Meeting Venue:
Y Siambr - Y Senedd
Meeting date:
Wednesday, 8 February 2023
Meeting time: 13.30
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This meeting will be held in a hybrid format, with some Members in the Senedd Chamber and others joining by video-conference.
1 Questions to the Minister for Climate Change
(45 mins)
The Presiding Officer will call Party Spokespeople to ask questions without notice to the Minister after Question 2.
2 Questions to the Minister for Education and Welsh Language
(45 mins)
The Presiding Officer will call Party Spokespeople to ask questions without notice to the Minister after Question 2.
3 Topical Questions
(20 mins)
To ask the Minister for Social Justice
Jack Sargeant (Alyn and Deeside): In light of the Ofgem announcement of a halt in the forced installation of prepay meters, what representations has the Minister made to the UK Government regarding support for those facing disconnection as a result of being forcibly switched already this winter?
To ask the Minister for Health and Social Services
Russell George (Montgomeryshire): Will the Minister make a statement on the new Welsh Government pay offer put to NHS workers?
4 90 Second Statements
(5 mins)
5 Debate on the Children, Young People and Education Committee’s report - Pupil absence
(60 mins)
NDM8195 Jayne Bryant (Newport West)
To propose that the Senedd:
Notes the report of the Children, Young People and Education Committee, ‘Pupil Absence’, which was laid in the Table Office on 14 November 2022.
Note: The response of the Welsh Government to the report was laid in the Table Office on 6 January 2023.
6 Welsh Conservatives Debate - Freeports
(60 mins)
NDM8200 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)
To propose that the Senedd:
1. Recognises the opportunities for freeports to energise the Welsh economy, create high quality jobs, promote regeneration and investment.
2. Notes that three bids from Wales have been submitted for consideration by the UK and Welsh Governments.
3. Calls on the Welsh Government to work with the UK Government to deliver two freeports in Wales, recognising the truly exceptional proposals submitted and the transformational benefits they can deliver for the Welsh economy.
The following amendments were tabled:
Amendment 1 Sian Gwenllian (Arfon)
Delete all and replace with:
1. Recognises that ports, harbours, seaside resorts and other coastal communities are being left behind and require investment to secure their long term viability.
2. Further recognises that coastal communities face multiple long-term structural problems, including, but not limited to, poverty and environmental changes.
3. Notes the UK Government's freeports policy and the negotiated changes to UK Government’s original offer.
4. Further notes that three bids from Wales have been submitted for consideration by the UK and Welsh Governments and that local authorities and other partners have put together bids that they believe reflect their communities’ needs.
5. Believes that the issues facing our coastal communities need a broader response including improvement in infrastructure and measures to tackle poverty.
6. Calls on both the UK and Welsh Governments to significantly increase funding for infrastructure and poverty reduction in our coastal communities to address the problems they face.
If amendment 1 is agreed, amendment 2 will be de-selected.
Amendment 2 Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)
Delete point 3 and replace with:
Notes that the three bids which were submitted are now being assessed by both the Welsh and UK governments, against the criteria published in the Freeport Programme in Wales Prospectus and the outcome of this process will be jointly decided between Welsh and UK Government Ministers as part of an open and transparent process.
Freeport Programme in Wales: bidding prospectus
7 Plaid Cymru Debate - Income tax devolution
(60 mins)
NDM8199 Sian Gwenllian (Arfon)
To propose that the Senedd:
1. Believes the present limitations of the Welsh Government’s tax-varying powers are an impediment to effective policy-making in Wales, particularly the ability to respond to the current cost-of-living crisis, and the crises facing our public services.
2. Believes that the Senedd should possess the devolved competence to set its own income tax bands, in line with the powers already devolved to the Scottish Parliament under the Scotland Act 2012.
3. Calls on the Welsh Government to initiate the process outlined in the Government of Wales Act 2006 to seek powers currently reserved to Westminster to enable the Senedd to set all rates and bands for Welsh Income Tax.
The following amendment was tabled:
Amendment 1 Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)
Delete all and replace with:
To propose that the Senedd:
1. Recognises the Welsh Government’s responsible use of its tax-varying powers to support effective policy-making in Wales during the current cost-of-living crisis.
2. Supports the Welsh Government's approach to tax devolution in line with its tax principles and ambitions for strengthened devolution within the United Kingdom.
8 Voting Time
9 Short Debate
(30 mins)
NDM8196 Russell George (Montgomeryshire)
Benefits of medical research in Wales
The Senedd will sit again in Plenary at 13.30, Tuesday, 14 February 2023