Hwyl fawrpublished at 14:27 British Summer Time 24 September
Eluned Morgan’s second session as first minister comes to a close.
Eluned Morgan is quizzed by opposition party leaders and other MSs during First Minister's Questions
By Alun Jones
Eluned Morgan’s second session as first minister comes to a close.
Conservative Joel James asks what assessment has the Welsh government made of the impact on poverty amongst older people in Wales of eligible pensioners not applying for pension credit.
The first minister says that Age UK recently estimated that 56,100 people in Wales are eligible but are not claiming pension credit.
She adds, "through collaborative work with the UK government and our partners, we are increasing pension credit take-up in Wales".
Plaid Cymru's Luke Fletcher seeks an update on the remedial works for properties adversely affected by the Arbed scheme in the Bridgend County Borough area.
Up to 104 homes in Bridgend county were damaged by insulation installed as part of an energy efficiency scheme.
Bridgend council and the Welsh government later pledged to fund repairs after the poor standard of work caused damp and mould.
The first minister says the "Welsh government awarded £2.65 million of grant funding to Bridgend County Borough Council for remedial works on affected homes. My officials are due to meet with them early next month to review progress made on the mobilisation works on the affected properties."
Luke Fletcher says it's "an issue that has been ongoing for over a decade and has been across the desks of, now, four first ministers. It's an unacceptable situation to be in."
The first minister adds, "I absolutely understand the frustration of your constituents. This was not a model of how we wanted this particular project to work. It's a mechanism of insulating external walls; 104 homes were affected. It was because of poor workmanship, and that is not acceptable. I think it's probably worth underlining that, as a government, there's no formal or legal responsibility for us to correct the situation, but the fact is that we have come forward with £2.6 million to help Bridgend council".
After It was announced yesterday that patients from Wales could receive NHS treatment in England, and vice-versa, under the UK and Welsh governments' joint plan to bring down waiting lists, Conservative Sam Rowlands suggests Eluned Morgan is "perhaps becoming the first Conservative First Minister of Wales" as he says "Welsh Labour are taking Conservative ideas stating their intent to work with the UK government on cutting waiting lists and using other sectors to ease the burden on the NHS".
But he calls for "robust targets and consequences if those targets are not met".
The first minister replies, "the NHS in Wales is challenged. We all know that. The demand is unbelievable. I mean, the fact that there were more than 1.5 million referrals into hospitals in a year, more than half the population of Wales. I mean, it’s quite, quite extraordinary, and lots of the people I know don’t go to hospital, so they must be the same people going over and over again."
Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth refers to the Labour first minister likening her influence on Keir Starmer to her influence on Donald Trump.
Speaking to Y Byd yn ei Le (Put the World to Rights) on S4C, Eluned Morgan said: “Let us not overstate my influence” on the UK Labour leader and prime minister, and asked why she had not called for a rethink on winter fuel payment cuts, she said: “I could call on Donald Trump to do things too.”
Rhun ap Iorwerth says "it's taking expectation management to an all-new level. Some people did decide, actually, to be kind by saying, 'At least she's being honest.' On one hand, though, she wants to distance herself from Starmer, on the other hand she's happy to defend him on the winter fuel payment cut."
Rhun ap Iorwerth also says there is "a huge irony that dentistry is the thing identified as a major success in Wales, and it's an irony that won't be lost on all those unable to register with an NHS dentist".
The first minister says "I've actually got more influence than I realised. I've been in power for 48 days, already the Prime Minister of Britain has made a specific visit to Wales, and over the weekend, I had the opportunity to speak with Keir Starmer, with Rachel Reeves, with Wes Streeting, with Ed Milliband, with Andy Burnham, with Sadiq Khan—all of these people were really keen to discuss with us our plans for the future and how we can work together. Now, that is influence."
She adds "it should be celebrated" that the Welsh government has "managed to introduce nearly 400,000 new patient appointments to the NHS".
Andrew RT Davies, leader of the Welsh Conservatives in the Senedd, welcomes the announcement that patients from Wales could receive NHS treatment in England, and vice-versa, under the UK and Welsh governments' joint plan to bring down waiting lists.
But he he expresses regret and asks why an offer from the Conservative UK government to help with waiting lists in August 2023 was dismissed by Eluned Morgan, who was health secretary at the time.
The first minister says "it wasn't a serious offer" by the Conservatives, accusing them of "playing politics".
Mr Davies calls for details of targets and costs. He says, "I believe that it is a sensible and progressive way of addressing waiting times here in Wales, but I'd like to see the substance of it, otherwise people will just look at it as a PR gimmick that was launched at the Labour Party conference and, this time in six months, we'll still have those chronic waiting times here in Wales."
The first minister says "we've started the conversation, we will come up with the details in weeks to come. We are keen to wait to hear what the next budget will look like, which will give us a sense of how much will come as a result of closing that loophole to the non-dom people, who you let get away with not paying taxes. That was your government that was responsible for that. We are in conversation. Wes Streeting is very keen to come and see things here, and we are very serious already. The fact is that we are co-operating and looking at what more we can do, particularly in the north Wales area."
The first minister describes the challenges facing the social care sector this winter, with "population changes and rising demand".
She says, "as a government, we are working with leaders across our health and social care system to build capacity for care and support in our communities, to manage the challenges of increasing demand for more complex care for our ageing and frail population".
Llywydd Elin Jones conducts a ballot to determine the names of members who may table questions to the first minister.
Independent member Rhys ab Owen begins the meeting by asking "what discussions will the first minister have with the UK government and Welsh arms manufacturers to prevent weapons made in Wales being used in alleged war crimes?"
First Minister Eluned Morgan replies "defence and defence exports are not devolved matters. So, we haven't had discussions on these issues."
Rhys ab Owen adds, "over 160 companies in Wales do supply the defence and arms sector in the UK and beyond. And if war crimes are committed with arms produced here, then it does create criminal liability under international law."
The first minister replies, "I note with concern - I’m sure all of us do - the events going on in the Middle East, and I’m sure we all feel very upset about the situation, and our hearts go out to the civilians affected".
She adds, "UK Exports are responsible for ensuring that exports do not fall into the hands of those who are not allies. The International Criminal Court is responsible for investigating alleged war crimes, but I do think that it’s also important to note that exports are important. That’s a separate matter, but it is important I think that we do allow the UK to take the reigns on an issue that is part of their responsibilities."
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of Eluned Morgan’s second session of First Minister's Questions.
The meeting is held in a hybrid format, with some members in the Siambr (Senedd chamber) and others joining by video-conference.
You can click on the play button above to watch the proceedings from 1.30pm.