First Minister's Questions from the Senedd: 1 July 2025

BBC News

3 days ago

Update:
Date: 14:34 BST
Title: Hwyl fawr
Content: Eluned Morgan's thirty-third session as first minister comes to a close.
Eluned Morgan
Update:
Date: 14:19 BST
Title: Personal Independence Payment
Content: Labour MS Jenny Rathbone express concern that the review of PIP to be conducted by the Labour UK government's Work and Pensions Minister Sir Stephen Timms and involving disabled people, won't report until the autumn of next year, meaning it would be too late to have an influence on the eligibility criteria for PIP beginning that November.
She says "the Equality and Social Justice Committee has just had a reply from Sir Stephen Timms about the disability benefits changes that are going to be voted on today in Westminster. I'm pleased to see that he is now committed to co-produce the review with disabled people as well as experts. I am concerned, however, that this review, which I am sure he will undertake diligently, is not going to be ready to be applied to the changes in legislation before the legislation is voted on. But at least he does point out that PIP is devolved in Scotland, and I think there is a very strong case for accelerating the devolution of welfare benefits in Wales too, so that we can ensure that whatever money is available is exercised in the most humane and supportive manner."
Her question, however, is on age limits on employment support for "people with learning difficulties [who] are maybe taking longer to get to work-readiness and need additional support".
The first minister replies, "we amended the Jobs Growth Wales programme to enable 19-year-olds to join the programme. It was previously only available to 18-year-olds. The thing is, Jobs Growth Wales is a procured programme, so it is not possible in the middle of a procured programme to change the programme halfway through. So that will continue until the end of the contract in 2027, but what we will do, of course, is to feed that concern into the successor employability programmes, which are being considered at the moment."
Jenny Rathbone
Update:
Date: 14:11 BST
Title: Stricter eligibility criteria for new claimants 'as myopic as it is mean'
Content: Plaid Cymru MS Delyth Jewell says "MPs will shortly vote on welfare cuts that will wreak untold misery in Wales... The decision to treat future claimants as the collateral needed to pass a vote is as myopic as it is mean. Why should people be treated differently because of what year they happen to have become disabled? What kind of fairness is that?"
Stricter eligibility criteria for getting personal independence payment (PIP), the main disability benefit in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, will now only apply to those claiming after November 2026, rather than existing claimants.
Eluned Morgan replies "I do think that we have to recognise, first of all, that the welfare system that we have inherited from the Conservatives is in need of reform. It's a system that is not helping people to get back into work. I do think that we have to got to try and keep that in the forefront of our minds at all times. What are we trying to achieve here? What we are trying to achieve is an opportunity for people to get back into work. So, it shouldn't be something that is driven by punishment. It should be something that is driven by a situation where we are standing with them and giving them support, as we do when it comes to youth unemployment."
Delyth Jewell
Update:
Date: 14:04 BST
Title: Waiting times in north Wales hospitals
Content: Gareth Davies
Health secretary Jeremy Miles is "breathing down the necks" of management at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board to bring down patient waiting times in north Wales hospitals, says the first minister.
She was responding to Conservative Gareth Davies, who said "Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board still has the most pathways waiting more than two years for treatment. The most recent figures show that Betsi has the worst percentage of people seen in accident and emergency within the four-hour target. In May, 15,662 patients were seen in A&E departments across north Wales, with 6,822 seen under the target of four hours, and that's just 43 per cent. This is down 46.8 per cent in February and 45 per cent in January."
The first minister added "there has been a 32 per cent reduction in the number of pathways waiting for over two years in Betsi, so I do think we need to give credit where it's due. Is it enough? Absolutely not".
Update:
Date: 13:57 BST
Title: Benefits cuts 'push thousands into poverty'
Content: With Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer braced for the biggest rebellion of his premiership in a vote on planned benefits cuts, Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth says his party's four MPs will vote against the bill in
its entirety.
Sir Keir and his ministers have been scrambling to convince MPs to back watered-down welfare changes in a key vote on Tuesday evening.
In a bid to win over rebel Labour MPs, the prime minister softened the package by limiting disability benefit cuts to only new claimants, among other tweaks.
