91�ȱ�

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

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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.”

Conservative Samuel Kurtz says Habitat Wales - an interim agri-environment scheme announced by the Welsh government "to maintain and increase the area of habitat land under management across Wales" - has been a “shambles”.

He says "habitat land has been marked using data that is 30 years old" and "as a result of these major mapping errors, the scheme is getting extremely complicated and stressful for farmers".

The first minister replies, "I don't agree with the member that it is a failing scheme. It's had over 500 applications".

Plaid Cymru's Sioned Williams says there is "inequity in the levels of funding between bus and rail".

She says "I welcome investment into public transport, however it’s disappointing to see no additional investment to protect bus routes was included in the finance minister’s recent statement, despite three-quarters of public transport journeys taking place by bus rather than train."

The first minister replies "there is additional money for buses, and there is additional money for trains, and actually I don't think it is a sensible approach to pit the one against the other".

Transport for Wales was last week awarded £125m in extra Welsh government funding for rail services.

The first minister says £46 million had already been announced earlier this year for bus services.

Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth asks what savings targets are being set for Wales‘ health boards, and criticises the Welsh government's spending on agency staff.

He says, "it's something that Welsh government has totally failed to get to grips with in recent years. With nearly 7,000 vacancies in the Welsh NHS, an agency bill last year hitting a record of £325 million, I'd say that building a sustainable, directly employed workforce has to be a priority."

Mr Drakeford replies that discussions with the health boards are ongoing.

He adds, "as to agency staffing, this was part of the negotiations that were carried out very carefully earlier this year with our nursing colleagues in the trade unions particularly, and there are specific plans in place to make sure that we can reduce the reliance of the health service in Wales on agency staffing. By the way, agency staffing is a very important part of the way in which the health service provides services. I don't want to fall into language that talks about agency staff as though they were some regrettable necessity."

The Welsh NHS may have overspent by more than £800m by the spring of 2024, according to 91�ȱ� Wales analysis.

Inflation has hit hospitals, leading to spiralling fuel, staff and drug costs, while demand for treatment has risen due to the post-Covid backlog.

Health Minister Eluned Morgan said last month she wants health boards to find cuts that cause "the least damage to patients".

But she warned "difficult choices" would need to be made to tackle the "massive" overspend.

Image source, Getty Images

Andrew RT Davies, leader of the Welsh Conservatives in the Senedd, refers to the fact that the Welsh ambulance service declarared an extraordinary incident due to delays over the weekend.

The Welsh ambulance service said 16 ambulances had waited outside the emergency department at Morriston Hospital, Swansea, at one time.

Mr Davies says, "we are at the start of the winter season. What confidence can you give us about measures by the Welsh government, in conjunction with the Welsh ambulance service, that will make a real difference to ambulance response times here in Wales, and ultimately get the flow through the hospital system, so that there isn't that situation that we saw across Wales occurring week in, week out through the winter months?"

First Minister Mark Drakeford replies that "Welsh government officials are discussing with the local board as to how that had become the circumstances and what more can be done to improve them.

"The minister will visit Morriston this week, again, to discuss with the board directly how it is tackling the urgent and emergency care challenges which it faces".

Having recently visited Ceibwr bay in his Pembrokeshire constituency, Conservative Paul Davies calls on the Welsh government to consider introducing legislation to give greater protection from disturbance for seals, particularly during the pupping season (October to early November).

The first minister replies "there's no doubt that the sight of seals around the Pembrokeshire coast is one of the great glories of that part of Wales, and attracts many, many visitors, who go there for that reason. However, making sure that seals are not disturbed during the pupping season is a genuine objective that is shared by the Welsh government. I'm very happy to give a commitment that we will pursue the points the member has made."

Image source, HANNE SIEBERS/NATIONAL TRUST

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.

Plaid Cymru’s Llyr Gruffydd raises the issue of the capacity of the train service between north and south Wales, in particular "the chaos on the trains as football supporters from north Wales tried to travel down to watch Wales playing Croatia recently."

Mr Gruffydd explains, "it was a total shambles, and there was a special service put on for those supporters from the south who wanted to go Wrexham to watch the game against Gibraltar, but no corresponding service for those travelling from north who wanted to see the national team playing. Some of the trains were so full that there were people left on the platform in Abergavenny, and the stations afterwards, literally unable to get on the train. People on the trains literally couldn't reach the toilets."

First Minister Mark Drakeford says he will ensure the specific issue of transport to sports matches is raised with Transport for Wales.

More generally he says "Transport for Wales are introducing more three-carriage services on this route. These trains will replace the old rolling stock that was retired last week."

Image source, TFW

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.

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