Members have argued mainly about how Wales applies the Supreme Court ruling on sex in the Equality Act, and about the armed forces covenant and veterans. They have also debated the nation of sanctuary and who can access social housing. Other themes were violence against women and girls, including grooming gangs, disabled people's rights and race equality.
The main arguments
Reform UK Members (Cristiana Emsley, Laura Anne Jones, Art Wright) and Natasha Asghar (Welsh Conservatives) say the Supreme Court ruling is clear and Wales is slow to act. Sioned Williams and Rhun ap Iorwerth (Plaid Cymru) say they respect it and are reviewing it, while trans people stay protected. Contributions:
May 2021Mar 2026
2,141 contributions in the Sixth Senedd touched on this. The busiest month was Oct 2023, with 280.
Cristiana Emsley (Reform UK) asks for measurable outcomes from the armed forces covenant. Sioned Williams (Plaid Cymru) says the covenant is about consideration, not targets, and points to the Armed Forces Bill. Cai Parry-Jones (Reform UK) asks for data on veteran homelessness. Contributions: [1][2][3][4][5][6]
On refugees, Joe Martin (Reform UK) questions the nation of sanctuary on public safety grounds. Rhun ap Iorwerth (Plaid Cymru), Shav Taj (Welsh Labour) and Anthony Slaughter (Wales Green Party) defend it and stress community cohesion and tackling misinformation. Contributions: [1][2][3][4][5][6]
On social housing, Francesca O'Brien (Reform UK) wants foreign nationals excluded. Peter Fox (Welsh Conservatives) backs priority for those with a connection to Wales. Siân Gwenllian (Plaid Cymru) and Jayne Bryant (Welsh Labour) say eligibility already depends on legal status. Contributions: [1][2][3][4]
On grooming gangs, Sam Rowlands and Darren Millar (Welsh Conservatives) and Cristiana Emsley (Reform UK) want Wales covered by scrutiny. Huw Thomas (Welsh Labour) says Wales is within the UK inquiry's scope. Sarah Rees (Plaid Cymru) centres survivors. Contributions: [1][2][3][4][5]
On disabled people, Gareth Thomas (Reform UK) asks how rights commitments will be enforced and measured. Rhun ap Iorwerth (Plaid Cymru) cites the 10-year rights plan and advisory board. Ken Skates (Welsh Labour) raised the end of funding for Clwb Cwtsh. Contributions: [1][2][3]
On race equality, Joe Martin (Reform UK) calls parts of the Anti-racist Wales Action Plan discriminatory. Rhun ap Iorwerth (Plaid Cymru) says the Government promotes equality of opportunity. Safa Elhassan (Plaid Cymru) says the plan must show results. Contributions: [1][2][3]
Where the parties stand
Plaid Cymru
As the governing party, its Ministers say they respect the Supreme Court ruling while protecting trans people. They commit to the armed forces covenant, the nation of sanctuary and the social model of disability, and say immigration policy is reserved but cohesion is not. Contributions: [1][2][3][4][5]
Reform UK
Its Members press for fast implementation of the ruling on biological sex. They question the nation of sanctuary and want social housing limited to British nationals. They support veterans and the Armed Forces Bill, and ask for measurable outcomes. Contributions: [1][2][3][4][5][6]
Welsh Conservatives
Its Members call for compliance with the Supreme Court ruling, including in schools, sport and the NHS. They seek a Wales-wide grooming gangs inquiry and support the armed forces covenant and the defence sector. Contributions: [1][2][3][4][5][6]
Welsh Labour
Its Members defend the nation of sanctuary, press the Government on equality impact in budgets, and raise disabled access to sport and pay for school support staff, who are mostly women. They note the group on equality in budgets has not met. Contributions: [1][2][3][4][5]
Welsh Liberal Democrats
Jane Dodds raises homelessness among children, including care leavers, listening to children, and services for women in rural areas facing domestic violence. Contributions: [1][2][3]
Wales Green Party
Anthony Slaughter says the nation of sanctuary builds community cohesion and that misinformation, not refugees, threatens public safety. Paul Rock backs support for school support staff. Contributions: [1][2]
What the government is being pressed on
1When will Wales set out how it applies the Supreme Court ruling? Art Wright (Reform UK) asked for a timeline. Rhun ap Iorwerth said the Government is reviewing the EHRC code and will act lawfully; Sioned Williams said bodies must comply themselves. Contributions: [1][2][3]
2What measurable outcomes has the armed forces covenant delivered? Cristiana Emsley (Reform UK) asked twice. Sioned Williams replied that the covenant does not set outcomes or targets and is about special consideration. Contributions: [1][2][3]
3Will Wales hold its own grooming gangs inquiry? Sam Rowlands (Welsh Conservatives) asked. Delyth Jewell (Plaid Cymru) outlined a whole-system safeguarding approach, with training and a new strategy on violence against women. Contributions: [1][2][3]
4How will disabled people's rights be enforced and measured? Gareth Thomas (Reform UK) asked. Rhun ap Iorwerth pointed to the 10-year plan, an external advisory board, and a role for disabled people in policy. Contributions: [1][2]
5Has the equality stakeholder group for budgets stopped meeting? Huw Thomas (Welsh Labour) said stakeholders report it has not met under this Government and have no assurance about its future. No ministerial reply is in the material. Contributions: [1]
What the public is asking for
Petitions ask for a duty to prevent sexual violence at Welsh universities (1,615 signatures) and Georgia's Law for urgent safe housing for high-risk abuse survivors (185). Others seek action on university harassment (282) and more Gypsy and Traveller sites (33).
