91Èȱ¬

Eluned Morgan’s ninth session as first minister comes to a close.

Image source, Senedd Cymru

A proposed project to reopen a disused Rhondda railway tunnel for walkers and cyclists "would not be cheap" warns Eluned Morgan, with capital costs of around £20 million and then an annual revenue requirement of around £250,000.

"So, we will always listen to what people have to say, but don't forget all of that is always competing with the other important priorities that people in the Rhondda care about as well," she says.

The tunnel, which runs from Blaencwm to Blaengwynfi in Neath Port Talbot, was closed during cutbacks of the UK railway network in the 1960s.

Image source, Rhondda Tunnel Society

Image source, Senedd Cymru

Conservative Sam Rowlands points out that GPs have voiced concerns about the impact of the rise in employer National Insurance contributions announced in the Budget.

He says, "I had the privilege yesterday, with colleagues, of meeting with the BMA and some of its GPs. They warned that the British government's policy risks undermining the financial stability of general practices and the quality of patient care that they can provide. They added that many practices would be unable to afford these increases and would have to reduce their staffing and services accordingly."

The first minister says "decisions on national insurance contributions are made by the UK government. We are aware of the concerns raised by some primary care and social care providers on the increase of operational costs. We will continue to monitor the situation as it develops."

The NHS and rest of the public sector are exempt from the tax rise - but that does not cover private care homes or hospices which provide NHS services.

Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones has told the 91Èȱ¬ that changes to thresholds for Employment Allowance - which allows some businesses to offset their NI bill - would shield smaller GP surgeries from a tax rise.

However, AISMA, a group representing medical accountants, has highlighted that under current criteria, GP surgeries would not be able to use that exemption.

Government says public bodies, or businesses doing more than half their work in the public sector, are not eligible for the allowance.

Image source, PA Media

"I'm very clear that the way we deal with women's health is not good enough in Wales," acknowledges the first minister.

She was responding to Plaid Cymru MS Sioned Williams, who quoted a constituent: "I was told I was having a gold standard procedure that would change my life. It did. After approximately 13 operations and procedures, I am now waiting to have my large bowel removed and I've been left with pain and disabilities."

Sioned Williams asks "how will the treatment of mesh patients like my constituent be included in the women's health plan, what funding is being allocated to them, and what conversations have happened with the new Westminster government around the UK-wide response to The Hughes Report?"

The first minister says, "part of what we need to do is to make sure that we see more research being put into women's health. There is a definite gender bias when it comes to how we have allocated money, and that's why I'm very pleased that we have been able to allocate £750,000 specifically for women's health. Now, you will have to wait until we publish that women's health plan; it is an NHS plan, and there will, I'm sure, be references to the situation in relation to what's happened with mesh patients and how we see the future looking for those kinds of conditions."

Image source, Senedd Cymru

Image source, Senedd Cymru

Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth raises the HS2 controversy.

Despite being entirely in England, Wales has received no extra funding from the UK government as a result.

He asks, "when the Labour Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on the eve of Labour's Welsh conference at the weekend that Wales would not be getting any HS2 consequentials, that consequentials just didn't apply because heavy rail isn't devolved, denying us the £4 billion owed to us, was that how she imagined her so-called partnership in power working?"

The first minister replies "I can assure you that I raised this issue directly with the prime minister. I've been clear that we are not happy with the way that HS2 funding has been allocated. We are in discussions with the relevant department on how we can get more money into rail infrastructure in Wales, and those discussions are going well."

Image source, HS2

Image source, Senedd Cymru

Andrew RT Davies, leader of the Welsh Conservatives in the Senedd, refers to the rally by farmers in London.

They are protesting against changes in the Budget that from April 2026, inherited agricultural assets worth more than £1m, which were previously exempt, will be liable to the tax at 20%, half the usual rate.

Andrew RT Davies says farmers "are deeply troubled by the proposals contained within the UK government budget to remove agricultural property relief, especially as the prime minister and the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs Secretary said during the campaign that there were no plans to change agricultural property relief".

He asks whether the first minister recognises the "fear, frustration and anger" of farmers following what he describes as "this betrayal by the Labour party".

The first minister replies, "let me make it clear that I think that farmers make a really important contribution to our country. They provide food, they provide a contribution to the economy, a huge social contribution, a cultural contribution. As someone who represents a rural area, I know how important they are as the bedrock to that economy, and that's why they are one of the sectors that receives the highest amount of subsidy in terms of our economy. But we were left with a black hole, that is the truth of it, and farmers use public services: they send their children to local schools, they use the local hospitals, and somebody has to pay for it."

Image source, Senedd Cymru

Plaid Cymru MS Heledd Fychan calls on the Welsh government "to ensure a viable future for publishing in Wales".

She points to figures from the Welsh Books Council that suggest that grants for publishing have fallen by 40% in a decade, after taking into account the effect of inflation, which has led to a 34% reduction in the number of Welsh books published by the main publishers with grant support.

She says "a number of people working in the publishing industry have contacted me to express their grave concerns regarding the situation, with further staffing cuts an inevitability and a number of publishers, such as Y Lolfa, unsure whether they can even continue to operate".

The first minister replies "there are financial pressures on the government, and there was particular financial pressure last year. And like many other areas within the budget, we did see cuts in order to ensure that we do provide that funding to safeguard things such as health, which is also a priority for the people of Wales. That's because there has been a mismanagement of the economy, and the impact of inflation too. We're in the process at the moment of making decisions on the budget. There is an invitation to you to have discussions with us."

Image source, Mari Siôn

Image source, Senedd Cymru

Llywydd Elin Jones conducts a ballot to determine the names of members who may table questions to the first minister.

Conservative Russell George asks "what assessment has the Welsh government made of the views expressed by local communities on the impact of the new national park in Wales?"

First Minister Eluned Morgan replies that the 10-week period on the proposal for a new national park is running until 16 December. "This is part of the necessary assessment and engagement work that Natural Resources Wales is required to undertake before making any recommendations to the Welsh government."

Russell George says "I hope you’ll be aware of a very well-attended public meeting in Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant just a few weeks ago - over 250 people in that meeting expressing their clear opposition to the proposed park extending into areas of north Powys. And the reasons for that are concerns around farm diversification - and farmers, most certainly at any time, but more so at present, need our support - but also concerns around day visitors attending areas, particularly where there’s not sufficient parking and infrastructure is poor. There’s very strong opposition from communities in north Powys."

Wales already has three national parks, but plans for another one are being considered.

This would be the first time a new national park has been created since 1957.

There is already Eryri, the Pembrokeshire Coast and Bannau Brycheiniog, and the fourth is planned for the north-east of the country.

Image source, Getty Images

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of Eluned Morgan’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.