Agenda and minutes

This meeting was held in a hybrid format, with some Members in the Senedd Chamber and others joining by video-conference.

The Presiding Officer will call party spokespeople to ask questions without notice to the Minister after Question 2.

View Questions

The item started at 13.30 

The first 8 questions were asked. Questions 3 and 7 were answered by the Deputy Minister for Social Partnership. The Presiding Officer invited party spokespeople to ask questions to the Minister after question 2.

The Presiding Officer will call party spokespeople to ask questions without notice to the Counsel General after Question 2.

View Questions

The item started at 14.29

The first 8 questions were asked. Questions 4, 5and 6 were grouped together for answer. The Presiding Officer invited party spokespeople to ask questions to the Counsel General after question 2.

View Questions

The item started at 15.21

Both questions were asked.

To ask the Minister for Economy

Joyce Watson (Mid and West Wales): Will the Minister provide an update on developments regarding Gilestone Farm following the Written Statement issued on 29 January 2024?

To ask the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution

Alun Davies (Blaenau Gwent): Will the Counsel General make a statement on the implications for Wales of the agreement to restore devolved government in Northern Ireland?

The item started at 15.27

Answered by the Minister for Economy

Joyce Watson (Mid and West Wales): Will the Minister provide an update on developments regarding Gilestone Farm following the written statement issued on 29 January 2024?

Answered by the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution

Alun Davies (Blaenau Gwent): Will the Counsel General make a statement on the implications for Wales of the agreement to restore devolved government in Northern Ireland?

 

The item started at 15.56

Jayne Bryant made a statement on - Independent Venue Week (29 January to 4 February).

 

NDM8466 Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Order 26.17(iii), agrees that Stage 2 proceedings of the Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill be considered by a Committee of the Whole Senedd.

Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill

The item started at 15.58

NDM8466 Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Order 26.17(iii), agrees that Stage 2 proceedings of the Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill be considered by a Committee of the Whole Senedd.

Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

 

NDM8472 Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Order 33.2:

1. Considers the report of the Business Committee, ‘Amending Standing Orders: Limited review of Consolidation Bill procedures’, laid in the Table Office on 24 January 2024.

2. Approves the proposal to amend Standing Order 26C, as set out in Annex A of the Business Committee’s report.

The item started at 15.58

NDM8472 Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Order 33.2:

1. Considers the report of the Business Committee, ‘Amending Standing Orders: Limited review of Consolidation Bill procedures’, laid in the Table Office on 24 January 2024.

2. Approves the proposal to amend Standing Order 26C, as set out in Annex A of the Business Committee’s report.

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

 

NDM8434 Mabon ap Gwynfor (Dwyfor Meirionnydd)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes a proposal for a Bill to establish structured oversight of NHS managers, in the form of a regulatory body.

2. Notes that the purpose of the Bill would be to:

a) establish a professional regulatory body for NHS Wales to define the professional standards expected of NHS Wales managers and be a place of recourse for those who feel that those standards have not been met by any one individual NHS Wales manager, and which would have the power to warn, sanction or strike off any NHS Wales manager from its maintained register;

b) define what an NHS Wales manager is and maintain a register of NHS Wales managers; and

c) require all NHS managers to be registered with the professional regulatory body.

The item started at 15.59

Voting on the motion under this item was deferred until Voting Time.

NDM8434 Mabon ap Gwynfor (Dwyfor Meirionnydd)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes a proposal for a Bill to establish structured oversight of NHS managers, in the form of a regulatory body.

2. Notes that the purpose of the Bill would be to:

a) establish a professional regulatory body for NHS Wales to define the professional standards expected of NHS Wales managers and be a place of recourse for those who feel that those standards have not been met by any one individual NHS Wales manager, and which would have the power to warn, sanction or strike off any NHS Wales manager from its maintained register;

b) define what an NHS Wales manager is and maintain a register of NHS Wales managers; and

c) require all NHS managers to be registered with the professional regulatory body.

The result was as follows:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
28	22	0	50

The motion was agreed.

NDM8467 Jack Sargeant (Alyn and Deeside)

To propose that the Senedd:

Notes the following the petitions concerning support for childcare costs:

a) petition 'P-06-1359 Offer Welsh working parents the same financial support for childcare as England', which received 10,820 signatures; and

b) petition 'P-06-1362 Match the new childcare offer in England of 15 hours for 2 year old's from April 2024', which received 407 signatures.

The item started at 16.19

NDM8467 Jack Sargeant (Alyn and Deeside)

To propose that the Senedd:

Notes the following the petitions concerning support for childcare costs:

a) petition 'P-06-1359 Offer Welsh working parents the same financial support for childcare as England', which received 10,820 signatures; and

b) petition 'P-06-1362 Match the new childcare offer in England of 15 hours for 2 year old's from April 2024', which received 407 signatures.

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

 

This item has been postponed

NDM8458 Delyth Jewell (South Wales East)

To propose that the Senedd:

Notes the report of the Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee ‘Behind the scenes: The creative industries workforce’, which was laid in the Table Office on 18 October 2023.

