Concise Minutes

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Attendance

Category	Names
Assembly Members:	David J Rowlands AM (Chair) Rhun ap Iorwerth AM Janet Finch-Saunders AM Mike Hedges AM
Witnesses:	Simon Green, Bridgend Coalition for Disabled People Helen Fincham, Bridgend Coalition for Disabled People Rhian Davies, Chief Executive, Disability Wales Anita Davies, RNIB
Committee Staff:	Graeme Francis (Clerk) Kayleigh Imperato (Deputy Clerk) Kathryn Thomas (Deputy Clerk)

<AI1>

1 Introduction, apologies, substitutions and declarations of interest

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting. Apologies had been received from Neil McEvoy.

</AI1>

<AI2>

2 New petitions

</AI2>

<AI3>

2.1 P-05-833 Improve rail services for Chepstow

The Committee considered the petition for the first time and agreed to write back to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Transport to ask for further details of future plans in relation to Chepstow station, and why the planned increase in Wales & Borders Franchise services stopping at Chepstow cannot be achieved until December 2022.

</AI3>

<AI4>

2.2 P-05-834 All Schools Should be Welsh Medium and Teach Welsh History

The Committee considered the petition for the first time and agreed to await the views of the petitioner on the response received from the Cabinet Secretary for Education before considering whether to take any further action on the petition. In doing so, the Committee also wished to seek further information from the petitioner about the statement made in the petition that the history of Wales is written in the Welsh language.

</AI4>

<AI5>

2.3 P-05-835 Allow Free Movement of Taxi Drivers to Carry Out Private Hire Work Anywhere in Wales

The Committee considered the petition for the first time and agreed to:

· group this petition with petition P-05-775 Put an end to the Cross Border and Sub-contracting Taxi Licensing loophole and consider them together in future; and

· await the publication of the Welsh Government’s White Paper on proposals for the reform of taxi and private hire vehicle licensing in Wales, before considering further action on the petition.

</AI5>

<AI6>

2.4 P-05-836 Gender Pay Gap Reporting

Mike Hedges declared the following relevant interest under Standing Order 17.24A:

The petitioner is known to him.

The Committee considered the petition for the first time and agreed to await the views of the petitioner on the response received from the Leader of the House before considering whether to take any further action on the petition.

</AI6>

<AI7>

2.5 P-05-837 Green Energy for the Wellbeing of Future Generations in Wales

The Committee considered the petition for the first time and agreed to

write to the petitioners:

to explain that because the UK Government has responsibility for the development of the Wylfa Newydd nuclear power station, there is little practical scrutiny that the Committee can bring to bear on this aspect of the petition; and
to ask if they would like to offer any additional comments on the primary points raised in the petition relating to how the support and investment in renewable technologies provided by Welsh Government could be improved or increased.

</AI7>

<AI8>

2.6 P-05-838 Support the M4 Relief Road Black Route

The Committee considered the petition for the first time and to keep a watching brief on the petition in light of the comprehensive scrutiny given to this issue by the public inquiry and the commitment by the Welsh Government to hold a full debate on this matter prior to a decision being reached.

</AI8>

<AI9>

3 Updates to previous petitions

</AI9>

<AI10>

3.1 P-05-775 Put an end to the Cross Border and Sub-contracting Taxi Licensing loophole.

The Committee considered correspondence from the petitioner and agreed to:

· group this petition with petition P-05-835 Allow Free Movement of Taxi Drivers to Carry Out Private Hire Work Anywhere in Wales and consider them together in future; and

· await the publication of the Welsh Government’s White Paper on proposals for the reform of taxi and private hire vehicle licensing in Wales, before considering further action on the petition.

</AI10>

<AI11>

3.2 P-05-736 To Make Mental Health Services More Accessible

The Committee considered correspondence from Mind Cymru and the petitioner and agreed to write to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Services to ask a number of questions based on the evidence received, including:

the Welsh Government’s expectations in relation to the availability of 24/7 crisis services accessible across the whole of Wales;
for data on the length of time patients are currently waiting for access to psychologic therapies; and
when a report on progress under the Together for Mental Health delivery plan will be published.

</AI11>

<AI12>

3.3 P-05-791 Terminate Private Parking Contracts at Welsh Hospitals

The Committee agreed to close the petition in light of the fact that parking at all NHS hospitals in Wales has been free of charge since 1 October 2018.

</AI12>

<AI13>

3.4 P-05-797 Ensure access to the cystic fibrosis medicine, Orkambi, as a matter of urgency

The Committee considered correspondence from the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Services, Vertex and the petitioner and agreed to:

write to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Services to seek his response to the proposal made by the Cystic Fibrosis Trust for the Welsh Government to implement an interim arrangement to enable access to Orkambi for patients in Wales, and to the potential use of the UK CF Registry;
write to Vertex Pharmaceuticals to ask them to update the Committee on the outcome of any meeting with the All Wales Medicine Strategy Group; and
to explore sources of further advice or expertise who could support the Committee to consider this petition further.

