‘Monstrous’ solar projects ‘taking over farmland’
Senedd members debated calls for a temporary ban on "monstrous" solar developments, warning the countryside, food security and Welsh farmers could all be compromised.
Janet...
Plans to replace ‘unfair’ council tax still on the cards
Wales' finance secretary Mark Drakeford confirmed plans for a land value tax remain on the table as a potential long-term replacement for council tax and...
Online abuse of politicians ‘getting worse by the day’
Senedd members called for urgent action to tackle the "existential crisis" of abuse, harassment and intimidation faced by politicians on social media.
Plaid Cymru's Adam...
Freeport jobs promises ‘quietly revised down’
Promises of job creation at two freeports have been stealthily downgraded by thousands of jobs, with Wales falling far behind the curve, a Senedd...
‘Rushed’ battery storage developments risk ‘devastating’ consequences
The rapid and largely unregulated proliferation of battery storage developments is becoming an urgent safety issue in many parts of Wales, a Senedd member...
Senedd rebuffs call for public inquiry into beleaguered health board
Senedd members rejected calls for a public inquiry ahead of the ten-year anniversary of ministers placing Betsi Cadwaladr university health board into special measures.
Gareth...
‘No targets, no teeth and no accountability’: ministers’ disability rights plan...
Campaigners warned it will be "impossible" to hold the Welsh Government to account on progress against its disabled people's rights plan due to a...
Plaid Cymru demands end to ‘shameful’ pensions justice
Senedd members called out the "shameful", long-standing pensions injustice faced by thousands of women born in the 1950s, coal miners, and steelworkers.
Plaid Cymru's Heledd...
Welsh Water customers ‘getting a raw deal’
Welsh Water customers are getting a raw deal, with bills increasing while "disgraceful" pollution continues and executives pocket "scandalous" payments, the Senedd heard.
Rhys ab...
Drakeford plans business rates shake-up
Mark Drakeford unveiled plans to cut business rates for around 13,000 smaller "bricks and mortar" shops while raising the amount payable for higher value...
Senedd demands action to protect firefighters from cancer risks
Senedd members called for annual health checks for firefighters in Wales, with a study showing instances of cancer are up to 323% higher than...
Senedd rejects Conservative calls for £660m tax cuts
Senedd members voted down Conservative calls to cut taxes for 1.7 million people in Wales.
Sam Rowlands said his party would use devolved tax powers...
‘Something must be done’: Senedd debates calls for smartphone-free schools
Senedd members warned "something must be done" with smartphones causing disruption in classrooms and fuelling mental health problems among pupils.
Carolyn Thomas, who chairs the...
Senedd unites to pass ‘truly historic’ Welsh education bill
The Senedd unanimously passed a "far-reaching, truly historic" bill aimed at transforming education as part of the ambition of reaching a million Welsh speakers...
First minister leads tributes to ‘champion of women’s health’
Wales' first minister led cross-party tributes in the Senedd to a passionate campaigner who fought to improve services for fellow cancer patients.
Eluned Morgan paid...
‘We can’t afford to wait any longer’: Senedd demands action on...
Senedd members called for urgent action to tackle the "frightening reality" of nature loss in Wales, with legally binding biodiversity targets still four years...
Senedd debates Labour’s record as election looms
Senedd members debated the Labour Welsh Government's record over the past four years, with the next election looming in 12 months.
Rhun ap Iorwerth accused...
Older people’s voices ‘must be heard’ on bus reforms
The older people's commissioner for Wales warned people could be denied a meaningful say about a major shake-up of bus services due to a...
Major shake-up of Welsh language education reaches final stage
An overhaul of Welsh language education cleared the penultimate hurdle in the Senedd, with new school categories and legal requirements on the horizon.
Senedd members...
Senedd backs data bill despite constitutional concerns
The Senedd signed off on the UK Government's data bill despite constitutional concerns, with the proposed legislation "completely failing" a key test set by...
‘We must never forget’: Senedd unites to mark 80th anniversary of...
Wales' first minister led tributes to the sacrifices of past generations as the Senedd marked the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day.
Eluned...
Welsh Government considers abandoning ‘ill-advised’ cancer target
A key ambition for 80% of cancer patients to start treatment within 62 days could be dropped because services have little chance of hitting...
Ministers urged to act over school violence ‘epidemic’
Senedd members demanded urgent action to address an "epidemic" of violence after a 14-year-old became the first person convicted of attempted murder in a...
Call for legal minimum NHS dentist staffing levels
Senedd members called for legally binding minimum staffing levels in NHS dentistry amid concerns services face an existential crisis.
Mabon ap Gwynfor, Plaid Cymru's shadow...
First minister under fire over ‘betrayal’ of steel workers
Wales' first minister came under fire over the Labour UK Government's decision to step in to save Scunthorpe steelworks after failing to do the...
