Agenda and minutes

This meeting was held in a hybrid format, with some Members in the Senedd Chamber and others joining by video-conference.

At 13.30, the Llywydd made a statement about the tone of recent debate on the 20mph regulations that came into force on 17 September. She stated that all Members have a duty to ensure that the Senedd establishes a measured, dignified and respectful tone for public debate in Wales.

The Presiding Officer will call party spokespeople to ask questions without notice to the Minister after Question 2.

View Questions

The item started at 13.31

Question 1, 2 and 4-9 were asked. Question 3 was withdrawn. Question 1 was answered by the Deputy Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism. The Presiding Officer invited party spokespeople to ask questions to the Minister and the Deputy Minister after question 2.

The Presiding Officer will call party spokespeople to ask questions without notice to the Minister after Question 2.

View Questions

The item started at 14.21

The first 8 questions were asked. The Presiding Officer invited party spokespeople to ask questions to the Minister and Deputy Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing after question 2.

To ask the Deputy Minister for Social Partnership

Altaf Hussain (South Wales West): Will the Minister make a statement on the closure of Chwarae Teg?

The item started at 15.18

Answered by the Deputy Minister for Social Partnership

Altaf Hussain (South Wales West): Will the Minister make a statement on the closure of Chwarae Teg?

The item started at 15.27

John Griffiths made a statement on - Adult Learners’ Week (18-24 September).

Jayne Bryant made a statement on - 20 years of Kaleidoscope in Wales, a charity that offers a safe space for drug users to learn and recover

Sioned Williams made a statement on - Gynaecological Cancer Awareness Month (September)

NDM8354 Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

To propose that the Senedd:

Notes the Annual Report on the Senedd Commission's Official Languages Scheme for the period 2022-23, in accordance with paragraph 8(8) of Schedule 2 of the Government of Wales Act 2006, laid before the Senedd on 29 June 2023.

The item started at 15.33

NDM8354 Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

To propose that the Senedd:

Notes the Annual Report on the Senedd Commission's Official Languages Scheme for the period 2022-23, in accordance with paragraph 8(8) of Schedule 2 of the Government of Wales Act 2006, laid before the Senedd on 29 June 2023.

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

NDM8355 Heledd Fychan (South Wales Central)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes that the outcome of the latest UK auction for offshore wind means there will be no new offshore wind farms developed in Wales for the foreseeable future.

2. Notes that the independent UK-wide Climate Change Committee’s latest report on the progress of the Welsh Government’s decarbonisation agenda concludes that Wales is currently not on track to meet its Net Zero goals by 2050.

3. Notes that a UN report on the Paris Agreement stresses the need for fossil fuel emissions to peak by no later than 2025 to ensure that global warming is limited to 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels.

4. Believes that Wales has the potential to be a powerhouse for clean and renewable energy.

5. Believes that this potential is currently being squandered as a result of the policy approaches of the UK and Welsh Governments.

6. Calls on the Welsh Government to develop a new green industrial strategy for Wales to realise its economic potential in green energy and to ensure that progress towards its Net Zero goals is accelerated.

Progress report: Reducing emissions in Wales

United Nations: Technical dialogue of the first global stocktake

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

Delete all and replace with:

To propose that the Senedd:

1.    Congratulates public bodies and businesses in North Wales for their success in securing funding for the largest ever deployment of tidal stream energy technology in Wales through the most recent Contract for Difference Allocation Round 5.

2.    Calls on the Welsh Government and UK Government to work together to accelerate deployment of floating offshore wind, including by fully implementing the recommendations of the Offshore Wind Acceleration Taskforce.

3.    Acknowledges the establishment of Net Zero Industry Wales and calls on the Welsh Government and the UK Government to work together to support the development of industrial decarbonisation pathways.

4.    Calls on the Welsh Government to:

a)    respond urgently to the recommendations in the Climate Change Committee's latest Wales progress report, including to produce plans to deliver a 10% reduction in car-km per person by 2030, to set out a decarbonisation pathway for agriculture, and to accelerate rates of tree planting by removing non-financial barriers.

b)    ensure that Ynni Cymru enables communities to play a pivotal role in making Wales a powerhouse for clean and renewable energy.

c)    ensure that Trydan Gwyrdd Cymru helps to maximise the economic benefits to Wales of the energy transition by delivering income to the public purse and stimulating Welsh supply chains. 

