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 Leaders to ask questions without notice to the Cabinet Secretary after Question 2.

 

View Questions

The item started at 13.30

The first 10 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 Leaders to ask questions without notice to the Cabinet Secretary after Question 2.

 

View Questions

The item started at 14.17

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

No questions were tabled

No questions were tabled.

No Topical Questions have been accepted

No Topical Questions were accepted.

The item started at 15.16

Cefin Campbell made a statement on - Welsh Oscar Winners: Laurie Crawley and Rhys Salcombe.

Delyth Jewell made a statement on - Lauren Price, Unified Welterweight Champion of the World.

NDM8850 Hannah Blythyn (Delyn)

To propose that the Senedd:

Notes the report of the Standards of Conduct Committee, ‘Individual Member Accountability: Recall’, which was laid in the Table Office on 23 January 2025.

Note: The response of the Welsh Government to the report was laid in the Table Office on 5 March 2025.

 

The item started at 15.19

NDM8850 Hannah Blythyn (Delyn)

To propose that the Senedd:

Notes the report of the Standards of Conduct Committee, ‘Individual Member Accountability: Recall’, which was laid in the Table Office on 23 January 2025.

Note: The response of the Welsh Government to the report was laid in the Table Office on 5 March 2025.

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

NDM8847 Buffy Williams (Rhondda)

To propose that the Senedd:

Notes the report of the Children, Young People and Education Committee ‘Children on the Margins’ which was laid in the Table Office on 5 December 2024.

Note: The response of the Welsh Government to the report was laid in the Table Office on 21 January 2025.

 

The item started at 15.49

NDM8847 Buffy Williams (Rhondda)

To propose that the Senedd:

Notes the report of the Children, Young People and Education Committee ‘Children on the Margins’ which was laid in the Table Office on 5 December 2024.

Note: The response of the Welsh Government to the report was laid in the Table Office on 21 January 2025.

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

NDM8852 Heledd Fychan (South Wales Central)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes that:

a) the UK Secretary of State for Transport's acknowledgement in correspondence with the Welsh Government that Wales’s rail infrastructure has suffered from historically low levels of enhancement spending over many years;

b) this systematic underfunding is in addition to the withholding of HS2 consequentials; and 

c) the Welsh Government’s analysis from 2020 that relative to its share of UK population and route length of the rail network, Wales will face a shortfall of between £2.4 billion and £5.1 billion in rail enhancement funding on the basis of UK Government commitments over the period 2019 to 2029.  

2. Regrets:

a) the reports that the UK Chancellor intends to freeze spending on major new rail projects until after the next UK election, which would further entrench the systematic underfunding of Welsh rail for at least another four years; and

b) that previous UK Government pledges on rail infrastructure, which were in themselves insufficient to make up for historic underfunding, such as the pledge to electrify the north Wales mainline, have failed to materialise.

3. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

a) provide updated figures on the shortfall in rail enhancement investment in Wales;

b) confirm its position that HS2 should be redesignated as an England-only project and that Wales should receive the resultant consequentials in line with figures quoted by current UK Government Ministers when in opposition; and

c) write to the UK Secretary of State for Transport to ask for the full consequentials to be made available to Wales and reversal of low levels of enhancement spending.

The following amendments were tabled: 

Amendment 1 Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

Delete all and replace with:

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Welcomes:

a) that the UK Government has acknowledged the historic low levels of spending on railways in Wales; and

b) the endorsement by the UK Government of a pipeline of rail enhancement priorities identified by the Wales Rail Board.

2. Notes that the Welsh Government is seeking to secure:

a) funding for an ambitious pipeline of rail enhancements, starting with the delivery of the recommendations of the North Wales and South East Wales Transport Commissions;

b) a review of Network Rail investment processes to ensure Wales receives a fair share of future Network Rail investment;

c) funding for Core Valley Lines rail enhancements; and

d) an appropriate level of comparability with relevant UK Government programmes in the Barnett formula, recognising that responsibility for this part of the rail network in Wales is now devolved.

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

Amendment 2 Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

In point 2, delete sub-point b)

The item started at 16.39

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

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM8852 Heledd Fychan (South Wales Central)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes that:

a) the UK Secretary of State for Transport's acknowledgement in correspondence with the Welsh Government that Wales’s rail infrastructure has suffered from historically low levels of enhancement spending over many years;

b) this systematic underfunding is in addition to the withholding of HS2 consequentials; and 

c) the Welsh Government’s analysis from 2020 that relative to its share of UK population and route length of the rail network, Wales will face a shortfall of between £2.4 billion and £5.1 billion in rail enhancement funding on the basis of UK Government commitments over the period 2019 to 2029.  

2. Regrets:

a) the reports that the UK Chancellor intends to freeze spending on major new rail projects until after the next UK election, which would further entrench the systematic underfunding of Welsh rail for at least another four years; and

b) that previous UK Government pledges on rail infrastructure, which were in themselves insufficient to make up for historic underfunding, such as the pledge to electrify the north Wales mainline, have failed to materialise.

3. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

a) provide updated figures on the shortfall in rail enhancement investment in Wales;

b) confirm its position that HS2 should be redesignated as an England-only project and that Wales should receive the resultant consequentials in line with figures quoted by current UK Government Ministers when in opposition; and

c) write to the UK Secretary of State for Transport to ask for the full consequentials to be made available to Wales and reversal of low levels of enhancement spending.

For	Abstain	Against	Total
12	0	42	54

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:

a) that the UK Government has acknowledged the historic low levels of spending on railways in Wales; and

b) the endorsement by the UK Government of a pipeline of rail enhancement priorities identified by the Wales Rail Board.

2. Notes that the Welsh Government is seeking to secure:

a) funding for an ambitious pipeline of rail enhancements, starting with the delivery of the recommendations of the North Wales and South East Wales Transport Commissions;

b) a review of Network Rail investment processes to ensure Wales receives a fair share of future Network Rail investment;

c) funding for Core Valley Lines rail enhancements; and

d) an appropriate level of comparability with relevant UK Government programmes in the Barnett formula, recognising that responsibility for this part of the rail network in Wales is now devolved.

A vote was taken on amendment 1:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
28	0	27	55

Amendment 1 was agreed.

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

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Welcomes:

a) that the UK Government has acknowledged the historic low levels of spending on railways in Wales; and

b) the endorsement by the UK Government of a pipeline of rail enhancement priorities identified by the Wales Rail Board.

2. Notes that the Welsh Government is seeking to secure:

a) funding for an ambitious pipeline of rail enhancements, starting with the delivery of the recommendations of the North Wales and South East Wales Transport Commissions;

b) a review of Network Rail investment processes to ensure Wales receives a fair share of future Network Rail investment;

c) funding for Core Valley Lines rail enhancements; and

d) an appropriate level of comparability with relevant UK Government programmes in the Barnett formula, recognising that responsibility for this part of the rail network in Wales is now devolved.

For	Abstain	Against	Total
29	0	26	55

The motion as amended was agreed.

 

The item started at 17.55

 

NDM8848 Jenny Rathbone (Cardiff Central)

Ensuring Wales has a thriving university sector.

 

The item started at 17.57

NDM8848 Jenny Rathbone (Cardiff Central)

Ensuring Wales has a thriving university sector.