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 14.20

Questions 1 to 6 and 8 to 9 were asked. Question 7 was not asked. The Presiding Officer invited party spokespeople to ask questions to the Cabinet Secretary after question 2.

View Questions

The item started at 15.05

The 2 questions were asked.

No Topical Questions have been accepted.

No Topical Questions have been accepted.

The item started at 15.11

Mike Hedges made a statement on 150th anniversary of Morriston Tabernacle choir (2026).

Luke Fletcher made a statement on Apprenticeship Week (9-15 February 2026).

NDM9024  Sioned Williams (South Wales West) 

To propose that the Senedd: 

1. Notes a proposal for a Human Rights (Wales) Bill. 

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

a) make select international human rights part of Welsh law so that they are binding on Welsh Ministers and public authorities in the exercise of devolved functions and may be enforced by a court or tribunal; 

b) make it easier for people in Wales to understand and claim their rights, providing clearer routes to access justice when their rights are not upheld by public bodies; and  

c) improve monitoring and accountability, ensuring that public bodies and other institutions can be held to account when they fail to uphold these human rights. 

The item started at 15.16

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

NDM9024  Sioned Williams (South Wales West) 

To propose that the Senedd: 

1. Notes a proposal for a Human Rights (Wales) Bill. 

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

a) make select international human rights part of Welsh law so that they are binding on Welsh Ministers and public authorities in the exercise of devolved functions and may be enforced by a court or tribunal; 

b) make it easier for people in Wales to understand and claim their rights, providing clearer routes to access justice when their rights are not upheld by public bodies; and  

c) improve monitoring and accountability, ensuring that public bodies and other institutions can be held to account when they fail to uphold these human rights. 

The result was as follows:

The motion was agreed.

NDM9149 Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire) 

To propose that the Senedd: 

Calls on the UK Government to restrict access to social media for children under 16.  

The following amendment was tabled:  

Amendment 1 Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan) 

Delete all and replace with: 

To propose that the Senedd: 

1.  Welcomes the UK Government’s forthcoming consultation on access to social media for children under 16, and recognises the need for: 

a) ongoing collaboration between the UK and Welsh Governments in tackling these issues and the harm to children and young people; 

b) evidence-based decisions that ensure social media is also safer for young people over 16 and adults; 

c) social media companies to be held responsible for the harmful content on their sites, with existing legislation enforced and strengthened; and 

d) a diverse range of children and young people to be engaged in the debate and their perspectives taken into account 

The item started at 15.38

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

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM9149 Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire) 

To propose that the Senedd: 

Calls on the UK Government to restrict access to social media for children under 16. 

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.  Welcomes the UK Government’s forthcoming consultation on access to social media for children under 16, and recognises the need for: 

a) ongoing collaboration between the UK and Welsh Governments in tackling these issues and the harm to children and young people; 

b) evidence-based decisions that ensure social media is also safer for young people over 16 and adults; 

c) social media companies to be held responsible for the harmful content on their sites, with existing legislation enforced and strengthened; and 

d) a diverse range of children and young people to be engaged in the debate and their perspectives taken into account

A vote was taken on amendment 1:

Amendment 1 was agreed.

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

To propose that the Senedd:

1.  Welcomes the UK Government’s forthcoming consultation on access to social media for children under 16, and recognises the need for:

a) ongoing collaboration between the UK and Welsh Governments in tackling these issues and the harm to children and young people;

b) evidence-based decisions that ensure social media is also safer for young people over 16 and adults;

c) social media companies to be held responsible for the harmful content on their sites, with existing legislation enforced and strengthened; and

d) a diverse range of children and young people to be engaged in the debate and their perspectives taken into account

The motion as amended was agreed.

NDM9148  Heledd Fychan (South Wales Central) 

To propose that the Senedd: 

1. Notes: 

a) the recommendations of the Thomas Commission and the Independent Commission on the Constitutional Future that policing and justice should be devolved to Wales; and 

b)  that the Welsh Government's budget for 2026-27 has allocated over £100 million in spending for policing despite it not being a devolved area of responsibility. 

2. Regrets: 

a) the failure of Labour’s partnership in power to advance the cause of devolution in this area; and 

b) that the police precept element of council tax has increased substantially in recent years due to cuts in UK central funding. 

3. Believes the UK Government’s White Paper on police reforms represents a critical opportunity to devolve policing and justice powers in full, to better align services for the benefit of the people of Wales, in line with arrangements already in place in Scotland and Northern Ireland. 
4. Calls on the UK Government to include a commitment to devolve policing and justice powers in full to Wales in the White Paper. 
White Paper: From local to national: a new model for policing 
Commission on Justice in Wales (Thomas Commission) report 
Independent Commission on the Constitutional Future of Wales: final report  

The following amendment was tabled:  

Amendment 1 Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan) 

Delete all after 1 b) and replace with: 

the positive impact of £100m of Welsh Government funding on community safety, crime prevention and supporting victims of crime; 

the constructive approach of the Police Reform White Paper in engaging with the unique Welsh landscape, and the commitments to work with Welsh partners to develop models of governance for Wales. 