Rhun ap Iorwerth says "on today's vote specifically—and again, I emphasise that this has a direct impact on devolved issues and on devolved budgets—I'm interested in why the first minister said last-minute changes to the reforms to try to avoid a catastrophic vote—not because of a letter of hers, of course—were welcome concessions, even though they still push thousands into poverty and create a two-tier system.
"So, as she has welcomed them, can we assume that the first minister has carried out a new impact assessment, in which case, can she share the results of that assessment with us, or if she hasn't, why is her support so unqualified when she has no idea of the harms the reforms will cause?"
Eluned Morgan replies "I am really pleased that there are 200,000 people in Wales now who previously were really concerned about whether they would be able to continue receiving PIP [Personal Independence Payment]. There's been a change of heart, and they are no longer at threat of losing that PIP, and we've been consistent in terms of our approach in relation to that."
Referring to grassroots members of the Labour party, Rhun ap Iorwerth says "I applaud them for voting at the weekend in favour of two motions—one on fair funding for Wales, the other on devolution of the Crown Estate—agreeing with longstanding positions taken by Plaid Cymru. And with the Crown Estate figures published today showing £1.1 billion in profit last year, including £132 million going to the King, we shouldn't be surprised that people are getting angry."
The first minister replies that Plaid Cymru is not "unique when it comes to asking for fair funding".
Rhun ap Iorwerth
Update:
Date: 13:50 BST
Title: 'Hateful and vile chants'
Content: Darren Millar, leader of the Welsh Conservatives in the Senedd, refers to the Palestine Action group which "recently targeted RAF Brize Norton, causing millions of pounds worth of damage to British defence equipment, and it's also been responsible for attacks on companies here in Wales".
He says he supports Home Secretary Yvette Cooper's decision to proscribe Palestine Action under anti-terror law and he asks whether the first minister also agrees.
Eluned Morgan replies "I'd like to say a few words about Palestine, because I do think the situation there is extremely grave. I had the honour of meeting the UN representative last week, and many of you did as well. We are hearing absolute harrowing stories about what is going on in that area, and I think it's incumbent on all of us to draw attention to the dire situation and the extreme approach that is being taken there, in particular when it comes to preventing food from getting to the people in those areas. Look, I condemn attacks by any organisation. I think that is wrong, and that would include the Palestine people's organisation."
Darren Millar refers to Bob Vylan's "hateful and vile chants" at the Glastonbury festival that went out on the BBC, during which the band's singer led the crowd in chants of "death, death to the IDF [Israel Defense Forces]".
He invites the first minister to join him in "condemning such hateful and vile chants" and "condemn the BBC for broadcasting them".
Eluned Morgan replies "it is not right to stir up hatred against any community, and frankly it's illegal, which is why there is a police inquiry going on at the moment, and that is absolutely the right thing to do."
Finally, Darren Millar says "next month, Wales is going to host the Green Man festival, a festival that has benefited from significant financial support from the Welsh government over a number of years, including the purchase of the land near Crickhowell for over £4 million to support the festival's projects. This year, the organisers have chosen to invite the rap group Kneecap, which has openly incited violence and expressed antisemitic rhetoric. My party has called on the festival to deplatform the band from Green Man, and so have Gill and Pete Brisley from Bridgend. Gill and Pete's daughter and granddaughters were brutally murdered by Hamas terrorists on 7 October 2023, and their son-in-law, Eli Sharabi, was held hostage by Hamas for 16 months until he was released, in an emaciated condition, in February of this year."
He asks "do you support the Brisley family in calling for Kneecap to be deplatformed, and will you confirm today that no more taxpayers' money will ever be given to this festival unless they withdraw Kneecap's invitation to perform?"
The first minister replies, "the Welsh government does support new artists in relation to the Green Man festival, but we are not responsible for paying for the other artists that attend the Green Man festival. It is obviously up to the festival organisers to determine who they invite. I do think that they need to think very carefully about who they invite and the potential problems that may arise if they are to use that as a platform to divide people and to talk hatred."
Darren Millar
Update:
Date: 13:42 BST
Title: 'Pause and listen' on NHS Dental services
Content: Paul Davies
Conservative Paul Davies raises concerns about the provision of dental services in Preseli Pembrokeshire and says the British Dental Association has described the proposed NHS dental reforms as "a leap in the dark that could destroy the service".
