Agenda and minutes

At 13.30, in accordance with Standing Order 8.5, the Presiding Officer notified the Senedd of the resignation from government of the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice, the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Welsh Language and the Cabinet Secretary for Housing, Local Government and Planning.

The item started at 13.30

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 13.35

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 14.33

The item started at 15.04

The item started at 15.39

The proposal under Standing Order 12.24 to debate the following items together but with separate votes was agreed

NDM8638 Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Order 27.5, approves that the draft The Digital Government (Welsh Bodies) Regulations 2024 is made in accordance with the draft laid in the Table Office on 25 June 2024.

Supporting Documents

Explanatory Memorandum

Report of the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee

Government response to the report of the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee

The item started at 16.17

NDM8638 Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Order 27.5, approves that the draft The Digital Government (Welsh Bodies) Regulations 2024 is made in accordance with the draft laid in the Table Office on 25 June 2024.

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

NDM8637 Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Order 27.5, approves that the draft The Tertiary Education and Research (Wales) Act 2022 (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2024 is made in accordance with the draft laid in the Table Office on 25 June 2024.

Supporting Documents

Explanatory Memorandum

Report of the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee

The item started at 16.17

NDM8637 Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Order 27.5, approves that the draft The Tertiary Education and Research (Wales) Act 2022 (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2024 is made in accordance with the draft laid in the Table Office on 25 June 2024.

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

The proposal under Standing Order 12.24 to debate the following items together but with separate votes was agreed

NDM8614 Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

To propose that Senedd Cymru in accordance with Standing Order 26.11:

Agrees to the general principles of the Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill.

The Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill and Explanatory Memorandum were laid before the Senedd on 11 March 2024.

The report of the Reform Bill Committee on the Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill was laid before the Senedd on 7 June 2024.

Supporting Documents

Report of the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee

Government response to the report of the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee

Report of the Reform Bill Committee

Summary of Recommendations (Reform Bill Committee)

Response from the Senedd Commission to the report of the Reform Bill Committee

Response from the Trefnydd and Chief Whip to the report of the Reform Bill Committee

Response from the Trefnydd and Chief Whip to the reports of the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee and the Reform Bill Committee

Letter to the Trefnydd and Chief Whip from the Finance Committee, 16 May 2024

The item started at 16.17

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

NDM8614 Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

To propose that Senedd Cymru in accordance with Standing Order 26.11:

Agrees to the general principles of the Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill.

The Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill and Explanatory Memorandum were laid before the Senedd on 11 March 2024.

The report of the Reform Bill Committee on the Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill was laid before the Senedd on 7 June 2024.

The result was as follows:

The motion was agreed.

NDM8615 Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

To propose that Senedd Cymru, for the purposes of any provisions resulting from the Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) 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 16.17

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

NDM8615 Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

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

The result was as follows:

The motion was agreed.

The item started at 17.34

NDM8645 Rebecca Evans (Gower)

To propose that the Senedd in accordance with Standing Order 26.47:

Approves the Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill.

Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill – as amended at Stage 3

The item started at 17.34

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

NDM8645 Rebecca Evans (Gower)

To propose that the Senedd in accordance with Standing Order 26.47:

Approves the Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill.

Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill – as amended at Stage 3

The result was as follows:

The motion was agreed.

NDM8639 Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Order 11.21(ii):

1. Notes:

a) the Welsh Government Annual Report 2023/24;

b) progress on the legislative programme.

Welsh Government Annual Report 2023/24

Legislative Programme

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 Heledd Fychan (South Wales Central) 

Add as new points at end of motion:

Regrets the lack of clear targets and measurable reporting on outcomes.

Calls on the Welsh Government to provide:

a) more information about how it measures progress on its legislative programme; and

b) an assessment of how it is making progress against these measures.

Amendment 2 Darren Millar (Clwyd West) 

Add as new points at end of motion:

Regrets:

a) the lack of sufficient progress in reducing NHS waiting times and improving emergency department performance;

b) recent PISA education results that show a decline in educational outcomes in Wales; and

c) that workers in Wales are paid less than those in other parts of the UK.

Does not believe that either the Welsh Government’s Legislative Programme or Annual Report demonstrates sufficient attention to these key challenges.

Calls upon the Welsh Government to develop a clear action plan to:

a) improve NHS performance;

b) improve educational outcomes; and

c) improve incomes in Wales.

The item started at 17.45

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

NDM8639 Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Order 11.21(ii):

1. Notes:

a) the Welsh Government Annual Report 2023/24;

b) progress on the legislative programme.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 Heledd Fychan (South Wales Central) 

Add as new points at end of motion:

Regrets the lack of clear targets and measurable reporting on outcomes.

Calls on the Welsh Government to provide:

a) more information about how it measures progress on its legislative programme; and

b) an assessment of how it is making progress against these measures.

A vote was taken on amendment 1:

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

Amendment 2 Darren Millar (Clwyd West) 

Add as new points at end of motion:

Regrets:

a) the lack of sufficient progress in reducing NHS waiting times and improving emergency department performance;

b) recent PISA education results that show a decline in educational outcomes in Wales; and

c) that workers in Wales are paid less than those in other parts of the UK.

Does not believe that either the Welsh Government’s Legislative Programme or Annual Report demonstrates sufficient attention to these key challenges.

Calls upon the Welsh Government to develop a clear action plan to:

a) improve NHS performance;

b) improve educational outcomes; and

c) improve incomes in Wales.

A vote was taken on amendment 2:

Amendment 2 was not agreed.

A vote was taken on the motion:

To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Order 11.21(ii):

1. Notes:

a) the Welsh Government Annual Report 2023/24;

b) progress on the legislative programme.

The motion as amended was agreed.

In accordance with Standing Order 12.44, at 18.12 the bell was rung and the meeting suspended until Voting Time.

The item started at 18.16