The Senedd will once again be lit
tonight in the blue and yellow colours of Ukraine’s flag as a sign of
solidarity with Ukraine and its people.
Senedd CymruCopyright: Senedd Cymru
Armed forces liaison officers
The Welsh Government is "absolutely committed to continuing to fund our armed forces liaison officers," says the Trefnydd in response to Conservative Darren Millar seeking that assurance.
Mr Millar says "they've been an incredible addition to the wonderful team that has supported our armed forces community across Wales in recent years, and they do some wonderful work in making sure that the armed forces covenant is being upheld by local authorities and other public sector organisations."
Brexit and the environment
Conservative Janet Finch-Saunders asks "why has your government not prioritised the implementation of the statutory environmental governance oversight body that your government promised during the last Senedd term? Why have you failed on this, Trefnydd?"
The Trefnydd replies "if we hadn't left the European Union, we wouldn't have any gaps in our environmental governance".
On the "vital" role of community pharmacies in improving the health of residents, Lesley Griffiths says the new pharmacy contract, Presgripsiwn Newydd, introduced on 1 April, "has extended the range of clinical services all pharmacies can provide, reducing demand on GPs and supporting access to treatment without the need to wait for an appointment".
She highlights their current role in providing flu vaccines.
The minister was responding to Plaid Cymru's Sioned Williams, who said that "over the last decade, services delivered by community pharmacies have increased, but the numbers of community pharmacies have remained pretty static".
BBCCopyright: BBC
Lesley GriffithsImage caption: Lesley Griffiths
'Slowdown in renewable energy development in Wales'
As
world leaders discuss action to tackle climate change at the COP27 climate
summit in Egypt, Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price questions why "as recently reported by the Climate Change, Environment and Infrastructure Committee, there has been a slowdown in renewable energy development in Wales since 2015"?
The Trefnydd replies "we have certainly increased significantly the amount of renewable energy we produce here in Wales. I don't have the figure to hand, but certainly we had seen an increase, I thought, year on year, over the past few years".
Mr Price calls on the Welsh Government to "emulate the success that we've seen in Scotland. We have the potential, but we have not, to date at least, been able to realise it".
Plaid Cymru's leader also calls on the first minister to reconsider attending the football World Cup in Qatar, saying it would send the "wrong message" for Mark Drakeford to attend the tournament.
His stance follows comments by Qatar World Cup ambassador Khalid Salman that homosexuality is "damage in the mind".
The Trefnydd replies, "I can't answer the question as to whether the first minister will be reconsidering his attendance because, obviously, I'm unable to speak to him - he's unwell - but I'm sure his office will have heard your questions".
ReutersCopyright: Reuters
Qatar World Cup
Andrew RT Davies, leader of the Welsh Conservatives in the
Senedd, says he agrees with the first minister's decision to go to the Qatar World Cup despite a boycott by UK Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer.
But he says he regrets the decision that Deputy Sport Minister Dawn Bowden will not now attend Wales' World Cup match with Iran.
Mr Davies says "I think that would be a positive sign—sending a woman to play [sic] against a country that ultimately is oppressing women's rights—and what we should be doing is having a deputy minister representing the Welsh Government at that match. Can we see if that decision can be rescinded, and ultimately send a positive message that here in Wales women and men are equal and rights are respected, and that should be the world over?"
Lesley Griffiths replies, "as a government, we regularly review how best we can promote Wales on the global stage, and our decision is that it is proportionate for the first minister and another minister to attend two of the group games. If we progress, and we certainly all hope that Wales does progress through the group games and on to the next stage, we'll consider appropriate ministerial attendance at those games."
BBCCopyright: BBC
Andrew RT DaviesImage caption: Andrew RT Davies
Young people and the climate emergency
Plaid Cymru’s Delyth Jewell calls on the Welsh Government
to "engage young people in decisions relating to tackling the climate emergency".
She says the voices of young people "are stubbornly absent from so much decision making on this issue that will determine the rest of their lives".
The Trefnydd Lesley Griffiths refers to the Wales Youth COP event, which is modelled on the UN Conference of the Parties.
Organised by Size of Wales - a charity part funded by the Welsh Government, with a focus on climate and tropical forests - this two-day event "offers young people the chance to experience a large-scale climate change event", say the organisers.
BBCCopyright: BBC
'Once again building council houses'
"It's good to see Caerphilly council once again building council houses," says Lesley Griffiths.
She was responding to her Labour colleague Hefin David who said that building council housing "for the first time in a generation... is something that I think should be praised immeasurably".
The Trefnydd adds, "I think there's a lot of expertise that we've lost over the past 30 years in relation to building council houses, and it's been good to see our partners come together right across the country in relation to that".
'How to give succinct answers in oral questions'
The Trefnydd (business manager) Lesley Griffiths stands in
for First Minister Mark Drakeford, who has tested
positive for Covid.
When the Trefnydd last stood in for the first minister – on 27
September when he chose instead to visit Scotland
to meet Nicola Sturgeon – Lesley Griffiths answered 10 questions in 45 minutes. “Da iawn” (very good) responded the
Llywydd (presiding officer) Elin Jones, who suggested that the Trefnydd gives
the Cabinet “a tutorial on how to give succinct answers in oral questions”.
BBCCopyright: BBC
The Llywydd appreciates "succinct answers"Image caption: The Llywydd appreciates "succinct answers"
Croeso
Hello and welcome to our live
coverage of the twenty-ninth session of First Minister's Questions in 2022.
The meeting is held in a hybrid
format, with some members in the Siambr (Senedd chamber) and others joining by
video-conference.
