19 January 2026 , Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Group 2: Transitional and saving provisions (Amendments 20, 21, 22)
No. We're making sure that the previous powers continue to exist because those powers were stated in a 2020 Act and this is subsequent to that Act, in case anyone would think that—
19 January 2026 , Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Group 2: Transitional and saving provisions (Amendments 20, 21, 22)
It probably is there, but this is an 'avoidance of doubt' provision. Those powers exist in existing planning law; we are merely making sure, putting it beyond doubt, that they also exist in this law, effectively. So, it was never our intention to take those…
19 January 2026 , Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Group 2: Transitional and saving provisions (Amendments 20, 21, 22)
Yes, it's a 'for the avoidance of doubt' provision, I believe, isn't it? Is somebody going to tell me differently?
19 January 2026 , Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Group 2: Transitional and saving provisions (Amendments 20, 21, 22)
Diolch, Cadeirydd. This group contains three amendments adding to the transitional and saving provisions in Schedule 5 to the Bill to clarify that the consolidation exercise does not change the law in two respects. Amendment 20 inserts a new paragraph to…
19 January 2026 , Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Group 1: Consequential amendments to enactments (Amendments 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
No, we use different powers to do it, and we think that's a duplication and causes confusion rather than clarity.
19 January 2026 , Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Group 1: Consequential amendments to enactments (Amendments 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
I wasn't following it. Sorry, Adam, I hadn't followed that properly. So, the power has not been restated in the Planning (Wales) Bill as the Welsh Ministers have general powers in the Government of Wales Act 2006 that we rely on to make payments of the kind…
19 January 2026 , Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Group 1: Consequential amendments to enactments (Amendments 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
Sorry, the one about the environmental principles Bill—that one?
19 January 2026 , Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Group 1: Consequential amendments to enactments (Amendments 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
Diolch, Cadeirydd. This is obviously a very technical Bill, and all of the amendments I have tabled for discussion today are minor and technical in nature. They are all intended to ensure that the provisions of the consequential provisions Bill are up to date…
19 January 2026 , Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Group 1: Consistency of references to the planning authority for an area (Amendments 1, 2)
Diolch, Cadeirydd. I suspect this will be a relatively short discussion, as both amendments are to ensure consistency in how the Welsh language text of the Bill refers to a planning authority for an area. Both amendments 1 and 2 make the necessary changes to…
13 January 2026 , Plenary
The general principles of the Mental Health Review Tribunal for Wales (Membership) Bill
You'll not be at all surprised to find that I've already asked that question. The first we knew of it was when the new president of the mental health tribunal raised it with us in mid to late December, so we've worked very quickly since then. As I said in the…
13 January 2026 , Plenary
The general principles of the Mental Health Review Tribunal for Wales (Membership) Bill
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. I said a little bit about this earlier on, but I'll set it out again just for completeness. We understand that prior to 2008, a licence to practise was not required in either the Welsh or English mental health tribunals. The change to…
13 January 2026 , Plenary
The general principles of the Mental Health Review Tribunal for Wales (Membership) Bill
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Earlier today, the Senedd agreed the Mental Health Review Tribunal for Wales (Membership) Bill should be treated as an emergency Bill, and the Bill was introduced following the debate. The Mental Health Review Tribunal for Wales plays…
13 January 2026 , Plenary
& 10. The general principles of the Senedd Cymru (Member Accountability and Elections) Bill and the financial resolution in respect of the Senedd Cymru (Member Accountability and Elections) Bill
Yes, but they're not primary legislation here, David, and the Senedd accepts the conduct Order and secondary regulation as the way that we conduct our elections. The Bill proposes a consistent approach to that in terms of that all criminal offences affecting…
13 January 2026 , Plenary