‘Nobody taking responsibility’ for paying care workers the real living wage
Care home providers urged the Welsh Government to follow through on a key commitment to ensure care workers are paid the real living wage.
Giving...
Senedd criticises ‘unacceptable’ delays on Infected blood compensation
Senedd members urged the UK Government to speed up compensation payments to people infected and affected by the contaminated blood scandal.
Labour's Julie Morgan, who...
Senedd holds urgent debate on ‘callous’ welfare cuts
Senedd members criticised Westminster's "short-sighted, immoral and unethical" plans to slash spending on welfare by £4.8bn a year by the end of the decade.
Sioned...
Wales could miss out on £65m to cover national insurance hikes
Mark Drakeford warned Wales could miss out on up to £65m to cover the increased costs of employer national insurance contributions in the public...
Tourism tax plans move closer with rates set to rise
Plans to bring in a tourism tax cleared the first hurdle in the Senedd, with the Welsh Government set to raise the rate to...
Ministers urged to keep promise on banning lying politicians
Welsh ministers have been urged to keep a promise to disqualify politicians found guilty of deliberate deception after appearing to backtrack on the commitment.
Plaid...
First minister grilled about £4.8bn benefit cuts
Senedd members pressed Wales' first minister about the Labour UK Government plans to slash spending on welfare by £4.8bn a year by the end...
Plans for ‘crumbling’ Senedd offices face scrutiny
A commissioner warned current Senedd offices are "crumbling" and becoming "no longer fit for purpose" amid a multi-million-pound search for new office space.
Hefin David,...
‘Crisis? What crisis?’: Labour politician criticises response to report on culture...
A Labour Senedd member criticised the Welsh Government's response to an inquiry on the impact of cuts to culture and sport over the past...
‘A pointless talking shop’: Conservatives quit Senedd Covid committee
The Conservatives quit a Senedd committee charged with addressing gaps in the UK Covid-19 inquiry after Labour blocked calls for witnesses to swear an...
Call for long-term cancer strategy as 9,000 wait too long for...
Cancer charities joined forces to call for a longer-term national strategy to improve services after 9,000 people waited too long for treatment last year.
Mark...
Welsh ministers ’embarrassed’ over Crown Estate devolution
Senedd members criticised Labour's "utterly embarrassing" position on the Crown Estate, with ministers in Cardiff Bay backing devolution while Westminster blocks reform.
Plaid Cymru's Luke...
‘Slow progress’ on fire service reform
A Senedd member criticised "slow progress" tackling a toxic culture within fire services, with less than half the recommendations of a damning report implemented...
School transport ‘no longer fit for purpose’
Senedd members called for a long-awaited overhaul of "inadequate" school transport, warning too many pupils facing barriers to accessing education.
Tom Giffard described current legislation –...
Senedd backs ‘buy-one-get-one-free’ ban amid obesity crisis
The Senedd narrowly backed plans to ban offers on unhealthy food and drinks including "buy-one-get-one-free" deals in an effort to tackle high rates of...
Senedd supports ‘scores on the doors’ for care homes
The Senedd supported plans to introduce inspection ratings for care homes, with service providers set to be required to publish "scores on the doors".
Care...
Eye care services ‘woefully under-resourced’
Tens of thousands of people at the greatest risk of irreversible sight loss are languishing on waiting lists for too long, with services woefully...
Senedd members denounce ‘devastating’ benefit cuts
Sweeping £5bn cuts to benefits will have a devastating impact on disabled people in Wales, Senedd members warned.
Sioned Williams, Plaid Cymru's shadow social justice...
Ministers at odds with dentists over ‘biggest reforms in decades’
Wales' health secretary set out plans for the biggest changes to NHS dentistry services in almost two decades despite still being at loggerheads with...
Plaid Cymru demand for ‘fair share’ from HS2 voted down
The Senedd rejected Plaid Cymru calls to demand HS2 be redesignated as an England-only project to unlock billions of pounds of consequential funding for...
Call for by-elections to replace misbehaving Senedd members
A Labour Senedd member called for voters to be given a say over who replaces politicians removed from office for wrongdoing under a new...
‘We can’t carry on as we are’: NRW set to face...
Natural Resources Wales is not out of the woods after making £10m cuts, slashing 250 jobs and receiving a £19m loan to cover an...
Plaid Cymru demand for ‘fair share’ from HS2 voted down
The Senedd rejected Plaid Cymru calls to demand HS2 be redesignated as an England-only project to unlock billions of pounds of consequential funding for...
Delays to tribunal reforms ‘deeply troubling’
Senedd members urged ministers to press ahead with urgently needed reforms of the Welsh tribunal system or risk leaving the courts unable to cope...
Welsh Government set to change key ambulance target
A key target for ambulances to respond to the most urgent 999 calls within eight minutes, which has not been met in five years,...