Agenda and minutes

This meeting was held in a hybrid format, with some Members in Siambr Hywel, Tŷ Hywel and others joining by video-conference.

The Presiding Officer will call party spokespeople to ask questions without notice to the Cabinet Secretary after Question 2.  

View Questions

The item started at 13.30

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

The Presiding Officer will call party spokespeople to ask questions without notice to the Cabinet Secretary after Question 2. 
View Questions

The item started at 14.20

Questions 1, 2, 4 and 6 to 9 were asked. Question 6 was answered by the Minister for Further and Higher Education. Questions 3 and 5 were not asked. The Presiding Officer invited party spokespeople to ask questions to the Cabinet Secretary after question 2.

To be answered by the Counsel General and Minister for Delivery
Luke Fletcher (South Wales West): What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the impact on Wales of the UK Government's decision that post-Brexit regional funding in Wales will be administered by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government rather than by the Welsh Government?

The item started at 15.08

Answered by the Counsel General and Minister for Delivery
Luke Fletcher (South Wales West): What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the impact on Wales of the UK Government's decision that post-Brexit regional funding in Wales will be administered by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government rather than by the Welsh Government?

The item started at 15.14

Joyce Watson made a statement on - World Refill Day (Monday 16 June) and City to Sea’s running a ‘5 Day Challenge’ campaign (16 to 20 June).

Sioned Williams made a statement on - Learning Disability Week (16 to 22 June).

David Rees made a statement on Port Talbot Panthers – off to the world cup.

NDM8931 Carolyn Thomas (North Wales)

To propose that the Senedd:

Notes the petition P-06-1365 Re-open railway lines to connect the north and south of Wales which received 12,936 signatures.

The item started at 15.21

NDM8931 Carolyn Thomas (North Wales)

To propose that the Senedd:

Notes the petition P-06-1365 Re-open railway lines to connect the north and south of Wales which received 12,936 signatures.

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

NDM8929 Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Orders 33.6 and 33.8:

Suspends Standing Order 13.6 to allow Members to contribute on more than one occasion during the Open Debate on NDM8914 in Plenary on Wednesday 18 June 2025.

The item started at 15.55

NDM8929 Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Orders 33.6 and 33.8:

Suspends Standing Order 13.6 to allow Members to contribute on more than one occasion during the Open Debate on NDM8914 in Plenary on Wednesday 18 June 2025.

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

NDM8914 Heledd Fychan (South Wales Central)

Arts and Culture - nice to have or integral to the future of Wales?

Supporters
Sioned Williams (South Wales West)

The item started at 15.56

NDM8914 Heledd Fychan (South Wales Central)

Arts and Culture - nice to have or integral to the future of Wales?

Supporters
Sioned Williams (South Wales West)

NDM8930 Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Regrets that this month marks six years since the M4 relief road project was scrapped.

2. Calls on the Welsh Government to deliver an M4 relief road.

The following amendments were tabled:  
Amendment 1 Heledd Fychan (South Wales Central) 
 Delete all and replace with:
To propose that the Senedd:
1. Notes that this month marks six years since the decision not to proceed with the M4 Relief Road project.
2. Regrets:
a)    the real terms decrease in Wales's capital budget caused by the latest UK Government spending review, which will severely impede Wales's ability to invest in large-scale infrastructure projects, including on an M4 relief road project; and
b)    the failure of Welsh Government to quickly refocus funding originally earmarked for the M4 relief road project towards an alternative vision for a sustainable integrated Welsh transport network, including giving priority to addressing the congestion issues around Newport.
If amendment 1 is agreed, amendment 2 will be de-selected.   

Amendment 2 Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)
Delete all and replace with: 
To propose that the Senedd:
1. Recognises the need for an integrated, attractive and sustainable transport network which supports the people and economy of the region as recommended in the South East Wales Transport Commission (the Burns Commission) as a sustainable and affordable alternative to a new M4 motorway.
2. Deplores the empty promises and lack of funding from past Conservative governments for the non-devolved recommendations of the South East Wales Transport Commission as viable alternatives to the M4 relief road.
3. Supports the Welsh Government's approach of working in partnership with the UK Government, the region’s Corporate Joint Committee and local authorities to deliver the recommendations of Lord Burns to provide high quality sustainable alternatives to the M4.
4. Welcomes the announcement of the UK Government in the 2026-27 to 2029-30 spending review of funding for the South East Wales Transport Commission's recommendations to be realised as an alternative to a M4 relief road.
South East Wales Transport Commission – Final Recommendations 

The item started at 18.01

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

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM8930 Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Regrets that this month marks six years since the M4 relief road project was scrapped.

2. Calls on the Welsh Government to deliver an M4 relief road.

A vote was taken on the motion:

The motion without amendment was not agreed.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 Heledd Fychan (South Wales Central) 
Delete all and replace with:
To propose that the Senedd:
1. Notes that this month marks six years since the decision not to proceed with the M4 Relief Road project.
2. Regrets:
a)    the real terms decrease in Wales's capital budget caused by the latest UK Government spending review, which will severely impede Wales's ability to invest in large-scale infrastructure projects, including on an M4 relief road project; and
b)    the failure of Welsh Government to quickly refocus funding originally earmarked for the M4 relief road project towards an alternative vision for a sustainable integrated Welsh transport network, including giving priority to addressing the congestion issues around Newport. A vote was taken on amendment 1:

Amendment 1 was not agreed.

Amendment 2 Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)
Delete all and replace with: 
To propose that the Senedd:
1. Recognises the need for an integrated, attractive and sustainable transport network which supports the people and economy of the region as recommended in the South East Wales Transport Commission (the Burns Commission) as a sustainable and affordable alternative to a new M4 motorway.
2. Deplores the empty promises and lack of funding from past Conservative governments for the non-devolved recommendations of the South East Wales Transport Commission as viable alternatives to the M4 relief road.
3. Supports the Welsh Government's approach of working in partnership with the UK Government, the region’s Corporate Joint Committee and local authorities to deliver the recommendations of Lord Burns to provide high quality sustainable alternatives to the M4.
4. Welcomes the announcement of the UK Government in the 2026-27 to 2029-30 spending review of funding for the South East Wales Transport Commission's recommendations to be realised as an alternative to a M4 relief road.

A vote was taken on amendment 2:

Amendment 2 was agreed.

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:
To propose that the Senedd:
1. Recognises the need for an integrated, attractive and sustainable transport network which supports the people and economy of the region as recommended in the South East Wales Transport Commission (the Burns Commission) as a sustainable and affordable alternative to a new M4 motorway.
2. Deplores the empty promises and lack of funding from past Conservative governments for the non-devolved recommendations of the South East Wales Transport Commission as viable alternatives to the M4 relief road.
3. Supports the Welsh Government's approach of working in partnership with the UK Government, the region’s Corporate Joint Committee and local authorities to deliver the recommendations of Lord Burns to provide high quality sustainable alternatives to the M4.
4. Welcomes the announcement of the UK Government in the 2026-27 to 2029-30 spending review of funding for the South East Wales Transport Commission's recommendations to be realised as an alternative to a M4 relief road.

The motion as amended was agreed.

The item started at 18.54