Siambr · Member of the Senedd · Register of record
Shav Taj
Tenures
- Seventh Senedd Caerdydd Ffynnon Taf Welsh Labour
Ministerial roles
No ministerial roles on record.
Contributions, by sitting day
62 contributions on record, newest first. Official verbatim record.
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Open this sitting on the stage
1. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy en
We've been talking about data, and of course data centres have been in the news quite a lot recently. The planning Minister recently responded to a written question of mine stating that the current system for approving data centres has robust checks and balances in place to ensure that their environmental and community impacts are properly considered. Now, does the Cabinet Minister agree with the planning Minister? And, if the current system is robust for all data centre applications, why is his Government then writing a data centre framework?
3. Questions to the Senedd Commission en
As Sera clearly points out, Welsh Government policy is very clear that safeguarding is everyone's responsibility. So, if safeguarding training is expected across so many other areas of public service, why should those seeking help from their elected representatives expect anything less? Therefore, does the Commission agree that safeguarding training is essential not only to help Members and their staff recognise the signs of abuse, neglect or exploitation, but also to give the public confidence that they will be treated safely, fairly and consistently by any Member, as elected representatives, and their staff, of course, too?
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In addition to the questions that have already been raised—this is a constituency that I also represent, Caerdydd Ffynnon Taf—we've seen a number of authorities involved in the immediate response, including Natural Resources Wales and Public Health Wales: could the Minister therefore confirm actually which body is ultimately responsible for co-ordinating clear and effective messaging for the public, and also any signs of warnings in advance? Also, building on what Nick said around safeguarding, what safeguards are in place to make sure that residents who live near the river, and the many, many visitors, of course, to the Taff trail, are informed about the potential health risks before they come into contact with contaminated water? Not everyone looks at Facebook, for example. Not everyone is going to get an alert on their phone. How are we going to make sure that the public know, especially if they've got children or dogs, for example, not to go into the river?
6. Members' Legislative Debate under Standing Order 11.21(iv): An NHS first Bill en
Deputy Llywydd, nobody in this Chamber, obviously, wants patients to have to wait any longer for treatment. And if capacity is available that can safely get somebody their operation done sooner, I understand why Governments, including the previous Welsh Government, have looked at the private sector. But I think today's debate asks us to look beyond the immediate waiting lists and consider what kind of NHS we actually are wanting to build for the future. And that is where I believe the workforce has to be at the heart of this discussion. Here in Wales, 'Agenda for Change' provides the framework for pay and important terms and conditions for most directly employed NHS staff. Unison Cymru has warned that health boards cannot expect to recruit and retain staff without addressing NHS pay. It has also been absolutely explicit in calling for the NHS in Wales to be protected from privatisation. So, when public money is spent buying additional services and capacity outside of NHS Wales, we should ask not only, 'How many patients will this treat today?' but also, 'What does this actually do in terms of the capacity and workforce issues of our NHS for tomorrow?' This doesn't need to be an ideological argument. Where private capacity is absolutely necessary to get patients treated sooner, we should be pragmatic. This is why I support the principle of NHS first, but NHS first doesn't, obviously, have to mean NHS only. But our longer term ambition should always be much bigger; it should mean building the strength and capacity of our NHS and the public services around it. It means our NHS and our community care working together rather than treating health and social care as separate systems. It means recognising that health does not begin at the hospital door. It means addressing the socioeconomic inequalities that drive poor health. It means tackling mental health earlier before people reach crisis. And it means confronting some of the deepest causes of trauma and ill health in our communities, including violence against women and children, domestic abuse, and other forms of abuse. Because NHS first cannot simply mean asking where we treat somebody once they become ill. It must also mean creating the conditions in which fewer people become ill, fewer people reach crisis, and fewer families need emergency intervention. So for me, that is also about holding on to the founding principle of our NHS that healthcare is a public good, there for people when they need it, regardless of their means or their backgrounds. And as, of course, Aneurin Bevan put that principle simply: 'No society can legitimately call itself civilized if a sick person is denied medical aid because of lack of means.' Deputy Llywydd, our responsibility is obviously not simply to defend that principle, but to make it work for the challenges that Wales faces today. Bringing waiting lists down matters, but so does building the NHS, the workforce, the community services and that healthier society that ensures that we leave our NHS stronger than we first found it.
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1. Questions to the Trefnydd, Chief Whip and Cabinet Minister for Culture and Sport en
In Cardiff, affordable indoor sport provision is essential given our reputation as a rainy city, yet rising court and hall hire costs are increasingly pricing out grass-roots clubs and working-class families. At the same time, it took 10 years of campaigning and partnership working between Basketball Wales and Cardiff Council to secure refurbishment of the outdoor courts at Roath Pleasure Gardens—a project that's going to be a genuine game-changer for the local community. Whilst investment in facilities is welcome, many young people still face financial barriers to participation. So, what specific action is the Welsh Government taking to support grass-roots clubs and ensure that a young person's opportunity to play sport is determined by their talent and ambition, not their postcode or their parents' ability to cough up?
5. Welsh Labour Debate: Palliative and end-of-life care en
Shwmae, Lywydd; shwmae, bawb. Like my colleagues, I want to firstly start by thanking the staff, the volunteers, the carers, and the families who make palliative and end-of-life care possible across Wales. Now, as someone, like many of you, who would have cared for ageing parents, this debate is really important to me. I've been that family member who has had to sit down with a loved one and explain that there was nothing more that the NHS could do to cure their illness, and that the focus now had to be on keeping them comfortable, pain-free and supported at that time. And what our family learned very quickly was just how complex and overwhelming the palliative care system can be to navigate, and particularly when someone is living with multiple conditions and moving between hospital, community and home, and sometimes backwards and forwards. And, in our case, we were dealing with things like stroke, cancer, Parkinson's, motor neurone disease, and so much more, and repeated hospital admissions. And at every single stage, different professionals were then involved, different decisions had to be made, and new information had to be absorbed, and we were constantly paper chasing, trying to make sure we had the right letter and playing catch-up all the time. So, for families who are already coping with grief, uncertainty and exhaustion, navigating those systems can really be genuinely daunting. And that experience taught me that palliative care is much more than just medical treatment. It's about communication. It's about co-ordination. And it's also about ensuring that patients and families understand what support is actually available to them—who they can turn to, and what choices are genuinely open to them at that time of need. But most of all, this is about dignity. We all recognise the vital contribution that hospices make. They provide specialist care, emotional support, and, of course, practical help to patients and families across Wales. From my perspective, however, this has also got to be a workforce conversation as much as a funding conversation. Every hospice bed, every community visit, and every end-of-life care package depends on people—nurses, healthcare support workers, allied health professionals, social care workers, volunteers and, of course, unpaid carers. So, if we want sustainable palliative care, we need a sustainable workforce. And, as someone with roots in the trade union movement, I want to be clear about something else: caring has got to be valued. It must be valued. Those supporting patients and families at the end of their lives undertake some of the most emotionally demanding work in our society. They deserve secure employment; they deserve fair treatment, fair work, opportunities to develop their skills, and proper support, of course, for their own well-being at that time as well. But sustainability, of course, is not enough on its own. We've also got to talk about equality and access. We know that not everyone experiences healthcare in the same way. People from black and Asian ethnic minority backgrounds can sometimes face barriers to accessing services. Disabled people may have additional communication, accessibility or support needs. LGBTQ+ people should have confidence that their identities and relationships will be respected. And Welsh language speakers should be able to receive care in the language that feels most natural and, of course, most comforting to them. And we must never of course forget unpaid carers who are balancing work, family responsibilities, and often their own health while caring for somebody else that they love. For me, therefore, the test of a successful palliative care system is not simply whether services exist; it's whether the person who needs that care can actually access it, understand it and receive it with dignity, regardless of their background, disability, language, postcode or personal circumstances. And that brings me back to where I began. Behind every discussion about funding, workforce planning or service provision is a person approaching the end of their life, and a family who are just trying to support them through it. They shouldn't have to spend that precious time struggling to understand a complicated system or worrying about whether the help that they need will be there. Whatever our differences across this Chamber, I hope that we can agree on one fundamental principle: everyone in Wales deserves dignity, they deserve compassion, and they deserve respect at the end of life. All the people, of course, who provide that care, also deserve our support too. Diolch yn fawr.
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1. Questions to the First Minister en
There's obviously no denying that the dispute has been running for far too long. Many of us have been outside on the picket lines and have spoken to constituents who are really frustrated; it's a massive women's workforce, particularly. But I do welcome some news that it looks like, potentially, some progress is now being made towards resolving the dispute. But does the First Minister accept that the lesson from this dispute is that the Welsh Government must now understand and accept its own role in using social partnership as a vehicle to bring employers and trade unions together and to drive that early resolution of disputes rather than allowing them to become so entrenched?
2. Business Statement and Announcement en
Trefnydd, while the Welsh Government has rightly highlighted support for households facing energy bills, businesses across Wales are also grappling with energy costs themselves and rising overheads. Will you request a statement, please, from the Cabinet Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy on the effects of higher energy prices on Welsh businesses and what further action the Government intends to take to support those firms throughout all of those pressures?
