Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed Members to the meeting and made a short statement about conduct during and outside of meetings.

The Committee considered the petition for the first time and agreed to close the petition in light of the launch of a Covid-19 tracking app on 24 September, which means it is likely that there is little that could be achieved through further work on the petition.

The Committee expressed their disappointment at the lack of a timely

response to the petition from the Welsh Government and agreed to write again to seek this and a subsequent response from the petitioner before considering the petition again.

The Committee considered the petition for the first time and agreed to:

·         write back the Minister for Education to ask what guidance is made available to pupils about the wearing of face coverings and what is being done to facilitate the safe and environmentally friendly disposal of face masks in schools. 

·         await further comments from the petitioner.

The Committee considered the petition for the first time and agreed to:

·         await the findings of the independent review currently being conducted into the awarding of grades in 2020 and 2021 and decisions expected to be made shortly by the Minister for Education; and

·         write to the WJEC to ask for a response to the petitioners’ concerns over the differences in approach to adapting course content being taken in relation to individual subjects, and the call for increased optionality in examination papers if course content is not reduced.

Jack Sargeant declared the following relevant interest under Standing Order 17.24A:

He is a board member of a football club in Wales.

The Committee considered the petition for the first time and agreed to write to:

• the Football Association of Wales to seek their view on the issues raised by the petition and information on the latest position in relation to domestic football in Wales, including discussions taking place in their working group with clubs, the possibilities for supporters to attend matches safely and the ongoing financial viability of leagues and clubs; and
• the Deputy Minister for Culture, Tourism and Sport to ask for details of the outcome of the test events referred to in his previous correspondence, the scientific basis of the current restrictions on supporters attending sporting events, consideration being given to funding for domestic clubs, and ask for further consideration to be given to allowing some spectators to attend football matches if this can be done whilst adhering to social distancing.

The Committee considered the petition for the first time and agreed to write back to the Deputy Minister to share the petitioner’s further response, seek clarification about whether officials have engaged directly with Motorsports UK and ask for an update on the outcomes from of the test events referred to in his previous correspondence.

Ken Skates - Minister for Economy, Transport and North Wales

Andy Falleyn - Deputy Director Infrastructure Delivery

The Committee heard evidence from the Minister for Economy, Transport and North Wales and Andy Falleyn.

The Committee considered the petition for the first time and agreed to note the petition and the responses received, including the broad satisfaction of the petitioners. In light of the prioritisation being given to the flexibility of subjects taught in the new curriculum and the introduction of statutory Relationships and Sexuality Education, the Committee agreed to write back to the Minister for Education to stress the importance of addressing this issue and close the petition.

The Committee considered the petition for the first time and, in light of the funding available through the Circular Economy Fund and the satisfaction of the petitioner, the Committee agreed to close the petition and thank the petitioner for bringing the issue forward.

The Committee considered the petition for the first time and agreed to write back to the Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs to ask for details of work done since the publication of the Climate Change, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee’s report on the use of snares in Wales, including in relation to the collection of data and annual reviews of the Code of Practice.

The Committee considered an update on the petition and agreed to note the publication of the Clean Air Plan and the petitioners’ further comments.  In light of the petitioners’ satisfaction with much of the content of the Plan and the wider nature of the actions they are seeking to improve air quality in general, the Committee agreed to close the petition and, in doing so:

o   write to the Chair of the Climate Change, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee to share the petitioners’ detailed comments to inform their current Inquiry into air quality; and

o   write to share the additional detailed comments about the Welsh Government’s Clean Air Plan and proposals for a White Paper on a new Clean Air Act with the Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs for information.

The Committee considered an update on the petition and agreed to write back to the Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs to ask what consideration has been given to date by the Welsh Government to using its powers under Section 1 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 to extend the definition of “animal’ to include invertebrates on animal welfare grounds, and what evidence has been considered as part of this..

The Committee considered an update on the petition and agreed to:

o   write to the committee in the House of Commons responsible for scrutinising the UK Environment Bill to note its support for the relevant provisions being provided to Welsh Ministers; and

o   write to the Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs to urge that additional powers be used, when available, to require supermarkets to donate excess food.

Neil McEvoy declared the following relevant interest under Standing Order 17.24A:

He has been a service user of, and volunteer for, the petitioners.

The Committee considered an update on the petition and agreed to write back to the Deputy Minister and Chief Whip, with the content of the letter to be agreed outside of the meeting.

The Committee considered an update on the petition and agreed to close the petition in light of the fact that the Sam Davies Ward has remained open and the petitioners are satisfied with the current position.

In light of the lack of recent contact from the petitioner, and the confirmation from the Minister that the Welsh Government will not be bringing forward new regulations or a Code of Practice during the remainder of this Senedd term, the Committee agreed to close the petition.

In light of the lack of contact from the petitioner, the launch of the Placemaking Charter in September and the Minister’s commitment to engage organisations supporting homeless people in relevant work under this, the Committee agreed to close the petition and provide details of the evidence the Committee has considered to the petitioners.

Item 7

The motion was agreed.

The Committee discussed the evidence session and agreed to seek the petitioner’s views on the evidence provided by the Minister for Economy, Transport and North Wales.