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 14.18

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 Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs

Peredur Owen Griffiths (South Wales East):  What is the Government doing to improve community safety in the wake of a fatal dog attack in Monmouthshire?

To ask the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs

Adam Price (Carmarthen East and Dinefwr): Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the widespread flooding in Carmarthenshire last night, and outline how the Welsh Government intends to provide support and future preventative measures to affected communities?

The item started at 15.03

Answered by the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs 
Peredur Owen Griffiths (South Wales East):  What is the Government doing to improve community safety in the wake of a fatal dog attack in Monmouthshire?  

Answered by the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs 
Adam Price (Carmarthen East and Dinefwr): Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the widespread flooding in Carmarthenshire last night, and outline how the Welsh Government intends to provide support and future preventative measures to affected communities?

The item started at 15.35

Sam Rowlands made a statement on World Stroke Day (29 October 2025).

Elin Jones made a statement on Aberystwyth - Unesco City of Literature.

NDM9033 Elin Jones (Ceredigion) 

To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Order 33.2: 

1. Considers the report of the Business Committee ‘Amending Standing Orders: Changes resulting from the Legislation (Procedure, Publication and Repeals) (Wales) Act 2025’ laid in the Table Office on 29 October. 

2. Approves the proposal to amend Standing Orders, as set out in Annex B of the Report of the Business Committee. 

3. Notes that these changes will come into effect on 1 January 2026. 

The item started at 15.38

NDM9033 Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Order 33.2: 

1. Considers the report of the Business Committee ‘Amending Standing Orders: Changes resulting from the Legislation (Procedure, Publication and Repeals) (Wales) Act 2025’ laid in the Table Office on 29 October. 

2. Approves the proposal to amend Standing Orders, as set out in Annex B of the Report of the Business Committee. 

3. Notes that these changes will come into effect on 1 January 2026

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

NDM9032 Elin Jones (Ceredigion) 

To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Order 33.2: 

 1. Considers the report of the Business Committee, ‘Amending Standing Orders: Standing Order 17: voting in a Committee of the Whole Senedd and responsibility for meeting access’, laid in the Table Office on 29 October 2025. 

2. Approves the proposal to amend Standing Order 17, as set out in Annex 2 of the Business Committee’s report. 

The item started at 15.39

NDM9032 Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Order 33.2: 

 1. Considers the report of the Business Committee, ‘Amending Standing Orders: Standing Order 17: voting in a Committee of the Whole Senedd and responsibility for meeting access’, laid in the Table Office on 29 October 2025. 

2. Approves the proposal to amend Standing Order 17, as set out in Annex 2 of the Business Committee’s report.

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

The item started at 15.39

NNDM9037 Elin Jones (Ceredigion) 

To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Order 17.14, elects Sam Rowlands (Welsh Conservatives) in place of Paul Davies (Welsh Conservatives) as a member of the Member Accountability Bill Committee. 

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

NDM8985 Rhys ab Owen (South Wales Central) 

To propose that Senedd: 

1. Notes a proposal for a Bill to ban the use of single use plastic on fresh produce for fruits and vegetables that have been proven to receive no or negligible benefit in elongating shelf life when packaged in plastic. 

2. Notes that the purpose of this Bill would be to: 

a) reduce the amount of unnecessary single use plastic across Welsh supply chains, protecting the environment and human health; 

b) reduce food waste and reduce the burden on household finances by allowing consumers to buy only what they need based on weight. 

3. Notes that the Bill would apply only when purchasing fruit and vegetables in quantities below 1.5kg. 

The item started at 15.40 

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

NDM8985 Rhys ab Owen (South Wales Central)  

To propose that Senedd:  

1. Notes a proposal for a Bill to ban the use of single use plastic on fresh produce for fruits and vegetables that have been proven to receive no or negligible benefit in elongating shelf life when packaged in plastic.  

2. Notes that the purpose of this Bill would be to:  

a) reduce the amount of unnecessary single use plastic across Welsh supply chains, protecting the environment and human health;  

b) reduce food waste and reduce the burden on household finances by allowing consumers to buy only what they need based on weight.  

