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 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 spokespeople to ask questions without notice to the Cabinet Secretary after Question 2.  
View Questions 

The item started at 14.23
Questions 1 to 7 and 9 were asked. Question 8 was withdrawn. The Presiding Officer invited party spokespeople to ask questions to the Cabinet Secretary after question 2.

To be answered by the Minister for Culture, Skills and Social Partnership:
David Rees (Aberavon): What discussions is the Welsh Government having with Tata regarding the future of their plants across Wales and the impact of any temporary shutdowns upon steelworkers?
To be answered by the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip:
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the further defects found on the Menai Bridge

The item started at 15.16
Answered by the Minister for Culture, Skills and Social Partnership 
David Rees (Aberavon): What discussions is the Welsh Government having with Tata regarding the future of their plants across Wales and the impact of any temporary shutdowns upon steelworkers?

Answered by the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the further defects found on the Menai Bridge

The item started at 15.54

Sam Rowlands made a statement on Baby Loss Awareness Week (9 to 15 October).

The item started at 15.56

NNDM9019 Elin Jones (Ceredigion)  

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

Suspends Standing Order 12.20(i) and that part of Standing Order 11.16 that requires the weekly announcement under Standing Order 11.11 to constitute the timetable for business in Plenary for the following week, to allow NNDM9018 to be considered in Plenary on Wednesday 15 October 2025.  

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

The item started at 15.56

NNDM9018 Elin Jones (Ceredigion)   

To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Order 16.3:  

1. Establishes a Member Accountability Bill Committee to scrutinise the Senedd Cymru (Member Accountability and Elections) Bill.  

2. In accordance with Standing Order 17.2T, resolves that Standing Orders 17.2A to 17.2S (election of committee chairs) shall not apply in relation to the Member Accountability Bill Committee.  

3. In accordance with Standing Order 17.3, elects Lesley Griffiths MS (Welsh Labour), Buffy Williams MS (Welsh Labour), Paul Davies MS (Welsh Conservatives) and Sioned Williams MS (Plaid Cymru) as members of the Member Accountability Bill Committee, and David Rees MS (Deputy Presiding Officer) as Chair of the Member Accountability Bill Committee.   

4. In accordance with Standing Order 33.6, suspends the first part of Standing Order 17.37 in relation to the Member Accountability Bill Committee, and agrees that the chair of the Committee may only vote in the exercise of a casting vote.   

5. Agrees that the Committee will be dissolved following agreement by the Senedd of a motion for Stage 2 proceedings on the Bill to be conducted by a Committee of the Whole Senedd, or on the completion of Stage 2 proceedings (whichever is the sooner). 

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

Postponed until 26 November 2025

This item was postponed until 26 November 2025

NDM9009 Llyr Gruffydd (North Wales)  

To propose that the Senedd: 

Notes the Climate Change, Environment and Infrastructure Committee report: Report on Transport for Wales’ performance 2024-25, laid on 9 April 2025. 

Notes: The response from Welsh Government to the report was laid in the Table Office on 8 October 2025. The response from Transport for Wales to the report was laid in the Table Office on 8 October 2025. 

The item started at 15.57

NDM9009 Llyr Gruffydd (North Wales)  

To propose that the Senedd: 

Notes the Climate Change, Environment and Infrastructure Committee report: Report on Transport for Wales’ performance 2024-25, laid on 9 April 2025. 

Notes: The response from Welsh Government to the report was laid in the Table Office on 8 October 2025. The response from Transport for Wales to the report was laid in the Table Office on 8 October 2025. 

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

NDM9010 Heledd Fychan (South Wales Central) 

To propose that the Senedd: 

1. Notes: 

a) that analysis from the Welsh Retail Consortium in 2023 showed that Wales has the second highest number of vacant shops in the UK; 

b) that almost 100 high street banks have closed in Wales in the last three years; and 

c) that the UK Government’s ‘Pride in Place’ programme allocates £214 million of funding to Wales with the aim of strengthening place-based regeneration. 

2. Regrets that the ‘Pride in Place’ programme does not provide long-term funding certainty and at the scale required for town-centre regeneration. 

