Summary

  • Live coverage has now ended

  • First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth faced Senedd party leaders and members for his weekly scrutiny session

  • Reform's Welsh leader Helen Jenner criticised ap Iorwerth at First Minister's Questions for plans to review Wales' Covid-19 response but not hold a full inquiry - saying the plans are "simply not good enough"

  • Welsh Labour leader Ken Skates accused the Plaid Cymru government of "looking at snatching milk from schoolchildren", after a consultation was opened into the future of dedicated school milk scheme

  1. FM told Covid-19 review plans are 'not good enough'published at 15:09 GMT

    First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth has been told his government's plans to hold a review into Wales' Covid-19 response is "simply not good enough" for families of people who died during the pandemic.

    Reform's Welsh leader Helen Jenner made the remark during a fiery section at First Minister's Questions (FMQs) in the Senedd, accusing ap Iorwerth of failing to keep a promise for a full inquiry, asked whether it meant he was "becoming Wales' answer to Sir Keir Starmer".

    The first minister said his party Plaid Cymru would deliver what it said in its manifesto, saying he was "totally convinced... that this is the best way to provide the answers that we owe the people of Wales, and the victims and their families".

    Elsewhere at FMQs on Tuesday:

    Our live coverage has now ended. For more on Welsh politics click here.

  2. Progress on justice devolution not moving quick enough, FM sayspublished at 15:04 GMT

    rhun ap iorwerthImage source, Senedd Cymru

    Despite his meeting with the prime minister last week, Rhun ap Iorwerth says that the "argument on devolution of justice and policing isn't moving at the pace the Welsh government would want to see."

    He said the case for justice devolution "stronger than ever."

    Ap Iorwerth said he is still waiting for treasury to move to allow the Welsh government to proceed with the Cynnal trial - a payment of £10 of week to the poorest families to help tackle child poverty.

  3. Confirmation on poor parents payment on-hold, FM sayspublished at 14:55 GMT

    Plaid Cymru Senedd member Alun Cox asks about Welsh government talks with UK ministers on the party's plans to trial offering a £10 a week payment to poorer parents in Wales

    Around 15,000 children aged under six, in households receiving universal credit, would qualify, but the UK Treasury has to agree not to dock other benefits to those families who would receive the payment - known as Cynnal.

    Rhun ap Iorwerth says his government is "still awaiting confirmation from the UK government on the treatment of Cynnal payments" in relation to tax and benefits.

  4. What's happening with school milk?published at 14:48 GMT

    Three young schoolgirls drink from milk cartons in a school cafeteria.Image source, Getty Images

    The Welsh government has launched a 10-week public consultation, external on the future of school milk in Wales, as the current scheme run by a body called the Rural Payments Agency is due to end next April.

    The programme gives free milk to children in reception through Year 2, and subsidised milk to learners in Years 3 through 6.

    The government is considering creating a new scheme or ending the programme altogether, with ministers pointing out that primary-age children would still have milk through school breakfast clubs and lunchtime services.

  5. FM was 'plotting UK break up', Tory MS claimspublished at 14:40 GMT

    Leaders of Scotland, Wales and Northern IrelandImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    John Swinney, Rhun ap Iorwerth, Mary Lou McDonald and Michelle O'Neill met in Cardiff Bay in September

    Conservative Sam Rowlands accuses the first minister of having hosted a separatist summit" in mid-September "with leaders of Sinn Fein and SNP here in Cardiff" which "you spent plotting to break up our United Kingdom".

    "It's clear that Plaid Cymru plans to sever those crucial economic, cultural and human links that Wales has with the rest of the UK," says Rowlands.

    Rhun ap Iorwerth replies that he believes "in close collaboration between us as nations within these islands and I also appreciate, and think we should make the most of, the deep, long-held links between us in these islands".

    The summit saw thefirst ministers of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland - who all belong to parties that want their countries to leave the UK - declare that "Westminster's time is coming to an end".

    You can read more about the summit here

  6. First minister does not rule out meeting with grooming gang survivorpublished at 14:28 GMT

    Welsh Conservative leader Darren Millar says here has been a "lack of progress" in a Welsh grooming gang survivor meeting the government.

    Despite previous requests to the Welsh government under Labour, Millar says a woman he names as Emily Vaughan - not her real name - had not heard back for months.

    Millar asks if Rhun ap Iorwerth will meet her, to which the first minister says "listening is at the heart of everything that we do".

    "If Emily wants to, wants to speak with the government ministers to share her lived experience, why would I not want one to engage with that," he says.

    Millar asks the first minister to look again at the case for a Wales-wide inquiry on grooming gangs, in addition to the existing UK inquiry.

    Ap Iorwerth says that if the UK inquiry is "woefully inadequate... let's look again", but says he is "satisfied that the measures being taken now have at their core the interests of women, young people," and "vulnerable people in Wales".

