Eluned Morgan’s fifty-first session as first minister comes to a close.

Image source, Senedd Cymru

Image source, Senedd Cymru

Conservative Natasha Asghar tells the Labour first minister that the NHS in Wales is "on its knees thanks to decades of mismanagement and incompetence by your party".

She gives the example of a constituent who had "been on an NHS waiting list for an orthopaedic surgery and was told he could expect a wait of around 98 weeks. It got to the stage where he could not take the pain any longer. He was taken off work in chronic pain, which took its toll on his mental health and had a major impact on his ability to support his father, who at the time was undergoing cancer treatment. Struggling to cope with the pain, my constituent sought S2 funding, which allows eligible Welsh residents to get NHS-funded planned medical treatment in an EU country, but he was refused because it was deemed his wait was justifiable. In the end, my constituent took himself to Lithuania for the operation at a cost of £3,500, which he met privately with the help of, obviously, family savings and a loan as well. Thankfully, my constituent has had his operation and is on the mend, but not everyone has access to funds to pay for their care privately."

Eluned Morgan says "although we recognise there's lots more to do, we're delighted that our massive increased investment in bringing down waiting lists in Wales is paying dividends. Last month, we saw the biggest drop in waiting lists we've ever seen - 23,000 fewer in a month. I think it's worth reminding people that the average wait in Wales is 19 weeks. Over the last 12 months, the percentage of people waiting for two years has fallen by over 80 per cent in the Aneurin Bevan and Cwm Taf health boards. Across Wales, that figure has dropped by 90 per cent since the peak of the pandemic. This is extraordinary work by the hard-working members of the NHS in Wales."

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Former first minister Vaughan Gething seeks "a statement on the value of the nuclear supply chain to the economy of Wales".

Eluned Morgan says "the nuclear supply chain is extremely valuable to the Welsh economy, and we remain committed to its development. 190 Welsh suppliers won contracts at Hinkley Point C, with £188 million received and £815 million total spend forecast. Sizewell C has also pledged to spend at least £900 million with Welsh suppliers. Combined, this shows the Welsh supply chain is very well placed to secure opportunities from the Wylfa SMR project."

The UK’s first small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) will be built at Wylfa on Anglesey. The project, which could power about three million homes, will be built by publicly owned Great British Energy-Nuclear and is backed by a £2.5bn investment from the UK government.

SMRs work similarly to large reactors, using a nuclear reaction to generate heat that produces electricity - but are a fraction of the size, with about a third of the generating output.

Image source, Rolls-Royce

Conservative Peter Fox raises concerns about "lack of clarity and communication" about ongoing and pending trunk‑road works in Monmouthshire, including on the A4042.

He explains, "a traffic regulation Order was published suggesting that the road could be closed periodically over a 7.5-mile stretch for up to six months. Unsurprisingly, this created real alarm among residents and businesses. Fortunately, clarity was eventually provided following several interventions... Similar, with the road traffic Order put in place over two years ago on the A40 and the M48 for barrier works, no detail or time frames, no explanations were provided and it's taken over 130 weeks."

He asks, "this lack of clarity helps no-one, not councils nor communities. First minister, will your government reflect on the need for significantly improved clarity in the information issued by Welsh government where it is likely to affect so many people and businesses?"

Eluned Morgan replies, "I want to reassure you that the notices don't represent the actual duration of restrictions and shouldn't be interpreted as long-term road closures. You'll be aware that that has always been the position from your time working as a councillor."

Image source, Senedd Cymru

Image source, Senedd Cymru

Plaid Cymru MS Peredur Owen Griffiths expresses concerns about the provision of NHS dentistry and changes being introduced from April.

NHS Wales dentists will no longer see patients routinely twice a year, with gaps of up to two years between regular check-ups for those with healthy teeth.

From April 2026, patients with no apparent dental issues could be recalled by dentists every 18 to 24 months.

Practices will receive a fixed amount to support ongoing care for healthy patients, rather than payments per visit.

Peredur Owen Griffiths says "a long-standing NHS dentist in my region has just made the decision to go private. Crown Cottage Dental Care of Bedwas informed all patients that they would be making the switch in a letter, due to the changes the Labour government has made to the dental contract. A constituent has been in touch with my office who’s now nearly 50 years old and has been with this particular practice since he was a child. He has been told he would have to pay a fixed subscription fee to remain at the dentist in excess of £1,000 a year for his family of four."

Eluned Morgan replies, "it's always disappointing when a dentist decides to reduce or end their NHS commitment. When that happens, it's important to state that the funding for the lost provision remains with the health board, and it is replaced at the health board level in terms of other services that can be given. I think it's important to get a context on this. The value of returned contracts is less than 3 per cent of commissioned activity in monetary terms, so that's below £7.9 million-worth of contract returns that were seen in 2023-24. So, I do think it's important to get a sense of what's happening across the country. There are pockets where it's very challenged and we are aware of that. That's why, for example, we incentivise dentists to go to rural areas. We give them a £7,000 additional salary uplift to train and work in rural areas. But the other thing we need to do is to make sure that we train more Welsh domiciled dentists, and I'm really pleased to see that Cardiff University, for example, have increased significantly the number of dentists who are from Wales."

The British Dental Association Cymru have said longer recall times could limit their ability to flag any potential oral issues, including oral cancer, and would mean they were unable to advise patients on the best course of action before it was too late.

Patients who pay for NHS treatment will pay half the costs - capped at a maximum £384, regardless of how much care they need.

