty. Customers pay more; Welsh waterways continue to suffer. Last year alone, there were more than 100,000 sewage discharges into Welsh rivers and waterways. Dŵr Cymru has failed to buck that trend. We have a water company that is falling short on multiple fronts, while the public are left wondering why they're paying more and receiving less. At the same time, there are documented failings within Natural Resources Wales. While many dedicated staff work hard within the organisation, it is clear that the regulatory system is not functioning as effectively as it should. As we've heard, too often pollution incidents have come to public attention not because regulators identified and acted upon them, but because local campaigners and community groups carried out investigations themselves. For too long, the discharge of sewage into our rivers was only being exposed because local people were prepared to do the work that others should have been doing. It is therefore welcome that this Government is proposing meaningful reform and is prepared to do the hard yards necessary to restore confidence in the system and protect our waterways. Last month, I met with A Peace for Nature and heard directly about the devastating impact pollution is having on local ecosystems. The situation at Afon Cynffig in my constituency is a stark example. After repeated sewage discharges from the Marlas sewage pumping station polluted the river, residents reported unpleasant odours—and that's a euphemism—discoloured waterways and damage to fish and wildlife in an area that runs through the Kenfig national nature reserve, one of Wales's most important conservation sites as a site of special scientific interest. A Peace for Nature said it was one of the worst pollution incidents they have ever seen, and I witnessed it onsite myself. No community should have to tolerate conditions like this, and no nationally important conservation site should be subjected to repeated pollution. The people of Wales are rightly frustrated. They are paying more, seeing sewage pollution continue, and questioning whether those responsible are being held to account. This Government offers a path towards rebuilding trust and delivering the transformative change that our rivers and communities so desperately need by protecting our rivers, by taking control of water in Wales, reforming regulatory oversight, strengthening accountability of water companies, and driving improvements in environmental performance in our rivers, lakes and seas. Diolch.

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3. 7. Reform UK Debate: A Welsh Rivers Act en

   Thank you, Ben. I think I recall, from last Friday evening, that there was a call for nationalisation, rather than legislation specifically.

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1. 2. Business Statement and Announcement cy

   Drefnydd, mae'n fater sydd wedi codi eisoes heddiw, ond, os gwelwch yn dda, hoffwn ofyn am ddatganiad gan y Llywodraeth ar yr amserlen ddisgwyliedig ar gyfer adolygu'r Mesur teithio gan ddysgwyr. Mae'r ymrwymiad i adolygu'r Mesur ac i weithio gydag awdurdodau lleol o ran cludiant ysgol i'w groesawu, ac mae'n dod ar ôl cyfnod hir o'r Llywodraeth Llafur flaenorol yn llusgo'u traed ar y mater. Mewn ymateb i ymgynghoriad y Llywodraeth flaenorol ar ganllawiau gweithredol, daeth 74 y cant o'r ymatebion o ardal Rhondda Cynon Taf, fel y gwyddoch chi, sy'n tanlinellu cryfder y teimladau ar y mater hwn mewn rhannau o'm hetholaeth. Mae hwn yn fater yr oedd Aelodau wedi'i godi ar ddechrau tymor blaenorol y Senedd yn 2021. Yn y cyfamser, mae llawer o ddysgwyr mewn sefyllfaoedd lle mae'n rhaid iddynt gerdded am dros awr ym mhob tywydd, yn aml ar hyd llwybrau nad ydynt yn gwbl ddiogel, er mwyn cael mynediad at eu haddysg. Rwy'n gwybod bod cynnydd ar y gweill, ond byddai llawer o etholwyr, serch hynny, yn croesawu mwy o eglurder ar yr amserlen ddisgwyliedig ar gyfer cwblhau'r adolygiad a pha mor gyflym y gellir gweithredu unrhyw newidiadau sy'n deillio o hynny. Diolch.

