FIRST MINISTER PUSHED ON “PALTRY” FUNDING AND HS2 FALL-OUT IN SENEDD EXCHANGE

WALES’ First Minister Eluned Morgan has insisted it is “damn right” Wales should press the UK Government for more rail funding, as she faced criticism in the Senedd over what Plaid Cymru described as a “paltry” settlement.

During First Minister’s Questions on Tuesday (Jan 13), Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth challenged Labour’s record on rail and accused the Welsh Government of being too deferential to Westminster, saying Scotland had been able to secure more capital spending from the UK Government.

He told the Senedd it had been six months since the First Minister had said she was “at the table and getting things done” on fair funding, claiming the evidence suggested otherwise. He also raised concerns about the UK Government seeking to influence how some funding is spent in Wales, and asked what she was confident she could persuade Prime Minister Keir Starmer to deliver to Wales between now and May.

Replying, the First Minister said: “Do I want more rail funding from the UK Government? Damn right I do… Have I been silent about that? No, I have not.”

She said Wales had received “£435m additional money” compared with what it received under the Conservatives, but accepted it was not enough, adding that there would be “a pipeline” of further investment in future.

The exchange comes against the backdrop of longstanding arguments over rail investment in Wales—particularly around HS2, which has been treated for funding purposes as an “England and Wales” project despite no HS2 track being built in Wales.

The Welsh Government has previously estimated Wales has missed out on £431m in rail funding consequentials linked to HS2 between 2016-17 and 2025-26. Other estimates have suggested the overall shortfall could be substantially higher over a longer period.

A separate UK Government announcement last year set out £445m for rail improvements in Wales, though questions have remained about exactly where and when the money would be spent.

In December, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said £78m of that pot would go towards Cardiff Central, with further detail expected in the new year following discussions through the Wales Rail Board.

For west Wales, the debate matters because rail investment decisions affect connectivity to Swansea, Cardiff and beyond—links relied on by commuters, students, hospital visitors and businesses across Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire.

FORMAL powers allowing Pembrokeshire’s council to potentially force the sale of problem long-term empty properties as a last resort, have been backed by senior councillors.

Long-term empty properties in Pembrokeshire are currently charged a premium council tax rate of 300 per cent for those empty for more than two years, effectively a quadruple tax bill.

A report for members on a draft empty properties strategy of 2025-30, was presented to Pembrokeshire County Council’s Policy and Pre-Decision Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting back in November, where it was supported, with a formal decision to be made by the council’s Cabinet.

It said the strategy for scrutiny was an important strategic shift from a previous Cabinet agreed action plan as it introduced “the inclusion of an enforced sales procedure as a formal intervention tool when circumstances require”.

Members heard such a sale would only be considered if a long list of criteria had been met.

The report said: “It is important to stress that this procedure is likely to be rarely used and only in cases where there is no other option but necessary due the extend of works that the council has had to undertake to make improvements to the property.  The main focus will always be that of informal and supportive action with property owners.”

It added: “Long-term, often problematic empty properties are considered a waste of a valuable resource which could be added to the pool of much-needed housing in the county. They can also frequently become blights to neighbourhoods by becoming targets for antisocial behaviour, trespass, vandalism and arson.

“In addition to this they can become eyesores which devalue nearby properties, become sources of harbourage for vermin infestations, and can also become significant drains on the resources of the county council, police, and fire and rescue services.

“Every effort is made to engage with owners, however, it is often the case that they are unwilling or unable to undertake the necessary work and therefore enforcement action may be considered.”

It was stressed the enforced acquisition would not be used to pursue those who hadn’t paid the council tax premium.

At Pembrokeshire County Council’s Cabinet meeting of January 12, a report for members, jointly presented by Cabinet Member for Housing Cllr Michelle Bateman and Cabinet Member for Planning & Regulatory Services Cllr Jacob Williams, recommended they endorse the strategic plans, saying: “The use of the range of legal powers available to the authority will be in accordance with enforcement policy of best interests, and utilising the enforced sales route would be a last resort.”