Who ministers are meeting
Ministers have met the Children's Commissioner, the Older People's Commissioner and the VAWDASV National Partnership Board. They have also met veterans' groups such as Valley Veterans, attended the Nation of Sanctuary Awards, Armed Forces Day events and the Wales Human Rights Congress.
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, members largely backed the race equality action plan and the nation of sanctuary, with the Senedd opposing the UK Illegal Migration Bill. Violence against women and girls and disabled people's rights were recurring themes. Veterans' mental health support and the BSL Bill also featured.
Jane Dodds (Welsh Liberal Democrats) co-signed the 2021 motion welcoming the race equality action plan. In 2022 Sioned Williams (Plaid Cymru) said earlier strategies had not been enough. Contributions: [1][2]
In 2023 Jane Hutt (Welsh Labour) moved that the Senedd withhold consent to the Illegal Migration Bill, saying it undermined the nation of sanctuary. Peredur Owen Griffiths and Sioned Williams (Plaid Cymru) also opposed it. Contributions: [1][2][3]
On violence against women, Jane Dodds (Welsh Liberal Democrats) in 2024 called gender-based violence an epidemic needing a public health approach. In 2022 Sioned Williams reported committee evidence on migrant women survivors. Contributions: [1][2]
In 2026 Mark Isherwood's BSL Bill won praise from Jane Dodds and Rhys ab Owen. In 2024 Mark Isherwood argued disabled people needed a rights Bill. Contributions: [1][2][3]
Written by AI on 30 October 2026 from 167 contributions in the Senedd between 19 May 2026 and 22 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. Each chart covers the years since the 2016 Senedd election, or as far back as the figures go, and marks each election since.
Gender pay gap for full-time employees
3.2%
2026 (provisional)
United Kingdom
6.8%
A year earlier
1.7%(2025)
Wales
United Kingdom
The difference between men's and women's median hourly pay, excluding overtime, as a share of men's pay, for full-time employees working in Wales and the UK, in April each year.
From the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, a sample survey. The gap compares all men and women in full-time work, so it doesn't show differences in pay for the same jobs.
The Programme for Government 2026 to 2030 belongs to the Seventh Senedd. Choose the Seventh Senedd to see how often each commitment has come up.
A just society
Work across all areas of government to end violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence, through a whole‑system, prevention‑led and society‑wide approach.
Support victims and survivors by protecting funding for specialist, survivor‑centred services, and by exempting refuges from the Renting Homes Act to ensure access to safe accommodation.
Work with people with lived experience to advance equality, including LGBTQ+ equality, disabled people’s rights, gender equality and an anti‑racist Wales. We will strengthen delivery and accountability, and report on progress and impact.
Support the UK government in taking forward a full, trans‑inclusive ban on so‑called ‘conversion therapy’, maximising Welsh Government action to tackle these harmful practices and support survivors.
Work with partners to support sanctuary seekers to participate and integrate into Welsh society, helping them rebuild their lives safely and with dignity.
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.
How these votes work: the Senedd first votes on the motion as written. If that fails, it votes on each amendment in turn, then on the motion with any agreed changes.
Votes are tagged from their own titles and the agenda item they were held under.
Each bar is the share of that party's speeches and questions in the Sixth Senedd that touched this brief, so large and small parties can be compared. The upright line marks the chamber as a whole: 0.88%.
Ministers' meetings with outside organisations and their engagements on this brief, from the register the Welsh Government publishes every three months. 1 since the 2026 election:
2 September 2026
NHS Wales Specialist Learning Disability Inpatient Services visit at Llwyneryr
42% of Welsh adults said immigration and asylum seekers 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
82 written questions to the Welsh Government on this brief in the Sixth Senedd, 76 answered so far. The latest:
Contributions tagged in each month of the Sixth Senedd. No sittings were held in August 2021, August 2022, August 2023, December 2024, February 2025, March 2025, April 2025, May 2025, June 2025, July 2025, August 2025, September 2025, October 2025, November 2025 and December 2025.Show the numbers
Month
Contributions
May 2021
0
June 2021
9
July 2021
10
August 2021
No sittings
September 2021
6
October 2021
8
November 2021
38
December 2021
9
January 2022
27
February 2022
8
March 2022
33
April 2022
9
May 2022
46
June 2022
38
July 2022
20
August 2022
No sittings
September 2022
7
October 2022
13
November 2022
38
December 2022
28
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.