5.      Agrees with the findings of the recent UN report on the Technical Dialogue of the first Global Stocktake on the implementation of the Paris Agreement that the worst impacts of climate change can be avoided if all nations follow bold targets with tough action to deliver them.

Offshore Wind Acceleration Taskforce

Climate Change Committee Progress Report: Reducing Emissions in Wales

UN report on the Technical Dialogue of the first Global Stocktake on the implementation of the Paris Agreement

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

Amendment 2 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

Delete point 1 and replace with:

Notes that the latest UK auction for renewable energy contracts resulted in 3.7GW from solar power, onshore wind and tidal power projects UK-wide.

Amendment 3 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

Delete point 5 and replace with:

Regrets the withdrawal of business rates grants for small-scale hydroelectric projects by the Welsh Government.

The item started at 15.52

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

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM8355 Heledd Fychan (South Wales Central)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes that the outcome of the latest UK auction for offshore wind means there will be no new offshore wind farms developed in Wales for the foreseeable future.

2. Notes that the independent UK-wide Climate Change Committee’s latest report on the progress of the Welsh Government’s decarbonisation agenda concludes that Wales is currently not on track to meet its Net Zero goals by 2050.

3. Notes that a UN report on the Paris Agreement stresses the need for fossil fuel emissions to peak by no later than 2025 to ensure that global warming is limited to 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels.

4. Believes that Wales has the potential to be a powerhouse for clean and renewable energy.

5. Believes that this potential is currently being squandered as a result of the policy approaches of the UK and Welsh Governments.

6. Calls on the Welsh Government to develop a new green industrial strategy for Wales to realise its economic potential in green energy and to ensure that progress towards its Net Zero goals is accelerated.

Progress report: Reducing emissions in Wales

United Nations: Technical dialogue of the first global stocktake

For	Abstain	Against	Total
12	0	40	52

The motion without amendment was not agreed.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

Delete all and replace with:

To propose that the Senedd:

1.    Congratulates public bodies and businesses in North Wales for their success in securing funding for the largest ever deployment of tidal stream energy technology in Wales through the most recent Contract for Difference Allocation Round 5.

2.    Calls on the Welsh Government and UK Government to work together to accelerate deployment of floating offshore wind, including by fully implementing the recommendations of the Offshore Wind Acceleration Taskforce.

3.    Acknowledges the establishment of Net Zero Industry Wales and calls on the Welsh Government and the UK Government to work together to support the development of industrial decarbonisation pathways.

4.    Calls on the Welsh Government to:

a)    respond urgently to the recommendations in the Climate Change Committee's latest Wales progress report, including to produce plans to deliver a 10% reduction in car-km per person by 2030, to set out a decarbonisation pathway for agriculture, and to accelerate rates of tree planting by removing non-financial barriers.

b)    ensure that Ynni Cymru enables communities to play a pivotal role in making Wales a powerhouse for clean and renewable energy.

c)    ensure that Trydan Gwyrdd Cymru helps to maximise the economic benefits to Wales of the energy transition by delivering income to the public purse and stimulating Welsh supply chains. 

5.      Agrees with the findings of the recent UN report on the Technical Dialogue of the first Global Stocktake on the implementation of the Paris Agreement that the worst impacts of climate change can be avoided if all nations follow bold targets with tough action to deliver them.

Offshore Wind Acceleration Taskforce

Climate Change Committee Progress Report: Reducing Emissions in Wales

UN report on the Technical Dialogue of the first Global Stocktake on the implementation of the Paris Agreement

A vote was taken on amendment 1:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
26	0	27	53

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

Amendment 2 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

Delete point 1 and replace with:

Notes that the latest UK auction for renewable energy contracts resulted in 3.7GW from solar power, onshore wind and tidal power projects UK-wide.

A vote was taken on amendment 2:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
14	0	38	52

Amendment 2 was not agreed.

Amendment 3 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

Delete point 5 and replace with:

Regrets the withdrawal of business rates grants for small-scale hydroelectric projects by the Welsh Government.

A vote was taken on amendment 3:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
14	0	38	52

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.

 

NDM8356 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes the First Minister’s claims that Welsh public services must make cuts due to a £900m shortfall during this financial year.

2. Recognises that the Welsh Government has received record levels of funding from the UK Government in recent years.

3. Regrets that despite the Welsh Government receiving 20 per cent more to spend per person on health in Wales than spending per person on health in England, not all of that funding is being currently being allocated to the Welsh NHS.

