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 3.  
View Questions 

The item started at 13.30 

Questions 2 to 9 were asked. Question 1 was withdrawn. The Presiding Officer invited party spokespeople to ask questions to the Cabinet Secretary 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 14.16 

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

To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning

Luke Fletcher (South Wales West): What discussions has the Welsh Government had with the UK Government on the impact of increased European Union tariffs on the Welsh steel industry?

 

To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales

Sian Gwenllian (Arfon): Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the decision to temporarily close the Menai Bridge?

The item started at 15.08 

Answered by the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning 
Luke Fletcher (South Wales West): What discussions has the Welsh Government had with the UK Government on the impact of increased European Union tariffs on the Welsh steel industry? 

 

The Topical Question by Sian Gwenllian to the Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales was not asked. 

No 90 Second Statements were submitted.

No 90 Second Statements were submitted.

The item started at 15.19 

NNDM9007 Elin Jones (Ceredigion)  
To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Order 17.14, elects Russell George (Independent) as a member of the Children, Young People and Education Committee in place of Joel James (Welsh Conservatives).  

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36. 

NDM8997 Elin Jones (Ceredigion) 

To propose that the Senedd: 

1. Notes that the Wales COVID-19 Inquiry Special Purpose Committee was established on 16 May 2023. 

2. Notes that the Committee’s report, ‘Report on the gaps identified in the preparedness and response of the Welsh Government and other Welsh public bodies during the covid-19 pandemic that should be subject to further examination: UK Covid-19 Inquiry Module 1’, was laid on 25 March 2025.  

3. Notes that the Committee’s report, ‘Report on the gaps identified in the preparedness and response of the Welsh Government and other Welsh public bodies during the covid-19 pandemic that should be subject to further examination: UK covid-19 Inquiry Module 1’, was debated on 16 July 2025. 

4. Agrees, in accordance with Standing Order 16.3, that the Wales COVID-19 Inquiry Special Purpose Committee should cease to exist. 

The item started at 15.19 

NDM8997 Elin Jones (Ceredigion)   

To propose that the Senedd:   

1. Notes that the Wales COVID-19 Inquiry Special Purpose Committee was established on 16 May 2023.   

2. Notes that the Committee’s report, ‘Report on the gaps identified in the preparedness and response of the Welsh Government and other Welsh public bodies during the covid-19 pandemic that should be subject to further examination: UK Covid-19 Inquiry Module 1’, was laid on 25 March 2025.    

3. Notes that the Committee’s report, ‘Report on the gaps identified in the preparedness and response of the Welsh Government and other Welsh public bodies during the covid-19 pandemic that should be subject to further examination: UK covid-19 Inquiry Module 1’, was debated on 16 July 2025.   

4. Agrees, in accordance with Standing Order 16.3, that the Wales COVID-19 Inquiry Special Purpose Committee should cease to exist.   

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36. 

NDM8996 Llyr Gruffydd (North Wales)  

To propose that the Senedd: 

Notes the Climate Change, Environment and Infrastructure Committee report: Natural Resources Wales: Annual scrutiny 2024-25 was laid on 21 May 2025. 

Notes: The response from the Welsh Government to the report was laid in the Table Office on 1 October 2025. Natural Resources Wales responded on 3 July 2025. 

The item started at 15.27 

NDM8996 Llyr Gruffydd (North Wales)    

To propose that the Senedd:   

Notes the Climate Change, Environment and Infrastructure Committee report: Natural Resources Wales: Annual scrutiny 2024-25 was laid on 21 May 2025.   

Notes: The response from the Welsh Government to the report was laid in the Table Office on 1 October 2025. Natural Resources Wales responded on 3 July 2025.   

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36. 

NDM8995 John Griffiths (Newport East)  

To propose that the Senedd: 

Notes the report of the Local Government and Housing Committee, ‘Housing Support for Vulnerable People’, which was laid in the Table Office on 15 May 2025. 

Note: The response of the Welsh Government to the report was laid in the Table Office on 1 October 2025. 

The item started at 16.11 

NDM8995 John Griffiths (Newport East)    

To propose that the Senedd:   

Notes the report of the Local Government and Housing Committee, ‘Housing Support for Vulnerable People’, which was laid in the Table Office on 15 May 2025.   

Note: The response of the Welsh Government to the report was laid in the Table Office on 1 October 2025.   

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36. 

