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Diolch am y cwestiwn.
Official English translation
Thank you for the question.
Contributions
18 contributions on record, and 995 chaired, counted apart. Newest first, by sitting day. Page 10 of 30. Counted by Siambr
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The Senedd Commission is committed to ensuring that we are inclusive to everyone who works on or visits the estate. We have facilities available for those who need to express milk following the birth of their child. The quiet rooms can be used for expressing milk, and fridges are available to store the milk. These can be found on the ground floor in Tŷ Hywel in B block, opposite the committee rooms, and one in the Senedd on the Neuadd level. In addition, people can access the first aid rooms, where privacy, seating or couch facilities are provided. All these facilities are lockable and can be marked as occupied. For Commission staff, managers and HR support return-to-work planning after maternity leave in a number of ways, including a new and expectant parent risk assessment, covering practical arrangements such as quiet rooms, hygiene facilities and secure refrigerated storage.
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I really welcome that feedback from your own experience, and thank you for sharing that with us. I'm more than happy to take that back to officials and to facilitate, if necessary, discussion with my officials so that they can look at that. One of the opportunities as to what we can do now to improve that—and we do want to be, very much, that best practice in terms of the workplace—the other thing going forward is how we respond to the family friendly and inclusive parliament review, which had recommendations specifically with regard to family friendly support, breastfeeding and so on. So, if you're happy, I'll facilitate those discussions and we can look at how we can improve it now.
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Diolch, Joe. Bay 32 is the Commission’s project to secure fit-for-purpose accommodation beyond the expiry of the Tŷ Hywel lease, which happens in 2032. A competitive procurement concluded that the best value option is a major refurbishment and renewal of Tŷ Hywel, with the potential for Commission ownership. Equitix is the preferred bidder and its proposal includes more than £50 million of landlord investment—landlord investment—in the building. This is planned to include increasing the amount of useable space in Tŷ Hywel by 25 per cent. The project is now in detailed design during a pre-development phase with capped costs to the Commission. Because the building must remain operational during major works, temporary accommodation will be needed for Members, staff and for services. So, the Commission will consider options for managing any relocation, before considering the full business case later this year. The works are currently expected to begin from early summer 2027 and last for up to three years.
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I'm pleased to reiterate what I said in my opening remarks. First of all, the project is now in a capped cost pre-development phase. It's pegged. There's a clear understanding and expectation from all of the Commissioners who were involved in taking this forward, and an understanding from the potential project delivery partners as well. The other thing, reiterating but expanding a little bit on what I said earlier, is that we ran a competitive process. So, the Commission had a real choice of options of how to do this very important work for all of us and the constituents who come here to meet us as well. So, we tested the markets and secured what we believe is a very strong proposal for the long-term future of Tŷ Hywel. But one other thing I would say to you, Joe, and to other Members, is that we're keen that the project continues to be shaped by Member feedback, in providing those spaces that allow you and others to carry out your parliamentary roles. So, no decision has been taken yet to proceed, of course, with construction; the full business case is yet to be brought forward. We look forward to engaging with Members, and also with political groups as well, on the proposals as they're developed.
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So, the cost of what is known as the 'decant strategy', and the different options on that that Commissioners are currently considering, is within the cost we've already described. So, we're not looking at an escalating cost; we're looking at managing it within the budgets we've already put for it. And, as I say, this pre-development phase, we've got capped costs for this. So, I hope that's an assurance to the Member. And, I have to say, there's very robust challenge from the Commissioners, all of them, in terms of keeping this within the cost envelope that we've anticipated. Ideally, going forward, we'll have a good building that is refurbished and fit for now and for years to come, that enhances the experience for Members and for people who visit here, and we can also do that in a very cost-effective way. Because at the moment—Members shouldn't be under any misapprehension as to what we are facing—if we don't proceed with this, the status quo option includes forking out for repairs to the existing building, into the millions of pounds. So, what we're trying to do is avoid that eventuality.
