6. What recent discussions has the First Minister had with the UK Government regarding further powers for Wales? OQ58532

Well, thank you to Rhys ab Owen for that question. There has been a dearth of opportunities for discussions with the latest UK Government. However, devolution of justice was extensively discussed at a major event at the South Wales Police headquarters on 30 September. The Secretary of State for Wales was present and heard about our determination to pursue the recommendations of the Thomas commission.

Thank you, First Minister, and I deeply regretted hearing your response to my colleague, Joyce Watson. The lack of communication from the UK Prime Minister is not only an insult to you and your function, but also to this whole Senedd, and I hope that my colleagues opposite will convey that message to the Prime Minister.

If my colleagues opposite don't remove Liz Truss as Prime Minister, then it's likely that the public will do so at the next election. Now, Keir Starmer has previously said that he didn't have strong feelings about devolving powers to this place. So, what discussions have you had with the individual likely to be the next UK Prime Minister on devolving powers to this place, and ensuring that devolution is on firm foundations that will stop any Westminster Government in the future from undermining the Parliament and Government of our nation? Thank you.

Thank you very much to Rhys ab Owen for that supplementary question. I had an opportunity to meet with Keir Starmer in Liverpool in the Labour Party conference, and I had an opportunity to spend a day with Gordon Brown in Scotland in the week following the conference. That was an opportunity to discuss with Gordon Brown the report that he is putting together for Keir Starmer about constitutional affairs across the United Kingdom, but also about matters affecting Wales too, and I look forward to seeing the Gordon Brown report. That, in my view, will set out a number of important recommendations for us, not just here in Wales, but across the United Kingdom, to create a devolution system that can’t be rolled back by a Government in Westminster when people in Wales have voted twice in referenda to establish this body with the powers that we currently have. And, more than that, not just stable devolution here, but additional steps to strengthen devolution here in Wales, in Scotland and in Northern Ireland too.