Agenda and minutes

This meeting was held in a hybrid format, with some Members in the Senedd Chamber and others joining by video-conference.

The item started at 13.30

To the First Minister:

Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): Will the First Minister make a statement on the Welsh Government’s proposals to introduce further restrictions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic?

The Presiding Officer will call party spokespeople to ask questions without notice after Question 2.

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The item started at 14.13

The first 9 questions were asked. Questions 7 and 10 were withdrawn. The Presiding Officer invited party spokespeople to ask questions to the Minister after question 2.

The Presiding Officer will call party spokespeople to ask questions without notice after Question 2.

View Questions

The item started at 15.00

The first 8 questions were asked. Question 2 was answered by the Deputy Minister for Housing and Local Government. The Presiding Officer invited party spokespeople to ask questions to the Minister after question 2.

To ask the Minister for Economy, Transport and North Wales

Mick Antoniw (Pontypridd): Will the Minister make a statement on job losses at Rhys Davies Logistics in Taff’s Well as a result of the company being put into administration?

To ask the Minister for Health and Social Services

Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn): Will the Minister make a statement on NHS winter pressures, on services and waiting times for diagnosis and treatment?

The item started at 15.51

To the Minister for Economy, Transport and North Wales:

Mick Antoniw (Pontypridd): Will the Minister make a statement on job losses at Rhys Davies Logistics in Taff's Well as a result of the company being put into administration?

To the Minister for Health and Social Services:

Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn): Will the Minister make a statement on NHS winter pressures, on services and waiting times for diagnosis and treatment?

The item started at 16.15

Helen Mary Jones made a statement on Nigel Owens making history, becoming the first referee to reach 100 international test matches.

Dawn Bowden made a statement on The Merthyr Mermaid – Cath Pendleton. A record setting one mile swim in Antarctica.

In accordance with Standing Order 12.18, at 16.18 the Presiding Officer suspended the meeting.

NDM7518 Lynne Neagle (Torfaen)

To propose that the Senedd:

Notes the Children, Young People and Education Committee Report, Mind over matter: Two years on, which was laid in the Table Office on 9 October 2020.

Note: The response by the Welsh Government was laid on 2 December 2020.

The item started at 16.24

NDM7518 Lynne Neagle (Torfaen)

To propose that the Senedd:

Notes the Children, Young People and Education Committee Report, Mind over matter: Two years on, which was laid in the Table Office on 9 October 2020.

Note: The response by the Welsh Government was laid on 2 December 2020.

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

NDM7519 Helen Mary Jones (Mid and West Wales)

To propose that the Senedd:

Notes the report of the Culture, Welsh Language and Communications Committee, The impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on the Welsh language, laid in the Table Office on 1 December 2020.

The item started at 17.13

NDM7519 Helen Mary Jones (Mid and West Wales)

To propose that the Senedd:

Notes the report of the Culture, Welsh Language and Communications Committee, The impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on the Welsh language, laid in the Table Office on 1 December 2020.

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

In accordance with Standing Order 12.18, at 17.40 the Presiding Officer suspended the meeting.

NDM7521 Sian Gwenllian (Arfon)

To propose that the Senedd:

Calls on the Welsh Government to immediately amend the eligibility criteria for free school meals so that any child in any family receiving universal credit or equivalent benefit and any child in a family with no recourse to public funds is eligible, as the first step towards implementing universal provision of nutritious free school meals for all school-aged children in Wales.

The following amendments have been tabled:

Amendment 1 Rebecca Evans (Gower)

Delete all and replace with:

Welcomes that the Welsh Government:

a) provided over £50 million of additional funding to ensure the continued provision of free school meals during the pandemic and was the first government in the UK to provide provision during school holidays;

b) provided additional funding to ensure that children who are self-isolating or shielding continue to receive free school meal provision when they are not able to attend school;

c) provides funding of £19.50 per week to free school meal-eligible families, which is the most generous provision in the UK;

d) ensured that Wales remains the only country in the UK to have a universal free breakfasts in primary schools scheme;

e) has been recognised by the Education Policy Institute (EPI) for being successful in ensuring families eligible for free school meals during the pandemic had “access to timely and appropriate support”;

f) is committed to reviewing the income threshold for receiving free school meals when Pupil Level Annual School Census (PLASC) data becomes available in April 2021.

Education Policy Institute

[If amendment 1 is agreed, amendment 2 will be de-selected]

Amendment 2 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

Delete all and replace with:

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes the existing eligibility criteria for free school meals in Wales.

2. Recognises the financial hardship faced by families across Wales as a result of the coronavirus pandemic and the challenges that this has posed for parents and guardians, and its impact on the demand for free school meals.

