Agenda and minutes

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

At 13.30 the Presiding Officer congratulated the Wales Women National Football Team on their qualification for Euro 2025, and welcomed a delegation from the Catalan Parliament.

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

View Questions

The item started at 13.31

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

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

View Questions

The item started at 14.15

The first 8 questions were asked. Questions 1, 6 and 8 were answered by the Minister for Further and Higher Education. The Presiding Officer invited party spokespeople to ask questions to the Minister after question 2.

To ask the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs

Delyth Jewell (South Wales East): How is the Welsh Government supporting local authorities and residents impacted by the sinkhole in Merthyr Tydfil, particularly in addressing the immediate safety concerns and long-term implications for affected homes?

To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Welsh Language

Peter Fox (Monmouth): Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the recent funding allocated for the delivery of the Government’s priorities?

The item started at 15.20

Answered by the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs

Delyth Jewell (South Wales East): How is the Welsh Government supporting local authorities and residents impacted by the sinkhole in Merthyr Tydfil, particularly in addressing the immediate safety concerns and long-term implications for affected homes?

Answered by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Welsh Language

Peter Fox (Monmouth): Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the recent funding allocated for the delivery of the Government’s priorities?

The item started at 15.49

Julie Morgan made a statement on - Tribute to Glenys Evans, one of the parents who co-founded Bobath Cymru (now Cerebral Palsy Cymru), who is retiring after 35 years.

Cefin Campbell made a statement on - Tribute to the snooker player, former World Champion, Terry Griffiths.

Heledd Fychan made a statement on - Congratulations to the Wales Women Football Team on a historic result to qualify for Euro 2025

NDM8659 Hefin David (Caerphilly)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes that it is over 40 years since the publication of the All-Wales Strategy, which aimed to remove autistic people and/or people with a learning disability from long-term hospital placements and support them to live in their local communities.

2. Regrets that in Wales, some autistic people and/or people with a learning disability are still being sectioned under the MHA or detained under the Mental Capacity Act 2005 in secure hospital settings, which is inappropriate to their wellbeing and causes considerable longer-term trauma, as well as distress to themselves and their loved ones.

3. Believes that this continues to happen to autistic people and/or people with a learning disability because of a lack of support being available in their local areas, with sectioning in some circumstances being used as a default option by relevant authorities.

4. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

a) set out in detail how it will respond to the concerns and objectives of the Stolen Lives’ ‘Homes Not Hospitals’ campaign;

b) collect and publish accurate and up-to-date data on:

i) the number of autistic people and/or people with a learning disability in Wales who are placed in hospital settings;

ii) the type of such hospital placements e.g. mental health hospitals or assessment and treatment units;

iii) the providers of such hospital placements e.g. private, public or voluntary sector; and

iv) the number and nature of supported living or residential placement breakdowns resulting in hospital detention e.g. name of provider and type of provider; 

c) provide a progress update on the establishment of a dedicated Task and Finish Group to work with stakeholders to help address the issues and concerns that Stolen Lives have raised, and which fall within its devolved responsibilities; and

d) implement the recommendations of its 2020 National Care Review, which stated clearly that people should only stay in hospitals if there are no other ways to treat them safely.

Co-submitters

Mark Isherwood (North Wales)

Sioned Williams (South Wales West)

Supporters

Cefin Campbell (Mid and West Wales)

Mabon ap Gwynfor (Dwyfor Meirionnydd)

Mike Hedges (Swansea East)

Peredur Owen Griffiths (South Wales East)

Rhys ab Owen (South Wales Central)

The item started at 15.55

NDM8659 Hefin David (Caerphilly)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes that it is over 40 years since the publication of the All-Wales Strategy, which aimed to remove autistic people and/or people with a learning disability from long-term hospital placements and support them to live in their local communities.

2. Regrets that in Wales, some autistic people and/or people with a learning disability are still being sectioned under the MHA or detained under the Mental Capacity Act 2005 in secure hospital settings, which is inappropriate to their wellbeing and causes considerable longer-term trauma, as well as distress to themselves and their loved ones.

3. Believes that this continues to happen to autistic people and/or people with a learning disability because of a lack of support being available in their local areas, with sectioning in some circumstances being used as a default option by relevant authorities.

4. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

a) set out in detail how it will respond to the concerns and objectives of the Stolen Lives’ ‘Homes Not Hospitals’ campaign;

b) collect and publish accurate and up-to-date data on:

i) the number of autistic people and/or people with a learning disability in Wales who are placed in hospital settings;

ii) the type of such hospital placements e.g. mental health hospitals or assessment and treatment units;

iii) the providers of such hospital placements e.g. private, public or voluntary sector; and

iv) the number and nature of supported living or residential placement breakdowns resulting in hospital detention e.g. name of provider and type of provider; 

c) provide a progress update on the establishment of a dedicated Task and Finish Group to work with stakeholders to help address the issues and concerns that Stolen Lives have raised, and which fall within its devolved responsibilities; and

d) implement the recommendations of its 2020 National Care Review, which stated clearly that people should only stay in hospitals if there are no other ways to treat them safely.

Co-submitters

Mark Isherwood (North Wales)

Sioned Williams (South Wales West)

Supporters

Cefin Campbell (Mid and West Wales)

Mabon ap Gwynfor (Dwyfor Meirionnydd)

Mike Hedges (Swansea East)

Peredur Owen Griffiths (South Wales East)

Rhys ab Owen (South Wales Central)

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

NDM8750 Jenny Rathbone (Cardiff Central)

To propose that the Senedd:

Notes the Equality and Social Justice Committee report, 'Their Future: Our Priority? Follow up inquiry into childcare provision in Wales', laid on 24 July 2024.

Note: The response from the Welsh Government to the report was laid in the Table Office on 27 November 2024.

The item started at 16.42

NDM8750 Jenny Rathbone (Cardiff Central)

To propose that the Senedd:

Notes the Equality and Social Justice Committee report, 'Their Future: Our Priority? Follow up inquiry into childcare provision in Wales', laid on 24 July 2024.

Note: The response from the Welsh Government to the report was laid in the Table Office on 27 November 2024.

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

NDM8752 Heledd Fychan (South Wales Central)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes only 56 per cent of people living with dementia have a diagnosis.

2. Regrets that Wales has the lowest published diagnosis rate in the UK.

3. Believes a focus on early and accurate diagnosis can improve treatment options, reduce the cost of dementia to the NHS and make a cost saving of up to £45,000 per person by delaying admission to care homes.

4. Calls on the Welsh Government to include new dementia diagnosis targets in the new dementia action plan.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

Delete all after point 1 and replace with:

Notes Wales has the lowest published diagnosis rate in the UK.

Believes a focus on early and accurate diagnosis can improve treatment options and potentially reduce the cost of dementia to the NHS.

Welcomes the Welsh Government’s intention to refresh the Dementia Action Plan.

Calls on the Welsh Government to include new dementia diagnosis targets in the new plan.

Amendment 2 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Calls on the Welsh Government to ensure the new dementia action plan puts patients and their loved ones first, whilst promoting research into the disease.

The item started at 17.31

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

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM8752 Heledd Fychan (South Wales Central)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes only 56 per cent of people living with dementia have a diagnosis.

2. Regrets that Wales has the lowest published diagnosis rate in the UK.

3. Believes a focus on early and accurate diagnosis can improve treatment options, reduce the cost of dementia to the NHS and make a cost saving of up to £45,000 per person by delaying admission to care homes.

4. Calls on the Welsh Government to include new dementia diagnosis targets in the new dementia action plan.

The motion without amendment was not agreed.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

Delete all after point 1 and replace with:

Notes Wales has the lowest published diagnosis rate in the UK.

Believes a focus on early and accurate diagnosis can improve treatment options and potentially reduce the cost of dementia to the NHS.

Welcomes the Welsh Government’s intention to refresh the Dementia Action Plan.

Calls on the Welsh Government to include new dementia diagnosis targets in the new plan.

A vote was taken on amendment 1:

Amendment 1 was agreed.

Amendment 2 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Calls on the Welsh Government to ensure the new dementia action plan puts patients and their loved ones first, whilst promoting research into the disease.

A vote was taken on amendment 2:

Amendment 2 was agreed.

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes only 56 per cent of people living with dementia have a diagnosis.

2. Notes Wales has the lowest published diagnosis rate in the UK.

3. Believes a focus on early and accurate diagnosis can improve treatment options and potentially reduce the cost of dementia to the NHS.

4. Welcomes the Welsh Government’s intention to refresh the Dementia Action Plan.

5. Calls on the Welsh Government to include new dementia diagnosis targets in the new plan.

6. Calls on the Welsh Government to ensure the new dementia action plan puts patients and their loved ones first, whilst promoting research into the disease.

The motion as amended was agreed.

The item started at 18.33

NDM8751 Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy)

Mining copper in Wales: is it reasonable to rely on imported copper?

The item started at 18.36

NDM8751 Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy)

Mining copper in Wales: is it reasonable to rely on imported copper?