Summary

  • Follow live as Rhun ap Iorwerth returns to the Senedd for First Minister's Questions (FMQs)

  • The Plaid Cymru leader takes questions unannounced from the leaders of Wales' opposition parties

  • It comes after his Welsh government lost a nonbinding vote on Wednesday over extra funding for schools providing help with additional learning needs

  • Last week's FMQs saw questions about jobs for graduate nurses, oil refineries and even rabbits

  • Watch live from 13:30 BST

  1. Thanks for joining uspublished at 15:00 BST

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

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

  2. Petition to ban horse tethering raisedpublished at 14:55 BST

    Welsh Labour MS Huw Thomas called on the first minister to outline his government's priorities for animal welfare Rhun ap Iorwerth said his party's manifesto committed to a "science-based animal health and welfare plan".

    "We will work with stakeholders, operational partners, industry and the third sector to develop our new approach," he added.

    Thomas then spoke about what he said was the most signed petition, external on the Senedd website calling for a ban on the practice of tethering horses.

    "There was a tragic incident earlier this year where the formerly tethered horse was hit by a car and killed on an approach road to Cardiff," he said.

    "And yet horses continue to be tethered along Rover Way [in Cardiff]."in the view of the increase in incidents and wider public concerns, can the first minister outline his position on the banning of the tethering of horses?"

    While not being unlawful, Rhun ap Iorwerth said the practice does raise "welfare concerns".

    "There are no plans to review legislation at this time and the Animal Welfare Act of 2006 does require horse owner to meet welfare standards," he said. Tethering is "unsuitable" in the long term under the current laws and practices, he added.

    "It is down to enforcement laws in general as to whether those animals are being treated well or not with this practice, which is clearly worrying."

    huw thomas in the seneddImage source, senedd cymru
  3. Point of order from Ken Skatespublished at 14:40 BST

    Labour's Ken Skates questioned claims earlier from Rhun ap Iorwerth that the Plaid Welsh government was left with "hundreds of millions" in overspend in its budget by Labour.

    He asked for that to be corrected "due to the fact that the government inherited £120m plus the £300m plus in consequentials".

    In response, Plaid's Rhun ap Iorwerth says his government are having to deal with "in year pressures" from the previous government.

  4. When will graduate nurses get jobs?published at 14:32 BST

    When will nurses and midwifery graduates get jobs, asks Paul Rock of the Greens.

    Last week he met with a "very distressed constituent" who started a nursing course because on an "understanding" the NHS needed more nurses.

    "12 days ago she was informed there was no job for her," he said, saying the constituent had to take out a loan to cover the gap in the finances.

    "By what date should I tell my constituent she will receive the offer of work?"

    Ap Iorwerth said he is worried "deeply" about the issue, but says there is "no quick fix", and says it was a "problem" that was "inherited".

  5. Will Welsh development agency help Port Talbot?published at 14:27 BST

    Plaid MS Elyn Stephens asks what role the new development agency for Wales would play in parts of Wales such as Port Talbot, which she says has all the ingredients for investment.

    "How will it add value and provide a single coordinated strategy to ensure that public investment delivers lasting well-paid jobs, growing Welsh-owned businesses, their supply chains and ensuring that the wealth generated in places like Port Talbot stays in Wales?" she asked.

    Rhun ap Iorwerth says the new agency would make the most of the assets and talents we have in "abundance" across Wales.

    "It will need to create the kind of conditions for businesses to grow, to innovate, to generate investments wherever they are, including in Port Talbot which has faced real challenges and has so much potential too," he said.

    Rhun ap Iorwerth added the job of the agency would be to create coherence "so we are all headed int he same direction".

    Elyn Stephens in the seneddImage source, Senedd cymru
  6. Call for more 'urgent' Powys health fundingpublished at 14:19 BST

    Concerns are raised about a reduction in beds in Powys from Reform's James Evans and Lib Dem Jane Dodds.

    Evans says "we are hearing discussions about possible hospital closures and reduction in bed capacity".

    After he is laughed at for calling for an end to political posturing, he says his constituents do not consider it a laughing matter.

    In response to Evans, ap Iorwerth said: "We need to find a way that no part of Wales feels it is missing out."

  7. Cross-border NHS concerns in Powyspublished at 14:12 BST

    A Plaid Cymru MS has claimed that the NHS in England is putting up the fees it charges Welsh NHS bodies for using its services - raising issues in Powys.

    The area does not have its own general hospital and relies a lot on services over the border.

    Elwyn Vaughan claimed it is "charging higher fees and fees higher than inflation", and calls for money from the UK government to reflect the impact.

    Rhun ap Iorwerth says "no treatment should be delayed because of uncertainties or ambiguity in terms of which body is responsible for funding health care".

  8. A hint of what is happening behind the scenespublished at 14:09 BST

    Gareth Lewis
    BBC Wales political editor

    We had a little hint this afternoon as to what might be going on behind the scenes as the Welsh government tries to pass its supplementary budget.

    Plaid Cymru needs to do a deal because it does not have a majority in the Senedd, and we know that there have been discussions with Labour.

    Labour want more money for additional learning needs (ALN) after the Welsh government received more than £300m of consequential funding after increased spending by UK ministers in England.

    Plaid says it wants a longer term approach to ALN.

    The budget debate and vote takes place a week today.

  9. Skates accuses Plaid of failing some pupilspublished at 14:06 BST

    Interim Welsh Labour leader Ken Skates asks the first minister why there is "not an single extra penny allocated toward additional learning needs in your supplementary budget".

    This is after Plaid Cyrmru had called for better funding in 2024.

    Rhun ap Iorwerth responded that a framework for additional needs was being developed.

