Steven Rodaway

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

   Thank you, Mike, for the question. Improving further education in Swansea must mean providing the skills local industry needs. Employers need courses shaped around their businesses, reliable partnerships with colleges and practical help. For a small business, taking on an apprentice requires a financial and resource-heavy commitment. Announcing an audit does nothing on its own to meet these costs. Since your Government took office, another group of young people have left school hoping to secure an apprenticeship and employment. Employers need immediate funding. Your manifesto promises better use of existing city and regional growth deal funding to support apprenticeships. Your Government is happy to waste our money to fund international projects like tree planting in Uganda, but it seems Welsh employers are being left to shoulder apprenticeship costs. These are our young people, they are our future. What new funding has Plaid made available to help businesses, particularly smaller employers, take on apprentices?

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

   I am proud to be Welsh, proud to be British, and unapologetic in defending our culture. In Britain we show our faces. It builds trust and, more importantly, it keeps us safe. In certain Islamic countries, under Islamic law, girls from puberty must cover their faces, and some countries will arrest females above the age of nine for showing too much hair. Whether balaclava or burqa, face coverings have no place on our streets here in Wales. It is oppressive, and it is a risk to Welsh public safety. We have written to the First Minister urging him to make a much-needed representation to the UK Government. This summer, the Prime Minister and the First Minister managed to meet together to ban the barbecue. While those on the left want us to ban the barbecue, we in Reform want to ban the burqa, or the balaclava. Face coverings are incompatible with our British way of life. It is an outright betrayal of the dignity and freedom of women. Beyond this, we must look at banning cousin marriages and address religious attitudes towards women and homosexuals. Women's freedom and their safety here in Wales deserve urgency, which is why we must, at the very first possible opportunity, ban face coverings in public, and I urge every Member across this house to support this motion. Thank you.

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1. 1. Questions to the First Minister en

   First Minister, once an annual health check identifies a need, responsibility should not fall on the individual to fight for treatment. People with learning disabilities need a clear, funded pathway to further tests, specialist assessment and treatment. Welsh Labour's Lynne Neagle cited £550 million over three years from Westminster for ALN. We know not all this money will be allocated to ALN, and much will go to other manifesto commitments and pledges. Last week, your finance Minister didn't, couldn't or wouldn't answer my question on Cynnal, but delivered another Plaid word salad with no answers. Show some transparency on what the rest of the £550 million is being used for. Will it support treatment protocols for people with learning disabilities? If not, please identify the specific NHS budget that funds this pathway. Thank you.

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2. 3. Business Statement and Announcement en

   Thank you, Llywydd. Trefnydd, at a recent meeting, I heard that delays over Morriston Hospital's access road are holding back proposals for a proposed new emergency department. We understand that much of the planning sits with local government, but where is the ministerial leadership? What has Plaid done to bring the health board, the planning authority, and Natural Resources Wales around one table, agree what remains outstanding for major projects, and set deadlines for resolving them? Delays have consequences beyond the hospital. Construction work means jobs and spending with local suppliers. Every delay postpones these benefits. The local economy needs investment moving, not paperwork circulating. Plaid promised tangible action from day one. One hundred and sixty-one days later, where is that action for Morriston? Your delivery efforts appear to need resuscitation, just like those of your Labour predecessors, who are now your partners in this cozy budget deal.  Will the Minister schedule a statement setting out the meetings Ministers have convened, the obstacles still outstanding, and a clear timetable for action? The NHS, its patients, and my constituents need action. Thank you.

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

   Minister, Labour rejected your supplementary budget in July. Mark Drakeford suggested that they should have accepted the deal. And now, Labour and Plaid have reached an agreement. The old band is back together, playing live on the stage of failed promises. [Interruption.] Your defeated budget proposed £2 million for Cynnal payments, but up to 15,000 children could be affected, and that would cost £7.8 million over a year before administration costs. As recently as 7 October, you were still seeking safeguards from HM Revenue and Customs and the Department for Work and Pensions to prevent families losing out through tax or reduced benefits. It's good to hear your statement, but why on earth announce financial help before securing the protections needed to ensure recipients actually benefit? That looks short-sighted and publicity-seeking. Does this risk become another disingenuous Plaid manifesto promise scuppered by inadequate preparation and uncertainty over funding? Minister, does your agreement with Labour fund the financial support needed to deliver Cynnal from the first payment and beyond the original £2 million budget? Thank you.