  7. 'You're looking at snatching milk from schoolchildren', Labour leader sayspublished at 14:22 GMT

    Ken SkatesImage source, Senedd Cymru

    Welsh Labour leader Ken Skates says a "raft of promises" were made by Plaid Cymru before it won the Senedd election, which he contrasts with the party's actions in government.

    He says it includes failing to end a health visitors dispute, postponing council tax revaluation, and says Plaid is "looking at snatching free milk from schoolchildren".

    The reference is to a Welsh government consultation on whether a dedicated school milk scheme should continue in Wales.

    In response, Rhun ap Iorwerth says a more "progressive solution" on council tax is needed.

    "On school milk, a consultation is happening because a contract came to to an end, and milk continues to be delivered in schools as as part of free breakfasts," the first minister says, and says his government is "sticking to" its promises.

  8. Reform leader asks 'did you dupe bereaved families?'published at 14:17 GMT

    Jenner pursues her questioning on the Covid-19 review in her second round of questions.

    Will witnesses be compelled to give evidence under oath? "The answer is no, isn't it", Jenner says, and accuses Plaid Cymru of rolling back on previous commitments.

    "What has changed? Did you dupe bereaved families for votes?" she asks.

    Rhun ap Iorwerth says his party is delivering what it said in its manifesto.

    "I am totally convinced... that this is the best way to provide the answers that we owe the people of Wales, and the victims and their families," he says.

  9. No power to compel witnesses on Covid 'simply not good enough'published at 14:06 GMT

    Helen JennerImage source, Senedd Cymru

    Helen Jenner, Reform's Welsh leader, challenges the first minister on his decision not to hold a full public inquiry on Wales' response to Covid-19, despite having pushed for that while he was in opposition.

    "Are you becoming Wales' answer to Sir Keir Starmer?" she asks.

    Rhun ap Iorwerth says his government is doing what he said they would

    He says the party was clear in its manifesto about wanting to find the answers that it needed to give people assurances that government had learned lessons.

    A call of "rubbish" is heard from the public gallery.

    Jenner says that the government's plans are "simply not good enough" for the families of people who died during the pandemic.

  10. Claim that UK Budget leaves Wales with cutspublished at 14:00 GMT

    A bald man in a navy suit and red tie holds up a red briefcase. He is standing outside a large black door with a number 11 on it.Image source, EPA
    Image caption,

    Chancellor John Healey delivered the UK Budget on Wednesday

    In response to a question from Labour's Shav Taj about whether Wales will follow England in raising taxes on gambling and vape shops - as announced in last week's UK Budget - the first minister doesn't commit to doing so but repeats the Welsh government line that the spending plans will see Wales receive a "real-terms cut".

    Following the budget, one Welsh minister said the extra £450m for Wales over three years announced in the UK government's spending plans worked out at a "real-terms cut" because it did not keep up with inflation, and another called a £30m pledge for rail funding "an insult".

    Ap Iorwerth also later said it demonstrated that the Budget announcement was "not serious about Wales".

    You can read more about key announcement from the Budget here.

  11. Raise business rate threshold for smaller firms, says Reform MSpublished at 13:52 GMT

    Reform MS Louise Emery asks the first minister how many Welsh firms would benefit if the threshold to pay business rates was raised to a rateable value of £18,000 for small retail, hospitality and leisure premises, as announced for England in Chancellor John Healey's UK Budget last week.

    Emery contrasts this with Wales, which has a threshold of "£6,000 with tapered relief up to £12,000" she says.

    Ap Iorwerth says his government has shown "our determination to find every way we can of supporting businesses".

    "We will look at all opportunities moving forward to including any that might emerge as a result of a budget, which still leaves Wales with less money to spend in real terms next year," he adds.

  12. First minister calls for resolution to health visitor disputepublished at 13:39 GMT

    The first questions today are from Reform and Plaid Cymru MSs about concerns regarding the health visitors strike in Cwm Taf Bro Morgannwg health board, and the impact on children.

    Rhun ap Iorwerth says: "I share that concern about the impact this long running dispute is having on children and families.

    "That's why... we have asked for assurances in some detail from Cwm Taf Bro Morgannwg health board on the safeguarding arrangements that were in placed."

    "We do want to see it [the dispute] resolved as soon as possible," he adds.

  13. First minister faces Senedd after PM meetingpublished at 13:32 GMT

    Rhun ap Iorwerth is back in the the Welsh Parliament to face Senedd members for the first time since his high-profile meeting with Prime Minister Andy Burnham last week.

    The summit in Glasgow on Friday, which also included the Scottish first minister, saw Burnham lobby the two government leaders to devolve "deeper" to the regions of Wales and Scotland.

    This afternoon's First Minister's Questions is the first time Senedd party leaders and members will have had a chance to scrutinise ap Iorwerth since the meeting, which he said had led to a "significant step forward" with regards to the powers Wales has to spend and borrow money.

    We'll bring you live updates here, and you can also watch FMQs by clicking play at the top of this page from 13:30 GMT.