Conservative James Evans says the Welsh government has ignored and angered farmers with its sustainable farming scheme.
He asks, "with the colossal 5,500 job losses, the £200 million loss to the economy and the massive reduction in livestock numbers, outlined by an impact assessment that this government commissioned, how can farmers trust you and the rural affairs minister when you say that you will listen to the consultation?"
The first minister says that change, although "challenging", is unavoidable because the UK has left the European Union.
"When change happens, people are anxious and people are worried and people are indeed distressed. I understand that. That is why we go on having the conversations that we do".
He adds "I am confident there will be further amendments to the scheme as a result of the consultation and conversations that are currently being held".
Liberal Democrat Jane Dodds calls for more consideration of the mental health of farmers.
BBCCopyright: BBC
Protesters argue the Welsh government's proposals are not practical while running a business and fear they could be overwhelmed with paperworkImage caption: Protesters argue the Welsh government's proposals are not practical while running a business and fear they could be overwhelmed with paperwork
'Toxic' sites
Plaid
Cymru’s Peredur
Owen Griffiths raises the issue of the “safety
of toxic sites in the south east”, and calls for a map and register of such places in Wales.
The first minister replies, "there isn't going to be a swift route to the register that the member suggests, but there is a potential route that will come in front of the Senedd later this year" - the disused mines Bill.
Conservative Laura Anne Jones refers to the Tŷ Llwyd quarry in the village of Ynysddu, Caerphilly
county, which was used in the 1960s and '70s as a dump site by the now-defunct
chemicals manufacturer Monsanto. Villagers have complained multiple times about a
foul-smelling brown, foamy liquid flowing from the quarry after heavy rain
through the woodland, which they said has been happening for at least 20 years.
Mr
Drakeford replies "the regulators do not currently consider there is a risk to public health at Tŷ Llwyd, but the local authority - who, let's remember, themselves identified this quarry as a cause of concern back in the 1990s - the local authority has commissioned Arcadis to do an options appraisal to look at better ways in future in which leachate from the site can be managed."
BBCCopyright: BBC
Laura Anne JonesImage caption: Laura Anne Jones
'Fair funding for Wales'
Plaid
Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth says Mark Drakeford is "failing" to persuade Keir Starmer of the case for "fair funding for Wales".
Rhun ap Iorwerth says, "Plaid Cymru has long argued that Wales is not funded fairly, we can certainly agree on that. But does the Labour Party agree - Keir Starmer's Labour Party - does he agree that Wales is not fairly funded? And if he does, why isn't he still pledging to put that right, even on something as fundamentally unjust as the loss of billions of pounds of HS2 consequentials? And why is the first minister failing to persuade him?
Mr Drakeford accuses the Plaid Cymru leader of asking questions more appropriate for Westminster.
He says, "we have this question week after week after week, in which the member wants to ask questions of somebody who isn't in the Senedd about responsibilities that aren't exercised in the Senedd. I've said to him before, there's a place where he could ask those questions and maybe he'd rather be there."
BBCCopyright: BBC
Rhun ap IorwerthImage caption: Rhun ap Iorwerth
Sustainable farming?
BBCCopyright: BBC
Andrew RT DaviesImage caption: Andrew RT Davies
Andrew RT Davies, leader of the Welsh Conservatives in the
Senedd, refers to the "anger, the frustration, and the deep, deep concern that farmers have" about the Welsh government's Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS).
He says that "every survey indicates that for every £1 spent by the taxpayer in support for the agricultural industry between £7 and £9 is returned in public goods".
The first minister replies "the public in Wales will go on investing in farming and the public is entitled to see a return on that investment. That is what the sustainable farming scheme is all about. At the very top of the list is the investment that we will make in sustainable food production, but, alongside that, there are other things, very important things, that farmers do today that we want to go on rewarding them for doing in the future - all those environmental stewardship things, that, in an era of climate change, take on an even greater significance. So, there is a bargain here."
Andrew RT Davies says the scheme as it is currently designed "will devalue farms, cost jobs and devastate the ability to deliver food that the nation requires for the future".
In response Mr Drakeford says "I think it's important that I remind the leader of the opposition why we are in the position that we are in: it's because farmers in Wales took his advice and voted to leave the European Union."
