Meeting Venue:
Y Siambr - Y Senedd
Meeting date:
Wednesday, 13 December 2023
Meeting time: 13.30
------
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 Social Justice and Chief Whip
(45 mins)
The Presiding Officer will call party spokespeople to ask questions without notice to the Minister after Question 2.
2 Questions to the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
(45 mins)
The Presiding Officer will call party spokespeople to ask questions without notice to the Counsel General after Question 2.
3 Questions to the Senedd Commission
(15 mins)
4 Topical Questions
(20 mins)
To ask the Minister for Finance and Local Government
Peter Fox (Monmouth): What discussions has the Minister had with the Office for Budget Responsibility regarding its assessment of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2024-25 next week?
5 90 Second Statements
(5 mins)
Motion under Standing Order 17.14 to elect a Member to a committee
(5 mins)
NNDM8441 Elin Jones (Ceredigion)
To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Order 17.14, elects Samuel Kurtz (Welsh Conservatives) as a member of the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee in place of James Evans (Welsh Conservatives).
6 Motion under Standing Order 26.91 seeking the Senedd's agreement to introduce a Member Bill – Mental Health Standards of Care (Wales) Bill
(60 mins)
NDM8422 James Evans (Brecon and Radnorshire)
To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Order 26.91:
Agrees that James Evans MS may introduce a Bill to give effect to the information included in the Explanatory Memorandum published on 22 November 2023 under Standing Order 26.91A.
7 Debate on a Member's Legislative Proposal - A Bill on the regulation of debt collectors
(30 mins)
NDM8419 Jack Sargeant (Alyn and Deeside)
To propose that the Senedd:
1. Notes a proposal for a Bill on the further regulation of debt collectors in Wales.
2. Notes that the purpose of the Bill would be to:
a) place a duty on public service providers to only use debt collectors who sign up to a code of conduct that protects vulnerable people in a cost-of-living crisis;
b) introduce a Wales-wide code of conduct for all debt collection agents registered in Wales; and
c) further empower local trading standards authorities to take action against agents who mislead residents about their powers and residents rights.
8 Welsh Conservatives Debate - Agriculture
(60 mins)
NDM8440 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)
To propose that the Senedd:
1. Recognises the exceptional role that the agricultural sector plays in Wales, with agriculture contributing to over 220,000 jobs.
2. Notes that for every £1 invested in the agricultural sector, £9 is generated for the wider economy.
3. Celebrates the role that family farms play in supporting the Welsh language and social fabric of rural Wales.
4. Regrets that the Welsh Government have introduced cuts to the 2023-2024 rural affairs budget totalling £37.5 million.
5. Calls on the Welsh Government to ensure that no cuts will be made to the basic payment scheme budget for 2024.
The following amendment was tabled:
Amendment 1 Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)
Delete all and replace with:
To propose the Senedd:
1. Agrees with the Welsh Government principle that its policy must keep Welsh farmers on the land.
2. Welcomes the decision by the Welsh Government to maintain the Basic Payment Scheme in 2023 and not to follow the decision in England to cut payments to farmers by up to 55 per cent.
3. Regrets the harm caused to the ability of Welsh farming to create economic value and jobs by:
a) UK Government immigration policy since EU exit;
b) the calamitous tenure of the previous UK Prime Minister;
c) the UK Government's decision to remove £243m from farm support funding in Wales; and
d) the decision by the UK Government not to provide a long-term funding commitment to farm support.
4. Agrees that a fair and rapid transition to sustainable farming methods across the whole of Wales is needed, to strengthen the economic position of Welsh farmers and to avoid the worst impacts of the climate and nature emergency.
9 Voting Time
The Senedd will sit again in Plenary at 13.30, Tuesday, 9 January 2024