Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed Members to the meeting.

Apologies were received from Jack Sargeant.

The Committee considered the petition for the first time and expressed their disappointment at the lack of a response to the petition from the Welsh Government and agreed to write again to ask that one is provided at the earliest opportunity.

The Committee considered the petition for the first time and agreed to write to Care Forum Wales to seek their views on the issue raised by the petition and the sufficiency of the current guidance and support available to care homes.

The Committee considered the petition for the first time and agreed to note the correspondence received and the petitioner’s satisfaction with the action outlined by the Minister for Health and Social Services. In light of this, the Committee agreed to close the petition and thank the petitioner for raising this important issue.

The Committee considered the petition for the first time and agreed to note the petition and the correspondence received.

The Committee agreed to take no further action on the petition in light of the fact that the rules have changed further since the petition was submitted and the Committee’s imminent consideration of further petitions, the explanation of the scientific advice behind the 10pm curfew guided by the Technical Advisory Cell, the funds outlined for supporting the industry and the scrutiny of related issues being conducted by the EIS and CWLC Committees.

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

note the petition and the correspondence received from the Welsh Government, including the explanation of the closure of premises such as golf clubs during lockdowns. In light of the introduction of a set of national rules which mean that golf clubs and other facilities have now reopened following previous lockdowns, the Committee agreed to close the petition and thank the petitioner.

The Committee considered the petition for the first time and agreed to write to the Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism, and Sport Wales, to ask for further information about the reasons why different rules in place for different sports and whether greater harmony could be achieved between different governing bodies.

The Committee considered the petition for the first time and agreed to write to the Business Committee in order to seek time for a plenary debate on this issue. In light of the range of petitions and concerns that have been received about access to opportunities for people to participate in sport and physical activity, and to ensure efficient use of Plenary time, the Committee agreed that the motion for debate should cover this wider context, therefore allowing a range of sports and premises to be discussed.

The Committee considered the petition for the first time and agreed to write to the Business Committee to seek time for a broad debate on access to opportunities for people to participate in sport and physical activity during lockdowns, incorporating this petition and several others.

Janet Finch-Saunders declared the following relevant interest under Standing Order 17.24A:

She will shortly be attending her son’s wedding.

The Committee considered the petition for the first time and agreed to await the views of the petitioner on the correspondence received from the First Minister. 

The Committee considered the petition for the first time and agreed to note it and the correspondence received. The Committee agreed to take no further action in light of the fact that the circumstances have changed since the petition was submitted and because it is highly unlikely that the Welsh Government would rule out the need for further lockdowns at this stage. In doing so Members agreed to note the sentiments expressed in the petition, thank the petitioner and close the petition.

The Committee considered the petition for the first time, agreed to note the correspondence received and acknowledged the importance of the issue raised. However, the Committee agreed to take no further action on the petition given that previous decisions to apply restrictions have been taken following scientific advice and impact assessments, and that places of worship have been able to open since the end of the firebreak. Members agreed to close the petition and thank the petitioner.

The Committee considered the petition for the first time and agreed to write back to the Minister for Finance to share the further information provided by the petitioner and highlight the proposals made in relation to the difficulties this industry has had in accessing existing financial support programmes.

The Committee also agreed to ask for these to be taken into account in the design of the next phase of the Economic Resilience Fund or other support programmes.

The Committee considered the petition for the first time and agreed to note the petition and the correspondence received.

The Committee decided to take no further action on the petition in light of the fact that detailed guidance on ‘Rehearsing, performing and taking part in the performing arts’ has recently been updated following the firebreak, indoor activities are now permitted for small groups and the ongoing situation with the pandemic. In doing so it agreed to close the petition and thank the petitioner.

The Committee considered the petition for the first time and agreed to note it and the correspondence received.

The Committee decided to take no further action on the petition given that a review which was due to consider the school year has been delayed due to the pandemic, the Minister for Education’s assertion that she cannot commit further resources to this at the current time and the fact that Ministers do not currently have a formal role in setting term date. In doing so it was agreed to close the petition and thank the petitioner.

The Committee discussed an update on the petition and considered that there are few options currently open to it given that the Welsh Government’s position on a public inquiry remains unchanged. Members agreed to keep a watching brief on the issue and to return to the petition in the new year.

The Committee considered a further update on the petition and noted the further responses received, including the detailed information provided by the Welsh Local Government Association.

The Committee agreed that there is no further action that it could realistically take at this time in light of the detailed responses received, including about work planned but delayed by the Coronavirus pandemic, and the fact that the Minister for Education has ruled out introducing new legal duties at this time. The Committee agreed to close the petition and thank the petitioner for her engagement throughout the process.

This petition was considered alongside petition P-05-1015 Categorise schools as critical infrastructure.

The Committee considered an update on the petition and agreed in light of the ongoing scrutiny being applied to this subject by the CYPE Committee, the commitment by the Welsh Government to prioritise keeping schools open, and the expectations and guidance produced about provision of online learning, that there was no further action it could take at this time. It agreed to close the petitions and thank the petitioners.

This petition was considered alongside petition - P-05-1015 Categorise schools as critical infrastructure.

The Committee considered an update on the petition and in light of the ongoing scrutiny being applied to this subject by the CYPE Committee, the commitment by the Welsh Government to prioritise keeping schools open, and the expectations and guidance produced about provision of online learning, the Committee agreed there was no further action they could achieve at this time and agreed to close the petitions and thank the petitioners.

This petition was considered alongside petition P-05-1011 Virtual On-line teacher-led lessons to be provided for all school children.

The Committee considered an update on the petition and agreed in light of the ongoing scrutiny being applied to this subject by the CYPE Committee, the commitment by the Welsh Government to prioritise keeping schools open, and the expectations and guidance produced about provision of online learning, that there was no further action it could take at this time. It agreed to close the petitions and thank the petitioners.

The Committee considered an update on the petition and agreed to keep a watching brief on the petition until the New Year.

The Committee considered an update on the petition and agreed to keep a watching brief until the end of the Senedd term and to consider the petition again if the findings of a recently commissioned review of sentience in decapods is published before that time.

The Committee considered an update on the petition and agreed to write back to the Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs to ask whether the Welsh Government draws a distinction between different reasons for using snares and whether she would consider taking stronger action in relation to their use for the purpose of trade in fur.

The Committee considered an update on the petition and agreed to produce a summary report of its consideration of the petition, including any recommendations that it wishes to make, with a view to publishing this before the end of the Senedd term.

The Committee considered an update on the petition and agreed to note the further information received about the current position in relation to council tax premiums for second homes. In light of this, and the Minister’s previous explanation for the discretionary nature of the power, which the Committee endorsed, it agreed to close the petition and thank the petitioner.