The constitution

The Welsh Government's latest press releases and Cabinet statements on this brief.

1. Cabinet statement, 28 September 2026

   Oral Statement: The Revision of the National Development Framework and National Conversation

   Sian Gwenllian MS, Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning

2. Press release, 22 September 2026

   Programme for Government sets “a new ambition for Wales”

   The Welsh Government has published its new Programme for Government today, which sets out its priorities and plans over the four-year Senedd term, following the Senedd election on 7 May.

Statements, debates and legislation in Plenary on this brief, newest first. Oral question sessions are counted in the contributions below.

1. 13 October 2026Legislation

   The Armed Forces Bill

   Legislative Consent Motion

   Opened by Sioned Williams8 contributions

2. 29 September 2026Statement

   National Commission for Wales

   Statement by the Cabinet Minister for Government Effectiveness and the Constitution

   0 contributions

3. 29 September 2026Statement

   The Revision of the National Development Framework and National Conversation

   Statement by the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning

   Opened by Siân Gwenllian16 contributions

4. 14 July 2026Legislation

   Steel Industry (Nationalisation) Bill

   Legislative Consent Motion

   Opened by Adam Price8 contributions

5. 7 July 2026Statement

   Our Vision for the Devolution of Rail

   Statement by the Deputy Minister for Transport

   Opened by Mark Hooper22 contributions

6. 23 June 2026Statement

   Priorities for Government Effectiveness and Constitution

   Statement by the Cabinet Minister for Government Effectiveness and the Constitution

   Opened by Dafydd Trystan Davies25 contributions

Votes are tagged from their own titles and the agenda item they were held under.

Ministers' meetings with outside organisations and their engagements on this brief, from the register the Welsh Government publishes every three months. 13 since the 2026 election; the latest:

1. 24 September 2026

   Expert Group on Crown Estate

   Meeting, Cabinet Minister for Government Effectiveness and the Constitution

2. 27 August 2026

   Y Comisiwn Etholiadol/Electoral Commission

   Meeting, Cabinet Minister for Government Effectiveness and the Constitution

3. 6 August 2026

   YesCymru, Eisteddfod

   Meeting, Cabinet Minister for Government Effectiveness and the Constitution

4. 4 August 2026

   Hamish Falconer MP, Minister of State for Intergovernmental Relations and European Relations

   Meeting, Cabinet Minister for Government Effectiveness and the Constitution

5. 30 July 2026

   Nick Butler, Chair of the Commission on the Crown Estate

   Meeting, Cabinet Minister for Government Effectiveness and the Constitution

6. 30 July 2026

   YesCymru

   Meeting, Cabinet Minister for Government Effectiveness and the Constitution

7. 15 July 2026

   Secretary of State for Wales

   Meeting, Cabinet Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy

8. 7 July 2026

   Sarah Jones MP, Minister of State for Policing and Crime and Jo Stevens MP, Secretary of State for Wales with Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Minister for Social Justice and Equality

   Meeting, Cabinet Minister for Government Effectiveness and the Constitution

Source: Welsh Government, ministerial meetings and engagements. The register is published three months or more after the meetings it lists.

• 23% of Welsh adults said the constitutional future of Wales or Welsh independence would be very important to their vote.

Ipsos asked 747 Welsh adults aged 16+ between 2 April 2026 and 8 April 2026, before the 2026 Senedd election. People could choose as many issues as they liked. More on public opinion.

13 written questions to the Welsh Government on this brief in the Seventh Senedd, 13 answered so far. The latest:

1. John ClarkReform12 October 2026

   Will the Welsh Government be appointing Laura McAllister and Rowan Williams to the National Commission?

   To the Cabinet Minister for Government Effectiveness & the Constitution. Answered 16 October 2026

2. Joshua KimReform9 October 2026

   What is the number of full-time equivalent Welsh Government civil servants whose principal role relates to constitutional reform, further devolution or the proposed national commission on the constitution, and what is the total annual salary cost of those posts?

   To the Cabinet Minister for Government Effectiveness & the Constitution. Answered 15 October 2026

3. Joshua KimReform28 September 2026

   What operational objectives underpin the Welsh Government’s policy of seeking full devolution of justice, what measurable outcomes are those objectives intended to improve, and what evidence supports its position?

   To the Cabinet Minister for Government Effectiveness & the Constitution. Answered 6 October 2026

4. Joshua KimReform28 September 2026

   What operational objectives underpin the Welsh Government’s policy of seeking full devolution of rail infrastructure, what measurable passenger outcomes are those objectives intended to improve, and what evidence supports its position?

   To the Cabinet Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy. Answered 5 October 2026

5. Dan ThomasReform28 September 2026

   Will the reuse targets included within the Deposit Return Scheme regulations still be applied given the lack of exemption from the United Kingdom Internal Market Act 2020?

   To the Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability. Answered 7 October 2026

All 13 written questions on this brief

1 petition to the Senedd on this brief:

1. Introduce the Single Transferrable Vote (STV) for future Senedd Elections

   Open

   45 signatures

Committee sessions where this brief was on the agenda, newest first.

