This term the Senedd has argued mainly about how the new Plaid Cymru-led Government supports high streets, hospitality and business. Debates covered the town centre taskforce, a 30 per cent business rates cut for hospitality and leisure, a new development agency and tourism taxes. Steel at Port Talbot, an ethical defence investment framework, job losses and productivity were also contested.
The main arguments
Rhun ap Iorwerth (Plaid Cymru) said a town centre taskforce would examine non-domestic rates and planning reform. Elin Jones (Plaid Cymru) announced a 30 per cent rates cut for selected hospitality and leisure premises from 2027-28, funded by a higher multiplier on the highest-value properties. Contributions: [1]
Opposition Members pressed on rates. Janet Finch-Saunders (Welsh Conservatives) asked for small business rates to be abolished. Huw Thomas (Welsh Labour) asked about the higher multiplier threshold and a cliff edge. Cai Parry-Jones (Reform UK) said the policy came from Reform's manifesto. Contributions: [1][2][3][4]
Adam Price (Plaid Cymru) said a development agency would focus on inward investment, innovation and productivity. Jason O'Connell and Cai Parry-Jones (Reform UK) called it a duplicating quango. Mike Hedges (Welsh Labour) feared a repeat of the old agency's failures. Contributions: [1][2][3][4]
On Tata, Reform Members (Dan Thomas, Jason O'Connell) pressed ministers over the electric arc furnace delay. Adam Price (Plaid Cymru) said delay had several causes and many levers were reserved. Darren Millar (Welsh Conservatives) criticised the carbon tax framework. Contributions: [1][2][3][4]
On tourism, Reform (Louise Emery, John Clark) and Paul Davies (Welsh Conservatives) opposed the visitor levy and the 182-day threshold. Elwyn Vaughan (Plaid Cymru) and Huw Thomas (Welsh Labour) defended the levy as a local choice. Shav Taj (Welsh Labour) backed keeping the threshold under review. Contributions: [1][2][3][4][5][6]
Adam Price (Plaid Cymru) said an ethical defence investment framework would not exclude the sector. Janet Finch-Saunders (Welsh Conservatives) called it a blacklist, and Jason O'Connell (Reform UK) feared lost investment. Shav Taj (Welsh Labour) asked about delay to contracts. Contributions: [1][2][3][4][5]
Members raised jobs and growth. Jane Dodds (Welsh Liberal Democrats) cited youth unemployment of 16.5 per cent. Huw Thomas (Welsh Labour) raised Admiral and Legal & General redundancies. Steven Rodaway (Reform UK) asked how firms can scale up. Contributions: [1][2][3]
Where the parties stand
Plaid CymruShifted
Plaid Cymru Members present the taskforce, rates cut and development agency as delivering manifesto pledges. Adam Price said the agency would drive innovation and work with the Development Bank of Wales. He defended the defence framework and the visitor levy as local choice. Contributions: [1][2][3][4][5][6]
How this has shifted: In June ministers spoke of a taskforce and exploring rates reform. By 15 September the Finance Minister announced a specific 30 per cent cut for selected hospitality and leisure premises.
Welsh Labour
Welsh Labour Members welcome the rates principle but press on funding, thresholds and a cliff edge. They question the development agency, citing past failures, and ask for fair work conditions. They support keeping the 182-day threshold under review and back the visitor levy as local. Contributions: [1][2][3][4][5][6]
Reform UK
Reform UK Members oppose the development agency as a quango and the visitor levy and 182-day rule. They press on Tata, defence investment and high-street costs, and support the steel Bill while saying it came too late. Contributions: [1][2][3][4][5][6]
Welsh Conservatives
Welsh Conservatives Members call for abolishing small business rates, lower VAT on hospitality and a rethink of the 182-day threshold. They criticise the ethical defence framework and want clarity on when the development agency will exist. Contributions: [1][2][3][4][5]
Welsh Liberal Democrats
Jane Dodds, the Welsh Liberal Democrats' contributor in this material, asked what the Government is doing about youth unemployment, particularly in rural areas such as Powys. Contributions: [1]
What the government is being pressed on
1When will business rates reform arrive and who pays? Rhun ap Iorwerth said the taskforce would move with urgency. Elin Jones said the cut is funded by a higher multiplier and she would look at tapering for businesses just over the threshold. Contributions: [1][2][3][4]
2Will the development agency absorb the Development Bank of Wales, and when will it exist? Adam Price said the roles would be mapped together. Andrew Slade said an expert panel should report on design in about six months. Contributions: [1][2][3][4]
3What has been done about the Tata electric arc furnace delay? Adam Price said he spoke to the chief executive and National Grid, that several factors caused the delay, and that many levers are reserved. Contributions: [1][2][3]
4Will the 182-day threshold be reviewed? Paul Davies said the Finance Minister confirmed exemptions but he wants a fundamental rethink. Shav Taj said Labour backs keeping the policy under review. Contributions: [1][2][3]
5Does the ethical defence framework put investment on hold? Janet Finch-Saunders said investment decisions were paused. Adam Price said it would not exclude the sector, noted over 16,000 jobs and promised union involvement. Contributions: [1][2][3]
What the public is asking for
Petitions ask for a review of the 182-day holiday accommodation threshold (1,856 signatures, open), lower business rates in towns (506, open), stronger licensing of visitor accommodation (1,767, open) and a new Menai crossing (7,788, completed).
