8. What discussions has the Welsh Government had with Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board following the publication of the Holden report? OQ57257

Thank you very much to the Member, Llywydd. The decision to publish the full Holden report was a matter for the health board and the Information Commissioner’s Office. We continue to seek assurance regarding the implementation of the recommendations in the Holden report as part of our regular engagement with the health board.

Thank you for that response. You said that it was a matter for the board. Well, your health Minister, who was Deputy Minister for mental health at the time, confirmed to me a year ago that she had read the Holden report. Now, that was 12 months ago, when the board was still in special measures, and still under the direct management of your Government. So, why then didn't you insist that the report was published when you ran the health board, because, of course, you did that for five of the eight long years that the people of north Wales had to wait for it to see the light of day?

Well, as I explained, Llywydd, it wasn't a matter for the Government to make that legal decision to publish the document. It was the responsibility of the board to make those decisions. That's why it's the board that has been in contact with the Information Commissioner's Office and has come to the conclusion with the office and with the tribunal that has been looking into the decisions made by the board to publish the report now. It was their responsibility, and it's they who are responsible for the decisions that they have made.

Thank you, First Minister. A point of order emerging from questions. Darren Millar.

Diolch, Llywydd. I want to give the opportunity for the First Minister to correct the Record, if that’s possible. During First Minister’s question time he referred to some correspondence with the leader of the Welsh Conservative group, Andrew R.T. Davies, regarding a willingness to co-operate on areas of common interest. That particular letter was sent to the leader of the opposition on 18 May, and within 24 hours a response was issued from his office offering to meet with the First Minister. Meeting dates were put in the diary, but subsequently cancelled by the First Minister’s office, and the last message received from the First Minister’s office was that there would be contact to rearrange. I would like to give the opportunity for the First Minister to withdraw the allegation that was made earlier on, and correct the Record.

I’m sure that the First Minister isn’t in a position to look at the correspondence at this point, but I’m sure that this can be looked at at a later point, and that correspondence can be made to ensure that the Record is correct, or corrected if needs be.

Thank you for that.