Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to page 269 of his Department’s report entitled FCDO annual report and accounts 2024 to 2025, published on 22 July 2025, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the reduction in the spend of the Health Institutions and Health Security Department on the contribution to global health multilaterals.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The reduction in spend by the Health Institutions and Health Security Department between 2024/25 and 2025/26 is calculated by comparing Official Development Assistance (ODA) programme allocations in 2025/26 with ODA programme outturn in 2024/25. Some of the payments made in 2024/25, including key contributions to Gavi and WHO, had originally been planned for 2025/26 and were brought forward to 2024/25 to ease future budget pressures. The reduction in spend largely reflects this re-profiling. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) will meet all multilateral commitments in 2025/26 and continues to prioritise high impact global health institutions through strategic, multi-year funding.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to page 269 of his Department’s report entitled FCDO annual report and accounts 2024 to 2025, published on 22 July 2025, how the reduction in the spend of the Health Institutions and Health Security Department was calculated.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The reduction in spend by the Health Institutions and Health Security Department between 2024/25 and 2025/26 is calculated by comparing Official Development Assistance (ODA) programme allocations in 2025/26 with ODA programme outturn in 2024/25. Some of the payments made in 2024/25, including key contributions to Gavi and WHO, had originally been planned for 2025/26 and were brought forward to 2024/25 to ease future budget pressures. The reduction in spend largely reflects this re-profiling. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) will meet all multilateral commitments in 2025/26 and continues to prioritise high impact global health institutions through strategic, multi-year funding.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that the vulnerabilities of powered two wheelers are considered in road (a) design and (b) maintenance practices.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Local authorities are responsible for setting design standards for their roads and for considering the needs of different road users, including vulnerable road users, when making changes to their roads. To support local authorities, my Department has published good practice in various documents including the Manual for Streets, Local Transport Notes and Traffic Advisory Leaflets, and has endorsed the Institute of Highway Engineers’ guidelines on designing for motorcycling. It also recognises vulnerable road users in the 2025 Highway Code. In addition to these publications, just last month, my Department also launched its review of another publication, the Well-Managed Highways Infrastructure Code of Practice, which provides highways management advice and best practice. That review will consider a range of road design and maintenance needs, including for powered two wheelers. We aim to have the entire Code of Practice updated by November 2026 and to release updated sections before then as they become available.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will take steps to use the UK’s role as a co-host of the Global Fund’s 8th Replenishment to encourage contributions from international partners.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK is proud to be co-hosting the Global Fund's Eighth Replenishment with South Africa and looks forward to working with an expanded range of partners to help end AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria for good.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is working with South Africa and the Global Fund on a range of international engagements and events to help generate international support for the Replenishment. For example, Heads of Mission have recently hosted events in support of the Global Fund at our High Commission in Canberra, our Embassy in Addis Ababa and our High Commission in Pretoria, in addition to bilateral discussions in other key countries.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he plans to have discussions with international partners at the 2025 G20 Summit on the UK and South Africa’s role as co-hosts of the Global Fund’s 8th Replenishment.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK is proud to be co-hosting the Global Fund's Eighth Replenishment with South Africa and looks forward to working with an expanded range of partners to help end AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria for good.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is working with South Africa and the Global Fund on a range of international engagements and events to help generate international support for the Replenishment. For example, Heads of Mission have recently hosted events in support of the Global Fund at our High Commission in Canberra, our Embassy in Addis Ababa and our High Commission in Pretoria, in addition to bilateral discussions in other key countries.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether Heads of Mission are taking steps to generate support for the Global Fund’s 8th replenishment.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK is proud to be co-hosting the Global Fund's Eighth Replenishment with South Africa and looks forward to working with an expanded range of partners to help end AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria for good.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is working with South Africa and the Global Fund on a range of international engagements and events to help generate international support for the Replenishment. For example, Heads of Mission have recently hosted events in support of the Global Fund at our High Commission in Canberra, our Embassy in Addis Ababa and our High Commission in Pretoria, in addition to bilateral discussions in other key countries.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has had discussions with independent retailers on the development of the New Business Growth Service.

Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Department for Business and Trade launched the Business Growth Service (BGS) in July alongside our Plan for Small Business. We will continue iterating the business.gov.uk online offer through continued engagement with SMEs from across all sectors and regions in the UK making BGS the front door to all government business support.

The Department engages routinely with retailers of all types, including independent retailers, through key trade associations. The service will regularly review user feedback to ensure it delivers what businesses need to support their growth and productivity. We continue to engage widely with stakeholders, especially entrepreneurs and small business owners, on the design and implementation of the service with a series of roundtables and consultation events across the country.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, when he plans to introduce the New Business Growth Service.

Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Department for Business and Trade launched the Business Growth Service (BGS) in July alongside our Plan for Small Business. We will continue iterating the business.gov.uk online offer through continued engagement with SMEs from across all sectors and regions in the UK making BGS the front door to all government business support.

The Department engages routinely with retailers of all types, including independent retailers, through key trade associations. The service will regularly review user feedback to ensure it delivers what businesses need to support their growth and productivity. We continue to engage widely with stakeholders, especially entrepreneurs and small business owners, on the design and implementation of the service with a series of roundtables and consultation events across the country.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what guidance her Department has issued to local education authorities to support school pupils with (a) endometriosis and (b) other (i) menstrual and (ii) reproductive health concerns.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

Pupils learn the facts about menstrual and reproductive health as part of compulsory relationships, sex and health education (RSHE). This includes fertility, the potential impact of lifestyle on fertility for men and women, and the menopause. In July 2025 the department updated the RSHE statutory guidance to provide specific examples of period problems, including pre-menstrual syndrome; heavy menstrual bleeding; endometriosis; and polycystic ovary syndrome, to ensure pupils understand when to seek help from healthcare professionals. The new curriculum comes into force from September 2026. More information can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/relationships-education-relationships-and-sex-education-rse-and-health-education.

The Period Product Scheme, which launched in 2020, provides free period products to girls and women in schools and colleges in England from years 5 to 13. The scheme aims to remove periods as a barrier to accessing education and to support menstrual health.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department plans to publish a strategy to help tackle motorcycle theft.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

This Government is determined to drive down vehicle crime and we are working with the automotive industry and police, to ensure the strongest response possible to this damaging crime. We do not currently plan to publish a specific strategy on motorcycle theft.

The Motorcycle Crime Reduction Group is represented on the National Vehicle Crime Working Group, to ensure police, motorcycle groups and Government can work together to reduce these thefts. The National Vehicle Crime Working Group includes a network of vehicle crime specialists, involving every police force in England and Wales, to ensure forces can share information about emerging trends in vehicle crime.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the Financial Inclusion Strategy will introduce auto-enrolment for savings.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Financial Inclusion Strategy will be published later this year and will seek to tackle a range of barriers which prevent individuals from accessing the financial services and products they need.

The Government has convened a Financial Inclusion Committee to inform the development of the strategy. The Committee has met three times, and a summary of those meetings is available on GOV.UK.

Savings has been one of the areas of focus for the Committee. As part of this work the FCA have recently published a statement on payroll savings, which gives employers and savings providers the clarity and reassurance that workplace savings schemes can be successfully set up and implemented to comply with current rules and legislation.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to ensure adequate (a) training and (b) guidance for PIP assessors on (i) arthritis and (ii) other chronic, fluctuating health conditions.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessment evaluates how an individual’s condition affects their ability to live independently, rather than focusing solely on the nature or severity of their condition. The assessment considers whether a person can carry out specific activities safely, reliably, repeatedly, and within a reasonable time frame. The process should not assess individuals based on their ‘best days’; instead, it is intended to consider the overall impact of a condition over time, specifically considering functional limitations that occur on more than 50% of days within a given period

All health professionals (HPs) are fully qualified in their health discipline and have passed strict recruitment and experience criteria. They are also required to be registered with the appropriate regulatory body. The department authorises HPs to conduct assessments only after suppliers demonstrate that the HP has successfully completed a department approved training and appraisal programme. This process confirms that HPs possess a sound understanding of the clinical aspects and likely functional effects of a broad range of health conditions.