NDM8999 Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire) 

To propose that the Senedd: 

1. Regrets that the Welsh Government’s economic impact assessment to the Sustainable Farming Scheme published on 30 September 2025 will result in an estimated: 

a) 56,000 Welsh livestock numbers lost; 

b) 1,163 jobs on Welsh farms lost; and 

c) £76.3 million lost in farm business income. 

2. Calls on the Welsh Government to scrap and replace the current Sustainable Farming Scheme with a scheme that works for farmers, placing food security and production at its core. 

Economic impact assessment to the Sustainable Farming Scheme 

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 collaborative approach taken to the development of the Sustainable Farming Scheme and the significant contribution of stakeholders. 

2.  Notes the publication of the scheme on 15 July 2025 and the ongoing work with stakeholders on the Optional and Collaborative layers. 

3.  Welcomes the publication of the Sustainable Farming Scheme Full Business case for openness and transparency 

4.  Notes the Welsh Government’s commitment to invest over £340 million in the Sustainable Farming Scheme in 2026.  

5.  Encourages farmers to consider the details of the scheme itself and undertake the ready reckoner available on the Welsh Government website. 

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

Amendment 2 Heledd Fychan (South Wales Central)   

Delete point 2 and replace with: 

Calls on the Welsh Government and the Sustainable Farming Scheme Ministerial Roundtable to continue to evolve and revise the scheme in order to ensure a sustainable and viable future for the agricultural sector in Wales. 

Amendment 3 Heledd Fychan (South Wales Central)   
Add as new point at end of motion: 

Calls on the Welsh and UK Governments to work together to provide a multi-year financial settlement to the agricultural sector, and to move away from Barnetising the farming budget in order to provide economic stability to the sector. 

The item started at 16.48

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

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM8999 Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)  

To propose that the Senedd:  

1. Regrets that the Welsh Government’s economic impact assessment to the Sustainable Farming Scheme published on 30 September 2025 will result in an estimated:  

a) 56,000 Welsh livestock numbers lost;  

b) 1,163 jobs on Welsh farms lost; and  

c) £76.3 million lost in farm business income.  

2. Calls on the Welsh Government to scrap and replace the current Sustainable Farming Scheme with a scheme that works for farmers, placing food security and production at its core.  

Economic impact assessment to the Sustainable Farming Scheme  

For	Abstain	Against	Total
11	0	31	42

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 collaborative approach taken to the development of the Sustainable Farming Scheme and the significant contribution of stakeholders. 

2.  Notes the publication of the scheme on 15 July 2025 and the ongoing work with stakeholders on the Optional and Collaborative layers. 

3.  Welcomes the publication of the Sustainable Farming Scheme Full Business case for openness and transparency 

4.  Notes the Welsh Government’s commitment to invest over £340 million in the Sustainable Farming Scheme in 2026.  

5.  Encourages farmers to consider the details of the scheme itself and undertake the ready reckoner available on the Welsh Government website. 

A vote was taken on amendment 1:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
22	0	20	42

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 end of motion: 

Calls on the Welsh and UK Governments to work together to provide a multi-year financial settlement to the agricultural sector, and to move away from Barnetising the farming budget in order to provide economic stability to the sector. 

A vote was taken on amendment 3:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
9	0	33	42

Amendment 3 was not agreed.

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

NDM8999

To propose that the Senedd: 

1.  Recognises the collaborative approach taken to the development of the Sustainable Farming Scheme and the significant contribution of stakeholders. 

2.  Notes the publication of the scheme on 15 July 2025 and the ongoing work with stakeholders on the Optional and Collaborative layers. 

3.  Welcomes the publication of the Sustainable Farming Scheme Full Business case for openness and transparency 

4.  Notes the Welsh Government’s commitment to invest over £340 million in the Sustainable Farming Scheme in 2026.  

5.  Encourages farmers to consider the details of the scheme itself and undertake the ready reckoner available on the Welsh Government website. 

For	Abstain	Against	Total
22	0	20	42

The motion as amended was agreed.

At 17.35, the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs sought clarification on comments made by Sam Kurtz MS during the debate. Sam Kurtz MS responded to the Deputy First Minister.

The item started at 17.36

 

NDM8992 Heledd Fychan (South Wales Central)  

A barrier to accessing education: the Learner Travel (Wales) Measure and why changes are needed.  

The item started at 17.39

NDM8992 Heledd Fychan (South Wales Central)   

A barrier to accessing education: the Learner Travel (Wales) Measure and why changes are needed.