Agenda and minutes

This meeting was held in a hybrid format, with some Members in Siambr Hywel, Tŷ Hywel 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 Cabinet Secretary 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 14.20

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

To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip
Adam Price (Carmarthen East and Dinefwr): What discussions has the Welsh Government had with the UK Government regarding reports that the Home Secretary is considering merging the police forces of England and Wales into larger integrated forces, and regarding the possible implications of this for policing in Wales?

To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care
Mabon ap Gwynfor (Dwyfor Meirionnydd): Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on Welsh Government measures to address gaps in NHS waiting list data?

The item started at 15.15

Answered by the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip
Adam Price (Carmarthen East and Dinefwr): What discussions has the Welsh Government had with the UK Government regarding reports that the Home Secretary is considering merging the police forces of England and Wales into larger integrated forces, and regarding the possible implications of this for policing in Wales? 

Answered by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care
Mabon ap Gwynfor (Dwyfor Meirionnydd): Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on Welsh Government measures to address gaps in NHS waiting list data?

The item started at 15.41

James Evans made a statement on The Honourable Dame Shân Legge-Bourke.

Jane Dodds made a statement on Dyfed-Powys Police’s stalking victim support service - Paladin.

The item started at 15.45 

NNDM9091 Elin Jones  

To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Order 17.14, elects Mark Isherwood (Welsh Conservatives) in place of Samuel Kurtz (Welsh Conservatives) as a member of the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee.  

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36. 

Due to technical difficulties, please use the following link to access this item on Senedd.TV including BSL Interpretation.

https://www.senedd.tv/Meeting/Archive/87acbe0c-a8a1-42b5-9d87-4ea86a3d43bc

NDM9087 Mark Isherwood (North Wales) 

To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Order 26.11: 

Agrees to the general principles of the British Sign Language (Wales) Bill. 

The British Sign Language (Wales) Bill and Explanatory Memorandum were laid before the Senedd on 14 July 2025; the report of the Equality and Social Justice Committee on the British Sign Language (Wales) Bill was laid before the Senedd on 5 December 2025. 

The item started at 15.46

NDM9087 Mark Isherwood (North Wales)

To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Order 26.11:

Agrees to the general principles of the British Sign Language (Wales) Bill.

The British Sign Language (Wales) Bill and Explanatory Memorandum were laid before the Senedd on 14 July 2025; the report of the Equality and Social Justice Committee on the British Sign Language (Wales) Bill was laid before the Senedd on 5 December 2025.

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

Due to technical difficulties, please use the following link to access this item on Senedd.TV including BSL Interpretation.

https://www.senedd.tv/Meeting/Archive/87acbe0c-a8a1-42b5-9d87-4ea86a3d43bc

NDM9089 Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

To propose that Senedd Cymru, for the purposes of any provisions resulting from the British Sign Language (Wales) 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 16.58

NDM9089 Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

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

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

NDM9072 Rhys ab Owen (South Wales Central)  

To propose that the Senedd: 

1. Welcomes the fact that Wales was the first country in the world to legislate for children’s right to play, and that Cardiff is the UK’s first UNICEF-accredited Child Friendly City. 

2. Acknowledges that for children under 11, play areas with swings, slides and other equipment to play are really important. 

3. Notes that the 'What children say about play in Wales: 2025' report by Play Wales found that in several areas, play equipment was described as outdated, broken or suitable only for younger children, and that many had called for investment in spaces for older children and teenagers, especially in Anglesey, Denbighshire and Caerphilly. 

4. Regrets that overall satisfaction with opportunities to play has declined from 84 per cent in 2019 to 71 per cent in 2025, and that a notable 25 per cent are not permitted to play independently. 

5. Calls on the Welsh Government to safeguard children’s access to play by: 

a) strengthening the duty under section 11 of the Children and Families (Wales) Measure 2010 so that local authorities must secure sufficient play opportunities in a playground for each community; 

b) developing ways to publicise safe and local places to play; 

c) safeguarding playgrounds from local authority cuts; 

d) supporting community groups who have taken over responsibility for playgrounds; and 

e) tackling the fact that children, especially disabled, in rural and deprived areas often have greater access to outdoor spaces, but encounter greater issues with maintenance, accessibility and inclusivity. 

