Summary

  1. Tory MS says 'constitutional changes' being prioritised over NHSpublished at 14:52 BST

    Janet Finch-SaundersImage source, Senedd Cymru

    There have been several questions in today's session about Plaid's position on independence, and the last to bring it up is Janet Finch-Saunders, the Tory MS for Bangor Conwy Mon.

    "Why is constitutional change taking priority by you above, fixing our NHS, fixing our economy, fixing our schools," she asks.

    Ap Iorwerth replies that the "really important issues" as strengthening the economy, supporting family farms and bringing children out of poverty.

    "I don't believe you," Finch-Saunders heckles as the first minister speaks.

  2. Wales is a 'country not a county', says Plaid MS over Burnham's planspublished at 14:48 BST

    Plaid Cymru MS Carrie Harper asks for an update on Welsh government's discussions with Prime Minister Andy Burnham's UK government on devolving more powers to Wales.

    Repeating a point politicians in her party have been making for some time, she says "it's clear that we need to reiterate to Westminster that we are a country and not a county" and that "devolution to the devolved nations is clearly not the same as devolution to the English regions".

    The first minister says Wales should have "the powers and resources needed to deliver for the people of of Wales" and that "includes parity with Scotland, as a minimum, where doing so would improve outcomes for citizens and strengthen democratic accountability".

    Burnham has announced he wants to hand more powers to cities and regions across the UK.

  3. Government to bring forward another mini-budget 'soon'published at 14:44 BST

    Earlier First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth said he is still offering £40m extra for additional learning needs in schools (ALN) for this year - a sum that had been offered during the summer's failed supplementary budget process.

    He said his finance minister, Elin Jones, has written to opposition parties asking for them to "come together" and cooperate.

    A copy of the letter seen by the BBC said she is "keen to bring forward another supplementary budget" for the current year "as soon as possible".

    She said that would include an additional £40m for the current financial year; Jones said she is open to further discussions on ALN for future years.

    Plaid Cymru tried to pass a supplementary budget earlier this year but failed to win the support of opposition politicians to get it to clear the Senedd.

  4. Labour leader calls for intelligence on threats 'facing Wales'published at 14:41 BST

    Ken SkatesImage source, Senedd Cymru

    Welsh Labour leader Ken Skates asks if the first minister, as well as other party group leaders, "would agree to receive a comprehensive briefing from intelligence chiefs in the UK defence forces over the specific scale and breadth of threats facing Wales and its people".

    This would be "in the interest of national security and in the interest of standing up for the people of Wales", says Skates.

    Rhun ap Iorwerth says he receives briefings on "matters that are of concern in terms of the resilience of Wales".

    This includes the Ministry of Defence and "all the relevant partners that we need to be working with to make sure that our defence and the values that are so important to us are protected from those international forces that seek to undermine us", he says.

    He tells Skates he hopes "all of us" can agree that "these are matters on which there isn't a sheet of paper between us".

  5. FM says Wales 'not quite with' case for independence yetpublished at 14:34 BST

    Millar attacks ap Iorwerth's attendance at the pro-independence march in Aberystwyth, and says he questions figures from pro-indy group YesCymru that estimated at least 8,000 attended.

    Some of the Plaid Cymru benches collapse in laughter at the first minister's reaction when he says it "doesn't come as a surprise" he attended the march.

    "I feel as if there's an attempt every week to draw a big rabbit out of a hat that the leader of Plaid Cymru believes in independence for Wales," ap Iorwerth says.

    But he concedes he has work to do to win the country over, saying that despite a "massive increase in support for independence", the people have told him "we're not with you yet".

  6. Russian foreign minister questioned UK's futurepublished at 14:22 BST

    Sergei LavrovImage source, Getty Images

    Miller's comments relate to Russia's foreign minister questioning the future of the UK last week, suggesting it looked uncertain with "the Celts" looking to hold independence referendums.

    Sergei Lavrov made the comments at a United Nations youth conference, where he said he did "not know what will become of the country called Great Britain", according to The Times, external.

    The comments come weeks after the first ministers of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland declared "Westminster's time is coming to an end" and signed an agreement to say it had no right to "block democracy".

    In response to Lavrov's comments, Plaid Cymru said Wales' constitutional future was "a matter for the people of Wales", and "not for the Kremlin to endorse, oppose or exploit".

    Read more here

  7. Tory leader jokes Sergei Lavrov recruited to Welsh independencepublished at 14:19 BST

    Welsh Conservative Senedd leader Darren Millar jokingly asks Rhun ap Iorwerth how he feels "to have recruited the Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov to your campaign to break up the United Kingdom?".

    Lavrov made comments about independence movements in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland at a recent youth conference.

