Agenda and minutes

The Presiding Officer announced, in accordance with Standing Order 26.75, that the Senedd and Elections (Wales) Act was given Royal Assent on 15 January.

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

View Questions

The item started at 13.30

The first 8 questions were asked. 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 14.21

The first 8 questions were asked. Questions 2 and 7 were answered by the Deputy Minister for Health and Social Services. The Presiding Officer invited party spokespeople to ask questions to the Minister after question 2.

To ask the Minister for Economy and Transport:

Jack Sargeant (Alun and Deeside) Will the Minister make a statement on the announcement by Mondi of job losses at the Deeside Industrial Park in Flintshire?

Russell George (Montgomeryshire) Will the Minister make a statement in response to reports regarding Flybe's future and its impact on Cardiff Airport?

The item started at 15.17

To ask the Minister for Economy and Transport:

Jack Sargeant (Alun and Deeside): Will the Minister make a statement on the announcement by Mondi of job losses at the Deeside Industrial Park in Flintshire?

Russell George (Montgomeryshire): Will the Minister make a statement in response to reports regarding Flybe's future and its impact on Cardiff Airport?

The item started at 15.42

Leanne Wood made a statement congratulating Rhondda man Wayne Warren after he won the BDO Darts Championship and praising the sport.

Sian Gwenllian made a statement celebrating Dafydd Iwan reaching the top of iTunes sales with Yma o Hyd.

Vikki Howells made a statement commemorating 80 years since the birth of Leighton Thomas Rees.

NDM7226 Llyr Gruffydd (North Wales)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

Notes the report of the Finance Committee on the inquiry into the Welsh Government’s capital funding sources, which was laid in the Table Office on 4 November 2019.

Note: The response of the Welsh Government to the report was laid in the Table Office on 8 January 2020.

The item started at 15.47

NDM7226 Llyr Gruffydd (North Wales)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

Notes the report of the Finance Committee on the inquiry into the Welsh Government’s capital funding sources, which was laid in the Table Office on 4 November 2019.

Note: The response of the Welsh Government to the report was laid in the Table Office on 8 January 2020.

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

NDM7228 Bethan Sayed (South Wales West)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

Notes the report of the Culture, Welsh Language and Communications Committee on the Teaching of Welsh history laid in the Table Office on 14 November.

Note: The response from the Welsh Government to the report was laid in the Table Office on 8 January 2020.

The item started at 16.39

NDM7228 Bethan Sayed (South Wales West)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

Notes the report of the Culture, Welsh Language and Communications Committee on the Teaching of Welsh history laid in the Table Office on 14 November.

Note: The response from the Welsh Government to the report was laid in the Table Office on 8 January 2020.

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

NDM7229 Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Notes the increase in reports of rape in England and Wales.

2. Expresses sympathy and solidarity with survivors of rape and sexual abuse.

3. Regrets the continued failure of many criminal justice systems across the world to offer support to survivors, and regrets that it remains the case that too often survivors are not believed and are forced to relive horrific experiences through insensitive court processes, and cultures within police forces that don’t believe victims.

4. Notes that prosecutions for rape and convictions in England and Wales are at their lowest levels in a decade, and that improving conviction rates is a crucial part of a rape prevention strategy.

5. Notes that the Thomas Commission has argued that only full legislative devolution combined with executive powers will overcome the obstacles of the current devolution settlement when it comes to addressing the lack of justice and accountability of the status quo.

6. Calls for sexual assault support and services to be available and well-funded, and for courts to be adapted so that victims feel protected, not intimidated when giving evidence.

7. Calls for the devolution of justice so that we can address these low convictions rates through adopting international best practice on increasing conviction rates and prevention of abuse and rape.

Commission on Justice in Wales Report - October 2019

The following amendments have been tabled:

Amendment 1 - Caroline Jones (South Wales West)

Delete points 5 and 7.

In accordance with Standing Order 12.23 (iii), amendment 2 has not been selected.

Amendment 3 - Caroline Jones (South Wales West)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Notes the Thomas Commission’s report and thanks the Commission for their work on the possible devolution of justice while looking forward to the promised debate in government time on the Commission’s findings and any impact these will have on increasing conviction rates as well as preventing abuse and rape.

Amendment 4 - Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Notes that the HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate Rape Inspection 2019 report found that both the number of cases referred to the CPS for a decision by the Police and the number of cases prosecuted by the CPS fell, despite reports of rape to the police nearly doubling.

HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate - Rape Inspection 2019 - December 2019

Amendment 5 - Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Notes the UK Government’s statement that the findings are “deeply concerning” and that “they were committed to restoring confidence in the justice system and providing better support for victims”.

HMCPSI report on rape conviction rates - 17 December 2019

The item started at 17.37

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

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM7229 Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Notes the increase in reports of rape in England and Wales.

2. Expresses sympathy and solidarity with survivors of rape and sexual abuse.

3. Regrets the continued failure of many criminal justice systems across the world to offer support to survivors, and regrets that it remains the case that too often survivors are not believed and are forced to relive horrific experiences through insensitive court processes, and cultures within police forces that don’t believe victims.

4. Notes that prosecutions for rape and convictions in England and Wales are at their lowest levels in a decade, and that improving conviction rates is a crucial part of a rape prevention strategy.

5. Notes that the Thomas Commission has argued that only full legislative devolution combined with executive powers will overcome the obstacles of the current devolution settlement when it comes to addressing the lack of justice and accountability of the status quo.

6. Calls for sexual assault support and services to be available and well-funded, and for courts to be adapted so that victims feel protected, not intimidated when giving evidence.

7. Calls for the devolution of justice so that we can address these low convictions rates through adopting international best practice on increasing conviction rates and prevention of abuse and rape.

Commission on Justice in Wales Report - October 2019

The motion without amendment was agreed.

The item started at 18.45

NDM7227 Mick Antoniw (Pontypridd)

Celebrating Welsh Heroes: The contribution of Welsh heroes to Wales’s international profile

The item started at 18.45

NDM7227 Mick Antoniw (Pontypridd)

Celebrating Welsh Heroes: The contribution of Welsh heroes to Wales’s international profile