Agenda and minutes

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

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

View Questions

The item started at 13.30

The first 8 questions were asked. Question 3 was answered by the Deputy Minister for Social Partnership. The Presiding Officer invited party spokespeople to ask questions to the Minister after question 2.

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

View Questions

The item started at 14.29

The first 9 questions were asked. The Presiding Officer invited party spokespeople to ask questions to the Counsel General after question 2.

At 15.16, Janet Finch-Saunders raised a Point of Order regarding the language used by the Counsel General in response to her supplementary question. The Deputy Presiding Officer ruled that the contribution was not out of order.

View Questions

The item started at 15.17

All 3 questions were asked.

To ask the Minister for Finance and Local Government

Peter Fox (Monmouth): What discussions has the Minister had with the Office for Budget Responsibility regarding its assessment of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2024-25 next week?

The item started at 15.29

Answered by the Minister for Finance and Local Government

Peter Fox (Monmouth): What discussions has the Minister had with the Office for Budget Responsibility regarding its assessment of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2024-25 next week?

At 15.38, the Deputy Presiding Officer, referring back to the issue raised in Janet Finch-Saunders's Point of Order, asked Members, including the Counsel General, to reflect on their use of language in the Chamber.

The item started at 15.38

Sarah Murphy made a statement on – Rotary’s role in reducing polio levels by 99.9%.

The item started at 15.40

NNDM8441 Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with St

anding Order 17.14, elects Samuel Kurtz (Welsh Conservatives) as a member of the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee in place of James Evans (Welsh Conservatives).

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

NDM8422 James Evans (Brecon and Radnorshire)

To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Order 26.91:

Agrees that James Evans MS may introduce a Bill to give effect to the information included in the Explanatory Memorandum published on 22 November 2023 under Standing Order 26.91A.

The item started at 15.40

NDM8422 James Evans (Brecon and Radnorshire)

To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Order 26.91:

Agrees that James Evans MS may introduce a Bill to give effect to the information included in the Explanatory Memorandum published on 22 November 2023 under Standing Order 26.91A.

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

NDM8419 Jack Sargeant (Alyn and Deeside)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes a proposal for a Bill on the further regulation of debt collectors in Wales.

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

a) place a duty on public service providers to only use debt collectors who sign up to a code of conduct that protects vulnerable people in a cost-of-living crisis;

b) introduce a Wales-wide code of conduct for all debt collection agents registered in Wales; and

c) further empower local trading standards authorities to take action against agents who mislead residents about their powers and residents rights.

The item started at 16.30

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

NDM8419 Jack Sargeant (Alyn and Deeside)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes a proposal for a Bill on the further regulation of debt collectors in Wales.

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

a) place a duty on public service providers to only use debt collectors who sign up to a code of conduct that protects vulnerable people in a cost-of-living crisis;

b) introduce a Wales-wide code of conduct for all debt collection agents registered in Wales; and

c) further empower local trading standards authorities to take action against agents who mislead residents about their powers and residents rights.

The result was as follows:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
27	25	0	52

The motion was agreed.

NDM8440 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Recognises the exceptional role that the agricultural sector plays in Wales, with agriculture contributing to over 220,000 jobs.

2. Notes that for every £1 invested in the agricultural sector, £9 is generated for the wider economy.

3. Celebrates the role that family farms play in supporting the Welsh language and social fabric of rural Wales.  

4. Regrets that the Welsh Government have introduced cuts to the 2023-2024 rural affairs budget totalling £37.5 million.

5. Calls on the Welsh Government to ensure that no cuts will be made to the basic payment scheme budget for 2024.

The following amendment was tabled:

Amendment 1 Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

Delete all and replace with:

To propose the Senedd:

1.  Agrees with the Welsh Government principle that its policy must keep Welsh farmers on the land.

2.  Welcomes the decision by the Welsh Government to maintain the Basic Payment Scheme in 2023 and not to follow the decision in England to cut payments to farmers by up to 55 per cent.

3.  Regrets the harm caused to the ability of Welsh farming to create economic value and jobs by:

a)  UK Government immigration policy since EU exit;

b)  the calamitous tenure of the previous UK Prime Minister;

c)  the UK Government's decision to remove £243m from farm support funding in Wales; and

d)  the decision by the UK Government not to provide a long-term funding commitment to farm support.

4.  Agrees that a fair and rapid transition to sustainable farming methods across the whole of Wales is needed, to strengthen the economic position of Welsh farmers and to avoid the worst impacts of the climate and nature emergency.

The item started at 16.57

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

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM8440 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Recognises the exceptional role that the agricultural sector plays in Wales, with agriculture contributing to over 220,000 jobs.

2. Notes that for every £1 invested in the agricultural sector, £9 is generated for the wider economy.

3. Celebrates the role that family farms play in supporting the Welsh language and social fabric of rural Wales.  

4. Regrets that the Welsh Government have introduced cuts to the 2023-2024 rural affairs budget totalling £37.5 million.

5. Calls on the Welsh Government to ensure that no cuts will be made to the basic payment scheme budget for 2024.

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 motion. Therefore, the motion was not agreed.

The following amendment was tabled:

Amendment 1 Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

Delete all and replace with:

To propose the Senedd:

1.  Agrees with the Welsh Government principle that its policy must keep Welsh farmers on the land.

2.  Welcomes the decision by the Welsh Government to maintain the Basic Payment Scheme in 2023 and not to follow the decision in England to cut payments to farmers by up to 55 per cent.

3.  Regrets the harm caused to the ability of Welsh farming to create economic value and jobs by:

a)  UK Government immigration policy since EU exit;

b)  the calamitous tenure of the previous UK Prime Minister;

c)  the UK Government's decision to remove £243m from farm support funding in Wales; and

d)  the decision by the UK Government not to provide a long-term funding commitment to farm support.

4.  Agrees that a fair and rapid transition to sustainable farming methods across the whole of Wales is needed, to strengthen the economic position of Welsh farmers and to avoid the worst impacts of the climate and nature emergency.

A vote was taken on amendment 1:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
38	0	14	52

Amendment 1 was agreed.

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

NDM8440 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

To propose that the Senedd:

1.  Agrees with the Welsh Government principle that its policy must keep Welsh farmers on the land.

2.  Welcomes the decision by the Welsh Government to maintain the Basic Payment Scheme in 2023 and not to follow the decision in England to cut payments to farmers by up to 55 per cent.

3.  Regrets the harm caused to the ability of Welsh farming to create economic value and jobs by:

a)  UK Government immigration policy since EU exit;

b)  the calamitous tenure of the previous UK Prime Minister;

c)  the UK Government's decision to remove £243m from farm support funding in Wales; and

d)  the decision by the UK Government not to provide a long-term funding commitment to farm support.

4.  Agrees that a fair and rapid transition to sustainable farming methods across the whole of Wales is needed, to strengthen the economic position of Welsh farmers and to avoid the worst impacts of the climate and nature emergency.

For	Abstain	Against	Total
38	0	14	52

The motion as amended was agreed.

The item started at 18.00