Eluned Morgan’s thirty-ninth session as first minister comes to a close.

Image source, Senedd Cymru

Laura Anne Jones, Reform UK's only Senedd member following her defection from the Conservatives in the summer, says the Welsh government's nation of sanctuary policy "puts a neon sign above Wales that suggests the rest of the world come here, possibly illegally, use our services, our benefits, our housing, when our NHS is already stretched to the max and we have veterans sleeping on the street. England has not found it essential to declare themselves a nation of sanctuary, nor has Scotland. Yet both welcome Ukrainians - which Reform do - that are living, working and contributing without the grandstanding label of a ‘nation of sanctuary’ or the cost."

She asks "when will you end this costly, unnecessary policy, or do you see it running indefinitely, and at what cost to the taxpayer?"

Eluned Morgan replies that 82% of costs were to support Ukrainians in 2022-2024, which she says had cross-party backing in the Senedd.

She tells Laura Anne Jones, "I think it's really important for us to actually make sure people understand it is not the Welsh government who decides how many and which asylum seekers are placed in Wales. If you've got aspirations to run this country, you should work out what powers we have to deliver. Promising things to people that simply are not ours to deliver is pulling the wool over people's eyes. You've said - Reform has said - that if you win in Wales, you're going to stop the use of any building for asylum seeker accommodation. The Welsh government has no power to prohibit the use of any building for asylum seeker accommodation."

According to Welsh government figures, overall costs of the nation of sanctuary policy were around £54,880,000 representing less than 0.05% of its budget over the six years, from 2019 to 2025, since the plan was adopted.

For the period covering March 2019 to March 2025, £45,475,000 under the nation of sanctuary policy was spent supporting Ukrainian arrivals to Wales.

Darren Millar, leader of the Welsh Conservatives in the Senedd, has also called for the nation of sanctuary policy to be scrapped, saying in First Minister's Questions last month that the policy is "funding support and services including for illegal immigrants. That's tens of millions of pounds that could and should be spent on people in Wales and our public services."

Image source, Senedd Cymru

Image source, Senedd Cymru

Labour MS for Llanelli, Lee Waters, asks "what representations has the Welsh government made to the UK government regarding the impact on the Welsh economy of the Jaguar Land Rover cyber-attack?"

Eluned Morgan says the attack has "hit Welsh suppliers and the people who work in those companies hard", and that her civil servants are in daily contact with around 30 suppliers in Wales.

She says six companies in Wales have more than 50% reliance on JLR.

She welcomes the UK government's announcement it would underwrite a £1.5bn loan guarantee to JLR in a bid to support its parts and service suppliers but adds that the Welsh government has "asked for details about when the funding will come down".

Lee Waters says the Marelli factory in Llanelli, which is still known to many in the town as Morris Motors, has felt a significant impact.

He says, "agency workers have been laid off and staff have been told to stay home and work back the hours, which inevitably means there'll be no overtime in the run-up to Christmas, which they rely on. The UK government, as you say, have stepped in with a loan guarantee, but as the Financial Times pointed out yesterday, JLR have been reckless in not having cyber insurance in place, especially since the damaging attacks on Marks and Spencers and Co-op show what damage this can prove to a business. JLR are owned by Tata, which, as the FT point out, as such a large firm should be able to deal with temporary shocks to their operations like this, and it certainly shouldn't be the workforce who have to suffer."

Carmaker Jaguar Land Rover has confirmed that output at some of its manufacturing sites will resume on Wednesday, as it continues to recover from the serious cyber-attack.

Its production lines have been at a standstill since the start of September, following the attack.

The phased return of staff will begin at some sites in the West Midlands and Merseyside.

JLR has also announced a programme to fast-track payments to its direct suppliers, some of which had laid off workers after their revenues dried up following the hack.

Initially the scheme will be confined to the most critical suppliers needed for restarting production, but it will be expanded at a later date.

Image source, Reuters

Conservative Andrew RT Davies says there are many problems with the planning system in Wales, and calls for it to be reformed.

He says, "I've yet to speak to anyone who is pleased about the planning system here in Wales, whether that be applicants or people who object to applications going in. But, on the macroeconomic picture, where small builders try and develop housing in small communities, they really do struggle to meet the upfront costs and the uncertainty that the planning system offers them in attracting the permissions that would be favourable to them. What support can the Welsh government give to make the planning system more attractive, like the English planning system, which is more beneficial on permitted development rights and supporting small builders to develop housing opportunities in our communities so that people can find the homes that they want?"