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Diolch, Francesca. The Commission takes the welfare of Members and their staff very seriously, and we provide practical, accessible support across well-being, employment, health and safety, dignity and respect, safeguarding, and, of course, security. This includes confidential employee assistance and occupational health services, tailored HR guidance and training, and security advice and measures. The Hwb brings information and face-to-face support together in one place, with a weekly virtual drop-in for support staff, whatever their location. The Commission's phased learning framework treats personal resilience, well-being and maintaining a healthy work-life balance as continuing development needs rather than one-off induction topics. Training is repeated, reinforced and extended through the Senedd term, with provision adapted to Member and support staff learning needs and delivery preferences. And just finally, the Members' security team provides support to Members on a wide range of personal safety and security matters, including advice and guidance, the implementation of security measures at homes and offices, practical support and advice relating to social media security, and the reporting and management of security-related incidents.
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Thank you for that. It's helpful with that supplementary. The Commissioners, of course, keep constantly under review the access and the privileged access to different parts of not just the Senedd building, but also here within Tŷ Hywel as well. There are different levels of pass holders, and there's an expectation as well that there's an accompaniment of visitors into certain areas by pass holders—just to remind colleagues as well. But we do keep this under review, and we do keep a refresh on it. So, I take on board the individual example that you're saying. Perhaps we can discuss it further in terms of what area that was, what precise location that was. But we do also want the building to be able to be accessible to people who want to ask us questions as elected representatives and for constituency members who visit us, and for legitimate lobbyists who come here from health organisations, et cetera, et cetera. So, point taken. I'm happy to discuss the individual location that you mentioned and, of course, Commissioners will always keep this under review.
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Diolch yn fawr iawn. I would refer Members very strongly not just to the Hwb, but to the security team presence as well, for all the advice and assistance they can give. Of course, there is an interaction that we have, not just as individual Members, but through our security people, including the observation and monitoring. It's not monitoring in a NASA style, but keeping an eye on what's happening online. There is engagement as well with police across Wales. This is an issue that affects all Members, because it can be quite a hostile environment out there. But I would strongly say to Members and their staff that if they have individual instances, they should bring them to the attention of our security people, because they want to hear about it and we need to be notified of it.
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Diolch, Jane. Responsibility for safeguarding arrangements within Members' offices rests with the individual Members, as Members of the Senedd are individually elected and they're not Commission employees. Members need to have their own safeguarding policy appropriate to their role as office holders and employers, as they are responsible for their activities. The statutory disclosure and barring framework is reserved to the UK level.
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Thank you. There are a couple of points for consideration here. First of all, the statutory disclosure and barring framework is reserved to UK level, so broadening eligibility for things such as enhanced checks would require action by the UK Government. I'm aware that political parties operate, on a voluntary basis, their own approach to candidates, and it differs from party to party. We watch with interest the different proposals that are emerging currently at a UK level from some individual MPs. Some of them are looking at a statutory basis for changing this, and some at a non-statutory basis. The basic test, as you mentioned, in terms of DBS, as opposed to the enhanced test, has some limitations with it in terms of what it provides. My understanding is that DBS checks are legally designed as a tool for employers or for licensing bodies to assess the suitability of an applicant for a specific workplace role. MSs, of course, not unlike MPs, are not employees, but independent constitutional office holders chosen directly by voters. But it is an interesting area, and we're watching the discussions going on in Westminster at the moment. But the responsibility rests with UK statute.
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Members and staff are able to access all major news outlets using the Senedd IT network on laptops and other Senedd Commission-issued devices. With regard to the internal broadcasting network, this matter is subject to ongoing discussion by Commissioners, and I’m sure Commissioners will gladly report back to their respective groups in due course. All major newspapers are delivered to the Senedd's library and can be accessed by Members and staff.
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Catherine, you are right indeed, we have been here before. At the last Senedd Commission questions, there was quite a lengthy discussion on this. I can't really add much to my opening response. Perhaps it's worth highlighting for the record that press freedom is a principle that we all share. It remains central to the integrity and openness of the democratic institutions here in Wales. This principle, by the way, is reflected, as I mentioned in my opening remarks, in our policy on press passes to the estate as well. It is also reflected in the fact that all the major news outlets can be accessed on the Senedd IT network—on laptops and other Senedd Commission devices—and in the access to all major newspapers in the Senedd library. But as I said earlier, the matter is subject to ongoing discussions by Commissioners, and out of respect to them and those discussions, it's difficult for me to add to my earlier remarks.