3. Notes that the Bill would apply only when purchasing fruit and vegetables in quantities below 1.5kg. 

The result was as follows: 

For	Abstain	Against	Total
27	19	7	53

The motion was agreed. 

NDM9034 Delyth Jewell (South Wales East)  

To propose that the Senedd: 

Notes the cross-committee report of the Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee; the Climate Change, Environment and Infrastructure Committee; the Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee; and the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee: ‘UK-EU implementation review of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement’ which was laid in the Table Office on 10 September 2025. 

Note: The response of the Welsh Government to the report was laid in the Table Office on 29 October 2025. 

The item started at 16.10

NDM9034 Delyth Jewell (South Wales East) 

To propose that the Senedd: 

Notes the cross-committee report of the Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee; the Climate Change, Environment and Infrastructure Committee; the Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee; and the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee: ‘UK-EU implementation review of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement’ which was laid in the Table Office on 10 September 2025. 

Note: The response of the Welsh Government to the report was laid in the Table Office on 29 October 2025.

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

 

NDM9031 Heledd Fychan (South Wales Central)  

To propose that the Senedd: 

1. Notes the programme to establish a national care service for Wales, initiated by Plaid Cymru as part of the co-operation agreement.  

2. Regrets that progress on this programme of work has been protracted under the Welsh Labour Government’s direction.   

3. Calls on the Welsh Government to accelerate progress on reforming the social care system by: 

a) appointing a pan-Wales director with strategic oversight of out-of-hospital care arrangements; 

b) developing pooled budgets for out-of-hospital care arrangements; 

c) placing regional partnership boards on a statutory footing with a clear remit to foster greater collaboration between health boards and local authorities; 

d) ensuring that all unpaid carers receive a needs assessment within a 28-day period; and 

e) incorporating within Welsh law a legal minimum annual allocation of respite days for unpaid carers. 

The following amendments were tabled:  

Amendment 1 Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)   

Delete all and replace with: 

1. Regrets: 

a) that the Co-operation Agreement between Labour and Plaid Cymru to establish a national care service has failed to deliver meaningful change in the social care sector; 

b) the UK Labour Government’s increased tax burden placed upon employers, through national insurance rises, are threatening the viability of many care providers; 

c) the failure of the Welsh Government to support the development of a sufficient workforce for the social care sector, including adequate access to training, and the retention of social care workers in Wales; 

d) the alarming and unacceptable gap between policy and practice on assessments for carers and the provision of support; and 

e) the continued problems with accessing care packages resulting in delays in hospital discharges. 

2. Calls on the Welsh Government to: 

a) introduce a statutory right to respite, with a minimum of 14 days per annum for unpaid carers; and 

b) develop and publish in the public domain, meaningful key performance indicators to support improvements in social care, including on access to assessments, the timely provision of support, access to respite, and the development of the social care workforce.   

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

Amendment 2 Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)   
Delete all and replace with:  

To propose that the Senedd:  

1. Notes the programme to establish a national care service for Wales, a joint co-operation agreement commitment between Welsh Government and Plaid Cymru.  

2. Acknowledges progress made on the Stage 1 programme of work in partnership, including:  

a) establishing a National Office for Care and Support to provide strong national leadership working alongside the Chief Social Care Officer for Wales post; 

b) establishing the national principles and standards to guide the transformation of person-centred commissioning of care and support services; 

c) legislating on the removal of profit from the care of children and extending the option of direct payments to people receiving continuing healthcare; and 

d) establishing the Social Care Workforce Partnership and their work to develop a pay and progression framework. 

3.   Welcomes the work of the Welsh Government to:  

a) co-produce a blueprint for an Integrated Community Care System for Wales; 

b) strengthen national and regional governance to lead and support a more joined up health and social care system in Wales; 

c) invest £278m a year through Regional Partnership Boards to build capacity for integrated community care as well as investing £30m in pathways of care, as a result of the budget deal with the Welsh Liberal Democrats; 

d) strengthen legislation and guidance in relation to integration and partnership working, including joint commissioning and pooling of resources; 

e) drive the delivery of the unpaid carers strategy including the short-break respite scheme to help cares in their vital activities; 

f) establish the Social Care Workforce Forum and continue funding the paying of the Real Living Wage for our valuable workforce; and 

g) maintaining the most generous charging regime in the UK with a capital limit of £50,000 for residential care and a weekly cap of £100 for domiciliary care. 

