Agenda and minutes

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

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

View Questions

The item started at 13.30

Questions 1-8 and 11 were asked. Question 9 was withdrawn. Question 10 was not asked. The Presiding Officer invited party spokespeople to ask questions to the Minister after question 2.

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

View Questions

The item started at 14.16

The first 9 questions were asked. The Presiding Officer invited party spokespeople to ask questions to the Minister after question 2.

To ask the Deputy Minister for Climate Change

Jack Sargeant (Alyn and Deeside): What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the impact on Wales of the UK Government's decision to class Northern Powerhouse Rail as an England and Wales project?

The item started at 15.01

Answered by the Deputy Minister for Climate Change

Jack Sargeant (Alyn and Deeside): What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the impact on Wales of the UK Government's decision to class Northern Powerhouse Rail as an England and Wales project?

The item started at 15.15

Luke Fletcher made a statement on - Tolkien Reading Day (25 March)

Altaf Hussain made a statement on - World Down Syndrome Day (21 March)

NDM8219 Jack Sargeant (Alyn and Deeside)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Believes that:

a) it is a national scandal that 600,000 people were forced onto prepayment meters in 2022 because they could not afford their energy bills;

b) energy regulator Ofgem has failed to protect vulnerable households by allowing energy suppliers to bypass proper checks;

c) those forced on to a prepay meter should be properly compensated by energy suppliers and switched back free of charge. 

2. Notes that:

a) 3.2 million people were cut off from energy last year due to running out of credit on their prepay meter;

b) average household energy bills could rise even further, placing an additional burden on households already struggling due to the cost-of-living crisis. 

3. Acknowledges the Welsh Government’s 2021-22 in-home energy advice pilot, providing proactive advice and outreach support to people who are, or at risk of being, in fuel poverty. 

4. Calls on the Welsh Government to roll out an in-home energy advice service across Wales to ensure all households can access the support and advice they need.

Supporters

Alun Davies (Blaenau Gwent)

Carolyn Thomas (North Wales)

Delyth Jewell (South Wales East)

Heledd Fychan (South Wales Central)

Jane Dodds (Mid and West Wales)

Jayne Bryant (Newport West)

Joyce Watson (Mid and West Wales)

Llyr Gruffydd (North Wales)

Luke Fletcher (South Wales West)

Mike Hedges (Swansea East)

Peredur Owen Griffiths (South Wales East)

Rhianon Passmore (Islwyn)

Rhys ab Owen (South Wales Central)

Sarah Murphy (Bridgend)

Sioned Williams (South Wales West)

Vikki Howells (Cynon Valley)

The item started at 15.19

NDM8219 Jack Sargeant (Alyn and Deeside)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Believes that:

a) it is a national scandal that 600,000 people were forced onto prepayment meters in 2022 because they could not afford their energy bills;

b) energy regulator Ofgem has failed to protect vulnerable households by allowing energy suppliers to bypass proper checks;

c) those forced on to a prepay meter should be properly compensated by energy suppliers and switched back free of charge. 

2. Notes that:

a) 3.2 million people were cut off from energy last year due to running out of credit on their prepay meter;

b) average household energy bills could rise even further, placing an additional burden on households already struggling due to the cost-of-living crisis. 

3. Acknowledges the Welsh Government’s 2021-22 in-home energy advice pilot, providing proactive advice and outreach support to people who are, or at risk of being, in fuel poverty. 

4. Calls on the Welsh Government to roll out an in-home energy advice service across Wales to ensure all households can access the support and advice they need.

Supporters

Alun Davies (Blaenau Gwent)

Carolyn Thomas (North Wales)

Delyth Jewell (South Wales East)

Heledd Fychan (South Wales Central)

Jane Dodds (Mid and West Wales)

Jayne Bryant (Newport West)

Joyce Watson (Mid and West Wales)

Llyr Gruffydd (North Wales)

Luke Fletcher (South Wales West)

Mike Hedges (Swansea East)

Peredur Owen Griffiths (South Wales East)

Rhianon Passmore (Islwyn)

Rhys ab Owen (South Wales Central)

Sarah Murphy (Bridgend)

Sioned Williams (South Wales West)

Vikki Howells (Cynon Valley)

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

NDM8231 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

To propose that the Senedd:

Has no confidence in the Welsh Government’s Minister for Health and Social Services.

The item started at 16.15

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

NDM8231 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

To propose that the Senedd:

Has no confidence in the Welsh Government’s Minister for Health and Social Services.

