Eluned Morgan’s nineteenth session as first minister comes to a close.

Next week is the Senedd's spring half term recess.

Image source, Senedd Cymru

Image source, Senedd Cymru

Plaid Cymru MS Mabon ap Gwynfor expresses concerns about the continued closure of the Dyfi ward at Tywyn Hospital, Meirionnydd "because of a shortage of nurses there and the failure of the health board to secure new nursing staff".

The first minister replies that Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board is "very eager" to reopen the ward when recruitment issues are resolved.

She says, "It's not like they haven't been trying; they have been trying to recruit people. That's why I think it is important that we do recruit locally, and the fact that we do have a nursing school now in Ceredigion is hopefully going to help, but it's going to take them some time to go through the system, of course. But also, we are recruiting in areas such as Kerala; hopefully that will help us to recruit people to help our services. It's not an easy situation; they have been trying very hard to get people to work there."

Image source, Google

Image source, Senedd Cymru

Conservative Andrew RT Davies raises concerns about a successful legal challenge over how a contract to demolish Aberthaw Power Station in the Vale of Glamorgan was awarded.

He says "the potential liability to Cardiff capital region is in excess of £10 million. I am amazed that the Welsh government have not brought a statement forward to clarify the position on this, given that they are one of two major stakeholders, the UK government being the other, in the Cardiff capital region's finance streams".

He asks, "can you give me an assurance that your government is actively working with the Cardiff capital region to make sure confidence is not lost because of this loss of trust in the tendering process that, potentially, has the taxpayer on the hook for £10 plus million of losses to the underbidder? And can you confirm that it is only this bidder that is the one who has made a case against the Cardiff capital region, and that none of the other bidders will be making a claim, given the potential losses that the capital region faces?"

The former coal-powered station was acquired from energy giant RWE in 2022 by the city region - which is made up of the 10 local authorities of south-east Wales.

The first minister replies "it's disappointing that the Cardiff capital region have had to concede liability, and I'm sure they'll be investigating the circumstances that led to this situation. It is important to note that the Cardiff capital region acts independently of the Welsh government in its investment decisions. Of course, though, we will and we do monitor the outcomes achieved through its activities, but the procurement challenge at Aberthaw power station is, obviously, the subject of live legal procedures, so I don't think it would be appropriate for me to comment further."

Image source, Getty Images

Conservative Gareth Davies expresses concerns about "the creeping death of the Welsh high street and how profound this concern is amongst local communities, and how this is not getting the attention from the Welsh government that it deserves."

He elaborates, "once vibrant high streets are becoming a shadow of their former selves. The diversity of our high streets is disappointing. Many independent outlets with decades of service to the community are closing, sadly, and we are seeing more and more vacant commercial properties and a proliferation of the kind of business singled out by the National Crime Agency as more frequently linked to organised crime: cash-only barber shops, vape shops and junk food outlets, with many of the same types of businesses operating in the same location, and ones that sully the hard work and name of the legitimate traders in these unregulated fields."

The first minister points to the Transforming Towns, external programme which provides support to improve town centres.

As an example she says £20 million has been spent on Rhyl town centre. "We are working with Denbighshire County Council in further developing a placemaking plan for Rhyl, and we've also got the Queen's Market site - a £13.2 million project - and that's supported by a £6.3 million Transforming Towns grant. So, you say we're not doing anything. That is quite a lot of money in your one town. We're doing lots of this across the whole of Wales."

Image source, Getty Images

Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth welcomes today's announcement from the Welsh government that universities in Wales will be supported by £18.5 million of capital cash for buildings, but he says it "will do nothing" to help with day to day costs.

He calls for cross-party work to address the challenges facing the higher education sector.

He explains, "in agreeing on a remit together, by working with the sector, we can jointly look at how funding works at the moment, support for students, and considering a new funding model. May I therefore invite the first minister to accept that invitation of collaboration and to start cross-party discussions in order to put a review in place?"

The first minister replies that is was Plaid Cymru's decision to end the co-operation agreement between the two parties.

