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

Image source, Senedd Commission

Image source, PA Media

Conservative Laura Anne Jones asks "what assessment has the first minister made of the impact on Wales of the UK Supreme Court's ruling on the definition of a woman?"

Two weeks ago, judges at the Supreme Court unanimously ruled a woman is defined by biological sex under equalities law.

Eluned Morgan replies that the "Welsh government respects the decision of the Supreme Court. We will take the time to consider the judgment carefully and take the steps that are required to meet our obligations under the Equality Act 2010 as clarified by the ruling."

The equalities watchdog's interim guidance says trans women should not be permitted to use women's facilities. It also means trans men - women who have transitioned to being men - have to use women's spaces.

Laura Anne Jones says "the UK Supreme Court's ruling is a vindication for all those like myself who have fought to raise genuine issues and concerns around the safety and fairness, and safety in women-only spaces, services in prisons, and indeed fairness in sport. I hope you will join me in saying that this is a victory for women and girls across Wales, and for common sense. In the years I've tried, this has never been about anti anybody, despite the smears; it is about protecting women and girls and ensuring fairness."

The first minister adds that the Welsh government "in all our dealings, will be acting with respect, compassion and kindness. That is the most important thing, and I think we should heed the words of Lord Hodge when he gave his judgment: he counselled against reading this judgment as a triumph of one or more groups in our society at the expense of another; it is not. We will take our time now to work through the implications of this, and there are significant implications for public services. We'll work through that, and obviously, we will report later on in the summer."

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Liberal Democrat Jane Dodds asks "what immediate and concrete steps the Welsh government is taking to restore confidence in businesses", after data from the Novuna business finance business barometer this month shows that only 13 per cent of Welsh small businesses now predict growth, which is the lowest level it has been on record, and below the UK average.

Jane Dodds says Welsh businesses "are being hammered", including by "US tariff chaos" and the increase in national insurance for employers - the rate that employers pay in contributions rose from 13.8% to 15% on a worker's earnings above £175 from this month, and the threshold at which employers start paying the tax on each employee’s salary has been reduced from £9,100 per year to £5,000.

The first minister replies, "I'm very aware that we need to see better growth when it comes to SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises). There is a real productivity issue in relation to businesses in Wales, and I know that the economy secretary [Rebecca Evans] is very focused on this as an issue. I think that we have to take up the opportunities that artificial intelligence brings, and see how we can use that to enhance productivity, but obviously make sure that that is balanced off with workers' rights and other issues. But we do give a huge amount of support to small businesses, not least the non-domestic rates support we give - £335 million is not a small amount of money - and almost 50 per cent of those businesses receive full rate relief."

Image source, Senedd Commission

The first minister congratulates Wrexham FC on their "phenomenal" achievement of reaching the second tier of English football for only the second time in their history, following an unprecedented third successive promotion.

She adds, "we won't be saying anything to representatives from Cardiff today" - the Bluebirds will be playing third-tier football next season for the first time since 2003 following a miserable campaign.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Senedd Commission

Following the UK government’s intervention in Scunthorpe steelworks, Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth says people in Port Talbot feel "deep anger at Labour’s betrayal of the steelworkers there, who lost their jobs as their blast furnaces were closed".

He adds, "we even had Labour MPs from Wales having their pictures taken with saving British Steel placards on the day of the Scunthorpe debate. But when it came to Port Talbot: nothing. Now, Labour and the Tories alike didn’t see it worthwhile to save the blast furnaces there. When Welsh communities came calling, Labour did nothing. When we, in Plaid Cymru, suggested solutions the first minister scoffed and scorned. The least she can do today is apologise for her dismissive approach to nationalisation. Now, having waved the white flag the first time around, what will she do now? Can she tell us whether or not she has pressed the UK government for further direct support for Port Talbot in light of the substantial package of support to save jobs at Scunthorpe?"

A series of Welsh politicians have questioned why the government failed to do the same for Tata Steel in Port Talbot.

Eluned Morgan replies, "I understand the concerns of the local population. Port Talbot, Llanwern, other places, Shotton, have been going through a really tough time not just in the past year, but for a prolonged period of time. There has been a Damocles' sword hanging over the steel sector for a very long time. The situation has changed, of course. Even recently, we've had the imposition of 25 per cent tariffs on steel, which is a fairly recent thing which happened obviously after the situation in Tata emerged with the two blast furnaces. I met with Tata on Friday to speak to the management, I met with trade union leaders. And I have been making representations to the Conservative government [sic] to make sure that they understand that we - the Labour government - to make sure they understand that there is an opportunity for them here to stand with the Welsh workforce and to make sure that we get a significant share of the green steel fund."

