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 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 Minister 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 14.19

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

View Questions

The item started at 15.10

The question was asked.

To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Education

Adam Price (Carmarthen East and Dinefwr): Will the Cabinet Secretary provide an update on changes to school safety policy following the conclusion of the trial concerning the attack at Ysgol Dyffryn Aman?

To ask the Minister for Culture, Skills and Social Partnership

Heledd Fychan (South Wales Central): Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement regarding the situation that has led to the closure, without notice, of Cardiff National Museum?

To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government

Peredur Owen Griffiths (South Wales Central): What steps is the Welsh Government taking following the publication of the cultural reviews of North Wales and Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Services?

The item started at 15.16

Answered by the Cabinet Secretary for Education

Adam Price (Carmarthen East and Dinefwr): Will the Cabinet Secretary provide an update on changes to school safety policy following the conclusion of the trial concerning the attack at Ysgol Dyffryn Aman?

Answered by the Minister for Culture, Skills and Social Partnership

Heledd Fychan: Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement regarding the situation that has led to the closure, without notice, of Cardiff National Museum?

At 15.48, Heledd Fychan raised a Point of Order in order to respond to comments made by other Members in contributions during her Topical Question.

Answered by the Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government

Peredur Owen Griffiths: What steps is the Welsh Government taking following the publication of the cultural reviews of North Wales and Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Services?

The item started at 16.01

Hannah Blythyn made a statement on - LGBT+ History Month (February).

Joel James made a statement on - Children’s Mental Health Week (3-9 February).

NDM8815 Hannah Blythyn (Delyn)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Considers the Report of the Standards of Conduct Committee - Nineteenth Report to the Sixth Senedd laid before the Senedd on 29 January 2025 in accordance with Standing Order 22.9.

2. Endorses the recommendation in the report.

The item started at 16.04

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

NDM8815 Hannah Blythyn (Delyn)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Considers the Report of the Standards of Conduct Committee - Nineteenth Report to the Sixth Senedd laid before the Senedd on 29 January 2025 in accordance with Standing Order 22.9.

2. Endorses the recommendation in the report.

The result was as follows:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
54	1	0	55

The motion was agreed.

 

NDM8724 Sioned Williams (South Wales West)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes a proposal for a Bill on ensuring recognition and support for unpaid carers.

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

a) improve the support available from the Welsh Government, local authorities and healthcare settings for unpaid carers, based on the rights set out in the Social Services and Wellbeing Act (Wales) 2014;

b) solidify data capture and monitoring of engagement with unpaid carers across statutory services to be reported on periodically;

c) ensure greater sharing of unpaid carers’ data, where appropriate, between statutory services to support carers as they navigate services and advocate for the person(s) they care for; and

d) place a duty on the Welsh Government and local authorities to recognise unpaid carers as a priority group in the design and delivery of all future policy interventions.

The item started at 16.07

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

NDM8724 Sioned Williams (South Wales West)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes a proposal for a Bill on ensuring recognition and support for unpaid carers.

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

a) improve the support available from the Welsh Government, local authorities and healthcare settings for unpaid carers, based on the rights set out in the Social Services and Wellbeing Act (Wales) 2014;

b) solidify data capture and monitoring of engagement with unpaid carers across statutory services to be reported on periodically;

c) ensure greater sharing of unpaid carers’ data, where appropriate, between statutory services to support carers as they navigate services and advocate for the person(s) they care for; and

d) place a duty on the Welsh Government and local authorities to recognise unpaid carers as a priority group in the design and delivery of all future policy interventions.

The result was as follows:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
31	22	2	55

The motion was agreed.

 

NDM8817 John Griffiths (Newport East)

To propose that the Senedd:

Notes the report of the Local Government and Housing Committee, ‘Social Housing Supply’, which was laid in the Table Office on 20 November 2024.

Note: The response of the Welsh Government to the report was laid in the Table Office on 29 January 2025.

The item started at 16.36

NDM8817 John Griffiths (Newport East)

To propose that the Senedd:

Notes the report of the Local Government and Housing Committee, ‘Social Housing Supply’, which was laid in the Table Office on 20 November 2024.

Note: The response of the Welsh Government to the report was laid in the Table Office on 29 January 2025.

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

NDM8818 Heledd Fychan (South Wales Central)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes the announcement by Cardiff University that it will cut 400 jobs and close several degree courses including ancient history, modern languages and translation, music, nursing, and religion and theology.   

2. Regrets:

a) the failure of the Welsh Government to establish a sustainable funding model for universities in Wales despite repeated warnings from the sector over many years;  

b) the impact the announcement will have on staff and learners, and on the economy as well as Wales’s reputation as a nation of learning; and

c) the increased financial pressure caused by the UK Government’s decision to increase employer National Insurance contributions and changes to visa rules for international students.

3. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

a) develop, in line with its devolved responsibility, a new higher education strategy to protect jobs and place the sector on a sustainable financial footing;

b) commission an assessment of the impact of the plans to close the nursing school on NHS nursing staff levels; and

c) publish an evaluation of the financial pressures faced by Welsh universities.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

Delete all and replace with:

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes that Cardiff University has launched a 90-day formal consultation which includes proposals to cut around 400 academic posts.

2. Recognises:

a) the vital role of universities as anchor institutions in our communities and our economy;

b) the fundamental impact of a range of factors on universities across the UK, including Brexit, changes to visa requirements, higher interest rates and inflation; and

c) the additional in-year funding to universities in Wales which takes total grant funding to over £200 million in 2024-25, and the additional income generated by raising the tuition fee cap.

3. Calls on Cardiff University to:

a) ensure the principles of social partnership are central to the consultation process, so that the voices of trade unions, staff and students are heard; and

b) fully support staff and students affected by the proposals, including enabling all enrolled students to complete their courses.

4. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

a) work with the UK Government to identify sustainable solutions for the future of higher education;

b) work with Welsh universities to explore opportunities for collaboration on key provision; and

c) work with Health Education and Improvement Wales to ensure any decisions taken by Cardiff University do not impact on the number of nurses trained in Wales.

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

Amendment 2 Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

In sub-point 2 (c), delete all after ‘contributions’.

The item started at 17.27

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

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM8818 Heledd Fychan (South Wales Central)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes the announcement by Cardiff University that it will cut 400 jobs and close several degree courses including ancient history, modern languages and translation, music, nursing, and religion and theology.   

2. Regrets:

a) the failure of the Welsh Government to establish a sustainable funding model for universities in Wales despite repeated warnings from the sector over many years;  

b) the impact the announcement will have on staff and learners, and on the economy as well as Wales’s reputation as a nation of learning; and

c) the increased financial pressure caused by the UK Government’s decision to increase employer National Insurance contributions and changes to visa rules for international students.

3. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

a) develop, in line with its devolved responsibility, a new higher education strategy to protect jobs and place the sector on a sustainable financial footing;

b) commission an assessment of the impact of the plans to close the nursing school on NHS nursing staff levels; and

c) publish an evaluation of the financial pressures faced by Welsh universities.

For	Abstain	Against	Total
12	0	43	55

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. Notes that Cardiff University has launched a 90-day formal consultation which includes proposals to cut around 400 academic posts.

2. Recognises:

a) the vital role of universities as anchor institutions in our communities and our economy;

b) the fundamental impact of a range of factors on universities across the UK, including Brexit, changes to visa requirements, higher interest rates and inflation; and

c) the additional in-year funding to universities in Wales which takes total grant funding to over £200 million in 2024-25, and the additional income generated by raising the tuition fee cap.

3. Calls on Cardiff University to:

a) ensure the principles of social partnership are central to the consultation process, so that the voices of trade unions, staff and students are heard; and

b) fully support staff and students affected by the proposals, including enabling all enrolled students to complete their courses.

4. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

a) work with the UK Government to identify sustainable solutions for the future of higher education;

b) work with Welsh universities to explore opportunities for collaboration on key provision; and

c) work with Health Education and Improvement Wales to ensure any decisions taken by Cardiff University do not impact on the number of nurses trained in Wales.

A vote was taken on amendment 1:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
29	0	26	55

Amendment 1 was agreed.

As amendment 1 was agreed, amendment 2 was de-selected.

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

NDM8818

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes that Cardiff University has launched a 90-day formal consultation which includes proposals to cut around 400 academic posts.

2. Recognises:

a) the vital role of universities as anchor institutions in our communities and our economy;

b) the fundamental impact of a range of factors on universities across the UK, including Brexit, changes to visa requirements, higher interest rates and inflation; and

c) the additional in-year funding to universities in Wales which takes total grant funding to over £200 million in 2024-25, and the additional income generated by raising the tuition fee cap.

3. Calls on Cardiff University to:

a) ensure the principles of social partnership are central to the consultation process, so that the voices of trade unions, staff and students are heard; and

b) fully support staff and students affected by the proposals, including enabling all enrolled students to complete their courses.

4. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

a) work with the UK Government to identify sustainable solutions for the future of higher education;

b) work with Welsh universities to explore opportunities for collaboration on key provision; and

c) work with Health Education and Improvement Wales to ensure any decisions taken by Cardiff University do not impact on the number of nurses trained in Wales.

For	Abstain	Against	Total
29	14	12	55

The motion as amended was agreed.

 

The item started at 18.44

NDM8811 Hefin David (Caerphilly)

Future flight technologies: how do we maximise growth opportunities whilst ensuring public support?

The item started at 18.47

NDM8811 Hefin David (Caerphilly)

Future flight technologies: how do we maximise growth opportunities whilst ensuring public support?