Who ministers are meeting
Ministers have met Tata Steel, the Development Bank of Wales, the Federation of Small Businesses and the Productivity Research Group. They also took part in events on investment zones, skills partnerships with a university, employee ownership and the foundational economy.
In the Sixth Senedd (2021 to 2026)
From the previous Senedd's record, for issues that run across both. The rest of this analysis covers the Seventh Senedd only.
In the Sixth Senedd the economy debates centred on Tata Steel and the end of blast furnace steel making at Port Talbot. Members argued over responsibility between the UK and Welsh Governments and over the unions' alternative plan. Business rates relief and town centre regeneration were also contested.
In January 2024 Vaughan Gething (Welsh Labour) said the UK deal offered a cliff edge with 2,800 job losses. Altaf Hussain (Welsh Conservatives) said it was better than no deal, and Luke Fletcher (Plaid Cymru) pointed to Tata's profits. Contributions: [1][2][3]
Alasdair McDiarmid said the multi-union plan met agreed red lines. Jeremy Miles (Welsh Labour) later said Tata rejected it and would close the blast furnaces, adding a better plan was available. Contributions: [1][2]
In October 2024 Tom Giffard (Welsh Conservatives) marked the last blast furnace batch. Luke Fletcher (Plaid Cymru) said the loss could have been prevented. Contributions: [1][2]
On rates, Sam Rowlands (Welsh Conservatives) opposed cutting relief from 75 to 40 per cent. Huw Irranca-Davies (Welsh Labour) cited £78 million of additional support and almost £1 billion since 2020-21. Contributions: [1][2]
Written by AI on 23 October 2026 from 227 contributions in the Senedd between 19 May 2026 and 19 October 2026, with the petitions and ministers' meetings on this brief. Each point links to the contributions it draws on; check them before quoting. How the analysis is written.
Where things stand
Statistics published by the Welsh Government and the Office for National Statistics. Each chart covers the years since the 2016 Senedd election, or as far back as the figures go, and marks each election since.
Employment rate
73.3%
The year to 30 June 2026
United Kingdom
75.5%
A year earlier
72.7%(the year to 30 June 2025)
Wales
United Kingdom
The share of people aged 16 to 64 in work, over the twelve months to each date, in Wales and the UK.
From the Annual Population Survey, a sample survey: small changes from one period to the next may not be real. Each figure covers twelve months, so the figures for neighbouring dates share most of their months. They differ from the monthly headline labour market figures.
14 commitments in the Welsh Government's Programme for Government 2026 to 2030 fall under this brief, in the Programme's own words. Under each is how often it has been raised in the Seventh Senedd.
National productivity mission
Progress our productivity mission which will consider all government activity with reference to driving up productivity.
Establish a new Economic and Fiscal Commission to help us set targets, collect relevant data and measure progress to make government more accountable for its economic decision making.
Raised in 1 speech. Most recently on 30 September 2026, by Janet Finch-Saunders. Matched on: “economic and fiscal commission”.
Create a new, business‑led National Development Agency, at arms‑length from the Welsh Government, to help Welsh businesses to grow, innovate and trade internationally, secure inward investment, and increase numbers of good quality, well‑paid and sustainable jobs. The agency will work for people across the nation and across the economy.
Raised in 40 speeches, 1 agenda item and 4 written questions. Most recently on 30 September 2026, by Shav Taj. Matched on: “new development agency”.
Reform the Development Bank of Wales and the financial products it offers to support the growth of medium‑sized businesses and ensure that its financing promotes and embeds fair work and a Real Living Wage.
Raised in 16 speeches and 2 written questions. Most recently on 19 October 2026, by Andrew Slade. Matched on: “Development Bank of Wales”.
Aim to increase the level spent on procuring goods and services from Wales‑based suppliers towards 70%, using public procurement as a driver of economic growth. We will introduce a new measure of Welsh economic value from public procurement to maximise the economic and social benefits that public spending delivers for Wales.