The Welsh government has said about half the Welsh population is exempt from paying NHS dental charges, including children under 18, pregnant women, hospital dental patients and people receiving certain benefits.

Image source, Senedd Cymru

Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth says the hospitality sector is facing an "existential crisis" and the system needs "urgent and radical change".

Although he welcomes today's announcement that Welsh pubs, restaurants, cafes and live music venues will see a discount to their business rates of 15%, he questions why the scheme is for a single year whereas the English scheme will last for three years.

He says, "a sector worth £4 billion for the Welsh economy and that employs well over 150,000 people can't survive on the basis of a one-year settlement. So, does the first minister agree with me on that?"

Eluned Morgan replies, "we do budgets on an annual basis in this place, so to give a commitment without knowing what's ahead I think would be irresponsible."

She adds, "I think if we had offered a multi-year deal, I'd have been criticised for being presumptuous about what would happen post May. I'm actually respecting the people of this nation who will be making decisions on what happens next."

Rhun ap Iorwerth says he agrees "that business is looking for stability, and it's why the pro-business attitude shown by Plaid Cymru is so attractive to so many people leading businesses in Wales now".

He says there is a need "to tip the scales in favour of smaller businesses by designing a taxation system that is firmly on the side of small and medium-sized enterprises. We currently have three multipliers. At the moment, the lowest one excludes hospitality. A Plaid Cymru government would right that wrong. That's part of our plan. What's the first minister's?"

Eluned Morgan replies that in addition to the one-year business rate discount of 15% for pubs, restaurants, cafes and live music venues, "let's also recognise that, actually, there are changes happening within our communities, and the way that people behave in relation to their public services and the businesses in their communities is changing. If people want to see those businesses succeed, they need to use them. They need to stop buying things online. They need to get out of their homes and stop watching Netflix. They need to stop buying that bottle of wine at home and go out to the pub. That is the reality of what's happening here. You can't expect the state to step in and do the work that the public should be doing."

The Senedd election is on May 7.

Image source, Getty Images

Following lack month's sacking by Conservative group leader Darren Millar of his shadow health secretary James Evans for talking to Reform, the Conservatives and Plaid Cymru have 13 members each in the Senedd.

So the two parties now take turns to ask the first leader's questions to the first minister.

The Conservatives go first today.

Darren Millar says "your government used its deal with Plaid Cymru to push through a budget that keeps Wales as one of the highest tax parts of this United Kingdom. For over a quarter of a century, your party has overseen a low-growth, high-tax cycle that has left Welsh households poorer than their neighbours."

He asks "will you rule out any increase to the Welsh rates of income tax for the duration of the next Senedd term - yes or no?"

The next Senedd term will be from May 2026-30.

Eluned Morgan focusses on the Conservative UK government's record on taxation - "I can't believe I'm getting a question on high rates of tax from somebody in a party that left us with the highest rate of taxation that we've had since the second world war. Now, I wouldn't have minded if what we'd had was fantastic public services and a massive injection of money into our public services as a result of that."

She says Labour's commitments will be set out in their manifesto for the election in May - "you want to cut the basic rates of income tax? Then you have to tell people that they will have to wait longer for those waiting lists to come down."

Darren Millar says voters in May could "choose a truly fresh start with the Welsh Conservatives that believes that people - we're a party that believes that people - not politicians know how to spend their money best."

Image source, Senedd Cymru

Image source, Senedd Cymru

Llywydd Elin Jones conducts a ballot to determine the names of members who may table questions to the first minister.

Plaid Cymru MS Delyth Jewell asks "what is the Welsh government's position on whether policing should be devolved to Wales?"

First Minister Eluned Morgan says "the Welsh government has been clear. We want policing devolved to Wales".

The Labour UK government's Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood's stance is that a major overhaul of policing will not see the Senedd given powers to decide how the service is run.

Mahmood's white paper, published last week, could see the number of forces in England and Wales cut by about two-thirds. An independent review will look at which forces should merge.

When asked in the Commons last week whether she agrees that "this package of radical changes is exactly the right time for the devolution of policing to Wales?", in a short reply Shabana Mahmood said: "No, I do not."

Delyth Jewell says those were "four wicked words". She also says "Wales is in an abnormal situation. We have a Parliament that makes laws, but decisions about how they are policed are made in another country. Commissions and experts have argued that policing decisions should be made in Wales, to cut confusion and complexity."

Eluned Morgan adds, "it's really important that people recognise that 50 per cent of police funding in Wales comes from devolved sources. Devolution of policing was something that was recommended by the Silk commission, the Thomas commission, and by the McAllister and Williams commission. So, we have been clear. Our motivation, though, is to make sure we improve policing on the ground. I don't want to see constitutional reform for the sake of it. This is not just a power grab on the road to independence. We believe that designing replacement arrangements for police and crime commissioners is an opportunity to take a significant step towards full devolution."

The Welsh government commission on justice in 2019 , externalargued there was also "no rational basis" for Wales to be treated differently from Northern Ireland and Scotland, where policing is devolved.

Image source, Getty Images

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of Eluned Morgan’s fifty-first session of First Minister's Questions.

The Siambr (Senedd chamber) has closed for renovations as work is underway on altering it to accommodate the 96 Members to be chosen in the Senedd election in May.

So the 60 MSs are meeting in Siambr Hywel, the original debating chamber that housed the then National Assembly for Wales from 1999 to 2006.

The meeting is held in a hybrid format, with some members in Siambr Hywel and others joining by video-conference.

You can click on the play button above to watch the proceedings from 1.30pm.