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

   7. Pa gynlluniau sydd gan Lywodraeth Cymru i gefnogi gwaith adeiladu tai yng Ngŵyr Abertawe? OQ64671

   Official English translation

   7. What plans does the Welsh Government have to support housebuilding in Gŵyr Abertawe? OQ64671

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

   Thank you, Minister. Minister, your Government promised 20,000 additional social homes by 2030, despite Wales's nation of sanctuary and Swansea's city of sanctuary status potentially drawing further claimants into our lands, and you just said that we do not have enough social housing. My understanding is that Swansea Council does not collect immigration status data for social housing applicants. I consider that remiss. I was also surprised that you said that you were not sure why we would collect that data. The people of Swansea and Wales deserve transparency to understand the full scale of the situation. Will your Government take concrete action to close this unacceptable void in the data and publish clear comparisons of social housing allocations and waiting times for established local residents versus newly arrived people and how crucial allocation decisions are made?

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3. 7. Reform UK Debate: Regional rugby en

   We support the Ospreys. We support keeping all four professional rugby teams in Wales. We want this Plaid Government to fight for them. Saving the Ospreys should never mean sacrificing the Scarlets. We want the Ospreys, the Scarlets, Cardiff and the Dragons to have a future—a sustainable future. Our motion asks the Government to protect all four regions. Plaid's amendments, as usual, are wishy-washy and remove that commitment. Exhaustingly, it talks about discussions, evidence and concerns, but crucially, does not call for all four teams to stay. Minister, why take that commitment out? You've written five points without answering one simple question: do you want to keep all four teams? That should not require another meeting. Surely Ministers can tell us what outcome they're working towards, or are they, like Pontius Pilate, washing their hands of a situation? If the answer is four teams, say so and support our motion. If it's three, explain to the communities affected why the Welsh Government is prepared to accept that. The Minister has met the WRU and raised concerns; we acknowledge that, but what have those meetings achieved? If there were prizes for holding meetings, this Government would need a bigger trophy cabinet. Meanwhile, local businesses need customers. Picture a match weekend: supporters booking rooms, buying meals, visiting pubs and taking taxis—spending money in the local economy. That spending can help pay wages and keep businesses going. If a professional team disappears, what happens to that trade? Will visiting supporters still come? Will they book hotel rooms? Will they spend in our hospitality businesses?

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4. 7. Reform UK Debate: Regional rugby en

   Thank you, Deputy Llywydd. Before any team loses its licence, we need answers. When asked about economic consequences on 15 September, the Minister referred to business rate support and concerns she had raised. Her answer gave no timetable for a Government impact assessment. Business rate support is welcome, but a pub needs customers. Ministers should work with councils and businesses to scope what would be lost and how to protect local jobs. These are real businesses, run by people who need to plan ahead. They deserve practical help before decisions are made, while alternative action remains possible. There is public investment at stake as well. Has this even been taken into account? Swansea Council, as stated by Louise, has invested £5.1 million—that's £5.1 million—in the redevelopment of St Helen's for the Ospreys' professional rugby and community use. What happens to their plans if the Ospreys lose their professional licence before those plans and opportunities for income generation have been realised? Ministers should be asking that question now. The ground will have community uses, and this matters. How will the Government's preventative health agenda through sport be maximised with the potential loss and uncertainty around the professional team? We need to understand how uncertainty affects business confidence and investment, the stadium's income, its future use, the current sunk costs and, of course, the benefits promised to local people. We recognise the WRU's financial problems. It says it cannot fund four competitive teams beyond 2028, but it is also making a series of financial choices. We want to see properly funded options, with clear figures and commitments. Every proposal should explain its costs, its risks, where the money comes from. The same standard should apply to a plan for three teams as well as for four. Let independent experts examine it, let supporters see the reasoning. Any reorganisation of such scale and such significance should be open to try and bring along public and stakeholder opinion. This is blatantly something the WRU has failed to do. All I see, as John said, is alienation and despair. The WRU does make its own decisions, but it is the responsibility of a competent Government to challenge them, especially where jobs, livelihoods and one of the pillars of our nation are under threat. Nobody is asking the Minister to pick the team; we are asking her to fight for the teams we have. The licensing process is due to begin in December. There is still time to act if the Government pulls its finger out. Bring the WRU, all four teams, councils, supporters and businesses together. Examine options, including a funded plan to retain four teams. Assess the consequences for local jobs and communities, and give businesses a voice in that work. Ask the hotelier, the publican, the restaurant owner what match weekends actually mean to them. Their livelihoods deserve more than a passing mention in a discussion about rugby. Government should listen to these answers and explain how they will shape its response, before the licensing decisions have been made, then report with clear actions and deadlines. Minister, supporters have made their position clear. It is now time for the Government to do the same. We support the Ospreys. We support all four teams. Plaid, while in opposition, said that the WRU risk losing the soul of Welsh rugby. Give us the commitment to their future and a plan to help secure it. Support the motion. Thank you.

