Agenda and minutes

This meeting will be 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 leaders to ask questions without notice to the First Minister after Question 2.

 

View Questions

The item started at 13.30

The first 8 questions were asked. The Presiding Officer invited party leaders to ask questions to the First Minister after question 2.

View Business Statement and Announcement

The item started at 14.21

The item started at 14.59

NDM9141 Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

 

To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Order 27.5, approves that the draft The Non-Domestic Rating (Value of Differential Multipliers) (Wales) Regulations 2026 is made in accordance with the draft laid in the Table Office on 20 January 2026.

 

Supporting documents:

Report of the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee

 

The item started at 15.31

NDM9141 Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Order 27.5, approves that the draft The Non-Domestic Rating (Value of Differential Multipliers) (Wales) Regulations 2026 is made in accordance with the draft laid in the Table Office on 20 January 2026.

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

NDM9142 Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

 

To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Order 27.5, approves that the draft The Non-Domestic Rating (Artificial Avoidance Arrangements) (Local Lists) (Wales) Regulations 2026 is made in accordance with the draft laid in the Table Office on 20 January 2026.

 

Supporting documents:

Report of the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee

 

The item started at 15.37

NDM9142 Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Order 27.5, approves that the draft The Non-Domestic Rating (Artificial Avoidance Arrangements) (Local Lists) (Wales) Regulations 2026 is made in accordance with the draft laid in the Table Office on 20 January 2026.

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

NDM9140 Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

 

To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Order 27.5, approves that the draft The Land Transaction Tax and Anti-avoidance of Devolved Taxes (Wales) Act 2017 (Amendments to Schedule 5) Regulations 2026 is made in accordance with the draft laid in the Table Office on 20 January 2026.

 

Supporting documents:

Report of the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee

 

The item started at 15.42

NDM9140 Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Order 27.5, approves that the draft The Land Transaction Tax and Anti-avoidance of Devolved Taxes (Wales) Act 2017 (Amendments to Schedule 5) Regulations 2026 is made in accordance with the draft laid in the Table Office on 20 January 2026.

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

NDM9145 Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

 

To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Order 27.5, approves that the draft The Land Transaction Tax (Modification of Relief for Acquisitions Involving Multiple Dwellings) (Wales) Regulations 2026 is made in accordance with the draft laid in the Table Office on 20 January 2026.

 

Supporting documents:

Report of the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee

 

 

 

The item started at 15.46

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

NDM9145 Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Order 27.5, approves that the draft The Land Transaction Tax (Modification of Relief for Acquisitions Involving Multiple Dwellings) (Wales) Regulations 2026 is made in accordance with the draft laid in the Table Office on 20 January 2026.

The result was as follows:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
36	1	10	47

The motion was agreed.

 

NDM9144 Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

 

To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Order 27.5, approves that the draft The Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme (Amendment) (Extension to Maritime Activities) Order 2026 is made in accordance with the draft laid in the Table Office on 13 January 2026.

 

Supporting documents:

Report of the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee

 

The item started at 15.52

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

NDM9144 Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Order 27.5, approves that the draft The Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme (Amendment) (Extension to Maritime Activities) Order 2026 is made in accordance with the draft laid in the Table Office on 13 January 2026.

The result was as follows:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
36	0	11	47

The motion was agreed.

 

NDM9143 Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

 

To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Order 27.5, approves that the draft The Closure of European Union Legacy Agriculture Schemes (Wales) Regulations 2026 is made in accordance with the draft laid in the Table Office on 20 January 2026.

 

Supporting documents:

Report of the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee

 

The item started at 16.02

NDM9143 Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Order 27.5, approves that the draft The Closure of European Union Legacy Agriculture Schemes (Wales) Regulations 2026 is made in accordance with the draft laid in the Table Office on 20 January 2026.

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

NDM9139 Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

 

To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Order 27.5, approves that the draft The Renting Homes (Model Written Statements of Contract) (Wales) (Amendments etc.) Regulations 2026 is made in accordance with the draft laid in the Table Office on 20 January 2026.

 

Supporting documents:

Report of the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee

 

The item started at 16.09

NDM9139 Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Order 27.5, approves that the draft The Renting Homes (Model Written Statements of Contract) (Wales) (Amendments etc.) Regulations 2026 is made in accordance with the draft laid in the Table Office on 20 January 2026.

