8. Will the First Minister make a statement on dental services in Arfon? OQ55946

Thank you very much, Siân Gwenllian, for that question. The health board is working to improve access to dental services. This includes plans to urgently replace lost provision.

I understand that there will be a training centre for dentistry opening in north Wales, and that's very good news, but it is two or three years away, and in the meantime, there is a very real crisis developing in my constituency. Part of the problem arises from the way in which the contracts work between dentists and the health board, and there has been a pledge for some time that this Government would look in detail at what needs to be done in order to improve that situation. Can you make progress with that work now please? At the moment, people in my constituency are being let down. There is another dental surgery to close next year, and we truly require urgent action in this area. 

Can I thank Siân Gwenllian very much? I've seen the figures in terms of what has been occurring in her area. We haven't mentioned Brexit yet today, but Brexit has had a negative impact on dental services. Seventeen per cent of dentists employed by the major companies—and the major companies are the ones that are withdrawing from areas such as the north-west—are recruited from the European Union, and Brexit undermines that. As Siân Gwenllian was saying, the new dentistry unit in Bangor will assist, and the health board's efforts to increase access to emergency dental services will help. Professor Paul Brocklehurst, the deputy chief dental officer, is based in north Wales, and he will be offering special support in responding to the challenge that is being faced in the Member's constituency. 

Thank you, First Minister.