   Official English translation

   Trefnydd, it's an issue that's already been raised today, but I would like to ask for a statement from the Government on the expected timetable for the review of the learner travel Measure. The commitment to review the Measure and to work with local authorities in terms of school transport is to be welcomed, and it comes after a lengthy period of the previous Labour Government dragging its feet on this issue. In response to Government consultation on operational guidance, 74 per cent of respondents were from the RCT area, as you will know, which underlines the strength of feeling on this issue in parts of my constituency. This is an issue that Members had raised at the start of the previous Senedd term in 2021. In the meantime, many learners are in a position where they have to walk for over an hour in all weathers, often along routes that are not entirely safe, in order to access their education. Now, I know that progress is in the pipeline, but many constituents, however, would like greater clarity on the expected timetable for completing the review and how swiftly any changes emerging from that can be implemented. Thank you.

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2. 3. Statement by the Cabinet Minister for Government Effectiveness and the Constitution: Priorities for Government Effectiveness and Constitution cy

   Diolch am y datganiad heddiw, Weinidog.

   Official English translation

   Thank you for today's statement, Minister.

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

   It's no secret that the immense potential of Welsh land and the sea bed represents a genuine opportunity to reshape the long-term economic geography of Wales. However, a further fundamental question remains: who ultimately controls the levers that determine how these assets are developed, how they're managed and, crucially, how the value they generate is distributed? That is why the devolution of the Crown Estate is such an important issue. Plaid Cymru's long-standing and consistent commitment to this is well known, now supported by all 22 local authorities in Wales, of course. There is no reason why people in Wales should not benefit from their nation's natural wealth in the same way as people in Scotland, where management of the Crown Estate is devolved.  Plaid Cymru has repeatedly made it clear that this will be treated with the firmness it deserves, with a mandate now to open negotiations with the UK Government. And that clarity of intent underscores the urgency of the case being made.  Against a backdrop of significant historical windfalls from recent offshore wind licensing, and in light of this Government's intention to begin negotiations from day one, I would be grateful if the Cabinet Minister could set out how the new Welsh Government intends to engage with the manifesto commitments in practice. And in particular, how is the Government preparing to ensure that Wales is in the strongest possible position to advance these discussions with the UK Government at a time of ongoing political turbulence in Westminster?

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1. 1. Questions to the First Minister cy

   7. Pa gamau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i hyrwyddo dull trawslywodraethol o wella canlyniadau i bobl niwroamrywiol? OQ64164

   Official English translation

   7. What action is the Welsh Government taking to promote a cross-government approach to improving outcomes for neurodivergent people? OQ64164

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2. 1. Questions to the First Minister cy

   Diolch am eich ymateb, Brif Weinidog. Un o'r pethau sy'n fy nharo wrth siarad â phobl niwroamrywiol, eu teuluoedd a darparwyr arbenigol yw mai'n anaml y mae profiad o wasanaethau cyhoeddus wedi'i gyfyngu i un adran neu wasanaeth, ac maent yn dweud wrthyf yn barhaus fod symiau sylweddol wedi'u buddsoddi dros nifer o flynyddoedd ar draws gwahanol rannau o'r system, ond maen nhw i gyd yn gytûn nid yw'r canlyniadau wedi gwella cymaint ag y disgwyliwyd, ac nid yw'r gwasanaethau wedi'u hintegreiddio ar draws meysydd. Gyda hynny mewn golwg, sut mae Gweinidogion yn gweithio ar y cyd i sicrhau bod penderfyniadau ariannu a dylunio gwasanaethau niwrowahaniaeth i gyd yn tynnu i'r un cyfeiriad? Diolch.

   Official English translation

   Thank you for that response, First Minister. One of the things that strikes me in speaking to neurodivergent people, their families and specialist providers is that very rarely is their experience of public service limited to one department or to one service, and they tell me time and again that significant sums have been invested over a number of years across different parts of the system, but they are all agreed that the outcomes haven't improved as much as expected, and the services aren't integrated across different areas. With that in mind, how are Ministers working together to ensure that funding and service-design decisions for neurodiversity are all pulling in the same direction? Thank you.