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10. Short Debate: The importance of port infrastructure and maritime traffic to the Welsh economy en
Dirprwy Lywydd, we are a maritime nation. Our ports have always connected Wales to the wider world, and now they can be at the heart of a renewable energy future. We need that infrastructure, we need the investment and we need secure and affordable energy. But we've also always got to ask who actually benefits. TUC Cymru has warned that the jobs and supply chain opportunities from offshore renewables could end up bypassing Welsh communities, and that cannot be our future. We need apprenticeships, we need good, secure jobs, and we need Welsh engineering, fabrication and marine businesses to benefit. P&O showed us exactly why economic growth must come with decent employment standards, and that's why I welcome the UK Labour Government's progress towards a mandatory seafarers charter that strengthens protections on pay and working conditions. So, my message is a really simple one: I don't want Wales simply to host that infrastructure while somebody else gets to take all of the economic benefit. Investment in Welsh ports must deliver good Welsh jobs, stronger Welsh supply chains, and real benefits for each of our communities up and down the whole of Wales. That is what a just transition will definitely look like.
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1. Questions to the First Minister en
First Minister, shouldn't value for money, as you say, be measured not just by—and the cost; all of that has been discussed—investment, jobs and opportunities, but also what communities then locally get back as well? You've mentioned a range of different things, but how do we then ensure that those economic benefits are genuinely felt across all of our communities in Wales?
2. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Government Effectiveness and the Constitution en
Minister, good workforce data should, obviously, allow Governments to anticipate pressures rather than respond when they reach crisis point. How will your Government's data on recruitment, retention and workforce pressures to engage with our trade unions earlier actually help prevent some of those pressures ultimately escalating into industrial disputes? And talking of understanding our workforce, it is important, of course, for me to also reference that TUC Cymru has consistently gathered evidence about the experiences of workers in Wales because good policy obviously does start with good data. And I think that some of the mentions in relation to funding and social partnership—. Of course, Wales union learning fund funding provides funding for unions to encourage and support work-placed learning specifically, and it's about skills, and, of course, the TUC has very cleared referenced that 100,000 workers in Wales have benefited as a result of that funding in recent years.
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2. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability en
What conversations has the Cabinet Minister had regarding the national policy statement for electricity network infrastructure with UK Government Ministers?
7. Welsh Conservatives Debate: The defence sector en
Hopefully, we're getting to that point where we've got some common ground across the Chamber in relation to how important defence is to our economy, and the aerospace sector as well, but the measure of success can't simply be about how much money we spend on defence, it must be about what investment delivers for Wales, for our workers, and for our communities. We already have so many enormous strengths, which many of us have talked about. At BAE Systems in Glascoed, around 500 people work in defence manufacturing, alongside an apprenticeship programme delivering the next generation of skilled workers. At Airbus Broughton, we have world-class aerospace manufacturing and thousands of highly skilled jobs. The UK Government has announced a £50 million Welsh defence growth deal, with Welsh workers expected to be involved in designing, testing and manufacturing new technologies. The investment includes funding a specialised college designed to train the next generation of defence engineers. Yesterday's UK Government announcements on Great British Grid also matter. If we want Welsh manufacturing to expand, to attract investment and create jobs, businesses need that infrastructure to do it. Faster grid connections can help unlock that growth. This is what joined-up industrial policy should be about: investment, infrastructure and skills working together to create good jobs. My challenge is really simple: if defence spending is increasing, Wales must secure its fair share of the jobs, skills and investment. This means using procurement to strengthen Welsh supply chains, creating apprenticeships and ensuring that public investment supports fair pay, secure employment and opportunities to progress. Governments, employers and trade unions must be around the table together, because investment shouldn't simply deliver more jobs, it should deliver good jobs, decent conditions and a strong voice for workers. We don't need to start from scratch. The Wales Union Learning Fund gives us a model to build upon. It supports union-led workplace learning and workforce development through Wales's social partnership approach. It's an approach that was very much championed by the Welsh Labour Government, putting workers and trade unions and skills at the heart of our economy. Let's build on that as defence investment grows, upskilling today's workforce and ensuring the next generation of defence jobs are Welsh jobs. But this can't become a false choice between investing in defence and investing in the things our communities need. Building homes, investing in our NHS, schools and care services and protecting our national security are not competing ambitions. A strong country needs each and every single one of them, because security isn't only about defence, it's about having a decent home, a good job, strong public services and confidence in the future. Now we must move beyond talking shops and frameworks. We need delivery and we need it urgently—delivery that means good jobs and good futures, delivery where workers and communities can see and feel the economic benefit, and delivery that ensures that no worker and no community is left behind. So, let's judge defence investment not simply by how many billions are spent but by what those billions leave behind: more skilled workers, stronger Welsh businesses, good secure jobs and stronger communities. Welsh industry should have its fair share. Welsh businesses should have their share. But above all, Welsh workers and Welsh communities should feel the benefit: good jobs, good futures, prosperity that stays here in Wales with nobody left behind.
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3. Business Statement and Announcement en
I'd like to request two statements. The first one is in relation to Admiral. I've been inundated on this issue. A group of MPs, my colleague Huw and I met with the employer on Friday. Will the Cabinet Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy make an urgent statement to the Senedd on what action the Welsh Government is taking to protect jobs and ensure major financial service employers, such as Admiral and Legal & General, retain their headquarters, investment and skilled employment in Wales? I'm happy to move to the next one—I'm not quite sure what the sequencing is. The next one is in relation to tackling disinformation, AI, deepfakes and social media scams. Over the weekend, some of you might have received an Instagram request from an account that looked just like me. It had my name, it had my image, and it had a real accurate description of what it is that I do. People had every reason to believe that this account was me. I was being sent all kinds of messages in relation to it. It invited them to join a WhatsApp group for 'finance enthusiasts' to discuss cryptocurrency and stocks—
3. Business Statement and Announcement en
For the record, it had nothing to do with me. Can I ask whether or not we can have a statement from the Welsh Government in terms of what they're doing in terms of working with the police, the UK Government and social media companies to make sure that our trust—
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Talking of babies and local support, Deputy Minister, Cerebral Palsy Cymru is based in my constituency, and I recently had the privilege of visiting the centre in Llanishen and seeing first-hand the specialist support that they provide to children and families. And I've since received a really moving letter from Glenys Evans, one of the founding parents. Thirty-seven years ago, Glenys and a small group of parents helped establish this charity because they wanted better specialist therapy for their children. Her son, Thomas, who has cerebral palsy, is now 42, and she remains just as passionate as she was then about making sure that the next generation gets the very best start in life. Now, this is also an organisation whose values have previously been recognised by the Welsh Government, including receiving capital support towards the purchase of their current home in 2019. Now, Glenys has raised concerns with me about the charity's financial future, and changing health board commissioning arrangements specifically. And, at the heart of this, I think, is something that we've all really shared here today, and it's really important, about early intervention and that specialist support can make that real difference to children and their families. So, Deputy Minister, building on the previous Welsh Labour Government support that was there, how can the new Government work with health boards and Cerebral Palsy Cymru to secure sustainable, equitable access to specialist cerebral palsy support for children and families across Wales regardless of where they live?
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1. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy en
Minister, data centres, I've written to you about them many a time, and, obviously, they're not new, but their use—principally because of AI and its expansion—is going to be important. There are critical challenges around that, potentially opportunities as well, in terms of jobs and growth and all the rest of it. To that end, it was really good to have a response from you. When I wrote to you, you responded about a new strategic policy framework for data centres in Wales. I think that's really critical, and of course it would be great to now, I guess, understand from you what the Government's intentions are on the basis of that framework. Will you commit that any framework will ensure positive community and environmental impact as being a guiding force? I'm sure that you would, hopefully, agree with me that we need to ensure that communities that have that infrastructure do then actually receive tangible local benefits through good jobs, good apprenticeships and genuine community wealth building.
1. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy en
Thank you, Minister. Obviously, we can't have a thriving economy in Wales without stronger connections between jobs, opportunities and communities. That's why the UK Labour Government invested £14 billion in Welsh rail, and Cardiff parkway is a really important part of that strategy. My constituents in St Mellons know that the construction is going to take time, and they're going to need some reassurances about the direct benefit to the community, of course, but every day some of that news—. They're still waiting. So, can you now update us on when we will see the first shovel in the ground on Cardiff parkway, in my constituency of Caerdydd Ffynnon Taf?
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I think it was a shock to both of us then. We were both looking at each other wondering what was going on. Llywydd, I really welcome the fact that we're having this debate and discussion, because the TUC congress just happened and there was a big debate about defence and the future of jobs versus, I guess, peace, security and resilience and so forth. You've talked about what happens in Scotland and in Ireland. I guess my question is: have you talked to the UK Government to see whether what we're going to be producing here is going to be that much different to what they already have? What I'm really concerned about is that if the framework comes out in the autumn period, we then have a debate and discussion, I'm assuming, about what that framework then looks like, we have a back and forward—. In the meantime, there are contracts on the table, jobs coming to Wales. Could those defence companies, other manufacturers et cetera—AI you've mentioned—then say, 'Actually, you know what, this is taking way too long. We're going to go and have a chat with Stephen Kinnock, the Secretary of State for Wales'? And then, while you're trying to work through this new relationship with him as well, could we then end up in a position where we're going around the houses, everyone's looking at each other and somebody's looking for an answer? For me, this is about the jobs that are already here, protecting those. I completely agree in terms of having an ethical framework, as a trade unionist. I get all of that, I totally understand that. But, for me, this is about the companies that we already have here. Wales has more than 200 companies serving aerospace, defence, more than 50 organisations in maintenance, let alone all the colleges and all of the training et cetera, and the really good apprenticeship jobs that are here as well. You've talked about the global situation. You've talked about what is happening as far as NATO is concerned. Lots of discussions. Everyone talks about, 'How much money are we going to chuck in the pot? Why is this more important than actually building homes for people?' I don't think that it's one or the other. I totally appreciate and understand where you're trying to go with this. My biggest worry in and amongst all of this is that we slow things down. Because like you're saying—you're not saying that this is about telling people, 'Don't come and invest in Wales.' You're not saying that defence manufacturing jobs are something that your Government would be against. Although defence, I don't think, was mentioned in your programme for government. I don't think that word was there. So, I was a bit confused, really, because I was looking through it and I was like, 'The word isn't there.' Based on what you've said today, there seem to be a lot of contradictions. So, for me, can you guarantee that, whatever you do, you'll do in social partnership, the trade unions will be fully involved and engaged, and that this is about job security in the wider sense as well? We're talking about good jobs across the whole of Wales.
