The thirty third 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

The first minister says he shares the disappointment expressed by Plaid Cymru's Luke Fletcher over the latest round of closure of bank branches, announced last week by HSBC.

Mr Fletcher calls for expediting the opening of the Banc Cambria community bank network.

The first minister replies, "we'd like it to happen as quickly as possible. The reasons for it not being as quick as we would like are just the technical ones, the challenging ones of licensing in the financial services area, and that is part, as the Member knows, of why we are working in partnership with the Monmouthshire Building Society, because it already has a number of those conditions, in what is a tightly regulated sector."

In Wales, HSBC will be closing branches in Abergavenny, Brecon, Colwyn Bay, Cowbridge, Pontypool, Penarth, Chepstow, Port Talbot, Denbigh, Tenby and Cardiff (Rhyd y Pennau).

Image source, Getty Images

The first minister is told about individual cases of MSs' constituents' poor experiences with the NHS, leading them to seek private treatment.

The first minister says, "I want to see an NHS that can respond to need in a clinically timely way and that is available to all who choose to use it. The NHS provides almost all of the primary and emergency care provided in Wales. Where patients choose to use the independent sector, they are, of course, free to do so."

Mr Drakeford says the report on how Britain could look under a Labour UK government - by a commission led by ex-Prime Minister Gordon Brown - was a "first step" towards the devolution of justice, before he gets angry with Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price over his view that "the Brown commission recommendation to devolve just youth justice and probation takes us back 10 years in the devolution debate in Wales".

Then Labour's Hefin David asks for an up sum of the benefits of the co-operation deal between Labour and Plaid Cymru.

Everyone laughs at the timing.

The first minister then adds, "by working together, we have made real progress on a range of joint commitments that have a direct impact on people's ability to manage during this cost-of-living crisis. These include free school meals, the expansion of free childcare, and measures that help people to live in their local communities."

Referring to today's census results, Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price says one of the main factors contributing to the overall decrease in the number of Welsh speakers is fewer Welsh speakers aged three to 15 years old.

Mr Price says this demonstrates "that a central element of the government's policy, namely developing Welsh-medium education across Wales, is failing. Ten years ago the ambition of a million Welsh speakers was put in place as part of the response to the decline in the census figures at that point. Don't we now need to recognise that the actions are not sufficient to reach the target by 2050?

"As with climate change, goodwill is not the same as delivering against targets, so wouldn't the most positive response to today's news be to ensure that the Welsh education Bill that is proposed, which would provide Welsh-medium education for all children in Wales, has a clear and adequate timetable?"

The first minister says the census results are "complex" and that time is needed to analyse what lies behind them.

Mr Drakeford says that Mr Price's suggestion of a Welsh language education for all would lose support for the language more widely.

The first minister explains, "compulsory education for everybody through the medium of Welsh is not the answer to the Welsh language in Wales. It will alienate people who are sympathetic to the Welsh language; it will set the language backwards not forwards. Now, you are perfectly entitled to make that your policy, if you like, but I'm clear with you, as clear as I can: it will not be the policy of the Welsh Government."

Andrew RT Davies, leader of the Welsh Conservatives in the Senedd, refers to comments by BMA Cymru chairwoman Dr Iona Collins who said:

"Ever since the NHS has been in existence we have always been, what I feel is now in hindsight, crying wolf. We always say 'we don't have enough staff, we don't have enough resources, patients are coming to harm' and this is what we hear, year after year. Now, as far as I see this, the wolf is here. I don't see how things can get any worse."

Mr Davies says it is further evidence of "the critical and very acute situation that hospitals and the primary care sector are finding when it comes to retaining and attracting staff".

The first minister says Dr Iona Collins made "a brave statement...to recognise that, on many occasions in the past, the word 'crisis' has been used by the BMA, and that has devalued that term."

He adds "I accept the struggle and the stress that there is in the Welsh NHS, that recruitment is difficult in some places, that it's not always an attractive prospect to come in to the service".

However, he emphasises "there are more people working in the Welsh NHS in every single category of people, and that includes every health board as well."

“Does that mean we don't need more? Of course not,” says the first minister.

On the Welsh Government's commitment to Wales being "a nation of sanctuary", the first minister says it is "undiminished", but that "regrettably, many of the UK Government’s immigration policies, such as the Nationality and Borders Act 2022, hamper our efforts to foster integration and community cohesion".

The Llywydd (presiding officer) Elin Jones 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.

The MS for Ynys Môn, Rhun ap Iorwerth, asks what support is available to businesses following the closure of the Menai bridge.

First Minister Mark Drakeford says a support package has been announced for people affected, including free parking, traffic flow solutions, access to active travel routes and additional bus stops.

Rhun ap Iorwerth adds, "I appreciate what was announced last week—free parking for example—but there is real doubt as to what impact that will have in reality, and we do need some means of finding ways to support businesses directly. There are many options. One suggestion is that businesses could delay the repayment of bounce back loans to the bank of Wales, and that's something that could be considered. But, certainly, we need some model of direct support."

The first minister responds, "there will be an analysis of that data conducted by our officials, and by people who are working for Ynys Môn and Gwynedd, to see what else we can do to help businesses in the area who have seen a decline in the number of people who can come through the door, and the impact that that's having on everything that they're doing."

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