4. Calls on the Welsh Government to ensure the health budget is protected from any further cuts during the current financial year.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 Heledd Fychan (South Wales Central)

Delete all and replace with:

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes the First Minister’s claims that Welsh public services must make cuts due to a real terms £900m inflationary shortfall since the spending review in 2021.

2. Believes that Westminster Governments have failed to provide Wales with fair and adequate funding since the dawn of devolution.

3. Regrets the Welsh Government’s failure to foresee and prepare for these financial difficulties.

4. Regrets the lack of opportunities provided to the Senedd by the Welsh Government to scrutinise any proposed cuts.

5. Calls on the Welsh Government to protect funding for all front line services, including the NHS.

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

Amendment 2 Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

Delete all and replace with:

To propose that the Senedd:

1.    Notes that at the UK Spring Budget, the Welsh Government Budget for 23/24 was worth £900m less than expected at the time of the UK Spending Review in 2021.

2.    Regrets the impact on Wales of the mismanagement of the UK economy and public finances by successive UK Conservative governments.

3.    Calls on the Chancellor of the Exchequer to invest in public services, including the NHS, and public infrastructure in the Autumn Statement, ensuring Wales receives its fair share of consequential funding.

The item started at 16.53

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

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM8356 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes the First Minister’s claims that Welsh public services must make cuts due to a £900m shortfall during this financial year.

2. Recognises that the Welsh Government has received record levels of funding from the UK Government in recent years.

3. Regrets that despite the Welsh Government receiving 20 per cent more to spend per person on health in Wales than spending per person on health in England, not all of that funding is being currently being allocated to the Welsh NHS.

4. Calls on the Welsh Government to ensure the health budget is protected from any further cuts during the current financial year.

For	Abstain	Against	Total
14	0	38	52

The motion without amendment was not agreed.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 Heledd Fychan (South Wales Central)

Delete all and replace with:

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes the First Minister’s claims that Welsh public services must make cuts due to a real terms £900m inflationary shortfall since the spending review in 2021.

2. Believes that Westminster Governments have failed to provide Wales with fair and adequate funding since the dawn of devolution.

3. Regrets the Welsh Government’s failure to foresee and prepare for these financial difficulties.

4. Regrets the lack of opportunities provided to the Senedd by the Welsh Government to scrutinise any proposed cuts.

5. Calls on the Welsh Government to protect funding for all front line services, including the NHS.

A vote was taken on amendment 1:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
12	0	40	52

Amendment 1 was not agreed.

Amendment 2 Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

Delete all and replace with:

To propose that the Senedd:

1.    Notes that at the UK Spring Budget, the Welsh Government Budget for 23/24 was worth £900m less than expected at the time of the UK Spending Review in 2021.

2.    Regrets the impact on Wales of the mismanagement of the UK economy and public finances by successive UK Conservative governments.

3.    Calls on the Chancellor of the Exchequer to invest in public services, including the NHS, and public infrastructure in the Autumn Statement, ensuring Wales receives its fair share of consequential funding.

A vote was taken on amendment 2:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
38	0	14	52

Amendment 2 was agreed.

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

NDM8356 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

To propose that the Senedd:

1.    Notes that at the UK Spring Budget, the Welsh Government Budget for 23/24 was worth £900m less than expected at the time of the UK Spending Review in 2021.

2.    Regrets the impact on Wales of the mismanagement of the UK economy and public finances by successive UK Conservative governments.

3.    Calls on the Chancellor of the Exchequer to invest in public services, including the NHS, and public infrastructure in the Autumn Statement, ensuring Wales receives its fair share of consequential funding.

A vote was taken on amendment 2:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
37	0	15	52

The motion as amended was agreed.

 

The item started at 17.54

Answered by the Minister for Climate Change

Delyth Jewell (South Wales East): Will the Minister make a statement on how Wales’ net-zero commitments will be impacted by the recent announcement from the UK Government that they are considering delaying the ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars until 2035

At 18.03, Darren Millar raised a Point of Order stating that the purpose of an Emergency Question was to ask a question of the Welsh Government. The Llywydd indicated that Conservative Members of the Senedd could ask their own questions of the Minister by requesting to speak.

 

The item started at 18.16

 

NDM8353 Laura Anne Jones (South Wales East)

No more devolution: Wales has gone into reverse under Welsh Labour, the impact of the Welsh Government has been woefully unimpressive, and there should be no further powers devolved.

This item was withdrawn