Agenda and minutes

Venue: Y Siambr - Y Senedd. View directions

Expected timing: 117 

Media

Senedd.TV: View the webcast

Transcript: Transcript for 25/01/2023 - 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

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

The first 8 questions were asked. Questions 2 and 6 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 14.20       

The first 9 questions were asked. The Presiding Officer invited Party Spokespeople to ask questions to the Counsel General after question 2.

 

(10 mins)

3.

Questions to the Senedd Commission

Minutes:

The item started at 15.12

Both questions were asked.

 

(20 mins)

4.

Topical Questions

To ask the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution

Jack Sargeant (Alyn and Deeside): What advice has the Counsel General given the Welsh Government on whether processing hundreds of court warrants at a time, allowing energy firms to install prepay meters without individual checks, is a breach of Welsh residents’ civil rights?

To ask the Deputy Minister for Arts and Sport

James Evans (Brecon and Radnorshire): What discussions has the Welsh Government had with the Welsh Rugby Union regarding the claims of a sexist culture reported by the BBC?

To ask the Minister for Economy

Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn): Will the Minister make a statement in response to 2 Sisters Food Group's announcement of a consultation on closing its site in Llangefni?

Minutes:

The item started at 15.19

Answered by the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution

Jack Sargeant (Alyn and Deeside): What advice has the Counsel General given the Welsh Government on whether processing hundreds of court warrants at a time, allowing energy firms to install prepay meters without individual checks, is a breach of Welsh residents’ civil rights?

Answered by the Deputy Minister for Arts and Sport

James Evans (Brecon and Radnorshire): What discussions has the Welsh Government had with the Welsh Rugby Union regarding the claims of a sexist culture reported by the BBC?

Answered by the Minister for Economy

Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn): Will the Minister make a statement in response to 2 Sisters Food Group's announcement of a consultation on closing its site in Llangefni?

(5 mins)

5.

90 Second Statements

Minutes:

The item started at 16.11

Samuel Kurtz made a statement on - The cooperation agreement between ColegauCymru and the Construction Industry Training Board, signed at Pembrokeshire College.

Mabon ap Gwynfor made a statement on - Twenty years of the O Ddrws i Ddrws service on the Llŷn Peninsula, a community enterprise providing public transport.

Vikki Howells made a statement on - Cervical Cancer Prevention Week (23-29 January).

(5 mins)

Motion to elect a Member to a committee

The item started at 16.15

NNDM8192 Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Order 17.14, elects Mark Isherwood (Welsh Conservatives) as a member of the Committee for the Scrutiny of the First Minister in place of Paul Davies (Welsh Conservatives).

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

(30 mins)

6.

Debate on a Member's Legislative Proposal - A Bill on digital carbon footprint reduction

NDM8155 Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes a proposal for a Bill on digital carbon footprint reduction.

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

a) respond to the need to be more efficient in our use of digital in Wales, as part of the effort to reach net zero, specifically in relation to the use of energy to run digital platforms;

b) include a strategy to deal with data that is created, stored and processed in a more energy efficient way;

c) set targets for ensuring that data centres run in the most efficient manner, including through the use of renewable energy sources, thereby supporting the development of a green data sector in Wales;

d) ensure that sustainability is the basis of all decisions made when public bodies deal with data;

e) encourage innovation to help decarbonise and reach national net-zero objectives.

Minutes:

The item started at 16.16

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

NDM8155 Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes a proposal for a Bill on digital carbon footprint reduction.

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

a) respond to the need to be more efficient in our use of digital in Wales, as part of the effort to reach net zero, specifically in relation to the use of energy to run digital platforms;

b) include a strategy to deal with data that is created, stored and processed in a more energy efficient way;

c) set targets for ensuring that data centres run in the most efficient manner, including through the use of renewable energy sources, thereby supporting the development of a green data sector in Wales;

d) ensure that sustainability is the basis of all decisions made when public bodies deal with data;

e) encourage innovation to help decarbonise and reach national net-zero objectives.

The result was as follows:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

34

16

1

51

The motion was agreed.

(60 mins)

7.

Debate on the Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee report - Increasing costs: Impact on culture and sport

NDM8189 Delyth Jewell (South Wales East)

To propose that the Senedd:

Notes the report of the Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee, ‘Increasing costs: Impact on culture and sport’, which was laid in the Table Office on 25 November 2022.

Note: The response of the Welsh Government to the report was laid in the Table Office on 18 January 2023.

Minutes:

The item started at 16.40

NDM8189 Delyth Jewell (South Wales East)

To propose that the Senedd:

Notes the report of the Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee, ‘Increasing costs: Impact on culture and sport’, which was laid in the Table Office on 25 November 2022.

Note: The response of the Welsh Government to the report was laid in the Table Office on 18 January 2023.

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

(60 mins)

8.

Plaid Cymru Debate - Reducing NHS pressures

NDM8188 Sian Gwenllian (Arfon)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes the comments of the Welsh NHS Confederation that the Welsh NHS is facing pressures that ‘cannot be coped with’.

2. Supports the heroic efforts of health and care sector workers in Wales as they provide care in challenging circumstances.

