Agenda and minutes

This meeting was held in a hybrid format, with some Members in the Senedd Chamber and others joining by video-conference.

The Cabinet Secretary will be responding to questions tabled to the previous Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Transport and North Wales portfolio. The Presiding Officer will call party spokespeople to ask questions without notice to the Cabinet Secretary after Question 2.

View Questions

The item started at 13.30

The first 8 questions were asked. The Presiding Officer invited party spokespeople to ask questions to the Cabinet Secretary after question 2.

The Cabinet Secretary will be responding to questions tabled to the previous Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip portfolio. The Presiding Officer will call party spokespeople to ask questions without notice to the Cabinet Secretary after Question 2.

View Questions

The item started at 14.25

The first 8 questions were asked. The Presiding Officer invited party spokespeople to ask questions to the Cabinet Secretary after question 2.

View Questions

The item started at 15.14

Question 1 was not asked. Questions 2-4 were asked.

No topical questions were accepted

No Topical Questions were accepted

The item started at 15.27

Lesley Griffiths made a statement on - 90 years since the Gresford colliery disaster (22 September).

Mabon ap Gwynfor made a statement on - Tribute to Dewi ‘Pws’ Morris.

Rhys ab Owen made a statement on - Recognising the work of the charity Latch, during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month (September).

The item started at 15.33

NDM8663 Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Order 17.14, elects Sam Rowlands (Welsh Conservatives) in place of James Evans (Welsh Conservatives) as a Member of the Wales COVID-19 Inquiry Special Purpose Committee.

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

NDM8653 Rhianon Passmore (Islwyn)

To propose that the Senedd:

Notes the petition ‘P-06-1455 Protect the junior departments of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama from closure’ which received 10,560 signatures.

The item started at 15.33

NDM8653 Rhianon Passmore (Islwyn)

To propose that the Senedd:

Notes the petition ‘P-06-1455 Protect the junior departments of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama from closure’ which received 10,560 signatures.

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

NDM8651 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Expresses deep concern that around 400,000 households in Wales will lose up to £300 per person after the UK Government’s decision to end the universal winter fuel payment.

2. Notes the Welsh Government's Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip's response to WQ93698 where she stated that the UK Government's decision to end the winter fuel payment will risk pushing some pensioners into fuel poverty.

3. Calls on the UK Government to reverse its decision to end the universal winter fuel payment.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

Delete all and replace with:

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Recognises that the UK Government has made difficult choices, such as changes to the winter fuel allowance eligibility, as a result of 14 years of economic mismanagement.

2. Welcomes the commitment to the triple lock and a targeted approach to the Warm Home Discount

3. Agrees that maximising incomes, building financial resilience, and putting money back into people’s pockets are priorities to help alleviate the impact of high energy prices, and encourages people to find out about the financial support they may be entitled to through Advicelink Cymru.

4. Supports the principle of a social tariff to protect the most vulnerable customers, and calls on OFGEM to reform standing charges.

Amendment 2 Heledd Fychan (South Wales Central)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Regrets that the withdrawal of the inclusive winter fuel payment provision is a continuation of the austerity agenda of the previous UK Conservative Government.

The item started at 16.14

Voting on the motion and amendments under this item was deferred until Voting Time.

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM8651 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Expresses deep concern that around 400,000 households in Wales will lose up to £300 per person after the UK Government’s decision to end the universal winter fuel payment.

2. Notes the Welsh Government's Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip's response to WQ93698 where she stated that the UK Government's decision to end the winter fuel payment will risk pushing some pensioners into fuel poverty.

3. Calls on the UK Government to reverse its decision to end the universal winter fuel payment.

The motion without amendment was not agreed.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

Delete all and replace with:

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Recognises that the UK Government has made difficult choices, such as changes to the winter fuel allowance eligibility, as a result of 14 years of economic mismanagement.

2. Welcomes the commitment to the triple lock and a targeted approach to the Warm Home Discount

3. Agrees that maximising incomes, building financial resilience, and putting money back into people’s pockets are priorities to help alleviate the impact of high energy prices, and encourages people to find out about the financial support they may be entitled to through Advicelink Cymru.

4. Supports the principle of a social tariff to protect the most vulnerable customers, and calls on OFGEM to reform standing charges.

