Since May 2026 the Senedd has debated how the Welsh Government should respond to the Supreme Court ruling on the Equality Act and the Equality and Human Rights Commission code. It has also covered the disabled people's rights plan, the nation of sanctuary and misinformation on asylum, the armed forces covenant, a grooming gangs inquiry, race equality and violence against women.
The main arguments
On the Supreme Court ruling, Reform UK's Cristiana Emsley and Art Wright, and the Conservatives' Natasha Asghar, press for a timetable and for single-sex spaces. Plaid Cymru's Sioned Williams says the Government respects the ruling and is reviewing devolved practice. Contributions: [1][2]
Plaid Cymru's Rhun ap Iorwerth says trans people remain protected from discrimination under gender reassignment. He says the Government is reviewing the draft code and will act according to the law. Contributions: [1][2]
On disability rights, Reform UK's Gareth Thomas asks how a rights-based plan will be enforced and measured. Rhun ap Iorwerth points to the 10-year plan and an advisory board, and commits to incorporating the UN disability convention into Welsh law. Contributions: [1][2][3]
On asylum, Reform UK's Joe Martin questions the nation of sanctuary and safety. Rhun ap Iorwerth, Shav Taj (Welsh Labour), Anthony Slaughter (Wales Green Party) and Plaid Cymru Members defend it and stress community cohesion and tackling misinformation. Contributions: [1][2][3][4][5][6]
On veterans, Reform UK's Cristiana Emsley and Cai Parry-Jones seek measurable outcomes and veteran homelessness data. Sioned Williams says the covenant is about consideration and does not set targets. The Armed Forces Bill consent motion was debated in October. Contributions: [1][2][3][4][5]
On grooming gangs, Conservatives Sam Rowlands and Darren Millar, and Reform UK Members, press for Wales-focused scrutiny. Labour's Huw Thomas says Wales is already in the UK inquiry's scope. Plaid Cymru's Delyth Jewell set out training and awareness work. Contributions: [1][2][3][4][5]
On race equality, Reform UK's Joe Martin calls parts of the Anti-racist Wales Action Plan discriminatory. Rhun ap Iorwerth says the Government promotes equality of opportunity. Plaid Cymru's Safa Elhassan welcomes the plan and wants action. Contributions: [1][2][3]
Where the parties stand
Welsh Labour
Members ask the Government for data, targets and equality assurances. Shav Taj defends the nation of sanctuary, and Huw Thomas says Wales is within the grooming gangs inquiry's scope. Ken Skates raised funding for disabled children's play provision. Contributions: [1][2][3][4][5]
Plaid Cymru
In government, Plaid Cymru Ministers say they respect the Supreme Court ruling, protect trans people under the law, back the covenant, commit to a disability rights plan and defend the nation of sanctuary. Contributions: [1][2][3][4]
Reform UK
Members press for implementation of the Supreme Court ruling and single-sex spaces, seek measurable covenant outcomes, question the nation of sanctuary and race-based measures, and support the Armed Forces Bill consent motion. Contributions: [1][2][3][4][5][6]
Welsh Conservatives
Members press on the Supreme Court ruling, women's sports and single-sex spaces, call for scrutiny of grooming gangs in Wales, and stress support for the covenant and the defence sector. Contributions: [1][2][3][4][5]
Welsh Liberal Democrats
Jane Dodds raised homelessness among children, including care leavers, and asked for services for women facing domestic violence in rural areas. Contributions: [1][2]
Wales Green Party
Anthony Slaughter says the nation of sanctuary builds cohesion and inclusion. He blames misinformation, not refugees, for threats to public safety. Contributions: [1]
What the government is being pressed on
1Reform UK's Art Wright asked for a timeline to update Welsh policy after the Supreme Court ruling. Rhun ap Iorwerth said the Government is reviewing the draft code. Sioned Williams later said the EHRC is the regulator. Contributions: [1][2][3]
2Cristiana Emsley asked for one measurable outcome from the armed forces covenant. Sioned Williams said the covenant does not specify outcomes or targets, and that the Government has laid a consent memorandum on broadening it. Contributions: [1][2]
3Gareth Thomas asked how disability rights commitments will be enforced and measured. Rhun ap Iorwerth pointed to the 10-year plan, an external advisory board and regular, transparent reporting. Contributions: [1][2][3]
4Sam Rowlands asked why Plaid Cymru would not back a Wales-wide grooming gangs inquiry. Huw Thomas noted Wales is within the UK inquiry. Darren Millar welcomed a Minister's reply in June. Contributions: [1][2][3]
5Huw Thomas (Welsh Labour) said equality stakeholders report the budget improvement and impact advisory group has not met under this Government. No ministerial reply is in the material provided. Contributions: [1]
What the public is asking for
Petitions ask for a duty to prevent sexual violence at Welsh universities (1,612 signatures), Georgia's Law on safe housing for high-risk abuse survivors (184), more Gypsy and Traveller sites (33), and action on hostility to protected groups (7).
Who ministers are meeting
Ministers have met commissioners (children's and older people's), the VAWDASV National Partnership Board, veterans' groups and armed forces events, the Nation of Sanctuary Awards, human rights experts and a learning disability inpatient service.
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, violence against women was framed as an epidemic needing a public health approach. The Anti-racist Wales Action Plan faced an 'action gap' critique. Members also debated incorporating human rights and the Rwanda policy's effect on the nation of sanctuary.
Jane Dodds (Welsh Liberal Democrats) called gender-based violence an epidemic needing a public health approach. Lesley Griffiths (Welsh Labour) cited Wales's 2015 legislation and said much remained to be done. Contributions: [1][2]
Sioned Williams (Plaid Cymru) said the committee found an 'action gap' on the anti-racist plan. Altaf Hussain (Welsh Conservatives) doubted the plan would deliver. Lesley Griffiths welcomed the report. Contributions: [1][2][3]
Sioned Williams said the Rwanda scheme undermined Wales's nation of sanctuary aspiration because Wales lacked the powers. Jane Dodds called the policy unacceptable and said people were being detained. Contributions: [1][2]
Academics Simon Hoffman and Charles Whitmore said incorporation sets a framework for a human rights culture, though a direct causal link to outcomes is hard to prove. Contributions: [1][2][3]
Written by AI on 23 October 2026 from 157 contributions in the Senedd between 19 May 2026 and 20 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
1.9%
2025 (provisional)
United Kingdom
6.9%
A year earlier
1.8%(2024)
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.
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: 0.99%.
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
No written questions on this brief in the Sixth Senedd yet.
Petitions
2 petitions to the Senedd on this brief, open ones first, then by signatures:
Contributions tagged in each month of the Sixth Senedd. No sittings were held in 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
January 2024
29
February 2024
27
March 2024
34
April 2024
25
May 2024
35
June 2024
164
July 2024
12
August 2024
0
September 2024
60
October 2024
223
November 2024
94
December 2024
No sittings
January 2025
0
February 2025
No sittings
March 2025
No sittings
April 2025
No sittings
May 2025
No sittings
June 2025
No sittings
July 2025
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.