    Millar asks if the FM is pleased that "Putin's Russia" is "cheerleading" ap Iorwerth's "independence mission".

    Rhun ap Iorwerth says Wales' constitutional future is for Wales, and not for the "Kremlin to endorse, to oppose or to exploit".

    He calls on MIllar and Welsh Secretary Stephen Kinnock to reflect on the "wisdom" of quoting a "Kremlin propagandist in order to pursue their Unionist agenda here".

  8. Ap Iorwerth accuses Reform of 'lurch to the right'published at 14:05 BST

    Rhun ap IorwerthImage source, Senedd Cymru

    In response to Jenner, the first minister implies it is Reform, and not Plaid, that are obsessed with the constitution.

    Ap Iorwerth says: "It's interesting that the member chooses to talk about the constitution at every possible opportunity.

    "It's as if she is somehow obsessed with this, while this government is getting on with the job of governing Wales.

    "We can see under her leadership already this lurch to the right, the fact that she didn't condemn the appalling comments from the shadow minister without portfolio," referring to Joe Martin, "without principles or without any shame, says so much about her leadership of Reform in Wales."

  9. 'Your priorities are insulting', says Jennerpublished at 14:01 BST

    Jenner accuses Plaid Cymru of wanting to spend money on trees on Uganda rather than at home, saying its priorities are "insulting".

    She says a recent poll said two thirds of people did not want an independent Wales.

    "Instead of preaching to the converted at independence rallies, you should be making calls to the leaders and finance spokespeople in this chamber to bring consensus," she says.

  10. 'How will an independent Wales defend itself?' - Reform leaderpublished at 13:57 BST

    Helen JennerImage source, Senedd Cymru

    Reform's Helen Jenner opens questions in the Senedd by asking how an independent Wales would defend itself, after the first minister attended a pro-independence rally in Aberystwyth over the weekend.

    Jenner mentions last week's aircraft crash on Anglesey, and says the humming of jets at RAF Valley on the island is the "sound of freedom".

    Playing part in defence of the UK "brings us greater national security and high quality, high skilled jobs," she says, and asks "who will defend our nation" if Wales became independent.

    "Wales has a role to play of course in the defence of the United Kingdom," Rhun ap Iorwerth says in response.

    "My attitude will always be to seek to work together internationally to strengthen the way that we can step up to the threats that we face, not least from Russia."

  11. Presiding officer explains Reform MS's reprimandpublished at 13:42 BST

    Huw Irranca-DaviesImage source, Senedd Cymru

    Huw Irranca-Davies starts today's session by announcing the reprimand on Joe Martin to Senedd members, saying it was about "the language used and manner in which the contribution was expressed".

    He says Martin broke the standing orders - the rules - of the Senedd as it constituted disorderly, discriminatory or offensive language, or language that detracts from the dignity of the Senedd.

    He says he has written to Martin to require that he ensures language used meets the "requirements of order and respect in future".

    "I want to make it clear that members of the Senate are entitled to hold and express strong and differing views," Irranca-Davies says.

    "I will defend the rights of all members to express their perspectives and to challenge that of other members."

    Martin sits in silence as Irranca-Davies speaks.

  12. Joe Martin reprimanded last weekpublished at 13:29 BST

    Joe MartinImage source, Senedd Cymru

    Reform MS Joe Martin was reprimanded last week for comments he made during a debate on the Welsh Gender Service (WGS).

    A spokesperson for Presiding Officer Huw Irranca-Davies ruled that Martin made "offensive" comments and should not use "language of this type in future".

    Martin had said the service should be shut down and the "butchers" and "liars" responsible for surgery on children should be jailed.

    The WGS provides services to adults aged 18 and over identifying as transgender - Martin did not specify the cases he was referring to.

    Reform Wales said it believed the remarks should be protected as free speech but accepted the ruling.

    Read more here

  13. First Minister's Questions returnspublished at 13:27 BST

    Rhun ap Iorwerth is set to take questions from leaders of the political groups - Reform, Labour and the Conservatives, as well as other backbenchers.

    In the run-up to today's session, the Welsh government confirmed it was ditching the brand Flying Start for childcare provided by two-year-olds.

    Labour has sought clarity that the rest of the Flying Start programme - such as health visiting - will be retained. The Welsh government says it will.

    Meanwhile, former Welsh Labour leader Mark Drakeford has criticised his own party for the way it handled the supplementary budget vote in the summer.

    We are also expecting the presiding officer to say a few words about Reform's Joe Martin, who he reprimanded last week after ruling he made offensive comments in a debate.

    You can watch the session live by clicking play at the top of the page from 13:30 BST.