Eluned Morgan’s forty-third session as first minister comes to a close.

Image source, Senedd Cymru

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Plaid Cymru MS Heledd Fychan seeks "an update on what has been achieved by the government over the past five years to lessen the use of primary aggregates".

Eluned Morgan replies, "we’re changing how Wales builds - using more timber, more recycled materials and less concrete and newly quarried stone. Our strategy, ‘Making Wood Work for Wales’, is driving that shift. Modern modular homes use prefabricated timber, cutting carbon and creating cleaner building sites. Our planning policy also prioritises recycled and secondary aggregates over new extraction."

Heledd Fychan cites the example of Craig yr Hesg in Glyncoch on the outskirts of Pontypridd. Extraction at the quarry, which has operated since 1885, was due to end in December 2022 with restoration to follow. The company submitted two planning applications to expand the quarry and extend its life and then-climate minister Julie James overturned Rhondda Cynon Taf council’s decision to reject both applications despite more than 400 objections locally.

Heledd Fychan calls for "a strong focus on increasing the use of secondary or recycled materials rather than extracting primary aggregates".

Eluned Morgan says, "it’s difficult for me to comment on the Craig yr Hesg case in particular, but what I can tell you is that dust, noise and health impacts have always got to be taken really seriously. Currently, as you will know, there is a buffer zone, a 200m buffer zone, in terms of national policy. The minerals and technical advice note No. 1 that you’re talking about, we are constantly keeping that under review, but I think the more important point is that we’ve got to make sure there’s consistent enforcement by councils, by NRW [Natural Resources Wales], by the HSE [Health and Safety Executive], and they’ve got to act when conditions are breached and make sure that they use that opportunity. My understanding is that operators who are working at Craig yr Hesg are going to now be setting up a quarry community liaison group, and the aim of that group would be to make sure that there is an information exchange between operator and local community representatives."

Image source, Senedd Cymru

Image source, Senedd Cymru

Labour's Carolyn Thomas says the process of reapplying for a blue badge should be more consistent across local authorities.

She says, "I've supported many residents through the application process. It can be really challenging and stressful, especially for those that are already vulnerable."

Eluned Morgan replies "we recognise that there's been inconsistency when it comes to reapplying for blue badges, which is why we've set up an expert group with local authorities to try and improve the situation. New training sessions are already under way to streamline applications, especially for those people with lifelong conditions."

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Senedd Cymru

Asked by Liberal Democrat Jane Dodds about Labour Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood's package of asylum reforms, the first minister says "we've got to note the significant contribution that migrants make to our country. The fact is that, in all kinds of aspects, where we rely on people, we are dependent on people who have come here from other countries, not least the health service, the care service; we're utterly dependent on the skills of these people and their contributions."

Eluned Morgan adds, "we all want to see illegal immigration being addressed, but I think we've got to be extremely sensitive and extremely careful when it comes to creating an otherness of people who have made their homes amongst us."

Jane Dodds says she is "shocked by the Home Secretary's plans that, as we understand, would see children and families - children who are already frightened and vulnerable and potentially very settled in their communities - being ripped out, potentially a forced removal back to a country that many of them don't know. No-one wants to get into a small boat and cross a huge expanse of water, but that's what they're faced with when there are no safe and legal routes."

Under the plans, refugee status will become temporary, guaranteed housing support for asylum seekers will end and new capped "safe and legal routes" into the UK will be created.

So far this year 111,800 people have claimed asylum in the UK - 39% arrived in a small boat, while 37% arrived by legal means before claiming asylum.

The UK government has said its plans are aimed at reducing the number of people coming to the UK and increasing removals of people who do not have a legal right to be in the country.

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Conservative Janet Finch-Saunders says if a resident is moved from Funded Nursing Care (FNC) to Continuing Health Care (CHC), so to a higher level of care, the care home is paid less, which she says "does not make sense".

She warns "in my constituency of Aberconwy, not only have we lost beds in care homes, we have lost care homes. We cannot afford to lose any more care homes due to the older population."

Eluned Morgan says "care homes receive much of their funding directly from the NHS via the continuing NHS health care, and the fee rates for care and support services are set and agreed by local authorities and health boards".

Image source, Senedd Cymru

Image source, Senedd Cymru

Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth refers to what he claims are inconsistencies in what the cabinet secretary for finance Mark Drakeford has said is possible in terms of Barnett formula reform.

He explains, "on 9 October the cabinet secretary for finance was adamant that the Finance: Interministerial Standing Committee was not the forum to advance the case for a needs-based funding formula for Wales. Indeed, he told Heledd Fychan, and I quote, that

'if you think that the FISC is a good place to make progress on it, then, I'm afraid, if you were around the table, you would see that it's absolutely not the context where you're likely to make any progress.' "

Rhun ap Iorwerth adds that the Welsh government "needs to get its story straight, because a few weeks on from saying that progress couldn't be made at that four-nations finance minister forum, the cabinet secretary for finance confirmed in a written answer that he's agreed that FISC is the place where Barnett will be discussed, albeit improving its operation rather than its abolition."

