Trefnydd, I've had to raise the issue of pay inequality for medical histopathology trainees in Wales on a number of occasions in this Chamber. You will recall I first raised this issue in a written question back in November 2016, yet the issue remains unresolved. Over the course of the five years of training as doctors between ST1 and ST5, histopathology doctor trainees in England will earn £60,000 more than their Welsh equivalents. Now, I'm sure that we all agree that doctors who decide to train in Wales deserve parity with their counterparts across the border doing the same training, doing the same work. Trainees have told me that they feel that, by deciding to work in Wales, they are being financially punished for that decision. The workforce are disillusioned and demoralised because of the way that they're being treated and ignored by this Welsh Government.

We hear so often of the need to attract medics to Wales due to shortages, yet this is how we treat those who actually choose to study here. Despite being aware of the gap, the Welsh Government has done absolutely nothing about the situation. It is disgraceful. Back in October 2018, when I last raised this issue, the then leader of the house said that the health Minister would be prepared to bring forward a statement on the matter. The frustration among the trainees is palpable, and, having had to wait more than two and a half years for action, I would respectfully suggest that action needs to be taken sooner rather than later. Could I therefore ask the Minister for health to bring forward a statement, be it written or oral, on this issue, and take action on this matter by putting Welsh medical trainees on an equal footing to those in England?