Eluned Morgan replies, "the first thing I did when I became first minister was to insist on more money going into the planning system, because I recognise that that is a break on economic productivity. And that's why that money has gone into the planning system. It is making a difference. Natural Resources Wales has had more support specifically with planning."

Image source, Senedd Cymru

Image source, Senedd Cymru

Labour's Jenny Rathbone asks "what discussions has the first minister had with the UK government about preventing foreign money from interfering in Welsh politics?"

Eluned Morgan says her government is working with the UK government on the "defending democracy taskforce".

She adds, "In Wales, we've gone further, shutting out foreign money through our Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Act 2024, and just this month we saw the former Welsh Reform leader stand in the Old Bailey admitting to taking Russian bribes. That's not just corruption, it's a flashing warning sign. Whilst Labour will always defend our Senedd, we'll always keep our democracy safe."

The former leader of Reform UK in Wales admitted taking bribes to make statements in favour of Russia while being a Member of the European Parliament.

Nathan Gill, who also used to be a politician in Cardiff Bay, pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey to eight counts of bribery between 6 December 2018 and 18 July 2019.

Gill was one of seven UKIP politicians elected to the Senedd in 2016 when the party was led by the current leader of Reform, Nigel Farage.

Jenny Rathbone adds, "Elon Musk is still piling money into social media, and whether they're American, Russian or Australian billionaires, they own most of the methods of communications and are endeavouring to influence the way we run our country, whether it's telling people that millionaires are leaving the country because they don't want to pay their fair share of tax, which is absolutely untrue, or whether it's misinformation going on that is designed to set one community against another in our midst."

She calls for Ofcom to be "a proper regulator and not a paper tiger to double down on this information that is poisoning our communities".

The first minister replies, "the Welsh government recognise the importance of Ofcom in particular in terms of its role in preserving the integrity of what we get to read and see online. They've had an expanded range of duties and powers to hold online services to account. It's not just about foreign interference, it's also about online safety."

Image source, PA Media

Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth says the Labour Home Secretary's plan to give police forces powers to put conditions on repeat protests is "deeply worrying".

Senior officers will be able to consider the "cumulative impact" of previous protests, the Home Office has said, which could mean they instruct organisers to hold events elsewhere if a site has seen repeated demonstrations.

Rhun ap Iorwerth says "Plaid Cymru believes that peaceful protest is a fundamental right that must be protected. Will the first minister confirm that she agrees too with that principle?"

Eluned Morgan replies, "I agree absolutely that the right to protest is a fundamental principle within our society".

Rhun ap Iorwerth adds, "there's a real risk here that these ill-thought-out powers could prevent entirely justifiable protests in the future. And whilst policing is still a reserved matter for the time being, public bodies under devolved powers have a role to play, too, in facilitating protests, for example, so there's a potential impact on them, and of course it will impact the right of every Welsh citizen. So, can the first minister confirm if she had been made aware of the Home Secretary's intentions and what conversations have taken place between Welsh government and the Home Office about how these new powers will practically impact the rights to protest in Wales?"

Eluned Morgan replies, "it is, of course, the UK government's responsibility to lead in this area. I cannot, every week, come here to speak on behalf of the Home Secretary. No, she didn't inform me in advance; I wouldn't expect her to. I don't tell her what's going on in Wales, either, in advance. That's the nature of the devolution settlement."

The Home Secretary has told the BBC the move was not a ban on protests but "about restrictions and conditions".

Defend Our Juries - the organisers of Saturday's protests in support of proscribed group Palestine Action - said it will undertake a "major escalation" in response to Shabana Mahmood's announcement.

Image source, Senedd Cymru

Darren Millar, leader of the Welsh Conservatives in the Senedd, says he agrees with Prime Minister Keir Starmer who has urged people not to join pro-Palestinian protests on the day marking two years since the 7 October attack on Israel.

Darren Millar says, "last week, on Yom Kippur, we saw an atrocious, murderous, barbaric anti-Semitic attack in Manchester, at the Heaton park synagogue. And, of course, today marks the second anniversary of the atrocities of the 7 October massacre in Israel, carried out by Hamas terrorists. The Jewish community, understandably, here in Wales, and across the UK, is fearful of yet further attacks, and they feel intimidated and hurt by the disrespectful behaviour of some terrorist-supporting protesters who continue to fuel hatred on our streets. Will you join me today in condemning those who are taking part in such protests?"

