FIRST Minister Rhodri Morgan has been urged to consider relocating the Assembly's massive health division to the "spiritual home" of the NHS - Blaenau Gwent.

During First Minister's Questions in the Assembly Blaenau Gwent AM Trish Law asked Mr Morgan what plans the Assembly government had to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the NHS this year.

The First Minister said there was to be a reception in the Senedd in July for anyone who was employed by the NHS when the health service came into being.

Mrs Law told Mr Morgan that the One Wales document agreed by the two parties in government at Cardiff Bay, Labour and Plaid Cymru, was committed to pressing ahead with the relocation of Assembly divisions to the South Wales Valleys, as well as to North and West Wales.

She said: "Other than the relocation of Social Justice to Merthyr Tydfil which pre-dates the One Wales agreement, I am not aware of any division being relocated to the South Wales Valleys.

"Will you and the Welsh Assembly Government give serious consideration to the relocation of the Department of Health and Social Services to Blaenau Gwent - the birthplace of Aneurin Bevan and the spiritual home of the NHS?"

The First Minister spoke of the "great success" of the transfer of the Social Justice department to Merthyr.

He added: "Now whether that is going to lead to further relocations in the valleys will have to wait until after we have completed the relocations to Mid and North Wales, to the new offices in Aberystwyth and Llandudno Junction."

Mrs Law said later she was disappointed the First Minister had not agreed to at least look at the possibility of relocating health from Cathays Park, Cardiff, to Blaenau Gwent.

"It would have been a fitting commemoration to announce this year, the 60th anniversary since the health service swung into operation, that the possibility of relocating health to Blaenau Gwent was being considered."