Concise Minutes - Member Accountability Bill Committee

Meeting Venue:

Committee Room 4 – Tŷ Hywel

Meeting date: Thursday, 12 February 2026

Meeting time: 09.15 - 11.45
This meeting can be viewed
on Senedd TV at:
http://senedd.tv/en/15929

Hybrid

------

Attendance

Category

Names

Members of the Senedd:

David Rees MS (Chair)

Joyce Watson MS (In place of Lesley Griffiths MS)

Sam Rowlands MS

Buffy Williams MS

Sioned Williams MS

Adam Price MS

Witnesses:

Julie James MS, Counsel General and Minister for Delivery

Ryan Price, Welsh Government

Samuel Carr, Welsh Government

Will Whiteley, Welsh Government

Committee Staff:

Sarah Sargent (Clerk)

Cerian Jones (Second Clerk)

David Lakin (Deputy Clerk)

Samiwel Davies (Legal Adviser)

 

<AI1>

1       Introductions, apologies, substitutions, and declarations of interest

1.1 The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.

1.2 Apologies were received from Lesley Griffiths MS with Joyce Watson MS present as a substitute.

 

</AI1>

<AI2>

2       Papers to note

2.1 The Committee noted the correspondence from the Chair of the Member Accountability Bill Committee to the Counsel General and Minister for Delivery.

2.2 The Committee noted the correspondence from the Counsel General and Minister for Delivery to the Chair of the Member Accountability Bill Committee.

2.3 The Committee noted the correspondence from the Chair of the Standards of Conduct Committee to the Chair of the Member Accountability Bill Committee.

2.4 The Committee also noted the correspondence from the Counsel General and Minister for Delivery to the Chair of the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee.

2.5 Finally, the Committee also noted the correspondence from the Chair of the Standards of Conduct Committee to the Chair of the Member Accountability Bill Committee.

 

</AI2>

<AI3>

3       Senedd Cymru (Member Accountability and Elections) Bill - Stage 2 proceedings

3.1 In accordance with Standing Order 26.21, the Committee disposed of the following amendments to the Bill:

 

 

 

 

Amendment 16 (Sam Rowlands MS)

In Favour

Against

Abstain

Sioned Williams MS

Buffy Williams MS

Sam Rowlands MS

Joyce Watson MS

As the vote was tied, the Chair used his casting vote in the negative (in accordance with SO 6.20(ii)). Therefore amendment 16 was not agreed.

 

Amendment 17 (Sam Rowlands MS)

In Favour

Against

Abstain

Sioned Williams MS

Buffy Williams MS

Sam Rowlands MS

Joyce Watson MS

As the vote was tied, the Chair used his casting vote in the negative (in accordance with SO 6.20(ii)). Therefore amendment 17 was not agreed.

 

Amendment 40 (Lesley Griffiths MS) was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 17.34(i).

 

As Amendment 40 (Lesley Griffiths MS) was agreed, Amendment 18 fell.

 

Amendment 3 (Sioned Williams MS) was not moved.

 

Amendment 41 (Lesley Griffiths MS) was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 17.34(i).

 

Amendment 42 (Lesley Griffiths MS) was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 17.34(i).

 

Amendment 43 (Lesley Griffiths MS) was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 17.34(i).

 

Amendment 44 (Lesley Griffiths MS) was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 17.34(i).

 

Amendment 45 (Lesley Griffiths MS) was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 17.34(i).

 

As Amendment 45 (Lesley Griffiths MS) was agreed, Amendments 19 and 20 fell.

 

Amendment 21 (Sam Rowlands MS)

In Favour

Against

Abstain

Sioned Williams MS

Buffy Williams MS

Sam Rowlands MS

Joyce Watson MS

As the vote was tied, the Chair used his casting vote in the negative (in accordance with SO 6.20(ii)). Therefore amendment 21 was not agreed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amendment 22 (Sam Rowlands MS)

In Favour

Against

Abstain

Sioned Williams MS

Buffy Williams MS

Sam Rowlands MS

Joyce Watson MS

As the vote was tied, the Chair used his casting vote in the negative (in accordance with SO 6.20(ii)). Therefore amendment 22 was not agreed.

 

Amendment 4 (Sioned Williams MS)

In Favour

Against

Abstain

Sioned Williams MS

Buffy Williams MS

Joyce Watson MS

 

Sam Rowlands MS

 

Amendment 4 was not agreed.

 

Amendment 23 (Sam Rowlands MS) was withdrawn.

 

Amendment 24 (Sam Rowlands MS)

In Favour

Against

Abstain

Sioned Williams MS

Buffy Williams MS

Sam Rowlands MS

Joyce Watson MS

As the vote was tied, the Chair used his casting vote in the negative (in accordance with SO 6.20(ii)). Therefore amendment 24 was not agreed.

 

Amendment 1 (Julie James MS) was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 17.34(i).

Amendment 25 (Sam Rowlands MS)

In Favour

Against

Abstain

Sioned Williams MS

Buffy Williams MS

Sam Rowlands MS

Joyce Watson MS

As the vote was tied, the Chair used his casting vote in the negative (in accordance with SO 6.20(ii)). Therefore amendment 25 was not agreed.

