Agenda and minutes

The Llywydd welcomed Caroline Jones on her return to the committee

Stage 3 of the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Bill

 

The Trefnydd informed Business Managers that if it becomes clear that the Stage 3 will not be completed by the end of the day, the Minister for Housing and Local Government will move to adjourn proceedings to Wednesday.

 

Breaks

 

The Llywydd informed Business Managers that there would be a short break before voting time (if there is an objection to the motion under Item 4) or after the first group in Stage 3, and use her judgement on any breaks after that. Business Managers agreed that there should be a longer break around 7pm.

 

The Trefnydd drew Business Managers’ attention to the following changes:

 

Tuesday 17 November 2020

 

·         Statement by the Minister for Economy, Transport and North Wales: Economic Recovery Plan (45 mins) – Postponed until 1 December

·         Statement by the Minister for Economy, Transport and North Wales: Llwybr Newydd – A new Wales Transport Strategy (45 mins)

·         Proposal under Standing Order 12.24 to debate the following together but with separate votes: (30 mins)

o   The Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (No. 4) (Wales) Regulations 2020

o   The Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel and Restrictions) (Amendment) (Wales) Regulations 2020

·         Debate: The Second Annual Report of the President of Welsh Tribunals (30 mins) – Postponed until 1 December

·         Debate: Stage 4 of the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Bill (15 mins) – Postponed until 18 November

 

Wednesday 18 November 2020

 

·         Debate: Stage 4 of the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Bill (15 mins)

 

Tuesday 24 November 2020

 

·           Debate: The Welsh Government's Annual Report for Cymraeg 2050 (2019-2020) and the Welsh Language Commissioner’s Annual Report (2019-2020) (60 mins)

 

Business Committee agreed to schedule the following items of business:

 

Wednesday 2 December 2020 –

 

·         Debate on the Culture, Welsh Language and Communications Report: The impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on journalism and local media. (30 mins)

·         Debate on the Economy, Infrastructure and Skills Committee Report: The decarbonisation of transport (60 mins)

·         Time allocated to Plaid Cymru (60 mins)

 

Business Committee agreed to schedule the following motion for debate on 18 November:

 

NNDM7455

Helen Mary Jones

Joyce Watson

Leanne Wood

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Believes that the UK Government should have held discussions with the Welsh Government and local representatives before housing asylum seekers at the Penally military base, near Tenby.

2. Believes that the decision should be reconsidered because it is an unsuitable place for asylum seekers, as it is isolated from appropriate support networks.

3. Condemns the violent protests organised by far right groups from outside Pembrokeshire.

4. Praises local residents and volunteers from across Wales who have welcomed and supported the asylum seekers

Supporters:

 

Mick Antoniw

John Griffiths

Llyr Gruffydd

 

Business Committee also agreed to schedule the following motion for debate on 9 December:

 

NNDM7462

Lynne Neagle

Bethan Sayed

Leanne Wood

To propose that the Senedd:  

1. Recognises that the evidence is unequivocal that the first 1,000 days of a child’s life, from pregnancy to age two, lay the foundations for a happy and healthy life and that the support and wellbeing of babies during this time is strongly linked to better outcomes later in life, including educational achievement, progress at work and better physical and mental health.     

2. Notes that since the outbreak of COVID-19 and the subsequent lockdown and social distancing measures, a growing body of research indicates parents are facing unprecedented pressures, heightened anxieties, and are at increased risk of developing mental health problems in the perinatal period.   

3. Notes that the Babies in Lockdown 2020 survey showed that for 66 per cent of respondents from Wales, parental mental health was cited as a main concern during lockdown: only 26 per cent felt confident that they could find help for mental health if they needed it and 69 per cent of parents felt the changes brought on by COVID-19 were affecting their unborn baby, baby or young child. 

4. Notes that the New Parents and COVID-19 2020 research found that over half of the 257 respondents who have given birth since lockdown felt that their birth experience was more difficult than expected due to the coronavirus restrictions, more than 60 per cent not receiving any form of post-natal check-up and almost a quarter wanting perinatal mental health support..

5. Calls on the Welsh Government to ensure services and support for families during pregnancy and the perinatal period are prioritised and that the midwifery, health visiting and perinatal mental health workforce is protected from redeployment during the pandemic. 

6. Calls on the Welsh Government to proactively work with health boards to ensure women can be safely supported by their partners during hospital visits during pregnancy. 

7. Calls on the Welsh Government to provide additional ring-fenced investment for perinatal mental health services and voluntary services to cope with the increase in demand because of COVID-19.

Babies in Lockdown

New Parents and COVID-19

Supporters:

 

Dawn Bowden

Jayne Bryant

Alun Davies

Vikki Howells

Huw Irranca-Davies

Helen Mary Jones

Dai Lloyd

Neil McEvoy

Jenny Rathbone

David Rees

Jack Sargeant

 

The Business Committee agreed to set a reporting deadline of Monday 16 November for the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee to report on the regulations.

 

The Business Committee agreed to set a reporting deadline of Monday 16 November for the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee to report on the regulations.

 

Business Committee noted the latest position on LCMs. The Committee agreed to refer the LCM on the Financial Services Bill to the Economy, Infrastructure and Skills Committee and the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee, and the SLCM on the Trade Bill to the External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee and the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee for scrutiny, with a reporting deadline of 18 December for both LCMs.

 

Business Committee agreed the timetable for the spring term 2021 and the adjustments to the current timetable.

 

Committee membership

 

Business Committee agreed to table motions to elect David Rowlands to the External Affairs and Additional Legislation, Standards of Conduct and Llywydd’s Committees. The Committee also agreed to table motions to allow Caroline Jones to be the alternate on the Standards of Conduct Committee, and Mandy Jones to take up the seat on the Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee.

 

Caroline Jones queried the rationale for not calling the Independent Alliance for Reform group to ask spokespeople or leaders’ questions. The Llywydd explained that this was at the discretion of the Chair, but that group Members would be called to contribute in proportion to the group’s representation in the Senedd.