Senedd members called on the Welsh Government to roll out family drug and alcohol courts across Wales to keep more children out of care.
James Evans raised an independent evaluation of a Welsh pilot of family drug and alcohol courts, an alternative family court for care proceedings that offers specialist support.
The Conservative said the 2024 study found positive outcomes, suggesting family drug and alcohol courts are feasible and beneficial alternatives to standard care proceedings.
He urged the Welsh Government to roll out family drug and alcohol courts across Wales, following the two-year pilot in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan which ended in November 2023.
Rhys ab Owen, who sits as an independent, was disappointed by continued delays in reestablishing the court and opening others.
'Stunned'
During counsel general questions on Tuesday, Mr ab Owen said analysis shows the court costs £18,000 but produces an average direct benefit of more than £74,000 for each case.
Welsh Lib Dem leader Jane Dodds, who was a child protection social worker for 27 years, added her voice to the chorus of cross-party calls for family drug and alcohol courts.
She told the Senedd: "I am slightly stunned that we are not learning from England and we are not looking at the outcomes there and accelerating this....we have families right now who are desperate to be kept together through a system that I have seen myself working."
Julie James, who is counsel general, the Welsh Government's chief legal adviser, explained that a working group has been set up to advise on the next steps by the summer.
Seeking to pin the minister down, Ms Dodds said: "The summer could start in March if we're lucky or...could go on until October." Ms James said she hoped to report back before summer recess in late-July.
'Delivery'
The Conservatives' Paul Davies questioned Ms James on her appointment as minister for delivery in September, "a role that many people believe is unnecessary".
Mr Davies said the role suggests the first minister lacks confidence in her cabinet, asking what has been achieved in the new role so far and suggesting nothing has been gained.
He told the Senedd that Wales has the highest NHS waiting lists, the worst educational performance and highest unemployment rate in the UK.
Ms James explained her role is to provide oversight of the programme for government, ensuring cross-government buy-in to overcome barriers wherever possible.
Rejecting the premise of the questioning, she said: "Most governments across the world have delivery arms or delivery offices inside them including many of the previous Conservative governments – I have to say, with little or no effect."
'Forever chemicals'
Plaid Cymru's Delyth Jewell raised concerns about so-called forever chemicals contaminating former industrial sites such as the Ty Llwyd quarry, near Ynysddu.
Ms Jewell highlighted UK-wide calls for Zane's law in memory of a seven-year-old boy who died from contaminated floor water that had passed through a historic landfill site.
She backed calls for stricter registration of contaminated law, fuller inspections and for the original polluter to pay, with Caerphilly council set to consider such a motion.
Saying she would be happy to meet campaigners, Ms James pointed to ministers' contaminated land strategy and a fund for developers to bring sites back into use.
She applauded the work of Swansea University which helped transform Kilvey Hill in Swansea from "looking like a moonscape" to being completely covered in vegetation.
'Betrayal'
Ms Jewell called for an update on the plight of women born in the 1950s who have been refused their state pension by the UK Government.
She said: "These women have suffered a double injustice, firstly by having their state pensions denied them and, secondly, by having a Westminster government that used to acknowledge that fact but now refuses to give them what they're owed."
The deputy leader of the Plaid Cymru group in the Senedd said the women affected feel betrayed and tired of waiting for the UK Government to do what is right.
Ms James, who stressed that powers over pensions are not devolved to Wales, said she was herself born in the 1950s and had her pension age delayed considerably.
She said: "I am, however, very fortunate to still be working and not so dependent on the pension. I have two very, very good friends who have died without having a resolution to this, both of whom would have suffered very much from the change in the pension age."
Plans are under consideration to build over 200 houses in a sleepy Welsh village
Sanitary disposal bins introduced in men's public toilets following "Bins for Boys" campaign
Officers called to Dinas Powys Woods after young person enters the river
Three Reform candidates quit in Pen-y-Bont Bro Morgannwg constituency
Six events taking place in the Vale of Glamorgan this weekend
Vale Council signs off placemaking plan for Barry
Plans filed to use Blackweir Fields for a series of live events this summer
Plans filled for controversial housing development in Cowbridge
Cardiff Council pledges to work with new Welsh Government to tackle trouble-plagued hospital
Two local candidates stand down after revelations
RNLI issues Sully Island safety advice after first call out of the year to the Island
Morio Lounge on course to open at Nell's Point in May
Vale Council appoints specialist contractors to carry out road improvements
Three men jailed for their roles running a drugs line which supplied cocaine in Barry
Police appeal for witnesses after fatal Penarth Road collision
New Beach and country park facilities opened following major investement
RNLI centre at Barry Island welcomes lifeguards back to Whitmore Bay
Severn tidal lagoons progress