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

   Thank you, Llywydd.

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

   11. Pa drafodaethau y mae'r Gweinidog Cabinet wedi'u cael gyda Gweinidog Plismona y DU ac Ysgrifennydd Gwladol Cymru ynglŷn â datganoli plismona? OQ64634

   Official English translation

   11. What discussions has the Cabinet Minister had with the UK Minister for Policing and the Secretary of State for Wales regarding the devolution of policing? OQ64634

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

   Thank you. Minister, your Government's supplementary budget was recently defeated. Your finance Minister then wrote 'we must avoid creating additional spending obligations where the funding position has yet to be agreed.' Before seeking more policing powers, your Government should demonstrate that it can deliver with the powers it already holds. Education is devolved, yet Wales has the worst Programme for International Student Assessment scores in the United Kingdom. Your Government is also struggling with other existing responsibilities, such as cutting NHS waiting lists. Your own statistics show that the number of pathways waiting for treatment increased between June and July, with two-year waits also rising. Those are delivery problems under responsibilities you already hold. And yet, with all these current issues the Government is struggling with, surprisingly, you seek additional devolved powers for policing. Money doesn't grow on trees, although our previous Welsh Government seemed to test that theory in Uganda. Given your record of failings, what evidence do you have that this Government can deliver if policing is devolved? Thank you.

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4. 3. Business Statement and Announcement en

   Minister, I would like an urgent statement on who is holding the Welsh Ambulance Services University NHS Trust to account for electrification and decarbonisation spending. My freedom of information request remains unanswered. Financial information requested before our future meeting is being withheld. This is public money, and that is unacceptable. Is this yet another expensive vanity project with little obvious tangible benefits to patients? Where's the funded plan? What evidence shows this spending will cut response times, deliver life-saving treatment sooner and save lives, or will this ultimately cost lives on the altar of decarbonisation? Can the Minister guarantee those improvements? If so, show the Chamber credible evidence from an independent body. If the ambulance service persists with this project, will the Minister restore the previous response time measure alongside current reporting so that the public can accurately judge performance? Saving lives must be the measure of success. Thank you.

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

   This links back to the Member's question, but I want to go a bit more local. The Welsh Water treatment works in Gowerton serves around 58,000 constituents across Gŵyr Abertawe. However, concerns have been raised that proposed housing developments in Gowerton and surrounding areas could place unsustainable pressure on waste water networks and storage capacity. Natural Resources Wales has already suspended major developments due to rising nitrate levels in the Loughor estuary. Also, local residents, through Save Gowerton from Gridlock, have warned that the proposed 216-home development would exacerbate traffic congestion on Victoria Road.  What action is the Welsh Government taking to address the concerns identified by NRW and Welsh Water, and to ensure that essential infrastructure in Gowerton is not overwhelmed and that further damage is not caused to our waterways?

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2. 7. Welsh Conservatives Debate: The defence sector en

