This paper asks the Committee to review
the petitions it is currently considering, and agree which should
be carried over to the Seventh Senedd for further consideration and
which should be closed.
.
1. Background
1. In anticipation of the end of the current Senedd, the Committee asked clerks to identify which petitions could be carried over to the next Senedd for consideration by its successor committee and which petitions could be considered for closure by this Committee.
2. Closing a significant number prior to dissolution will give the incoming Committee more space to decide its own priorities, ensure that it is only considering relevant issues and prevent existing petitions from stopping new petitions being submitted on similar topics in the Seventh Senedd.
3. In line with practice at the end of the Fifth Senedd, on 10 November 2025 Members agreed some key principles to help clerks advise Members for that decision process:
§ To keep open petitions that have only recently been referred to it (for example in the last 3 months) and which it is still gathering evidence on;
§ To keep open a small number of other major petitions, such as those where it has not been able to complete its scrutiny of the issue due to time constraints; and
§ For petitions where this Committee has already carried out its own scrutiny, it will only keep them open if there are significant issues still unresolved or responses to correspondence outstanding.
4. There are currently 24 petitions under active consideration by the Committee (i.e. that have been discussed on at least one occasion and not been closed).
5. In determining how many petitions to carry over, the Committee should also note that, as of 11 March, there are 32 petitions collecting signatures which will also be referred for consideration in the Seventh Senedd if they pass the 250 signature threshold, and 19 petitions that have already reached that threshold but do not close until after dissolution, and for which a response will need to be sought from the incoming Welsh Government.
6. The clerking team have prepared three tables for the Committee’s consideration. The table at Annex A provides an overview of petitions the Committee may wish to consider referring to the committee responsible for petitions in the Seventh Senedd. The table at Annex B contains petitions that the Committee could consider closing. The table at Annex C lists petitions that have recently reached the threshold and will require a response from the incoming Welsh Government before consideration in the Seventh Senedd.
2. Action
7. The Committee is invited to agree the proposals set out in Annex A and Annex B below, and note the table at Annex C.
Annex A – Petitions to consider referring to the Seventh Senedd
|
|
First considered |
Times considered |
Current position |
|
5,920 signatures |
10 October 2023 |
Four |
Agreed on 2 March to keep open and write to the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs for an update on the Technical Advice Note. |
|
P-06-1291 Hold an enquiry into the corporate takeover of the veterinary profession in Wales 308 signatures |
17 October 2022 |
Nine (including today’s meeting and noting papers on two occasions) |
An update considered at 16 March meeting, following a Cross-Party Group event on 20 January and ETRA Ministerial scrutiny session on 5 March. |
|
P-06-1428 Stop the flooding in Caenant Terrace, Skewen NOW! 766 signatures |
8 July 2024 |
Three |
Kept open (8 December 2025) in the hope that the next Government will allocate funding to support Neath Port Talbot and alleviate the hardship faced by local residents.. Members noted that while progress appears to be planned, work is not expected to begin until 2027 and uncertainties remain around funding. Also noted earlier decision to include flood management as a priority theme in the Committee’s legacy report. |
|
749 signatures |
4 November 2024 |
Seven (and paper to note for 2 March meeting) |
Kept open – for a successor committee to take it forward and keep pushing the issue due to its importance for those affected. |
|
1,754 signatures |
2 December 2024 |
Four |
Agreed on 2 March2026 to keep the petition open due to ongoing concerns. |
|
P-06-1521 Give park home residents in Wales the right to a water meter 447 signatures
|
6 October 2025 |
Three |
Agreed on 2 March to keep open with a recommendation that the successor committee either refers the matter to the Committee scrutinising the Minister responsible for water reform, or writes to that Minister directly for a response to the petitioner’s request for more immediate regulatory measures. |
|
658 signatures |
|
|
Awaiting government response before first consideration, despite multiple requests. Petition closed for signatures in November 2025. |
|
947 signatures |
15 January 2026 |
Twice |
Agreed to forward the petitioner’s additional detailed questions to the AWMSG, along with a case received by the Chair. Kept open apending a response, which is a paper to note today. |
|
1,144 Signatures |
|
|
Welsh Government response received – to be considered on 16 March 2026. |
|
10,582 Signatures |
2 March 2026 |
Once |