1. 8 October 2026Health and Social Care Committee

   Health Bill - evidence session 4

   Legislative Consent

   141 contributions

2. 1 October 2026Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee

   Scrutiny of the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning on the Representation of the People (Electoral Registration without Applications) (Electoral Reform) (Wales) Regulations 2026

   103 contributions

3. 1 October 2026Health and Social Care Committee

   Health Bill - evidence session 3: Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board and Powys Teaching Health Board

   Legislative Consent

   100 contributions

4. 1 October 2026Health and Social Care Committee

   Health Bill - evidence session 2: Llais

   Legislative Consent

   118 contributions

5. 1 October 2026Health and Social Care Committee

   Health Bill - evidence session 1: NHS Wales Joint Commissioning Committee

   Legislative Consent

   102 contributions

6. 1 October 2026Constitution, Justice and External Affairs Committee

   Cabinet Minister for Government Effectiveness and the Constitution

   Ministerial scrutiny session

   182 contributions

7. 21 September 2026Legislation Committee

   General Scrutiny session with the Counsel General and the Cabinet Minister for Government Effectiveness and the Constitution

   152 contributions

8. 17 September 2026Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee

   Evidence session 2

   The Representation of the People (Electoral Registration without Applications) (Electoral Reform) (Wales) Regulations 2026

   75 contributions

Articles by Senedd Research, the Senedd's impartial research service, on this brief, newest first.

1. “Enforceable protections or simply aspirations”: exploring the Welsh Government commitment on human rights

   15 September 2026

   Prior to the Senedd election in May, in February 2026, Sioned Williams MS led a motion on a Member's Legislative Proposal for a “Human Rights Bill”.

2. Disused coal tips: who acts, who pays, and what comes next?

   11 September 2026

   Mine and quarry tips are a physical reminder of Wales’ industrial past. These tips can threaten life and well-being, as was seen during landslips at Tylorstown in 2020, and Cwmtillery in 2024.

3. Senedd election 2026 – Analysis of the results

   3 September 2026

   This briefing provides a detailed overview of the results of the Senedd election held on 7 May 2026.

4. Youth justice in Wales – at a turning point?

   2 September 2026

   Youth justice is entering a period of reform across England and Wales.

5. Why are people from Wales in prison? What the data can tell us

   21 August 2026

   His Majesty’s Prisons and Probation Service (HMPPS) has published Welsh-specific justice data for the second time. The data covers people in prison in England and Wales who were living, or recorded as living, in Wales before custody.

More from Senedd Research on this subject

Titles and summaries are Senedd Research's own, © Senedd Commission. How we match articles to briefs.

869 contributions in the Seventh Senedd, newest first.

1. Siân GwenllianPlaid

   1 October 2026, Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee

   Scrutiny of the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning on the Representation of the People (Electoral Registration without Applications) (Electoral Reform) (Wales) Regulations 2026

   The evidence in the pilot schemes suggests that, where electors chose to opt out, if that's what your concern is, or part of what you're saying at least, that the majority of them had done so within the first two, three weeks. So, it wasn't just that they'd received the letter in that time, but…

   Tagged from the title of its item or question: “Electoral Reform”Translated from WelshOfficial Record

2. Carmelo ColasantoReform

   1 October 2026, Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee

   Scrutiny of the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning on the Representation of the People (Electoral Registration without Applications) (Electoral Reform) (Wales) Regulations 2026

   Okay. I guess I'm going to go back to that notification period. So, I'm actually looking at the pack. The concern, I think, that I have is: does it provide the right balance between the effective administration of this scheme and the safeguarding of vulnerable people? I'm going to cite an example…

   Tagged from the title of its item or question: “Electoral Reform”Official Record

3. Siân GwenllianPlaid

   1 October 2026, Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee

   Scrutiny of the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning on the Representation of the People (Electoral Registration without Applications) (Electoral Reform) (Wales) Regulations 2026

   I understand your point completely. This is something that we have discussed with the Royal Mail, and we are aware of the problem. This kind of posting around the AVR would be managed through different contractual and operational routes than the normal post, which has the ability to plan for…

   Tagged from the title of its item or question: “Electoral Reform”Translated from WelshOfficial Record

4. Marc JonesPlaid

   1 October 2026, Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee

   Scrutiny of the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning on the Representation of the People (Electoral Registration without Applications) (Electoral Reform) (Wales) Regulations 2026

   Just to add to that, this was a concern that was raised in the last scrutiny session with regard to problems with the Royal Mail, and it's not only a rural issue, I'm afraid. It's a general issue these days. Certainly, in Wrexham, we've had specific problems with people missing their hospital…

   Tagged from the title of its item or question: “Electoral Reform”Translated from WelshOfficial Record

5. Siân GwenllianPlaid

   1 October 2026, Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee

   Scrutiny of the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning on the Representation of the People (Electoral Registration without Applications) (Electoral Reform) (Wales) Regulations 2026

   And as somebody who represents an area that is very rural, I understand exactly that point. Of course, you can register online, but you're thinking of receiving the letter late perhaps, yes? I think that this balance between 28 and 60—. I think 28 days is sufficient time, even in a situation like…