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

NDM9138 Jeremy Miles (Neath)

 

To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Order 29.6 agrees that provisions in the Medical Training (Prioritisation) Bill in so far as they have regard to devolved matters, should be considered by the UK Parliament.

A Legislative Consent Memorandum was laid in Table Office on 28 January 2026, in accordance with Standing Order 29.2

A copy of the Bill can be found on the UK Parliament website: https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/4062/publications

 

Supporting documents:

Report of the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee

 

The item started at 16.11

NDM9138 Jeremy Miles (Neath)

To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Order 29.6 agrees that provisions in the Medical Training (Prioritisation) Bill in so far as they have regard to devolved matters, should be considered by the UK Parliament.

A Legislative Consent Memorandum was laid in Table Office on 28 January 2026, in accordance with Standing Order 29.2

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

NDM9137 Julie James (Swansea West)

 

To propose that Senedd Cymru, for the purposes of any provisions resulting from the Senedd Cymru (Member Accountability and Elections) Bill, agrees to any increase in expenditure of a kind referred to in Standing Order 26.69, arising in consequence of the Bill.

 

The item started at 16.27

NDM9137 Julie James (Swansea West)

To propose that Senedd Cymru, for the purposes of any provisions resulting from the Senedd Cymru (Member Accountability and Elections) Bill, agrees to any increase in expenditure of a kind referred to in Standing Order 26.69, arising in consequence of the Bill.

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

NDM9150 Jayne Bryant (Newport West)

 

To propose that the Senedd in accordance with Standing Order 26.47:
 
Approves the Homelessness and Social Housing Allocation (Wales) Bill.

Homelessness and Social Housing Allocation (Wales) Bill, as amended at Stage 3

 

The item started at 16.30

In accordance with Standing Order 26.50C, voting on the motion under this item was deferred until Voting Time.

NDM9150 Jayne Bryant (Newport West)

To propose that the Senedd in accordance with Standing Order 26.47:
 
Approves the Homelessness and Social Housing Allocation (Wales) Bill.

Homelessness and Social Housing Allocation (Wales) Bill, as amended at Stage 3

The result was as follows:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
47	0	0	47

The motion was agreed.

 

The item started at 16.46

In accordance with Standing Order 12.18, at 16.48 the Presiding Officer suspended the meeting to allow a break before the next item. The bell was rung at 16.53. 

 

The amendments will be disposed of in the order which the sections and schedules to which they relate were set out in the motion under Standing Order 26.36 agreed by the Senedd on 3 February 2026.

 

The amendments have been grouped for the purposes of debate and the groupings will be debated as follows:

 

1. Environmental principles and integrating environmental protection

9, 10, 11, 12, 13

 

2. Environmental protection and improvement report

53

 

3. Office of Environmental Governance Wales: establishment and related matters

33, 25, 46, 26, 32, 8, 48

 

4. Office of Environmental Governance Wales: general purpose

36, 1, 47, 7

 

5. Office of Environmental Governance Wales: strategy

27, 34, 28, 29, 30

 

6. Office of Environmental Governance Wales: monitoring and reporting

37

 

7. Office of Environmental Governance: representations and investigations

38, 39, 2, 3

 

8. Biodiversity targets: targets under new section 6B of the Environment (Wales) Act 2016

40, 4, 5A, 5, 54, 6, 31, 42, 43, 45

 

9. Biodiversity targets: setting and reviewing targets

14, 41, 15, 16, 17, 35, 18, 19, 20, 21

 

10. Welsh Ministers’ plans and reports under section 6 of the Environment (Wales) Act 2016

49, 44, 22, 50, 23, 51

 

11. Meaning of “public authority”

52

 

Supporting documents:

Environment (Principles, Governance and Biodiversity Targets (Wales) Bill (as amended at Stage 2)

Revised Explanatory Memorandum and Regulatory Impact Assessment - 3 February 2026

Marshalled list of amendments

Groupings of amendments

 

 

The item started at 17.00

A vote was taken on amendment 9:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
11	0	37	48

Amendment 9 was not agreed.

A vote was taken on amendment 10:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
10	0	38	48

Amendment 10 was not agreed.