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Sorry, that's—
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Yes.
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6. Member Debate under Standing Order 11.21(iv): Young people and employment en
Sorry, I'm just taking my jacket off, it's really hot. Diolch, Lywydd. I just wanted to say that I'm really pleased to move this motion today. It's my first individual Member debate, and I'm really pleased that it is on this issue, because it is such a big issue. I'm really happy that it was co-submitted by both the Greens and the Lib Dems. I just want to declare an interest—I have said this previously—I am the former general secretary of TUC Cymru, so this issue, in terms of young people and employment, is very much close to my heart and really important for me. Can I start by noting that today, in fact, is World Youth Skills Day? This is really a chance for us to celebrate the potential of the next generation of young people in Wales and make sure that this new Government is setting them up to succeed. All of us, ultimately, have responsibility in this area, and, in the spirit of cross-party collaboration, I want to thank my co-sponsors for this debate, Jane Dodds and Paul Rock, for helping to get this issue onto the agenda. On World Youth Skills Day, the timing really couldn't be any better. It's often said that young people are our future, but I want to remind everyone that the underlying issues related to young people and employment are not problems for the future, they're for the here and now. When it comes to mental health and physical health, a lack of job opportunities, a lack of well-paid and secure work, bullying, harassment and discrimination, or even not being able to catch a bus in time, get to a bus or a train to where jobs actually are, and the impact of AI on entry-level jobs, these are the real obstacles, and they're happening in the here and now, which makes these issues just as urgent as anything else that we may be discussing in the Senedd.
6. Member Debate under Standing Order 11.21(iv): Young people and employment en
Now, younger generations today may want all of the same things that we wanted back in the days. I mean, I remember my first official paid job when I was 17 or 18 in the Sweater Shop in town. I was paid £2.65 and it really was an awful job. But the first thing that I got to do was to buy my first pair of Nike trainers, because up until then, it was Matchstick all the way, because that was what my parents could afford to buy me from Woolworths. But, of course, young people now want the same things. They want to make their own money. They want to make sure that they can pay their way in life and, of course, start building a future, not only for themselves, but also for many others. Many of them have caring responsibilities. They want to be able to buy a house or even start a family. Now, Llywydd, as the former health Secretary Alan Milburn has set out in his review, we risk a lost generation of young people. One in eight between the ages of 16 and 24 are not in employment, education or training, otherwise known as NEETs, and I was shocked, really, to find that the data from the end of last year showed that the situation in Wales is actually even worse. One in six young people are not in work, not in education or training, and that should really wind each and every one of us up and make us angry enough to want to do something about it and to work together on these issues, because youth unemployment is not a fringe issue. It is actually the symptom of a systemic failure, bigger than any one policy, bigger than any department or Government, and clearly, now, it demands an even bigger and better response. Now, I saw during my time at TUC Cymru that the last Welsh Government took some really positive steps. The young person's guarantee that was rolled out, when we were coming out of the COVID pandemic, helped around 10,000 young people to get into work; 30,000 apprenticeships were started; and more people were helped to further their education or even start their own business. But clearly, though, that guarantee hasn't been universally effective. So, it hasn't done all the things that we were hoping to do. Only around half of the people that were supported through these various schemes actually went on to achieve a positive outcome. And that's just the people who were even aware that this support existed in the first place and were able to take advantage of it and to navigate through it as well. But what about the people who weren't aware, who weren't able to navigate the systems that were set up? Now, as set out by the previous skills and social partnership Minister, Jack Sargent, the various schemes that make up the young person's guarantee are going to be replaced by a new employability support programme, starting next year. I think that if we do this right, it genuinely can be a golden opportunity for us to do things differently here in Wales, to take what works and to streamline it with a real laser focus on moving young people into good, fair work jobs and other opportunities. The UK Government also operates a number of schemes for young people in Wales. The youth jobs grant, which started last month—that gives a real financial incentive for some employers to hire young people who have been out of work and are claiming universal credit. And, of course, there is the economic inactivity trailblazer scheme, which has been piloted in Blaenau Gwent, Denbighshire and Neath Port Talbot, and is currently being reviewed, as I understand it. This scheme, which looks at the underlying big causes of long-term unemployment, gives people the tailored support that they actually need, whether that's for mentoring, counselling or any other kind of special support that that person may need. Now, despite all of the good work, all of the stuff that we've done so far, the issue with youth unemployment is not unique to Wales, but we can lead from the front when it comes to finding those solutions and implementing them. And we have to start, of course, with the evidence. Let's listen to the people who know best, and that is the young people who are actually at that sharp end, who are facing these real challenges on a day-to-day basis, because we don't have all of the answers, and that is the truth. Some people, young people in particular, are being let down more than others. The latest stats, the official stats from the Welsh Government, show that 40 per cent of people with disabilities between the ages of 19 and 24 are not in education, employment or training. We know it's not because they lack skills or aspiration or any of those things. It is actually a failure, an abject failure of society, a lack of opportunity and a lack of proper support that's being given. In reality, one in three disabled workers are not getting the reasonable adjustments that they actually need in the first place. Relatively few public sector organisations even have the highest level of Disability Confident accreditation. And according to Mencap, 86 per cent of young people with learning disabilities want to be in paid work, and in reality, it's only 5 per cent—5 per cent—who actually are. This is mind-boggling, and that's just not right. So, yes, while we have these schemes and they are transforming some lives, there are clearly gaps in the provision, and we know they exist and we need to do something about them. Now, when young people with disabilities consistently say that the systems that they're meant to be using, that are meant to be there—. Well, they say, 'They're not actually built with us in mind.' And that's not an opinion, that's their own individual lived experience. These are the people who know the issues best, and the systems would work better if we did a better job of listening to the people who use them. So, that should always be our starting point—for this Welsh Government, for all of us in this Senedd, we really need to, always, get out into our communities, listen and learn and act.
6. Member Debate under Standing Order 11.21(iv): Young people and employment en
And what else do young people need in Wales? One simple answer: more jobs embedded. But not any old job—good jobs, good jobs that are well paid, secure and give people a real opportunity for progress into that career, whatever that career may be that they choose. And Wales has a lower jobs density than England and Scotland. So, that's a problem, the availability of jobs. But the quality of jobs has actually been very much lacking too. Now, according to research by the Health Foundation, of all the nations and regions, it is Wales where workers are most likely to face multiple aspects of job quality. Lots of young people are actually overqualified for the roles that are open to them, and they're less likely than older colleagues to access any training and development. Now, there's always a demand for young people in sectors like retail, hospitality and social care. But once they actually get into those jobs, what actually happens to them? They find themselves trapped in jobs with limited training and not able to actually progress. Now, TUC Cymru has raised concerns, and I've constantly been in front of one committee after the other where I've said that precarious jobs are shaping a generation. Bullying, harassment and poor treatment remain very real issues and are concerns for young people at work. Working parents are struggling to even help their own children to navigate the world of work, and lots of young workers are also, of course, parents themselves, so it's a struggle for them to balance work and caring responsibilities. So, yes, we need to create more job opportunities for young people, but we need work that is well paid, that is secure, and we need to have welcoming workplaces in the first place, and cultures in workplaces where people feel that they can speak up and that they will be supported in the first place. Not just some warm words, not another policy, not another perfected way of doing things—we need tangible actions. It's so important that young people actually understand, of course, what is acceptable in the workplace and the rights and protections that they have. People who have been paid under the minimum wage, who haven't been given breaks or have experienced harassment in the workplace—they are at risk of thinking, 'This is just the way things are and there is nothing that I can do to change it.' Now, for some young people, there is a lack of understanding around the jobs that are available, even when they're studying or training to work in a particular industry. For lots of young people, ideas about future careers and the opportunities that they can get are based on their own connections. That can make job seeking even harder, especially if they're from disadvantaged backgrounds. Now, TUC Cymru has done some good awareness work with the Welsh Government teaching young people about their rights at work, the role of trade unions, issues like health and safety and artificial intelligence, and that's through the World of Work programme that's been rolled out in schools, in youth clubs and many other places as well. And I hope that the current Government will continue to support that work. Another Welsh Government scheme, which deserves praise, of course, is Taith. Now, that was and still is, actually, a distinctly Welsh programme that gives young people from disadvantaged backgrounds the opportunity to actually travel. Now, last week, I visited Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Glantaf in my constituency and I spoke to some of the pupils who have benefited from this scheme. And I was actually honestly genuinely so inspired by the new skills and the confidence that Taith has given them, and this is clearly not a one-off investment—it's a lifelong investment in young people all over Wales. So, again, I really hope that the Government will back this project beyond the current funding, because it definitely has a place in Wales, alongside, I believe, Erasmus+, reaching out to schools, and youth and adult organisations. Those who never thought that they'd have opportunities to even travel—so many of the young kids that I spoke to said they didn't even have a passport. They didn't even believe that this was going to be a real trip. They had the opportunity to go to Malaysia, and now there's going to be a delegation of children that are going to be visiting here. And it was, honestly, just amazing what they talked about. Now, the new employability support programme coming in next year is a chance for us to build a better system that actually reflects the needs of the people it intends to help. And that gives a real helping hand to anyone who might need it. We need to seize the opportunities in front of us. Where there are jobs being created in sectors like clean energy, in digital and tourism—of course, the electric arc furnace in Port Talbot or the Cardiff parkway project—we need to make sure that young people from every single part of Wales are able to get to where they need to be, both literally, but also in the sense of public transport—affordable public transport—but also that they have the opportunity of good jobs and that they have the chance to progress. So, while I'm proud to put forward this debate, the real work is for each and every one of us to do when we leave the Chamber. And I know that there are Members from all parties who are genuinely extremely passionate about helping young people—Members with different experiences, working with and on behalf of young people before they even came into the Senedd, with lots of different insights. So, let's come together and let's use those. Let's get out into our constituencies over the summer, let's listen to the people who are facing these challenges and look at what's working. Let's think about what we could do better and then let's get on with it and do it, so that Wales is the best place that it can be for young working people, where no young person is left behind. Diolch, Lywydd.