The result was as follows:

The motion was not agreed.

NDM8229 Sian Gwenllian (Arfon)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes that the Government's written evidence to Senedd scrutiny committees on allocations within each main expenditure group specified that the £28 million that constituted the bus emergency scheme in 2022-23 would be matched in 2023-24, but that bus operators were then informed that there was no guarantee of any funding from 1 April 2023 for the bus emergency scheme.

2. Notes that the 3-month extension to the bus emergency scheme offers little certainty to bus operators to maintain key services and routes in their area in the long-term.

3. Expresses concern that failing to extend bus emergency scheme funding would result in mass cancellations of services, leaving communities across Wales - primarily rural communities - isolated.

4. Calls on the Welsh Government to extend bus emergency scheme funding for at least 18 months to provide longer-term financial security to bus operators across Wales. 

5. Calls on the Welsh Government to bring forward longer-term secure funding options to maintain bus services, as opposed to emergency funding schemes.

Ministers' written evidence to Senedd scrutiny committees on allocations within each MEG

The following amendment was tabled:

Amendment 1 Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

Delete all and replace with:

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Acknowledges that the Welsh Government has made over £150m of additional funding available to the bus industry throughout the pandemic and to support its recovery from it.

2. Notes that bus passenger numbers have not recovered to pre-pandemic levels and patterns of usage have changed.

3. Notes that the initial 3-month extension to the bus emergency scheme offers short-term certainty to bus operators to support the development of a base bus network.

4. Supports the Welsh Government’s longer term plans to reform the bus industry through regulation.

5. Supports the Welsh Government’s intention to move away from emergency-style funding at the earliest opportunity to a funding package that supports the transition to franchising.

The item started at 17.27

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

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM8229 Sian Gwenllian (Arfon)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes that the Government's written evidence to Senedd scrutiny committees on allocations within each main expenditure group specified that the £28 million that constituted the bus emergency scheme in 2022-23 would be matched in 2023-24, but that bus operators were then informed that there was no guarantee of any funding from 1 April 2023 for the bus emergency scheme.

2. Notes that the 3-month extension to the bus emergency scheme offers little certainty to bus operators to maintain key services and routes in their area in the long-term.

3. Expresses concern that failing to extend bus emergency scheme funding would result in mass cancellations of services, leaving communities across Wales - primarily rural communities - isolated.

4. Calls on the Welsh Government to extend bus emergency scheme funding for at least 18 months to provide longer-term financial security to bus operators across Wales. 

5. Calls on the Welsh Government to bring forward longer-term secure funding options to maintain bus services, as opposed to emergency funding schemes.

Ministers' written evidence to Senedd scrutiny committees on allocations within each MEG

The motion without amendment was not agreed.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

Delete all and replace with:

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Acknowledges that the Welsh Government has made over £150m of additional funding available to the bus industry throughout the pandemic and to support its recovery from it.

2. Notes that bus passenger numbers have not recovered to pre-pandemic levels and patterns of usage have changed.

3. Notes that the initial 3-month extension to the bus emergency scheme offers short-term certainty to bus operators to support the development of a base bus network.

4. Supports the Welsh Government’s longer term plans to reform the bus industry through regulation.

5. Supports the Welsh Government’s intention to move away from emergency-style funding at the earliest opportunity to a funding package that supports the transition to franchising.

A vote was taken on amendment 1:

Amendment 1 was agreed.

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

NDM8229 Sian Gwenllian (Arfon)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Acknowledges that the Welsh Government has made over £150m of additional funding available to the bus industry throughout the pandemic and to support its recovery from it.

2. Notes that bus passenger numbers have not recovered to pre-pandemic levels and patterns of usage have changed.

3. Notes that the initial 3-month extension to the bus emergency scheme offers short-term certainty to bus operators to support the development of a base bus network.

4. Supports the Welsh Government’s longer term plans to reform the bus industry through regulation.

5. Supports the Welsh Government’s intention to move away from emergency-style funding at the earliest opportunity to a funding package that supports the transition to franchising.

The motion as amended was agreed.

The item started at 18.44

NDM8223 Rhys ab Owen (South Wales Central)

Fire safety in high-rise flats: a clear timetable for remediation for residents

The item started at 18.46

NDM8223 Rhys ab Owen (South Wales Central)

Fire safety in high-rise flats: a clear timetable for remediation for residents