3. Calls on the Welsh Government to publish a comprehensive strategy for town-centre regeneration, setting out a long-term vision for town centres that includes measures to: 

a) establish a preferential business rates multipliers for small and independent high street retailers, including hospitality businesses; 

b) establish long-term funding certainty for town centre regeneration; and 

c) bring forward legislation to strengthen community ‘Right to Buy’ powers.

The following amendments were tabled:  

Amendment 1 Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)   

Delete all after point 1 and replace with: 

Supports the action being taken by the Welsh Government to assist town centres, such as: 

a) the actions set out in the retail action plan; 

b) continuing funding for rates relief schemes; 

c) including town centre first principles in key planning documents; 

d) publishing the town centres position statement; 

e) establishing the community asset commission; 

f) investment through the transforming towns programme; and 

g) launching the tidy towns fund. 

Retail Action Plan 

Town Centres: Position Statement 

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

Amendment 2 Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire) 
Delete point 3 and replace with: 

Calls on the Welsh Government to: 

a) scrap business rates for small businesses; 

b) improve access to free parking in town centres; 

c) amend the planning system to promote a mixed offer on high streets; 

d) establish a seaside towns fund to help address the challenges in coastal communities; 

e) establish a market towns fund to help address challenges in Wales's market towns; and 

f) work with the National Lottery Community Fund to promote community ownership of important assets threatened with closure. 

The item started at 16.47

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

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM9010 Heledd Fychan (South Wales Central) 

To propose that the Senedd: 

1. Notes: 

a) that analysis from the Welsh Retail Consortium in 2023 showed that Wales has the second highest number of vacant shops in the UK; 

b) that almost 100 high street banks have closed in Wales in the last three years; and 

c) that the UK Government’s ‘Pride in Place’ programme allocates £214 million of funding to Wales with the aim of strengthening place-based regeneration. 

2. Regrets that the ‘Pride in Place’ programme does not provide long-term funding certainty and at the scale required for town-centre regeneration. 

3. Calls on the Welsh Government to publish a comprehensive strategy for town-centre regeneration, setting out a long-term vision for town centres that includes measures to: 

a) establish a preferential business rates multipliers for small and independent high street retailers, including hospitality businesses; 

b) establish long-term funding certainty for town centre regeneration; and 

c) bring forward legislation to strengthen community ‘Right to Buy’ powers.

For	Abstain	Against	Total
9	14	24	47

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: 

Supports the action being taken by the Welsh Government to assist town centres, such as: 

a) the actions set out in the retail action plan; 

b) continuing funding for rates relief schemes; 

c) including town centre first principles in key planning documents; 

d) publishing the town centres position statement; 

e) establishing the community asset commission; 

f) investment through the transforming towns programme; and 

g) launching the tidy towns fund. 

Retail Action Plan 

Town Centres: Position Statement 

A vote was taken on amendment 1:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
24	0	23	47

Amendment 1 was agreed.

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

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

To propose that the Senedd: 

1. Notes: 

a) that analysis from the Welsh Retail Consortium in 2023 showed that Wales has the second highest number of vacant shops in the UK; 

b) that almost 100 high street banks have closed in Wales in the last three years; and 

c) that the UK Government’s ‘Pride in Place’ programme allocates £214 million of funding to Wales with the aim of strengthening place-based regeneration. 

2. Supports the action being taken by the Welsh Government to assist town centres, such as: 

a) the actions set out in the retail action plan; 

b) continuing funding for rates relief schemes; 

c) including town centre first principles in key planning documents; 

d) publishing the town centres position statement; 

e) establishing the community asset commission; 

f) investment through the transforming towns programme; and 

g) launching the tidy towns fund. 

For	Abstain	Against	Total
24	0	23	47

The motion as amended was agreed.

 

The item started at 17.55

 

NDM9008 Altaf Hussain (South Wales West)  

Acting FAST: Raising Stroke awareness in Wales 

The item started at 17.58

NDM9008 Altaf Hussain (South Wales West)  

Acting FAST: Raising Stroke awareness in Wales