As of September 2024, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) took over responsibility for the Core Training and Guidance Material (CTGM) used within the Health Assessment Advisory Service (HAAS). This material is provided by DWP to HAAS assessment suppliers, who are required to incorporate all relevant CTGM content related to specific conditions and assessment policies into their final training products.

DWP has provided suppliers with specific CTGM on rheumatoid arthritis, alongside a broader suite of training materials covering a range of long-term, fluctuating health conditions. These contain clinical and functional information relevant to the condition and is quality assured to ensure its accuracy from both a clinical and policy perspective.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to support people with musculoskeletal conditions to (a) find and (b) remain in work.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

Backed by £240m investment, the Get Britain Working White Paper launched last November will drive forward approaches to tackling economic inactivity and work toward the long-term ambition of an 80% employment rate. In our March Green Paper, we set out our Pathways to Work Guarantee, backed by £1 billion a year of new, additional funding by 2030 and a total of £2.2 billion by over four years. Our £2.2bn Pathways to Work investment brings our total investment in employment support for disabled people and those with health conditions to £3.8 billion over this Parliament. We will build towards a guaranteed offer of personalised work, health and skills support for all disabled people and those with health conditions on out of work benefits.

Disabled people and people with health conditions are a diverse group so access to the right work and health support, in the right place, at the right time, is key. We therefore have a range of specialist initiatives to support individuals, including people with musculoskeletal conditions, to stay in work and get back into work, including those that join up employment and health systems.

Measures include support from Work Coaches and Disability Employment Advisers in Jobcentres and Access to Work grants, as well as joining up health and employment support around the individual through Employment Advisors in NHS Talking Therapies, Individual Placement and Support in Primary Care, and WorkWell.

We also recognise that employers play an important role in addressing health and disability. To build on this, the DWP and DHSC Joint Work & Health Directorate (JWHD) is facilitating “Keep Britain Working”, an independent review of the role of UK employers in reducing health-related inactivity and to promote healthy and inclusive workplaces. The lead reviewer, Sir Charlie Mayfield, is expected to bring forward recommendations in Autumn 2025. Additionally, the JWHD has developed a digital information service for employers, continues to oversee the Disability Confident Scheme, and continues to increase access to Occupational Health.

The Department for Work and Pensions and the Department of Health and Social Care have worked together on the 10 Year Health Plan, ensuring a better health service for everyone, regardless of condition or service area. The Plan sets out the vision for what good joined-up care looks like for people with a combination of health and care needs, including for disabled people. We will further pilot the integration of employment advisers and work coaches into the neighbourhood health service, so that working age people with long term health conditions have an integrated public service offer. A patient’s employment goals will be part of care plans, to support more joined up service provision.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to page 270 of his Department’s report entitled FCDO annual report and accounts 2024 to 2025, published on 22 July 2025, whether the increase in spending on multilateral subscriptions to international organisations includes contributions to global health multilaterals.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

No, spending on global health multilaterals is captured within the health section of the report, alongside bilateral health programmes.

The UK is committed to our work on global health, including boosting global health security and investing in multilateral funds like Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and the Global Fund to fight disease and help save millions of lives.