   As a veteran myself, I have to say I am thankful to our defence industry, which allows us to operate in dangerous environments efficiently, effectively and safely. I have to say I'm somewhat baffled by some of the arguments I've heard on Plaid's side of the Chamber. It's bizarre. So, I want to support a motion that allows Wales to build more, make more and win more of the skilled work that helps keep this country safe. I want a young person leaving school to see a future in Welsh engineering. I want graduates to have the opportunity to remain in Wales, and I want Welsh businesses competing for defence contracts to believe they have a Government that is firmly behind them. There is nothing shameful about earning a living helping Britain to defend itself. Our engineers, our manufacturers and our apprentices deserve respect. Being proud of Wales should mean being ambitious for the people who work here. Defence is reserved to the United Kingdom Government. The Senedd does not direct our armed forces or control the MOD's procurement programmes. But Welsh Ministers have a responsibility for education, training and business support. Those powers matter. Use them properly and we can help Welsh firms compete. Use them badly and we risk putting obstacles in their way. Reform's Welsh manifesto already commits to expanding high-quality technical education and apprenticeships and working with employers to match training to the needs of the Welsh economy. This is a commitment I want applied to the opportunities in defence. Bring defence employers and higher education closer together. Give school leavers a route into skilled work, graduates an opportunity to build their careers here, and experienced workers the chance to retrain. On 20 February, the UK Government and Wales Office announced their intention to work collaboratively to establish a defence technical excellence college in Wales by September 2027. What's the location? Is it in Swansea? Please say it is. But wherever it is based, we need a clear delivery plan. What funding has been agreed? Is September 2027 still achievable? How will the college work with defence employers? When can students find out what they can study and how to apply? For somebody considering a career in defence, those are details that matter. They should be able to see a route from training into employment here in Wales. The same practical approach is needed for smaller businesses. A Welsh firm with the skills to produce to a military specification should have a fair opportunity to win the work. There should be support to help it prepare a bid, help it to meet the security requirements, and help to put it in contact with the MOD and major defence contractors awarding work. Give them a clear pathway, then show us whether that support is helping Welsh businesses win contracts and take on staff. Reform would introduce a Welsh industrial strategy built around secure, affordable energy, as our manifesto commits. I want defence manufacturers and their suppliers included in that ambition, with opportunities to invest, expand and employ more people. That brings me to the Government's proposed ethical framework. On 22 September the Minister said that, wherever legally and practically possible, the new Welsh Government investment support decisions for defence activity should not be finalised until the framework is published and its implementation considered. Existing contractual commitments remain unaffected. Discussions can continue. Decisions needed sooner can go to the First Minister. I have to agree with Darren Millar, as, I have to say, asking businesses to wait while the rules are being developed is the wrong signal to industry. Before committing to expansion and recruitment, employers need to understand the conditions attached to that support. Minister, a company deciding where to invest needs an answer. An order book cannot be organised around your consultation timetable. Set clear standards and, in doing so, explain what this approach will achieve and how you will prevent avoidable delays. Plaid talks about standing up for Wales. Here's the opportunity to demonstrate it. Give Welsh employers clarity and Welsh workers a fair chance of securing the next investment. A Reform Government would be fearless in its support for the Welsh defence industry. We should equally be focused about the weapons and civilian harms. Some weapons are restricted in their use. Others are prohibited because of their effects. With weapon systems, how they are deployed and used matters enormously. The UK's export licensing criteria already address the risk of equipment being used to commit or facilitate serious violations of international humanitarian law. Welsh Ministers need to explain what their framework will add and why that benefit justifies any further bureaucracy, administration and expense. Delays could encourage businesses to invest elsewhere. I can't say this framework hasn't already cost Welsh jobs. I can demand that Ministers assess the risk to investment and employment. Welsh workers deserve to know that their livelihoods are being properly considered. I want Wales to play a confident part in a strong United Kingdom, with skilled people making equipment we can rely on and businesses capable of competing for work. I want this motion to lead to apprenticeships someone can apply for, a contract a Welsh business can bid for and a stronger Welsh defence industry. Deliver the training, help firms win contracts and give investors clear answers—

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3. 7. Welsh Conservatives Debate: The defence sector en

   This is the last sentence. Our ambition should be Welsh apprentices qualifying, Welsh factories securing orders and Welsh families building their futures here. This is the opportunity before us, this Government should be getting on and delivering it. Thank you.

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1. 1. Questions to the First Minister en

   First Minister, it's good to hear that you are commissioning a review, but this Chamber would like to understand that the confidence of your Government in this site must rest on a credible commercial case, which the public actually needs to understand. The additional proposed data centre and energy park may promise local jobs, but these benefits cannot justify an indefinite dependence on taxpayer-funded grants. After more than four months in office, your Government should be able to demonstrate how and when the development will attract private capital and generate a sufficient income to support itself. How will you make any further development conditional on a financially self-supporting business plan that delivers measurable local benefits without further taxpayer-funded grants to GCRE or participating companies? Thank you.

