FMQs this week – 03/11/2026

First Minister’s Questions (FMQs) is the Senedd’s weekly opportunity for Members to question the First Minister on matters within his responsibilities. Most questions are submitted at least three working days in advance and selected through a ballot. Opposition leaders may also ask questions without notice.

Below is a quick guide to the planned questions for this week’s FMQs, with links to relevant information we’ve published, and other useful background where available. A full list of questions can be found here.

You can watch FMQs live at 1:30pm on Senedd TV.

Question: Steve Bayliss MS asks about assurances sought from Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board about their safeguarding arrangements and health visiting capacity.

Information: The Senedd discussed the Health Board’s health visitor pay dispute on 16 September 2026. The debate covered the dispute, safeguarding and the proposed review of health visiting.

Question: Louise Emery MS asks about the impact of the UK Government’s autumn budget on small retail, hospitality and leisure businesses in Wales.

Information: The Cabinet Minister for Finance responded to the autumn budget in a statement. In the autumn budget, the UK Government announced further support to support retail, hospitality and leisure businesses in England with their business rates bills.

The Welsh Government recently announced a 30% reduction to business rates bills for hospitality and leisure businesses in Wales, to be delivered by reducing the business rates multiplier in the same way as it is for smaller retailers. This support will come in from April 2027.

Question: Claire Archibald MS asks what the Welsh Government is doing to ensure the economic sustainability of community pharmacies.

Question: Sam Rowlands MS asks how the First Minister is promoting cooperation and building stronger links between Wales and the rest of the United Kingdom.

Information: Our regularly updated monitoring reports collate key information and provide an overview of recent key policy developments, including for constitutional matters.

Question: Alun Cox MS asks about progress in implementing a Welsh benefits system.

Information: The Welsh Benefits System is a number of Welsh Government programmes which support low-income households, and are provided in addition to the UK Government social security system.

The previous Welsh Government established a steering group to take forward work to create a more coherent system, and turn the commitments of the Welsh Benefits Charter into action. The current government has commissioned academics from Cardiff University to review the effectiveness of current Welsh Benefits, to inform greater streamlining of processes around these. Their report is expected to be published by the end of 2026.

Question: Claire Johnson-Wood MS asks about recent discussions the First Minister has had with the Cabinet Minister for Health and Care regarding mental health support services for young people.

Information: Our recent article, Mental health in Wales: what does the data tell us?, looks at what available data tells us about mental health in Wales, including levels of need, demand for and access to services, inequalities and outcomes, and gaps in the evidence base.

Additionally our constituency factsheet: Mental health support, signposts to relevant sources of support.

Question: Andrew Griffin MS asks about the adequacy of funding for community sporting facilities in rural Wales.

Information: Senedd Research analysis (in 2025) found that funding for culture and sport in Wales was among the lowest in Europe.

The Cabinet Minister for Culture and Sport recently announced an extra £2 million investment in sport facilities across Wales.

Question: Vikki Howell MS asks how the Welsh Government will support delivery of further education in Pontypridd Cynon Merthyr.

Information: In September, the Deputy Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education responded to questions from the Early Years Children Young People and Education Committee about the numbers of learners in Further Education and the financial pressures facing colleges.

Question: Jane Dodds MS asks for a response to the UK COVID-19 Inquiry’s findings on the impact of restricted visiting on older people in care homes.

Information: Module 6 of the Covid-19 Inquiry looked at the impact of the pandemic on the adult social care sector across the UK. The Module 6 Report was published on 20 October. The Welsh Government provided an initial response to the report on the same day, and is required to publish a full response within 6 months.

Question: Lynne Neagle MS asks for an update on actions arising from the Wildfire Summit on the 22 October 2026.

Information: Following the summit, the First Minister published a statement on Wildfire and Climate Resilience.

For wider context, our recent articles explore extreme heat in Wales, including its causes, impacts and adaptations, and heatwaves and health.

Alongside this, the Climate Change, Environment, Sustainability and Rural Affairs Committee is undertaking an inquiry into wildfire resilience in Wales.

Question: John Davies MS asks about consideration given to securing Wales's digital sovereignty.

Question: Benjamin Hodge Mckenna MS asks about action being taken to support high streets in Afan Ogwr Rhondda.

Information: The Welsh Government recently established a Town Centre Taskforce to identify “actions that can challenge the decline, and change in use to increase footfall, support Welsh businesses, attract investment and strengthen the long-term vitality of our towns and city centres”.

Article by Senedd Research, Welsh Parliament