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 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. Question 4 was answered by the Minister for Culture, Skills and Social Partnership. The Presiding Officer invited party spokespeople to ask questions to the Cabinet Secretary after question 2.

The Presiding Officer will call party spokespeople to ask questions without notice to the Cabinet Secretary after Question 3.

View Questions

The item started at 14.21

Questions 1 and 3-9 were asked. Question 2 was withdrawn. Question 3 was answered by the Minister for Children and Social Care. Questions 7 and 8 were answered by the Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing. The Presiding Officer invited party spokespeople to ask questions to the Cabinet Secretary after question 3.

No topical questions were accepted

No topical questions were accepted

The item started at 15.06

Mabon ap Gwynfor made a statement on - World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week.

The item started at 15.08

NDM8746 Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

To propose that the Senedd:

Notes the report of the Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee on the Development Bank of Wales, which was laid in the Table Office on 12 July 2024, and on which the Welsh Government laid its response on 20 November 2024. The Development Bank of Wales responded on 4 September 2024, followed by an updated response on 29 October 2024.

The item started at 15.23

NDM8746 Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

To propose that the Senedd:

Notes the report of the Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee on the Development Bank of Wales, which was laid in the Table Office on 12 July 2024, and on which the Welsh Government laid its response on 20 November 2024. The Development Bank of Wales responded on 4 September 2024, followed by an updated response on 29 October 2024.

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

NDM8745 Mark Isherwood (North Wales)

To propose that the Senedd:

Notes the report of the Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee report, ‘Scrutiny of Accounts: Amgueddfa Cymru 2021-22’, which was laid in the Table Office on 26 June 2024.

Note: The response from the Welsh Government to the report was laid in the Table Office on 20 November 2024. Amgueddfa Cymru responded on 4 October 2024.

The item started at 16.00

NDM8745 Mark Isherwood (North Wales)

To propose that the Senedd:

Notes the report of the Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee report, ‘Scrutiny of Accounts: Amgueddfa Cymru 2021-22’, which was laid in the Table Office on 26 June 2024.

Note: The response from the Welsh Government to the report was laid in the Table Office on 20 November 2024. Amgueddfa Cymru responded on 4 October 2024.

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

NDM8747 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

To propose that the Senedd:

Calls on the UK Labour Government to reverse its decision to impose a family farm tax on agricultural businesses.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

Delete all and replace with

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Recognises the important contribution that farmers make to our economy, food production, environment and communities.

2. Notes the decision taken by the UK Government to make changes to agricultural property relief.

3. Recognises the UK Government’s changes to agricultural property relief were made in the context of the damage inflicted by the previous UK Government on public services and the £22 billion black hole in public finances.

4. Welcomes the Welsh Government’s wide range of support for farmers, including securing the extension of agricultural property relief from April 2025 to include the Sustainable Farming Scheme.

Amendment 2 Heledd Fychan (South Wales Central)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Calls on the Welsh and UK Governments to undertake a detailed assessment of the impact of the tax changes on agricultural businesses, to understand the impact it is likely to have on the sustainability and viability of family farms in Wales.

The item started at 16.38

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

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM8747 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

To propose that the Senedd:

Calls on the UK Labour Government to reverse its decision to impose a family farm tax on agricultural businesses.

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 the important contribution that farmers make to our economy, food production, environment and communities.

2. Notes the decision taken by the UK Government to make changes to agricultural property relief.

3. Recognises the UK Government’s changes to agricultural property relief were made in the context of the damage inflicted by the previous UK Government on public services and the £22 billion black hole in public finances.

4. Welcomes the Welsh Government’s wide range of support for farmers, including securing the extension of agricultural property relief from April 2025 to include the Sustainable Farming Scheme.

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:

Calls on the Welsh and UK Governments to undertake a detailed assessment of the impact of the tax changes on agricultural businesses, to understand the impact it is likely to have on the sustainability and viability of family farms in Wales.

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 the important contribution that farmers make to our economy, food production, environment and communities.

2. Notes the decision taken by the UK Government to make changes to agricultural property relief.

3. Recognises the UK Government’s changes to agricultural property relief were made in the context of the damage inflicted by the previous UK Government on public services and the £22 billion black hole in public finances.

4. Welcomes the Welsh Government’s wide range of support for farmers, including securing the extension of agricultural property relief from April 2025 to include the Sustainable Farming Scheme.

The motion as amended was agreed.

NDM8748 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes that Small Business Saturday will take place on 7 December 2024.

2. Recognises the vital contribution that small businesses make in creating jobs, supporting  communities and developing local economies across Wales.

3. Believes that the UK Labour Government has broken a manifesto commitment by raising national insurance contributions and notes that the British Retail Consortium and 79 prominent retail leaders have indicated that the increase will lead to higher prices, job losses, and damage investment.

4. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

a) make urgent representations to the UK Government to reverse an increase in national insurance contributions; and

b) reinstate business rates relief to 75 per cent for the retail, hospitality and leisure sector to support small businesses and protect jobs.

The following amendment was tabled:

Amendment 1 Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

Delete all after point 2 and replace with:

Notes the UK Government’s decision to increase employer national insurance contributions in the autumn budget in order to assist in stabilising the nation's finances.

Recognises additional non-domestic rates relief has been available to retail, leisure and hospitality businesses for five successive years, at a cost of £1 billion, alongside the Welsh Government’s annual £250m package of permanent rates reliefs.

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:

NDM8748 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes that Small Business Saturday will take place on 7 December 2024.

2. Recognises the vital contribution that small businesses make in creating jobs, supporting  communities and developing local economies across Wales.

3. Believes that the UK Labour Government has broken a manifesto commitment by raising national insurance contributions and notes that the British Retail Consortium and 79 prominent retail leaders have indicated that the increase will lead to higher prices, job losses, and damage investment.

4. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

a) make urgent representations to the UK Government to reverse an increase in national insurance contributions; and

b) reinstate business rates relief to 75 per cent for the retail, hospitality and leisure sector to support small businesses and protect jobs.

The motion without amendment was not agreed.

The following amendment was tabled:

Amendment 1 Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

Delete all after point 2 and replace with:

Notes the UK Government’s decision to increase employer national insurance contributions in the autumn budget in order to assist in stabilising the nation's finances.

Recognises additional non-domestic rates relief has been available to retail, leisure and hospitality businesses for five successive years, at a cost of £1 billion, alongside the Welsh Government’s annual £250m package of permanent rates reliefs.

A vote was taken on amendment 1:

Amendment 1 was agreed.

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes that Small Business Saturday will take place on 7 December 2024.

2. Recognises the vital contribution that small businesses make in creating jobs, supporting  communities and developing local economies across Wales.

3. Notes the UK Government’s decision to increase employer national insurance contributions in the autumn budget in order to assist in stabilising the nation's finances.

4. Recognises additional non-domestic rates relief has been available to retail, leisure and hospitality businesses for five successive years, at a cost of £1 billion, alongside the Welsh Government’s annual £250m package of permanent rates reliefs.

The motion as amended was agreed.

The item started at 17.41

NDM8733 Delyth Jewell (South Wales East)

Industrial pollution: The impact of Wales's industrial legacy on our landscapes

The item started at 17.45

NDM8733 Delyth Jewell (South Wales East)

Industrial pollution: The impact of Wales's industrial legacy on our landscapes