Welcomes: 

a)  the Welsh Government’s commitment to continue advocating for the devolution of policing and justice; and 

b)  the Welsh Government’s plans for working with partner organisations to identify the best possible future governance arrangements for policing in Wales, and the principles underlying that work, as set out in a Written Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip on 27 January 2026. 

The item started at 16.33

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

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM9148  Heledd Fychan (South Wales Central) 

To propose that the Senedd: 

1. Notes: 

a) the recommendations of the Thomas Commission and the Independent Commission on the Constitutional Future that policing and justice should be devolved to Wales; and 

b)  that the Welsh Government's budget for 2026-27 has allocated over £100 million in spending for policing despite it not being a devolved area of responsibility. 

2. Regrets: 

a) the failure of Labour’s partnership in power to advance the cause of devolution in this area; and 

b) that the police precept element of council tax has increased substantially in recent years due to cuts in UK central funding. 

3. Believes the UK Government’s White Paper on police reforms represents a critical opportunity to devolve policing and justice powers in full, to better align services for the benefit of the people of Wales, in line with arrangements already in place in Scotland and Northern Ireland. 
4. Calls on the UK Government to include a commitment to devolve policing and justice powers in full to Wales in the White Paper. 

The motion without amendment was not agreed.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan) 

Delete all after 1 b) and replace with: 

the positive impact of £100m of Welsh Government funding on community safety, crime prevention and supporting victims of crime; 

the constructive approach of the Police Reform White Paper in engaging with the unique Welsh landscape, and the commitments to work with Welsh partners to develop models of governance for Wales. 

Welcomes: 

a)  the Welsh Government’s commitment to continue advocating for the devolution of policing and justice; and 

b)  the Welsh Government’s plans for working with partner organisations to identify the best possible future governance arrangements for policing in Wales, and the principles underlying that work, as set out in a Written Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip on 27 January 2026. 

A vote was taken on amendment 1:

Amendment 1 was agreed.

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes:

a) the recommendations of the Thomas Commission and the Independent Commission on the Constitutional Future that policing and justice should be devolved to Wales; and

b)  that the Welsh Government's budget for 2026-27 has allocated over £100 million in spending for policing despite it not being a devolved area of responsibility. 

c) the positive impact of £100m of Welsh Government funding on community safety, crime prevention and supporting victims of crime;

d) the constructive approach of the Police Reform White Paper in engaging with the unique Welsh landscape, and the commitments to work with Welsh partners to develop models of governance for Wales.

Welcomes:

a)  the Welsh Government’s commitment to continue advocating for the devolution of policing and justice; and

b)  the Welsh Government’s plans for working with partner organisations to identify the best possible future governance arrangements for policing in Wales, and the principles underlying that work, as set out in a Written Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip on 27 January 2026.

The motion as amended was agreed.

NDM9136 Adam Price (Carmarthen East and Dinefwr) 

To propose that the Senedd: 

In accordance with Standing Order 26C.40, considers amendments to the Planning (Wales) Bill and Planning (Consequential Provisions) (Wales) Bill at Detailed Senedd Consideration.  

Supporting documents:

Planning (Wales) Bill and Planning (Consequential Provisions) (Wales) Bill: Outcome of Detailed Committee Consideration – January 2026
Letter from the Counsel General and Minister for Delivery to Adam Price MS, 27 January 2026
Letter from the Counsel General and Minister for Delivery to Adam Price MS, 3 February 2026

The item started at 17.47

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

NDM9136 Adam Price (Carmarthen East and Dinefwr) 

To propose that the Senedd: 

In accordance with Standing Order 26C.40, considers amendments to the Planning (Wales) Bill and Planning (Consequential Provisions) (Wales) Bill at Detailed Senedd Consideration. 

The result was as follows:

The motion was not agreed.

The item started at 18.05

NDM9147 Llyr Gruffydd (North Wales) 

Last orders or a new beginning for the local pub? 

The item started at 18.11

NDM9147 Llyr Gruffydd (North Wales) 

Last orders or a new beginning for the local pub?

NDM9146 Julie Morgan (Cardiff North) 

Childhoods in care: transforming care for children and young people in Wales. 

The item started at 18.42

NDM9146 Julie Morgan (Cardiff North) 

Childhoods in care: transforming care for children and young people in Wales.