First Minister's Questions: As it happened on 29 November

1. Mark Drakeford answers questions, after missing last week's session to attend the World Cup in Qatar.

Hwyl fawr

The thirty second 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.

Senedd Cymru

UK Government’s autumn statement

Noise levels rise in the Siambr as Conservative Gareth Davies talks about "the £1.2 billion injection to Wales from the UK Government’s autumn statement" and the first minister replies by claiming there is a real-term cut of a billion pounds to the Welsh Government's budget because of inflation.

Ambulance waiting times

On ambulance waiting times, the first minister warns against "foolish comparisons" with England, because "everywhere the system is under enormous pressure, that everywhere clinicians are working extremely hard to try to tackle it, that everywhere governments are trying to find solutions to a problem that is the same in Wales, Scotland, and in England, and worse again in Northern Ireland."

Conservative Laura Anne Jones shares her experience of being in children's A&E with her son last week.

She says, "during the night there were 67 children to see, and two doctors. Demand increases. First minister, what immediate measures are you taking to ensure that our ambulance waiting times improve, and also, ultimately, patients don't pay the ultimate price due to this government's poor planning or lack of action?"

The first minister sets out measures by the Welsh Government to alleviate pressure on the service, including the "urgent primary care centres that have been established now in all parts of Wales".

He also refers to the "recruitment of further additional staff, reformed rota arrangements, reductions in sickness absence and new investment in technology to support clinical decision making."

BBC

Laura Anne Jones

Future of St David's Hall

Rhys ab Owen – currently not affiliated to a political group after being suspended from the Plaid Cymru group in Cardiff Bay pending an investigation by the Senedd's standards watchdog – asks what discussions has the Welsh Government had with Cardiff Council regarding the future of St David's Hall.

He expresses concern about the possibility of a private company taking over its running from the city council.

The offer was made by the Academy Music Group, which owns venues across the UK, including O2 academies in Liverpool, Bristol and Glasgow.

Rhys ab Owen says "as a national concert hall for Wales, St David's Hall has provided excellent opportunities for schoolchildren across the years. I can say myself through Urdd Gobaith Cymru and the school that I was able to perform on the stage of St David's Hall. So, first minister, are you concerned that if Live Nation Inc from Beverley Hills were to take control of St David's Hall that the children of Wales from that point onwards wouldn't have the same experiences?"

First Minister Mark Drakeford replies "I think it's too early to be concerned I think, because we don't know enough details.

"I've had an opportunity today to speak to the council leader here in Cardiff, and I'm sure that he's aware of every point that Rhys ab Owen has raised. So, they are doing the work with not just one company but with more than one company that has shown an interest in collaborating with the council on the future of St David's Hall.

"I know that the council leader has invited every local Senedd Member to meet him to hear about those discussions, and I'm sure that after having the opportunity to speak to Huw Thomas that he will be determined, if there is any agreement on the future, to safeguard not just what the schools do at present in the hall, but community use in its entirety of a very important resource for the lives of people who live in the capital city."

MICK LOBB/ GEOGRAPH

The hall hosts events including the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World

Does Wales have the right to self-determination?

Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price refers to the Supreme Court ruling that the Scottish government cannot hold an independence referendum without the consent of the UK government.

Mr Price asks whether Wales has the right to self-determination.

First Minister Mark Drakeford says "there is a great deal of constitutional repair that needs to be made to the United Kingdom and that the next Labour government will have a real responsibility to make sure that that happens."

Mr Price specifically asks, "would holding a poll on the constitutional future of Wales using secondary legislation, and therefore immune to legal challenge on competence, be permissible, potentially, using this route in your view?"

The first minister replies, "we are studying the judgment and we are making sure that we get advice in the round as to where that judgment impinges on the responsibilities and possibilities of the Senedd. I don’t know enough to be sure that I can answer the leader of Plaid Cymru’s question in all its detail. I have a suspicion that it will not be quite as straightforward as he might think."

Getty Images

The judges have made clear that the law does not allow Holyrood to legislate for an independence referendum without Westminster's agreement.

A&E departments

Andrew RT Davies, leader of the Welsh Conservatives in the Senedd, refers to poor waiting room conditions at hospital emergency department waiting areas, particularly at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff at the weekend.

Pictures were published online of piles of cigarette butts, an overflowing sanitary bin and vomit outside.

Mr Drakeford says the Welsh Government has allocated £2.7 million to upgrade emergency department waiting areas this winter.

He adds that some of the problems are caused by patients.

The first minister refers to "the percentage of people who come there because of alcohol misuse, the behaviour that members of staff have to deal with from a significant minority - it is a minority, but it's there to be seen whenever you are there - of people for whom they are seeking to provide care."

BBC

Andrew RT Davies

'Early stages of recession'

The first minister says the economy "has entered the early stages of recession as a result of the UK Government’s 12-year period of economic mismanagement".

"That will add rising unemployment to the challenges already faced".

BBC

The first minister is one of several MSs today wearing the red ribbon as a symbol of awareness and support for people living with HIV.

Patients' access to their GP

The Llywydd (presiding officer) conducts a ballot to determine the names of members who may table questions to the first minister and Welsh ministers. Each member may enter their name into a ballot.

Conservative Tom Giffard seeks an update on patients' access to their GP.

First Minister Mark Drakeford replies "the general medical standards, agreed with GPs in Wales, are improving access and ensuring consistency across the nation. Achievement has increased year on year, with 89 per cent of all practices now achieving all the standards."

Mr Giffard says he's "getting increasing correspondence from constituents in Porthcawl concerned about the availability of an appointment with their local GP".

Getty Images

Some patients have trouble getting through to their GP surgery

Business as usual

The Trefnydd (business manager) Lesley Griffiths stood in for First Minister Mark Drakeford last week, after he attended the Wales vs USA match in Qatar.

The line-up of party leaders is back to normal today.

BBC/Getty

Mark Drakeford/Adam Price/Andrew RT Davies

Croeso

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

Senedd

MSs gathered in the Siambr a fortnight ago to wish the Wales football team the best of luck at the World Cup