   Tagged from the title of its item or question: “Electoral Reform”Translated from WelshOfficial Record

6. Francesca O'BrienReform

   1 October 2026, Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee

   Scrutiny of the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning on the Representation of the People (Electoral Registration without Applications) (Electoral Reform) (Wales) Regulations 2026

   I was just worried on the rural—. Sometimes, in our constituency, we've got some parts where it can be weeks, sometimes, for some unknown reason—with the Royal Mail it can be weeks. So, it was just more that I'm conscious, on the rural side—. And I've got to pick up on the Cabinet Minister as well.…

   Tagged from the title of its item or question: “Electoral Reform”Official Record

7. Michael Kay

   1 October 2026, Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee

   Scrutiny of the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning on the Representation of the People (Electoral Registration without Applications) (Electoral Reform) (Wales) Regulations 2026

   Yes, it was something that the Electoral Commission were quite clear on in their evaluation of the pilots, that the 60-day period was too long and it should be reduced. So, we looked at 28 days because it seemed more in line with other processes for responding too, on the basis that 20 days, four…

   Tagged for: “Electoral Commission”Official Record

8. Siân GwenllianPlaid

   1 October 2026, Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee

   Scrutiny of the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning on the Representation of the People (Electoral Registration without Applications) (Electoral Reform) (Wales) Regulations 2026

   Thank you. In the pilots—. We have learned many lessons from the pilots. They were held in Newport, Powys and Gwynedd, and in Carmarthenshire also. We're very grateful to the local authorities there that did take part in the pilots in order for us to learn the lessons that we're implementing now.…

   Tagged from the title of its item or question: “Electoral Reform”Translated from WelshOfficial Record

9. Francesca O'BrienReform

   1 October 2026, Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee

   Scrutiny of the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning on the Representation of the People (Electoral Registration without Applications) (Electoral Reform) (Wales) Regulations 2026

   Yes. Just flagging that, in the pilot scheme, it was originally 60 days. So, I just wanted to try and dig out why we're reducing that so significantly, really—the reasoning behind that, please.

   Tagged from the title of its item or question: “Electoral Reform”Official Record

10. Michael Kay

    1 October 2026, Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee

    Scrutiny of the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning on the Representation of the People (Electoral Registration without Applications) (Electoral Reform) (Wales) Regulations 2026

    So, the software providers, they're existing, they've already got contracts with the 22 authorities. There are three software providers in Wales that operate. What we're talking about is adding on a workflow process and then a bit of data-matching functionality. We are talking to them almost every…

    Tagged from the title of its item or question: “Electoral Reform”Official Record

11. Carmelo ColasantoReform

    1 October 2026, Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee

    Scrutiny of the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning on the Representation of the People (Electoral Registration without Applications) (Electoral Reform) (Wales) Regulations 2026

    Okay. Thank you, Michael. I'm going to go off on a tangent here slightly, because obviously you just mentioned software. Whenever somebody talks software to me, I always get worried. How confident are we that we can land the software itself? I'm 62 years old. I'm old enough to have seen some…

    Tagged from the title of its item or question: “Electoral Reform”Official Record

12. Michael Kay

    1 October 2026, Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee

    Scrutiny of the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning on the Representation of the People (Electoral Registration without Applications) (Electoral Reform) (Wales) Regulations 2026

    So, as the Cabinet Minister says, there are two types of costs here. One is the software costs, which are one-off costs. That has risen as a result of—. The first RIA that we published was based on expenditure relating to the pilots, and then, on further commercial conversations with the software…

    Tagged from the title of its item or question: “Electoral Reform”Official Record

13. Siân GwenllianPlaid

    1 October 2026, Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee

    Scrutiny of the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning on the Representation of the People (Electoral Registration without Applications) (Electoral Reform) (Wales) Regulations 2026

    Just to give you some background on this, the revised regulatory impact assessment that's in the explanatory memorandum that was relaid this week reflects the current situation, and the financial assumptions and the cost estimates have been updated since the previous version. So, this version is the…

    Tagged from the title of its item or question: “Electoral Reform”Translated from WelshOfficial Record

14. Carmelo ColasantoReform

    1 October 2026, Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee

    Scrutiny of the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning on the Representation of the People (Electoral Registration without Applications) (Electoral Reform) (Wales) Regulations 2026

    Thank you. Any other questions on that subject, regarding the timing of the introduction? No. Okay. We'll move on to the cost of automatic registration, and I, obviously, have a question, Cabinet Minister. Looking at the revised figures for this cost, it's gone up from £2.6 million to approximately…

    Tagged from the title of its item or question: “Electoral Reform”Official Record

15. Siân GwenllianPlaid

    1 October 2026, Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee

    Scrutiny of the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning on the Representation of the People (Electoral Registration without Applications) (Electoral Reform) (Wales) Regulations 2026

    So, that's what these regulations are actually about. It's about making sure that people are on the register, and, should they wish to take that up then, they can. The point you make about the specific care home, I've no idea what that would be about. But if there are concerns, obviously, they are…

    Tagged from the title of its item or question: “Electoral Reform”Official Record

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