& 10. The general principles of the Senedd Cymru (Member Accountability and Elections) Bill and the financial resolution in respect of the Senedd Cymru (Member Accountability and Elections) Bill
Diolch, Llywydd. Well, that was extremely interesting, and I very much welcome all the comments that have been made by the Chairs of the committees, members of the committees, and other Members today. Llywydd, I'll try my best to respond to most of them, but…
13 January 2026 , Plenary
& 10. The general principles of the Senedd Cymru (Member Accountability and Elections) Bill and the financial resolution in respect of the Senedd Cymru (Member Accountability and Elections) Bill
Members will know that the Bill does not currently provide a Member with time to have an appeal heard in order to overturn a conviction prior to a recall poll being triggered. I've noted the conclusion of the Bill committee on the basis of the range of…
13 January 2026 , Plenary
& 10. The general principles of the Senedd Cymru (Member Accountability and Elections) Bill and the financial resolution in respect of the Senedd Cymru (Member Accountability and Elections) Bill
Diolch, Llywydd. I'm very pleased to open this debate on the general principles of the Senedd Cymru (Member Accountability and Elections) Bill. I move the motion to agree the general principles of the Bill, but after careful consideration, I will not be…
13 January 2026 , Plenary
& 5. Motion under Standing Order 26.95 that a Bill to be known as the Mental Health Review Tribunal for Wales (Membership) Bill be treated as a Government Emergency Bill and Motion under Standing Order 26.98(ii) to agree a timetable for the Bill to be known as the Mental Health Review Tribunal for Wales (Membership) Bill
Diolch, Llywydd. There are a number of issues there that we'll deal with, assuming this vote is passed, during the general principles point later. If this is passed, then the documents necessary for Members to be able to scrutinise properly will then be…
13 January 2026 , Plenary
& 5. Motion under Standing Order 26.95 that a Bill to be known as the Mental Health Review Tribunal for Wales (Membership) Bill be treated as a Government Emergency Bill and Motion under Standing Order 26.98(ii) to agree a timetable for the Bill to be known as the Mental Health Review Tribunal for Wales (Membership) Bill
It's very rare that we as a legislature consider introducing Bills using the emergency procedure. It has not happened this Senedd term. I want to reassure the Senedd I have very carefully considered whether this Bill should be introduced as an emergency Bill…
13 January 2026 , Plenary
& 5. Motion under Standing Order 26.95 that a Bill to be known as the Mental Health Review Tribunal for Wales (Membership) Bill be treated as a Government Emergency Bill and Motion under Standing Order 26.98(ii) to agree a timetable for the Bill to be known as the Mental Health Review Tribunal for Wales (Membership) Bill
Diolch, Llywydd. Thank you very much. Today, Members of the Senedd are being asked to consider and vote on two motions. The first is whether the Mental Health Review Tribunal for Wales (Membership) Bill should be introduced as an emergency Bill, and the…
13 January 2026 , Plenary
Motion to suspend Standing Orders to allow items 4 and 5 to be debated
Formally.
5 November 2024 , Plenary
Questions to the Counsel General and Minister for Delivery
Thank you. I don't want to make this sound insignificant in any way, but we're engaging in the usual engagement that we always have when there's a Bill going through Parliament. So, we have a number of policy officials and lawyers who watch UK Bills to make…
5 November 2024 , Plenary
Questions to the Counsel General and Minister for Delivery
Diolch, Rhys. Whilst we do not know what the final content of the assisted dying Bill will be, it's likely that it will relate to a reserved matter. We are in regular contact with the UK Government to understand and plan for the implications for the people of…
5 November 2024 , Plenary
Questions to the Counsel General and Minister for Delivery
Thank you very much, Rhys. We do continue to work on the development of a tribunals Bill through which we will address recommendations of both the Commission on Justice in Wales and the Law Commission report on devolved tribunals in Wales. The recommendations…
5 November 2024 , Plenary
Questions to the Counsel General and Minister for Delivery
Diolch, Rhys. Tribunal reform is very much at the heart of our ambition for the justice system in Wales, and a programme of work to which we remain completely committed. The timing of legislation associated with the programme will be announced in due course.
5 November 2024 , Plenary
Questions to the Counsel General and Minister for Delivery
Diolch, Delyth. I, too, am extremely proud of the Act, and for anyone of us who's attended an international function—I was just discussing this with the Deputy First Minister very recently, actually—it's really striking, isn't it, how people come up to you…