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

   Gweinidog, you mentioned local issues. You may be aware of the significant fly-tipping incident on the Bwlch mountain recently, where what has been described as a river of rubbish was illegally dumped down the mountainside. The clearance operation, which took place recently, required a 12-hour specialist rope-access response involving Rhondda Cynon Taf council and the Central Beacons Mountain Rescue Team. I'd like to put on record my sincere thanks to the volunteers and council officers involved for their exceptional work. This incident highlights the considerable operational and financial pressures placed on local authorities when responding to large-scale environmental crime in challenging terrain, alongside wider systemic pressures on enforcement capacity. Welsh Government data shows fly-tipping incidents have increased, which suggests that deterrence measures are not yet reversing the overall trend. I'm mindful that it's very early days for this new Welsh Government still, but I'd be grateful to hear the Cabinet Minister's views on the balance between reactive expenditure on clean-up operations and preventative enforcement activity, and whether the Welsh Government is considering further measures to strengthen the polluter-pays principle, so that enforcement results in a greater proportion of prosecutions relative to the number of incidents, and that this becomes more cost neutral for public bodies. Diolch.

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2. 6. Welsh Labour Debate: School support staff negotiating body en

   I will need to declare an interest for this debate, as my son has been accepted onto a teaching assistant training course from September. I welcome the opportunity to talk about this highly important topic today. School support staff are crucial to how our schools function and are overlooked far too often, especially ALN support staff, as the Member mentioned. I have seen first-hand the invaluable work that ALN support staff do on a daily basis to help children like mine, and it is vital that they, in turn, get the support they deserve. Plaid Cymru has long been on the side of those in the education sector, with the recent pay uplift for the lowest paid teaching assistants only being possible as a result of our deal with the previous Welsh Labour Government on the 2026-27 budget. Pay is, of course, important to supporting staff and is necessary to address, but we need to set this is the current confines of the budget. To achieve our aims, it is vital that we have a Government that will stand up for Wales and fight for a fairer funding formula. With local authorities having the responsibility for setting pay for support staff, ensuring that Wales receives its fair share is crucial to give support staff the funding they deserve.  However, this is not simply a matter of increasing pay. Teaching support staff are facing increasing workload and are dealing with a range of complex issues, including safeguarding issues, on a daily basis, and therefore more stress. I welcome Plaid Cymru's commitment to supporting and working in partnership with our education workforce, ensuring that teaching as a whole is a respective, attractive and rewarding career. This topic needs to receive the care and consideration it deserves, and the Government must consider a range of avenues to supporting this crucial workforce. Diolch.

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1. 2. Business Statement and Announcement en

   Trefnydd, I'd like to request a written statement from the Cabinet Minister for Health and Care regarding the ongoing industrial action being taken by health visitors within Cwm Taf Morganwg University Health Board. I won't rehearse the full background of the dispute today as I know that the Welsh Government is acutely aware of both the circumstances that have led to this dispute and the current position. I'm receiving frequent messages from health visitors in my constituency who are desperate to return to work. They urgently want this dispute resolved, and the prospect of having to re-ballot would be deeply regrettable. I appreciate that the Cabinet Minister is dealing with an array of pressing priorities, especially so during the establishment of a new Government. However, this is a matter that, it seems to me, could be easily resolved. We have been informed that the health board has indicated during ACAS meetings that this is not a financial issue; the funding is there to resolve this. It is difficult to understand, therefore, what is preventing a resolution. Can the Cabinet Minister provide an update on the matter, as we seek to ensure a resolution as soon as possible to this dispute? Diolch yn fawr.

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1. 5. Statement by the Cabinet Minister for Health and Care: Health and Care Priorities en

   We know that primary care is often the first point of contact with our NHS, yet, across Wales, GP services have faced significant pressures for many years, particularly around recruitment, retention and long-term sustainability. In my constituency, communities have faced real uncertainty following threats to local practices, driven largely by difficulties recruiting and retaining GPs. Recent statistics show that Wales has once again seen a reduction in both the number of fully qualified GPs and the number of practices over the past year, while organisations, including the Royal College of General Practitioners and the British Medical Association, have warned that GP retention is now one of the most urgent challenges facing NHS Wales. I therefore welcome this Government's commitment to strengthen GP services. Cabinet Minister, will you outline what measures will help stabilise GP services, support recruitment and retention, and ensure that communities across Wales can continue to access local primary care services? Diolch.

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