1. Will the First Minister provide an update on the timescale for developing the Specialist Critical Care Centre at Llanfrechfa? OAQ(5)0190(FM)

Yes. Following an independent review carried out over the summer, I can confirm that the Cabinet Secretary will receive the information that he needs next week and will then be able to move towards making a decision.

Thank you, First Minister. You did indicate that that might be the case last week. There is growing concern in south-east Wales at the rate of progress with the specialist critical care centre, first planned over 10 years ago. You’ve said that the health Secretary is going to have that information at his disposal in the near future. Will you do what you can to take charge of this issue now, as a First Minister, and as a Welsh Government, to make sure that people in south Wales can be reassured that they are going to get that vital piece of the national health service infrastructure that they’ve waited for for a long time and really do need as soon as possible?

The information is there. I also have to pay tribute to Lynne Neagle, my colleague, the Member for Torfaen, who has been unstinting in her advocacy of the SCCC. And it’s right to say that, with a project of this size, full consideration has to be given to the project from a financial perspective, but the decision-making process can now begin, as it will be in the hands of the Secretary next week.