The thirty first FMQs of 2022 comes to a close.

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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.

Image source, Senedd Cymru

After Gilestone Farm in Powys was controversially bought by the Welsh government for £4.5m, Conservative James Evans says it would be "a perfect place for an agricultural college".

Lesley Griffiths says "Gilestone farm is currently being managed appropriately to ensure that the asset is maintained whilst discussions on the long-term future of the site are concluded".

Mr Evans says "South Powys is in need of an agricultural college" and calls for the land to be "used for farming and to help the next generations of young farmers".

Image source, Green Man

On the UK Government's autumn statement, Lesley Griffiths says "the additional funding that the Welsh Government has been given - £1.2 billion over the next two years - will not fill the big gaps in our budget", but she says the Welsh Government will aim to "shield the most vulnerable".

Conservative Darren Millar accuses her of being "very uncharitable" about the autumn statement. He says "the Welsh Government has currently got its largest budget ever. It's a record-breaking budget, and it's going to go up over the next two years."

Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price refers to news of fresh talks to try to avert a strike by NHS staff in Scotland, and asks why the Welsh Government doesn't follow the example of its Scottish counterpart.

The Trefnydd replies "our current financial settlement falls short of a huge amount of what really is needed to meet the very significant challenges that are faced by our public services and workers across Wales".

Mr Price also raises the case of the ex-Wales football captain Laura McAllister, who has described being asked to remove her "rainbow wall" bucket hat as she entered a World Cup stadium in Qatar.

Lesley Griffiths says action against the use of the rainbow imagery at the World Cup has been "outrageous". She says she knows someone who was asked to take rainbow laces out of their trainers.

She adds, "It's completely and utterly unacceptable, and I know we have been in dialogue with the embassy in Doha, trying to seek some urgent clarification that rainbow bucket hats, laces or T-shirts are not banned from stadia, and I very much hope we won't see a repeat of that."

Andrew RT Davies, leader of the Welsh Conservatives in the Senedd, refers to the investigation into allegations of corruption, misogyny, racism and homophobia at Gwent Police.

He says "I have no confidence in the senior leadership of the Gwent force, whether that be at officer level or whether that be at the police and crime commissioner level. These revelations are horrendous to say the least."

Lesley Griffiths replies "policing is not devolved to Wales, it is a matter for the UK Government, it's a responsibility for the UK Government, but of course we work very closely with our policing partners here in Wales.

"I know, as a government—certainly, the Minister for Social Justice has taken these reports very seriously and I'm sure, following on from the comments that you've referred to by the family, will want further reassurance. She has sought reassurance from both the chief constable and also the Gwent PCC and has met with both of them to discuss the allegations and has been reassured that Gwent Police are taking these allegations very seriously."

Ricky Jones appeared to be a respected officer with Gwent Police, before he retired in 2017.

He took his own life near the Prince of Wales Bridge in 2020.

But his widow and daughter said he was controlling and abusive at home.

Reports of offensive messages between Ricky Jones and both serving and retired officers emerged earlier this month.

Image source, FAMILY PHOTO

Asked by Conservative Laura Anne Jones whether "the additional funding provided to schools in England by the UK government be matched by the Welsh Government for schools in Wales", the Trefnydd replies "as shown by recent analysis from HM Treasury, spending per person on education in Wales was 17 per cent higher than in England in 2021-22. We will provide further details in our 2023-24 draft budget."

Image source, PA Media

The Labour MS for Newport West, Jayne Bryant asks "what assessment has the first minister made of the impact of the UK Government's decision to block the acquisition of Newport Wafer Fab by Nexperia BV?"

The Trefnydd replies "the Welsh Government welcomes the fact the announcement has finally been made, which has provided some welcome clarity".

She adds, "as a government we don't have the expertise to assess the security issues at stake".

She also says that "Newport boasts a globally significant semiconductor cluster, and the UK Government does have a responsibility to ensure that it's not held back as a result of this episode."

The UK government ordered the company to sell 86% of the site, citing national security.

Newport Wafer Fab was acquired by Dutch-based technology company Nexperia, a subsidiary of Shanghai listed Wingtech, in July 2021.

Semiconductors, or chips, made at the factory are used in millions of electronic products, from smartphones to household equipment and cars.

The plant specialises in making chips that move power around a device.

A UK government review found it created two risks to national security - that it could "undermine UK capabilities" in producing compound semiconductors, and could "facilitate access to technological expertise and know-how".

The firm has said it was "shocked" and would appeal the decision.

Image source, Newport Wafer Fab

When the Trefnydd stood in for the first minister on 27 September, 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”.

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the thirty first 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.

The Trefnydd (business manager) Lesley Griffiths stands in for First Minister Mark Drakeford, who was at the Wales vs USA match in Qatar last night.

Image source, Senedd