6. Member Debate under Standing Order 11.21(iv): Young people and employment en
Definitely young.
6. Member Debate under Standing Order 11.21(iv): Young people and employment en
Well, where do I begin? I'm just really pleased that we've had such a good discussion and I just want to first of all really welcome the comments by the Minister. You found me nodding away and I was clearly in a lot of agreement with what you were saying, because the truth of the matter is that we have had a range of different schemes. Some of them have worked and some of them have still had gaps, whether those are the ones that we created here in Wales or whether they were created elsewhere. The big thing for me, in and amongst everything that I've heard from everybody, particularly the younger Members of the Senedd, is that we need to understand that this is about the social and economic issues and bringing them together. If we are not going to be doing anything very real in relation to building more homes that are affordable, addressing the issues around renters' rights, for example, if we are not going to be tackling the big stuff around climate change and so forth, there isn't going to be a future for anyone. And I worry, more often than not, about my own children, and even when I was first even considering having children, I was thinking, 'Am I doing the right thing?' And now I look at my kids, one’s 15 and one’s 13, and I'm thinking, blimey—. Now I get to be in this building. And my daughter keeps reminding me, 'Mum, it's because of you lot that we're in this situation.' So, I get it from home on a daily basis, so when I walk in—. Look, for me, what I would say, and I'll ask the Minister, is: can you please report back to the Senedd after the discussion that you have with Milburn? Many people that I have spoken to, from lots of different organisations, including the TUC themselves, have said that it's good that we've had that review, but there were still gaps even there. And I think that there's clearly more work to be done. I just want to say there have been lots of comments made about immigration, and we can talk about these things all day long, but the data doesn't stack up. And I think that I very much do welcome the fact that we have also heard, of course, from Janet, who made it very clear it's about business rates. And I agree. We need to review business rates. There's more work that needs to be done there. Actually, immigration has been a good thing for both Wales and for the country as a whole. What I would say is that, in terms of public procurement, specifically—
6. Member Debate under Standing Order 11.21(iv): Young people and employment en
It's worth noting—sorry, I'll quickly wrap up—that 75 per cent of public sector procurement across Wales was within Wales. It was for Welsh businesses. And, again, 50 per cent in Cardiff. Now, I'm not saying that we've got all the answers in this moment in time, but I think that we've had a really good discussion today, and I hope that most sides of this Senedd can get behind this and see this really as a starting point rather than an end of this discussion. Thank you.
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2. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Government Effectiveness and the Constitution en
If the Government's effectiveness is itself constantly being reviewed and reset, does that suggest that the current measures aren't actually working? How many more reviews will be required before Ministers can demonstrate sustained improvement? In short, how many reviews are there and will there be yet another review of the outcome of that review?
8. Legislative Consent Motion: Steel Industry (Nationalisation) Bill en
Thank you for asking me to speak on this really important legislative consent motion this afternoon in relation to the UK Labour Government's steel nationalisation Bill. As a Labour member, as a trade unionist, support for our steel workers is very much in my DNA. My colleagues here today and my predecessors in the Senedd have always strongly supported steel workers in Wales, and we will continue to do so, whatever it takes to stand up for steel and protect thousands of steel-making jobs and communities in Wales. Steel is, of course, as many have said, one of the most important industries in Wales, whether in Port Talbot, known as 'steeltown', or in Llanwern in Newport, where generations of families have built their lives around the steel industry. The steel industry has, of course, been a major employer for decades in the town of Port Talbot, and thanks to the prompt actions of the UK Labour Government in 2024, although, of course, we recognise that, sadly, the last blast furnace was closed down, there was hope, and there still is hope, in the form of a transition period and funding that has saved jobs. With £500 million of UK Labour Government investment, as part of a £1.3 billion deal into steel transition in Port Talbot, we were able to protect 5,000 jobs and ensure that Welsh steel making has a new future with a new electric arc furnace being commissioned, and, importantly, workers have had a seat at the table during the transition period. Working in social partnership with our unions, the Welsh Government and the UK Government invested in helping workers find new opportunities and new careers, with Port Talbot becoming a model for a worker-centred just transition. Instead of leaving people behind to fend for themselves, unions, the Welsh Government and the UK Government invested in helping workers find new opportunities and new careers. Now, as the daughter of a steelworker, I know that when change comes to a steelworks, it affects far more than the payroll. It affects confidence, it affects family life and mental well-being. That's why the support that's been offered to workers throughout this transition has been so important in helping people to actually navigate that uncertain period with dignity and hope. Without the support provided through the community support centre and the wider transition board programme, many workers would have faced redundancy with far fewer options on the table. The success of that model has helped people move into retraining, access advice and find new opportunities while remaining rooted in their community. We've also not seen any increase in unemployment benefits claimed during the transition, which is testament to its success. Now, turning to this LCM, I know there's been extensive engagement with the Department for Business and Trade, the Bill's sponsor, the Wales Office and this Welsh Government, and I understand that this Bill is primarily being brought forward to address the current situation at British Steel Limited in Scunthorpe. The UK Government has no plans to use the powers in this Bill more widely, and I know that concerns have rightly been raised about the powers being used in Wales at a future date. However, I'm reassured that the UK Labour Government has listened to these concerns about any potential impact in Wales and has set out a number of commitments in response. Firstly, DBT has confirmed that the UK Government would consult Welsh Ministers in advance of using the powers of this Bill in any undertaking in Wales. So, it's worth noting that this was accepted, of course, by the Scottish Government as being sufficient assurance to support the LCM in Scotland. Secondly, it goes further by confirming that, should the UK Government ever have to nationalise a Welsh steelworks, the UK Government would identify and ensure an appropriate role for the Welsh Government in the oversight of the works, and it would do this while recognising the statutory role of the board and the Secretary of State in those circumstances. And it also reflects the established practice of the UK Labour Government in terms of steel projects in Wales. For example, the Port Talbot transition board established to administer more than £100 million of UK Government funding to the steelworks and businesses affected by the transition is deputy chaired by a Welsh Government Minister—now, obviously, the Minister, Adam Price. So, I am satisfied that the UK Government has now addressed the Welsh Government's requests, and I now urge Senedd Members to support the LCM on this Bill. I support this LCM today because it's not about 'if' and it's not about 'when' these powers are ever going to be needed in Wales, because of the assurances I have set out above and, actually, many of the comments as well that have been made in the Chamber so far.
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1. Questions to the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Minister for Social Justice en
I'd like to bring the Cabinet Minister's attention to an issue that I know that she is very much familiar with—and sadly, we are still waiting on clarity on this issue—and that is the issue of pay for health visitors in Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board. They are being paid, still, at band 6 for doing band 7 jobs, costing them between £8,000 and £9,000 every year. Minister, this is a workforce that is female; it's a female workforce. My colleagues and I, and many others, have been speaking to workers on a regular basis. They were outside, of course, yesterday as well. This is a dispute that has been rumbling on for far too long, and the reason is very simple: Cwm Taf Morgannwg have refused completely to honour the job evaluation process, which makes it very clear that there is an issue here. The previous Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care made a clear statement in the Senedd—
1. Questions to the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Minister for Social Justice en
Yes. I promise you, I am getting there. Despite all of this, of course, the health board says that they have had clear instruction. As the equality Minister, will you now give us clear instruction that you expect the health board to finally end this dispute and pay these crucial workers at the level that they deserve? Also, would you join me in taking up the request of meeting with these women workers, who really need this matter to be resolved as quickly as possible? Like I say, we've had this issue before—it was predominantly men; it was men before and this is a women workforce—and we just need this to be resolved. We're going to have the summer period, there won't be any eyes on people; we need that support.
