Concise Minutes - Equality and Social Justice Committee


Meeting Venue:

Committee Room 4 (Ty Hywel)

Meeting date: Monday, 24 November 2025

Meeting time: 11.00 - 13.07
This meeting can be viewed
on Senedd TV at:
http://senedd.tv/en/15832


Hybrid

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Attendance

Category

Names

Members of the Senedd:

Jenny Rathbone MS (Chair)

Mick Antoniw MS

Altaf Hussain MS

Julie Morgan MS

Sioned Williams MS

Jane Dodds MS

Witnesses:

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

Lorna Hall, Welsh Government

Andrew Charles, Welsh Government

Amelia John, Welsh Government

Ian Jones, Welsh Government

Committee Staff:

Rhys Morgan (Clerk)

Angharad Roche (Deputy Clerk)

Claire Thomas (Researcher)

Gareth David Thomas (Researcher)

 

<AI1>

1       Introductions, apologies, substitutions and declarations of interest

The Chair welcomed Members, the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip and her officials to the meeting.

There were no apologies, substitutions or declarations of interest made.

</AI1>

<AI2>

2       Draft Budget 2026-27: evidence session with the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice

Members heard evidence from:

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

Amelia John, Director, Communities & Social Justice, Welsh Government

Andrew Charles, Deputy Director, Cohesive Communities, Welsh Government

Lorna Hall, Deputy Director, Equality & Human Rights, Welsh Government

Ian Jones, Deputy Director, Poverty & Children’s Evidence and Support, Welsh Government

 

</AI2>

<AI3>

3       Papers to note

Members noted the papers.

</AI3>

<AI4>

3.1   Correspondence to the Chair from Lord Timpson, Minister for Prisons, Probation and Reducing Reoffending regarding Welsh Disaggregated Data Update

</AI4>

<AI5>

3.2   Correspondence to the Chair from Philipa Hughes of 38.6 Solutions Limited regarding residential placements for mothers and their children as an alternative to custody

</AI5>

<AI6>

3.3   Correspondence to the Chair from Jannat Ahmed regarding inadequate funding available to Welsh publishers

</AI6>

<AI7>

3.4   Correspondence to the Chair from the Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government regarding reform of Fire and Rescue Authorities in Wales

</AI7>

<AI8>

3.5   Correspondence to the Chair of the Legislation, Justice and the Constitution Committee from the Deputy First Minister regarding the Inter - Ministerial Standing Committee

</AI8>

<AI9>

4       Motion under Standing Order 17.42 (vi) to resolve to exclude the public for the remainder of today's meeting

Members agreed the motion.

</AI9>

<AI10>

5       Draft Budget 2026-27: consideration of evidence

Members considered the evidence.

</AI10>

<AI11>

6       British Sign Language Bill: second consideration of draft report

Members agreed the draft report.

</AI11>

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