Because of the Israel-Gaza crisis, the lights in the
Senedd continue to be dimmed each evening.
Llywydd Elin Jones says it is “to reflect the
sentiment that such attacks represent another dark moment for humanity in the
Middle East. It is a source of great sorrow for a democratic institution such
as ours. As well as reflecting the sorrow, the darkness will also represent a
statement of solidarity with all those suffering as a result of the attacks.”
BBCCopyright: BBC
Royal Mail 'failed'
BBCCopyright: BBC
Mark DrakefordImage caption: Mark Drakeford
"Royal Mail has failed to meet its obligations to people in Wales over recent years and the Welsh government raises this at every opportunity" says the first minister.
Agreeing with his Labour colleague Rhianon Passmore, he says "users of the service get a worse service now as a result of privatisation, and the people who work for that service, quite certainly, have borne the brunt of those failures".
Last week, Royal Mail was fined £5.6m for failing to meet its first and second class delivery targets in what the regulator has called a "wake-up call" for the postal service.
The first minister reiterates the goal for 100% of Wales' annual electricity consumption to come from renewable sources by 2035, "while also retaining wealth and value in Wales".
He adds "we are streamlining planning and consenting processes, working to secure an effective energy grid and co-operating with others to maximise the potential of new technologies".
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
Parc Bryn Cegin: Will Bangor site provide jobs?
BBCCopyright: BBC
Sian GwenllianImage caption: Sian Gwenllian
Plaid
Cymru’s Sian Gwenllian seeks an update on efforts to attract
jobs to Parc Bryn Cegin on the outskirts of Bangor, Gwynedd.
Mr
Drakeford replies, "the news is better. It's been a long time coming, but it is coming now. Three of the nine plots have been sold already, another three where people have made bids to buy them, and with the three remaining plots, we are cooperating with Ambition North Wales to invest in a new plot to have new facilities that, if we succeed, are going to create 70 new jobs in the park".
BBCCopyright: BBC
The business park remained empty for 20 years, despite the Welsh government spending £11m on it.Image caption: The business park remained empty for 20 years, despite the Welsh government spending £11m on it.
NHS and the private sector
BBCCopyright: BBC
Rhun ap IorwerthImage caption: Rhun ap Iorwerth
Plaid
Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth refers to comments by Wes Streeting, Labour's shadow health secretary, who said he would “hold the door wide open” to private sector entrepreneurs who can improve the NHS if a Labour government is elected in Westminster.
Rhun ap Iorwerth says "it’s such a shame that the Welsh government rejected our amendment to the NHS procurement Bill, which would have protected the NHS in Wales from creeping privatisation".
Mr
Drakeford replies "health has been a devolved matter in Wales since 1999. We make decisions here in Wales for the Welsh health service and we will continue to do so. What is said in Westminster - which I know is where he would rather be - and what happens in Westminster is of no relevance to the decisions that we will make here".
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
Dairy farms with bovine tuberculosis infections
BBCCopyright: BBC
Andrew RT DaviesImage caption: Andrew RT Davies
Andrew RT Davies, leader of the Welsh
Conservatives in the Senedd, criticises a Labour politician for suggesting dairy farms with "perpetual" bovine tuberculosis infections "find another business".
First Minister Mark Drakeford confirms that is not Welsh government policy.
Mid and West Wales Senedd member Joyce Watson spoke after a statement by the rural affairs minister last Tuesday.
Mr Davies adds "because someone finds themselves in a farming situation with perpetual bovine TB, through no fault of their own - and we know the damage that bovine TB does to the emotional and mental well-being of farming families - that is an unacceptable proposition to put forward".
The first minister was pressed by Mr Davies on whether Joyce Watson should reconsider the remarks.
Mr Drakeford acknowledged the "emotional and mental health impact that farmers experience".
He said the Welsh government had investment millions in a "safety net" to assist farmers, and added: "I've read since that Joyce Watson has explained that had she had an opportunity to set out her views more fully, it was never her intention to suggest that people would be forced off the land."
