Agenda and minutes

Venue: Y Siambr - Y Senedd

Expected timing: 308(v3) 

Media

Senedd.TV: View the webcast

Transcript: Transcript for 02/12/2020 - Plenary - Fifth Senedd

Items
Expected timing No. Item

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

Statement by the Llywydd

The Llywydd informed Members that she had received two requests for an urgent debate on the new coronavirus restrictions, and that in the meantime the Government has tabled a motion for debate next Tuesday on the same matter. The Llywydd stated her expectation that the motion will give the Senedd the opportunity to have a meaningful vote on the motion and any amendments tabled, for that vote to be influential on the continuation of the regulations or not. For that reason, the Llywydd had decided not to call either Member to move an urgent debate to be held today.

 

The Llywydd then called Andrew RT Davies and Sian Gwenllian to make some comments on the record.

 

(45 mins)

1.

Questions to the Minister for Health and Social Services

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

View Questions

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The item started at 13.34

Questions 1 – 2 and 4 – 9 were asked. Question 3 was not asked. Questions 6 and 7 were grouped together for answer. Question 10 was withdrawn. The Presiding Officer invited party spokespeople to ask questions to the Minister after question 2.

 

(45 mins)

2.

Questions to the Minister for Mental Health, Wellbeing and Welsh Language

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

View Questions

Minutes:

The item started at 14.28

The first 8 questions were asked. Questions 2 and 8 were answered by the Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism. The Presiding Officer invited party spokespeople to ask questions to the Minister after question 2.

 

(20 mins)

3.

Topical Questions

To ask the Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs:

Llyr Gruffydd (North Wales): Will the Minister make a statement on the implications of the cuts to Welsh agricultural funding announced in the UK Government’s spending review on 25 November 2020?

Minutes:

The item started at 15.18

To the Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs:

Llyr Gruffydd (North Wales): Will the Minister make a statement on the implications of the cuts to Welsh agricultural funding announced in the UK Government’s spending review on 25 November 2020?

 

(5 mins)

4.

90 Second Statements

Minutes:

The item started at 15.30

Mike Hedges made a statement on the work of the local area co-ordinators in Swansea during the pandemic.

Ann Jones made a statement on the International Day of Persons with Disabilities – ‘Not all Disabilities are Visual’.

 

(15 mins)

5.

Debate on the Standards of Conduct Committee report – Report 02-20

NDM7493 Jayne Bryant (Newport West)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Considers the report of the Standards of Conduct Committee, Report 02-20,laid before the Senedd on 25 November 2020 in accordance with Standing Order 22.9.

2. Endorses the recommendation in the report.

Minutes:

The item started at 15.30

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

NDM7493 Jayne Bryant (Newport West)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Considers the report of the Standards of Conduct Committee, Report 02-20,laid before the Senedd on 25 November 2020 in accordance with Standing Order 22.9.

2. Endorses the recommendation in the report.

The result was as follows:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

40

9

1

50

The motion was agreed.

In accordance with Standing Order 12.18, at 15.38 the meeting was suspended by the Llywydd.

 

(30 mins)

6.

Debate on the Culture, Welsh Language and Communications report: The impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on journalism and local media

NDM7491 Helen Mary Jones (Mid and West Wales)

To propose that the Senedd:

Notes the report of the Culture, Welsh Language and Communications Committee on the Impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on journalism and local medialaid in the Table Office on 14 September 2020.

The response from the Welsh Government to the report was laid in the Table Office on 4 November 2020.

Minutes:

The item started at 15.46

NDM7491 Helen Mary Jones (Mid and West Wales)

To propose that the Senedd:

Notes the report of the Culture, Welsh Language and Communications Committee on the Impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on journalism and local medialaid in the Table Office on 14 September 2020.

The response from the Welsh Government to the report was laid in the Table Office on 4 November 2020.

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

 

(60 mins)

7.

Debate on the Economy, Infrastructure and Skills Committee report: The decarbonisation of transport

NDM7494 Russell George (Montgomeryshire)

To propose that the Senedd:

Notes the report of the Economy, Infrastructure and Skills Committee on its inquiry: Decarbonisation of Transport - which was laid in the Table Office on 14 July 2020.

The response from the Welsh Government to the report was laid in the Table Office on9 September2020.

Minutes:

The item started at 16.19

NDM7494 Russell George (Montgomeryshire)

To propose that the Senedd:

Notes the report of the Economy, Infrastructure and Skills Committee on its inquiry: Decarbonisation of Transport - which was laid in the Table Office on 14 July 2020.

The response from the Welsh Government to the report was laid in the Table Office on9 September2020.

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

In accordance with Standing Order 12.18, at 16.58 the meeting was suspended by the Deputy Presiding Officer.

 

(60 mins)

8.

Plaid Cymru debate – The food sector

NDM7495 Sian Gwenllian (Arfon)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes the importance of the food sector to a broad range of policy agendas in Wales, including the environment, health, economy and poverty.

2. Regrets the lack of alignment to provide a coherent national food policy within Welsh Government food strategies and action plans over the past decade. 

3. Recognises that the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the vulnerabilities of our current food system.

4. Praises the role that Welsh farmers and producers play in keeping our shelves stocked.

5. Understands that the climate, nature and biodiversity crises increases the likelihood of extreme weather events which will heavily impact the global food system.

6. Notes that 14per cent of UK families with children have experienced food insecurity between Marchand August 2020, and that the Trussell Trust gave out 70,393 emergency food parcels in Wales between April and September 2020.

7. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

a) move towards a more coherent approach to food policy in Wales by bringing together a cross-sector food system commission to be tasked with developing a roadmap to deliver a food system fit for future generations;

b) ensure food systems are more resilient to external factors in the long-term, such as the climate crisis;

c) develop local processing capacity across Wales;

d) increase procurement of Welsh food and drink amongst public services.

A Welsh Food System Fit ForFuture Generations -A report by the Sustainable Places Research Institute at Cardiff University, commissioned by WWF Cymru

The following amendments have been tabled:

Amendment 1. Rebecca Evans (Gower)

Delete all and replace with:

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes that access to food and protection of the environment is achieved by raising skills, raising incomes and enabling collaborative action on the ground between communities, businesses and public bodies.

2. Welcomes the report by the Sustainable Places Research Institute at Cardiff University and agrees that new food infrastructure and delivery mechanisms should be guided by the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 and the five ways of working.

3. Calls on Welsh Government:

a) to bring together farmers, food businesses, public bodies and civil society to work towards a shared vision for a food system fit for future generations;

b) to replace the system of basic payment farm subsidy based on land-area farmed to a system where all public money supports the delivery of environmental outcomes alongside high quality food;

c) to promote fair work and innovation in the food sector in Wales to help create more well-paid jobs in the foundational economy;

d) to support community food growing and food re-use projects in every community in Wales.

Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015

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

Amendment 2. Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

Add as new sub-points at end of point 7:

introduce a local food and drink charter to encourage shops, cafés, and restaurants to sell locally sourced Welsh food and drink and help promote the scheme to consumers;

develop a tourism strategy to promote food and drink trails and experiences across Wales;

work with the Her Majesty’s Government to promote Welsh food and drink overseas.

Minutes:

The item started at 17.06

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

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM7495 Sian Gwenllian (Arfon)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes the importance of the food sector to a broad range of policy agendas in Wales, including the environment, health, economy and poverty.

2. Regrets the lack of alignment to provide a coherent national food policy within Welsh Government food strategies and action plans over the past decade.

3. Recognises that the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the vulnerabilities of our current food system.

4. Praises the role that Welsh farmers and producers play in keeping our shelves stocked.

5. Understands that the climate, nature and biodiversity crises increases the likelihood of extreme weather events which will heavily impact the global food system.

6. Notes that 14per cent of UK families with children have experienced food insecurity between Marchand August 2020, and that the Trussell Trust gave out 70,393 emergency food parcels in Wales between April and September 2020.

7. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

a) move towards a more coherent approach to food policy in Wales by bringing together a cross-sector food system commission to be tasked with developing a roadmap to deliver a food system fit for future generations;

b) ensure food systems are more resilient to external factors in the long-term, such as the climate crisis;

c) develop local processing capacity across Wales;

d) increase procurement of Welsh food and drink amongst public services.

 

A Welsh Food System Fit ForFuture Generations -A report by the Sustainable Places Research Institute at Cardiff University, commissioned by WWF Cymru

For

Abstain

Against

Total

12

2

36

50

The motion without amendment was not agreed.

The following amendment was tabled:

Amendment 1. Rebecca Evans (Gower)

Delete all and replace with:

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes that access to food and protection of the environment is achieved by raising skills, raising incomes and enabling collaborative action on the ground between communities, businesses and public bodies.

2. Welcomes the report by the Sustainable Places Research Institute at Cardiff University and agrees that new food infrastructure and delivery mechanisms should be guided by the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 and the five ways of working.

3. Calls on Welsh Government:

a) to bring together farmers, food businesses, public bodies and civil society to work towards a shared vision for a food system fit for future generations;

b) to replace the system of basic payment farm subsidy based on land-area farmed to a system where all public money supports the delivery of environmental outcomes alongside high quality food;

c) to promote fair work and innovation in the food sector in Wales to help create more well-paid jobs in the foundational economy;

d) to support community food growing and food re-use projects in every community in Wales.

Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015

A vote was taken on amendment 1:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

29

0

21

50

Amendment 1 was agreed.

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

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

NDM7495 Sian Gwenllian (Arfon)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes that access to food and protection of the environment is achieved by raising skills, raising incomes and enabling collaborative action on the ground between communities, businesses and public bodies.

2. Welcomes the report by the Sustainable Places Research Institute at Cardiff University and agrees that new food infrastructure and delivery mechanisms should be guided by the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 and the five ways of working.

3. Calls on Welsh Government:

a) to bring together farmers, food businesses, public bodies and civil society to work towards a shared vision for a food system fit for future generations;

b) to replace the system of basic payment farm subsidy based on land-area farmed to a system where all public money supports the delivery of environmental outcomes alongside high quality food;

c) to promote fair work and innovation in the food sector in Wales to help create more well-paid jobs in the foundational economy;

d) to support community food growing and food re-use projects in every community in Wales.

Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015

For

Abstain

Against

Total

39

0

11

50

The motion as amended was agreed.

 

9.

Voting Time

Minutes:

In accordance with Standing Order 12.18, at 18.00 proceedings were suspended to allow a technical break before voting time.

The item started at 18.05

 

Votes Summary

Supporting documents:

(30 mins)

10.

Short Debate

NDM7492 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

Iconic Welsh wildlife: the plight of Wales’s red squirrels.

Minutes:

The item started at 18.09

NDM7492 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

Iconic Welsh wildlife: the plight of Wales’s red squirrels.