Meetings

4.1 The Committee agreed the Order of Consideration.

NDM8968 Ken Skates (Clwyd South)

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

Supporting documents

Report of the Finance Committee

Government response to the Finance Committee report

The item started at 17.42

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

NDM8968 Ken Skates (Clwyd South)

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

The result was as follows:

The motion was agreed.

NDM8967 Ken Skates (Clwyd South)

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

Agrees to the general principles of the Bus Services (Wales) Bill.

The Bus Services (Wales) Bill and Explanatory Memorandum were laid before the Senedd on 31 March 2025.

The report of the Climate Change, Environment and Infrastructure Committee on the Bus Services (Wales) Bill was laid before the Senedd on 24 July 2025.

Supporting documents

Government response to the Climate Change, Environment and Infrastructure Committee report

Report of the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee

The item started at 17.42

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

NDM8967 Ken Skates (Clwyd South)

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

Agrees to the general principles of the Bus Services (Wales) Bill.

The Bus Services (Wales) Bill and Explanatory Memorandum were laid before the Senedd on 31 March 2025.

The report of the Climate Change, Environment and Infrastructure Committee on the Bus Services (Wales) Bill was laid before the Senedd on 24 July 2025.

The result was as follows:

The motion was agreed.

The Committee noted the correspondence from the Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales.

8.1 The Committee considered and agreed its draft report.

2.1 The Commitee considered the key issues paper and agreed conclusions and recommendations.

6.1 The Committee considered the draft report and agreed it with minor changes.

The Committee agreed its revised draft report.

Ken Skates MS, Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales

Alex Walters, Deputy Director, Public and Integrated Transport - Welsh Government

Hannah Dudley, Lawyer - Welsh Government

Catrin Dellar, Head of Bus Reform - Welsh Government

3.1 The Committee received evidence from the Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales and his officials.

Lee Robinson, Executive Director for Regional Transport and Integration, Bus Reform Lead - Transport for Wales

Richard Marwood, Bus Programme Director - Transport for Wales

2.1 The Committee received evidence from Transport for Wales.

The Committee considered its draft report and agreed to consider a revised version at a future meeting. The Committee also noted correspondence from the Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales.

Rhian Bowen-Davies - Older People’s Commissioner for Wales

Rocio Cifuentes - Children's Commissioner for Wales

Llŷr ap Gareth, Head of Policy - Federation of Small Businesses Wales

Nathan Owen, External Affairs Manager - Royal National Institute of Blind People Cymru

4.1 The Committee received evidence from the Older People’s Commissioner for Wales, the Children's Commissioner for Wales, Federation of Small Businesses Wales and Royal National Institute of Blind People Cymru.

David Beer, Senior engagement manager - Transport Focus

Barclay Davies OBE, Director for Wales - Bus Users Cymru

3.1 The Committee received evidence from Transport Focus and Bus Users Cymru.

Jason Prince, Director - Urban Transport Group

Matt Goggins, Director of Bus Reform - South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority Executive

2.1 The Committee received evidence from the Urban Transport Group and South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority Executive.

Cllr David Bithell, Welsh Local Government Association Transport Spokesperson and Vice Chair of Wrexham County Borough Council Executive Board - Welsh Local Government Association

Richard Cope, Chair of ATCO Cymru and Team Manager Passenger Trasport Unit - Newport City Council

Katie Wilby, Chief Officer, Streetscene and Transportation - Flintshire County Council

John Forsey, Head of Highways, Transport and Recycling - Powys County Council

8.1 The Committee received evidence from the Welsh Local Government Association, Association of Transport Co-ordinating Officers Cymru, Flintshire County Council and Powys County Council.

Gemma Lelliott, Director for Wales – Community Transport Association Cymru

Caroline Wilson, General Manager – Green Dragon Community Transport

Richard Davies MBE - Voluntary Emergency Services Transport (VEST)

Beverley Mather, Manager – Denbighshire Dial-a-Ride

4.1 The Committee received evidence from Community Transport Association Cymru, Green Dragon Community Transport, Voluntary Emergency Services Transport and Denbighshire Dial-a-Ride.

Aaron Hill, Director – Confederation of Passenger Transport Cymru

Scott Pearson, Chair – Coach and Bus Association Cymru

3.1 The Committee received evidence from Confederation of Passengers Transport Cymru and Coach and Bus Association Cymru.

The Committee considered the evidence received from the Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales.

Ken Skates MS, Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales

Alex Walters, Deputy Director, Public and Integrated Transport

Hannah Dudley, Lawyer, Welsh Government

Catrin Dellar, Head of Bus Reform, Welsh Government

The Bus Services (Wales) Bill, as introduced

Explanatory Memorandum

Statement of policy intent

The Committee received evidence from the Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales in relation to the Bus Services (Wales) Bill.

7.1 The Committee considered the evidence received.

Ken Skates MS, Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales, Welsh Government

Alex Walters, Deputy Director, Public and Integrated Transport, Welsh Government

Andrew Hobden, Economist, Welsh Government

James Burgess, Head of Bus and Community Transport, Welsh Government

Supporting documents:

Bus Services (Wales) Bill, as introduced

Explanatory Memorandum

5.1 The Committee took evidence on the Bus Services (Wales) Bill from Ken Skates MS, Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales, Welsh Government; Alex Walters, Deputy Director, Public and Integrated Transport, Welsh Government; Andrew Hobden, Economist, Welsh Government; and James Burgess, Head of Bus and Community Transport, Welsh Government.

5.2 The Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales agreed to provide a note on the following:

·         the generalised journey time approach;

·         the cost of transitioning to a zero-emissions bus fleet;

·         the research being undertaken by the Wales Centre for Public Policy on success factors for contracting and awarding bus franchising, once this research has been completed;

·         the methodology adopted by Transport for Wales in developing the ‘aspirational network’;

·         the 10 full-time equivalents required for the bus reform model which has been estimated in the Regulatory Impact Assessment at a cost of approximately £1.2 million per year, in particular, further detail on how the £115,000 annual salary for staff was calculated, and a break down of the functions of these roles and the costs associated with them.

Ken Skates MS, Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales

Alex Walters, Deputy Director, Public and Integrated Transport - Welsh Government

Hannah Dudley, Lawyer - Welsh Government

Catrin Dellar, Head of Bus Reform - Welsh Government

Bus Services (Wales) Bill – Bill Summary (PDF 951KB)

Bus Services (Wales) Bill, as introduced (PDF 356KB)

Explanatory Memorandum (incorporating the Regulatory Impact Assessment) (PDF 2.3MB)

2.1 The Committee received evidence from the Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales and his officials.

Alex Walters, Deputy Director, Public and Integrated Transport - Welsh Government

James Burgess, Head of Bus and Community Transport - Welsh Government

Catrin Dellar, Head of Bus Reform - Welsh Government

Nathalie Wickens, Bus Bill Policy Lead - Welsh Government

Bus Services (Wales) Bill – Bill Summary (PDF 951KB)

Bus Services (Wales) Bill, as introduced (PDF 356KB)

Explanatory Memorandum (incorporating the Regulatory Impact Assessment) (PDF 2.3MB)

2.1 The Committee received evidence from Welsh Government officials.