Concise Minutes - Equality and Social Justice Committee


Meeting Venue:

Committee Room 5 (Ty Hywel)

Meeting date: Monday, 15 September 2025

Meeting time: 13.30 - 17.00
This meeting can be viewed
on Senedd TV at:
http://senedd.tv/en/15352


Hybrid

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Attendance

Category

Names

Members of the Senedd:

Jenny Rathbone MS (Chair)

Mick Antoniw MS

Jane Dodds MS

Altaf Hussain MS

Julie Morgan MS

Sioned Williams MS

Witnesses:

Mark Isherwood MS

Gareth Rogers , Bill Manager, Senedd Commission

Gareth Howells, Legal Services, Senedd Commission

Claire Thomas, Research Service, Senedd Commission

Committee Staff:

Rhys Morgan (Clerk)

Angharad Roche (Deputy Clerk)

Masudah Ali (Legal Adviser)

Gwennan Hardy (Researcher)

 

<AI1>

1       Introductions, apologies, substitutions and declarations of interest

The Chair welcomed Members and witnesses to the meeting.

No substitutions or any declarations of interest were made.

 

</AI1>

<AI2>

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

Members heard evidence from:

Mark Isherwood, MS

Gareth Rogers, Bill Manager, Senedd Commission

Claire Thomas, Research Service, Senedd Commission

Gareth Howells, Legal Services, Senedd Commission

</AI2>

<AI3>

3       Papers to note

Members noted the papers.

</AI3>

<AI4>

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

</AI4>

<AI5>

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

</AI5>

<AI6>

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"

</AI6>

<AI7>

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

</AI7>

<AI8>

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

</AI8>

<AI9>

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"

</AI9>

<AI10>

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

</AI10>

<AI11>

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

</AI11>

<AI12>

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

</AI12>

<AI13>

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”

</AI13>

<AI14>

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

</AI14>

<AI15>

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

</AI15>

<AI16>

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

</AI16>

<AI17>

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

</AI17>

<AI18>

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

</AI18>

<AI19>

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

</AI19>

<AI20>

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

</AI20>

<AI21>

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"

</AI21>

<AI22>

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

Members agreed the motion.

</AI22>

<AI23>

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

Members considered the evidence.

</AI23>

<AI24>

6       Social cohesion: consideration of draft report

 

Members considered the revised report.

</AI24>

<AI25>

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

Members were briefed on the logistical preparations involved with upcoming scrutiny sessions.

</AI25>

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