Cllr Williams said any potential ‘last resort’ enforced sales would be dealt with on “a case-by-case basis,” adding it was likely to involve “a handful of properties,” rather than a widespread use of the powers.

Members unanimously backed the recommendation.

A PETITION signed by more than 4,000 people has thrust Wales’ breast cancer screening programme into the spotlight amid low take-up and “massive” disparities across the country.

On Monday January 12, Senedd Members considered the 4,254-signature petition on improving the national Breast Test Wales screening programme run by Public Health Wales.

The Senedd’s petitions committee heard only 69% of women invited for screening attended their appointment in 2022/23, below a 70% minimum standard and an 80% target.

The petitioners wrote: “If the 80% target was met, 15,871 more women would have been screened and an estimated 154 more breast cancers detected.”

Breast Cancer Now, which organised the petition, pointed to latest uptake data for the UK – showing England at 70%, Northern Ireland at 74% and Scotland at 75%.

Highlighting an awareness campaign launched in England in 2025, the charity urged the Welsh Government to similarly promote potentially life-saving breast screening.

Plaid Cymru’s Lindsay Whittle was taken aback: “I would say this is certainly the most alarming statistic I have read in possibly the past 35-40 years I’ve been involved in politics.

“To think that 15,000 women are walking around Wales not being screened and 154 of those women probably have early signs of breast cancer is alarming.

“And we have to send out a 999 message to women in all corners of Wales: please use this facility, it is absolutely vital. If this facility was taken away, we would probably have demonstrators outside this building – and rightly so.”

Calling for a communications campaign to save lives, Caerphilly MS Mr Whittle added: “The low take-up in many areas of Wales is a matter of national concern.”

He urged colleagues on the cross-party petitions committee to write to health secretary Jeremy Miles, seeking answers on breast cancer screening.

The politician questioned: “What is England doing differently to Wales because they seem to be more successful? Well, that shouldn’t be right obviously.”

Mr Whittle stressed: “We have to ensure that women’s lives are protected and they’re given this help as fast as possible. Early detection is vital.”

Vaughan Gething, the former First Minister and health secretary, supported calls to ask the Welsh Government for an update on plans for a new wider screening equity strategy.

Labour’s Carolyn Thomas, who chairs the committee, explained people continue to go every three years if they attend their first screening, “so it’s getting them there in the first place”.

Ms Thomas, who had to rearrange her own appointment last week due to a family medical emergency, said early detection could save the NHS as much as £100m.

A Public Health Wales report showed significant disparities, with uptake ranging from more than 70% in Carmarthenshire to 40% on Anglesey in 2021/22.

Rhys ab Owen, who sits as an independent, suggested a debate in the main chamber but recognised the clock was ticking on the Senedd term with an election in May.

He said: “I was unaware of this issue before the petition and I’d be very interested to know the reason behind the difference between different local authorities. There must be a reason: why is Ynys Môn so low at 40%? It’s a massive outlier.”

The committee agreed to write to health secretary Jeremy Miles about the forthcoming screening equity strategy and the use of 11 mobile centres in Wales.

Breast Cancer Now also expressed concerns about delays in data reporting, with a 2023/24 annual report set to be published a year after the equivalent English data.

The charity stressed: “Timely annual statistical reporting, in line with the timescale of other UK nations, increases transparency and accountability within Wales’ breast screening programme, and supports evidence-based decision making and long-term planning.”

In an earlier letter to the committee, Mr Miles told the committee uptake rates can vary across regions, age groups and socioeconomic backgrounds.

He wrote: “The reasons women choose not to take up the offer are complex. Factors may include lack of awareness, fear or anxiety about the screening process and results, cultural and language barriers, access issues, and the impact of misinformation.

“We are committed to maximising breast screening uptake across all communities, recognising its vital role in early cancer detection and improved outcomes.”