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Diolch, Gwyn. Ease of access to the existing routes from Tŷ Hywel to the Senedd building, and significant improvements to how the buildings connect for Members and other users, is actively being looked at in detail as part of the Bay 32 project. The Commission is not, however, currently considering any further alternative physical bridges, for example, to the Senedd building from Tŷ Hywel. There are two link bridges that provide access from Tŷ Hywel to the Senedd building—one via the first floor staff restaurant and one on the second floor. Access from the first floor link bridge is via lifts only. The second floor link bridge directly joins the Senedd building, with no lift required. Direct access is also available at ground floor level via the Senedd building courtyards.
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Now we're put right on the spot, because if Sam is keeping an eye on this, my goodness. As I mentioned, the proposals we're looking at for developing and enhancing the facilities here include those routes from one part of the building to the other—from Tŷ Hywel to the Senedd. So, it's under consideration by the Commissioners in the plans going forward. It won't be immediate—I can't promise that. Meanwhile, we're all going to have to work hard to avoid that last-minute bottleneck where we're all jammed in with Sam, with very important services and goods being taken across at the same time that we're rushing down for the bell. Diolch.
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Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Official English translation
Thank you very much.
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Symudwn nawr at eitem 6, dadl Llafur Cymru ar addysg bellach. Galwaf ar Lynne Neagle i wneud y cynnig.
Official English translation
We'll move on now to item 6, the Welsh Labour debate on further education. I call on Lynne Neagle to move the motion.
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Diolch. Rwyf wedi dethol y gwelliannau i'r cynnig. Galwaf nawr ar y Dirprwy Weinidog dros Sgiliau ac Addysg Drydyddol i gynnig yn ffurfiol welliant 1 a gyflwynwyd yn enw Heledd Fychan.
Official English translation
Thank you. I have selected the amendments to the motion. I call now on the Deputy Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education to move formally amendment 1, tabled in the name of Heledd Fychan.
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Diolch yn fawr. Galwaf ar Sam Rowlands i gynnig gwelliant 2 a gyflwynwyd yn enw Paul Davies.
Official English translation
Thank you very much. I call on Sam Rowlands to move amendment 2, tabled in the name of Paul Davies.
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Diolch. Galwaf yn awr ar y Dirprwy Weinidog dros Sgiliau ac Addysg Drydyddol, Cefin Campbell.
Official English translation
Thank you. I call now on the Deputy Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education, Cefin Campbell.
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Galwaf ar Lynne Neagle i ymateb i'r ddadl.
Official English translation
I call on Lynne Neagle to reply to the debate.
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Y cwestiwn yw: a ddylid derbyn y cynnig heb ei ddiwygio? A oes unrhyw Aelod yn gwrthwynebu? [Gwrthwynebiad.] Gohiriaf y bleidlais o dan yr eitem hon tan y cyfnod pleidleisio.
Official English translation
The proposal is to agree the motion without amendment. Does any Member object? [Objection.] I will therefore defer voting under this item until voting time.
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Symudwn at eitem 7, dadl Reform UK, Cymru a'r Deyrnas Unedig. Galwaf ar Adrian Mason i wneud y cynnig.
Official English translation
We'll move now to item 7, the Reform UK debate, Wales and the United Kingdom. I call on Adrian Mason to move the motion.
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Just to reassure you, you haven't gone over; you've got 15 minutes in total, so don't worry.
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Galwaf nawr ar y Gweinidog Cabinet dros Effeithiolrwydd Llywodraeth a'r Cyfansoddiad i gynnig yn ffurfiol gwelliant 1 a gyflwynwyd yn enw Heledd Fychan.
Official English translation
I now call on the Cabinet Minister for Government Effectiveness and the Constitution to formally move amendment 1, tabled in the name of Heledd Fychan.
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Diolch yn fawr iawn. Galwaf ar Huw Thomas i gynnig gwelliant 2 a gyflwynwyd yn enw Lynne Neagle.
