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 14.17

The first 8 questions were asked. Questions 4 and 6 were grouped together for answer. Question 7 was withdrawn. Questions 1 and 3 were answered by the Minister for Further and Higher Education. 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): Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the impact on Wales of the UK Government's White Paper on police reform?

The item started at 15.11

Answered by the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip

Adam Price (Carmarthen East and Dinefwr): Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the impact on Wales of the UK Government's White Paper on police reform?

 

The item started at 15.44

Samuel Kurtz made a statement on the 90th Birthday of Wales Young Farmers' Clubs (27 January 2026).

Gareth Davies made a statement on the 70th anniversary of Ysgol Glan Clwyd in St Asaph the first Welsh-medium secondary school in Wales.

Jane Dodds made a statement on Dignity Action Day (1 February).

The item started at 15.49 

NNDM9123 Elin Jones (Ceredigion)  
To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Order 17.3, elects James Evans (Independent) as a member of the Health and Social Care Committee.  

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36. 

NDM9115 Cefin Campbell (Mid and West Wales) 

To propose that the Senedd: 

1.  Notes the provisions of Helen’s Law, formally the Prisoners (Disclosure of Information About Victims) Act 2020, which requires the parole board to consider whether offenders have disclosed the location of a victim’s remains or identified child victims when making parole decisions. 

2. Recognises that the Act was introduced following the case of Helen McCourt, whose killer has never disclosed the location of her body, and that non-disclosure continues to cause significant and ongoing distress to victims’ families. 

3. Notes calls for the introduction of Helen’s Law Part 2: Stop the Desecration, which seeks to reform burial and sentencing laws, including the creation of a new criminal offence of desecrating a body. 

4. Further notes the introduction of similar provisions in Northern Ireland through Charlotte’s Law, including making the concealment of a victim’s remains a statutory aggravating factor in sentencing; providing incentives for cooperation in the recovery of remains, and placing a duty on parole authorities to consider non-disclosure. 

5. Recognises that the implementation of these measures in Northern Ireland demonstrates that such reforms are achievable elsewhere within the UK. 

6. Calls on the Welsh Government to support the consideration of equivalent legislative reforms, in collaboration with the UK Government, to strengthen justice and provide greater dignity and closure for victims and their families. 

Co-submitters 

Jane Dodds (Mid and West Wales) 

Supporters 

Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

The item started at 15.49 

NDM9115 Cefin Campbell (Mid and West Wales)  

To propose that the Senedd:  

1.  Notes the provisions of Helen’s Law, formally the Prisoners (Disclosure of Information About Victims) Act 2020, which requires the parole board to consider whether offenders have disclosed the location of a victim’s remains or identified child victims when making parole decisions.  

2. Recognises that the Act was introduced following the case of Helen McCourt, whose killer has never disclosed the location of her body, and that non-disclosure continues to cause significant and ongoing distress to victims’ families.  

3. Notes calls for the introduction of Helen’s Law Part 2: Stop the Desecration, which seeks to reform burial and sentencing laws, including the creation of a new criminal offence of desecrating a body.  

4. Further notes the introduction of similar provisions in Northern Ireland through Charlotte’s Law, including making the concealment of a victim’s remains a statutory aggravating factor in sentencing; providing incentives for cooperation in the recovery of remains, and placing a duty on parole authorities to consider non-disclosure.  

5. Recognises that the implementation of these measures in Northern Ireland demonstrates that such reforms are achievable elsewhere within the UK.  

6. Calls on the Welsh Government to support the consideration of equivalent legislative reforms, in collaboration with the UK Government, to strengthen justice and provide greater dignity and closure for victims and their families.  
The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

NDM9121 Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire) 

To propose that the Senedd: 

1. Recognises the importance of good transport connectivity to the economic prosperity of Wales.  

2. Calls on the Welsh Government to: 

a) restore the default speed limit to 30mph; 

b) build an M4 relief road; 

c) upgrade the A55; 

d) dual the A40; 

e) deliver a third Menai crossing; and 

f) unfreeze all road projects.

The following amendments were tabled:   

Amendment 1 Heledd Fychan (South Wales Central) 

Delete all after point 1 and replace with: 

Notes that, under successive UK Governments, Wales has not received a fair share of transport investment, limiting its ability to improve connectivity and unlock its full economic potential. 

Calls on the UK Government to ensure Wales receives fair, needs-based funding for transport infrastructure, including: 

a) full consequential funding for major transport projects in England, including HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail; 

b) an end to the historic under-funding of Welsh transport infrastructure; and 

c) the devolution of greater decision-making powers over transport investment to Wales. 

Calls on the Welsh Government to prioritise an integrated, evidence-led approach to transport investment that improves connectivity between communities, supports economic development, and reflects Wales’s environmental and social responsibilities. 