1. Questions to the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Minister for Social Justice cy
3. A wnaiff y Gweinidog Cabinet roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am waith Llywodraeth Cymru i atal ac ymateb i gam-drin plant yn rhywiol? OQ64345
Official English translation
3. Will the Cabinet Minister provide an update on the work of the Welsh Government in preventing and responding to child sexual abuse? OQ64345
No broadcast timestamp published, so this contribution cannot be placed on the stage. Senedd TV Read this in the Record
1. Questions to the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Minister for Social Justice en
I very much welcome the fact that Wales was obviously the first UK nation to publish the 10-year strategy to prevent child sexual abuse under the previous Labour Government. And we know, of course, that when it comes to this harm in particular, it's not just children that are impacted but family members and others as well. And preventing abuse and supporting those who have been harmed is, of course, therefore, and should be, an absolute priority, and I'm sure it will be for this Government, because we have that shared moral responsibility. Minister, I acknowledge that, of course, the Welsh Government does also fund a Hwb platform as well, and that the digital resilience team has produced some really good bilingual materials for teachers. But hosting resources on a website can become a bit of a passive strategy if you don't actually have ring-fenced funding, and also you can't always expect exhausted teachers to log on and become equipped to battle a lot of the global sophisticated artificial intelligence deepfake networks and the sextortion et cetera, and the rings that currently exist. We do really need to consider ring-fencing some funding there for specialist training, and also with a central cross-sector entity to co-ordinate this further as well.
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Tomorrow afternoon, we will see the long-awaited unveiling of the Rhodri Morgan statue outside the Senedd, and I hope that everyone will join us to come and see. Ultimately, who was Rhodri? Rhodri was a socialist, and more than anything else, he just loved Wales. He was a very proud Welshman, and he was very clear in terms of what devolution meant. Many of us look to Rhodri as being the godfather of devo. Many of us remember as well how hard he debated and fought for us to stay in Europe. I remember a time when we were holding a debate in Cardiff University, and he showed up with two Tesco bags and flung them onto the table and started looking for papers to make his case for why this was important. He, of course, did a lot of work in promoting brand Wales and attracting inward investment. He would walk into a room and he would start talking about something that was completely unrelated, and when he walked off, those individuals would go, 'Where is this place called Wales? We must visit'. He was very unique in that sense, and he did it all with so much style and with such great humour as well. I hope that you will all join me in coming to the unveiling tomorrow. Because he reminded us very clearly that we may be small, but we are mighty, and it's important that we govern ourselves regardless. There will be lots of discussions that we will have in this Chamber going forward, of course, but always remember: what would Rhodri say and do?
7. Reform UK Debate: The tourism sector en
I think we can all agree that Wales is very much a world-class destination for tourism. That moment when you see someone posing for a photograph outside a castle or looking around at many of our museums or enjoying our national park—that is a special moment, and it should make us all proud. Because, of course, Wales does actually belong to all of us, and we're very lucky that we can share our beautiful country with people from all over the world. I often enjoy having family over and taking them up to Pen y Fan and getting them to do that early morning walk up the mountain, and, of course, the many lush waterfalls that we have. But getting back to our capital city for a moment, we've had some incredible success lately in putting Cardiff on the map. In just the last decade, we hosted the UEFA Champions League final, which smashed the previous footfall record by bringing more than 310,000 people into our great city. We hosted Clash at the Castle, a real global event, and the company's first stadium event in the UK for over 30 years. Most of these spectators came from outside Wales, and when they were surveyed, they said they just wanted to explore a bit more. Last year, we had the European Rugby Champions Cup, and with the eyes of the world on them, Oasis chose Cardiff to kick off their reunion tour. All of these major events bring thousands and thousands of people who want to spend their time and money in Wales, and this brings me to the topic of this debate. The Visitor Accommodation (Register and Levy) Etc. (Wales) Act 2025, which only became law last year, isn't even coming into effect anywhere until next April. So, we haven't had a chance yet to assess the positive impact that it can have on our communities. To be clear, this gave councils the choice to introduce a small charge on overnight accommodation after they had consulted with local residents and businesses. In Cardiff, we have chosen to introduce the levy, and it will come into effect next April. Anglesey, Conwy and Gwynedd councils are currently consulting, and they will make their decisions later this year. The challenges and the opportunities around the visitor economy will ebb and flow, and all councils are free to make their decisions in the future. And that's exactly the point here: this is a great example of devolving power beyond the Senedd, taking decisions closer to the people who live there. Reform would have you believe that this is a tourism tax—they call it so, and they say that it's going to cost people in the future. On this idea that it is going to deter people from coming to Wales and spending their money here, the truth is that this is a visitor levy where local councils choose to adopt it and decide. It's £1.30 for a night. You can't even get a pint or a coffee for that much money. That's what we're talking about here—a very small contribution from people who have chosen to visit Wales, which will collectively make a real big difference. Councils who adopt the visitor levy will spend that money on improving their tourism offer, protecting local nature and landmarks, and promoting Welsh culture. Surely these are objectives that we all support. Most importantly, the people who choose to come to Wales will be happy to support them too. This is a way of making sure that our visitor economy grows and the benefits feed back into our communities, creating good jobs, revitalising our towns and cities and protecting Welsh culture for future generations to enjoy. This is all about making sure that the infrastructure works as well. This Government's amendment makes reference to two specific policies—
7. Reform UK Debate: The tourism sector en
Yes, go for it.
7. Reform UK Debate: The tourism sector en
The fact of the matter is it's not something that we're going to agree on. So, let me just finish off. First, on keeping the 182-day occupancy threshold for self-catering businesses under review, we absolutely support keeping this policy under review to ensure that it works as fairly and effectively as possible. Secondly, on the visitor levy, I've already set out the benefits. It's common practice, it happens across many parts of the world, and Scotland are now also looking to follow suit. This is ultimately all about choice. It's about giving choice and power to local people, to local councils, so that decisions that affect their communities can be made in those same communities. So, we will be supporting the Government amendment and we will continue to push for a thriving tourism economy all over Wales.
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Diolch, Deputy Llywydd. I was going to say 'Llywydd' there, but Deputy Llywydd, of course. I think, from our perspective, we clearly do share your ambition for a new type of Wales, a reinvigorated Wales, a Wales that attracts more investment and ultimately creates good jobs, fair work jobs here in Wales. Now, I share a lot of the frustration, though, that we've been hearing across this Chamber for some time now. We keep hearing about—. In the past few weeks of this Government, a lot of stuff has been said about commissions, about reviews, about steering groups, about new people coming around the table, some old people coming around the table, and it's like pass the parcel or everyone seems to be running after each other's chair. But when you talk to people outside the Senedd, all they want to know is: these internal arrangements that we have, are they going to make any meaningful difference in the real big bad world out there? Because we know that when it comes to business development and inward investment, those are absolutely important priorities for the Welsh Government, and we know that and we support that. Of course, we were responsible for setting up the Development Bank of Wales, which gives really good financial support to lots of start-ups and scaling up, and of course Business Wales has already been mentioned, which offers significant specialist guidance and support. And in 2024, against all of the UK trends, Wales did see a 23 per cent increase in foreign direct investment, and as a result, in terms of all of the nations and regions, we did have the second highest percentage increase both in terms of projects, but also new jobs. We had the Wales investment summit. We managed to secure £16 billion towards creating jobs and capital investment projects over the coming years. But, ultimately, what we want to know is: is anything going to change? Are we going to do better? Because, of course, like many other people, I've been meeting with lots of different business organisations, but also workforce, the Federation of Small Businesses, big employers like GE Aerospace in Nantgarw, and SpaceForge in Rumney. All of that really shows us that, with the right kinds of conditions, and the future of advanced manufacturing, being made right here in Wales, there are some amazing things that we can do. And businesses, whether they're big or small, keep telling us the same thing. They need certainty. They really need that certainty, but they also need that speed when it comes to making decisions. We talk a lot about growth, and we talk about investment, and we talk about innovation. But what people are saying is that they’re really scratching their heads, trying to figure out what is this complicated new network. Yet another structure that's being set up. And of course, you mentioned that you've now got a new chair in the coming weeks, another man with a plan, and we will know who else is going to be around the table as well. So, for me, it's a case of a real practical question here about resources. When will the new agency get new staff? Are there going to be any new staff? Or will they simply be shuffled across from other parts of Welsh Government, existing departments? And how much of this is actually going to cost the Welsh public, businesses, taxpayers? All of us in this Senedd, we've got a job to do in terms of scrutinising. And as someone who's a member of the economy committee, again, we will probably be asking you to present to us and explain to us where exactly we are going. Because when the old development agency was brought into Government, the thinking then was that Ministers should be directly responsible, and that we shouldn't be passing the buck. And my real anxiety and worry is that it's going to be the same thing all over again, and we then end up with another situation where we have yet another bonfire of quangos, and we go back to where we were. And if targets end up being missed or, say, businesses then end up being unhappy, who will actually be accountable? Will it be yourself, Cabinet Minister, or will it be the board of the agency? And while you're at it, can you please also clarify the constitutional status of the organisation? Are we going to need to legislate at some point for it to get going? Is it going to be like a sponsored body? Is it going to be an executive agency? Is it going to be a public corporation? Or is it going to be something else? Also, Minister, you mentioned trade unions, and you will know the social partnership public procurement legislation makes it very clear that employers, Government and trade unions have to be around the table and make joint decisions for the future of Wales. So, how will the agency then work with the social partnership council, so that all of those individuals are involved in anything in relation to industrial strategy, investment, and also workforce planning? Ultimately, this is about jobs, jobs for the future, high-skilled jobs, and young people in Wales are really watching to see whether or not your Government is going to do any better than we did.
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2. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Education and the Welsh Language en
Minister, I think it's really important that we frame this issue properly, because while challenging behaviour is obviously a real concern, we're hearing very clearly from unions, but also staff on the ground, that it is increasingly linked to unmet needs, particularly around mental health and additional learning needs. Of course, our ALN reforms are about getting the right level of support in place early through a person-centred, needs-led system, but what teachers and teaching assistants are continuously telling us is that too often they're being left to manage increasingly complex needs without it. So while some may frame this purely as an issue of discipline, isn't the reality that where needs aren't being met early, those pressures are simply playing out and compounding in the classroom? With that in mind, how is the Government ensuring that mental health provision, including school counselling and wider ALN support, is being properly resourced on the ground so that we're backing the staff rather than simply expecting to absorb this one?