    "We made it out priority, it's in out manifesto," he responded.

    "We have made constructive proposals on how we can work with [Welsh Labour] on bringing together the funding and the policy to build that sustainability that we need," he added.

    Rhun ap Iorwerth said his government was managing numerous priorities while dealing with the hundreds of millions of pounds in overspend it has inherited.

    ken skates on the seneddImage source, Senedd cymru
  10. Concern about private schoolspublished at 14:03 BST

    Millar goes on to claim that parents are losing faith in the state sector, but says private schools have been undermined by UK government decisions.

    What discussions is the Plaid government having with the independent schools council and would he press the UK government to reverse those decisions, he asks.

    Rhun ap Iorwerth says his concern when it comes to the closure of independent schools "is for the learners, the families and the staff affected and the impact of the moving of students into the state school or college sector".

    But he says it is their job to support state schools.

  11. FM wants to achieve 'aim' of schools phone banpublished at 14:01 BST

    Tory Senedd leader Darren Millar says it would not cost the first minister "a penny" to ban mobile phones in schools.

    Last week the UK government issued statutory guidance to effectively ban mobile phones in schools, he says.

    Most of the workforce want a statutory ban, he argues.

    "We don't need words, we don't need waffle - why are you dragging your feet," asks Millar.

    Rhun ap Iorwerth says the education minister has wanted to bring forward statutory guidance "to achieve the aim" Millar says he "wants to achieve".

    "You just need to get on with it," retorts Millar in response.

  12. All we see are reviews - Reform leaderpublished at 13:53 BST

    In the third question from Dan Thomas, he says we are half way through Plaid's first 100 days and "all we see is reviews, expert groups, audits, plans for plans, strategic developments rather than real action".

    He says the supplementary budget is in "real danger of being voted down".

    Thomas suggests the government is not off to a great start, but the first minister says they have "hit the ground running".

    He says they have just got "started as a government".

    "It's a government that recognises we're in a minority," says the first minister - another likely reference to the fact Plaid needs a deal for next Tuesday.

  13. Has the first minister spoken to Andy Burnham yet?published at 13:49 BST

    Reform's Welsh leader Dan Thomas asks if Rhun ap Iorwerth has spoken to Andy Burnham, before or after his comments on devolution.

    The first minister points out Burnham is not prime minister of the UK. He says his first conversation with Keir Starmer did not lead to a meeting because of "chaos in Westminster".

    He says he would have "lots to talk about" if he does become PM.

    Thomas takes that as ap Iorwerth not having a meeting arranged, and goes on to accuse the UK government of not taking the Welsh government seriously.

    "Demanding money alone" is not going to open doors, he argues.

    Ap Iorwerth says it is not his fault there is a "shambles in Westminster" and says, that could see Thomas' leader stepping down at 14:00. (We don't know yet what Nigel Farage plans to say)

  14. Call for 'mature conversations' on budgetpublished at 13:44 BST

    Plaid Cymru still does not have a deal for its supplementary budget, which it is tabling for a vote next week.

    In response to a question from his own backbench, Rhun ap Iorwerth says there is a need for a "mature" conversation in the Senedd about his £294m spending plans.

    He says the budget can make a "very real difference".

    The conversations are a likely reference to the fact that he needs an agreement among opposition members for the budget to be passed - which he does not have yet.

    Labour are pressing Plaid Cymru to give schools more money for additional learning needs.

  15. 'Alarming' levels of borrowing in councilspublished at 13:40 BST

    Tom Montgomery, of Reform, says he was "alarmed" by the levels of borrowing taken on by councils, and the costs of financing the debt.

    "These blooming debts" are "ticking time bombs" on council balance sheets, he says.

    First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth says borrowing is an important tool for local government - and he says councils have more powers than the Welsh government.

    Ap Iorwerth says he trusts councils to make prudent borrowing decisions for themselves.

  16. Support for Wrexham city of culture bidpublished at 13:36 BST

    The first question is on Wrexham's bid to be city of culture.

    Plaid Cymru's Carrie Harper said it would leave a "lasting cultural legacy" and says the bid would "belong to the whole of Wales".

    She accuses Labour's Ken Skates of suggesting in a press release that Plaid was not supporting it, which she says was not true and was a "petty attempt to generate a headline".

    First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth says officials in the Welsh government have been "actively engaged" in the last few weeks.

    There's support from members of Reform and the Conservatives, too.

  17. Andy Burnham criticsed for 'error-filled' article about Walespublished at 13:32 BST

    Meanwhile, Andy Burnham has been criticised for an "error-filled" article for WalesOnline about devolution.

    WalesOnline said the team working for the Labour MP provided a piece for publication that was similar to essays written for London and Scotland, but with the names of places changed.

    The article said Burnham, who is expected to become prime minister later this month, wanted to take action on housing, business rates and education - all of which are controlled by the Plaid Cymru Welsh government.

    More here

  18. Rhun ap Iorwerth returns to the Senedd for first minister's questionspublished at 13:24 BST

    The first minister of Rhun ap Iorwerth returns to the Senedd on Tuesday for the latest round of first minister's questions.

    It's the first time he's been back in the chamber since his party lost a vote in the Senedd on additional learning needs - the second his government has failed to win since the term began.

    Ministers will be hoping they can get a deal to avoid a similar fate befalling their supplementary budget - their mid-year budget plans, due to be debated next week.

    Currently no party has agreed with Plaid to get the budget through - that will need to change by next Tuesday.

    As usual we do not know the questions that the leaders of the opposition parties will ask.

    Scheduled questions from backbenchers include Plaid's plans for a new economic development agency, jobs for student nurses and rail services in the valleys. You can watch live at the top of the page.