</AI13>

<AI14>

3.5 P-05-812 We call for the Welsh Government to encourage trusts to implement the NICE guidelines for Borderline Personality Disorder or justify why they do not do so

The Committee considered correspondence from local health boards and the petitioner and agreed to:

seek an outstanding response from one health board; and
ask the Assembly’s Research Service for an analysis of the responses received and a comparison with the contents of NICE guidelines.

</AI14>

<AI15>

3.6 P-05-799 Change the National Curriculum and teach Welsh history, from a Welsh perspective, in our Primary, Secondary and Sixth form Schools

The Committee considered correspondence from the petitioner and agreed to write to the Cabinet Secretary for Education to ask:

for a list of the pioneer schools working specifically on the history element of the new curriculum, to enable the Committee to seek further information on the work being undertaken; and
for her views on how the new curriculum could strike an appropriate balance between providing discretion for schools and teachers on the content of lessons, and ensuring that pupils in Wales are taught about national and local history.

</AI15>

<AI16>

3.7 P-05-801 Save the trees and ground in Roath Mill and Roath Brook Gardens before it's too late

The Committee considered correspondence from Dwr Cymru, Natural Resources Wales and the petitioner and agreed to arrange to take oral evidence from the campaign group and NRW on this issue.

</AI16>

<AI17>

3.8 P-05-790 Tackle Rough Sleeping

The Committee considered correspondence from the petitioner and agreed to close the petition in light of the satisfaction of the petitioner with the recommendations arising from the Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee’s recent inquiry into rough sleeping.

</AI17>

<AI18>

3.9 P-05-758 Statue to Honour Billy Boston

The Committee agreed to close the petition in light of the fact that no update has been received from the petitioners for 12 months, and the likelihood that there is little practical scrutiny that the Committee can apply to this issue. In doing so, the Committee wished the petitioners luck with this project.

</AI18>

<AI19>

3.10P-05-742 Stop Forsythia Closing

The Committee agreed to close the petition in light of the fact that it no longer appears possible to take this petition forward given the lack of contact from the petitioners and the impact of the end of Communities First funding.

</AI19>

<AI20>

4 Evidence Session - P-05-806 We call for all premises in Wales to be awarded an Access Certificate number similar to the Food Hygiene Certificate.

The Committee heard evidence from Simon Green, Helen Fincham, Rhian Davies and Anita Davies.

</AI20>

<AI21>

5 Motion under Standing Order 17.42 to resolve to exclude the public for item 6

The motion was agreed.

</AI21>

<AI22>

6 Discussion of Previous Evidence Session - P-05-806 We call for all premises in Wales to be awarded an Access Certificate number similar to the Food Hygiene Certificate

The Committee discussed the evidence heard and agreed to write to:

· the Leader of the House and Chief Whip to provide information about the issues heard during the evidence session and ask whether the Welsh Government would consider running a public consultation on the possibility of introducing such a scheme. The Committee also agreed to raise concerns over the evidence received that the provisions in the Equality Act 2010 have had little effect on improving the accessibility of premises for people with disabilities; and

· the Equality and Human Rights Commission to raise concerns over the evidence received that the provisions in the Equality Act 2010 have had little effect on improving the accessibility of premises for people with disabilities, and that the requirements of the Act are not being properly enforced.

</AI22>

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Concise Minutes - Petitions Committee

Attendance

1 Introduction, apologies, substitutions and declarations of interest

2 New petitions

2.1 P-05-833 Improve rail services for Chepstow

2.2 P-05-834 All Schools Should be Welsh Medium and Teach Welsh History

2.3 P-05-835 Allow Free Movement of Taxi Drivers to Carry Out Private Hire Work Anywhere in Wales

2.4 P-05-836 Gender Pay Gap Reporting

2.5 P-05-837 Green Energy for the Wellbeing of Future Generations in Wales

2.6 P-05-838 Support the M4 Relief Road Black Route

3 Updates to previous petitions

3.1 P-05-775 Put an end to the Cross Border and Sub-contracting Taxi Licensing loophole.

3.2 P-05-736 To Make Mental Health Services More Accessible

3.3 P-05-791 Terminate Private Parking Contracts at Welsh Hospitals

3.4 P-05-797 Ensure access to the cystic fibrosis medicine, Orkambi, as a matter of urgency

3.5 P-05-812 We call for the Welsh Government to encourage trusts to implement the NICE guidelines for Borderline Personality Disorder or justify why they do not do so

3.6 P-05-799 Change the National Curriculum and teach Welsh history, from a Welsh perspective, in our Primary, Secondary and Sixth form Schools

3.7 P-05-801 Save the trees and ground in Roath Mill and Roath Brook Gardens before it's too late

3.8 P-05-790 Tackle Rough Sleeping

3.9 P-05-758 Statue to Honour Billy Boston

3.10P-05-742 Stop Forsythia Closing

4 Evidence Session - P-05-806 We call for all premises in Wales to be awarded an Access Certificate number similar to the Food Hygiene Certificate.

5 Motion under Standing Order 17.42 to resolve to exclude the public for item 6

6 Discussion of Previous Evidence Session - P-05-806 We call for all premises in Wales to be awarded an Access Certificate number similar to the Food Hygiene Certificate

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