 

Amendment 26 (Sam Rowlands MS)

In Favour

Against

Abstain

Sam Rowlands MS

Buffy Williams MS

Joyce Watson MS

 

Sioned Williams MS

 

Amendment 26 was not agreed.

 

Amendment 46 (Lesley Griffiths MS) was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 17.34(i).

 

Amendment 47 (Lesley Griffiths MS) was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 17.34(i).

 

Amendment 32 (Adam Price MS) was not moved.

 

 

 

 

Amendment 5 (Sioned Williams MS)

In Favour

Against

Abstain

Sioned Williams MS

Buffy Williams MS

Joyce Watson MS

 

Sam Rowlands MS

 

Amendment 5 was not agreed.

 

Amendment 48 (Lesley Griffiths MS) was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 17.34(i).

 

Amendment 49 (Lesley Griffiths MS)

In Favour

Against

Abstain

Buffy Williams MS

Sam Rowlands MS

Joyce Watson MS

 

Sioned Williams MS

 

 

Amendment 49 was agreed.

 

Amendment 50 (Lesley Griffiths MS) was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 17.34(i).

 

Amendment 51 (Lesley Griffiths MS) was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 17.34(i).

 

 

 

 

Amendment 27 (Sam Rowlands MS)

In Favour

Against

Abstain

Sioned Williams MS

Buffy Williams MS

Sam Rowlands MS

Joyce Watson MS

As the vote was tied, the Chair used his casting vote in the negative (in accordance with SO 6.20(ii)). Therefore amendment 27 was not agreed.

 

Amendment 52 (Lesley Griffiths MS) was not moved.

 

Amendment 28 (Sam Rowlands MS)

In Favour

Against

Abstain

Sioned Williams MS

Buffy Williams MS

Sam Rowlands MS

Joyce Watson MS

As the vote was tied, the Chair used his casting vote in the negative (in accordance with SO 6.20(ii)). Therefore amendment 28 was not agreed.

 

Amendment 53 (Lesley Griffiths MS) was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 17.34(i).

 

Amendment 54 (Lesley Griffiths MS) was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 17.34(i).

 

As Amendment 54 (Lesley Griffiths MS) was agreed, Amendments 29, 30 and 8 fell.

 

Amendment 55 (Lesley Griffiths MS) was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 17.34(i).

 

Amendment 11 (Hannah Blythyn MS) was withdrawn.

 

Amendment 12 (Hannah Blythyn MS) was not moved.

 

Amendment 13 (Hannah Blythyn MS) was not moved.

 

Amendment 14 (Hannah Blythyn MS) was not moved.

 

Amendment 15 (Hannah Blythyn MS) was not moved.

 

Amendment 9 (Sioned Williams MS)

In Favour

Against

Abstain

Sioned Williams MS

Buffy Williams MS

Sam Rowlands MS

Joyce Watson MS

As the vote was tied, the Chair used his casting vote in the negative (in accordance with SO 6.20(ii)). Therefore amendment 9 was not agreed.

 

Amendment 2 (Julie James MS) was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 17.34(i).

 

 

 

 

Amendment 10 (Sioned Williams MS)

In Favour

Against

Abstain

Sioned Williams MS

Buffy Williams MS

Sam Rowlands MS

Joyce Watson MS

As the vote was tied, the Chair used his casting vote in the negative (in accordance with SO 6.20(ii)). Therefore amendment 10 was not agreed.

 

Amendment 33 (Adam Price MS)

In Favour

Against

Abstain

Sioned Williams MS

Buffy Williams MS

Joyce Watson MS

 

Sam Rowlands MS

 

Amendment 33 was not agreed.

 

Amendment 34 (Adam Price MS) was not moved.

 

Amendment 6 (Sioned Williams MS)

In Favour

Against

Abstain

Sioned Williams MS

Buffy Williams MS

Joyce Watson MS

 

Sam Rowlands MS

 

Amendment 6 was not agreed.

 

 

Amendment 7 (Sioned Williams MS)

In Favour

Against

Abstain

Sioned Williams MS

Buffy Williams MS

Joyce Watson MS

 

Sam Rowlands MS

 

Amendment 7 was not agreed.

 

Amendment 35 (Adam Price MS)

In Favour

Against

Abstain

Sioned Williams MS

Buffy Williams MS

Joyce Watson MS

 

Sam Rowlands MS

 

Amendment 35 was not agreed.

 

Amendment 36 (Adam Price MS) was not moved.

 

As Amendment 33 (Adam Price MS) was not agreed, Amendment 31 fell.

 

Amendment 37 (Adam Price MS)

In Favour

Against

Abstain

Sioned Williams MS

Buffy Williams MS

Joyce Watson MS

 

Sam Rowlands MS

 

Amendment 37 was not agreed.

 

As Amendment 33 (Adam Price MS) was not agreed, Amendment 38 fell.

 

Amendment 39 (Adam Price MS)

In Favour

Against

Abstain

Sioned Williams MS

Buffy Williams MS

Joyce Watson MS

 

Sam Rowlands MS

 

Amendment 39 was not agreed.

 

3.2 All sections of, and Schedules to, the Bill were deemed agreed.

 

3.3 The Chair noted that, in accordance with the motion that established the Committee, the Committee was now dissolved.

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