Farming union NFU Cymru had called Ms Watson's comment "deplorable", "shocking" and "insensitive".
ReutersCopyright: Reuters
Around 9,500 cattle were slaughtered as a result of bovine TB in Wales last yearImage caption: Around 9,500 cattle were slaughtered as a result of bovine TB in Wales last year
Conservative Janet Finch-Saunders criticises the "sporadic" bus service for her constituents in Aberconwy.
She says "the main population hub for rural Conwy is the market town of Llanrwst. Forty-four per cent of residents have to travel more than 2 km to work. They certainly cannot rely on any bus service".
The first minister says the process for drawing-up revised bus network plans - that the Welsh government has asked Transport for Wales and local authorities to undertake on a regional basis - is ongoing.
He adds that the forthcoming bus Bill will "lift the ban on the creation of new municipal bus companies here in Wales as part of our determination to put the bus services of the future on a basis where the public interest is what drives decisions that are made".
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
Supporting children from low-income families
BBCCopyright: BBC
Sioned WilliamsImage caption: Sioned Williams
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.
Plaid Cymru’s Sioned Williams asks how is the
Welsh government supporting children from low-income families over the winter.
She calls on the Welsh government to continue free school meals during the winter holidays to those children who are eligible for them in term time.
First Minister Mark Drakeford replies "the winter is going to be tough for families with children, of course; that's true. But it's tough for all the public services as well, because we don't have sufficient funding to do everything that we want to do.
"And, at the end of the day, choices have to be made, and the government has made a number of choices with Plaid Cymru.
"That's why we are investing in free school meals in our schools. And that's why we are continuing to provide funding to help with free school breakfasts in schools as well. That's why we're providing funding every year now to families to help with school costs".
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
Croeso
Hello and welcome
to our live coverage 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
BBCCopyright: BBC 
BBCCopyright: BBC Mark DrakefordImage caption: Mark Drakeford 
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images 
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images 
BBCCopyright: BBC Sian GwenllianImage caption: Sian Gwenllian 
BBCCopyright: BBC The business park remained empty for 20 years, despite the Welsh government spending £11m on it.Image caption: The business park remained empty for 20 years, despite the Welsh government spending £11m on it. 
BBCCopyright: BBC Rhun ap IorwerthImage caption: Rhun ap Iorwerth 
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images 
BBCCopyright: BBC Andrew RT DaviesImage caption: Andrew RT Davies 
ReutersCopyright: Reuters Around 9,500 cattle were slaughtered as a result of bovine TB in Wales last yearImage caption: Around 9,500 cattle were slaughtered as a result of bovine TB in Wales last year 
BBCCopyright: BBC Janet Finch-SaundersImage caption: Janet Finch-Saunders 
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images 
BBCCopyright: BBC Sioned WilliamsImage caption: Sioned Williams 
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
Latest PostHwyl fawr
The thirty-second FMQs of 2023 comes to a close.
Thanks for following - join us again next week.
Because of the Israel-Gaza crisis, the lights in the Senedd continue to be dimmed each evening.
Llywydd Elin Jones says it is “to reflect the sentiment that such attacks represent another dark moment for humanity in the Middle East. It is a source of great sorrow for a democratic institution such as ours. As well as reflecting the sorrow, the darkness will also represent a statement of solidarity with all those suffering as a result of the attacks.”
Royal Mail 'failed'
"Royal Mail has failed to meet its obligations to people in Wales over recent years and the Welsh government raises this at every opportunity" says the first minister.
Agreeing with his Labour colleague Rhianon Passmore, he says "users of the service get a worse service now as a result of privatisation, and the people who work for that service, quite certainly, have borne the brunt of those failures".
Last week, Royal Mail was fined £5.6m for failing to meet its first and second class delivery targets in what the regulator has called a "wake-up call" for the postal service.
Ofcom said that Royal Mail had breached its obligations by missing targets "by a significant and unexplained margin".
100% of electricity from renewables by 2035
The first minister reiterates the goal for 100% of Wales' annual electricity consumption to come from renewable sources by 2035, "while also retaining wealth and value in Wales".