7. Reform UK Debate: Nation of Sanctuary en
Before I say anything more, I just wanted to say that I'm moving the joint amendment that we've co-submitted with the progressive voices in the Senedd, I am proud to say—with Plaid, the Greens and the Lib Dems. Now, this debate is actually not about refugees. It's about whether Wales chooses confidence or fear. A couple of weeks ago, of course, I spoke in the Chamber. It has been well reported. I spoke about my dad and how Port Talbot welcomed him, Cardiff welcomed him, Bridgend welcomed him. And I'm really proud of the fact that I now get to represent Caerdydd Ffynnon Taf, and, of course, the amazing people who raised me, some of whom are here today. Because today we are debating, actually, the kind of Wales that we are choosing to be. I think back to the early 1990s, when I was a pupil at Cathays High School, and refugees arrived from war-torn countries. They came to us as children. They carried lots of trauma, uncertainty and experiences that most of us could never actually imagine. At that point, we didn't actually have the kind of support that exists today, but we had something else. We had an instinctive understanding. Through a simple language club, volunteers like me helped lots of people to learn English, to find their feet and to actually begin to feel like they belonged. Even at that age, we understood something much simpler. These were vulnerable people here in Wales who actually needed our help. Because that instinct of solidarity, of compassion is not new. It is part of our Welsh history, of our actual fabric. We welcomed evacuees during the second world war. We offered refuge to those fleeing the Spanish civil war. And our national health service, born out of the Tredegar Medical Aid Society and the vision of Aneurin Bevan—a system built on the idea that everyone contributes and everyone is cared for—there is nothing more Welsh than that. And yet today—yet today—we have Reform who would have us believe that actually it is something very different, that the nation of sanctuary is somehow responsible for pressures on our NHS, for housing shortages, for insecurity in our communities. It isn't. That isn't evidence—that's scapegoating. So, let us be clear about what the policy actually is all about. Now, the Welsh Government, you're right, does not actually decide who comes to the country. It doesn't control the borders. It doesn't grant asylum. Because those decisions, of course, are held in Westminster. But the nation of sanctuary actually begins after those decisions are already taken. It asks a very, very simple question: when people are already here, legally by then, actually, whether they are Ukrainian families escaping war, whether they are Afghan families who stood alongside British forces, or Syrian families actually fleeing civil war, do we help them to rebuild and to contribute, or do we actually make it harder for them to feel like they belong? Now, integration isn't charity, it's common sense. A person who learns English or Welsh, finds work and contributes isn't actually a burden. They are an absolute golden asset. So, the real question is this: can Wales actually afford failed integration? Because exclusion costs us money. Isolation costs us money. Integration actually saves it. And in Wales, we don't just actually talk about integration, we deliver it. So, through programmes like the WARD scheme, the Wales Asylum Seeker and Refugee Doctors and Dentists programme, we are supporting refugee doctors and dentists to requalify and work in our NHS. The doctor you support today may be the one that is actually treating you tomorrow. That is what the nation of sanctuary looks like in practice. And we already see that contribution across our health service, of course, and many other areas as well. Shortly before the election, I met with the British Association of Physicians of Indian Origin, BAPIO, representing doctors of not only Indian origin but also international origin sustaining our NHS every single day—people who have chosen to live here, to serve our communities and to care for people that we represent. That isn't actually a weakness, that's one of our greatest strengths, that we can actually help Welsh families or help those also seeking sanctuary. Now, some people think that there's a bit of a toss-up here, but actually it isn't true. No patient is treated faster because someone is denied the chance to integrate. No waiting list is ever shortened by exclusion. Scapegoats don't actually fix our public services. Because when you encourage fear instead of evidence, division instead of solutions, that isn't leadership. And Wales should never, ever get used to that kind of politics. Because, in Wales, we understood something really early on, much deeper. Our communities are stronger when people belong, safer when neighbours know each other, more prosperous when everyone can contribute. Belonging builds nations; division never actually ever has. So, let's be clear: this debate isn't really about refugees, it's about us. It's about us. What kind of Wales do we choose to be: a Wales that governs with some confidence, or one that retreats into fear? I know which Wales I believe in: a Wales that's compassionate enough to belong, confident enough to integrate and strong enough to reject the politics of fear. A Wales that understands something simple—that we actually look after one another. That is the Wales that I will always be proud to call home. [Applause.]
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3. Business Statement and Announcement en
Trefnydd, will you make some time for a statement from the relevant Minister updating the Senedd on the Welsh Government's new industrial strategy and, of course, the associated skills strategy that really should run alongside it, including some detail on when that will be published, and, crucially, what are we going to be expecting in terms of delivery of real, good-quality, fair work jobs?
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Cabinet Minister, it's great to hear you use the words 'safety', 'resilience', 'robust planning' and so much more. As someone who spent many a winter in and out of hospital because of respiratory problems, I have seen first-hand what the state of Heath hospital looks like—the University Hospital of Wales, of course; we call it 'Heath' as locals here. We've continued to hear about the serious concerns about the conditions that have been raised by staff, by unions, by the public, and, of course, we've all seen the holes in the ceilings and the buckets catching the rain. And, of course, staff have often talked about how difficult it is to manoeuvre people around the hospital because the lifts are out of service. I recognise that rebuilding can't happen before this winter, but can you give us some reassurance that you will focus on resilience and patient safety and that you accept that the current condition of the Heath hospital presents a growing risk to the public? Will you confirm that rebuilding is absolutely necessary and set out what concrete steps your Government will be taking to make sure that that happens?
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1. Questions to the Trefnydd, Chief Whip and Cabinet Minister for Culture and Sport en
We all know the power of sport, and we've been talking about how it can bring communities together, break down lots of barriers and so forth. We also know how we have lots of benefits from it, including physical and mental health, and so much more, but I would also like to raise the issue of accessibility. Yesterday, I spoke about transport and the need to have accessible transport, particularly in relation to our high streets. But whether you're taking part or whether you're just a fan watching, there is so much work to be done here. Of course, Cardiff is going to be hosting the opening fixture of Euro 2028. So, we're going to have to do everything in our power not only to really sell our amazing, great city and Wales as a whole, but to make sure that everyone can enjoy that tournament. So, could the Cabinet Minister please tell me how she's going to be working with colleagues, but also with organisations like Disability Wales, to make sure that everyone has that equal opportunity to enjoy the sport, not only physically, but also actually to participate? And we're talking about people with all kinds of disabilities, in the broader sense.
9. Short Debate: Life expectancy inequalities in Cardiff’s southern arc en
So, you've heard all the stats, and we can talk about the socioeconomic issues, but what we have to really address is what that future looks like for people in Wales. I think that the fact that Cardiff Council took the decision to prioritise the southern arc is very clear. The fact that we have seen the twenty-first century schools programme, for example, all the new schools that we've had in Wales—. And I would say to the Government now that they should really stick to that because it is genuinely bringing about changes. And, of course, projects like the Cardiff Parkway, that's going to bring 6,000 new jobs to Wales. Now, the best way out of poverty is to know that you've got a future ahead of you, particularly for young people. And again, when it comes to social housing, when it comes to building affordable housing, the previous Government started that work. We hope that the new Government continues that work, because people seem to think that, when it comes to Cardiff, the streets are paved with gold. They honestly aren't, because, actually, as the Welsh index of multiple deprivation tells us, in Cardiff East alone, 10 out of 23 neighbourhoods are ranked amongst the most deprived 10 per cent in Wales, which again backs that up. Now, I'm someone who comes from a working-class background. I was in receipt of free school meals before they were universal, where, actually, it was a bit embarrassing for you to have a ticket. It was a ticket system. And to be honest with you, many of us used to sell that ticket so that we could get chips from the Chinese chippy across the road, right, because that was what it was like back in the day. So, yes, there are lots of things that we are doing, but the reality is that unless we actually really focus on the big issues that matter to the everyday person, put money back into people's pockets, we are not going to see any changes. We can say all the nice things and we can talk about the Michael Marmot review and all the other reviews—which, honestly, I could get my list out; I've sat around so many different tables and conducted so many of these reviews myself—but no-one is ever going to forgive us unless, actually, we see change on the ground. There's work that's already commenced, let's keep going and let's not get to a position where, unfortunately, we see funding taken out from a particular council that is doing a lot of good work in this area.
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1. Questions to the First Minister en
We all think of lots of different cafes and bars and restaurants, and lots of local shops that we all often frequent. La Mina on Albany Road is one of my personal favourites, of course. And we always think that they're going to always be there, but in reality, of course, they rely on local people to come out and shop there. So, I'm really glad that the Government wants to encourage people to shop local and to do all of the right things. But, ultimately, it is also about accessibility, and transport is a big part of that. So, what steps are the Government going to now be taking to ensure that public transport, including accessible buses and taxis, and accessible trains, including the new stations planned for Cardiff East, Cardiff parkway, are then fully integrated into regeneration plans, particularly, of course, the importance of bus franchising, so that we can actually help people to shop local and not hinder them with travel problems?
