Concise Minutes - Petitions Committee


Meeting Venue:

Committee room 1

Meeting date: Monday, 22 April 2024

Meeting time: 14. - 15.00
This meeting can be viewed
on Senedd TV at:
http://senedd.tv/en/13871


Hybrid

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Attendance

Category

Names

Members of the Senedd:

Jack Sargeant MS (Chair)

Peredur Owen Griffiths MS

Buffy Williams MS

Natasha Asghar MS (In place of Joel James MS)

Witnesses:

 

Committee Staff:

Gareth Price (Clerk)

Mared Llwyd (Second Clerk)

Kayleigh Imperato (Deputy Clerk)

Samiwel Davies (Legal Adviser)

 

<AI1>

1       Introductions, apologies, substitutions and declarations of interest

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.

 

Apologies were received from Joel James MS.

 

Natasha Asghar MS attended the meeting as substitute for Joel James MS.

 

Rhys ab Owen MS was absent.

 

</AI1>

<AI2>

1.1   P-06-1359 Offer Welsh working parents the same financial support for childcare as England

Peredur Owen Griffiths MS made a factual correction to comments which were made during the Committee’s last consideration of the petition on 18 March.

 

</AI2>

<AI3>

1.2   P-06-1362 Match the new childcare offer in England of 15 hours for 2 year old's from April 2024

Peredur Owen Griffiths MS made a factual correction to comments which were made during the Committee’s last consideration of the petition on 18 March.

 

</AI3>

<AI4>

2       New Petitions

</AI4>

<AI5>

2.1   P-06-1397 Introduce an at-home smear test option in Wales

The Committee considered the petition and noted that the issue is already under consideration by the UK National Screening Committee. The Welsh Government follow their advice and recommendations, which will follow the review of trials of self-sampling.

 

It has also recently been a consideration in the Health and Social Care Committee’s Inquiry into gynaecological cancers. The Welsh Government accepted their recommendations which included consideration of self-sampling for cervical cancers.

 

In light of the work already undertaken on the issue, Members agreed to close the petition and thank the petitioners for highlighting the importance of finding ways to reduce the barriers to cervical screening.

</AI5>

<AI6>

2.2   P-06-1398 To act to increase the effectiveness of Natural Resources Wales in halting pollution on the Teifi

The Committee considered the petition and agreed to write to:

 

</AI6>

<AI7>

2.3   P-06-1399 Health Education & Improvement Wales to make PMDD a mandatory CPD module in postgrad medical teaching

The Committee considered the petition and congratulated the petitioner on her achievement in raising awareness of PMDD and collaborating successfully to develop a CPD e-learning module for healthcare and other allied health professionals.

 

Members agreed to close the petition but in doing so, continue to support the petitioner’s campaign to ensure girls and women are better informed by writing to the Cabinet Secretary for Health to share the recommendations for improvements outlined in her correspondence.

 

</AI7>

<AI8>

2.4   P-06-1400 Fair and Adequate Resourcing of General Practice in Wales

The Committee considered the petition and agreed to write to the Chair of the Health and Social Care Committee to ask what work, if any, they plan to undertake regarding General Medical Services and whether this petition and the concerns raised by BMA Cymru could form part of a future inquiry.

 

Once a response is received from the Chair of the Health and Social Care Committee, Members will further consider the petition and the most appropriate action to take.

 

</AI8>

<AI9>

2.5   P-06-1405 We want and need a Mental Health unit for men in North Wales with beds

The Committee considered the petition and agreed to:

 

seek clarification from all Local Health Boards on the    number of in-patient places available.   

 

</AI9>

<AI10>

2.6   P-06-1407 We want the Welsh Government to rescind and remove the disastrous 20mph law

The Committee considered the petition and agreed write to the Business Committee to request a debate on the petition at the earliest opportunity.

 

</AI10>

<AI11>

2.7   P-06-1412 We want the Welsh Government to keep the excellent 20mph law

The Committee considered the petition and agreed to keep it open pending the outcome of the debate on P-06-1407 We want the Welsh Government to rescind and remove the disastrous 20mph law.

</AI11>

<AI12>

2.8   P-06-1418 New legislation should be introduced to protect sports pitches from dog fouling

The Committee considered the petition and agreed to visit Abercarn Rugby Football Club to see the extent of the problem, with a view to raising further public awareness on the issue.

 

</AI12>

<AI13>

3       Updates to previous petitions

</AI13>

<AI14>

3.1   P-06-1209 Create a national list of all unpaid carers in Wales

The Committee considered the petition and noted the Minister’s offer to meet with the petitioner to discuss any potential misunderstandings with regard to Welsh Government support for unpaid cares. In light of the Minister’s offer, and there being extensive correspondence on this matter, Members agreed to close the petition and thank the petitioner.

 

</AI14>

<AI15>

3.2   P-06-1217 Open Long Covid one stop medical hubs / clinics

The Committee considered the petition and noted that the petitioner has now met with the Minister’s officials and the petition has been open for three years. Whilst many people in Wales continue to suffer from long covid, it is unclear what else the Committee could do to take the petition further. Members agreed to close the petition and thank the petitioner for raising this important issue.

 

</AI15>

<AI16>

3.3   P-06-1247 We call on the Welsh Government to lead the way by supporting trials of a four-day week in Wales

Jack Sargeant MS declared the following relevant interest under Standing Order 17.24A:

 

The petitioner is known to him.

Peredur Owen Griffiths MS declared the following relevant interest under Standing Order 17.24A:

 

He attended a conference in Valencia on the subject.

 

The Committee considered the petition and noted the conclusions of the detailed and nuanced report compiled by the Workforce Partnership Council.

 

Members noted that the petition has been successful in delivering a greater understanding and an “in principle” agreement that a pilot could be worthwhile. In light of this the Committee agreed to close the petition and congratulate the petitioner.

 

</AI16>

<AI17>

3.4   P-06-1299 Welsh Government 'Freeze on road building" to include a clause for cases that pose a danger to life

The Committee considered the petition and agreed that having written to the Local Authority again on this matter it is unclear what else the Committee could do to take the petition any further. In light of this Members agreed to close the petition and thank the petitioner.

 

</AI17>

<AI18>

3.5   P-06-1338 Extend the bus emergency scheme and develop national bus recovery plan

The Committee considered the petition and noted the situation has evolved since the petition was submitted, and continues to develop. There are exciting plans in prospect for the sector with the Bus Bill due later this year.

 

In light of the ongoing work on Busses, Members agreed to close the petition and thank the petitioner.

</AI18>

<AI19>

3.6   P-06-1348 Commission suitable NHS services in Wales for people with EDS or hypermobility spectrum disorders

The Committee considered the petition and noted that this is the fifth consideration of this petition. Given that the petitioners are in contact with NHS officials and intend to meet with them, Members agreed to close the petition and wished the petitioners well in their campaign.

 

</AI19>

<AI20>

3.7   P-06-1387 Provide humanitarian aid to Gaza

The Committee considered the petition and noted the Minister’s response. Members agreed to keep the petition open until there is a Disasters Emergency Committee appeal in place.

 

</AI20>

<AI21>

3.8   P-06-1391 Introduce regulation of the dog grooming sector, to protect the welfare of dogs and rights of owners

The Committee considered the petition and agreed to keep it open pending the publication of the Welsh Government’s summary of evidence.

 

</AI21>

<AI22>

4       Motion under Standing Order 17.42(ix) to resolve to exclude the public from the remainder of the meeting

The motion was agreed.

 

</AI22>

<AI23>

5       Draft report

The Committee agreed the draft report subject to minor changes.

</AI23>

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