Agenda - Equality and Social Justice Committee


Meeting Venue:

Committee Room 5 (Ty Hywel)

Meeting date: 15 September 2025

Meeting time: 13.30
For further information contact:

Rhys Morgan

Committee Clerk

0300 200 6565

SeneddEquality@senedd.wales


Hybrid

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<AI1>

Pre- meeting

(13:00-13:30)

</AI1>

<AI2>

Public session

(13:30 - 15:05)

</AI2>

<AI3>

1       Introductions, apologies, substitutions and declarations of interest

(13:30)                                                                                                             

</AI3>

<AI4>

2       Stage one scrutiny of the British Sign Language (Wales) Bill: evidence session one - Member in Charge of the Bill

(13:30-15:00)                                                                             (Pages 1 - 17)

Mark Isherwood, MS

Gareth Rogers, Bill Manager, Senedd Commission

Claire Thomas, Research Service, Senedd Commission

Gareth Howells, Legal Services, Senedd Commission

 

British Sign Language (Wales) Bill, as introduced

British Sign Language (Wales) Bill  - Explanatory Memorandum

British Sign Language (Wales) Bill – Bill summary

 

</AI4>

<AI5>

3       Papers to note

(15:00-15:05)                                                                                                  

</AI5>

<AI6>

3.1   Correspondence from the Women's Equality Network Wales regarding new research on the child care needs of families in Wales

                                                                                                 (Pages 18 - 20)

</AI6>

<AI7>

3.2   Correspondence from the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip to the Chair regarding the use of tasers on children by Police forces in England & Wales

                                                                                                 (Pages 21 - 23)

</AI7>

<AI8>

3.3   Correspondence from the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip to the Chair regarding the Equality and Social Justice Committee’s report: "Pre-appointment hearing: National Adviser for Violence Against Women, Gender-based Violence, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence"

                                                                                                           (Page 24)

</AI8>

<AI9>

3.4   Correspondence from Joyce Watson MS to the Chair regarding the Family-Friendly and Inclusive Parliament Review

                                                                                                 (Pages 25 - 27)

</AI9>

<AI10>

3.5   Correspondence from the Children, Young People and Education Committee to the Chair regarding the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2026-27

                                                                                                 (Pages 28 - 33)

</AI10>

<AI11>

3.6   Correspondence from the Petitions Committee to the Minister for Children and Social Care regarding Petition P-06-1530: "Save Childcare Provision in Wales"

                                                                                                 (Pages 34 - 39)

</AI11>

<AI12>

3.7   Correspondence from the Independent Monitoring Authority to the Chair regarding a statement of changes to the Immigration Rules: HC 836

                                                                                                 (Pages 40 - 44)

</AI12>

<AI13>

3.8   Correspondence from the Minister for Culture, Skills and Social Partnership to the Chair regarding regulations in relation to Part 3 of the Social Partnership and Public Procurement (Wales) Act 2023

                                                                                                           (Page 45)

</AI13>

<AI14>

3.9   Correspondence from the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care to the Legislation, Justice and the Constitution Committee regarding Parc Prison

                                                                                                 (Pages 46 - 47)

</AI14>

<AI15>

3.10 Correspondence from the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip to the Chair regarding the Equality and Social Justice committee report: “Turning up the heat before 2160: time to pick up the pace on tackling fuel poverty”

                                                                                                           (Page 48)

</AI15>

<AI16>

3.11 Correspondence from the Minister for Social Security and Disability to the Chair regarding changes to support for disabled people and welfare reform

                                                                                                 (Pages 49 - 62)

</AI16>

<AI17>

3.12 Correspondence from National Energy Action to the Chair regarding fuel poverty in Wales

                                                                                                 (Pages 63 - 64)

</AI17>

<AI18>

3.13 Correspondence from the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip to the Legislation, Justice and the Constitution Committee regarding a Budget Cover Transfer between UK Government, Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and Welsh Government

                                                                                                 (Pages 65 - 66)

</AI18>

<AI19>

3.14 Correspondence from the Minister of State for Justice to the Chair regarding the criminal  justice system in Wales

                                                                                                 (Pages 67 - 70)

</AI19>

<AI20>

3.15 Correspondence from the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip and the Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing to the Chair regarding further information relating to the Committee's inquiry into the criminal justice system in Wales

                                                                                                 (Pages 71 - 80)

</AI20>

<AI21>

3.16 Correspondence from the Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government and the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip to the Chair regarding governance reform proposals for the Fire and Rescue Service

                                                                                                           (Page 81)

</AI21>

<AI22>

3.17 Additional evidence from Natural Resources Wales in relation to the post-legislative scrutiny of the well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015

                                                                                                 (Pages 82 - 83)

</AI22>

<AI23>

3.18 Easy read version of the Welsh Government's response to the Committee's report: "Anything's achievable with the right support: Tackling the Disability Employment Gap"

                                                                                               (Pages 84 - 104)

</AI23>

<AI24>

4       Motion under Standing Order 17.42 (vi) to resolve to exclude the public from the remainder of this meeting

(15:05)                                                                                                             

</AI24>

<AI25>

Private session

(15:05 - 16:05)

</AI25>

<AI26>

5       Stage one scrutiny of the British Sign Language (Wales) Bill: consideration of the evidence

(15:05-15:15)                                                                                                  

</AI26>

<AI27>

6       Social cohesion: consideration of draft report

(15:15-15:45)                                                                                  (To Follow)

</AI27>

<AI28>

Break

(15:45-15:50)

</AI28>

<AI29>

7       British Sign Language (Wales) Bill: preparation for scrutiny

(15:50 -16:05)                                                                                                 

</AI29>

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