She adds, "we're always happy to listen to other people's ideas. I think we have to recognise our universities are a key component in terms of driving economic growth and supporting research and innovations, but they have had to make very painful choices to make sure those institutions are on a more firm financial footing. It's imperative that they work in social partnership when they're making those decisions."

Rhun ap Iorwerth responds, "she really couldn't help herself, could she? I could remind the first minister of how the Labour Party in Wales walked away from a review of council tax that would help the poorest households in Wales. We need to think differently about how we use public funds in Wales, getting more bangs for our buck."

Image source, Senedd Cymru

Darren Millar, leader of the Welsh Conservatives in the Senedd, claims Labour governments in Wales and Westminster have been a "disaster for older people in Wales".

He says, "you have opposed a Bill to protect the rights of older people in Wales; you've broken promises to WASPI women; and within just days of taking office in July of last year, the Labour Chancellor cruelly scrapped winter fuel payments for 0.5 million Welsh pensioners. These are not just people on a spreadsheet, these are our parents and our grandparents, yet this winter, thousands are being forced to choose between eating or heating."

Since last autumn, those not on pension credit or other means-tested benefits have no longer received the annual winter fuel payments, worth between £100 and £300.

The first minister replies, "those decisions in relation to the winter fuel allowance were decisions for the UK government, but what we do have are warm hubs, and we have put £1.5 million into that support over this winter, making sure that people have that facility. We're spending £30 million on helping to insulate people's homes and putting in new facilities and mechanisms for them to heat their homes. And, of course, older people also benefit from having free bus passes in Wales, which is something that many now just take for granted."

Image source, Senedd Cymru

Image source, Senedd Cymru

Liberal Democrat Jane Dodds - whose vote is likely to be crucial in getting the Welsh government budget through the Senedd in March - criticises the child poverty strategy for Wales, external for lacking targets.

She says, "I have absolutely no idea what the aspiration of the Welsh government is when it comes to reducing children who are living in poverty. If I go to Scotland, I know that they want to reduce child poverty there by 10 per cent. If I look at New Zealand, they want to reduce it by 5 per cent. And, yet, here we are in Wales, with one of the highest levels of children living in poverty, and I have no idea what the Welsh government's vision is in terms of reducing child poverty."

The first minister says the Welsh government is committed to tackling child poverty as a priority and is measuring progress through "national indicators".

She adds, "the monitoring framework, which will inform the next progress, is due to be published in 2025".

In Wales around 29% of children are considered to be living in relative poverty - with a household classed as such if it is getting by on less than 60% of the UK's median income.

That works out as an income of less than around £300 a week, after paying for housing costs.

A previous target to eradicate child poverty in Wales by 2020 was dropped by the Welsh government in 2016.

Its latest strategy promises to "put in place robust monitoring and accountability mechanisms to track progress against key indicators on child poverty".

Image source, Getty Images

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 Llanelli and former minister Lee Waters asks about the Welsh government's plans for "promoting the reuse of materials within the circular economy" and he calls for tougher penalties.

He says "the huge progress on recycling was achieved with targets for local authorities, and with fines for not meeting them. Councils have a legal duty to clear litter and fly-tipping on public land, but there are currently no legal targets to tackle other waste."

First Minister Eluned Morgan replies that Wales has the "second best recycling rates on the planet" - 0.4 per cent behind Austria.

She says, "building on our recycling record, we are investing in infrastructure to capture high-quality recycled materials. We're also attracting investment from companies to reprocess materials. We're providing support to businesses to use them, and we are driving increased reuse of materials through reforms such as extended producer responsibility, to create jobs and drive green growth."

She wants every council to have a repair and reuse facility - "80 per cent of them are already covered, and the rest are on their way".

A traditional industrial economy uses raw materials to make products which are discarded when they are no longer wanted, sometimes before the end of their useful lives.

The circular economy aims to break the link between economic activity and using up the earth's resources. This may involve reusing, repairing, and sharing materials and products.

Image source, Welsh government

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of Eluned Morgan’s nineteenth 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.