MPs rushed emergency legislation through UK Parliament earlier this month to allow officials to take control of the plant run by Chinese-owned British Steel and prevent its two blast furnaces from shutting down.

UK ministers have said the two steelworks were in different situations.

Traditional steel production at the Port Talbot site came to an end in September after the UK government committed £500m to help Tata Steel move to greener forms of steelmaking.

But this resulted in the loss of some 2,800 jobs at the Port Talbot plant.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Senedd Commission

Darren Millar, leader of the Welsh Conservatives in the Senedd, raises the issue of childcare costs.

He says "research by Coram Family and Childcare found that the parent of a child under two in Wales spends an average of £4,400 more per year to send their child to nursery on a part-time basis than over the border in England. That's £1,700 more per year than is currently the case in Scotland. Now, this is due to parents in Wales getting less support with childcare costs than anywhere else in Britain."

He asks "why is it that the Labour Party in Wales does not support or value hard-working mums and dads by providing them with access to more support with free childcare?"

Eluned Morgan replies "we've got the offer for three and four-year-olds: we provide 30 hours of early education and funded childcare for three and four-year-olds. That offer is available to working parents and, significantly, parents in training and education so that they can be reskilled. That is not an offer that is available in England. Also, it's worth underlining that it's available for 48 weeks a year, compared to England's 38 weeks a year, so we are in a different place in relation to that. And, of course, what we did have as a result of our deal with the Liberal Democrats now is an extension to the Flying Start childcare programme for two-year-olds, and we are going to see now that phased expansion of early-years provision to include all two-year-olds, with a particular emphasis on strengthening Welsh-medium provision."

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Conservative Tom Giffard asks what is the Welsh government doing to tackle violence and other behavioural issues in schools across Wales.

He refers to yesterday's news that a 14-year-old girl who stabbed two teachers and a pupil while screaming "I'm going to kill you" was sentenced to 15 years in detention. Fiona Elias, Liz Hopkin and a pupil were treated in hospital with stab wounds after the attack at Ysgol Dyffryn Aman, Carmarthenshire, last April.

He adds, "I think one of the things that has struck me, speaking to teachers and teaching staff across Wales, is how almost routine violence and behavioural issues in our schools has become over the last few years. I spoke to a teacher just a few weeks ago whose arm was totally purple because she'd been punched repeatedly in school by a pupil. The kind of nonchalance, if you like, with which she told me that I found absolutely startling, and that is clearly unacceptable."

The first minister says "any form of violence against staff or pupils in schools is completely unacceptable, under any circumstance. We're all terribly aware of the impact on staff, and the pupils, at Ysgol Dyffryn Aman. They've been through a harrowing time, and it's important that we stand with them and by them, which is why there's been a significant financial package put in place in order to make sure people have the support that they need in that school."

She adds, "you're quite right - poor behaviour, it looks like things are getting worse".

She says the Welsh government is holding a "behaviour summit" - "there are lots of things already in place: all education settings have a legal duty to provide safe learning environments; all schools should have robust behaviour policies in place, and they should be applying them consistently. So, we just need to make sure we know what works best, how do we make sure we action them and roll them out across the country. That's what will come out of the summit".

Image source, Senedd Commission

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

Plaid Cymru MS Siân Gwenllian raises further concerns about the consequences that changes to inheritance tax could have on Wales’ agricultural sector, and warns it could have a disproportionate impact on women.

She explains, "it’s come to my attention that the changes to relief will have a disproportionate impact on women - women who are widows - because the relief on the husband who has passed away will not be transferred to the widow to provide double relief. I’m sure that you will agree that that is fundamentally unfair. The families have lost out on opportunities to plan their estates and to draw up wills that would provide certainty for children for the future."

First Minister Eluned Morgan replies "inheritance tax is the responsibility of the UK government, and, of course, they did have to make some difficult decisions. But I haven’t heard that particular aspect referred to before, and, therefore, I will have discussions with the minister here".

From April 2026 there will be a charge of 20% inheritance tax on agricultural assets worth more than £1m for the first time, following the decision by the Labour chancellor Rachel Reeves.

Image source, Getty Images

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

The Siambr (Senedd chamber) has now closed for renovations until March 2026, as work starts on altering the chamber to accommodate the 96 Members who will be chosen in the next Senedd election in May 2026.

From today the 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.