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First of all, the COVID inquiry, as I understand it, did wrap up and did actually produce a whole heap of recommendations for Wales, as it did for other nations. And, of course, Plaid Cymru did promise the COVID bereaved families an inquiry. But getting back to the real point that I wanted to make, which is that, as I said before, efficiencies can be seen as a euphemism for cuts. So, which part of the Welsh financial budget are you going to end up cutting to transfer over to the national development agency? What target are you going to be setting in terms of inward investment, but also, what are these new jobs that people are going to see in Wales? Are they going to be jobs that we already know about? What are these jobs going to be? What is the target in relation to that? But also, how many new businesses are you then looking to see established through the new national development agency, and have you got a target for that too?
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1. Questions to the First Minister en
First Minister, like many in this Chamber, clearly, I share the fact that I am a proud child of immigrants myself, and I'm also really proud of the fact that my late father chose Wales over and above England, where he first arrived. He came here, he looked around him and actually the community of Bridgend and Port Talbot made him feel welcome. Now, the nation of sanctuary, ultimately, is about keeping our communities safe, and when people are coming over here—. And, quite often, people are coming here temporarily because they are seeking refuge because they are scared. Now, to conflate the issue of immigration with the nation of sanctuary and then, of course, some of the vile stuff that we've just been hearing, is actually really shocking. I think it's disturbing. It's disturbing for the children who visit the Senedd, who will be sitting up in the gallery watching our debate here. And the fact that we can actually be having this type of interchange in a place like this I think is pretty damning and telling of some of the voices, unfortunately, that are here. Given that immigration and security checks are actually governed by robust UK-wide systems, and, of course, the Wales nation of sanctuary is about integration and support, does the First Minister, then, agree that suggesting this link between sanctuary and risks to public safety is not supported by evidence and actually risks unnecessarily stoking up fear amongst our communities and amongst the public of Wales?
2. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Government Effectiveness and the Constitution en
I'm declaring an interest as a former national officer for the PCS union, which was one of the unions for the civil service, so I do know the civil service pretty well. Does the Minister agree that reform shouldn't be a euphemism for cuts and that the priority must be ensuring that the civil service has the capacity and the capability to deliver for the people of Wales, which ultimately means strengthening delivery, not cutting the Welsh civil service? What I would like to also hear is the words 'union' and 'social partnership', because you can't do this work without having the unions on your side and part of that process too.
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1. Questions to the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Minister for Social Justice and Equality en
First of all, can I begin by congratulating the Cabinet Minister on her role? I welcome the ambition that she shared yesterday. A lot of what you have already said in the Senedd very much chimes with me personally, but also with us as a Labour group. You know that I have given evidence to various different committees in the Senedd, including the Equality and Social Justice Committee. We were very clear then about the scale of the challenge and the urgency that was ultimately going to be required. Of course, lots of this builds on the work of Jane Hutt, the infamous Jane Hutt, of course, the previous Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, who very much led on tackling child poverty and widening equality objectives across Government. As I say, there's common ground there. But we've had strategies before and we've had the commitments, and what people have always said is that there's a sense of urgency. Again yesterday you spoke about targets, but how will the public actually see that progress being made? What data will be published? How often will it be published? And how will we know if inequality is truly falling?
1. Questions to the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Minister for Social Justice and Equality en
I guess the question now is not what you intend to do, it's what you'll actually deliver. What changes are people going to see and feel in their everyday lives? This is what people ask us all the time, whether it's at the bus stop, whether it's on the doorstep. I hear it in places where people are not talking about policy making or anything—they're talking the language of survival, ultimately. They say that the Senedd has got bigger, 'There is all of you sat around there making all these decisions, but how is my life actually going to change, and if my bills are coming down, and if I'm not having to worry about the bailiff, I can actually afford to buy my kids school shoes or that extra pair of trainers or whatever.' Will the Cabinet Minister be able to point to one concrete change that she announced yesterday that will reduce the cost of living for families or improve pay for workers in the next 12 months?
2. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability cy
4. Pa gamau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i gryfhau mesurau i warchod ac adfer natur a mannau gwyrdd? OQ64093
Official English translation
4. What action is the Welsh Government taking to strengthen the protection and restoration of nature and green spaces? OQ64093
No broadcast timestamp published, so this contribution cannot be placed on the stage. Senedd TV Read this in the Record
2. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability en
Thank you to the Cabinet Minister for his response. I'm really proud of the fact that we have 12 Green Flag award winners in my constituency of Caerdydd Ffynnon Taf, including my personal favourite, Roath park, for those of you who haven't been there. I spent a lot of my childhood there, growing up, and of course the Llanishen reservoir as well, which is now open to everyone to enjoy after a very hard-fought campaign by local residents and Labour representatives. At this moment, I'd also like to pay tribute, of course, to the volunteers and the residents who run the community gardens—places like Whitchurch community garden, which I visited with the former Member for Cardiff North, one of my friends and mentors, Julie Morgan, who has always been a champion of green spaces in our great city. These places help people find a moment of peace amid all the hustle and bustle of everyday life, and enjoying that environmental space right on your doorstep is really important. But, more than that, community gardens obviously also help provide an opportunity for people to get involved, meet their neighbours and friends, but also learn new skills. Can the Cabinet Minister assure me that the Government will continue to support and strengthen programmes like Local Places for Nature, which has helped create or enhance more than 200 community nature projects in Cardiff, many of them in children's schools?
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Firstly, I'd like to echo the concerns in relation to the fire last week and, of course, thank many of the firefighters, who made sure that, despite the damage, no-one was physically hurt, and the wider support that was there. This week, I think what we're all really concerned about is that electricity connectivity problems could delay the new electric arc furnace for as long as eight months. Llywydd, I know that in your role as the MS for Afan Ogwr Rhondda, you've already been in contact with Tata unions and the Welsh Government, urging speedy progress from all partners, including the National Grid. Now, according to reports, Tata desperately needs an upgraded electricity grid to function, of course, and many jobs are going to be absolutely dependent on this, and yet it looks like much of that needed investment in upgrading our electricity grid could be delayed because of political posturing over pylons. Now, we all know that undergrounding can be expensive—and estimates suggest up to 10 times more expensive—and this could obviously, then, lead to lots of long delays. So, the way that I see it is that it will be Welsh families and workers who will end up paying the price, with higher bills at home, and risks to crucial projects like the EAF at Port Talbot. So, will the Cabinet Minister now end that uncertainty and clarify this Government's preference towards underground cabling over the course of this Senedd term?
6. Welsh Labour Debate: School support staff negotiating body en
I'd like to declare an interest as the former general secretary of TUC Cymru. I spent many years with the workers that we are talking about, actually putting that campaign together, and what it always came down to is: have we got the money? We got to a position where the money was there and there were a lot of things that we could have done. Then, of course, we are now in a position where, at a UK level, we do have the single negotiating body. Here in Wales, we are clearly going to be left behind if we're not careful. That is my real, genuine concern. Everything that has just been said, and other contributions as well, yes, they are correct. This is about workloads, but, ultimately, this is about pay inequality, because nine in 10 of these individuals are actually women. Just like we are seeing in the dispute with midwives, in terms of the health visitors, again, it's women. So, when do we get to a point where we say that we are going to deal with the situation that's in front of us? Because if we can find money for childcare, we should be able to find money for these individuals, and we shouldn't have to wait for the perfect formula here, because the work has already been done. The single staff negotiating body will not only address the pay inequality issue, but it will have the official structure, where people can come in, bring their various different bits of research et cetera. But, ultimately, this is about collective bargaining for those workers. We're talking about cooks, we're talking about cleaners, we're talking about admin staff, we're talking about the teaching assistants—lots of different individuals, who, as we say, look after our children, the unsung heroes, the many individuals who we clapped during COVID and we said that we were going to give them something different after. So, honestly, my plea to the Government at this moment in time is: please let's move on and let's get this done. Let's not just dilly-dally and try and figure out what the perfect structure is going to look like. The unions are very clear, the work has been done, like Lynne said, the previous Government—. This was the issue, honestly, that was popular on the doorstep. In the same way that childcare was popular on the doorstep, this issue was really popular on the doorstep. There are going to be more winners than losers if we go ahead and make this happen as quickly as possible.
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1. Questions to the First Minister en
It is an absolute tragedy that anyone in Wales has to experience homelessness, but it is especially damaging to young people who have to live with the stark consequences of poverty for the rest of their lives. As a step towards eradicating homelessness, Welsh Labour pledged to end the use of B&Bs as temporary accommodation for children by the end of this Senedd term. For the sake of our children, our teenagers and for their futures, when will this Government be able to say to people in every single part of Wales that they have reached the same milestone?
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1. Questions to the First Minister en
You'd expect me to talk about fair work, as the former general secretary of TUC Cymru—so that’s me declaring an interest. Fair work was a key priority for the last Welsh Government, and because many workers in Wales—
1. Questions to the First Minister cy
9. Sut y mae'r Prif Weinidog yn hyrwyddo gwaith teg i weithwyr y sector cyhoeddus? OQ64073 [R]
Official English translation
9. How will the First Minister deliver fair work for public sector workers across Wales? OQ64073 [R]
No broadcast timestamp published, so this contribution cannot be placed on the stage. Senedd TV Read this in the Record
1. Questions to the First Minister en
I'm a newbie in town, so I'm still learning. As I was saying, fair work was obviously a key priority for the last Welsh Labour Government, because lots of workers in Wales still face serious issues such as low pay, job insecurity and weak employment rights, which the UK Labour Government is now addressing by introducing the employment rights legislation. Having addressed the TUC congress, it's really good to hear that you are committed to fair work, but the proof will always be in the pudding. It's very important that every public sector in Wales understands that they will not be in a position where, all of a sudden, they will see their terms and conditions downgraded or Welshified negatively.