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

Amendment 2 Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan) 

Delete all after point 1 and replace with: 

Recognises the achievements of the Welsh Government in delivering better transport: 

a) developing a world class South Wales Metro system on the back of the Welsh Government’s investment of over £1 billion to improve the infrastructure of the devolved core valleys lines rail network; 

b) investing £800 million in new trains to almost double capacity and deliver a huge growth in passenger services; 

c) bringing the largest UK Government investment in wider Welsh rail since the 2009 announcement of the electrification of the South Wales main line by the last UK Labour Government; 

d) passing the landmark Bus Services (Wales) Bill to introduce franchising and put people before profit in the provision of bus services; 

e) attracting two million young people to travel on the buses with a £1 young person’s fare cap; 

f) exciting plans for a £2 adult fare cap and a 10 per cent uplift in routes in the next Senedd; 

g) delivering a prioritised major asset renewal starting with the £180 million River Dee replacement scheme; 

h) starting work on clearing the roads maintenance backlog following 14 years of Conservative austerity, improving 627km of road surfaces and filling 203,000 potholes following a £25 million boost to maintenance budgets for the strategic road network and a £60 million (£120 million over 2 years) Local Authority Borrowing Initiative to fix local roads; 

i) commissioning a review of road and traffic conditions of major strategic roads, such as the M4, A55 and A494 to assess priority interventions to improve the efficiency of the highways serving strategic economic corridors; 

j) collaborating with local authorities to develop a regional transport planning capability, with new regional transport plans developed by Corporate Joint Committees and over £100 million available for their delivery; and 

k) working with regions to renew momentum toward the development of regional “metros” in North Wales and South West Wales. 

The item started at 16.30

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

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM9121 Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire) 

To propose that the Senedd: 

1. Recognises the importance of good transport connectivity to the economic prosperity of Wales.  

2. Calls on the Welsh Government to: 

a) restore the default speed limit to 30mph; 

b) build an M4 relief road; 

c) upgrade the A55; 

d) dual the A40; 

e) deliver a third Menai crossing; and 

f) unfreeze all road projects.

For	Abstain	Against	Total
12	1	35	48

The motion without amendment was not agreed.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 Heledd Fychan (South Wales Central) 

Delete all after point 1 and replace with: 

Notes that, under successive UK Governments, Wales has not received a fair share of transport investment, limiting its ability to improve connectivity and unlock its full economic potential. 

Calls on the UK Government to ensure Wales receives fair, needs-based funding for transport infrastructure, including: 

a) full consequential funding for major transport projects in England, including HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail; 

b) an end to the historic under-funding of Welsh transport infrastructure; and 

c) the devolution of greater decision-making powers over transport investment to Wales. 

Calls on the Welsh Government to prioritise an integrated, evidence-led approach to transport investment that improves connectivity between communities, supports economic development, and reflects Wales’s environmental and social responsibilities. 

A vote was taken on amendment 1:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
11	0	37	48

Amendment 1 was not agreed.

Amendment 2 Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan) 

Delete all after point 1 and replace with: 

Recognises the achievements of the Welsh Government in delivering better transport: 

a) developing a world class South Wales Metro system on the back of the Welsh Government’s investment of over £1 billion to improve the infrastructure of the devolved core valleys lines rail network; 

b) investing £800 million in new trains to almost double capacity and deliver a huge growth in passenger services; 

c) bringing the largest UK Government investment in wider Welsh rail since the 2009 announcement of the electrification of the South Wales main line by the last UK Labour Government; 

d) passing the landmark Bus Services (Wales) Bill to introduce franchising and put people before profit in the provision of bus services; 

e) attracting two million young people to travel on the buses with a £1 young person’s fare cap; 

f) exciting plans for a £2 adult fare cap and a 10 per cent uplift in routes in the next Senedd; 

g) delivering a prioritised major asset renewal starting with the £180 million River Dee replacement scheme; 

h) starting work on clearing the roads maintenance backlog following 14 years of Conservative austerity, improving 627km of road surfaces and filling 203,000 potholes following a £25 million boost to maintenance budgets for the strategic road network and a £60 million (£120 million over 2 years) Local Authority Borrowing Initiative to fix local roads; 

i) commissioning a review of road and traffic conditions of major strategic roads, such as the M4, A55 and A494 to assess priority interventions to improve the efficiency of the highways serving strategic economic corridors; 

j) collaborating with local authorities to develop a regional transport planning capability, with new regional transport plans developed by Corporate Joint Committees and over £100 million available for their delivery; and 

k) working with regions to renew momentum toward the development of regional “metros” in North Wales and South West Wales. 

A vote was taken on amendment 2:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
25	0	23	48

Amendment 2 was agreed.

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Recognises the importance of good transport connectivity to the economic prosperity of Wales.