Note: The response of the Welsh Government to the report was laid in the Table Office on 17 January 2024.

The item started at 17.11

NDM8458 Delyth Jewell (South Wales East)

To propose that the Senedd:

Notes the report of the Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee ‘Behind the scenes: The creative industries workforce’, which was laid in the Table Office on 18 October 2023.

Note: The response of the Welsh Government to the report was laid in the Table Office on 17 January 2024.

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

 

NDM8469 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

To propose that the Senedd:

1.  Regrets that the Welsh Government is slashing business rates relief from 75 per cent to 40 per cent for the retail, hospitality and leisure sector in the 2024-2025 draft budget.

2.  Calls on the Welsh Government to reinstate business rates relief to 75 per cent for the retail, hospitality and leisure sector to support businesses and protect jobs.

Supporters

Joel James (South Wales Central)

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

Delete all and replace with:

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Welcomes that, despite its budget being worth £1.3 billion less in real terms than when it was set in 2021, the Welsh Government’s 2024-25 Draft Budget:

a) provides a package of support for non-domestic rates worth £384 million;

b) limits inflationary growth in the non-domestic rates multiplier to 5 per cent; and

c) provides a fifth successive year of non-domestic rates relief for retail, leisure and hospitality businesses, building on the almost £1 billion of support provided since 2020-21.

If amendment 1 is agreed, amendment 2 will be de-selected.

Amendment 2 Luke Fletcher (South Wales West)

Add as new point after point 1 and renumber accordingly:

Further regrets the current UK Treasury funding settlement which takes no account of Wales's needs. 

Amendment 3 Luke Fletcher (South Wales West)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Calls on the Welsh Government to move away from non-domestic rates, publish a timescale for their work, and ensure a roadmap to transition out of non-domestic rates is provided as well as options for a new system.

The item started at 17.55

Voting on the motion and amendments under this item was deferred until Voting Time.

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM8469 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

To propose that the Senedd:

1.  Regrets that the Welsh Government is slashing business rates relief from 75 per cent to 40 per cent for the retail, hospitality and leisure sector in the 2024-2025 draft budget.

2.  Calls on the Welsh Government to reinstate business rates relief to 75 per cent for the retail, hospitality and leisure sector to support businesses and protect jobs.

Supporters

Joel James (South Wales Central)

For	Abstain	Against	Total
14	0	36	50

The motion without amendment was not agreed.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

Delete all and replace with:

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Welcomes that, despite its budget being worth £1.3 billion less in real terms than when it was set in 2021, the Welsh Government’s 2024-25 Draft Budget:

a) provides a package of support for non-domestic rates worth £384 million;

b) limits inflationary growth in the non-domestic rates multiplier to 5 per cent; and

c) provides a fifth successive year of non-domestic rates relief for retail, leisure and hospitality businesses, building on the almost £1 billion of support provided since 2020-21.

A vote was taken on amendment 1:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
26	0	24	50

Amendment 1 was agreed.

As amendment 1 was agreed, amendment 2 was de-selected.

Amendment 3 Luke Fletcher (South Wales West)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Calls on the Welsh Government to move away from non-domestic rates, publish a timescale for their work, and ensure a roadmap to transition out of non-domestic rates is provided as well as options for a new system.

A vote was taken on amendment 3:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
26	0	24	50

Amendment 3 was agreed.

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

NDM8469 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Welcomes that, despite its budget being worth £1.3 billion less in real terms than when it was set in 2021, the Welsh Government’s 2024-25 Draft Budget:

a) provides a package of support for non-domestic rates worth £384 million;

b) limits inflationary growth in the non-domestic rates multiplier to 5 per cent; and

c) provides a fifth successive year of non-domestic rates relief for retail, leisure and hospitality businesses, building on the almost £1 billion of support provided since 2020-21.

2. Calls on the Welsh Government to move away from non-domestic rates, publish a timescale for their work, and ensure a roadmap to transition out of non-domestic rates is provided as well as options for a new system.

For	Abstain	Against	Total
7	0	43	50

The motion as amended was not agreed.

NDM8470 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

To propose that the Senedd:

1.  Recognises the comments made by Sir John Whittingdale MP, Minister of State in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, that the UK Government would look at listed events again if the Welsh Parliament argued very strongly for that. 

2.  Calls on the UK Government to include Welsh six nations rugby games in the free-to-air category for broadcasting purposes.

The item started at 18.25

NDM8470 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

To propose that the Senedd:

1.  Recognises the comments made by Sir John Whittingdale MP, Minister of State in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, that the UK Government would look at listed events again if the Welsh Parliament argued very strongly for that. 

2.  Calls on the UK Government to include Welsh six nations rugby games in the free-to-air category for broadcasting purposes.

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

The item started at 18.56

 

NDM8468 Sarah Murphy (Bridgend)

Heart Failure - Innovation is saving lives

The item started at 19.01

NDM8468 Sarah Murphy (Bridgend)

Heart Failure - Innovation is saving lives