Official English translation
Thank you very much. I now call on Huw Thomas to move amendment 2, tabled in the name of Lynne Neagle.
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Could you wind up now, Huw, please?
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Y siaradwr nesaf—Carrie Harper.
Official English translation
Our next speaker is Carrie Harper.
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Colleagues, Members, we have a long list of speakers here. It's already been a lively debate, with interventions as well. It may be that we can't get them all in; it's in your hands. Elfed Williams.
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Thank you, Mike. We have two speakers, and this might push us just over time. So, I'm going to ask the two speakers if they can keep within the limit and, if they can keep it shorter, that'd be even better. So, if we can go, first of all, to Iain McIntosh.
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My thanks to the Member who has courteously withdrawn her name. It is noticed on the credit side of the ledger.
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Diolch yn fawr iawn. Symudwn yn syth i'r Gweinidog Cabinet nawr. Galwaf ar y Gweinidog Cabinet dros Effeithiolrwydd Llywodraeth a'r Cyfansoddiad, Dafydd Trystan Davies.
Official English translation
Thank you very much. We will therefore move immediately to the Cabinet Minister. I call on the Cabinet Minister for Government Effectiveness and the Constitution, Dafydd Trystan Davies.
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Galwaf ar James Evans i ymateb i'r ddadl.
Official English translation
I call on James Evans to reply to the debate.
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Y cwestiwn yw: a ddylid derbyn y cynnig heb ei ddiwygio? A oes unrhyw Aelod yn gwrthwynebu? [Gwrthwynebiad.] Gwrthwynebu. Gohiriaf y bleidlais o dan yr eitem hon tan y cyfnod pleidleisio.
Official English translation
The proposal is to agree the motion without amendment. Does any Member object? [Objection.] There are objections. I will therefore defer voting under this item until voting time.
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Rydyn ni'n cyrraedd y cyfnod pleidleisio. Oni bai fod pum Aelod yn dymuno i mi ganu'r gloch, symudaf yn syth i'r cyfnod pleidleisio.
Official English translation
That brings us to voting time. Unless five Members wish for the bell to be rung, I will proceed directly to voting time.
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Yn gyntaf, pleidleisiwn ar eitem 6, dadl Llafur Cymru ar addysg bellach. Galwaf am bleidlais ar y cynnig a gyflwynwyd yn enw Lynne Neagle. Os gwrthodir y cynnig, byddwn ni'n pleidleisio ar y gwelliannau a gyflwynwyd i'r cynnig. Agorwch y bleidlais. Canlyniad y bleidlais: o blaid 46—. Ocê, sori. Caewch y bleidlais. Dyma ganlyniad y bleidlais. O blaid 46, un person yn ymatal ac yn erbyn 43. Mae'r cynnig wedi'i dderbyn.
Official English translation
The first vote this afternoon is on item 6, the Welsh Labour debate on further education. I call for a vote on the motion tabled in the name of Lynne Neagle. If the proposal is not agreed, we will vote on the amendments tabled to the motion. Open the vote. The result of the vote is as follows: in favour 46—. Okay, sorry. Close the vote. The result of the vote is as follows: in favour 46, one abstention and 43 against. The motion is therefore agreed.
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Awn yn syth ymlaen at y ddadl nesaf, at eitem 7, dadl Reform UK, Cymru a'r Deyrnas Unedig. Galwaf am bleidlais ar y cynnig a gyflwynwyd yn enw Llŷr Powell. Os gwrthodir y cynnig, byddwn ni'n pleidleisio ar y gwelliannau a gyflwynwyd i'r cynnig. Agorwch y bleidlais. Caewch y bleidlais. Dyma ganlyniad y bleidlais—. O. [Chwerthin.] O blaid 45, neb yn ymatal, yn erbyn 45. Fel sy'n ofynnol o dan Reol Sefydlog 6.20, rwy'n arfer fy mhleidlais fwrw i bleidleisio yn erbyn y cynnig. Dyma ganlyniad y bleidlais nawr: o blaid 45, neb yn ymatal, yn erbyn 46. Mae'r cynnig wedi'i wrthod.
