– in the Senedd at 5:46 pm on 3 February 2026.
Elin Jones
Plaid Cymru
5:46,
3 February 2026
The next group is group 4, and this relates to help to retain suitable accommodation. The lead Amendment is amendment 70, and I call on Joel James to move this amendment. Joel James.
Joel James
Conservative
5:47,
3 February 2026
Thank you, Llywydd. I'll be speaking to the lead Amendment. This amendment would require local authorities, when determining whether or not assistance is necessary for an applicant to retain suitable accommodation, to have due regard to the views of the relevant social landlord. In many cases, the social landlord may hold more detailed and up-to-date information about the tenant's circumstances and housing situation, and is therefore well placed to inform that assessment. Taking such views into account would support more informed and balanced decision making, while helping to ensure that appropriate and proportionate assistance is provided. Thank you.
Elin Jones
Plaid Cymru
The Cabinet Secretary, Jayne Bryant.
Jayne Bryant
Labour
Diolch, Llywydd. This group relates to changes to section 17 of the Bill, the new duty to provide help to retain suitable accommodation. Amendment 70 requires local authorities to have regard to the view of the registered social landlord when determining whether an applicant is owed this duty. I appreciate that a landlord will have an important view on how a tenant should be supported, as will other public services who may be involved with a household. However, I must remind colleagues of the person-centred drafting of the duty. It is not a universal duty owed to all applicants, it is a specialised duty owed only to the most vulnerable. It relies on the active consent of the applicant whose voice must not be overridden. The amendment undermines the aim of the duty, prioritising the view of one body over others and over the applicant themselves.
The revised prevention duty and the new 'ask and act' provisions already mean that an RSL can refer applicants who are at risk of homelessness to a local housing authority for assistance. The prevention duty has been designed through the Bill to facilitate much earlier engagement with potential applicants. The Bill creates a cohesive process, which will ensure assistance for an applicant at every stage of their homelessness—early Intervention and prevention, support if homelessness cannot be prevented and longer term support to create successful tenancies.
The process bakes in partnership working and a multi-agency response through 'ask and act', case co-ordination and the duty to co-operate. Local housing authorities will have to have processes in place when determining whether to apply or extend the duty to help a person retain accommodation, and seeking views from partners will be key to this. It is in the interest of all parties to help the applicant to keep their accommodation and prevent repeat homelessness. Therefore, I cannot support this amendment, which is unnecessary, duplicating and which undermines our policy intention. I ask that Members vote against amendment 70.
Elin Jones
Plaid Cymru
5:49,
3 February 2026
Joel James to respond.
Joel James
Conservative
I'd just like to move to a vote.
Elin Jones
Plaid Cymru
Are there any objections to Amendment 70? [Objection.] There are. We will therefore move to a vote on amendment 70. Open the vote. Close the vote. In favour 11, no abstentions, 37 against. Therefore, amendment 70 is not agreed.
Division number 7116
Amendment 70
Elin Jones
Plaid Cymru
5:50,
3 February 2026
Amendment 71.
Elin Jones
Plaid Cymru
Is it being moved, Joel James—71?
Elin Jones
Plaid Cymru
5:50,
3 February 2026
Yes, it is. Are there any objections to Amendment 71? [Objection.] There are. So, open the vote on amendment 71. Close the vote. The vote is tied, therefore I will exercise my casting vote against amendment 71, which means that the result is as follows: there were 24 in favour, no abstentions, 25 against. Amendment 71 is not agreed.
Division number 7117
Amendment 71
Elin Jones
Plaid Cymru
5:51,
3 February 2026
Amendment 51. Is it moved, Rhys ab Owen?
Elin Jones
Plaid Cymru
5:51,
3 February 2026
It is. Are there any objections? [Objection.] There are. Open the vote on Amendment 51. Close the vote. The vote is tied. Therefore, I exercise my casting vote against this amendment. The result is that there were 24 in favour, no abstentions, 25 against. Amendment 51 is therefore not agreed.
Division number 7118
Amendment 51
Elin Jones
Plaid Cymru
5:51,
3 February 2026
Amendment 72.
Elin Jones
Plaid Cymru
Amendment 72. Is it being moved, Joel James? [Interruption.] Did I say—? Amendment 52.
Elin Jones
Plaid Cymru
5:52,
3 February 2026
Amendment 52. Is it moved by Rhys ab Owen?
