Vaughan Gething’s ninth session as first minister comes to a close.
SeneddCopyright: Senedd
Vaughan GethingImage caption: Vaughan Gething
Devolution of powers to the Senedd
Plaid Cymru's Llyr Gruffydd asks "what is the Welsh government's position on the further devolution of powers to the Senedd?"
The first minister says "we established the Independent Commission on the Constitutional Future of Wales to develop options to strengthen devolution to the Senedd. We have accepted the commission's recommendations in full, and are now taking forward this ambitious agenda for Wales".
Mr Gruffydd says "in your leadership campaign manifesto, you called for specific powers to be devolved to the Senedd, didn't you? They included the Crown Estate, justice and policing. You even called for potential borrowing powers. Now, as we've already heard, your UK Labour colleagues over the last week have constantly undermined your and your government's calls for further devolution of some of those powers, and the shadow Secretary of State has said that the powers over police and justice would stay in Westminster."
The first minister replies, "we have a manifesto pledge to consider taking forward probation and youth justice devolution, and I look forward to working with an incoming UK Labour government to deliver that. When it comes to structural funds, it is simply not as the member has outlined. The wording of the manifesto is clear: Labour will restore decision-making over the allocation of structural funds. There's no fudge about that. That is what the manifesto says. And on rail infrastructure, I want devolution with the resources to deliver it."
SeneddCopyright: Senedd
Llyr GruffyddImage caption: Llyr Gruffydd
Vote of no confidence
Asked by Conservative Tom Giffard how he is "responding to the Senedd's vote of no confidence in his leadership", the first minister replies, "I recognise and respect the vote of the Senedd. I look forward to working to regain the confidence of members from across the chamber, and ensure that the government that I lead is focused on the priorities of the people of Wales".
Earlier this month, after one of the most extraordinary debates in the 25 years of Welsh devolution, 29 Senedd members voted in favour of the no confidence resolution while 27 voted against.
Conservative Janet Finch-Saunders raises the issue of "environmental pollution".
She draws attention to the fact that the company at the centre of the Vaughan Gething donation controversy has been criticised for its management of a landfill site.
Natural Resources Wales has said there were "several serious permit breaches" and "poor management" at Withyhedge in Pembrokeshire.
Janet Finch-Saunders says "even this month, with ongoing criminal investigations, NRW has been unable to clarify the compliance of Mr Neal's company - somebody you know very well - operating the Withyhedge landfill site, because the company has failed to file the necessary paperwork. NRW also now note, which is concerning, that there is now no deadline for the paperwork, further perpetuating the pollution of Pembrokeshire residents. This is a disgrace."
The first minister replies "I've been very clear and I'll be clear again about not just the pollution at Withyhedge but in any site where NRW are operating and feel that there is a need for improvement. As the regulator, they need to work with the site operator, they need to work with local public health authorities and with the council with the different responsibilities they have. I expect them to do that to deliver improvement. Any operator that needs to make improvement needs to undertake the required action and the independent monitoring that needs to take place to ensure that it does happen."
Resources Management UK Limited (RML), part of Dauson Environmental Group (DEG), has said work was being carried out.
DEG is owned by David John Neal, who was given a suspended sentence of three months in 2013 for illegally dumping waste, and a suspended sentence of 18 weeks in 2017 for not cleaning it up.
Mr Gething has faced mounting pressure for accepting £200,000 from DEG for his leadership campaign.
COLIN BARNETTCopyright: COLIN BARNETT
The site's operators are part of Dauson Environmental Group, which donated £200,000 to Vaughan Gething's Labour leadership election campaignImage caption: The site's operators are part of Dauson Environmental Group, which donated £200,000 to Vaughan Gething's Labour leadership election campaign
Next steps for devolution?
Heledd Fychan stands in for Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap
Iorwerth.
She says "not a day goes by without it becoming clear that Welsh Labour's HQ is firmly based in London".
Referring to Labour's general election manifesto, she says "I haven't seen anything about a HS2 consequential; no devolution of policing and justice," adding there is no "commitment on the issue of structural funds".
Labour's manifesto said it would "explore" the devolution of probation, and "consider" the devolution of youth justice.
The cautious language was despite a report by former prime minister Gordon Brown which gave support to both proposals.
The first minister replies that the Labour manifesto promises to "restore decision-making over the allocation of structural funds".
He adds, "the council of nations and regions is in the manifesto; the strengthening of Sewel, in the manifesto; the devolution of employment support funding, in the manifesto; the work to take forward the consideration of youth justice and probation, in the manifesto, and I am confident we will secure the end results; updating the fiscal framework, in the manifesto."
