Agenda and minutes

This meeting was held in a hybrid format, with some Members in Siambr Hywel, Tŷ Hywel 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 9 questions were asked. Questions 2 and 7 were withdrawn. Question 5 an 9 were answered by the Minister for Culture, Skills and Social Partnership. The Presiding Officer invited party spokespeople to ask questions to the Minister after question 3.

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 14.19

The first 8 questions were asked. Questions 1, 5, 7 and 8 were answered by the Deputy Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing. Question 2, 3, 4 and 6 were answered by the Minister for Children and Social Care. The Presiding Officer invited party spokespeople to ask questions to the Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing and the Minister for Children and Social Care after question 2.

To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales

Heledd Fychan (South Wales Central): What discussions has the Cabinet Secretary had with the UK Government regarding the circumstances that led to the reclassification of the Oxford to Cambridge East West Rail programme from an 'England only' project to an 'England and Wales' project?

The item started at 15.18

Answered by the Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales
Heledd Fychan (South Wales Central): What discussions has the Cabinet Secretary had with the UK Government regarding the circumstances that led to the reclassification of the Oxford to Cambridge East West Rail programme from an 'England only' project to an 'England and Wales' project?

The item started at 15.28 
Sioned Williams made a statement on - Infant mental health awareness week 2025 (9 to 15 June).
Mick Antoniw made a statement on - PONT – 20 years of overseas partnership (2025).
Hannah Blythyn made a statement on - Pride Month (June).
Vaughan Gething made a statement on - Billy Boston’s knighthood.

Proposal under Standing Order 12.24 to debate the following motions together but with separate votes

NDM8922 Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes that the Reform Bill Committee was established on 12 July 2023 for the purpose of scrutinising the Bills relating to Senedd reform referred to it by the Business Committee.

2. Notes that the Business Committee does not intend to refer further matters to the Committee.

3. Agrees, in accordance with Standing Order 16.3, that the Reform Bill Committee should cease to exist.

NDM8924 Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes that the Future Senedd Committee was established on 16 October 2024 to consider and report by 9 May 2025 on: the organisation of business in the Seventh Senedd; barriers to representative participation; and thresholds set in Standing Orders.

2. Notes that the Committee’s reports were laid on 28 February 2025, and 9 May 2025.

3. Agrees, in accordance with Standing Order 16.3, that the Future Senedd Committee should cease to exist.

The item started at 15.36 

The proposal under Standing Order 12.24 to debate the following motions together but with separate votes was agreed. 

NDM8922 Elin Jones (Ceredigion) 

To propose that the Senedd: 

1. Notes that the Reform Bill Committee was established on 12 July 2023 for the purpose of scrutinising the Bills relating to Senedd reform referred to it by the Business Committee. 

2. Notes that the Business Committee does not intend to refer further matters to the Committee. 

3. Agrees, in accordance with Standing Order 16.3, that the Reform Bill Committee should cease to exist. 

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36. 

NDM8924 Elin Jones (Ceredigion) 

To propose that the Senedd: 

1. Notes that the Future Senedd Committee was established on 16 October 2024 to consider and report by 9 May 2025 on: the organisation of business in the Seventh Senedd; barriers to representative participation; and thresholds set in Standing Orders. 

2. Notes that the Committee’s reports were laid on 28 February 2025, and 9 May 2025. 

3. Agrees, in accordance with Standing Order 16.3, that the Future Senedd Committee should cease to exist. 

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36. 

NDM8918 Jenny Rathbone (Cardiff Central)

To propose that the Senedd:

Notes the Equality and Social Justice Committee report: 'Anything’s achievable with the right support: Tackling the Disability Employment Gap' laid on 6 March 2025.

Note: The response of the Welsh Government was laid in the Table Office on 4 June 2025.

The item started at 15.37

NDM8918 Jenny Rathbone (Cardiff Central)

To propose that the Senedd:

Notes the Equality and Social Justice Committee report: 'Anything’s achievable with the right support: Tackling the Disability Employment Gap' laid on 6 March 2025.

Note: The response of the Welsh Government was laid in the Table Office on 4 June 2025.

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

NDM8919 Andrew R.T. Davies (South Wales Central) 

To propose that the Senedd:

Notes the report of the Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee on the Green Economy, laid on 14 March 2025.

Note: The response of the Welsh Government was laid in the Table Office on 4 June 2025

The item started at 16.33

NDM8919 Andrew R.T. Davies (South Wales Central) 

To propose that the Senedd:

Notes the report of the Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee on the Green Economy, laid on 14 March 2025.

Note: The response of the Welsh Government was laid in the Table Office on 4 June 2025

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.  

NDM8917 Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

a) announce a moratorium on all applications to place solar panels on agricultural land;

b) undertake a review of the potential of solar energy in Wales; and

c) develop a solar strategy for Wales.

