Wednesday, 12 July 2023
The Senedd met in the Chamber and by video-conference at 13:30 with the Llywydd (Elin Jones) in the Chair.
Good afternoon and welcome to this Plenary meeting. Before we begin, I'd like to inform Members that the next ballot for Member Bills will be held on 18 October. Information on the process will...
The next item, therefore, is a motion to suspend Standing Orders to allow a debate on the motion to establish a committee. I call on a member of the Business Committee to formally move the motion.
Again, I call on a member of the Business Committee to formally move the motion.
This is the motion to allocate a committee Chair to a political group. I call on a member of the Business Committee to formally move the motion.
The next item is nominations for a committee Chair for the committee that's just been formed. Under Standing Order 17.2F, I invite nominations for the position of Chair. Jack Sargeant.
The next item on our agenda is questions to the Minister for Finance and Local Government, and the first question is from Ken Skates.
1. Will the Minister make a statement on the creation of corporate joint committees? OQ59820
2. What discussions has the Minister had with the Minister for Climate Change regarding funding public transport grants for local authorities in South Wales West? OQ59845
Questions now from the party spokespeople. Conservative spokesperson, Peter Fox.
3. What consideration did the Minister give to the need for additional support for local authorities to tackle the public bus emergency when allocating funding to the climate change portfolio? OQ59824
5. How does the Welsh Government hold local authorities to account for the discharge of their duties under Welsh legislation? OQ59816
6. What discussions is the Minister having with local authorities about the staffing and recruitment challenges they face? OQ59839
7. How does the Welsh Government ensure that councils in South Wales West are properly funded? OQ59846
8. Will the Minister make a statement on Welsh Government financial support for Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council? OQ59849
10. What consideration does the Minister give to supporting care leavers when drawing up the Welsh Government's budget? OQ59828
11. What steps is the Minister taking to ensure that revenue support grant funding is sustainable for the future? OQ59818
The next item, therefore, will be the questions to the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd. The first question is from Ken Skates.
1. How does the Welsh Government support food innovation? OQ59821
I draw Members' attention to my long-standing honorary role as vice-president of Ramblers Cymru.
Questions now form the party spokespeople. The Welsh Conservatives' spokesperson—Samuel Kurtz.
3. How is the Welsh Government working with local authorities and other stakeholders to reduce the number of pets, such as goldfish, being given away as prizes? OQ59819
4. Will the Minister provide an update on the Welsh Government's response to cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza? OQ59844
5. What discussions has the Minister had with government colleagues about Transport for Wales's recently announced improvement plan for services on the Wrexham to Bidston line? OQ59829
6. How is the Welsh Government supporting the beverage industry based in Wales? OQ59837
7. What consideration has the Welsh Government given to the introduction of mandatory cat microchipping in Wales, either via its own regulations or through legislative consent? OQ59815
9. What discussions has the Minister had with Cabinet colleagues about the impact of energy infrastructure development on communities in north Wales? OQ59830
10. Will the Minister make a statement on efforts to eradicate bovine TB in mid and west Wales? OQ59835
We move now to item 6, the topical questions, and the first question is to be answered by the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language, and to be asked by Sioned Williams.
1. Will the Minister make a statement on the Government's decision not to provide free meals to eligible school children during the summer holidays? TQ820
2. Will the Minister make a statement on Welsh Water having its rating reduced by Natural Resources Wales? TQ825
3. Will the Minister make a statement on Monmouthshire Building Society's decision to stand down from the community bank project? TQ830
Thank you so much, Presiding Officer. I'd like to begin by actually thanking you, Presiding Officer, for accepting this topical question, which was submitted after the usual 10 a.m....
Item 7 this afternoon is the 90-second statements. There is only one statement today, and I call on Joel James.
Item 8 is the Finance Committee debate on the Welsh Government's spending priorities for the 2024-25 budget. I call on the Chair of the committee to move the motion, Peredur Owen Griffiths.
We will now move on to item 9, which is the debate on the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee report on common frameworks, and I call on the Chair to move the motion—Huw...
Item 10 this afternoon is the Petitions Committee and the Children, Young People, and Education Committee joint debate on services for care-experienced children and young people.
The following amendment has been selected: amendment 1 in the name of Darren Millar.
So, next, the motion to elect Members to a committee, the Reform Bill Committee, and I call on a member of the Business Committee to formally move the motion. Darren Millar.
The next motion is the motion to elect a Member to a committee, and I call on a Member of the Business Committee to formally move the motion. Darren Millar.
The next motion is to suspend Standing Orders to allow the next item of business to be debated. A member of the Business Committee to formally move. Darren Millar.
That allows us now to take the motion to amend Standing Orders on the Wales COVID-19 Inquiry Special Purpose Committee. Darren Millar to move the motion formally.
That brings us to voting time and, unless three Members wish for the bell to be rung—and I very much hope that there aren't three Members wishing for the bell to be rung—I will move...
I call on Russell George to speak on the topic that he has chosen, the importance of all Members of the Senedd learning CPR.
What discussions has the Minister had with the Minister for Education and Welsh Language regarding additional financial support for local authorities to continue providing free school meals to...
What action is the Minister taking to support the rural economy?
The Senedd, officially known as the Welsh Parliament in English and Senedd Cymru in Welsh, is the devolved, unicameral legislature of Wales. A democratically elected body, it makes laws for Wales, agrees certain taxes and scrutinises the Welsh Government. It is a bilingual institution, with both Welsh and English being the official languages of its business. From its creation in May 1999 until May 2020, the Senedd was known as the National Assembly for Wales (Welsh: Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru). – Wikipedia
