Meeting Venue:
Siambr Hywel - Tŷ Hywel
Meeting date:
Wednesday, 21 May 2025
Meeting time: 13.30
This meeting can be
viewed
on Senedd TV at:
http://senedd.tv/en/15109
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This meeting was held in a hybrid format, with some Members in Siambr Hywel and others joining by video-conference.
The item started at 13.30
Questions 1 and 3-8 were asked. Question 2 was withdrawn. Question 9 was not asked. The Deputy Presiding Officer invited party spokespeople to ask questions to the Cabinet Secretary after question 3.
The item started at 14.16
Questions 1 and 3-9 were asked. Question 2 was withdrawn. The Deputy Presiding Officer invited party spokespeople to ask questions to the Cabinet Secretary after question 3.
The item started at 15.12
Answered by the Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales
Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn): Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the impact that the delay to phase 2 of the Menai suspension bridge repair works will have on Ynys Môn?
Answered by the Deputy First Minister
and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural
Affairs
Rhys ab Owen (South Wales Central): What measures
are being discussed between the Welsh Government and Dŵr Cymru
to enhance environmental protection while ensuring that water bills
provide genuine value for money to consumers?
The item started at 15.46
Carolyn Thomas made a statement on - International Biodiversity Day (22 May) and No Mow May.
John Griffiths made a statement on - Action for Brain Injury Week (19 - 25 May).
Rhys ab Owen made a statement on - Commemorating the passing of Michael Jones for his contribution to Education (16 May).
The item started at 15.52
NDM8903 John Griffiths (Newport East)
To propose that the Senedd:
Notes the report of the Local Government and Housing Committee, ‘Role, governance and accountability of the community and town council sector’, which was laid in the Table Office on 5 March 2025.
Note: The response of the Welsh Government to the report was laid in the Table Office on 14 May 2025.
The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.
The item started at 16.29
NDM8904 Delyth Jewell (South Wales East)
To propose that the Senedd:
Notes the report of the Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee ‘International Relations Annual Report 2024’, which was laid in the Table Office on 14 March 2025.
Note: The response of the Welsh Government to the report was laid in the Table Office on 14 May 2025.
The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.
The item started at 17.12
Voting on the motion and amendments under this item was deferred until Voting Time.
A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:
NDM8906
Heledd Fychan (South Wales Central)
To propose that the Senedd:
1. Notes the significant and long-standing pensions injustices as a
result of the inaction of successive UK Governments.
2. Recognises the work of campaign groups such as 1950’s
women, former workers at Allied Steel and Wire, and members of the
British Coal staff superannuation scheme.
3. Regrets the failure of the Labour UK
Government:
a) to act on a previous Labour party
commitment to compensate 1950s-born women in Wales affected by
state pension changes;
b) to inflation-proof the pensions of former Allied Steel and Wire
workers; and
c) to treat members of the British Coal staff superannuation scheme
and miners’ pension scheme equally.
4. Regrets the failure of the Welsh Labour Government to make the
case for action on these issues, despite their partnership in
power, and calls on them to make representations to the UK
Government to:
a) implement the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman's
recommendations for 1950s Women;
b) uprate the pensions of former Allied Steel and Wire Workers in
line with inflation; and
c) extend the Miners Pensions Scheme to include members of the
British Coal staff superannuation scheme.
|
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
|
11 |
12 |
24 |
47 |
The motion without amendment was not agreed.
The following amendments were tabled:
Amendment 1
Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)
Delete points 3 and 4 and replace with:
Welcomes the recent reforms made by the UK Government to the
Mineworkers’ Pension Scheme, including the return of the
investment reserve fund and the resulting increase in pension
payments to former mineworkers.
Notes that the Welsh Government has consistently raised concerns
about pension injustices with successive UK Governments, and
continues to advocate on behalf of:
a) Allied Steel and Wire pensioners;
b) women born in the 1950s affected by changes to the state pension
age; and
c) members of the British Coal staff superannuation
scheme.
A vote was taken on amendment 1:
|
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
|
24 |
0 |
23 |
47 |
Amendment 1 was agreed.
A vote was taken on the motion as
amended:
To propose that the Senedd:
1. Notes the significant and long-standing pensions injustices as a
result of the inaction of successive UK Governments.
2. Recognises the work of campaign groups such as 1950’s
women, former workers at Allied Steel and Wire, and members of the
British Coal staff superannuation scheme.
3. Welcomes the recent reforms
made by the UK Government to the Mineworkers’ Pension Scheme,
including the return of the investment reserve fund and the
resulting increase in pension payments to former
mineworkers.
4. Notes that the Welsh Government has consistently raised concerns
about pension injustices with successive UK Governments, and
continues to advocate on behalf of:
a) Allied Steel and Wire pensioners;
b) women born in the 1950s affected by changes to the state pension
age; and
c) members of the British Coal staff superannuation
scheme.
|
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
|
24 |
0 |
23 |
47 |
The motion as amended was agreed.
The item started at 18.00
The item started at 18.03
NDM8905
Mick Antoniw (Pontypridd)
Wales and Europe: dismantling the barriers
The meeting concluded at 18.26
The Senedd will sit again in Plenary at 13.30, Tuesday, 3 June 2025