Elin Jones
Plaid Cymru
5:52,
3 February 2026
It is. Are there any objections? [Objection.] There are. So, Amendment 52. Open the vote. Close the vote. In favour, two. There are nine abstentions and 37 against. Therefore, amendment 52 is not agreed.
Division number 7119
Amendment 52
Elin Jones
Plaid Cymru
5:52,
3 February 2026
Now we come to gwelliant 72. Amendment 72. Joel James, is it being moved?
Elin Jones
Plaid Cymru
5:52,
3 February 2026
Yes, it is.
Elin Jones
Plaid Cymru
Are there any objections? [Objection.] There are objections. Open the vote on Amendment 72. Close the vote. The vote is tied. And therefore I exercise my casting vote against amendment 72. Amendment 72 is therefore not agreed. The result is that there were 24 in favour, no abstentions, 25 against.
Division number 7120
Amendment 72
Elin Jones
Plaid Cymru
5:53,
3 February 2026
Amendment 73. Is it being moved by Joel James?
Elin Jones
Plaid Cymru
Are there any objections? [Objection.] There are. So, open the vote on Amendment 73. Close the vote. The vote is tied. I exercise my casting vote against amendment 73. Amendment 73 is not agreed. There were 24 in favour, no abstentions, 25 against. Therefore, amendment 73 is not agreed.
Division number 7121
Amendment 73
As a bill passes through Parliament, MPs and peers may suggest amendments - or changes - which they believe will improve the quality of the legislation.
Many hundreds of amendments are proposed by members to major bills as they pass through committee stage, report stage and third reading in both Houses of Parliament.
In the end only a handful of amendments will be incorporated into any bill.
The Speaker - or the chairman in the case of standing committees - has the power to select which amendments should be debated.
As a bill passes through Parliament, MPs and peers may suggest amendments - or changes - which they believe will improve the quality of the legislation.
Many hundreds of amendments are proposed by members to major bills as they pass through committee stage, report stage and third reading in both Houses of Parliament.
In the end only a handful of amendments will be incorporated into any bill.
The Speaker - or the chairman in the case of standing committees - has the power to select which amendments should be debated.
The cabinet is the group of twenty or so (and no more than 22) senior government ministers who are responsible for running the departments of state and deciding government policy.
It is chaired by the prime minister.
The cabinet is bound by collective responsibility, which means that all its members must abide by and defend the decisions it takes, despite any private doubts that they might have.
Cabinet ministers are appointed by the prime minister and chosen from MPs or peers of the governing party.
However, during periods of national emergency, or when no single party gains a large enough majority to govern alone, coalition governments have been formed with cabinets containing members from more than one political party.
War cabinets have sometimes been formed with a much smaller membership than the full cabinet.
From time to time the prime minister will reorganise the cabinet in order to bring in new members, or to move existing members around. This reorganisation is known as a cabinet re-shuffle.
The cabinet normally meets once a week in the cabinet room at Downing Street.
An intervention is when the MP making a speech is interrupted by another MP and asked to 'give way' to allow the other MP to intervene on the speech to ask a question or comment on what has just been said.
The House of Commons votes by dividing. Those voting Aye (yes) to any proposition walk through the division lobby to the right of the Speaker and those voting no through the lobby to the left. In each of the lobbies there are desks occupied by Clerks who tick Members' names off division lists as they pass through. Then at the exit doors the Members are counted by two Members acting as tellers. The Speaker calls for a vote by announcing "Clear the Lobbies". In the House of Lords "Clear the Bar" is called. Division Bells ring throughout the building and the police direct all Strangers to leave the vicinity of the Members’ Lobby. They also walk through the public rooms of the House shouting "division". MPs have eight minutes to get to the Division Lobby before the doors are closed. Members make their way to the Chamber, where Whips are on hand to remind the uncertain which way, if any, their party is voting. Meanwhile the Clerks who will take the names of those voting have taken their place at the high tables with the alphabetical lists of MPs' names on which ticks are made to record the vote. When the tellers are ready the counting process begins - the recording of names by the Clerk and the counting of heads by the tellers. When both lobbies have been counted and the figures entered on a card this is given to the Speaker who reads the figures and announces "So the Ayes [or Noes] have it". In the House of Lords the process is the same except that the Lobbies are called the Contents Lobby and the Not Contents Lobby. Unlike many other legislatures, the House of Commons and the House of Lords have not adopted a mechanical or electronic means of voting. This was considered in 1998 but rejected. Divisions rarely take less than ten minutes and those where most Members are voting usually take about fifteen. Further information can be obtained from factsheet P9 at the UK Parliament site.