3. Calls on the Welsh Government to bring forward a strategy to reduce the pressures facing the NHS with measures including, but not limited to:

a) resolving current pay disputes by awarding NHS workers in Wales an improved, substantive pay offer;

b) a clear delivery strategy with targets and full costing, for a new workforce plan, including steps to remove profit from agency working;

c) placing preventative health measures at the forefront of all Welsh Government health-related policy and activity, involving all Government departments;

d) improving resilience at the point of interaction between health and care, taking the pressure off social care through greater NHS step-down capacity, in addition to expanding social care provision for the longer term; and

e) improving partnership working, co-production of solutions and delivery within the NHS, including by giving the new NHS executive the power to make real change.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

Add as new point after point 2 and renumber accordingly:

Regrets that the Welsh Government's draft budget proposes to cut the health and social care budget in real terms in 2023-2024.

Amendment 2 Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

Delete point 3 and replace with:

Notes the actions being taken by the Welsh Government, NHS Wales and local government partners including:

a) the announcement of a record £281m investment in health professional education and training budgets on 18 January 2023;

b) the commitment to publish the workforce plan by the end of January 2023;

c) the ongoing work of the care action committee to create additional community beds;

d) the priority being given to discharge and working with local authorities;

e) the ongoing programme of contract reform underway across primary care;

f) the move towards an integrated community care service that is available to everyone across Wales;

g) the models being developed through the regional integration fund specifically aimed at creating community capacity;

h) the ongoing work to increase reablement capacity in the community; and

i) the implementation of the NHS Executive which will improve the quality and safety of care for people in Wales.

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

Amendment 3 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

In sub-point 3(b), delete 'remove profit from agency working' and replace with 'cap agency pay rates'.

Amendment 4 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Calls upon the Welsh Government to ensure that the health and social care budget is revised to ensure an increase in real terms in 2023-24.

Minutes:

The item started at 17.39

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

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM8188 Sian Gwenllian (Arfon)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes the comments of the Welsh NHS Confederation that the Welsh NHS is facing pressures that ‘cannot be coped with’.

2. Supports the heroic efforts of health and care sector workers in Wales as they provide care in challenging circumstances.

3. Calls on the Welsh Government to bring forward a strategy to reduce the pressures facing the NHS with measures including, but not limited to:

a) resolving current pay disputes by awarding NHS workers in Wales an improved, substantive pay offer;

b) a clear delivery strategy with targets and full costing, for a new workforce plan, including steps to remove profit from agency working;

c) placing preventative health measures at the forefront of all Welsh Government health-related policy and activity, involving all Government departments;

d) improving resilience at the point of interaction between health and care, taking the pressure off social care through greater NHS step-down capacity, in addition to expanding social care provision for the longer term; and

e) improving partnership working, co-production of solutions and delivery within the NHS, including by giving the new NHS executive the power to make real change.

For

Abstain

Against

Total

11

0

40

51

The motion without amendment was not agreed.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

Add as new point after point 2 and renumber accordingly:

Regrets that the Welsh Government's draft budget proposes to cut the health and social care budget in real terms in 2023-2024.

A vote was taken on amendment 1:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

25

0

26

51

Amendment 1 was not agreed.

Amendment 2 Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

Delete point 3 and replace with:

Notes the actions being taken by the Welsh Government, NHS Wales and local government partners including:

a) the announcement of a record £281m investment in health professional education and training budgets on 18 January 2023;

b) the commitment to publish the workforce plan by the end of January 2023;

c) the ongoing work of the care action committee to create additional community beds;

d) the priority being given to discharge and working with local authorities;

e) the ongoing programme of contract reform underway across primary care;

f) the move towards an integrated community care service that is available to everyone across Wales;

g) the models being developed through the regional integration fund specifically aimed at creating community capacity;

h) the ongoing work to increase reablement capacity in the community; and

i) the implementation of the NHS Executive which will improve the quality and safety of care for people in Wales.

A vote was taken on amendment 2:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

26

0

25

51

Amendment 2 was agreed.

As amendment 2 was agreed, amendment 3 was de-selected.

Amendment 4 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Calls upon the Welsh Government to ensure that the health and social care budget is revised to ensure an increase in real terms in 2023-24.

A vote was taken on amendment 4:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

25

0

26

51

Amendment 4 was not agreed.

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

NDM8188 Sian Gwenllian (Arfon)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes the comments of the Welsh NHS Confederation that the Welsh NHS is facing pressures that ‘cannot be coped with’.

2. Supports the heroic efforts of health and care sector workers in Wales as they provide care in challenging circumstances.

3. Notes the actions being taken by the Welsh Government, NHS Wales and local government partners including:

a) the announcement of a record £281m investment in health professional education and training budgets on 18 January 2023;

b) the commitment to publish the workforce plan by the end of January 2023;

c) the ongoing work of the care action committee to create additional community beds;

d) the priority being given to discharge and working with local authorities;

e) the ongoing programme of contract reform underway across primary care;

f) the move towards an integrated community care service that is available to everyone across Wales;

g) the models being developed through the regional integration fund specifically aimed at creating community capacity;

h) the ongoing work to increase reablement capacity in the community; and

i) the implementation of the NHS Executive which will improve the quality and safety of care for people in Wales.

For

Abstain

Against

Total

26

0

25

51

The motion as amended was agreed.

9.

Voting Time

Minutes:

The item started at 18.56

Votes Summary

Supporting documents:

(30 mins)

10.

Short Debate

NDM8168 Jack Sargeant (Alyn and Deeside)

Supporting people in a cost-of-living crisis

Minutes:

The item started at 19.02

NDM8168 Jack Sargeant (Alyn and Deeside)

Supporting people in a cost-of-living crisis