MEMBERS of the Senedd demanded fair funding for Wales, housing and disinvestment in Israel’s economy at First Minister’s Questions (FMQs) today.

Plaid Cymru’s Sian Gwenllian asked for a commitment to a fair funding settlement and a rise in the housing support grant for next year after she explained the housing crisis is affecting every part of Wales. 

She said: “Homelessness and sleeping rough are increasing with the numbers of people sleeping rough doubling, and the number of people who die having slept rough also doubling over the past few years.”

First Minister Eluded Morgan said her government was aware of the situation and how difficult it is for people who cannot afford to continue to pay their rent.

“That is why we have provided record funding of £1.4 billion in this term into social housing,” she added.

Newport East’s Labour MS John Griffiths raised the number of deaths in Gaza.

He said: “Israel’s military forces have killed over 40,000 people in Gaza, including so many children and women, with an unknown number buried under the rubble.”

Mr Griffiths asked the FM to consider other ways the Welsh government can make clear its concern at the ongoing death and destruction in Gaza, the West Bank and now Lebanon.

“We need to see an immediate ceasefire, an end to the killing, and we need to see a significant increase in the amount of aid that can be provided, and, of course, the hostages should be returned,” Ms Morgan responded.

Mr Griffiths asked “whether that concerns disinvestment in the economy of Israel, recognising the state of Palestine, or working to influence our UK government?”

Ms Morgan avoided answering the question about disinvestment but said she was clear that a two-state solution was needed.