The item started at 17.08 

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

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment: 

NDM9031 Heledd Fychan (South Wales Central) 

To propose that the Senedd:  

1. Notes the programme to establish a national care service for Wales, initiated by Plaid Cymru as part of the co-operation agreement.   

2. Regrets that progress on this programme of work has been protracted under the Welsh Labour Government’s direction.    

3. Calls on the Welsh Government to accelerate progress on reforming the social care system by:  

a) appointing a pan-Wales director with strategic oversight of out-of-hospital care arrangements;  

b) developing pooled budgets for out-of-hospital care arrangements;  

c) placing regional partnership boards on a statutory footing with a clear remit to foster greater collaboration between health boards and local authorities;  

d) ensuring that all unpaid carers receive a needs assessment within a 28-day period; and  

e) incorporating within Welsh law a legal minimum annual allocation of respite days for unpaid carers. 

For	Abstain	Against	Total
12	1	40	53

The motion without amendment was not agreed. 

The following amendments were tabled: 

Amendment 1 Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)    

Delete all and replace with:  

1. Regrets:  

a) that the Co-operation Agreement between Labour and Plaid Cymru to establish a national care service has failed to deliver meaningful change in the social care sector;  

b) the UK Labour Government’s increased tax burden placed upon employers, through national insurance rises, are threatening the viability of many care providers;  

c) the failure of the Welsh Government to support the development of a sufficient workforce for the social care sector, including adequate access to training, and the retention of social care workers in Wales;  

d) the alarming and unacceptable gap between policy and practice on assessments for carers and the provision of support; and  

e) the continued problems with accessing care packages resulting in delays in hospital discharges.  

2. Calls on the Welsh Government to:  

a) introduce a statutory right to respite, with a minimum of 14 days per annum for unpaid carers; and  

b) develop and publish in the public domain, meaningful key performance indicators to support improvements in social care, including on access to assessments, the timely provision of support, access to respite, and the development of the social care workforce. 

A vote was taken on amendment 1: 

For	Abstain	Against	Total
16	0	37	53

Amendment 1 was not agreed. 

Amendment 2 Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)    
Delete all and replace with:   

To propose that the Senedd:   

1. Notes the programme to establish a national care service for Wales, a joint co-operation agreement commitment between Welsh Government and Plaid Cymru.   

2. Acknowledges progress made on the Stage 1 programme of work in partnership, including:   

a) establishing a National Office for Care and Support to provide strong national leadership working alongside the Chief Social Care Officer for Wales post;  

b) establishing the national principles and standards to guide the transformation of person-centred commissioning of care and support services;  

c) legislating on the removal of profit from the care of children and extending the option of direct payments to people receiving continuing healthcare; and  

d) establishing the Social Care Workforce Partnership and their work to develop a pay and progression framework.  

3. Welcomes the work of the Welsh Government to:   

a) co-produce a blueprint for an Integrated Community Care System for Wales;  

b) strengthen national and regional governance to lead and support a more joined up health and social care system in Wales;  

c) invest £278m a year through Regional Partnership Boards to build capacity for integrated community care as well as investing £30m in pathways of care, as a result of the budget deal with the Welsh Liberal Democrats;  

d) strengthen legislation and guidance in relation to integration and partnership working, including joint commissioning and pooling of resources;  

e) drive the delivery of the unpaid carers strategy including the short-break respite scheme to help cares in their vital activities;  

f) establish the Social Care Workforce Forum and continue funding the paying of the Real Living Wage for our valuable workforce; and  

g) maintaining the most generous charging regime in the UK with a capital limit of £50,000 for residential care and a weekly cap of £100 for domiciliary care. 

A vote was taken on amendment 2: 

For	Abstain	Against	Total
26	0	27	53

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. 

No topic tabled

 

No topic tabled