From 2026 to 2030, the UK will invest £1.25 billion in support of Gavi's mission. This will support the immunisation of 62.5m children, saving around 1.25m lives.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 31 July 2025 to Question 69165 on Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria: Finance, if he will publish a timeframe for an announcement on the UK’s contribution to the Global Fund’s 8th Replenishment.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK's pledge to the Global Fund's Eighth Replenishment will be determined later in the year following the conclusion of the process to set multi-year Official Development Assistance (ODA) funding allocations.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when he plans to take a decision on the UK’s contribution to the Global Fund’s 8th replenishment.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK's pledge to the Global Fund's Eighth Replenishment will be determined later in the year following the conclusion of the process to set multi-year Official Development Assistance (ODA) funding allocations.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to enable powered two wheelers to use bus lanes in each region in England.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Government remains committed to supporting efforts to improve the safety of road users but has no plans to bring forward legislation to allow motorcycles and other powered two wheelers to access bus lanes by default. Decisions on this matter are for local highway authorities to make on a case-by-case basis.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to improve access to (a) mental health and (b) pain management support for people with endometriosis.

Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

Long wait times are a feature of a system in desperate need of change. On mental health, we are already responding by delivering new, innovative models of care in the community, including piloting six neighbourhood adult mental health centres, operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to bring together community, crisis and inpatient care.

We are also recruiting an additional 8,500 mental health workers to ensure people can access treatment and support earlier with 6,700 of these having been recruited since July 2024. We are prioritising expansions of Talking Therapies and Individual Placement and Support schemes, supporting those with mild to moderate mental illness through earlier intervention.

Additionally, the National Institute for Health and Care Research, the research delivery arm of the Department, funds a range of research to support women’s health conditions, including endometriosis. Funding has been awarded to studies seeking to improve outcomes for women with endometriosis by better understanding the condition, enabling earlier diagnosis, and evaluating current and emerging treatment options. This includes research on mental health and pain management support for people with endometriosis.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the capacity in the whole genome sequencing programme for the treatment of less survivable cancers.

Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

Genomic testing in the National Health Service in England is provided through the NHS Genomic Medicine Service (GMS) as directed by the National Genomic Test Directory (NGTD), which includes tests for over 7,000 rare diseases with an associated genetic cause and over 200 cancer clinical indications, including both whole genome sequencing (WGS) and non-WGS testing. The NGTD sets out the eligibility criteria for patients to access testing as well as the genomic targets to be tested and the method that should be used.

WGS is available on the NGTD for all paediatric and central nervous system tumours where there is a clear, clinical question and where results have expected utility/impact. WGS for all other adult solid tumours, including less survivable cancers, can be performed where there is a clinical need and where results are likely to change clinical management.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to improve GP (a) training in and (b) awareness of (i) endometriosis and (ii) women’s health issues in general.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

General practitioners (GPs) are responsible for ensuring that their own clinical knowledge, including on endometriosis and women’s health issues in general, remains up-to-date, and for identifying learning needs as part of their continuing professional development.

All United Kingdom registered doctors are expected to meet the professional standards set out in the General Medical Council’s (GMC’s) Good Medical Practice. The training curriculum for postgraduate trainee doctors is set by the Royal College of General Practitioners, and must meet the standards set by the GMC.

The GMC has introduced the Medical Licensing Assessment to encourage a better understanding of common women’s health problems among all doctors as they start their careers in the UK. The content map for this assessment includes several topics relating to women’s health including menstrual problems, endometriosis, menopause and urinary incontinence. This will encourage a better understanding of common women’s health problems among all doctors as they start their careers in the UK. Endometriosis is also included in the core curriculum for trainee GPs, and for obstetricians and gynaecologists.

