Welsh First Minister Faces Questions on NHS Jobs, Education, and Supreme Court Ruling

First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth faced a range of critical questions during the latest Senedd session, addressing issues from NHS job shortages to education recruitment and the Supreme Court ruling on biological sex.

The latest session of First Minister’s Questions saw Rhun ap Iorwerth fielding a variety of pressing issues from Senedd members. The session, which began at 1.30pm, covered topics such as NHS recruitmenteducation policy and the Supreme Court ruling on the definition of biological sex.

Among the key questions were inquiries about food securityanimal welfare and a review of higher education. The session also touched on political literacy and the impact of clean energy transitions on local communities in Ceredigion and Penfro.

NHS Job Crisis and Supplementary Budget

Reform UK’s Dan Thomas kicked off the session by raising concerns about 400 nurses and midwives who are facing unemployment upon graduation. He questioned whether the £145 million allocated in the supplementary budget would be used to create new jobs.

The First Minister explained that the issue arose due to overcommissioning of jobs in 2026. He assured that the health minister had met with NHS staff to improve planning and identify flexible job opportunities. Emphasizing the importance of these professionals, he stated, “We need them.”

Supreme Court Ruling and Policy Review

Reform UK’s Art Wright highlighted the 440-day delay since the Supreme Court ruling, stating that it has ignored 51% of the population. He asked for a definitive timeline on updating policies in Wales and whether the First Minister respects the ruling.

First Minister ap Iorwerth responded that the ruling has “brought in a new era of discussion about this.” He mentioned that the Welsh Government is reviewing the draft code of practice from the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) and will act according to the law.

Education and Teacher Recruitment

Labour’s Huw Thomas raised concerns about Plaid’s promise to incentivize teachers to teach underrepresented subjects with an extra £5,000. He noted that unions did not agree with this initiative.

The First Minister defended the measure, stating that it is a first step to address recruitment challenges. He emphasized the need to support the current teaching workforce and expressed his desire to see people excited about the teaching profession.

Reform UK’s Francesca O’Brien questioned the government’s approach to teacher recruitment based on ethnicity. She argued that the scheme has had little impact and standards are poor. The First Minister responded by highlighting the need for a diverse teaching workforce that reflects the pupil population.

The session also covered a range of other topics, including support for unpaid carers, the tourism industry in Ceredigion and Penfro, and political literacy in schools. The First Minister’s responses provided insights into the government’s plans and challenges ahead.