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1. 1. Questions to the First Minister cy

   11. Pa gymorth a ddarparwyd gan Lywodraeth Cymru i ysgolion o ran cyflwyno'r Cwricwlwm i Gymru yn ystod ei 100 diwrnod cyntaf mewn grym? OQ64475

   Official English translation

   11. What support did the Welsh Government provide to schools to deliver the Curriculum for Wales during its first 100 days in office? OQ64475

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2. 1. Questions to the First Minister en

   First Minister, relationships and sexuality education, RSE, is mandatory for every learner aged three to 16, and, bizarrely, no Government opt-out is available for parents wishing to withdraw their children. That places an exceptional duty on your Government to ensure it is delivered consistently, sensitively and by properly trained staff. Yet Estyn's review found limited specialist development, lower staff confidence in teaching sensitive aspects of RSE and inconsistent local authority support, while schools remain responsible for designing their own RSE curriculum within the Government's mandatory code. If RSE is too important for parents to opt out, surely the Government cannot opt out of its duty. Estyn's findings represent a serious failure to fulfil that duty. The Government's failure to fulfil its duty to parents and children needs immediate rectification. As you cannot guarantee consistent provision, will you give responsibility back to parents to allow an opt-out, particularly for very young children?

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3. 2. Business Statement and Announcement en

   I requested a statement on support for businesses that could be facing the loss of a professional rugby region. The Minister's answer to my written question confirms that the Welsh Government has undertaken no assessment of the economic or community impact, which I find surprising. The justification: the WRU is independent. That does not release this Government from its responsibility to the Welsh economy, businesses and hospitality sector. What is the Government offering the pubs, cafes, hotels and suppliers who stand to lose revenue? They have not bothered to assess the potential damage to local businesses, but perhaps the failure of Plaid's budget and the quest for independence have proved too much of a distraction. The Government did ask the WRU to consider the consequences, but this seems an inept response from an administration that is responsible for the Welsh economy. When will this Government undertake an impact assessment and explain what support businesses can expect, dependent on the final decision? These businesses deserve preparation and leadership. It seems this administration offers neither. Thank you.

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

   1. Pa fesurau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu defnyddio i asesu effeithiolrwydd Llywodraeth ar draws adrannau? OQ64378

   Official English translation

   1. What measures is the Welsh Government using to assess the effectiveness of Government across departments? OQ64378

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

   Thank you, Minister. I'm glad to hear it's so full. Your published ministerial responsibilities include official statistics, including the census, social research and the national survey for Wales. Effective government depends on understanding how Wales is changing and ensuring that future planning reflects that evidence. What research has your department undertaken into the demographic changes in Wales since the implementation of the nation of sanctuary policy and how are those findings being incorporated into the evidence used to forecast future demand for housing, NHS services, school places, transport infrastructure and other public services across Wales? If those demographic changes are not being factored into Government planning, how can you be confident that your forecasts accurately reflect the future needs of Wales? This is not being divisive or any other adjectives you may wish to throw at our party; the people of Wales deserve to understand how the Government determines the future requirements of our nation, and your portfolio is central to ensuring that those decisions are informed by robust evidence and accurate data. Thank you.

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3. 3. Business Statement and Announcement en

   Trefnydd, can I request an answer on the Welsh Government's programme for identifying and eliminating waste spending across departments? As this Plaid Cymru Government continues to look down the back of every departmental sofa in search of the money needed to prove its so-called fully funded manifesto commitments are in fact fully funded, what reviews have been initiated or completed to identify duplication, unnecessary bureaucracy, inefficient spending and programmes that are no longer delivering value for taxpayers, including any legacy issues inherited from the previous Government? Given that the Government has now been in office for over 60 days, there has been ample opportunity to begin this work. What waste has already been identified and corrected? What further efficiencies are planned? When will the Government publish a report so that Members and the people of Wales can scrutinise the findings and see how taxpayers' money has been saved and spent more effectively?