Official English translation
We'll move on immediately now to item 7, the Reform UK debate, Wales and the United Kingdom. I call for a vote on the motion tabled in the name of Llŷr Powell. If the proposal is not agreed, we will vote on the amendments tabled to the motion. Open the vote. Close the vote. The result of the vote is as follows—. Oh. [Laughter.] In favour 45, no abstentions and 45 against. As required under Standing Order 6.20, I exercise my casting vote to vote against the motion. The final result is: in favour 45, no abstentions and 46 against. The motion is not agreed.
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Rŷn ni'n symud at welliant 1 nawr. Galwaf am bleidlais ar welliant 1 a gyflwynwyd yn enw Heledd Fychan. Agorwch y bleidlais. Caewch y bleidlais. Dyma ganlyniad y bleidlais: o blaid 53, neb yn ymatal, yn erbyn 37. Mae gwelliant 1 wedi'i dderbyn.
Official English translation
We will move now to amendment 1. I call for a vote on amendment 1, tabled in the name of Heledd Fychan. Open the vote. Close the vote. The result of the vote is as follows: in favour 53, no abstentions, 37 against. Amendment 1 is agreed.
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Nesaf fe awn ni at welliant 2. Galwaf am bleidlais ar welliant 2 a gyflwynwyd yn enw Lynne Neagle. Agorwch y bleidlais. Caewch y bleidlais. Dyma ganlyniad y bleidlais: o blaid wyth, neb yn ymatal, yn erbyn 82. Mae gwelliant 2 wedi'i wrthod.
Official English translation
We will move now to amendment 2. I call for a vote on amendment 2, tabled in the name of Lynne Neagle. Open the vote. Close the vote. The result of the vote is: in favour eight, no abstentions, 82 against. Amendment 2 is therefore not agreed.
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Galwaf yn awr am y bleidlais ar y cynnig wedi'i ddiwygio.
Official English translation
I now call for a vote on the motion as amended.
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Agorwch y bleidlais. Caewch y bleidlais. Dyma ganlyniad y bleidlais: o blaid 45, wyth yn ymatal, yn erbyn 37. Mae'r cynnig wedi'i ddiwygio wedi'i dderbyn. Diolch, bawb.
Official English translation
Open the vote. Close the vote. The result of the vote is as follows: in favour 45, eight abstentions and 37 against. Therefore, the motion as amended is agreed. Thank you, all.
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Could I ask Members who are leaving the Chamber to do so swiftly and quietly, please? Quietly, without discussion, please. Diolch yn fawr iawn.
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Symudwn at eitem 9, y ddadl fer. Anthony Slaughter.
Official English translation
We'll now move to item 9, the short debate. Anthony Slaughter.
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Diolch yn fawr. Members are going to have to help each other. It's 15 minutes maximum for the contributions here in the opening remarks. Sarah Rees.
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We're over time, but I'm going to give very short contributions here to the final two speakers so that everybody is called. Cristiana Emsley.
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Galwaf ar y Gweinidog Cabinet dros Iechyd a Gofal i ymateb i'r ddadl—Mabon ap Gwynfor.
Official English translation
I call on the Cabinet Minister for Health and Care to reply to the debate—Mabon ap Gwynfor.
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Diolch, Weinidog Cabinet.
Official English translation
Thank you, Cabinet Minister.
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Thank you for raising that point of order and giving me notice that you were going to do so. I think there is merit within the point of order and I'm happy to review the Record of Proceedings. I will, indeed, return to the matter if I consider that a ruling is necessary. There are clear guidelines and Standing Orders in terms of language within the Chamber. So, I will happily take this away and review the Record of Proceedings. Thank you for raising it. Diolch yn fawr iawn.
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Daw hynny â thrafodion heddiw i ben. Diolch, bawb.
Official English translation
That brings today's proceedings to a close. Thank you.
How this page is made
Counted by Siambr from the Record's rows. Chaired contributions, spoken under the Record's title for the chair, are counted apart and never added in.
Each page holds 50 contributions at most and keeps a sitting day whole, unless the day alone is over 50.
Sources
The Record of Proceedings for each sitting day, quoted verbatim.