Raised in 17 speeches and 4 written questions. Most recently on 9 October 2026, in a written question from Joshua Kim. Matched on: “public procurement”, “Wales-based suppliers”.
Develop the supply chain for Welsh timber, using public procurement to stimulate demand, and promote innovation and business growth in the sector, whilst improving resilience and working with the sector to deliver on the Welsh Timber Industrial Strategy.
Raised in 2 speeches. Most recently on 14 October 2026, by Llyr Gruffydd. Matched on: “Welsh timber”.
Supporting small businesses and high streets to thrive
Reform and rebalance business rates to better support high street businesses in hospitality, leisure and retail.
Raised in 76 speeches, 1 agenda item, 15 written questions and 3 petitions. Most recently on 20 October 2026, in a written question from Paul Davies. Matched on: “business rates”.
Use the Town Centre Taskforce to explore the options around revitalising our town centres including bringing empty properties into use as social housing.
Raised in 23 speeches, 5 written questions and 1 petition. Most recently on 13 October 2026, by Rhun ap Iorwerth. Matched on: “town-centre taskforce”.
Provide more specialist support to create, grow and sustain new co‑operative, employee‑owned, and social businesses, and improve their access to finance through the Development Bank of Wales.
Raised in 5 speeches and 1 written question. Most recently on 6 October 2026, by Dafydd Trystan Davies. Matched on: “social enterprises”.
Deliver a new Digital Strategy which will support digitisation and innovation in the Welsh economy, drive forward public service digital transformation, and deliver the conditions to support safe and ethical adoption of AI to support productivity and more efficient public services.
Raised in 104 speeches, 1 agenda item, 9 written questions and 1 petition. Most recently on 21 October 2026, in a written question from Darren Millar. Matched on: “AI”.
Source: Welsh Government, Programme for government 2026 to 2030: New ambition for Wales, first published on 10 September 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Mentions are found by matching the names of plans, bodies and schemes; a mention says nothing about progress.
From the Welsh Government
The Welsh Government's latest press releases and Cabinet statements on this brief.
Cabinet Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy, Adam Price, is in Boston this week to build new trade and investment links in artificial intelligence, technology, and digital sectors.
In the news
The latest headlines on this brief, linking to each outlet's story.
Each bar is the share of that party's speeches and questions in the Seventh Senedd that touched this brief, so large and small parties can be compared. The upright line marks the chamber as a whole: 0.90%.
50% of Welsh adults said the UK economy would be very important to their vote.
46% of Welsh adults said jobs and wages would be very important to their vote.
37% of Welsh adults said shops and the local town centre or high street would be very important to their vote.
Ipsos asked 747 Welsh adults aged 16+ between 2 April 2026 and 8 April 2026, before the 2026 Senedd election. People could choose as many issues as they liked. More on public opinion.
Written questions
12 written questions to the Welsh Government on this brief in the Seventh Senedd, 7 answered so far. The latest:
Generative artificial intelligence, which is a form of AI that can produce content like text, images, audio, or video, has been getting a lot of attention, especially since the release of ChatGPT in November 2022.
The pace of artificial intelligence (AI) development has accelerated over recent years, with the rise of generative AI chatbots attracting widespread attention.
Statement by the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning: The Revision of the National Development Framework and National Conversation
Contributions tagged in each month of the Seventh Senedd. No sittings were held in August 2026.Show the numbers
Month
Contributions
May 2026
0
June 2026
17
July 2026
6
August 2026
No sittings
September 2026
40
October 2026
34
How this brief is put together
This brief follows the Programme commitments listed above and tags the record with the phrases below. Keyword matching can miss business that discusses the issue in other words, and can tag a passing mention.
Show the phrases it uses
A contribution is tagged when its English text contains one of these phrases. Capital letters don't matter, except in abbreviations, which must match exactly. It is also tagged when the title of the agenda item or question it was part of contains one, as long as the contribution is at least 30 words long. The brief is also tagged whenever one of its themes is.
The share of people aged 16 to 64 neither in work nor looking for work, over the twelve months to each date, in Wales and the UK.
From the Annual Population Survey, a sample survey: small changes from one period to the next may not be real. Each figure covers twelve months, so the figures for neighbouring dates share most of their months. They differ from the monthly headline labour market figures.
Productivity: every figure in the chart, newest first.
Period
Wales
2023
84.9
2022
83.6
2021
82.5
2020
84.4
2019
86.0
2018
82.7
2017
83.7
2016
83.5
Median gross weekly pay of full-time employees working in Wales and the UK, in April each year.
Not adjusted for inflation. The figures are for people working in Wales, wherever they live, from the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, a sample survey.