In November 2024, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence updated their guideline on endometriosis which makes firmer recommendations for healthcare professionals on referral and investigations for women with suspected diagnosis. This guidance is available at the following link:

https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng73

Found: 2025 at 3.00 pm Members present: Steve Barclay (in the Chair) Luke Akehurst Irene Campbell Paul Davies

Found: 2025 at 3.00 pm Members present: Steve Barclay (in the Chair) Luke Akehurst Irene Campbell Paul Davies

Found: Tuesday 6 May 2025 at 3.00 pm Members present: Steve Barclay (in the Chair) Luke Akehurst Paul Davies

Found: 2025 at 3.00 pm Members present: Steve Barclay (in the Chair) Luke Akehurst Irene Campbell Paul Davies

Found: (92.3%) Jacob Collier (Labour, Burton and Uttoxeter) (added 3 Mar 2025) 9 of 12 (75.0%) Paul Davies

Found: govuk-table__cell">Met with Paul Sobry (President and Chief Executive Officer) of NFI Group along with Paul Davies

Found: 00Meeting Colin Robertson CBE, Chair, Paul Soubry, President and Chief Executive Officer, NFI Group and Paul Davies

Found: 00:00:00Meeting / Video ConferencePaul Soubry, President & Chief Executive Officer, NFI Group, Paul Davies

Found: Neill, Interim Principal and Vice-Chancellor to greet the Minister, and introductions to Professor Paul Davies

<p>Diolch yn fawr, Paul Davies. Of course, you heard earlier on from the First Minister about the very good success rate in terms of the delivery of services that have come forward from Transport for Wales services. I think that we need to recognise the great developments that are taking place in terms of our Transport for Wales services. But, of course, there are times—. We've got a long way to catch up in terms of a past lack of investment, I have to say, by the former Conservative Government, which obviously has had an impact on the infrastructure of our railways. So, certainly in terms of west Wales, I will ask the Cabinet Secretary to give an update on the works that are being undertaken. With engineering work, of course, rail replacement bus services are always provided, but I know that this will be about investment in the tracks in order to improve the services to west Wales.</p>

<p>Diolch&nbsp;yn fawr, Paul Davies, and, as you say, the Deputy First Minister is very engaged in water quality and gave a statement back in June. It is a priority for this Welsh Government and I'm sure he will want to update the Senedd on developments in relation to our levers and our responsibilities. But I think it would be timely, and of course you can also ask the questions to him at his oral Senedd questions. But I will raise this with him as an opportunity to update on water quality in Wales.</p>

<p>Firstly, I'd like to thank the Chair of the committee, Andrew R.T. Davies, for opening the debate, previous Chair, Paul Davies, for stewarding our one-day inquiry, and to all those witnesses who gave evidence, be that written or oral. Let's be real. Everybody here in this Chamber, in this building using AI whether they know it or not, be that the subtitles on videos that we use on our social media, be that ChatGPT in helping us with speechwriting, and there's a lot of tells out there as well for those that know what to look out for, Dirprwy Lywydd, on whether someone is using ChatGPT. Too many hyphens; that's one of the things that ChatGPT tends to do is throw out a lot of hyphens in its text, so just something to bear in mind for those of you who just copy and paste without double checking.&nbsp;</p>
<p>But I see huge opportunity in AI, and leading on from what Adam Price has talked about on AI integrating into our economy and what we already do well in Wales, but how do we integrate AI into that to even more so maximise the benefits to our economy. Let's take a look at agriculture and the nitrate vulnerable zones and the water pollution regulations. The ability to integrate AI into the monitoring of nutrient levels in waterways, into when slurry should be spread or nitrate should be spread, that moves away from a farming-by-calendar approach. That's a technological answer to what currently is a very constrictive system and set of regulations.&nbsp;That's where I think AI has real uses in understanding the complexities of how the real world is, and giving that flexibility to it.</p>
<p>I always do believe that AI has to have human interaction at the beginning and at the end. It can't be left to its own devices. I believe that wholeheartedly. As someone who uses AI within my office, I always ensure that I'm at the beginning of the process and at the end of the process, and that humans are involved in that. I think that would solve many of the issues.&nbsp;</p>
<p>And around workforce and how the workforce will change because of AI, I think one of the key things is how the workforce then becomes trained to use AI themselves. So, the reskilling and upskilling of the workforce so that it's not doing away with jobs—it's changing the jobs themselves to a higher skillset. The prompts that are needed to use AI are really important. If you're looking to feed into a generative AI certain prompts, the more descriptive, the more prescriptive you can be in deciding what you want that AI to look at, the better the outcome will be. The more generic you are, the less skillset you have in prompting AI, then the weaker the answers are going to be. So, I think that's where there's a lot of strength to be garnered is how we upskill our workforce to be able to integrate AI, use AI as we go forward.&nbsp;</p>
<p>What I really like as well is credit to the Government for accepting or accepting in principle the eight recommendations of the committee. I think that's good. I hope that's not too high a number of committee recommendations&nbsp;after what the First Minister has said earlier this week; I think it's about the right level, there or thereabouts. We need to maximise the opportunity here, because so many countries are at the forefront of this. Everybody's scrambling around to try and be at the forefront. Adam was completely correct in saying this is our opportunity of looking at this, and other countries are going to be doing things specific to them. What's going to be specific to us in Wales with artificial intelligence? That's where I think there's an opportunity for Welsh Government, for a body. I think it is right that it should be Welsh Government leading where that is, working with the United Kingdom Government as well. I think there's a huge opportunity for us to strengthen our economy in Wales using artificial intelligence.</p>
<p>I'm pleased that our committee took time to look into this report, and I've used no notes in this in tribute to Hefin David, who is greatly missed. I would have liked to have heard his contribution on this. Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd.</p>

