Summary

  • First Minister's Questions takes place for the first time since Plaid Cymru won the Senedd election in May.

  • Rhun ap Iorwerth, who is the first Plaid leader to become first minister of Wales, faces opposition leaders as well as Members of the Senedd (MSs).

  • He is asked his plan to tackle A&E waiting times, nuclear power, and his approach to water pollution concerns.

  • The Senedd, Welsh for "parliament", sits in Cardiff Bay and now has 96 MSs representing 16 constituencies across Wales.

Live Reporting

Edited by Carys Betteley with David Deans reporting from the Senedd

  1. Will today's FMQs live up to the hype?

    Gareth Lewis
    Wales political editor

    Previous versions of questions to the first minister have had one thing in common - the politician giving the answers has always been from Labour.

    Last month’s seismic Senedd election means we have a Plaid Cymru first minister, Rhun ap Iorwerth, for the first time.

    There is also a huge new group of Reform MSs making up the biggest opposition party, meaning their leader Dan Thomas will get to put three questions to ap Iorwerth with the Labour and Conservative leaders getting two each.

    FMQs - as it’s known - has not always lived up to the hype in the past, but with both new and old faces having something to prove there is potential today for headlines to be made.

  2. How today works

    First Minister's Questions is a regular part of the Senedd schedule - every week when parliament is sitting Members of the Senedd get to ask questions of the first minister.

    After a few questions from backbenchers, we would expect Reform's Dan Thomas to be able to ask a few questions to Rhun ap Iorwerth.

    Labour's Ken Skates or the Conservatives' Darren Millar will also be called.

    Thomas will get three questions, while Skates and Millar will get two each. All the leaders can ask the first minister whatever they like.

    Backbenchers will also get to speak - they have to submit their initial questions in advance, although their follow up is up to them, as long as they stay on topic.

    The session is scheduled to run for 45 minutes but often goes on longer - its up to the referee, presiding officer Huw Irranca-Davies.

  3. First FMQs for Rhun ap Iorwerth

    The Senedd chamber is a hemicircle of brown wooden desks with green chairs.Senedd Cymru

    The new first minister is set to face Senedd members this afternoon for his first Q&A session since becoming head of the Welsh government.

    First Minister's Questions will see Rhun ap Iorwerth scrutinised by Members of the Senedd (MSs) on his handling of the government and the areas it's responsible for, such as health, education, culture and the economy.

    The sessions usually last about 45 minutes in the Senedd chamber, and can sometimes produce fireworks (not literally).

    The first minister is only just settling into his new role following last month's Senedd election, but opposition parties may already be keen to lay into where his Plaid Cymru government's vision for the country is at odds with theirs.

    Or could we perhaps see some early agreement emerge?

    Ap Iorwerth said last week that he reckons a "roads-based solution" is needed to sort out the problem of congestion on the M4. While a relief road was previously scrapped by Labour, and is unlikely to be supported by the Greens, the Tories and Reform have both been vocal about wanting to revive the plan to build one.

    We'll bring you all the updates, analysis and reaction to today's session here, and can also watch it live by clicking play at the top of the page from 13:30 BST.