Concise Minutes - Health and Social Care Committee

Meeting Venue:

Hybrid – Committee Room 5, Ty Hywel

and video conference via Zoom

Meeting date: 21 May 2025

Meeting time: 09.30 - 12.15
This meeting can be viewed
on Senedd TV at:
http://senedd.tv/en/15097

Hybrid

------

Attendance

Category	Names
Members of the Senedd:	Peter Fox MS (Chair) James Evans MS John Griffiths MS Lesley Griffiths MS
Witnesses:	Helen Baker, Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW) Anton Saayman, Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW) Nik Sheen, Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW)
Committee Staff:	Sarah Beasley (Clerk) Karen Williams (Deputy Clerk) Sarah Hatherley (Researcher) Philippa Watkins (Researcher) Angharad Lewis (Researcher)

<AI1>

1 Introductions, apologies, substitutions, and declarations of interest

1.1 The Chair welcomed Members to the meeting.

1.2 Apologies were received from Joyce Watson MS and Mabon ap Gwynfor MS.

</AI1>

<AI2>

2 Ophthalmology Services in Wales - evidence session - panel 7

2.1 The Committee heard evidence from Health Education and Improvement Wales.

</AI2>

<AI3>

3 Paper(s) to note

</AI3>

<AI4>

3.1 Letter from the Chair of the Equality and Social Justice Committee to the Cabinet Secretary, Trefnydd and Chief Whip regarding scrutiny session on the prisons and criminal justice system.

3.1.1 The Committee noted the letter.

</AI4>

<AI5>

3.2 Letter from Finance Committee regarding programme of engagement for the forthcoming Welsh Government’s Draft Budget 2026-27.

3.2.1 The Committee noted the letter.

</AI5>

<AI6>

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

4.1 The Committee agreed the motion.

</AI6>

<AI7>

5 Ophthalmology Services in Wales - consideration of evidence

5.1 The Committee considered the evidence received.

</AI7>

<AI8>

6 Inquiry into the future of general practice in Wales : Engagement findings

6.1 The Senedd’s Citizen Engagement Team presented the findings of their engagement work to the Committee.

6.2 The Committee considered and agreed the scope and approach of its inquiry into the future of general practice in Wales.

</AI8>

<AI9>

7 Supplementary Legislative Consent: Tobacco and Vapes Bill (2024-2025)

7.1 The Committee considered the Legal Advice Note.

7.2 The Committee discussed and agreed areas for inclusion in its report on the Supplementary Legislative Consent: Tobacco and Vapes Bill (2024-2025).

</AI9>

<AI10>

8 Minimum unit pricing for alcohol in Wales

8.1 The Committee reviewed and discussed the responses received and issues raised by the Committee’s consultation on Minimum unit pricing for alcohol in Wales.

8.2 The Committee agreed to write to Welsh Government to share key issues and questions raised by the Committee’s consultation.

</AI10>

<AI11>

9 Welsh Government Draft Budget 2026-27

9.1 The Committee considered the documentation provided by the Welsh Government and agreed areas of inclusion in its response to Finance Committee.

</AI11>

<TRAILER_SECTION>

</TRAILER_SECTION>

<LAYOUT_SECTION>

1. FIELD_TITLE

FIELD_SUMMARY

</LAYOUT_SECTION>

<TITLE_ONLY_LAYOUT_SECTION>

2. FIELD_TITLE

</TITLE_ONLY_LAYOUT_SECTION>

<HEADING_LAYOUT_SECTION>

FIELD_TITLE

</HEADING_LAYOUT_SECTION>

<TITLED_COMMENT_LAYOUT_SECTION>

FIELD_TITLE

FIELD_SUMMARY

</TITLED_COMMENT_LAYOUT_SECTION>

<COMMENT_LAYOUT_SECTION>

FIELD_SUMMARY

</COMMENT_LAYOUT_SECTION>

<SUBNUMBER_LAYOUT_SECTION>

2.1 FIELD_TITLE

FIELD_SUMMARY

</SUBNUMBER_LAYOUT_SECTION>

<TITLE_ONLY_SUBNUMBER_LAYOUT_SECTION>

2.2 FIELD_TITLE

</TITLE_ONLY_SUBNUMBER_LAYOUT_SECTION>