3. Welcomes the role that free school meals have in improving health and nutrition.

4. Calls on the Welsh Government to amend the eligibility criteria for free school meals to extend provision to:

a) learners in further education; and

b) families without an income and who are not immediately able to claim public funds.

The item started at 17.48

Voting on the motion and amendments under this item was deferred until Voting Time.

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM7521 Sian Gwenllian (Arfon)

To propose that the Senedd:

Calls on the Welsh Government to immediately amend the eligibility criteria for free school meals so that any child in any family receiving universal credit or equivalent benefit and any child in a family with no recourse to public funds is eligible, as the first step towards implementing universal provision of nutritious free school meals for all school-aged children in Wales.

The motion without amendment was not agreed.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 Rebecca Evans (Gower)

Delete all and replace with:

Welcomes that the Welsh Government:

a) provided over £50 million of additional funding to ensure the continued provision of free school meals during the pandemic and was the first government in the UK to provide provision during school holidays;

b) provided additional funding to ensure that children who are self-isolating or shielding continue to receive free school meal provision when they are not able to attend school;

c) provides funding of £19.50 per week to free school meal-eligible families, which is the most generous provision in the UK;

d) ensured that Wales remains the only country in the UK to have a universal free breakfasts in primary schools scheme;

e) has been recognised by the Education Policy Institute (EPI) for being successful in ensuring families eligible for free school meals during the pandemic had “access to timely and appropriate support”;

f) is committed to reviewing the income threshold for receiving free school meals when Pupil Level Annual School Census (PLASC) data becomes available in April 2021.

Education Policy Institute

A vote was taken on amendment 1:

Amendment 1 was agreed.

As amendment 1 was agreed, amendment 2 was de-selected

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

NDM7521 Sian Gwenllian (Arfon)

Welcomes that the Welsh Government:

a) provided over £50 million of additional funding to ensure the continued provision of free school meals during the pandemic and was the first government in the UK to provide provision during school holidays;

b) provided additional funding to ensure that children who are self-isolating or shielding continue to receive free school meal provision when they are not able to attend school;

c) provides funding of £19.50 per week to free school meal-eligible families, which is the most generous provision in the UK;

d) ensured that Wales remains the only country in the UK to have a universal free breakfasts in primary schools scheme;

e) has been recognised by the Education Policy Institute (EPI) for being successful in ensuring families eligible for free school meals during the pandemic had “access to timely and appropriate support”;

f) is committed to reviewing the income threshold for receiving free school meals when Pupil Level Annual School Census (PLASC) data becomes available in April 2021.

Education Policy Institute

The motion as amended was agreed.

NDM7528 Rebecca Evans (Gower)

To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Orders 33.6 and 33.8:

Suspends Standing Orders 12.20(i), 12.22(i), 29.4 and that part of Standing Order 11.16 that requires the weekly announcement under Standing Order 11.11 to constitute the timetable for business in Plenary for the following week, to allow NDM7529 to be considered in Plenary on Wednesday 16 December 2020.

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

NDM7529 Jeremy Miles (Neath)

To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Order 29.6 agrees that provisions in the Trade (Disclosure of Information) Bill in so far as they fall within the legislative competence of Senedd Cymru, should be considered by the UK Parliament.

A Legislative Consent Memorandum was laid in Table Office on 16 December 2020 in accordance with Standing Order 29.2.

Trade (Disclosure of Information) Bill

The item started at 18.44

Voting on the motion under this item was deferred until Voting Time.

NDM7529 Jeremy Miles (Neath)

To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Order 29.6 agrees that provisions in the Trade (Disclosure of Information) Bill in so far as they fall within the legislative competence of Senedd Cymru, should be considered by the UK Parliament.

A Legislative Consent Memorandum was laid in Table Office on 16 December 2020 in accordance with Standing Order 29.2.

Trade (Disclosure of Information) Bill

The result was as follows:

The motion was agreed.

In accordance with Standing Order 12.18, at 18.55 proceedings were suspended to allow a technical break before voting time.

The item started at 19.01

NDM7504 Andrew R.T. Davies (South Wales Central)

The importance of fans at sporting events for the social fabric of our communities.

The item started at 19.04

NDM7504 Andrew R.T. Davies (South Wales Central)

The importance of fans at sporting events for the social fabric of our communities.

NDM7517 Neil Hamilton (Mid and West Wales)

Save our statues : the continuing importance of historic memorials and monuments.

The item started at 19.16

NDM7517 Neil Hamilton (Mid and West Wales)

Save our statues: the continuing importance of historic memorials and monuments.