2. What steps will the Welsh Government take in response to the recommendations of the Children, Young People and Education Committee’s report, ‘Mind over matter’?

Our response was published on 27 June. It does recognise, the original report, the progress that's been made, but there is no doubt that there is more that needs to be done to improve young people’s mental health and well-being. I can assure Members that we will examine very carefully those recommendations we have accepted in principle and look very carefully at what more we might be able to do in order to provide assurances for the committee and the report that it has produced. 

First Minister, committee members from all parties, many education and health professionals, as well as schoolchildren, worked hard over many months to produce this report 'Mind over matter'. Our Chair then met with you personally to ask you to lead a cross-Government response, since we do need the health Secretary to engage with our work as much as the education Secretary. First Minister, what have you got to say to everyone who helped with our report now that they see you've accepted only seven of our 28 recommendations, and that eight have been rejected in whole or in part, while 13 have been described—and many regret Welsh Government's increasing use of this get-out phrase—as just accepted in principle?

Well, my understanding is that the report makes one key recommendation and 27 separate recommendations. We have accepted fully or in part 23 of those recommendations. It's important that, where there has been acceptance in principle, that we look very carefully and seriously at how to implement or take forward those recommendations, and we will do that because we are aware, of course, that mental health is one of the key priority areas for us, identified in 'Prosperity for All'.

First Minister, you are very well aware of my deep concern about the Welsh Government response to 'Mind over matter'. Now, I don't want to pre-empt the committee debate tomorrow, because it wouldn't be possible to do this issue justice in a question, but can I just ask you to give me your assurance that you will very carefully consider what happens in that debate tomorrow, with a view to ensuring that we do actually get the step change that we so desperately need for our children and young people?

Yes. I can give my friend and colleague that assurance. I know that this is an issue that she has given a huge amount of commitment to, and I want to make sure that the Government's response in the longer term is the kind of response that she would want to see, and other members of the committee. There will, of course, be a fuller debate tomorrow, and these issues can be explored in greater depth at that point.

I also want to record my disappointment with the poor response of the Government to the recommendations made in this report. It’s clear to me that the Government doesn’t share the same ambitions as committee members in terms of the transformational change required in this area, particularly in looking at the trajectory in terms of the increase in the problems that we see. We need to meet that challenge with far more enthusiasm rather than just accepting in principle, which, to me, is code for business as usual.

Now, having more than one Cabinet Secretary or more than one Minister responsible for certain areas can be a strength, but, in this case, for me, it’s clearly a weakness because there isn’t one individual taking ownership of these improvements and driving those changes through. So, may I ask whether you as First Minister, because of the nature of the way in which the committee feels that this should be a national priority, will take that lead role?

Well, if that’s required, I will do that, of course, particularly with CAMHS. As I have some direct experience of CAHMS, and as I’ve seen some of the problems that people have had with their children particularly, this is something that I want to ensure is driven forward. May I tell Members this: I will take tomorrow’s debate into account, and the Government will respond tomorrow, and beyond tomorrow, in order to ensure that we can strengthen the services available?