Agenda and minutes

Venue: Y Siambr - Y Senedd. View directions

Expected timing: 163(v4) 

Media

Senedd.TV: View the webcast

Transcript: Transcript for 11/10/2023 - Plenary

Items
Expected timing No. Item

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

(45 mins)

1.

Questions to the Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip

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

View Questions

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The item started at 13.30

Questions 1-4 and 6-9 were asked. Question 5 was withdrawn. Questions 1, 4, 6 and 9 were answered by the Deputy Minister for Social Partnership. The Presiding Officer invited party spokespeople to ask questions to the Minister after question 2.

 

(45 mins)

2.

Questions to the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution

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

View Questions

Minutes:

The item started at 14.23

The first 8 questions were asked. The Presiding Officer invited party spokespeople to ask questions to the Counsel General after question 2.

 

(30 mins)

3.

Questions to the Senedd Commission

Minutes:

The item started at 15.21

All 8 questions were asked.

(20 mins)

4.

Topical Questions

To ask the Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip

Joyce Watson (Mid and West Wales): Will the Minister make a statement on the Home Office announcement dropping plans to house asylum seekers at Stradey Park Hotel in Llanelli?

Minutes:

The item started at 15.50

Answered by the Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip

Joyce Watson (Mid and West Wales): Will the Minister make a statement on the Home Office announcement dropping plans to house asylum seekers at Stradey Park Hotel in Llanelli?

(5 mins)

5.

90 Second Statements

Minutes:

The item started at 16.03

Jayne Bryant made a statement on - Hospice Care Week (9-15 October).

Gareth Davies made a statement on - Denbigh Plum Feast (7 October).

Mabon ap Gwynfor made a statement on - Y Tŵr project, Pwllheli.

(30 mins)

6.

Debate on a Member's Legislative Proposal - A Bill to promote responsible dog ownership

NDM8368 Peredur Owen Griffiths (South Wales East)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes a proposal for a Bill to promote responsible dog ownership.

2. Notes that the purpose of the Bill would be to:

a) promote community safety following an increasing number of serious dog attacks across Wales including some tragic fatalities;

b) introduce guidance and regulations for anyone wishing to own certain dog breeds, whereby owners have to fulfil certain criteria to own a potentially dangerous dog;

c) consult with stakeholders to establish a definition of a potentially dangerous dog;

d) place a duty on local authorities to set up partnerships to administer the regulations and achieve a consistent pan-Wales approach; and

e) promote local and national initiatives aimed at improving animal welfare, improving public awareness and educating the public on responsible dog ownership.  

Supporters:

Delyth Jewell (South Wales East)

Minutes:

The item started at 16.08

NDM8368 Peredur Owen Griffiths (South Wales East)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes a proposal for a Bill to promote responsible dog ownership.

2. Notes that the purpose of the Bill would be to:

a) promote community safety following an increasing number of serious dog attacks across Wales including some tragic fatalities;

b) introduce guidance and regulations for anyone wishing to own certain dog breeds, whereby owners have to fulfil certain criteria to own a potentially dangerous dog;

c) consult with stakeholders to establish a definition of a potentially dangerous dog;

d) place a duty on local authorities to set up partnerships to administer the regulations and achieve a consistent pan-Wales approach; and

e) promote local and national initiatives aimed at improving animal welfare, improving public awareness and educating the public on responsible dog ownership.  

Supporters:

Delyth Jewell (South Wales East)

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

 

(60 mins)

7.

Plaid Cymru Debate - HS2 consequential funding

NDM8375 Heledd Fychan (South Wales Central)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Believes that HS2 is an England-only project.

2. Regrets the UK Government’s refusal to provide the full consequential funding Wales should receive as a result of HS2.

3. Equally regrets the UK Labour Party’s refusal to agree that Wales should be provided with the full consequential funding.

4. Calls on the UK Government to right this wrong, and immediately provide the funding Wales is due, so that we can invest in infrastructure projects that this Senedd wishes to be prioritised, including the electrification of all railway lines in Wales.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

Delete all after point 1 and replace with:

Believes that Wales should receive consequential funding.

If amendment 1 is agreed, amendment 2 will be de-selected.

Amendment 2 Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

Delete points 3 and 4 and replace with:

Calls on the UK Government to support a comprehensive programme of rail investment for Wales that will be developed and agreed by the joint UK and Welsh Government Wales Rail Board.

Minutes:

The item started at 16.42

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

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM8375 Heledd Fychan (South Wales Central)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Believes that HS2 is an England-only project.

2. Regrets the UK Government’s refusal to provide the full consequential funding Wales should receive as a result of HS2.

3. Equally regrets the UK Labour Party’s refusal to agree that Wales should be provided with the full consequential funding.

4. Calls on the UK Government to right this wrong, and immediately provide the funding Wales is due, so that we can invest in infrastructure projects that this Senedd wishes to be prioritised, including the electrification of all railway lines in Wales.

For

Abstain

Against

Total

10

0

38

48

The motion without amendment was not agreed.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

Delete all after point 1 and replace with:

Believes that Wales should receive consequential funding.

A vote was taken on amendment 1:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

14

0

34

48

Amendment 1 was not agreed.

Amendment 2 Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

Delete points 3 and 4 and replace with:

Calls on the UK Government to support a comprehensive programme of rail investment for Wales that will be developed and agreed by the joint UK and Welsh Government Wales Rail Board.

