Summary

  1. FM promises to get medical students jobs in the NHSpublished at 14:54 BST 30 June

    That's all for today's First Minister's Questions at the Senedd. Here's a reminder of what happened.

    • Rhun ap Iorwerth said "we will help those graduating now to get jobs" after Reform's Dan Thomas raised the 400 student nurses and midwives with no NHS jobs waiting for them.
    • Thomas accused the first minister of U-turning on working with Reform, after ap Iorwerth said he was willing to talk to "leaders of Reform, Conservatives, Labour and the Green Party" on the government's supplementary budget.
    • Labour's Ken Skates pressed the first minister on how much additional cash the Welsh government will allocate to children with additional learning needs.
    • Ap Iorwerth argued that last weeks' extreme heat showed the need to take action on climate change after Darren Millar called for a "different approach" on oil refineries.
    • And Mike Hedges, a Labour MS, called for restrictions on who should be able to own a rabbit - saying people should have to take training courses before becoming owners.

    Our live coverage is now ending. For more on Welsh politics click here.

  2. Early hiccups - and a yelp - in new Seneddpublished at 14:48 BST 30 June

    Anna NichollImage source, Senedd Cymru

    We're a few weeks into the Senedd but some of the newer MSs are still getting used to the rules here.

    Backbenchers have to ask a written tabled question before they can ask a supplementary one, but Plaid's Anna Nicholl asks her supplementary before the one that was written down in the order paper.

    After the first minister spots her mistake, the presiding officer Huw Irranca-Davies gently asks her to instead ask the version that was written down.

    "Has anybody got a copy of it?" she asks, after letting out a yelp.

    The question is about how the government can ensure the transition to clean energy benefits local communities. The first minister says "modest projects" could bring "real benefits" for communities, and Welsh supply chains.

    And with that FMQs comes to a close.

  3. Call for carers allowance to be devolved to Walespublished at 14:38 BST 30 June

    Plaid Cymru's Rebeca Phillips calls for carers allowance to be "devolved and increased in line with Scotland".

    She says she had met with unpaid carers recently who had highlighted the "financial strain of providing that care".

    Rhun ap Iorwerth replies that his government will press UK ministers "to ensure we can design and deliver truly made in Wales social protection".

    He says the deputy first minister, Sioned Williams, has written to the Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden "to discuss how we can work together to deliver on our ambitions for a benefit system that meets Wales' needs".

  4. Does Plaid want to ban 'horse racing with jumps'?published at 14:33 BST 30 June

    Reform UK's Cai Parry-Jones tells ap Iorwerth that Plaid Cymru supported banning greyhound racing in Wales and "as a result, it will be fully banned in Wales as early as next April".

    He says he is worried that Plaid's "thirst for banning British cultural sports will not stop here", and that the party's Westminster leader Liz Saville Roberts had "said a few months ago that Grand National-style horse racing should be banned".

    "Will you confirm to the Senedd today that you will not be moving to ban horse racing with jumps here in Wales?" he asks.

    In his reply, ap Iorwerth only remind him that the vote on greyhound racing "was a free vote, and I believe it was for most parties in the in the last Senedd".

  5. MS calls for restrictions on rabbit ownershippublished at 14:27 BST 30 June

    Labour's Mike Hedges calls for wide-ranging changes to animal welfare, including rules that restrict who can own a rabbit.

    As well as a ban on tethering horses and the cage breeding of game birds, he says rabbit ownership should be only allowed "after a short training course where individuals can show they understand the needs of rabbits".

    "If we allow animals to be mistreated, either by ignorance or cruelty, [it reflects] badly on us," he says.

    Rhun ap Iorwerth does not comment on the proposed rabbit ownership restrictions, but says Plaid wanted to "set high standards for the treatment of animals".

  6. Last week's heat 'the reality of climate change', says FMpublished at 14:23 BST 30 June

    The Welsh Conservatives leader in the Senedd, Darren Millar, focuses his two questions on policies to prevent climate change through reducing emissions, known as net zero.

    He says he recently visited oil refinery Valero in Pembrokeshire, one of only four left in the UK, and says some have already taken the decision to close as a result of "carbon tax" - referring to the emissions trading scheme.

    Millar says "now is the time to take a very different approach".

    Rhun ap Iorwerth says he has a "difference of principle between us on this". He says there should be a "just transition", but adds: "You might have noticed that it was a bit warm last week."

    "Get used to this. This is the reality of climate change," he says, saying it is why there is "good reason" to pursue measures to protect the environment.

  7. How much money for additional learning needs, Skates askspublished at 14:19 BST 30 June

    Ken SkatesImage source, Senedd Cymru

    Interim Welsh Labour leader Ken Skates calls on the first minister to say how much of additional money the Welsh government will allocate for children and schools for additional learning needs in this year's supplementary budget.

    The extra money will come to Wales from the UK government as a consequence of extra spending on meeting those needs in England by UK ministers.

    Ap Iorwerth says long-term thinking and the development of policy is needed on additional learning needs.

    "We owe those families nothing less than that," he adds.