Eluned Morgan replies "I think we've got to use extreme sensitivity on this day of all days. We remember that, two years ago, Hamas attacked innocent civilians in Israel. The consequences for them and their families were devastating, and there are still people being held hostage to this day. I hope you agree with me that the efforts to try and break the deadlock in relation to that is something that should be welcomed. But, obviously, there were devastating consequences for the Palestinian state as well. The Manchester attack was sickening. It is something I hope we all condemn. I was pleased to be able to speak to Rabbi Rose at the Cardiff synagogue on the weekend, and to get a government update on the situation. Yom Kippur is the most holy day for the Jewish community. I think that it is important that we all, as politicians, appeal for calmness and for kindness, and to make sure that we stand together with our communities across the nation and calm the temperature down on this. It is our responsibilities as leaders within our communities to make sure that we are appealing for people to calm down and not to raise the temperatures at a really sensitive time."

Israelis are marking two years since Hamas's attack on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage.

Since then, 67,139 people have been killed by Israeli military operations in Gaza, the territory's Hamas-run health ministry says.

Image source, Senedd Cymru

Image source, Senedd Cymru

Plaid Cymru MS Llyr Gruffydd seeks an update on the Network North Wales plans announced earlier this year.

Eluned Morgan replies, "Network North Wales isn’t a slogan, it’s something that's happening now. Just last month, we launched the new T51 bus. This December, we’re doubling services on the Wrexham to Chester line. By May of next year, trains on the north Wales main line will increase by 50 per cent. From next year, commuters will be able to tap in and out with a simple pay-as-you-go ticketing system. That’s what delivery is, and that’s what Welsh Labour’s ambition is for a prosperous and connected north Wales."

Llyr Gruffydd says "I'm pleased that you referred to the bus service there. It was an existing service, you've just changed its name. But, I take nothing away from the rest of your response."

He adds, "the UK government continues to spend eye-watering sums on major rail projects, such as HS2 - I think £66 billion is where they're at now - £7.6 billion on East West rail, and tens of billions more are being spent on Northern Powerhouse Rail. Yet, all of these, as we know, are designated as England and Wales projects. So, Wales is helping to pay for all of it, despite not a single metre of that track coming to our country. Let's put that in perspective. The Welsh government has rightly invested £1 billion, for example, in the south Wales metro, yet that is still less than the cost of one single solitary viaduct as part of the HS2 scheme."

The proposals in the Network North Wales project include more services, the introduction of pay-as-you-go "tap in tap out" technology, electrification of lines and a Metro-style service linking Wrexham and Liverpool.

Previous rail plans and funding promises for north Wales have been marked by plenty of stops and starts by both Welsh and UK governments.

In 2023, former Conservative prime minister Rishi Sunak promised electrification for the north Wales mainline at a cost of around £1bn, a commitment that never came to fruition.

Image source, TfW

Image source, Senedd Cymru

Llywydd Elin Jones conducts a ballot to determine the names of members who may table questions to the first minister.

Labour MS for Swansea East, Mike Hedges, calls for a review of the availability of housing in Swansea.

He says, "this review needs to identify the number of long-term empty properties, including flats above business premises. I define a long-term empty property as one that has been empty for five years, and those properties I was walking past empty at the last election, I'm likely to be walking past empty at the next election."

First Minister Eluned Morgan says "this Welsh Labour government has committed £2 billion this Senedd term [2021-26] to deliver 20,000 new low-carbon social homes. Now, in Swansea East, that is 700 new social homes, and 1,500 families achieving home ownership - real measurable progress."

On the call for a review, she says "it is up to the local authorities to assess the housing needs of their populations, and, obviously, that needs to take account of demographics. And, as I say, what we're trying to do is to make sure that we focus on the needs of the people who need social housing. That's why we've invested quite so much money."

Image source, PA Media

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of Eluned Morgan’s thirty-ninth session of First Minister's Questions.

The Siambr (Senedd chamber) has closed for renovations until March 2026, as work is underway on altering it to accommodate the 96 Members who will be chosen in the next Senedd election in May 2026.

So the 60 MSs are meeting in Siambr Hywel, the original debating chamber that housed the then National Assembly for Wales from 1999 to 2006.

The meeting is held in a hybrid format, with some members in Siambr Hywel and others joining by video-conference.

You can click on the play button above to watch the proceedings from 1.30pm.