He adds "we are streamlining planning and consenting processes, working to secure an effective energy grid and co-operating with others to maximise the potential of new technologies".
Parc Bryn Cegin: Will Bangor site provide jobs?
Plaid Cymru’s Sian Gwenllian seeks an update on efforts to attract jobs to Parc Bryn Cegin on the outskirts of Bangor, Gwynedd.
She says not one job has been created there.
Ministers were criticised after the park was created in 2000 but failed to attract the hoped-for 1,600 jobs.
Mr Drakeford replies, "the news is better. It's been a long time coming, but it is coming now. Three of the nine plots have been sold already, another three where people have made bids to buy them, and with the three remaining plots, we are cooperating with Ambition North Wales to invest in a new plot to have new facilities that, if we succeed, are going to create 70 new jobs in the park".
NHS and the private sector
Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth refers to comments by Wes Streeting, Labour's shadow health secretary, who said he would “hold the door wide open” to private sector entrepreneurs who can improve the NHS if a Labour government is elected in Westminster.
Rhun ap Iorwerth says "it’s such a shame that the Welsh government rejected our amendment to the NHS procurement Bill, which would have protected the NHS in Wales from creeping privatisation".
Mr Drakeford replies "health has been a devolved matter in Wales since 1999. We make decisions here in Wales for the Welsh health service and we will continue to do so. What is said in Westminster - which I know is where he would rather be - and what happens in Westminster is of no relevance to the decisions that we will make here".
Dairy farms with bovine tuberculosis infections
Andrew RT Davies, leader of the Welsh Conservatives in the Senedd, criticises a Labour politician for suggesting dairy farms with "perpetual" bovine tuberculosis infections "find another business".
First Minister Mark Drakeford confirms that is not Welsh government policy.
Mid and West Wales Senedd member Joyce Watson spoke after a statement by the rural affairs minister last Tuesday.
Mr Davies adds "because someone finds themselves in a farming situation with perpetual bovine TB, through no fault of their own - and we know the damage that bovine TB does to the emotional and mental well-being of farming families - that is an unacceptable proposition to put forward".
The first minister was pressed by Mr Davies on whether Joyce Watson should reconsider the remarks.
Mr Drakeford acknowledged the "emotional and mental health impact that farmers experience".
He said the Welsh government had investment millions in a "safety net" to assist farmers, and added: "I've read since that Joyce Watson has explained that had she had an opportunity to set out her views more fully, it was never her intention to suggest that people would be forced off the land."
Farming union NFU Cymru had called Ms Watson's comment "deplorable", "shocking" and "insensitive".
'Sporadic' bus service
Conservative Janet Finch-Saunders criticises the "sporadic" bus service for her constituents in Aberconwy.
She says "the main population hub for rural Conwy is the market town of Llanrwst. Forty-four per cent of residents have to travel more than 2 km to work. They certainly cannot rely on any bus service".
The first minister says the process for drawing-up revised bus network plans - that the Welsh government has asked Transport for Wales and local authorities to undertake on a regional basis - is ongoing.
He adds that the forthcoming bus Bill will "lift the ban on the creation of new municipal bus companies here in Wales as part of our determination to put the bus services of the future on a basis where the public interest is what drives decisions that are made".
Supporting children from low-income families
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.
Plaid Cymru’s Sioned Williams asks how is the Welsh government supporting children from low-income families over the winter.
She calls on the Welsh government to continue free school meals during the winter holidays to those children who are eligible for them in term time.
First Minister Mark Drakeford replies "the winter is going to be tough for families with children, of course; that's true. But it's tough for all the public services as well, because we don't have sufficient funding to do everything that we want to do.
"And, at the end of the day, choices have to be made, and the government has made a number of choices with Plaid Cymru.
"That's why we are investing in free school meals in our schools. And that's why we are continuing to provide funding to help with free school breakfasts in schools as well. That's why we're providing funding every year now to families to help with school costs".
Croeso
Hello and welcome to our live coverage 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.