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1. 7. Reform UK Debate: The tourism sector en

   I'm going to echo some of the things we've heard already today, but with a slightly different take. So, first off, tourism is one of Wales's greatest success stories. It does support around 159,000 jobs—almost one in every eight in Wales. Millions of visitors come here because of our coastline, countryside, history and culture. They support jobs, sustain businesses and bring vital income to many of our rural and coastal communities. Nowhere is that more evident than in my constituency of Gŵyr Abertawe, where the visitor economy contributes more than £700 million annually and supports around 5,500 jobs. For many communities, tourism is not simply an important industry, it is the industry. It supports family businesses, keeps our high streets alive and helps sustain the very communities that people want to visit. When tourism prospers, our community prospers. But that prosperity depends on businesses having the confidence to invest, employ local people and plan for the future. Tourism businesses understand the need to support local communities and recognise the pressures on the housing market; what they need are policies that reflect the commercial realities of a seasonal industry. We all share the same ambition: a successful tourism industry alongside communities where local people can afford to live. Indeed, your own manifesto recognised the importance of tourism, and I quote: 'Plaid Cymru recognises the importance of the tourism industry to Wales.' 'We will promote tourism which provides maximum benefit to our people, environment, language and culture'. I agree with that ambition. The question is not the destination, the question is whether the route chosen is actually taking us there. The issue I want to focus on today is the 182-day occupancy requirement for self-catering holiday accommodation. Let me be clear: this debate is not about whether there should be a qualifying threshold—the tourism industry accepts that there should be one; the question is whether 182 days is realistic, proportionate and evidence based. Representatives from across the tourism industry have consistently argued that 105 days is a more realistic threshold for demonstrating genuine commercial activity. His Majesty's Revenue and Customs recognise 105 days of actual letting as a qualifying test for the furnished holiday lettings tax regime. Ministers may argue that the purposes are different, but the principle remains the same: identifying genuine commercial activity. And, I have to say, persuading HMRC to agree to anything outside their own way of thinking is no small achievement. It's certainly not an organisation renowned for changing its mind simply because somebody asked politely. So, what evidence led the previous Welsh Government, with Plaid Cymru support, to conclude that 182 days was a necessary and proportionate figure? Why 182? What modelling or economic assessment supported that decision? If that evidence exists, publish it. The Government's stated objective was to increase the supply of homes for local people, but intentions do not automatically create good outcomes. The assumption behind the policy was that raising the threshold would return more properties to the residential market. But has that happened to any meaningful extent? Many tourism businesses report that income has fallen off significantly, with some parts of the self-catering sector reporting reductions of around 30 per cent. The Welsh Government's own tourism business barometer highlights continuing pressures within the sector. But reducing holiday lets was never the objective. The real test is whether more homes have become available for local people. So, the question remains: how many properties have actually returned to the residential housing market because of this policy? How many homes have become available to local families? What measurable improvement has there been in housing affordability or availability? If the Government believes this policy has succeeded, publish the evidence. I understand Ministers are considering further flexibility and additional exemptions, and I welcome the fact that they are listening. But there is a certain irony here. A policy introduced to solve one problem is now requiring exemptions to solve the problems created by the policy itself. The tourism industry is not asking for special interest. The message is loud and clear: it is asking for a system that is fair, proportionate and based on evidence. So, Cabinet Minister, if you remain convinced that 182 days is the correct figure, publish the evidence that justifies choosing it. Publish the evidence that shows it has delivered more homes for local people. Because if this policy requires an ever-growing list of exemptions simply to make it workable, perhaps the problem is not the exemptions, perhaps it is the policy itself. Exemptions are not the answer. Good government is measured by whether policies deliver the outcomes they promise. If the evidence shows that this one is not, then we need real and substantial change. I call on all Members to support our motion. Thank you.

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1. 6. Statement by the Cabinet Minister for Health and Care: Health and care winter 2026-27 preparedness en

   Cabinet Minister, again, I echo my colleague's thoughts. Thank you again for your early statement and your ambitions and expectations. When you addressed the Siambr a few weeks ago, you said that the NHS had reached one of the most precarious points in its history. You promised to move beyond what you called 'short-term sticking-plaster solutions' and deliver lasting reform, and I'm sure we all value your determination.  Unfortunately, winter has developed an annoying habit of refusing to read the Government's press releases and we're all well versed in ministerial assurances that the NHS is ready, even though we won't know that until the winter readiness assessment in the autumn. Every year, we see the familiar pressures: ambulances waiting outside hospitals, emergency departments under unacceptable strain, rushed discharges and planned operations postponed. I'm sure everybody here hopes that the proposals succeed, but good intentions, ambitions and expectations don't keep ambulances moving or patients out of corridors. The test of a winter plan isn't how ambitious it sounds in June, it's whether patients notice any difference when pressure is at its highest in January. So, Minister, how will you demonstrate that the proposals are working? What interim milestones will you use to monitor whether the winter plan is succeeding? What trigger points have you identified that would indicate the NHS is coming under unacceptable pressure, and what additional support will be deployed if those trigger points are reached? Thank you.