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Thank you to the Cabinet Minister for his statement. We've heard a lot about the Government's plans, of course, about the new Welsh development agency, but people aren't asking for promises—they want action, and they want it now. Creating a new sort of agency takes time, it takes effort, it takes money and it takes focus, of course, and people in Wales don't want or need quangos or structures just for the sake of it. What we need is more well-paid, skilled and secure work in every single part of our country, because right now families are genuinely feeling the pressure. Making ends meet, paying the bills—that is the stark reality. Just last week, we saw the energy price cap go up again. Too many people are still facing impossible choices, rationing their energy at home, with adults skipping their meals in order to make sure that their own children are being fed. Those are the things—and just getting into debt—those are the realities of the everyday person out there. The people that we represent, they can't afford to wait any longer. So, our focus, my focus, will be on the outcomes for working people. How many well-paid jobs are going to be created in all of our communities? That will be the measure of success. In the 12 months leading up to the Wales investment summit, Wales attracted £4.6 billion of inward investment. That meant real opportunities and real jobs all over the country. Now, we know that Plaid talk about their ambition for Wales, and, of course, we all share that. We know, because—. The reality is: will those actions then match it? Can the Cabinet Secretary tell us whether his new development agency will beat this figure? Welsh Labour established, of course, the Welsh way of working, that Social Partnership and Public Procurement (Wales) Act 2023, hand in hand with the trade union movement. So, I will ask, of course: will social partnership remain at the heart of decisions that you are then taking in terms of the development agency and the results it produces in terms of jobs, investment and opportunities? Right now, we're seeing major changes to the economy and, of course, jobs being done in Wales due to the adoption of artificial intelligence and the transition to net zero. If these are done well, with workers at the centre of Government thinking, we can see real opportunities. The Cabinet Secretary—the Cabinet Minister—talks about the need to close that productivity gap. So, when we're thinking about the opportunities of AI in various sectors and services, we need to then, of course, make sure that any economic reward lifts workers up, not comes at their expense and at the expense of their jobs. We're being told that we need to move faster on greener energy to create jobs and bring down bills, but, at the same time, the Government is creating uncertainty about how that energy is going to be delivered, because, again, the reality is this: the fastest and most affordable way to deliver green energy at scale is wind power, supported by overhead infrastructure. So, which is it: getting that energy to people quickly and affordably or holding it up, with higher costs and delay? People want cheaper, cleaner energy, but they also need it delivered quickly and at scale. Delay, uncertainty and inaction will not bring down bills. So, how will the Cabinet Minister ensure that these decisions don't slow down investment, push up costs and block the very same jobs that they promised to create? And how will you then, of course, make sure that delivery is fair, that communities like mine in Caerdydd Ffynnon Taf, which feel very much left behind for too long, actually see and feel that benefit first? Because people in Wales have heard, honestly, enough about ambition and they are tired of the pilots. They want things to go and they want things to move really quickly.
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Because people in Wales have heard—. People in Wales are very clear: they need more money in their pockets.
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They need more money in their pockets. They need more secure work. They need jobs and opportunities in the place that they call home—good, fair work jobs. So, can the Cabinet Minister be clear: when will these jobs be created, where will they be created, and how will people know that progress is actually being made?
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3. Statement by the First Minister: The First Minister's Priorities en
In my constituency of Caerdydd Ffynnon Taf, and in communities across Wales, hard-working school support staff are still only paid during term time. Welsh Labour committed to a school support staff negotiating body, and that framework is very much ready. This is all about pay, leading to fairer wages, ending postcode pay gaps; job security, making sure that people have clearer contracts, fewer short-term roles; pupil support staff, making sure that gives schools an opportunity on better recruitment and retention; stability for children; equality—because, of course, 90 per cent of school support staff are women—and fair pay would lift thousands of families out of in-work poverty. So, as the TUC Congress now kicks off today, calling for a better deal for workers, will the First Minister now commit to delivering it at pace?
Roll-call divisions, by sitting day
70 recorded votes. Official division result.
- For
- 31
- Against
- 20
- Abstain
- 0
- Did not vote
- 19
Counted by Siambr: a sum of the official division rows.
For Against Abstain Unlit desk: did not vote
3 divisions
Members' Legislative Debate under Standing Order 11.21(iv): An NHS first Bill
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- Motion For Agreed
Reform UK Debate: Prostate cancer strategy
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- Motion For Agreed
Welsh Labour Debate: The M4 around Newport
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- Motion For Agreed
3 divisions
Reform UK Debate: Local referendums on council tax rises
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- Motion Against Not agreed
- Amendment 1tabled in the name of Heledd Fychan For Agreed
- Motion as amended For Agreed
6 divisions
Reform UK Debate: Regional rugby
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- Amendment 1tabled in the name of Heledd Fychan Against Not agreed
- Motion For Not agreed
Reform UK Debate: Access to HMOs and social housing for foreign nationals
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- Motion Against Not agreed
- Amendment 1tabled in the name of Heledd Fychan a Lynne Neagle For Agreed
- Motion as amended For Agreed
Member Debate under Standing Order 11.21(iv): Family Drug and Alcohol Courts
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- Motion For Agreed
1 division
Debate: Fiscal Reform
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- Motion For Agreed
4 divisions
Reform UK Debate: Default 20 mph speed limit
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- Motion Against Not agreed
- Amendment 1tabled in the name of Heledd Fychan For Agreed
- Motion as amended For Agreed
Welsh Conservatives Debate: The defence sector
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- Motion For Agreed
5 divisions
Reform UK Debate: Wales and the United Kingdom
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- Amendment 2tabled in the name of Lynne Neagle Did not vote Not agreed
- Motion as amended Did not vote Agreed
- Motion Did not vote Not agreed
- Amendment 1tabled in the name of Heledd Fychan Did not vote Agreed
Welsh Labour Debate: Further education
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- Motion Did not vote Agreed
10 divisions
Reform UK Debate: Grooming gangs
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- Motion Did not vote Not agreed
- Amendment 1tabled in the name of Heledd Fychan Did not vote Agreed
- Amendment 2tabled in the name of Paul Davies Did not vote Not agreed
- Motion as amended Did not vote Agreed
Reform UK Debate: Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board health visitor pay dispute
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- Motion Did not vote Not agreed
- Amendment 1tabled in the name of Heledd Fychan Did not vote Agreed
- Amendment 2tabled in the name of Heledd Fychan Did not vote Not agreed
- Amendment 4tabled in the name of Lynne Neagle Did not vote Agreed
- Motion as amended Did not vote Not agreed
- Amendment 3tabled in the name of Paul Davies Did not vote Not agreed
5 divisions
Welsh Conservatives Debate: Deposit-return scheme
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- Motion Against Not agreed
- Amendment 1tabled in the name of Heledd Fychan For Agreed
- Motion as amended For Agreed
Reform UK Debate: Bovine TB
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- Motion Against Agreed
Member Debate under Standing Order 11.21(iv): Young people and employment
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- Motion For Agreed
2 divisions
Legislative Consent Motion: Steel Industry (Nationalisation) Bill
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- Motion For Agreed
Debate: The First Supplementary Budget 2026-27
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- Motion Against Not agreed
4 divisions
Member Debate under Standing Order 11.21(iv): Ophthalmology services
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- Motion For Agreed
Reform UK Debate: The tourism sector
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- Motion Against Not agreed
- Amendment 1tabled in the name of Heledd Fychan For Agreed
- Motion as amended For Agreed
4 divisions
Debate: Fair Funding
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- Amendment 1tabled in the name of Lynne Neagle For Not agreed
- Amendment 2tabled in the name of Llŷr Powell Against Not agreed
- Amendment 3tabled in the name of Paul Davies Against Not agreed
- Motion Against Not agreed
4 divisions
Reform UK Debate: Nation of Sanctuary
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- Amendment 1tabled in the name of Heledd Fychan For Agreed
- Motion as amended For Agreed
- Motion Against Not agreed
Welsh Labour Debate: Funding for additional learning needs in the first Supplementary Budget 2026-27
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- Motion For Agreed
10 divisions
Welsh Conservatives Debate: Hospital services and hospital closures
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- Motion Against Not agreed
- Amendment 1tabled in the name of Heledd Fychan Against Not agreed
- Amendment 2tabled in the name of Lynne Neagle For Agreed
- Amendment 3tabled in the name of Llŷr Powell For Agreed
- Amendment 4tabled in the name of Lynne Neagle For Not agreed
- Motion as amended For Agreed
Reform UK Debate: A Welsh Rivers Act
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- Motion Against Not agreed
- Amendment 1tabled in the name of Heledd Fychan Against Not agreed
- Amendment 3tabled in the name of Paul Davies Against Not agreed
- Amendment 2tabled in the name of Lynne Neagle For Not agreed
4 divisions
Reform UK Debate: Government international spending
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- Motion Did not vote Not agreed
- Amendment 1tabled in the name of Heledd Fychan Did not vote Agreed
- Motion as amended Did not vote Agreed
Reform UK Debate: Statutory register for lobbyists
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- Motion Did not vote Agreed
5 divisions
Reform UK Debate: Childcare offer
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- Motion Against Not agreed
- Amendment 1tabled in the name of Heledd Fychan Against Agreed
- Amendment 2tabled in the name of Lynne Neagle For Agreed
- Motion as amended Against Agreed
Welsh Labour Debate: School support staff negotiating body
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- Motion For Agreed