Concise Minutes - Equality and Social Justice Committee

Meeting Venue:

Committee Room 3 (Senedd)

Meeting date: Monday, 14 July 2025

Meeting time: 13.00 - 17.00
This meeting can be viewed
on Senedd TV at:
http://senedd.tv/en/15520

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 Adam Price MS
Witnesses:	Jane Hutt MS, Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip Mike Connolly, Deputy Director, Community Safety Division, Welsh Government Alex Slade, Director of Primary Care, Mental Health & Early Years, Welsh Government Lord Timpson, Minister of State for Prisons, Probation and Reducing Reoffending, Ministry of Justice Ian Barrow, Executive Director for HMPPS Wales
Committee Staff:	Rhys Morgan (Clerk) Mared Llwyd (Second Clerk) Angharad Roche (Deputy Clerk) Sarah Hatherley (Researcher)

<AI1>

1 Introductions, apologies, substitutions and declarations of interest

Apologies were received from Sioned Williams. Adam Price attended as a substitute for Plaid Cymru,

Pursuant to Standing Order 17.49 Ruth Jones, the Chair of the Welsh Affairs Committee attended the meeting.

</AI1>

<AI2>

2 The criminal justice system in Wales: Ministerial scrutiny session - session one

Members heard evidence from:

Jane Hutt MS Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip

Mike Connolly, Deputy Director, Community Safety Division, Welsh Government

Alex Slade, Director of Primary Care, Mental Health & Early Years, Welsh Government

Sarah Murphy MS, Minister for Health and Well Being, sent apologies as she was unable to attend the meeting due to illness.

</AI2>

<AI3>

3 The criminal justice system in Wales: Ministerial scrutiny session - session two

Members heard evidence from:

Lord Timpson, Minister of State for Prisons, Probation and Reducing Reoffending, Ministry of Justice

Ian Barrow, Executive Director for HMPPS Wales

</AI3>

<AI4>

4 Papers to note

Members noted the papers.

</AI4>

<AI5>

4.1 Correspondence from the Llywydd to the Chair regarding the Chair's Forum's consultation on 'Reviewing Committee Effectiveness in the Sixth Senedd'

</AI5>

<AI6>

4.2 Correspondence from the Legislation, Justice and the Constitution Committee to the Minister for Mental Health and Well Being regarding HMP Parc Prison

</AI6>

<AI7>

4.3 Correspondence from the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip to the Chair of the Legislation, Justice and the Constitution Committee regarding the Inter-Institutional Relations Agreement

</AI7>

<AI8>

4.4 Correspondence to the Chair from the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip regarding the EU Settlement Scheme in Wales

</AI8>

<AI9>

5 Motion under Standing Order 17.42 (vi) to exclude the public for items 6,8 & 9 of today's meeting and for the entirety of the Committee meeting on 21 July 2025

Members agreed the motion.

</AI9>

<AI10>

6 The criminal justice system in Wales: Ministerial scrutiny session - consideration of evidence

Members considered the evidence.

</AI10>

<AI11>

7 Pre-appointment hearing for the National Adviser for Violence Against Women, Gender-based Violence, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence

Members held a pre-appointment hearing with the Welsh Government’s preferred candidate for the role of National Adviser for Violence Against Women, Gender-based Violence, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence.

</AI11>

<AI12>

8 Pre-appointment hearing for the National Adviser for Violence Against Women, Gender-based Violence, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence - consideration of draft report

Members discussed the Pre-appointment hearing for the National Adviser for Violence Against Women, Gender-based Violence, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence and agreed their recommendation to the Welsh Government.

</AI12>

<AI13>

9 Social cohesion: initial consideration of draft report

Members considered an initial draft report.

</AI13>

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