Eluned Morgan replies "we have always said that we want to see a reform of the Barnett formula. We're not talking about replacing the Barnett formula, because if he’d read, actually, the report by Cardiff University recently, he'd have seen that the Barnett floor, which was negotiated in part by the finance secretary, actually ensured that we've got £1 billion of extra finance as a result of that Barnett floor. So, we have to make sure that, when we look at reforming, we don't lose out. There is the potential that this could go the wrong way for us, and I want to make sure that that doesn't happen, and that Barnett floor that the finance secretary negotiated is absolutely critical to that."

The Barnett formula dictates the level of public spending in Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland, allocating funding based on population size and the powers devolved to them.

Cash is determined on whether the UK government increases or decreases funding for departments that cover areas that are devolved.

It is named after its inventor, the former Labour chief secretary to the treasury Joel Barnett, but has proved controversial and has been deemed to have underfunded Wales over the years.

The late Lord Barnett never intended his formula to last so long.

In 2014 he told BBC Radio 4 it was "grossly unfair" and repeated his call for it be scrapped.

He also told the Daily Telegraph in 2014 that introducing it was a "terrible mistake" which had become a national and personal "embarrassment".

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Darren Millar, leader of the Welsh Conservatives in the Senedd, refers to the "devastation" caused in Monmouth by flooding during storm Claudia.

He asks what immediate support will be provided by the Welsh government to those affected.

Eluned Morgan says "it is, of course, important that we stand with these communities, and that's why we have the emergency financial assistance schemes for these very scenarios. I know that the propositions are being built up as we speak, and local government finance officials are working to establish what support can be provided."

Record river levels triggered severe flood warnings last weekend, as the River Monnow rose higher than during Storm Dennis in 2020 and Storm Bert in 2024.

Darren Millar calls for a "rapid review" of the flooding.

He explains, "when we had serious storms back in 2020, the Welsh government commissioned an independent review of what happened in those storms and the response of the various agencies in getting to grips with the problems. It made recommendations and a report was published, but it was three and a half years after the event. Now, we've got to make sure that we learn lessons from these events quickly. So, what assurances can you give that a rapid review will now be undertaken into what's happened, and that speedy action will be taken to invest, as is necessary, to improve those flood defences and help this community, particularly in Monmouth, to get back on its feet, given that it was the hardest hit?"

Eluned Morgan says, "when it comes to investment, we have got a really proud record on this: £375 million this Senedd term [since 2021]; we've protected 45,000 homes; and we're proposing £77 million next year. We are committed to this agenda. This is, actually, addressing the issue of net zero. Sometimes, you talk against the need to address net zero. This is an example of where you have to prepare for a changing climate, a changing environment. And you ask about reviewing, we review after every event. Every single time, there is a group that comes together, that assesses 'What did we do? Could it be done better?' and it's always used and always improved for the next one that comes along."

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Conservative Paul Davies expresses concerns about possible removal of services from Withybush hospital.

He says, "Hywel Dda University Health Board held a public consultation over the summer regarding its plans for clinical services within the health board area. Throughout the process, I have made it clear that I do not support any proposals that result in the removal of services from Withybush hospital. I'm particularly concerned about the potential impact of some of the proposals, such as the possible removal of the intensive care unit and emergency general surgery services. I firmly believe that the people of Pembrokeshire should not have to travel further to access essential healthcare services."

Eluned Morgan replies, "I know that the health board is developing its clinical services plan. That aims to drive improvement, particularly in service fragility. We've got some services where they are utterly dependent on one particular consultant. We need to look at sustainability and quality and performance. Now, what I understand is that people feel very strongly about their local health services. I have clearly made representations in my capacity as a regional member to the chair of the board, but no decision has been made by Hywel Dda University Health Board about the future of identified services in its clinical services plan. I think what we must focus on is sustainability and outcomes: what are the best outcomes we can expect for the public?"

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

Labour's Mike Hedges asks what is the Welsh government doing to develop the co-operative sector.

First Minister Eluned Morgan says "we're not just supporting and developing co-operatives; the Welsh Labour government is championing them, because we know they work. Wales now has 533 co-ops, and that number is growing. Co-operatives keep wealth local, create decent jobs, and put communities in control. Through Social Business Wales, we're providing specialist advice and funding to help new co-ops start up, and existing ones to scale up."

Mike Hedges says "despite some government support, and the involvement of Cwmpas, Wales is still not building co-operative housing at the scale that it's happening in the rest of Europe and North America."

Co-operatives are a type of mutual society, which includes credit unions, building societies, friendly societies and community benefit societies.

While mutuals serve different purposes they are all organisations owned and run by members who are actively involved in the mutual as opposed to external shareholders, external. These members may be customers, workers, producers or other stakeholders.

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Hello and welcome to our live coverage of Eluned Morgan’s forty-third 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.