Meeting Venue:
Y Siambr - Y Senedd
Meeting date:
Wednesday, 15 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 Finance and Local Government
(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 Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
(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 Deputy Minister for Climate Change
Delyth Jewell (South Wales East): What assurances will the Minister provide that the transition away from Bus Emergency Scheme funding will not lead to the closure of bus routes and render rural bus services unviable?
4 90 Second Statements
(5 mins)
5 Member Debate under Standing Order 11.21(iv) - Education Maintenance Allowance
(60 mins)
NDM8187 Luke Fletcher (South Wales West)
To propose that the Senedd:
1. Notes:
a) that the Welsh Government retained education maintenance allowance, unlike the UK Government in England;
b) that in Wales, the value of education maintenance allowance has not changed since 2004, and the eligibility thresholds have not changed since 2011;
c) that while education maintenance allowance is an important form of financial support for post-16 learners, it has not kept up with cost-of-living pressures.
2. Calls on the Welsh Government to consider an inflation-linked uplift to the value of education maintenance allowance and a review of the thresholds.
Co-submitters
Heledd Fychan (South Wales Central)
Jane Dodds (Mid and West Wales)
Adam Price (Carmarthen East and Dinefwr)
Sioned Williams (South Wales West)
6 Welsh Conservatives Debate - Invasion of Ukraine and supporting Ukrainian refugees
(60 mins)
NDM8204 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)
To propose that the Senedd:
1. Notes that this month marks the first anniversary of Vladimir Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine.
2. Condemns the invasion of and continuous aggression against Ukraine, its sovereignty and territorial integrity by the Russian Federation.
3. Applauds the resilience of the Ukrainian people in the face of Russian brutality.
4. Welcomes the military, financial and humanitarian aid provided to Ukraine by the UK and Welsh Governments.
5. Thanks the people of Wales for their response to the conflict, including their generosity and the welcome provided to Ukrainian refugees.
6. Calls on the Welsh Government to publish a long-term plan to support Ukrainian refugees in Wales.
7 Welsh Conservatives Debate - Habilitation training for sight-impaired children
(60 mins)
NDM8205 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)
To propose that the Senedd:
1. Notes research from Guide Dogs Cymru suggesting that 2,000 sight-impaired children would benefit from habilitation training.
2. Further notes that habilitation training is vital for developing personal mobility, navigation and independent living skills for sight-impaired children.
3. Is disappointed that a number of Welsh local authorities do not offer habilitation training, despite their duty to have due regard to Article 26 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
4. Calls on the Welsh Government to:
a) urgently provide a workforce plan on habilitation services; and
b) ensure local authorities employ at least one habilitation specialist per 100 children who are visually impaired.
Article 26 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
The following amendment was tabled:
Amendment 1 Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)
Delete points 3 and 4 and replace with:
3. Calls on all Welsh local authorities to offer habilitation training, in line with their duty to have due regard to Article 26 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
4. Calls on the Welsh Government to engage with relevant stakeholders to help develop an improvement plan for habilitation services for children who are visually impaired, to include consideration of their training needs and how to meet these.
8 Voting Time
9 Short Debate
(30 mins)
NDM8191 Mike Hedges (Swansea East)
The structure of public services in Wales: have we got it right?
10 Short Debate
(30 mins)
NDM8203 Sian Gwenllian (Arfon)
Perinatal mental health services in the north of Wales: presenting the case for improving perinatal health services and provision, including for Welsh-speaking families
The Senedd will sit again in Plenary at 13.30, Tuesday, 28 February 2023