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

Questions 1 to 4 and 6 to 9 were asked. Question 5 was withdrawn. 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

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

No Topical Questions have been accepted

No Topical Questions have been accepted

The item started at 15.22

Alun Davies made a statement on The Open University - 60th anniversary of the publication of the white paper, A University of the Air (February).

Llyr Gruffydd made a statement on Welsh Football Association's 150th anniversary (2 February).

Elin Jones made a statement on congratulating Merched y Môr on rowing across the Atlantic. 

NDM9134 Buffy Williams (Rhondda) 

To propose that the Senedd: 

Notes the report of the Children, Young People and Education Committee ‘Routes into post-16 education and training’ which was laid in the Table Office on 12 November 2025. 

Note: Responses from the Welsh Government and Medr to the report were laid in the Table Office on 28 January 2026.

The item started at 15.28

NDM9134 Buffy Williams (Rhondda)  

To propose that the Senedd:  

Notes the report of the Children, Young People and Education Committee ‘Routes into post-16 education and training’ which was laid in the Table Office on 12 November 2025.  

Note: The response from the Welsh Government to the report was laid in the Table Office on 28 January 2026.  Medr responded to the Committee on 27 January 2026. 

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36. 

 

NDM9133 Andrew R.T. Davies (South Wales Central) 

To propose that the Senedd: 

Notes the report of the Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee ‘Digging the dirt: Improving Wales’ soil health’, which was laid in the Table Office on 18 November 2025, and on which the Welsh Government laid its response on 28 January 2026.

The item started at 16.18

NDM9133 Andrew R.T. Davies (South Wales Central) 

To propose that the Senedd: 

Notes the report of the Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee ‘Digging the dirt: Improving Wales’ soil health’, which was laid in the Table Office on 18 November 2025, and on which the Welsh Government laid its response on 28 January 2026.

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

NDM9135 Heledd Fychan (South Wales Central) 

To propose that the Senedd: 

1. Notes that: 

a) this month marks three years since Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board was returned to special measures: and  

b) all other major health boards in Wales are currently in some form of targeted intervention. 

2. Regrets that: 

a) Betsi Cadwaladr has spent over two‑thirds of its existence in special measures — longer than any other health board in NHS history; and 

b) people in the north of Wales continue to face failing standards, excessive waits for treatment and long‑standing organisational dysfunction under the Welsh Labour Government. 

3. Calls on the Welsh Government to: 

a) strengthen its political leadership to drive up standards and hold the health board to account; 

b) implement the recommendations of Plaid Cymru’s report The Welsh Health System: Accountability, Performance and Culture to reform NHS governance; 

c) publish the findings of the recent independent investigation into gaps in Betsi Cadwaladr’s waiting list data; and 

d) accelerate the establishment of fully-staffed surgical hubs within Betsi Cadwaladr. 

Plaid Cymru Report: The Welsh Health System: Accountability, Performance and Culture 

The following amendments were tabled:  

Amendment 1 Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan) 

Delete all and replace with: 

To propose that the Senedd: 

1. Notes that: 

a) progress has been made in leadership, corporate governance, quality and safety, financial management, and patient and stakeholder engagement since Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board was returned to special measures in 2023; and 

b) progress is being made by all health boards in escalation. 

2. Acknowledges that the Welsh Government will publish the findings of the recent independent investigation into gaps in Betsi Cadwaladr’s waiting list data, and the latest special measures progress report, in March. 

3. Supports the health and social care workforce as they continue to work under pressure to meet the needs of patients. 

If amendment 1 is agreed, amendments 2 and 3 will be de-selected.  

Amendment 2 Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire) 

Delete point 3 and replace with: 

Calls on the Welsh Government to: 

a) accept responsibility for the failings at the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board and apologise for failing to address the shortcomings in healthcare in north Wales; 

b) declare a health emergency; 

c) surge bed capacity to ensure patient safety and improve access to emergency care; 

d) urgently establish surgical hubs to help clear the waiting time backlog; 

e) protect and enhance the community hospital network in north Wales, including the delivery of the north Denbighshire community hospital, and more minor injuries units; and 

f) initiate an independent inquiry into failings at the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board to learn lessons, hold people to account for failures, and ensure that significant improvement can be achieved and maintained. 

If amendment 2 is agreed, amendment 3 will be de-selected.  

Amendment 3 James Evans (Brecon and Radnorshire) 

In point 3, delete sub-point (b) and replace with: 

undertake a comprehensive review of governance, leadership, and accountability arrangements across all NHS organisations in Wales, with a view to strengthening oversight, improving performance, and ensuring consistent standards of care for patients. 

The item started at 16.54

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

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM9135 Heledd Fychan (South Wales Central) 

To propose that the Senedd: 

1. Notes that: 

a) this month marks three years since Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board was returned to special measures: and  

b) all other major health boards in Wales are currently in some form of targeted intervention. 

2. Regrets that: 

a) Betsi Cadwaladr has spent over two‑thirds of its existence in special measures — longer than any other health board in NHS history; and 

b) people in the north of Wales continue to face failing standards, excessive waits for treatment and long‑standing organisational dysfunction under the Welsh Labour Government. 

3. Calls on the Welsh Government to: 

a) strengthen its political leadership to drive up standards and hold the health board to account; 

b) implement the recommendations of Plaid Cymru’s report The Welsh Health System: Accountability, Performance and Culture to reform NHS governance; 

c) publish the findings of the recent independent investigation into gaps in Betsi Cadwaladr’s waiting list data; and 

d) accelerate the establishment of fully-staffed surgical hubs within Betsi Cadwaladr. 

For	Abstain	Against	Total
11	0	34	45

The motion without amendment was agreed/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. Notes that: 

a) progress has been made in leadership, corporate governance, quality and safety, financial management, and patient and stakeholder engagement since Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board was returned to special measures in 2023; and 

b) progress is being made by all health boards in escalation. 

2. Acknowledges that the Welsh Government will publish the findings of the recent independent investigation into gaps in Betsi Cadwaladr’s waiting list data, and the latest special measures progress report, in March. 

3. Supports the health and social care workforce as they continue to work under pressure to meet the needs of patients. 

A vote was taken on amendment 1:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
22	0	23	45

Amendment 1 was not agreed.  

Amendment 2 Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire) 

Delete point 3 and replace with: 

Calls on the Welsh Government to: 

a) accept responsibility for the failings at the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board and apologise for failing to address the shortcomings in healthcare in north Wales; 

b) declare a health emergency; 

c) surge bed capacity to ensure patient safety and improve access to emergency care; 

d) urgently establish surgical hubs to help clear the waiting time backlog; 

e) protect and enhance the community hospital network in north Wales, including the delivery of the north Denbighshire community hospital, and more minor injuries units; and 

f) initiate an independent inquiry into failings at the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board to learn lessons, hold people to account for failures, and ensure that significant improvement can be achieved and maintained.

A vote was taken on amendment 2:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
10	2	33	45

Amendment 2 was not agreed.

Amendment 3 James Evans (Brecon and Radnorshire) 

In point 3, delete sub-point (b) and replace with: 

undertake a comprehensive review of governance, leadership, and accountability arrangements across all NHS organisations in Wales, with a view to strengthening oversight, improving performance, and ensuring consistent standards of care for patients. 

A vote was taken on amendment 3:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
13	0	32	45

Amendment 3 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. 

At 17.50 Carolyn Thomas raised a point of order to address a comment made by Gareth Davies during this item.

 

The item started at 17.51

Postponed until 11 February

Postponed until 11 February.