Live Reporting
Alun Jones
All times stated are UK
Senedd CymruCopyright: Senedd Cymru 
BBCCopyright: BBC Janet Finch-SaundersImage caption: Janet Finch-Saunders 
BBCCopyright: BBC Lesley GriffithsImage caption: Lesley Griffiths 
ReutersCopyright: Reuters 
BBCCopyright: BBC Andrew RT DaviesImage caption: Andrew RT Davies 
BBCCopyright: BBC 
BBCCopyright: BBC The Llywydd appreciates "succinct answers"Image caption: The Llywydd appreciates "succinct answers"
Latest PostHwyl fawr
The twenty-ninth FMQs of 2022 comes to a close.
Thanks for following - join us again next week.
The Senedd will once again be lit tonight in the blue and yellow colours of Ukraine’s flag as a sign of solidarity with Ukraine and its people.
Armed forces liaison officers
The Welsh Government is "absolutely committed to continuing to fund our armed forces liaison officers," says the Trefnydd in response to Conservative Darren Millar seeking that assurance.
Mr Millar says "they've been an incredible addition to the wonderful team that has supported our armed forces community across Wales in recent years, and they do some wonderful work in making sure that the armed forces covenant is being upheld by local authorities and other public sector organisations."
Brexit and the environment
Conservative Janet Finch-Saunders asks "why has your government not prioritised the implementation of the statutory environmental governance oversight body that your government promised during the last Senedd term? Why have you failed on this, Trefnydd?"
The Trefnydd replies "if we hadn't left the European Union, we wouldn't have any gaps in our environmental governance".
Role of community pharmacies
On the "vital" role of community pharmacies in improving the health of residents, Lesley Griffiths says the new pharmacy contract, Presgripsiwn Newydd, introduced on 1 April, "has extended the range of clinical services all pharmacies can provide, reducing demand on GPs and supporting access to treatment without the need to wait for an appointment".
She highlights their current role in providing flu vaccines.
The minister was responding to Plaid Cymru's Sioned Williams, who said that "over the last decade, services delivered by community pharmacies have increased, but the numbers of community pharmacies have remained pretty static".
'Slowdown in renewable energy development in Wales'
As world leaders discuss action to tackle climate change at the COP27 climate summit in Egypt, Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price questions why "as recently reported by the Climate Change, Environment and Infrastructure Committee, there has been a slowdown in renewable energy development in Wales since 2015"?
The Trefnydd replies "we have certainly increased significantly the amount of renewable energy we produce here in Wales. I don't have the figure to hand, but certainly we had seen an increase, I thought, year on year, over the past few years".
Mr Price calls on the Welsh Government to "emulate the success that we've seen in Scotland. We have the potential, but we have not, to date at least, been able to realise it".
Plaid Cymru's leader also calls on the first minister to reconsider attending the football World Cup in Qatar, saying it would send the "wrong message" for Mark Drakeford to attend the tournament. His stance follows comments by Qatar World Cup ambassador Khalid Salman that homosexuality is "damage in the mind".
The Trefnydd replies, "I can't answer the question as to whether the first minister will be reconsidering his attendance because, obviously, I'm unable to speak to him - he's unwell - but I'm sure his office will have heard your questions".
Qatar World Cup
Andrew RT Davies, leader of the Welsh Conservatives in the Senedd, says he agrees with the first minister's decision to go to the Qatar World Cup despite a boycott by UK Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer.
But he says he regrets the decision that Deputy Sport Minister Dawn Bowden will not now attend Wales' World Cup match with Iran.
Mr Davies says "I think that would be a positive sign—sending a woman to play [sic] against a country that ultimately is oppressing women's rights—and what we should be doing is having a deputy minister representing the Welsh Government at that match. Can we see if that decision can be rescinded, and ultimately send a positive message that here in Wales women and men are equal and rights are respected, and that should be the world over?"
Lesley Griffiths replies, "as a government, we regularly review how best we can promote Wales on the global stage, and our decision is that it is proportionate for the first minister and another minister to attend two of the group games. If we progress, and we certainly all hope that Wales does progress through the group games and on to the next stage, we'll consider appropriate ministerial attendance at those games."
Young people and the climate emergency
Plaid Cymru’s Delyth Jewell calls on the Welsh Government to "engage young people in decisions relating to tackling the climate emergency".
She says the voices of young people "are stubbornly absent from so much decision making on this issue that will determine the rest of their lives".
The Trefnydd Lesley Griffiths refers to the Wales Youth COP event, which is modelled on the UN Conference of the Parties.
Organised by Size of Wales - a charity part funded by the Welsh Government, with a focus on climate and tropical forests - this two-day event "offers young people the chance to experience a large-scale climate change event", say the organisers.
'Once again building council houses'
"It's good to see Caerphilly council once again building council houses," says Lesley Griffiths.
She was responding to her Labour colleague Hefin David who said that building council housing "for the first time in a generation... is something that I think should be praised immeasurably".
The Trefnydd adds, "I think there's a lot of expertise that we've lost over the past 30 years in relation to building council houses, and it's been good to see our partners come together right across the country in relation to that".
'How to give succinct answers in oral questions'
The Trefnydd (business manager) Lesley Griffiths stands in for First Minister Mark Drakeford, who has tested positive for Covid.
It is the second time Mr Drakeford, who is 68, has been reported to have had the illness, after he tested positive in February.
When the Trefnydd last stood in for the first minister – on 27 September when he chose instead to visit Scotland to meet Nicola Sturgeon – Lesley Griffiths answered 10 questions in 45 minutes. “Da iawn” (very good) responded the Llywydd (presiding officer) Elin Jones, who suggested that the Trefnydd gives the Cabinet “a tutorial on how to give succinct answers in oral questions”.
Croeso
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the twenty-ninth session of First Minister's Questions in 2022.
The meeting is held in a hybrid format, with some members in the Siambr (Senedd chamber) and others joining by video-conference.