A vote was taken on amendment 2:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

34

0

14

48

Amendment 2 was agreed.

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

NDM8375 Heledd Fychan (South Wales Central)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Believes that HS2 is an England-only project.

2. Regrets the UK Government’s refusal to provide the full consequential funding Wales should receive as a result of HS2.

3. Calls on the UK Government to support a comprehensive programme of rail investment for Wales that will be developed and agreed by the joint UK and Welsh Government Wales Rail Board.

For

Abstain

Against

Total

48

0

0

48

The motion as amended was agreed.

(60 mins)

8.

Welsh Conservatives Debate - Mental health

NDM8374 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes that Tuesday 10 October is World Mental Health Day.

2. Welcomes the establishment of the 24/7 NHS 111 Wales press 2 service.

3. Regrets that:

a) self-harm is one of the top five causes of medical admissions and that suicide rates are increasing;

b) the number of children waiting more than 4 weeks for a first mental health appointment in Wales is rising; and

c) mental health is not treated with the same priority as physical health.

4. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

a) introduce a new mental health act for Wales to improve access to mental health support and treatment for patients and their families and ensure that mental health has parity of esteem with physical health;

b) ensure that spending on mental health and wellbeing services is increased in real terms annually to meet the demands placed on mental health services;

c) commit to providing a dedicated in-patient eating disorder unit in Wales; and

d) ensure that all public bodies in Wales offer mental health first aid training to staff.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

Delete all after point 2 and replace with:

Notes that:

a) preventing suicide and self-harm remains a key priority for the Welsh Government; 

b) mental health continues to be the highest area of spending by the NHS in Wales.

Agrees that mental health should be treated with the same priority as physical health.

If amendment 1 is agreed, amendments 2 and 3 will be de-selected.

Amendment 2 Heledd Fychan (South Wales Central)

Insert as new sub-point at end of point 3:

there has been lack of education and understanding around mental health

Amendment 3 Heledd Fychan (South Wales Central)

Insert as new sub-points at end of point 4:

make perinatal mental health a priority in the Government’s new Mental Health Strategy;

ensure that all professionals working with women in the perinatal period have the necessary knowledge and understanding of perinatal mental health;

ensure that every maternity service has a minimum whole-time equivalent Band 7 perinatal specialist midwife;

ensure that all maternity professionals are equally concerned with mental as well as physical health in pregnancy, childbirth, and postnatal period.

Minutes:

The item started at 17.23

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

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM8374 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes that Tuesday 10 October is World Mental Health Day.

2. Welcomes the establishment of the 24/7 NHS 111 Wales press 2 service.

3. Regrets that:

a) self-harm is one of the top five causes of medical admissions and that suicide rates are increasing;

b) the number of children waiting more than 4 weeks for a first mental health appointment in Wales is rising; and

c) mental health is not treated with the same priority as physical health.

4. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

a) introduce a new mental health act for Wales to improve access to mental health support and treatment for patients and their families and ensure that mental health has parity of esteem with physical health;

b) ensure that spending on mental health and wellbeing services is increased in real terms annually to meet the demands placed on mental health services;

c) commit to providing a dedicated in-patient eating disorder unit in Wales; and

d) ensure that all public bodies in Wales offer mental health first aid training to staff.

For

Abstain

Against

Total

14

0

34

48

The motion without amendment was not agreed.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

Delete all after point 2 and replace with:

Notes that:

a) preventing suicide and self-harm remains a key priority for the Welsh Government; 

b) mental health continues to be the highest area of spending by the NHS in Wales.

Agrees that mental health should be treated with the same priority as physical health.

A vote was taken on amendment 1:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

24

0

25

49

As required by Standing Order 6.20 the Presiding Officer exercised her casting vote by voting against the amendment. Therefore, the amendment was not agreed.

Amendment 2 Heledd Fychan (South Wales Central)

Insert as new sub-point at end of point 3:

there has been lack of education and understanding around mental health

A vote was taken on amendment 2:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

24

0

25

49

As required by Standing Order 6.20 the Presiding Officer exercised her casting vote by voting against the amendment. Therefore, the amendment was not agreed.

Amendment 3 Heledd Fychan (South Wales Central)

Insert as new sub-points at end of point 4:

make perinatal mental health a priority in the Government’s new Mental Health Strategy;

ensure that all professionals working with women in the perinatal period have the necessary knowledge and understanding of perinatal mental health;

ensure that every maternity service has a minimum whole-time equivalent Band 7 perinatal specialist midwife;

ensure that all maternity professionals are equally concerned with mental as well as physical health in pregnancy, childbirth, and postnatal period.

A vote was taken on amendment 3:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

24

0

25

49

As required by Standing Order 6.20 the Presiding Officer exercised her casting vote by voting against the amendment. Therefore, the amendment was not agreed.

As the Senedd did not agree the motion without amendment, and did not agree the amendments tabled to the motion, the motion was therefore not agreed.

9.

Voting Time

Minutes:

The item started at 18.26

Votes Summary

Supporting documents:

(30 mins)

10.

Short Debate

NDM8373 John Griffiths (Newport East)

The impact of vaping across Wales.

Minutes:

The item started at 18.32

NDM8373 John Griffiths (Newport East)

The impact of vaping across Wales.