Agreed to keep open for successor Committee to consider seeking an early debate. The petition has been considered by the Culture Committee – this Committee will write to note that it reached the 10,000 threshold, and ask if that Committee’s legacy report could include considering returning to the issue early in the new Senedd term.. |
Annex B – Petitions to consider closing
|
Petition title/signatures |
First considered |
Times considered |
Current position |
|
834 signatures |
1 November 2021 |
Once |
Joel James MS declared a relevant interest under Standing Order 17.24A: He has previously been contacted by the petitioner on this issue. Members noted the Minister’s response, agreeing that it was difficult to see much space to progress on an independent inquiry. Members however agreed to arrange a meeting with the petitioner, to discuss whether there are other elements of their campaign which could be taken forward. |
|
2,116 signatures |
9 May 2022 |
Three |
Kept open at last consideration (25 September 2023) pending the forward work programme of the special purpose COVID Committee becoming available. On 16 February 2026 the First Minister stated “I intend to publish the Welsh Government’s response to the inquiry’s Module 2 report about decision-making structures before the end of the Senedd term.” |
|
279 signatures |
21 November 2022 |
Four |
A roundtable discussion was held on the issue on 9 January 2023, with a plan to write to the Minister for Climate Change to follow up. This was subsequently overtaken by events as CCEI Committee undertook work on the issue. |
|
P-06-1377 Decline planning permission for the development planned proposed as Parc Solar Caenewydd 10,356 signatures |
11 December 2023 |
Once |
Kept open pending a decision from the Minister following the conclusion of the Development of National Significance (DNS) process. |
|
P-06-1418 New legislation should be introduced to protect sports pitches from dog fouling 2,518 signatures |
22 April 2024 |
Once |
The Committee 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. |
|
P-06-1427 Create a sustainable traffic plan for the Rhiangoll Valley 258 signatures |
24 June 2024 |
Twice |
The Committee noted an update on 10 November 2025 and the Cabinet Secretary undertook to provide further updates on actions being taken. Any update will be forwarded to the petitioner and published on the petition webpage. |
|
P-06-1468 Set stricter rules to limit gifts, donations and payments received by Members of Senedd 343 signatures |
20 January 2025 |
Once |
The Standards Committee inquiry into the registration and declaration of interests is completed. Plenary motions to amend Standing Orders for the registration and declaration of interests are scheduled for 11 March; and a motion to approve the Guidance for Members of the Senedd on the registration, declaration and recording of financial and other interests for 18 March.. |
|
P-06-1476 1000 meter mandatory buffer zone for all new and existing quarries 11,473 signatures |
18 November 2024 |
Four (and plenary debate) |
The Chair wrote to the Cabinet Secretary on 10 December to seek a meeting – inviting other interested MSs – to establish exactly what information is needed for a review of MTAN 1, which was written before the Well-being of Future Generations Act came in to force. Also agreed to note the issues raised in the legacy report. |
|
969 signatures |
3 February 2025 |
Twice |
Kept open pending outcome of public consultation. September 2025 Hywel Dda UHB confirmed 24 hour service would not resume. On 29 January it approved a new Health Board strategy shaped by community engagement. |
|
5,754 signatures |
10 March 2025 |
Once (referred to CYPE and ETRA and highlighted in Siambr debate) |
A majority of Members supported closing the petition, but Joel James did not. Final Ministerial scrutiny sessions in CYPE held on 4 February and financial sustainability was discussed. No further reports on HE funding planned by CYPE. |
|
P-06-1498 Introduce a bus service from Abergavenny Bus Station to The Grange Hospital 665 signatures |
24 March 2025 |
Once |
Kept open with watching brief in light of the Bus Services (Wales) Bill, which became an Act on 2 February 2026. |
|
1,125 signatures |
28 April 2025 |
Eight (including today) |
Inquiry responses considered 16 March 2025 – Included here for completeness. |
|
P-06-1540 Remove The Manipulative Funding System Forcing Students To Do Welsh Baccalaureate 1,125 signatures |
12 January 2026 |
Once |
Kept open pending response from Cabinet Secretary but with a view to closing when response has been shared with petitioner and published. |
|
P-06-1562 Improve breast screening uptake for women in Wales 4,254 signatures: |
12 January 2026 |
Once |
Kept open pending response from Cabinet Secretary with a view to closing once response received, shared with petitioner and published. Correspondence to be shared with HSC Committee. |
Annex C – Petitions over the threshold for consideration and open for signatures beyond dissolution – for the Seventh Senedd (as at 11 March 2026)
* Petitioners have been offered the option to close their petition early or keep it open until the next Senedd.