The following amendment was tabled:
Amendment 1 Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan) 

Delete all and replace with:
To propose that the Senedd:
1. Calls on the Welsh Government to:
a)    continue to work with developers for solar projects as required, to ensure they understand the robust planning policies we have in place in Wales; and
b)    continue to progress work on the renewable energy sector deal, which will include solar technologies, following on from the work of the Offshore Wind Task and Finish Group.

The item started at 17.10

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

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM8917 Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

a) announce a moratorium on all applications to place solar panels on agricultural land;

b) undertake a review of the potential of solar energy in Wales; and

c) develop a solar strategy for Wales.

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. Calls on the Welsh Government to:
a)    continue to work with developers for solar projects as required, to ensure they understand the robust planning policies we have in place in Wales; and
b)    continue to progress work on the renewable energy sector deal, which will include solar technologies, following on from the work of the Offshore Wind Task and Finish Group.

A vote was taken on amendment 1:

Amendment 1 was not agreed.

As required by Standing Order 6.20 the Deputy Presiding Officer exercised  his casting vote by voting against the amendment. Therefore, the amendment was not agreed. 

As the Senedd did not agree the motion without amendment, and did not agree the amendment tabled to the motion, the motion was therefore not agreed. 

NDM8923 Heledd Fychan (South Wales Central)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes that UK Government will announce the conclusions of its spending review on 11 June.

2. Regrets that decisions taken by the Labour UK Government over the last year have disproportionately affected Wales.

3. Calls on the Welsh Government to press the UK Government to introduce an economic fairness bill which:

a) ensures fair funding for Wales;

b) devolves powers to create new income tax bands; and

c) increases draw-down limits and borrowing powers in line with inflation.

4. Calls on the UK Government to:

a) address the historic underinvestment in Welsh rail infrastructure, commit to the full £4 billion of HS2 consequential funding and devolve powers and funding over rail infrastructure to Wales; 

b) reinstate the winter fuel allowance as a universal provision and scrap the two child benefit cap without delay;

c) reimburse the Welsh Government in full for the impact of employer national insurance increases; and

d) introduce a wealth tax, ensuring that the burden falls on those individuals and corporations with the broadest shoulders to bear a fairer share of overall tax paid.
The following amendments were tabled: 
Amendment 1 Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan) 
Delete all after point 1 and replace with:

Notes the Welsh Government will respond to the UK Government’s Spending Review, setting out the implications for Wales, after it has analysed those implications, following announcements on 11 June.

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

Amendment 2 Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

Delete all after point 2 and replace with:
Calls on the Welsh Government to:
a) support the introduction of a Welsh Winter Fuel allowance;
b) spend the full Barnett uplift for health, on health;
c) press the UK Government to reverse the increase in employers’ national insurance contributions;
d) further press the UK Government to abolish the family farm tax; and
e)  confirm that any consequentials resulting from HS2 spending will be spent on Wales-only projects.

The item started at 18.04

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

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM8923 Heledd Fychan (South Wales Central)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes that UK Government will announce the conclusions of its spending review on 11 June.

2. Regrets that decisions taken by the Labour UK Government over the last year have disproportionately affected Wales.

3. Calls on the Welsh Government to press the UK Government to introduce an economic fairness bill which:

a) ensures fair funding for Wales;

b) devolves powers to create new income tax bands; and

c) increases draw-down limits and borrowing powers in line with inflation.

4. Calls on the UK Government to:

a) address the historic underinvestment in Welsh rail infrastructure, commit to the full £4 billion of HS2 consequential funding and devolve powers and funding over rail infrastructure to Wales; 

b) reinstate the winter fuel allowance as a universal provision and scrap the two child benefit cap without delay;

c) reimburse the Welsh Government in full for the impact of employer national insurance increases; and

d) introduce a wealth tax, ensuring that the burden falls on those individuals and corporations with the broadest shoulders to bear a fairer share of overall tax paid.

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:

Notes the Welsh Government will respond to the UK Government’s Spending Review, setting out the implications for Wales, after it has analysed those implications, following announcements on 11 June.

A vote was taken on amendment 1:

Amendment 1 was not agreed.

As required by Standing Order 6.20 the Deputy Presiding Officer exercised  his casting vote by voting against the amendment. Therefore, the amendment was not agreed. 

Amendment 2 Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

Delete all after point 2 and replace with:
Calls on the Welsh Government to:
a) support the introduction of a Welsh Winter Fuel allowance;
b) spend the full Barnett uplift for health, on health;
c) press the UK Government to reverse the increase in employers’ national insurance contributions;
d) further press the UK Government to abolish the family farm tax; and
e)  confirm that any consequentials resulting from HS2 spending will be spent on Wales-only projects.

A vote was taken on amendment 2:

Amendment 2 was not agreed.

As the Senedd did not agree the motion without amendment, and did not agree the amendments tabled to the motion, the motion was therefore not agreed. 

The item started at 18.55