2. Recognises the achievements of the Welsh Government in delivering better transport:

a) developing a world class South Wales Metro system on the back of the Welsh Government’s investment of over £1 billion to improve the infrastructure of the devolved core valleys lines rail network;

b) investing £800 million in new trains to almost double capacity and deliver a huge growth in passenger services;

c) bringing the largest UK Government investment in wider Welsh rail since the 2009 announcement of the electrification of the South Wales main line by the last UK Labour Government;

d) passing the landmark Bus Services (Wales) Bill to introduce franchising and put people before profit in the provision of bus services;

e) attracting two million young people to travel on the buses with a £1 young person’s fare cap;

f) exciting plans for a £2 adult fare cap and a 10 per cent uplift in routes in the next Senedd;

g) delivering a prioritised major asset renewal starting with the £180 million River Dee replacement scheme;

h) starting work on clearing the roads maintenance backlog following 14 years of Conservative austerity, improving 627km of road surfaces and filling 203,000 potholes following a £25 million boost to maintenance budgets for the strategic road network and a £60 million (£120 million over 2 years) Local Authority Borrowing Initiative to fix local roads;

i) commissioning a review of road and traffic conditions of major strategic roads, such as the M4, A55 and A494 to assess priority interventions to improve the efficiency of the highways serving strategic economic corridors;

j) collaborating with local authorities to develop a regional transport planning capability, with new regional transport plans developed by Corporate Joint Committees and over £100 million available for their delivery; and

k) working with regions to renew momentum toward the development of regional “metros” in North Wales and South West Wales.

For	Abstain	Against	Total
25	0	22	48

The motion as amended was agreed.

 

NDM9122 Heledd Fychan (South Wales Central) 

To propose that the Senedd: 

1. Notes that housing conditions in Wales are amongst the worst in Europe. 

2. Acknowledges the significant impact of poor housing and the wider housing crisis on public health, the cost of living, fuel poverty, and the environment. 

3. Believes that a clear, cross‑government focus is required for the remainder of this Senedd term to remove barriers and increase the supply of new social homes, in response to rising homelessness, long waiting lists, the high use of temporary accommodation, and unaffordable rents. 

4. Recognises the multiple benefits of improving housing standards, including reduced household costs, job creation, support for local economies, savings for the NHS, and progress in tackling climate change. 

5. Calls on the Welsh Government to: 

a) implement the recommendations of the Affordable Housing Taskforce at pace and provide a comprehensive update; 

b) set out how it will adapt its retrofit programmes and Tackling Fuel Poverty plan following the closure of ECO4, the loss of local retrofit skills, and changes to the UK Government’s Warm Homes plan; and 

c) outline its priorities for allocating the anticipated increase to the Welsh Government budget as a consequence of the UK Government’s commitments during this spending review period. 

Affordable Housing Taskforce: report and recommendations 

 The following amendments were tabled:   

Amendment 1 Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire) 

Delete all and replace with: 

1. Acknowledges that Wales is in the midst of a housing crisis. 

2. Regrets that successive Welsh Governments have failed to build enough new homes to keep up with demand. 

3. Recognises the benefits of people owning their own homes. 

4. Calls on the Welsh Government to make Wales a home owning democracy by: 

a) abolishing land transaction tax on all main homes; 

b) restoring the right-to-buy in Wales, reinvesting sale proceeds into more affordable housing; 

c) building more lifetime homes that are accessible and adaptable for people of all ages and abilities throughout their lives; 

d) bringing more empty homes back into use; and 

e) extending and expanding the help-to-buy scheme to all first-time buyers. 

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

Amendment 2 Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)   

Delete all and replace with: 

To propose that the Senedd: 

Welcomes the bold and ambitious legislative reform set out in the Homelessness and Social Housing Allocation (Wales) Bill to support the long-term goal of ending homelessness. 

Recognises that over the current Senedd term more than £540 million has been invested by the Welsh Government to improve the energy efficiency of homes in Wales, and that the Welsh Government has committed a further £98 million for the Optimised Retrofit programme to improve social homes in 2026-27. 

Welcomes the UK Government’s Warm Homes Plan and notes the Welsh Government’s intention to work in partnership to maximise the impact of the interventions and investment that will flow from the plan, to improve outcomes for the people of Wales. 

Acknowledges that over £2 billion has been invested in social housing by the Welsh Government, with delivery of 20,000 additional low carbon homes for rent in the social sector on track for November. 

Recognises the damage to housing development pipelines as a result of the Liz Truss mini-budget and Brexit, and calls on all parties to commit to an ambitious programme of housing across social, private and intermediate sectors, over the next Senedd term and beyond. 

Welcomes the commitment and collective ownership of Welsh Government and sector partners in implementing the Affordable Housing Taskforce’s recommendations. 