Co-submitters 

Russell George (Montgomeryshire) 

Mike Hedges (Swansea East) 

Jane Dodds (Mid and West Wales) 

The item started at 16.59 

NDM9072 Rhys ab Owen (South Wales Central)   

To propose that the Senedd:  

1. Welcomes the fact that Wales was the first country in the world to legislate for children’s right to play, and that Cardiff is the UK’s first UNICEF-accredited Child Friendly City.  

2. Acknowledges that for children under 11, play areas with swings, slides and other equipment to play are really important.  

3. Notes that the 'What children say about play in Wales: 2025' report by Play Wales found that in several areas, play equipment was described as outdated, broken or suitable only for younger children, and that many had called for investment in spaces for older children and teenagers, especially in Anglesey, Denbighshire and Caerphilly.  

4. Regrets that overall satisfaction with opportunities to play has declined from 84 per cent in 2019 to 71 per cent in 2025, and that a notable 25 per cent are not permitted to play independently.  

5. Calls on the Welsh Government to safeguard children’s access to play by:  

a) strengthening the duty under section 11 of the Children and Families (Wales) Measure 2010 so that local authorities must secure sufficient play opportunities in a playground for each community;  

b) developing ways to publicise safe and local places to play;  

c) safeguarding playgrounds from local authority cuts;  

d) supporting community groups who have taken over responsibility for playgrounds; and  

e) tackling the fact that children, especially disabled, in rural and deprived areas often have greater access to outdoor spaces, but encounter greater issues with maintenance, accessibility and inclusivity.  

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36. 

NDM9090 Heledd Fychan (South Wales Central) 

To propose that the Senedd: 

1. Notes the letter sent to the UK Prime Minister by over a third of the Senedd’s Labour Members on 3 December 2025. 

2. Believes that the Labour UK Government is rolling back on the existing devolution settlement, as stated in the letter. 
The following amendments were tabled:  

Amendment 1 Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire) 
Delete point 2 and replace with: 

Believes that rows about the devolution settlement are a distraction from getting to grips with the everyday challenges facing Wales. 

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

Amendment 2 Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan) 
Delete point 2 and replace with: 

Reaffirms this Senedd’s commitment to strengthening the devolution settlement, in line with the Independent Commission on the Constitutional Future of Wales. 

Independent Commission on the Constitutional Future of Wales: final report 

The item started at 17.52

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

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM9090 Heledd Fychan (South Wales Central) 

To propose that the Senedd: 

1. Notes the letter sent to the UK Prime Minister by over a third of the Senedd’s Labour Members on 3 December 2025. 

2. Believes that the Labour UK Government is rolling back on the existing devolution settlement, as stated in the letter. 

The motion without amendment was not agreed.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire) 
Delete point 2 and replace with: 

Believes that rows about the devolution settlement are a distraction from getting to grips with the everyday challenges facing Wales. 

A vote was taken on amendment 1:

Amendment 1 was not agreed.

Amendment 2 Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan) 
Delete point 2 and replace with: 

Reaffirms this Senedd’s commitment to strengthening the devolution settlement, in line with the Independent Commission on the Constitutional Future of Wales. 

A vote was taken on amendment 2:

Amendment 2 was agreed.

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

To propose that the Senedd: 

1.   Notes the letter sent to the UK Prime Minister by over a third of the Senedd’s Labour Members on 3 December 2025. 

2.   Reaffirms this Senedd’s commitment to strengthening the devolution settlement, in line with the Independent Commission on the Constitutional Future of Wales.

The motion as amended was agreed.

The item started at 19.21

NDM9079 John Griffiths (Newport East) 

Locked In Bruh! The impact of screens, smartphones, and online-gaming on young people. 

The item started at 19.24

NDM9079 John Griffiths (Newport East) 
Locked In Bruh! The impact of screens, smartphones, and online-gaming on young people.