A vote was taken on amendment 11:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
11	0	37	48

Amendment 11 was not agreed.

A vote was taken on amendment 12:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
10	0	38	48

Amendment 12 was not agreed.

A vote was taken on amendment 13:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
10	0	38	48

Amendment 13 was not agreed.

Amendment 53 was withdrawn in accordance with Standing Order 12.27.

Amendment 33 was agreed, in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

A vote was taken on amendment 25:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
24	0	25	49

As required by Standing Order 6.20 the Presiding Officer exercised her casting vote by voting against the amendment. Therefore, amendment 25 was not agreed.

Amendment 46 was not moved.

A vote was taken on amendment 26:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
13	0	35	48

Amendment 26 was not agreed.

A vote was taken on amendment 32:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
36	0	12	48

Amendment 32 was agreed.

Amendment 8 was not moved.

Amendment 36 was agreed, in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

A vote was taken on amendment 1:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
2	11	35	48

Amendment 1 was not agreed. As amendment 1 was not agreed, amendment 7 fell.

A vote was taken on amendment 47:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
46	0	2	48

Amendment 47 was agreed.

Amendment 27 was withdrawn in accordance with Standing Order 12.27.

A vote was taken on amendment 34:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
46	0	2	48

Amendment 34 was agreed.

Amendment 28 was not moved.

Amendment 29 was not moved.

Amendment 30 was not moved.

Amendment 37 was withdrawn in accordance with Standing Order 12.27.

A vote was taken on amendment 38:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
46	0	2	48

Amendment 38 was agreed.

A vote was taken on amendment 39:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
46	0	2	48

Amendment 39 was agreed.

Amendment 2 was not moved.

Amendment 3 was not moved.

A vote was taken on amendment 40:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
46	0	2	48

Amendment 40 was agreed.

A vote was taken on amendment 4:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
12	13	23	48

Amendment 4 was not agreed.

A vote was taken on amendment 5A:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
10	11	27	48

Amendment 5A was not agreed.

A vote was taken on amendment 5:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
12	11	25	48

Amendment 5 was not agreed.

Amendment 54 was not moved.

A vote was taken on amendment 6:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
12	13	23	48

Amendment 6 was not agreed.

A vote was taken on amendment 31:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
3	11	34	48

Amendment 31 was not agreed.

A vote was taken on amendment 14:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
12	0	36	48

Amendment 14 was not agreed.

A vote was taken on amendment 41:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
23	0	25	48

Amendment 41 was not agreed.

A vote was taken on amendment 15:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
22	0	26	48

Amendment 15 was not agreed.

A vote was taken on amendment 16:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
12	0	36	48

Amendment 16 was not agreed.

A vote was taken on amendment 17:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
10	0	38	48

Amendment 17 was not agreed.

Amendment 35 was agreed, in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

A vote was taken on amendment 42:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
46	0	2	48

Amendment 42 was agreed.

A vote was taken on amendment 18:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
10	0	38	48

Amendment 18 was not agreed.

A vote was taken on amendment 19:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
10	0	38	48

Amendment 19 was not agreed.

A vote was taken on amendment 43:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
45	0	3	48

Amendment 43 was agreed.

A vote was taken on amendment 20:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
12	0	36	48

Amendment 20 was not agreed.

A vote was taken on amendment 21:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
21	0	27	48

Amendment 21 was not agreed.

A vote was taken on amendment 49:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
46	0	2	48

Amendment 49 was agreed.

A vote was taken on amendment 44:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
26	0	22	48

Amendment 44 was agreed.

A vote was taken on amendment 45:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
45	0	3	48

Amendment 45 was agreed.

A vote was taken on amendment 22:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
12	0	36	48

Amendment 22 was not agreed.

A vote was taken on amendment 50:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
45	0	3	48

Amendment 50 was agreed.

A vote was taken on amendment 23:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
12	0	36	48

Amendment 23 was not agreed.

A vote was taken on amendment 51:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
46	0	2	48

Amendment 51 was agreed.

A vote was taken on amendment 52:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
23	0	25	48

Amendment 52 was not agreed.

Amendment 48 was not moved.

All sections and schedules of the Bill were deemed agreed, concluding Stage 3 proceedings.