SeneddCopyright: Senedd
Heledd FychanImage caption: Heledd Fychan
North Wales mainline
Andrew RT Davies, leader
of the Welsh Conservatives in the Senedd, says "I've looked at the Labour Party manifesto, the national Labour manifesto - it keeps insomniacs awake, I might add - but, it doesn't have any commitments in it to the electrification of the north Wales line. Why can you not find one single word about electrification of the north Wales line?"
He says his own party has a commitment that the north Wales mainline is to be electrified using £1bn that was earmarked for HS2.
The first minister replies, "there are clear commitments to invest in the future of rail services. What we saw before the election was an uncosted pledge to invest a sum of money in north Wales with no plan attached to it. I look forward to working with a government that will seriously take into account the way that we run rail services here in Wales, our ambitions for improvement in the future, and, when it makes spending pledges, they'll be real, not illusory pledges".
SeneddCopyright: Senedd
Andrew RT DaviesImage caption: Andrew RT Davies
Waiting lists in the Welsh NHS
The first minister says "we know that we do have a challenge to meet and the longer term trend shows those lists are coming down. It was obviously disappointing that in the last month there was a moderate rise in the numbers who were waiting. But it is still the case that the trends are for those long waits to reduce".
SeneddCopyright: Senedd
Vaughan GethingImage caption: Vaughan Gething
18,000 'problem gamblers' in Wales
Llywydd Elin Jones conducts a ballot to determine the names of
members who may table questions to the first minister.
Liberal Democrat Jane Dodds asks "what support does the Welsh government provide to services working to mitigate gambling-related harms?" She says "the scourge of gambling addiction remains a grave public health issue which ravages the lives of families and individuals across Wales. A 2022 national survey found that 63 per cent of Welsh adults had gambled in the prior year - a significant spike from 52 per cent in 2018".
First Minister Vaughan Gething replies "we work with a variety of partners to support those affected by gambling-related harm, including organisations that provide help, support and advocacy services. Our officials are currently assessing how we could develop specialist NHS treatment provision here in Wales".
He adds "we know that there are, on our own understanding, around 18,000 people in Wales who are assessed as being problem gamblers, with all of the significant consequences that come for them, their families and communities around them".
SeneddCopyright: Senedd
Jane DoddsImage caption: Jane Dodds
Croeso
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of
Vaughan Gething’s ninth session of First Minister's Questions.
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
SeneddCopyright: Senedd Vaughan GethingImage caption: Vaughan Gething 
SeneddCopyright: Senedd Llyr GruffyddImage caption: Llyr Gruffydd 
SeneddCopyright: Senedd Janet Finch-SaundersImage caption: Janet Finch-Saunders 
COLIN BARNETTCopyright: COLIN BARNETT The site's operators are part of Dauson Environmental Group, which donated £200,000 to Vaughan Gething's Labour leadership election campaignImage caption: The site's operators are part of Dauson Environmental Group, which donated £200,000 to Vaughan Gething's Labour leadership election campaign 
SeneddCopyright: Senedd Heledd FychanImage caption: Heledd Fychan 
SeneddCopyright: Senedd Andrew RT DaviesImage caption: Andrew RT Davies 
SeneddCopyright: Senedd Vaughan GethingImage caption: Vaughan Gething 
SeneddCopyright: Senedd Jane DoddsImage caption: Jane Dodds
Latest PostHwyl fawr
Vaughan Gething’s ninth session as first minister comes to a close.
Devolution of powers to the Senedd
Plaid Cymru's Llyr Gruffydd asks "what is the Welsh government's position on the further devolution of powers to the Senedd?"
The first minister says "we established the Independent Commission on the Constitutional Future of Wales to develop options to strengthen devolution to the Senedd. We have accepted the commission's recommendations in full, and are now taking forward this ambitious agenda for Wales".
Mr Gruffydd says "in your leadership campaign manifesto, you called for specific powers to be devolved to the Senedd, didn't you? They included the Crown Estate, justice and policing. You even called for potential borrowing powers. Now, as we've already heard, your UK Labour colleagues over the last week have constantly undermined your and your government's calls for further devolution of some of those powers, and the shadow Secretary of State has said that the powers over police and justice would stay in Westminster."
The first minister replies, "we have a manifesto pledge to consider taking forward probation and youth justice devolution, and I look forward to working with an incoming UK Labour government to deliver that. When it comes to structural funds, it is simply not as the member has outlined. The wording of the manifesto is clear: Labour will restore decision-making over the allocation of structural funds. There's no fudge about that. That is what the manifesto says. And on rail infrastructure, I want devolution with the resources to deliver it."
Vote of no confidence
Asked by Conservative Tom Giffard how he is "responding to the Senedd's vote of no confidence in his leadership", the first minister replies, "I recognise and respect the vote of the Senedd. I look forward to working to regain the confidence of members from across the chamber, and ensure that the government that I lead is focused on the priorities of the people of Wales".