The item started at 17.25

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

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM9122 Heledd Fychan (South Wales Central) 

To propose that the Senedd: 

1. Notes that housing conditions in Wales are amongst the worst in Europe. 

2. Acknowledges the significant impact of poor housing and the wider housing crisis on public health, the cost of living, fuel poverty, and the environment. 

3. Believes that a clear, crossgovernment focus is required for the remainder of this Senedd term to remove barriers and increase the supply of new social homes, in response to rising homelessness, long waiting lists, the high use of temporary accommodation, and unaffordable rents. 

4. Recognises the multiple benefits of improving housing standards, including reduced household costs, job creation, support for local economies, savings for the NHS, and progress in tackling climate change. 

5. Calls on the Welsh Government to: 

a) implement the recommendations of the Affordable Housing Taskforce at pace and provide a comprehensive update; 

b) set out how it will adapt its retrofit programmes and Tackling Fuel Poverty plan following the closure of ECO4, the loss of local retrofit skills, and changes to the UK Government’s Warm Homes plan; and 

c) outline its priorities for allocating the anticipated increase to the Welsh Government budget as a consequence of the UK Government’s commitments during this spending review period. 

For	Abstain	Against	Total
11	0	37	48

The motion without amendment was not agreed.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire) 

Delete all and replace with: 

1. Acknowledges that Wales is in the midst of a housing crisis. 

2. Regrets that successive Welsh Governments have failed to build enough new homes to keep up with demand. 

3. Recognises the benefits of people owning their own homes. 

4. Calls on the Welsh Government to make Wales a home owning democracy by: 

a) abolishing land transaction tax on all main homes; 

b) restoring the right-to-buy in Wales, reinvesting sale proceeds into more affordable housing; 

c) building more lifetime homes that are accessible and adaptable for people of all ages and abilities throughout their lives; 

d) bringing more empty homes back into use; and 

e) extending and expanding the help-to-buy scheme to all first-time buyers. 

A vote was taken on amendment 1:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
13	0	35	48

Amendment 1 was not agreed.

Amendment 2 Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)   

Delete all and replace with: 

To propose that the Senedd: 

Welcomes the bold and ambitious legislative reform set out in the Homelessness and Social Housing Allocation (Wales) Bill to support the long-term goal of ending homelessness. 

Recognises that over the current Senedd term more than £540 million has been invested by the Welsh Government to improve the energy efficiency of homes in Wales, and that the Welsh Government has committed a further £98 million for the Optimised Retrofit programme to improve social homes in 2026-27. 

Welcomes the UK Government’s Warm Homes Plan and notes the Welsh Government’s intention to work in partnership to maximise the impact of the interventions and investment that will flow from the plan, to improve outcomes for the people of Wales. 

Acknowledges that over £2 billion has been invested in social housing by the Welsh Government, with delivery of 20,000 additional low carbon homes for rent in the social sector on track for November. 

Recognises the damage to housing development pipelines as a result of the Liz Truss mini-budget and Brexit, and calls on all parties to commit to an ambitious programme of housing across social, private and intermediate sectors, over the next Senedd term and beyond. 

Welcomes the commitment and collective ownership of Welsh Government and sector partners in implementing the Affordable Housing Taskforce’s recommendations. 

A vote was taken on amendment 2:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
25	0	23	48

Amendment 2 was agreed.

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

To propose that the Senedd:

Welcomes the bold and ambitious legislative reform set out in the Homelessness and Social Housing Allocation (Wales) Bill to support the long-term goal of ending homelessness.

Recognises that over the current Senedd term more than £540 million has been invested by the Welsh Government to improve the energy efficiency of homes in Wales, and that the Welsh Government has committed a further £98 million for the Optimised Retrofit programme to improve social homes in 2026-27.

Welcomes the UK Government’s Warm Homes Plan and notes the Welsh Government’s intention to work in partnership to maximise the impact of the interventions and investment that will flow from the plan, to improve outcomes for the people of Wales.

Acknowledges that over £2 billion has been invested in social housing by the Welsh Government, with delivery of 20,000 additional low carbon homes for rent in the social sector on track for November.

Recognises the damage to housing development pipelines as a result of the Liz Truss mini-budget and Brexit, and calls on all parties to commit to an ambitious programme of housing across social, private and intermediate sectors, over the next Senedd term and beyond.

Welcomes the commitment and collective ownership of Welsh Government and sector partners in implementing the Affordable Housing Taskforce’s recommendations.

For	Abstain	Against	Total
25	0	23	48

The motion as amended was agreed.

 

The item started at 18.23

NDM9120 Mike Hedges (Swansea East) 

Co-operative housing - the need for more 

The item started at 18.29

NDM9120 Mike Hedges (Swansea East) 

Co-operative housing - the need for more