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1. 1. Questions to the First Minister en

   First Minister, every Government says it's committed to economic growth, but the reality is that economic success depends on stability, clear priorities and measurable delivery rather than general commitments. I welcome your comments on the green economy, but, in Gŵyr Abertawe, key parts of the economy include tourism, small business activity and services linked to Swansea's wider regional economy. The challenge is ensuring those sectors are able to grow, attract investment and create well-paid jobs. Can the First Minister, therefore, set out which sectors, as well as the green economy, he personally prioritises for economic growth in Gŵyr Abertawe and specify what measurable targets he will use over this Senedd term to demonstrate that his Government's approach is actually working? In responding, I would be grateful if you could address the specific questions before us and the position in Gŵyr Abertawe rather than just broad political commentary.

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

   I would like to thank the Member for that important question. It's very interesting to hear about OpenEyes. Given that NHS efficiency and, more importantly, patient safety depends on clinical staff having timely access to accurate and complete patient information, and recognising that fragmented record systems can result in important information not being available when and where it is needed, leading to significant inefficiencies and patient risks, what measurable progress has been made towards reducing those risks and improving effectiveness, and what specific performance measures will be used going forward to demonstrate that further investment in digital health is delivering tangible improvements in patient safety and overall efficiency? Thank you.

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

   6. Beth yw'r gost ar gyfer targed Llywodraeth Cymru o 20,000 o gartrefi erbyn 2030, a pha ffynonellau cyllid fydd yn cael eu defnyddio i gyflawni hynny? OQ64169

   Official English translation

   6. What is the cost of the Welsh Government's target of 20,000 homes by 2030, and what sources of funding will be used to deliver it? OQ64169

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

   Thank you, Minister. When setting the target of 20,000 new social homes, what assessment was made of the housing demand arising from the nation of sanctuary programme? And if that demand was not included, how can the Government be satisfied that the target is sufficient to meet the needs of people living in Wales? Also, given the pressures already facing those on social housing waiting lists, which housing providers were consulted before the target was adopted, and what assessment has been made of the impact that nation of sanctuary commitments will have on access to social housing for local Welsh people and Welsh communities? Thank you.

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Open this sitting on the stage

1. 1. Questions to the First Minister en

   I'd like to thank the Member for raising this important question. First Minister, in Reform we know the importance of supporting local Welsh business, especially in my constituency of Gŵyr Abertawe. Wales is a nation of small businesses, yet too few Welsh firms successfully grow into medium-size and large businesses. While parties often speak about supporting local businesses, growth ultimately depends on creating the conditions for firms to invest, expand and take on staff. Can you therefore set out what specific measures the Government will take to help Welsh businesses scale up, and explain what ambition can be reconciled with the increasing costs many firms face through taxation, regulation, bureaucracy and high energy prices? Thank you.

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2. 6. Statement by the Trefnydd, Chief Whip and Cabinet Minister for Culture and Sport: Priorities for Culture and Sport en

   Thank you, Llywydd. Minister, congratulations and thank you for your statement. I'd like to declare an interest. I've spent many years staging major events, major international events, so this is something very close to my heart. While noting the audits, the consultations and the challenging environment that we find in Wales, the importance of culture to Wales has been emphasised, along with Plaid Cymru's commitment to increased spending on culture, arts and sport. Equally, the public may wish to understand what measurable outcomes were achieved during the last Senedd, when Plaid Cymru was a party to the co-operation agreement, and, due to this, I was surprised at the stated inheritance of a lack of data and a lack of understanding. What performance measures will be used during this Senedd to determine whether increased spending is translated into greater participation, stronger engagement and better value for money? We have a simple ask. Our simple ask is: how do we measure success? Thank you.

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