Meeting Venue:
Y Siambr - Y Senedd
Meeting date:
Wednesday, 21 June 2023
Meeting time: 12.45
This meeting can be
viewed
on Senedd TV at:
http://senedd.tv/en/13382
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This meeting was held in a hybrid format, with some Members in the Senedd Chamber and others joining by video-conference.
1 Joint item with the Welsh Youth Parliament
The item started at 12.45.
In accordance with Standing Order 13.3 the Llywydd, having consulted with Business Committee, invited ten Welsh Youth Parliament Members to participate in Senedd proceedings for the purpose of this joint item. 31 other Welsh Youth Parliament Members were also present in the Chamber for the item.
Youth Parliament Members were called to update the Senedd on the work of the Welsh Youth Parliament, following which the First Minister, party leaders and the Chair of the Senedd’s Children, Young People and Education Committee were called to respond. Five Youth Parliament Members were called to ask questions, which were answered by the Minister for Education and Welsh Language, the Deputy Minister for Climate Change and the Deputy Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing.
At 13.25, in accordance with Standing Order 12.18, the meeting was suspended to allow a break before the next item.
2 Questions to the Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip
The item started at 13.35
The first 9 questions were asked. Questions 6 and 8 was answered by the Deputy Minister for Social Partnership. The Presiding Officer invited party spokespeople to ask questions to the Minister after question 2.
3 Questions to the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
The item started at 14.22
The first 8 questions were asked. The Presiding Officer invited party spokespeople to ask questions to the Counsel General after question 2.
Point of Order
At 15.11, Alun Davies raised a Point of Order in relation to James Evans’s supplementary question to Question 5 to the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution, during which the Member had alleged that the First Minister and Minister for Health and Social Services had misled the Senedd. The Deputy Presiding Officer indicated that he would review the Record and reflect upon the contribution made.
At 18.18, having reviewed the Record, the Deputy Presiding Officer ruled that the use of terms such as ‘misled’ and ‘misleading’ without qualification can be construed as alleging a deliberate intent, and that the earlier contribution by James Evans MS had omitted reference to clarifications previously made.
4 Questions to the Senedd Commission
The item started at 15.12
The 9 questions were asked. Questions 4 and 7 were grouped for answer.
5 Topical Questions
The item started at 15.47
Answered by the Deputy Minister for Climate Change
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): What assessment has the Minister made of 61 drink retailers operating in Wales writing an open letter to the Welsh Government calling for the exclusion of glass from its deposit return scheme in line with the rest of the UK?
Answered by the Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip
Jenny Rathbone (Cardiff Central): In light of recent revelations, what discussions has the Welsh Government had with the UK Government regarding how many members of the Windrush generation from Wales with chronic and mental illness were deported?
Answered by the Minister for Education and Welsh Language
Altaf Hussain (South Wales West): What immediate action is the Welsh Government taking to work with schools to educate young people about water safety following the tragic drowning at Aberavon pier on Monday evening?
6 90 Second Statements
The item started at 16.13
Tom Giffard made a statement on - Wales beating Scotland 10-2 to win World Cup of Darts.
Samuel Kurtz made a statement on - Welsh Food and Farming Week (19-23 June).
Vikki Howells made a statement on - Centenary of Aberdare Cenotaph (8 March) to be marked with an anniversary celebration, including a parade (25 June).
7 Debate on a Member's Legislative Proposal - A civic duty to vote Bill - Postponed
This item was postponed
8 Debate on the Health and Social Care Committee report - Dentistry
The item started at 16.19
NDM8299 Russell George (Montgomeryshire)
To propose that the Senedd:
Notes the Health and Social Care Committee report, ‘Dentistry’, laid on 15 February 2023.
Note: The response of the Welsh Government to the report was laid in the Table Office on 14 June 2023.
The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.
9 Plaid Cymru Debate - Devolution of justice and policing
The item started at 17.08
Voting on the motion and amendments under this item was deferred until Voting Time.
A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:
NDM8300 Sian Gwenllian (Arfon)
To propose that the Senedd:
1. Notes that over a quarter of a century since devolution, Wales remains the only devolved nation without its own legal system and powers over its police forces, despite there being no rational basis for this.
2. Believes that:
a) powers over justice and policing should be fully devolved to Wales; and
b) establishing a distinct Welsh legal system and making Welsh police forces fully accountable to the Senedd can be vital steps along the road to independence.
3. Calls on the Welsh Government to formally request powers over justice and policing.
|
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
|
10 |
0 |
40 |
50 |
The motion without amendment was not agreed.
The following amendment was tabled:
Amendment 1 Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)
Delete all after sub-point 2 (a) and replace with:
establishing a distinct Welsh legal system and making Welsh police forces fully accountable to the Senedd can be vital steps to ensuring that justice and policing can be better delivered for the benefit of the people of Wales; and
the Commission on Justice in Wales set out clearly why powers over justice should be wholly devolved and a Welsh legal jurisdiction established.
Calls on the Welsh Government to continue pursuing the case and preparing for the devolution of policing and justice.
A vote was taken on amendment 1:
|
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
|
25 |
0 |
26 |
51 |
As required by Standing Order 6.20 the Deputy Presiding Officer exercised his casting vote by voting against the amendment. 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.
10 Voting Time
The item started at 18.19
11 Short Debate
The item started at 18.21
NDM8291 Joel James (South Wales Central)
The repurposing of drugs to treat rare diseases
Votes Summary
The meeting concluded at 18.39
The Senedd will sit again in Plenary at 13.30, Tuesday, 27 June 2023