Agenda and minutes

The Llywydd welcomed members to the meeting. Apologies were received from Heledd Fychan, Llyr Gruffydd attended in her place.

The Minutes of the previous meeting were agreed for publication

This Week’s Business

Tuesday

The Trefnydd informed Business Managers of the following changes:

·       Statement by the Minister for Health and Social Services: Escalation and intervention arrangements (30 mins) Postponed until 23 January 

·       Statement by the Minister for Health and Social Services: Winter pressures in healthcare (45 mins) 

·       Voting Time will take place as the last item of business.

·       Plenary is unlikely to run past 5.20pm.

Wednesday

·       Voting Time will take place before the Short Debate.

·       Plenary is unlikely to run past 6.40pm.

The Trefnydd informed Business Managers of the following changes to the Three Week Timetable of Government Business:

Tuesday 23 January 2024

·       Statement by the Minister for Education and Welsh Language: Tackling the impact of poverty on attainment (30 mins)

·       Statement by the Minister for Health and Social Services: Escalation and intervention arrangements (30 mins)

Tuesday 30 January 2024

·       The Official Statistics (Wales) (Amendment) Order 2024 (5 mins)

The following additions were agreed to the Three Week Timetable of Senedd Business:   

Wednesday 31 January 2024

·      Motion under Standing Order 26.17(iii) in relation to the Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill (5 mins)

Wednesday 7 February 2024

• Debate on the Local Government and Housing Committee report – Diversity in Local Government (60 mins)
• Time allocated to the Welsh Conservatives (60 mins)
• Time allocated to Plaid Cymru (60 mins)
• Short Debate: Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy) (30 mins)

Business Committee considered the proposed motions for debate and agreed to schedule the following motion on 24 January: 

Mabon ap Gwynfor

NNDM8448

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes that:

a) charitable hospice care providers play a vital role in providing essential care and support to people affected by terminal illness across Wales;

b) the charitable hospice sector provides care for more than 20,000 people each year with their services supporting dying people to stay in their own homes and reduce hospital admissions, delivering better outcomes for individuals and the NHS;

c) rising staff and energy costs, workforce pressures, and increasing demand for complex care pose an existential threat to the sustainability of the sector;

d) 90 percent of hospices are budgeting for a deficit in 2023/24 and drawing on reserves to meet the shortfall; and

e) demand and need for palliative care is set to grow significantly as the population ages and more people are living longer with multiple chronic conditions.

2. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

a) commit to working with the sector to address the immediate funding challenges, including ensuring a fair salary offer for the hospice workforce, equivalent to the Agenda for Change increases, so there is parity with NHS colleagues;

b) develop a long-term sustainable funding solution in partnership with the sector, including a new national funding formula, workforce plan, and palliative and end-of-life care service specification; and

c) extend the Welsh Government’s end-of-life care funding review, which is due to conclude in January 2024, if this is not feasible in this timescale. 

Business Committee noted an update on, and agreed the proposed scheduling of, its procedural work programme.