Meeting Venue:
Y Siambr - Y Senedd
Meeting date:
Wednesday, 15 December 2021
Meeting time: 13.30
This meeting can be
viewed
on Senedd TV at:
http://senedd.tv/en/12521
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This meeting was held in a virtual format, with Members joining by videoconference.
1 Questions to the Minister for Finance and Local Government
The item started at 13.30
The first 8 questions were asked. The Presiding Officer invited party spokespeople to ask questions to the Minister after question 2.
2 Questions to the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
The item started at 14.21
The first 10 questions were asked. The Presiding Officer invited party spokespeople to ask questions to the Minister after question 2.
3 Topical Questions
No Topical Questions were accepted.
4 90 Second Statements
The item started at 15.09
Elin Jones made a statement on the 100th Anniversary of the University of Wales Dictionary.
Altaf Hussain made a statement to remember Professor Robert Owen OBE, an outstanding Welsh orthopaedic surgeon born a 100 years ago on 21 December 1921 in Chwilog.
Lesley Griffiths made statement on the Festival of Angels at St Glies’ Parish Church, Wrexham.
Peter Fox made a statement to note the contribution of Tony Griffiths, who served as a member of Portskewett Community Council for 52 years before retiring the previous week.
5 Motion to amend Standing Orders: Petitions signature threshold
The item started at 15.18
NDM7868 Elin Jones (Ceredigion)
To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Order 33.2:
1. Considers the report of the Business Committee ‘Amending Standing Orders: Petitions signature threshold’ laid in the Table Office on 7 December 2021; and
2. Approves the proposal to amend Standing Order 23, as set out in Annex A of the Business Committee’s report.
The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.
6 Member Debate under Standing Order 11.21(iv) – The legislative consent process
The item started at 15.18
Voting on the motion under this item was deferred until Voting Time.
NDM7843
Rhys ab
Owen (South Wales Central)
Alun
Davies (Blaenau Gwent)
Heledd
Fychan (South Wales Central)
Jane
Dodds (Mid and West Wales)
To propose that the Senedd:
1. Notes the increase in the number of legislative consent motions being presented to the Senedd.
2. Recognises that this is both a consequence of Welsh Ministers seeking to use UK Parliament legislation to enact Welsh Government legislation and the UK Government seeking to override our democracy, erode the devolution settlement and diminish the powers of the Senedd.
3. Believes that all substantial and significant primary legislation should be enacted by the Senedd rather than through the LCM process.
4. Calls on the Welsh Government to:
a) work with the Senedd's Business Committee to review the LCM process to ensure it is fit for purpose;
b) clarify the principles of when LCMs are used;
c) work with the Llywydd to seek an urgent review of the impact on the devolution settlement and the powers of the Senedd as a consequence of UK legislation.
The result was as follows:
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
22 |
19 |
15 |
56 |
The motion was agreed.
7 Debate on the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee Report on the Inter-Institutional Relations Agreement between Senedd Cymru and the Welsh Government
The item started at 16.07
NDM7870 Huw Irranca-Davies (Ogmore)
To propose that the Senedd:
Notes the report of the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee, Inter-Institutional Relations Agreement between Senedd Cymru and the Welsh Government, which was laid in the Table Office on 18 November 2021.
The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.
8 Welsh Conservatives debate – An independent public inquiry into the COVID-19 pandemic in Wales
The item started at 16.25
Voting on the motion and amendment under this item was deferred until Voting Time.
A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:
NDM7871 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)
To propose that the Senedd:
1. Supports the COVID-19 Bereaved Families for Justice Cymru campaign for a Wales-specific public inquiry into the Welsh Government’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
2. Welcomes the calls of the Older People’s Commissioner for Wales for a Wales-specific COVID-19 inquiry.
3. Notes that a judge-led COVID-19 inquiry will be established by the end of the year in Scotland.
4. Calls upon the Welsh Government to commission an independent public inquiry into the COVID-19 pandemic in Wales.
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
28 |
0 |
29 |
57 |
As required by Standing Order 6.20 the Presiding Officer exercised her casting vote by voting against the motion. Therefore, the motion was not agreed.
The following amendment was tabled:
Amendment 1. Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)
Delete all and replace with:
To propose that the Senedd
1. Notes:
a) the First Minister’s meetings with members of the COVID-19 Bereaved Families for Justice Cymru group;
b) the UK-wide inquiry into pandemic, which will look at decisions made and actions taken by and in all four nations;
c) that a judge-led COVID-19 inquiry will be established by the end of the year in Scotland.
2. Welcomes assurances made by the Prime Minister that the UK inquiry will include a proper Welsh dimension.
A vote was taken on amendment 1:
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
28 |
0 |
29 |
57 |
As required by Standing Order 6.20 the Presiding Officer exercised her casting vote by voting against amendment 1. Therefore, amendment 1 was not agreed.
As the Senedd did not agree the motion without amendment, and did not agree the amendment tabled to the motion, the motion was therefore not agreed.
In accordance with Standing Order 12.18, at 17.19 proceedings were suspended to allow a technical break before Voting Time.
9 Voting Time
The item started at 17.23
Votes Summary
10 Short Debate
The item started at 17.27
NDM7869 Mike Hedges (Swansea East)
Developing the economy of the Swansea Bay city region
The meeting concluded at 17.46
The Senedd will sit again in Plenary at 13.30, Tuesday, 11 January 2022