Plans for the SFS - the Welsh government's proposals to replace farming subsidies after Brexit - have sparked demonstrations and protests.
To gain access farmers will have to commit to planting 10% of their land with trees and earmark another 10% as wildlife habitat.
BBCCopyright: BBC
Thousands of farmers have gathering for mass meetings, such as in CarmarthenImage caption: Thousands of farmers have gathering for mass meetings, such as in Carmarthen
Domestic violence
Mabon ap Gwynfor says instances of domestic violence in north Wales are "frightening".
He says, "65 per cent of all crime in north Wales relates to domestic violence. There are more cases of domestic violence and sexual violence in north Wales than in any other part of the UK outside of London. That's why the work of Gorwel is so very important. The first minister will be aware of Gorwel - a programme by the Cynefin social housing group, which is funded through the housing support grant."
He calls for the protection of the housing support grant to maintain services for victims.
The first minister replies, "the figures that the member has referred to, it's very difficult to hear them. But one of the reasons why we have those figures is because agencies such as Gorwel, and others, raise awareness and provide confidence to people to come forward and report incidents to the police, and so forth."
He adds, "when the funding that we have is not adequate to do everything that we want to do as a government, there are tough decisions to be made".
BBCCopyright: BBC
Mabon ap GwynforImage caption: Mabon ap Gwynfor
Apprenticeship opportunities?
Llywydd 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.
Conservative Russell George expresses concerns about the Welsh government's budget cuts to apprenticeships.
Among the cuts made last October throughout the Welsh
government's budget - to move cash to
the NHS and to keep trains running - was
£17.5m less for apprenticeship funding.
The first minister replies that the government continues to make "significant investment" in apprenticeships, £138m in the next financial year.
BBCCopyright: BBC
Croeso
Hello and
welcome to our live coverage of the sixth session of First Minister's Questions
in 2024.
The meeting is held in a hybrid
format, with some members in the Siambr (Senedd chamber) and others
joining by video-conference.
You can click on the play
button above to watch the proceedings from 1.30pm.
Live Reporting
Alun Jones
All times stated are UK
BBCCopyright: BBC Mark DrakefordImage caption: Mark Drakeford 
BBCCopyright: BBC Protesters argue the Welsh government's proposals are not practical while running a business and fear they could be overwhelmed with paperworkImage caption: Protesters argue the Welsh government's proposals are not practical while running a business and fear they could be overwhelmed with paperwork 
BBCCopyright: BBC Laura Anne JonesImage caption: Laura Anne Jones 
BBCCopyright: BBC Rhun ap IorwerthImage caption: Rhun ap Iorwerth 
BBCCopyright: BBC Andrew RT DaviesImage caption: Andrew RT Davies 
BBCCopyright: BBC Thousands of farmers have gathering for mass meetings, such as in CarmarthenImage caption: Thousands of farmers have gathering for mass meetings, such as in Carmarthen 
BBCCopyright: BBC Mabon ap GwynforImage caption: Mabon ap Gwynfor 
BBCCopyright: BBC
Latest PostHwyl fawr
The sixth FMQs of 2024 comes to a close.
Thanks for following - join us again next week.
Farmers 'ignored' by Welsh government
Conservative James Evans says the Welsh government has ignored and angered farmers with its sustainable farming scheme.
He asks, "with the colossal 5,500 job losses, the £200 million loss to the economy and the massive reduction in livestock numbers, outlined by an impact assessment that this government commissioned, how can farmers trust you and the rural affairs minister when you say that you will listen to the consultation?"
The first minister says that change, although "challenging", is unavoidable because the UK has left the European Union.
"When change happens, people are anxious and people are worried and people are indeed distressed. I understand that. That is why we go on having the conversations that we do".
He adds "I am confident there will be further amendments to the scheme as a result of the consultation and conversations that are currently being held".
Liberal Democrat Jane Dodds calls for more consideration of the mental health of farmers.
'Toxic' sites
Plaid Cymru’s Peredur Owen Griffiths raises the issue of the “safety of toxic sites in the south east”, and calls for a map and register of such places in Wales.
The first minister replies, "there isn't going to be a swift route to the register that the member suggests, but there is a potential route that will come in front of the Senedd later this year" - the disused mines Bill.