He asks "will the Welsh government pause and listen to the warnings of those in the profession and meaningfully engage with the British Dental Association to find a way forward before it's too late?"
Eluned Morgan replies "we have spent 13 months working with the British Dental Association to design the new contract. They were fully involved in developing those proposals, and they are out for consultation. It's been the biggest response to a consultation, I think, ever in the history of devolution. So, obviously, we will take time now to go through those responses and make sure that we respond accordingly. What is important, of course, is to recognise that, as in all negotiations, there are aspects on which the parties agree and aspects where there are more contentious issues."
The biggest change would see all patients over 18 placed onto a central waiting list, called the Dental Access Portal (DAP).
They would then be allocated a surgery, which could be anywhere within the health board area.
If they need treatment, they would remain with that surgery until it is complete and beyond, if they needed close monitoring.
If or when teeth are healthy, patients would be returned to the central portal and would be recalled for a check-up in 18 to 24 months wherever there is space.
Children would be assessed under the plans but stay at the first surgery they are allocated.
Some charges for patients would also change - with check-ups going up from £20 to £24.75 but a single crown going down from £260 to £239.15.
Update:
Date: 13:36 BST
Title: Ysgol Gymraeg Llundain 'on very shaky ground'
Content: Eluned Morgan
Llywydd Elin Jones conducts a ballot to determine the names of members who may table questions to the first minister.
Independent MS Rhys ab Owen seeks an update on the Welsh government's annual grant to Ysgol Gymraeg Llundain, external, the London Welsh school, following reports of financial uncertainty.
First Minister Eluned Morgan replies that the "Welsh Labour government has stepped in to guarantee funding for the full academic year to Ysgol Gymraeg Llundain. For over a decade, more than £1.2 million has been invested to keep Cymraeg alive in London, and support will continue to help the community to learn, speak and celebrate our language."
However she warns, "I do think it's also important to highlight the fact that the number of pupils has been very low since the pandemic. Next year, there will only be 10 pupils, and, of course, we do have a responsibility as a government to ensure that we provide the best possible value for money in terms of public money. So, whilst we do, of course, appreciate the great efforts that they have made—certainly with Miri Mawr, and the work that they do with the nursery school, and so on, and we've helped with Dydd Miwsig Cymru, and there are other things that we do to assist—I do think we have to be realistic, and the fact is, when you only have 10 pupils, you do have to ask questions on sustainability."
She adds, "I do think we have to be honest, the school is on very shaky ground from September".
At the moment the school receives a grant of £90,000 a year from the Welsh government.
Ysgol Gymraeg Llundain
Update:
Date: 13:29 BST
Title: Pro-Palestinian protest
Content: Hundreds of pro-Palestinian demonstrators have gathered at the Senedd to call for the end of Israeli action in Gaza.
A long red banner was held around much of the parliamentary estate, and chants of "free Palestine" were heard.
Some politicians joined the demonstration, including Labour Member of the Senedd John Griffiths and Plaid Cymru's leader Rhun ap Iorwerth.
During the event, some people chanted "from the river to the sea", referring to the land between the River Jordan and the Mediterranean.
Critics of the chant argue it implicitly calls for the destruction of Israel.
The Palestinian Solidarity Campaign and other activists have contested this, saying the slogan refers to "the right of all Palestinians to freedom, equality and justice".
Update:
Date: 12:59 BST
Title: Croeso
Content: Hello and welcome to our live coverage of Eluned Morgan's thirty-third session of First Minister's Questions.
The Siambr (Senedd chamber) has closed for renovations until March 2026, as work is underway on altering it to accommodate the 96 Members who will be chosen in the next Senedd election in May 2026.
So the 60 MSs are meeting in Siambr Hywel, the original debating chamber that housed the then National Assembly for Wales from 1999 to 2006.
The meeting is held in a hybrid format, with some members in Siambr Hywel and others joining by video-conference.
You can click on the play button above to watch the proceedings from 1.30pm.
Tŷ Hywel, next to the Senedd building in Cardiff Bay, is rented by the Senedd Commission