A vote was taken on amendment 1:

Amendment 1 was agreed.

Amendment 2 Heledd Fychan (South Wales Central)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Regrets that the withdrawal of the inclusive winter fuel payment provision is a continuation of the austerity agenda of the previous UK Conservative Government.

A vote was taken on amendment 2:

Amendment 2 was not agreed.

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Recognises that the UK Government has made difficult choices, such as changes to the winter fuel allowance eligibility, as a result of 14 years of economic mismanagement.

2. Welcomes the commitment to the triple lock and a targeted approach to the Warm Home Discount

3. Agrees that maximising incomes, building financial resilience, and putting money back into people’s pockets are priorities to help alleviate the impact of high energy prices, and encourages people to find out about the financial support they may be entitled to through Advicelink Cymru.

4. Supports the principle of a social tariff to protect the most vulnerable customers, and calls on OFGEM to reform standing charges.

The motion as amended was agreed.

NDM8652 Heledd Fychan (South Wales Central)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes that the First Minister and her predecessors have prioritised cutting waiting lists in the NHS.

2. Regrets that:

a) the latest NHS performance statistics show that waiting lists in Wales are at a record high; and

b) the UK Labour Government's decision to embrace austerity policies, such as cutting back the winter fuel payment, are intensifying the pressure on the NHS.

3. Calls on the Welsh Government to urgently review its plan to reduce waiting lists and to honour the commitment made by past First Ministers and the current First Minister.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

Delete all and replace with:

To propose that the Senedd:

1) Notes:

a) the First Minister and her predecessors have prioritised cutting waiting lists in the NHS; and

b) the number of people waiting more than two years for treatment has fallen by 67% since the peak in March 2022.

If amendment 1 is agreed, amendments 2 and 3 will be de-selected.

Amendment 2 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

Delete point 2(b) and replace with:

spending decisions such as cutting winter fuel payments to pensioners will lead to an adverse impact on the Welsh NHS;

Amendment 3 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

Add as new new sub-point at end of point 2:

on three occasions, the Welsh Government cut the health budget in real terms: the only government in the United Kingdom to have ever done so;

Amendment 4 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

Add new point at end of motion:

Calls on the Welsh Government to ensure the full Barnett consequential 20 per cent uplift for health is spent on the Welsh NHS.

The item started at 17.06

Voting on the motion and amendments under this item was deferred until Voting Time.

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM8652 Heledd Fychan (South Wales Central)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes that the First Minister and her predecessors have prioritised cutting waiting lists in the NHS.

2. Regrets that:

a) the latest NHS performance statistics show that waiting lists in Wales are at a record high; and

b) the UK Labour Government's decision to embrace austerity policies, such as cutting back the winter fuel payment, are intensifying the pressure on the NHS.

3. Calls on the Welsh Government to urgently review its plan to reduce waiting lists and to honour the commitment made by past First Ministers and the current First Minister.

The motion without amendment was not agreed.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

Delete all and replace with:

To propose that the Senedd:

1) Notes:

a) the First Minister and her predecessors have prioritised cutting waiting lists in the NHS; and

b) the number of people waiting more than two years for treatment has fallen by 67% since the peak in March 2022.

A vote was taken on amendment 1:

Amendment 1 was agreed.

As amendment 1 was agreed, amendments 2 and 3 were de-selected.

Amendment 4 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

Add new point at end of motion:

Calls on the Welsh Government to ensure the full Barnett consequential 20 per cent uplift for health is spent on the Welsh NHS.

A vote was taken on amendment 4:

Amendment 4 was not agreed.

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

To propose that the Senedd:

1) Notes:

a) the First Minister and her predecessors have prioritised cutting waiting lists in the NHS; and

b) the number of people waiting more than two years for treatment has fallen by 67% since the peak in March 2022.

The motion as amended was agreed.

The item started at 17.51

NDM8650 Heledd Fychan (South Wales Central)

Rhondda Cynon Taf National Eisteddfod: Securing a legacy for the Welsh language in the Valleys

The item started at 17.58

NDM8650 Heledd Fychan (South Wales Central)

Rhondda Cynon Taf National Eisteddfod: Securing a legacy for the Welsh language in the Valleys