Conservative Laura Anne Jones refers to the Tŷ Llwyd quarry in the village of Ynysddu, Caerphilly county, which was used in the 1960s and '70s as a dump site by the now-defunct chemicals manufacturer Monsanto. Villagers have complained multiple times about a foul-smelling brown, foamy liquid flowing from the quarry after heavy rain through the woodland, which they said has been happening for at least 20 years.
Mr Drakeford replies "the regulators do not currently consider there is a risk to public health at Tŷ Llwyd, but the local authority - who, let's remember, themselves identified this quarry as a cause of concern back in the 1990s - the local authority has commissioned Arcadis to do an options appraisal to look at better ways in future in which leachate from the site can be managed."
'Fair funding for Wales'
Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth says Mark Drakeford is "failing" to persuade Keir Starmer of the case for "fair funding for Wales".
Rhun ap Iorwerth says, "Plaid Cymru has long argued that Wales is not funded fairly, we can certainly agree on that. But does the Labour Party agree - Keir Starmer's Labour Party - does he agree that Wales is not fairly funded? And if he does, why isn't he still pledging to put that right, even on something as fundamentally unjust as the loss of billions of pounds of HS2 consequentials? And why is the first minister failing to persuade him?
Mr Drakeford accuses the Plaid Cymru leader of asking questions more appropriate for Westminster.
He says, "we have this question week after week after week, in which the member wants to ask questions of somebody who isn't in the Senedd about responsibilities that aren't exercised in the Senedd. I've said to him before, there's a place where he could ask those questions and maybe he'd rather be there."
Sustainable farming?
Andrew RT Davies, leader of the Welsh Conservatives in the Senedd, refers to the "anger, the frustration, and the deep, deep concern that farmers have" about the Welsh government's Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS).
He says that "every survey indicates that for every £1 spent by the taxpayer in support for the agricultural industry between £7 and £9 is returned in public goods".
The first minister replies "the public in Wales will go on investing in farming and the public is entitled to see a return on that investment. That is what the sustainable farming scheme is all about. At the very top of the list is the investment that we will make in sustainable food production, but, alongside that, there are other things, very important things, that farmers do today that we want to go on rewarding them for doing in the future - all those environmental stewardship things, that, in an era of climate change, take on an even greater significance. So, there is a bargain here."
Andrew RT Davies says the scheme as it is currently designed "will devalue farms, cost jobs and devastate the ability to deliver food that the nation requires for the future".
In response Mr Drakeford says "I think it's important that I remind the leader of the opposition why we are in the position that we are in: it's because farmers in Wales took his advice and voted to leave the European Union."
Plans for the SFS - the Welsh government's proposals to replace farming subsidies after Brexit - have sparked demonstrations and protests.
To gain access farmers will have to commit to planting 10% of their land with trees and earmark another 10% as wildlife habitat.
Domestic violence
Mabon ap Gwynfor says instances of domestic violence in north Wales are "frightening".
He says, "65 per cent of all crime in north Wales relates to domestic violence. There are more cases of domestic violence and sexual violence in north Wales than in any other part of the UK outside of London. That's why the work of Gorwel is so very important. The first minister will be aware of Gorwel - a programme by the Cynefin social housing group, which is funded through the housing support grant."
He calls for the protection of the housing support grant to maintain services for victims.
The first minister replies, "the figures that the member has referred to, it's very difficult to hear them. But one of the reasons why we have those figures is because agencies such as Gorwel, and others, raise awareness and provide confidence to people to come forward and report incidents to the police, and so forth."
He adds, "when the funding that we have is not adequate to do everything that we want to do as a government, there are tough decisions to be made".
Apprenticeship opportunities?
Llywydd 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.
Conservative Russell George expresses concerns about the Welsh government's budget cuts to apprenticeships.
Among the cuts made last October throughout the Welsh government's budget - to move cash to the NHS and to keep trains running - was £17.5m less for apprenticeship funding.
The first minister replies that the government continues to make "significant investment" in apprenticeships, £138m in the next financial year.
Croeso
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the sixth session of First Minister's Questions in 2024.
The meeting is held in a hybrid format, with some members in the Siambr (Senedd chamber) and others joining by video-conference.
You can click on the play button above to watch the proceedings from 1.30pm.