<p>Thanks for indulging me. This is a really important subject, and I thank Andrew and his committee and Paul Davies before him in pulling this report together. AI is confronting us everywhere. We see it all day long. We don't always know we're using it, but it advises us every time we look at Google. It gives us alternatives <span style="text-decoration: underline;">and things like that.</span></p>

<p>Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer, and it's a pleasure to move the motion that stands in my name on the order paper this afternoon. If anyone does want to intervene, please do shout out, because my friend the pillar is blocking half of the Chamber out—that's good, that is. [<em>Laughter</em>.]</p>
<p>I should note at the opening of this debate that it was the last inquiry overseen by my predecessor, Paul Davies, to whom I offer thanks for undertaking the Chair's role in putting this report together. Paul and the committee decided that they wanted to hold a one-day inquiry into artificial intelligence and the Welsh economy because, despite the wide-ranging discourse on AI happening across the world, there was very little examination of the issue from the Welsh perspective.</p>
<p>Deputy Presiding Officer, as this is a short debate and I was not present at the evidence sessions, I do not want to take up too much time today with my opening remarks—nice to get a cheer. [Laughter.] I will, therefore, provide a quick overview of the issues in the report and then look forward to hearing Members' views.</p>
<p>Depending on whom you speak to, the age of AI could usher in another industrial revolution, improving everything from economic productivity to medical diagnosis, or it could be the ultimate disaster, which will destroy our natural resources and replace us all. There is, of course, a third option: that AI may not lead to the revolutionary changes some of us are predicting, or that we might see a gradual change from it altogether. However, wherever you believe AI might take us, it is vital that there is a strong public discourse about the technology, that the policy leads to an understanding of the changes that it brings, and that we, importantly, understand what might be needed to be done as a result of these changes.</p>
<p>The committee heard a lot of interesting evidence around AI. On the positive side, Members heard visions of sustainable Welsh AI models powered by our wind and cooled by our sea. On the more concerning side, the committee heard about the potential impact AI might have on the labour market. This report makes eight recommendations based around ensuring that the Welsh Government is planning and preparing for the potential changes AI could bring.</p>
<p>This debate is also very timely, as we heard a lot about AI investment last week from the presidential state visit. We need to make sure that we are reaping the benefits of this technology and the potential for investments here in Wales. We can do all of this through a strong Welsh Government AI action plan, making sure we have the right skills in place.</p>
<p>The UK Government is establishing AI growth zones, and we have called on the Welsh Government to say how they will support these. I am pleased to see from the response that the Welsh Government have been working closely with the UK Government to submit a Welsh AI growth bid deal, and since our inquiry took place, it has been confirmed that there will be a Welsh AI growth zone. I note that the UK Government said that they would announce the first zone in the summer, and last week there was an announcement that there is to be one in the north-east of England. So, I wonder whether the Cabinet Secretary might be able to share any further details of the discussions she has had with the UK Government around AI growth zones today, particularly whether she has been given any indication of when we might hear about the Welsh bid.</p>
<p>Supporting businesses to understand and adopt AI technologies will be critical to maximising the potential benefits of AI. I would be grateful if the Cabinet Secretary could update us on how the Welsh Government is working to ensure that businesses can access the help they need, and how it will be working with partners to address the gaps in that support.</p>
<p>We also heard about the potential downsides of the technology, and we recommended that the Welsh Government make themselves aware of which jobs are at risk. The workforce also needs to be equipped with the right skills to make sure we are making the most of AI, and the Welsh Government will need to prioritise ensuring this happens over the coming months and years. I am pleased to say that the Welsh Government has accepted all our recommendations, either in full or in principle.</p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Before I give way and open up the debate,</span></p>

