91Èȱ¬

The twenty-sixth FMQs of 2023 comes to a close.

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The Senedd will once again be lit tonight in the blue and yellow colours of Ukraine’s flag as a sign of solidarity with Ukraine and its people.

Image source, Senedd Cymru

Conservative Janet Finch-Saunders asks whether the first minister has plans to introduce road user charging for motorists, which she strongly opposes.

The first minister replies that "powers to implement universal road charging and to retain revenues are held by the UK Secretary of State for Transport. Welsh ministers can provide powers to local authorities to implement local schemes. There are no plans to introduce charges for motorists on Welsh government-managed trunk roads".

On the future of rail funding in Wales, Plaid Cymru’s Delyth Jewell says Wales is "shamefully short-changed" by the UK government.

The first minister agrees, adding "with the money that should have come Wales's way, we could have done even more to see to the electrification of rail services here in Wales... 35 per cent of the railways are electrified across the United Kingdom, it's more like 45 per cent in England, and its 2 per cent in Wales".

Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth concentrates on what he calls the "economic injustice" of HS2 which he says is clearly an England-only project.

HS2's England-and-Wales label by the UK government means there is no extra funding for the Welsh government.

The first minister replies, "if there is to be no link beyond Birmingham, then the flimsy case for regarding this as an England and Wales development collapses completely, and at that point, the case for making sure that there is a consequential for Wales will be stronger still. Wales has already missed out on £270 million as a result of HS2 misclassification in the current spending review period. That will only grow beyond that unless, and until, this misclassification is put right."

Rhun ap Iorwerth then turns "to another injustice, the lack of control over Welsh water".

He says, "a lack of action from the Welsh government is holding us back in this area, and the request hasn't been made for these powers to be transferred, and, in the meantime, the delays don't help the customers, who are out of pocket, as much as £120 per annum more on bills by 2030".

The first minister replies that the Welsh government "has said that we are going to pursue those powers that are there in the 2017 legislation. Officials are doing that work now. It's very detailed work, because it's very complex to draw down those powers to Wales, but the process has begun".

Image source, HS2

Andrew RT Davies, leader of the Welsh Conservatives in the Senedd, expresses concerns about secondary school pupils in Wales persistently absent from school.

"A day lost from school is a day lost of an opportunity" he says.

Welsh government data suggests 16.3% of pupils aged 11-15 fell into this category in 2022-23, three times higher than pre-pandemic levels.

For pupils eligible for free school meals, this figure was more than twice as high at 35.7%.

First Minister Mark Drakeford says a "task force" would look in depth into the reasons behind non-attendance.

The first minister agrees with the the leader of the opposition that fining parents should be a "last resort".

Conservative Natasha Asghar calls for a young cancer patient travel fund, "to support children with cancer, and their families, who are going through the unthinkable".

The first minister replies that "the Welsh government already has, through the NHS, a travel cost reimbursement scheme. You have to meet the qualifying criteria for it at all, but the scheme does exist. And the Welsh ambulance service provides non-emergency patient transport services for people attending oncology appointments".

But he commits to "continue to explore some of the issues that the campaigners raise, and which the member has highlighted this afternoon."

There are around 113 new diagnoses of cancer every year amongst people aged under 25 in Wales.

The 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 Darren Millar raises the issue of safety on rural roads.

First Minister Mark Drakeford says the Welsh government will "consult on the new road safety strategy for Wales, beginning in November of this year. Updated guidance on setting local speed limits, including factors particularly relevant on rural roads, will follow in 2024."

Mr Millar says "in the rural parts of Denbighshire that I represent, there are three areas on the A494 trunk road which do need some urgent attention".

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.