Agenda and minutes

The Presiding Officer will call Party Leaders 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 Presiding Officer will call Party Leaders to ask questions without notice to the Cabinet Secretary after Question 2.

 

View Questions

 

The item started at 14.29

Questions 1-5 and 7-9 were asked. Question 6 was withdrawn. The Presiding Officer invited party spokespeople to ask questions to the Cabinet Secretary and Minister after question 2.

 

To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip

Sioned Williams: What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the impact that the UK Government's reforms to welfare will have on Wales?

The item started at 15.13

Answered by the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip

Sioned Williams: What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the impact that the UK Government's reforms to welfare will have on Wales? 

No 90 Second Statements were submitted.

No 90 second statements were received.

 

NNDM8858 Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Orders 33.6 and 33.8:

Suspends Standing Order 13.6 to allow Members to contribute on more than one occasion during the Open Debate on NDM8839 in Plenary on Wednesday 19 March 2025.

 

The item started at 15.35

NNDM8858 Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Orders 33.6 and 33.8:

Suspends Standing Order 13.6 to allow Members to contribute on more than one occasion during the Open Debate on NDM8839 in Plenary on Wednesday 19 March 2025.

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

 

NDM8839 Carolyn Thomas (North Wales)

Can renewables alone meet the energy needs of Wales? 

Supporters 

Lee Waters (Llanelli)

Mike Hedges (Swansea East)

Samuel Kurtz (Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire)

 

The item started at 15.36

NDM8839 Carolyn Thomas (North Wales)

Can renewables alone meet the energy needs of Wales? 

Supporters 

Lee Waters (Llanelli)

Mike Hedges (Swansea East)

Samuel Kurtz (Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire)

NDM8857 Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes the UK Government’s increase to employer national insurance contributions, coming into effect for the 2025-26 tax year.

2. Recognises the detrimental impact the increase to employer national insurance contributions will have on Welsh charities, not-for-profits and voluntary organisations.

3. Calls on the Welsh Government to make urgent representations to the UK Government to ensure Welsh charities, not-for-profits and voluntary organisations delivering public services will be included in the UK Government’s definition of ONS-defined public sector employees and will be as a result reimbursed for the rise in employer national insurance contributions.

The following amendments were tabled:  

Amendment 1 Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

Delete all after point 1 and replace with

Recognises that:

a) national insurance is not devolved;

b) Welsh charities, not-for-profits and voluntary organisations are concerned about the impact of increases to employer national insurance contributions; and

c) the Welsh Government has made and will continue to make representations to the UK Government on behalf of public services and Welsh charities, not-for-profits and voluntary organisations about employer national insurance contributions.

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

Amendment 2 Heledd Fychan (South Wales Central)

Add as new point after point 2. and renumber accordingly:

Regrets:

a) the intention to allocate Treasury reimbursements to core public services on the basis of the Barnett Formula, which would leave Wales facing a shortfall compared to England.   

b) the lack of clarity as to the full extent of costs to core public services in Wales as a result of these changes, less than a month before the start of the next financial year and after the passing of the Welsh budget.  

Amendment 3 Heledd Fychan (South Wales Central)

Add as new point at the end of motion:

Calls on the Welsh Government to make urgent representations to the UK Government to ensure that the costs of increases to employer NI contributions to core public services in Wales are covered in full by the UK Treasury.

 

 

The item started at 17.47

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

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM8857 Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes the UK Government’s increase to employer national insurance contributions, coming into effect for the 2025-26 tax year.

2. Recognises the detrimental impact the increase to employer national insurance contributions will have on Welsh charities, not-for-profits and voluntary organisations.

3. Calls on the Welsh Government to make urgent representations to the UK Government to ensure Welsh charities, not-for-profits and voluntary organisations delivering public services will be included in the UK Government’s definition of ONS-defined public sector employees and will be as a result reimbursed for the rise in employer national insurance contributions.

For	Abstain	Against	Total
14	0	36	50

The motion without amendment was not agreed.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

Delete all after point 1 and replace with

Recognises that:

a) national insurance is not devolved;

b) Welsh charities, not-for-profits and voluntary organisations are concerned about the impact of increases to employer national insurance contributions; and

c) the Welsh Government has made and will continue to make representations to the UK Government on behalf of public services and Welsh charities, not-for-profits and voluntary organisations about employer national insurance contributions.

A vote was taken on amendment 1:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
26	0	24	50

Amendment 1 was agreed.

As amendment 1 was agreed, amendment 2 was de-selected.

Amendment 3 Heledd Fychan (South Wales Central)

Add as new point at the end of motion:

Calls on the Welsh Government to make urgent representations to the UK Government to ensure that the costs of increases to employer NI contributions to core public services in Wales are covered in full by the UK Treasury.

A vote was taken on amendment 3:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
49	0	1	50

Amendment 3 was agreed.

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

To propose that the Senedd:

1.   Notes the UK Government’s increase to employer national insurance contributions, coming into effect for the 2025-26 tax year.

2.   Recognises that:

a) national insurance is not devolved;

b) Welsh charities, not-for-profits and voluntary organisations are concerned about the impact of increases to employer national insurance contributions; and

c) the Welsh Government has made and will continue to make representations to the UK Government on behalf of public services and Welsh charities, not-for-profits and voluntary organisations about employer national insurance contributions.

3.   Calls on the Welsh Government to make urgent representations to the UK Government to ensure that the costs of increases to employer NI contributions to core public services in Wales are covered in full by the UK Treasury.

For	Abstain	Against	Total
36	0	14	50

The motion as amended was agreed.

 

The item started at 18.39