– in the Senedd at 5:42 pm on 10 February 2026.
Elin Jones
Plaid Cymru
5:42,
10 February 2026
We'll now move to group 4. And the fourth group of amendments relates to the general purpose of the Office of Environmental Governance Wales. Amendment 36 is the lead amendment. And I call on Delyth Jewell to speak to the lead amendment.
Delyth Jewell
Plaid Cymru
5:43,
10 February 2026
Thank you, Llywydd. I move the amendments in my name in this group, amendments 36 and 47.
Delyth Jewell
Plaid Cymru
I'm grateful to the Deputy First Minister and his team for their assistance and support in looking at how this could work. The purpose of this Amendment is to provide a more focused general purpose for the OEGW. The amendment maintains symmetry with the environmental objective that's set out in section 1 of the Bill, which includes reference to the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015, by referencing the attainment of a high level of environmental protection and an improvement of the environment, whilst emphasising the OEGW’s role in ensuring compliance with, and effectiveness, implementation and application of, environmental law.
I'm also grateful for their support looking at, after Stage 2, how what I put forward in amendment 47 might work. That is consequential to the previous amendment 36. It reflects that the OEGW must set out in its strategy how it intends to comply with its duty to exercise its functions for the general purpose set out in section 10(a), and not the 'environmental objective', as previously drafted. Diolch.
Rhys ab Owen
Plaid Cymru
5:44,
10 February 2026
Everyone will be pleased to hear that I don't intend to rehearse all the comments that I made in favour of these amendments at Stage 2, but I do propose that the new office should operate in accordance with the Aarhus convention. What would that mean, I hear you ask? Well, it ensures three rights for the public on environmental issues: a right to receive information on the environment held by public bodies; a right to participate in decision making around the environment; and, third, a right to have a review by a court or another independent body to ensure that public bodies respect the rights that I have outlined, and environmental law more generally. How often do we receive correspondence from constituents on these issues?
Now, in response to my amendments at Stage 2, the Deputy First Minister explained that, in his view, it is not appropriate to ensure that the office should act in accordance with Aarhus. This is despite the fact that the convention is an international agreement that has been supported by the United Kingdom. Last year, a decision was taken by the convention compliance committee saying that the UK was failing in terms of its compliance. In my view, the stance of the Deputy First Minister and the Welsh Government on my amendments is evidence that not only is the UK failing, but Wales is also failing to comply with the Aarhus convention.
In accordance with article 10 of the Aarhus convention, parties review the implementation of the convention in an ongoing manner on the basis of regular reports from parties. For example, the 2021 report for the UK notes, as evidence of compliance with the convention here in Wales, our Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 and the Environment (Wales) Act 2016. So, I kindly ask you to consider why this environment Bill should not be included in that list and, therefore, support my amendments. Thank you.
Elin Jones
Plaid Cymru
5:46,
10 February 2026
The Cabinet Secretary.
Huw Irranca-Davies
Labour
Diolch, Llywydd. First of all, if I can turn to Amendment 36 and the consequential amendment 47, the Bill as introduced and as amended at Stage 2 aligns the OEGW's general purpose with the environmental objective set out in section 1 of the Bill, which includes, amongst other things, a reference to the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015. But we did hear at the earlier stages, and indeed from the ENGOs as well, concerns that this approach is not as focused as it could be on the environment. So, having listened to these concerns, I am really pleased that, Delyth, we’ve been able to work together effectively to develop this appropriate amendment that addresses those concerns, whilst also maintaining that necessary clear focus on a high level of environmental protection and improvement of the environment. So, in this way, this amendment maintains the symmetry with the environmental objective, but places focus on the role the OEGW will have in supporting the environment through its oversight of environmental law. So, on that basis, I’m very pleased to support this amendment and encourage other Members to do so, and the consequential amendment as well.
Rhys, I feel really bad now, but I am going to explain why I don’t think these amendments are appropriate. These were indeed the amendments, or similar, that were tabled and rejected at Stage 2. It’s because it would be inappropriate for this provision to be added to the OEGW's general purpose. Although we’re supportive of the Aarhus convention, it’s a question of how it fits within this legislation.
The Aarhus convention, as we all know, is an international treaty ratified by the UK Government. It sets out broad principles rather than precise statutory duties. If we required the OEGW to exercise its functions in accordance with the Aarhus convention, it could open the door for some quite substantial interpretation disputes and, indeed, potential challenges. The Bill already sets out effective ways to ensure citizens are empowered to engage with and be consulted by the OEGW.
Furthermore, the OEGW's remit is to oversee environmental law, which in this context means devolved provisions relating to the environment. Now, Aarhus obligations often require systemic measures such as access to courts, which are beyond the OEGW's powers and resources. So, if we impose this duty it would lead to, quite frankly, unrealistic expectations of what the OEGW could and should do.
To add to this, monitoring compliance with Aarhus is already handled at a UK level and by the UNECE compliance committee. Whilst the OEGW will oversee domestic environmental law, which reflects the Aarhus convention, it should not be expected to, nor indeed could it, be an oversight body for UK-wide obligations, because this oversight already exists. So, it’s not out of any lack of sympathy or obligation towards our obligations on the Aarhus convention; it just doesn’t fit within the OEGW's role within this devolved context. But that's already provided for. I hope that explains it.
Elin Jones
Plaid Cymru
5:50,
10 February 2026
Delyth Jewell to reply.
Delyth Jewell
Plaid Cymru
Thank you to those who have taken part in this short debate. I'm very grateful to the Deputy First Minister for his supportive remarks on the amendments in my name in this group, and I hope that the balance will now work well. There are some interesting points that have been raised, I think, by Rhys about his Amendment on the Aarhus convention. I also recognise the challenges that could arise if this were to pass, so we will abstain on that amendment. But I think, if it wasn't for those challenges, we would have supported it.
Elin Jones
Plaid Cymru
The proposal is to agree Amendment 36. Does any Member object? No, there is no objection, therefore the amendment is agreed.
Elin Jones
Plaid Cymru
5:50,
10 February 2026
Rhys ab Owen, Amendment 1. Is it moved?
Elin Jones
Plaid Cymru
5:50,
10 February 2026
It is. If Amendment 1 is not agreed, amendment 7 falls. The question is that amendment 1 be agreed to. Does any Member object? [Objection.] There is objection. We will therefore move to a vote on amendment 1. Open the vote. Close the vote. In favour two, 11 abstentions and 35 against. Therefore, amendment 1 is not agreed.
Division number 7250
Amendment 1
Elin Jones
Plaid Cymru
5:51,
10 February 2026
Amendment 47. Is it moved, Delyth Jewell?
Elin Jones
Plaid Cymru
5:51,
10 February 2026
It is. Are there any objections to Amendment 47? [Objection.] There are objections to amendment 47. We will therefore move to a vote on amendment 47. Open the vote. Close the vote. In favour 46, no abstentions and two against. Therefore, amendment 47 is agreed.
Division number 7251
Amendment 47
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.
Ministers make up the Government and almost all are members of the House of Lords or the House of Commons. There are three main types of Minister. Departmental Ministers are in charge of Government Departments. The Government is divided into different Departments which have responsibilities for different areas. For example the Treasury is in charge of Government spending. Departmental Ministers in the Cabinet are generally called 'Secretary of State' but some have special titles such as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Ministers of State and Junior Ministers assist the ministers in charge of the department. They normally have responsibility for a particular area within the department and are sometimes given a title that reflects this - for example Minister of Transport.
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.
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.
