Concise Minutes - Equality and Social Justice Committee


Meeting Venue:

Committee Room 3 (Senedd)

Meeting date: Monday, 9 December 2024

Meeting time: 13.31 - 16.45
This meeting can be viewed
on Senedd TV at:
http://senedd.tv/en/14200


Hybrid

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Attendance

Category

Names

Members of the Senedd:

Jenny Rathbone MS (Chair)

Mick Antoniw MS

Jane Dodds MS

Joel James MS

Julie Morgan MS

Sioned Williams MS

Witnesses:

Dr Sumina Azam, Public Health Wales

Rhian Bowen-Davies, Older People’s Commissioner, Older People’s Commissioner for Wales

Ceri Cryer, Age Cymru

Keryl Lanfear, Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council

Rebecca Hill, Public Health Wales

David Mark Lewis, Gwynedd Council

Meilyr Tomos, Gwynedd Council

Committee Staff:

Rhys Morgan (Clerk)

Angharad Roche (Deputy Clerk)

Sam Mason (Legal Adviser)

Claire Thomas (Researcher)

 

<AI1>

1       Introductions, apologies, substitutions and declarations of interest

Apologies were received from Joel James in respect of agenda item 1.

</AI1>

<AI2>

2       Fuel poverty in Wales: evidence session three

Members heard evidence from:

 

Rhian Bowen-Davies, Older People’s Commissioner for Wales

Dr Sumina Azam, National Director of Policy and International Health, Public Health Wales

Dr Rebecca Hill, Senior Public Health Specialist, Public Health Wales

Ceri Cryer, Policy Advisor, Age Cymru

</AI2>

<AI3>

3       Fuel poverty in Wales: evidence session four

Members heard evidence from:

 

Keryl Lanfear, Housing Strategy Officer, Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council

David Mark Lewis, Energy and Commercial Services Manager, Gwynedd Council

Meilyr Tomos, Fuel Poverty Officer, Gwynedd Council

 

</AI3>

<AI4>

4       Papers to note

Members noted the papers.

</AI4>

<AI5>

4.1   Correspondence from ColegauCymru to the Finance Committee in relation to the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26

</AI5>

<AI6>

4.2   Correspondence between Chair and the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip and Cabinet Secretary for Education regarding the development of the British Sign Language (BSL) GCSE in Wales

</AI6>

<AI7>

4.3   Correspondence between the Chair and Councillor Andrew Morgan regarding information as part of the inquiry into the disability employment gap

</AI7>

<AI8>

4.4   Correspondence between the Chair and the Future Generations Commissioner regarding strengthening and advancing equality and Human Rights

</AI8>

<AI9>

4.5   Correspondence between the Chair and the Law Society regarding strengthening and advancing equality and Human Rights

</AI9>

<AI10>

4.6   Correspondence between the Chair and the Equality and Human Rights Commission regarding strengthening and advancing equality and Human Rights

</AI10>

<AI11>

4.7   Additional evidence from Dr Simon Lannion regarding FRESH (Foundation data for Robust Energy Strategies for Housing)

</AI11>

<AI12>

5       Motion under Standing Order 17.42(iv) to resolve to exclude the public from the remainder of this meeting

Members agreed the motion.

</AI12>

<AI13>

6       Fuel poverty in Wales: consideration of evidence

Members considered the evidence.

</AI13>

<AI14>

7       Disability and Employment: consideration of key issues

Members considered the key issues paper and agreed to prepare a report for consideration in the Spring term.

 

</AI14>

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