  8. Thomas heckled over budget 'hints'published at 14:10 BST 30 June

    There is a bit of confused laughter in the Senedd and the public gallery when Dan Thomas tells the Senedd there have "been hints that there will be a fill budget coming to the Senedd in the autumn".

    The laughs might be because the Senedd has to pass a budget whatever happens - otherwise the Welsh government suffers serious cuts.

    Amid heckling from Plaid ministers mocking Reform, Rhun ap Iorwerth says: "There will be a budget published this year... I can assure the member."

    Thomas says Reform's red lines would be to guarantee all student nurses and midwives a job, and increase spending on children with additional learning needs.

  9. Reform leader accuses FM of U-turn on working with partypublished at 14:06 BST 30 June

    Dan ThomasImage source, Senedd Cymru

    Dan Thomas warns the first minister that from the initial reaction to the supplementary budget announced last week, the opposition parties will not support it.

    For background, the Plaid Cymru Welsh government needs other parties to back its spending plans because it doesn't have enough members in the Senedd to vote them through alone.

    Thomas asks ap Iorwerth if he will disclose if he is having talks with other political parties - with talks reportedly taking place with Labour - and whether he is willing to work with Reform.

    Ap Iorwerth explains he is willing to have conversations with "leaders of Reform, Conservatives, Labour and the Green Party."

    Thomas accuses the first minister of having "changing his mind about working with Reform".

    Plaid had ruled that out at the election.

  10. We will help health graduates get jobs, FM sayspublished at 13:58 BST 30 June

    Reform's Welsh leader Dan Thomas raises the "plight" of 400 student nurses and midwives who have been told there is not a job waiting for them in the NHS in Wales.

    He asks if any funding from the government's supplementary budget be allocated to guarantee the graduates a job when they finish training.

    Rhun ap Iorwerth says a "specific problem has arisen" that should not have, and says the government was dealing with challenges posed by training numbers commissioned in 2022.

    He says a number of measures were being taken on the matter.

    "We will help those graduating now to get jobs," he says.

    You can read more about the issue here.

  11. Asghar: Health staff uncomfortable with transgender presentationpublished at 13:53 BST 30 June

    Natasha AsgharImage source, Senedd Cymru

    Conservative MS Natasha Asghar tells ap Iorwerth staff at Aneurin Bevan University Health Board were madeuncomfortable by a presentation they were given on transgender matters.

    They were "extremely uncomfortable with the session", that she says was "highly sexualised and inappropriate".

    The first minister appeals to Asghar's "sense of of political leadership" to "engage with us on this issue".

    He says this means "listening to the concerns of people who raise valid concerns, but also" to "balance that against" the "concerned members of staff".

  12. Teaching recruitment and ethnicitypublished at 13:44 BST 30 June

    Francesca O'BrienImage source, Senedd Cymru

    The first few questions in the Senedd are on teaching recruitment.

    Reform's Francesca O'Brien says the previous Labour government introduced a £5,000 grant for students "on the basis of their ethnicity".

    She called for a recruitment system that "judges every candidate by the same standard as the people of Wales deserves".

    Rhun ap Iorwerth replies that more teachers were needed and the government needed to "make sure that we reach into communities from which not enough teachers have been coming".

    Huw Thomas, of Labour, stands up and says "ethnic minorities are underrepresented in the teaching workforce. That leads to poor outcomes, and I'm very proud of the steps that the last Labour government took to try and address that".

  13. What happened at FMQs last week?published at 13:28 BST 30 June

    Rhun ap IorwerthImage source, Senedd Cymru

    Last week's session was partially taken up with warnings about the extreme heat.

    Reform's Dan Thomas accused Rhun ap Iorwerth of focusing on a "devolution wish list" instead of other priorities, saying he was out of touch with the public.

    Labour's Ken Skates pressed the first minister on his defence stance and whether Plaid Cymru supports drastic cuts in defence spending.

    Finally, Conservative Darren Millar criticised the Welsh government's mid-term spending announcement, accusing the Welsh government of continuing a "sticking plaster" approach of the previous Labour administration.

  14. Rhun ap Iorwerth in Senedd for FMQspublished at 13:26 BST 30 June

    Welsh First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth will shortly be back in the Senedd chamber a day after Andy Burnham gave a major speech about devolution in Manchester.

    Burnham, who is expected to be the next Labour PM in a few weeks time, did not give great detail about what he has planned for Wales.

    But he talked about devolving "deeper down" in Wales - an indication that he is interested in handing power to councils.

    Ap Iorwerth told the BBC after the speech that the Senedd and the Welsh government needed to be empowered for "to take Wales forward".

    The speech potentially opened up a fault-line over what kind of further devolution Wales needs, although exactly what Burnham had in mind was not confirmed on Monday.

    It could be a topic that comes up today on the floor of the Senedd for First Minister's Questions (FMQs).

    Meanwhile, Reform may want to raise its Nation of Sanctuary debate on Wednesday, and Labour may discuss their planned debate calling for more money for Additional Learning Needs.

    We'll bring you live updates from the Senedd here, and you can watch the session live by clicking play at the top of the page from 13:00 BST.