<p>I thank Paul Davies for his&nbsp;question and the opportunity to speak about this on a number of occasions, along with members of the local campaign group STUN. I've also had discussions with the local authority, so I am very aware of the alternative that's been suggested by members of the community, and, indeed, by Paul Davies himself. We've made sure that it has been and is being appropriately&nbsp;considered.</p>
<p>I think it's fair to say that it's likely that in this case a public inquiry will be considered and needed for the particular scheme, which would then, in turn, bring further levels of scrutiny, not just of the scheme that is eventually proposed but also of all alternatives. There have also been a number of public consultations and a planning pre-application consultation.</p>
<p>I can confirm that the role of the Welsh Government with regard to this project has been to fund the work to date to consider those solutions, and we'll continue to do so this financial year, but only up to the point where a decision has to be&nbsp;made on the funding of the actual construction of the preferred solution. That will then move to the corporate joint committee to determine, as this is a local road, and this will form part of the priorities, if it does at all, of the CJC, against other important projects that it'll be competing against&nbsp;within the region.</p>

<p>Diolch yn fawr, Paul Davies. Third Sector Support Wales will receive core funding of £8.6 million in 2025-26 to provide an infrastructure of support to the third sector across Wales. Of this funding, £218,000 will go to Pembrokeshire Association of Voluntary Services to help local voluntary organisations with fundraising, good governance, safeguarding and volunteering.</p>

<p>Diolch yn fawr, Paul Davies. These are important issues. They are issues that are being addressed by the Welsh Government, but also, obviously, in partnership with public bodies' responsibilities and with local government as well. It is important that we update. I am sure that the Welsh Government and Cabinet Secretaries will look for opportunities to update. As you say, we need to ensure that we protect special areas of conservation, but also look to development needs.</p>

<p>Thank you very much, Paul Davies. Yes, I acknowledge the points that you've made in terms of challenges to our Welsh Government tourism industry in Wales, but also I think, after this extraordinary summer that we've had, we must really celebrate the positive impact and benefits of tourism in Wales. I think many of us actually were able to enjoy some of our recess in west Wales, for example, in your constituency, Paul, as you will know.</p>
<p>It's absolutely amazing to see the vibrancy of the tourism industry in Pembrokeshire, with many visitors from overseas; the wonderful hospitality industry; the great use of our coastal path and all the adventure. Families are absolutely coming to west Wales. So, yes, of course, we engage with the tourism industry, with the businesses. We look to them in terms of learning how we can improve conditions and infrastructure, working with our local authorities, but let's also celebrate and recognise that Wales is the tourist destination.</p>