Group 9 is the next group of amendments, and they relate to the oversight board and advisory panel. The lead amendment in this group is amendment 41, and I call on Delyth Jewell to move and speak to the lead amendment and the other amendments in the group.

Amendment 41 (Delyth Jewell) moved.

Diolch, Llywydd. I rise to speak to amendments 41 and 55. Amendment 41 is an amalgamation of two separate amendments that I'd laid at Stage 2. It's also drafted to attempt to require the Government to do some of the things that it's indicated it would do in an explanatory memorandum. The amendment seeks to strengthen, that is, what the Government has indicated it would like to do; it would, I believe, strengthen the provision.

The amendment seeks to address two of the principal stumbling blocks to the effective implementation of this Bill, as I see it, namely, the relative unaffordability of more sustainable products and the lack of awareness about the bad effects that plastic litter has. My aim is to place a requirement in the Bill for the Welsh Government to establish the oversight project board and advisory panel, which is referenced in the explanatory memorandum. The amendment would require both the affordability of reusable products—those products that may replace those that are prohibited—and also to advise on education and promotion of the prohibition. It would, again, ensure that these things were on the face of the Bill.

To deal with the affordability issue firstly, we've talked in committee at great length when taking evidence on this Bill about how challenging it will be to compel households that are struggling financially to spend more money on products because they're more environmentally friendly. We all want to do the right thing, but in a cost-of-living crisis, the more expensive products will make that all the more difficult. So, I'd want to see these groups, the oversight board and the advisory panel, tackling this very difficult issue and trying to make progress.

Secondly, on the provision relating to education and promotion, this is an attempt to overcome yet another thorny issue—that is the lack of awareness about the impacts of plastic littering and the fact that ingrained habits are hard to kick. Compelling people to do things is one tool, but persuading them that they would want to be part of the solution as well, I think that's far more powerful—educating people, rather than only criminalising their actions is also a more socially just way of tackling the problem. Now, the Government has gone a long way to providing for these issues, and I recognise and acknowledge that, but these amendments would require these boards to be established, and for that requirement to be, again, on the face of the Bill, I think that's cleaner, I think that's a straightforward way of doing it, and I hope that that would help ensure that the very good intention does certainly come to fruition, and I hope that they will receive support. Diolch.

Turning to amendment 41 first, as amendment 55 is consequential to it, it does, as Delyth has just explained, require Welsh Ministers to establish an oversight project board and an advisory panel within 12 months of the Bill’s receiving Royal Assent. It provides a brief outline of each body’s purpose and proposes potential functions for each. The explanatory memorandum, as Delyth has acknowledged, which accompanies the Bill, already notes that I intend to establish an oversight project board and an advisory panel for single-use products. I have also committed to engaging with Senedd committees and stakeholders when it comes to establishing these bodies.

Amendment 41 does not contain enough detail to enable Welsh Ministers to know whether or not they would fulfil the duty or not. For example, it does not set out how many members should be appointed to these bodies, nor how many they should have. Without setting out such provisions on the face of the Act, it would be difficult for the Welsh Ministers to know whether they have fulfilled their duty to establish these bodies, and leaves the Welsh Ministers under an open-ended legal duty. However, I completely recognise the intention of the amendment, and will certainly consider this when determining the terms of reference for the two groups.

Amendment 55 is consequential to amendment 41, and would require that the duty to establish the board and panel come into force the day after the Bill receives Royal Assent. Llywydd, I therefore reject amendments 41 and 55 and urge Members to do the same. Diolch.

Delyth Jewell to reply.

Diolch, Llywydd. Diolch, Gweinidog. I do very much welcome what the Government has done in what's already in the explanatory memorandum on this point. I'll be pushing these to vote, but I don't anticipate from what's just been said that these are going to pass, but I am very grateful for what the Minister has said—that you're going to be taking into account these points when determining what the purview, almost, of this board and advisory panel will be. So, I look forward to hearing more about that, and I'm grateful. Thank you.

The question is that amendment 41 be agreed to. Does any Member object? [Objection.] There is objection. To remind you, if amendment 41 is not agreed, amendment 55 will fall. Amendment 41—I call for a vote. Open the vote. The vote is tied. In favour 27, no abstentions, and 27 against. Therefore, I will use my casting vote against amendment 41. So, to confirm the final result of the vote: in favour 27, no abstentions and 28 against. Therefore, amendment 41 is not agreed and amendment 55 also falls.

Amendment 41: For: 27, Against: 27, Abstain: 0

As there was an equality of votes, the Llywydd used her casting vote in accordance with Standing Order 6.20(ii).

Amendment has been rejected

Amendment 55 fell.