Earlier this month, after one of the most extraordinary debates in the 25 years of Welsh devolution, 29 Senedd members voted in favour of the no confidence resolution while 27 voted against.
'Environmental pollution'
Conservative Janet Finch-Saunders raises the issue of "environmental pollution".
She draws attention to the fact that the company at the centre of the Vaughan Gething donation controversy has been criticised for its management of a landfill site.
Natural Resources Wales has said there were "several serious permit breaches" and "poor management" at Withyhedge in Pembrokeshire.
Janet Finch-Saunders says "even this month, with ongoing criminal investigations, NRW has been unable to clarify the compliance of Mr Neal's company - somebody you know very well - operating the Withyhedge landfill site, because the company has failed to file the necessary paperwork. NRW also now note, which is concerning, that there is now no deadline for the paperwork, further perpetuating the pollution of Pembrokeshire residents. This is a disgrace."
The first minister replies "I've been very clear and I'll be clear again about not just the pollution at Withyhedge but in any site where NRW are operating and feel that there is a need for improvement. As the regulator, they need to work with the site operator, they need to work with local public health authorities and with the council with the different responsibilities they have. I expect them to do that to deliver improvement. Any operator that needs to make improvement needs to undertake the required action and the independent monitoring that needs to take place to ensure that it does happen."
Resources Management UK Limited (RML), part of Dauson Environmental Group (DEG), has said work was being carried out.
DEG is owned by David John Neal, who was given a suspended sentence of three months in 2013 for illegally dumping waste, and a suspended sentence of 18 weeks in 2017 for not cleaning it up.
Mr Gething has faced mounting pressure for accepting £200,000 from DEG for his leadership campaign.
Next steps for devolution?
Heledd Fychan stands in for Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth.
She says "not a day goes by without it becoming clear that Welsh Labour's HQ is firmly based in London".
Referring to Labour's general election manifesto, she says "I haven't seen anything about a HS2 consequential; no devolution of policing and justice," adding there is no "commitment on the issue of structural funds".
Labour's manifesto said it would "explore" the devolution of probation, and "consider" the devolution of youth justice.
The cautious language was despite a report by former prime minister Gordon Brown which gave support to both proposals.
The first minister replies that the Labour manifesto promises to "restore decision-making over the allocation of structural funds".
He adds, "the council of nations and regions is in the manifesto; the strengthening of Sewel, in the manifesto; the devolution of employment support funding, in the manifesto; the work to take forward the consideration of youth justice and probation, in the manifesto, and I am confident we will secure the end results; updating the fiscal framework, in the manifesto."
North Wales mainline
Andrew RT Davies, leader of the Welsh Conservatives in the Senedd, says "I've looked at the Labour Party manifesto, the national Labour manifesto - it keeps insomniacs awake, I might add - but, it doesn't have any commitments in it to the electrification of the north Wales line. Why can you not find one single word about electrification of the north Wales line?"
He says his own party has a commitment that the north Wales mainline is to be electrified using £1bn that was earmarked for HS2.
The first minister replies, "there are clear commitments to invest in the future of rail services. What we saw before the election was an uncosted pledge to invest a sum of money in north Wales with no plan attached to it. I look forward to working with a government that will seriously take into account the way that we run rail services here in Wales, our ambitions for improvement in the future, and, when it makes spending pledges, they'll be real, not illusory pledges".
Waiting lists in the Welsh NHS
The first minister says "we know that we do have a challenge to meet and the longer term trend shows those lists are coming down. It was obviously disappointing that in the last month there was a moderate rise in the numbers who were waiting. But it is still the case that the trends are for those long waits to reduce".
18,000 'problem gamblers' in Wales
Llywydd Elin Jones conducts a ballot to determine the names of members who may table questions to the first minister.
Liberal Democrat Jane Dodds asks "what support does the Welsh government provide to services working to mitigate gambling-related harms?" She says "the scourge of gambling addiction remains a grave public health issue which ravages the lives of families and individuals across Wales. A 2022 national survey found that 63 per cent of Welsh adults had gambled in the prior year - a significant spike from 52 per cent in 2018".
First Minister Vaughan Gething replies "we work with a variety of partners to support those affected by gambling-related harm, including organisations that provide help, support and advocacy services. Our officials are currently assessing how we could develop specialist NHS treatment provision here in Wales".
He adds "we know that there are, on our own understanding, around 18,000 people in Wales who are assessed as being problem gamblers, with all of the significant consequences that come for them, their families and communities around them".
Croeso
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of Vaughan Gething’s ninth session of First Minister's Questions.
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.