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

The first 8 questions were asked. Question 6 was answered by the Deputy Minister for Social Partnership. The Presiding Officer invited party spokespeople to ask questions to the Minister and Deputy Minister after question 2.

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

View Questions

The item started at 14.26

All 10 questions were asked. The Presiding Officer invited party spokespeople to ask questions to the Counsel General after question 2.

View Questions

The item started at 15.14

All 7 questions were asked.

To ask the Minister for Health and Social Services

Gareth Davies (Vale of Clwyd): What assessment has the Minister made of Healthcare Inspectorate Wales’s report on the emergency department at Glan Clwyd Hospital?

The item started at 15.38

Answered by the Minister for Health and Social Services

Gareth Davies (Vale of Clwyd): What assessment has the Minister made of Healthcare Inspectorate Wales’s report on the emergency department at Glan Clwyd Hospital?

The item started at 15.56

Vikki Howells made a statement on - Cerys O’Connell to compete in the World Transplant Games in Perth, Australia, from 15 April.

Mark Isherwood made a statement on - World Autism Acceptance Week (27 March to 2 April).

Rhys ab Owen made a statement on - Y Dinesydd is 50 years old.

NDM8240 Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Order 33.2:

1. Considers the report of the Business Committee, ‘Amending Standing Orders: Proxy Voting’, laid in the Table Office on 22 March 2023.

2. Approves the proposal to amend Standing Order 12, as set out in Annex A of the Business Committee’s report.

The item started at 16.02

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

NDM8240 Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Order 33.2:

1. Considers the report of the Business Committee, ‘Amending Standing Orders: Proxy Voting’, laid in the Table Office on 22 March 2023.

2. Approves the proposal to amend Standing Order 12, as set out in Annex A of the Business Committee’s report.

The result was as follows:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
36	0	12	48

As two-thirds of the Members voting supported the Motion, the Motion was agreed.

NDM8241 Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Order 33.2:

1. Considers the report of the Business Committee, ‘Amending Standing Orders: Miscellaneous changes’, laid in the Table Office on 22 March 2023.

2. Approves the proposal to amend Standing Order 6 in Welsh, and Standing Orders 8, 9, 26, 26A, 26B, 26C in both languages, as set out in Annex A of the Business Committee’s report.

The item started at 16.11

NDM8241 Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Order 33.2:

1. Considers the report of the Business Committee, ‘Amending Standing Orders: Miscellaneous changes’, laid in the Table Office on 22 March 2023.

2. Approves the proposal to amend Standing Order 6 in Welsh, and Standing Orders 8, 9, 26, 26A, 26B, 26C in both languages, as set out in Annex A of the Business Committee’s report.

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

NDM8232 Tom Giffard (South Wales West)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes a proposal to create a Wales tourism Bill.

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

a) revoke the Wales Tourist Board (Transfer of Functions to the National Assembly for Wales and Abolition) Order 2005;

b) create a new board of tourism for Wales;

c) transfer the functions of Visit Wales and associated Welsh Government powers to the new board, including but not exclusive to:

i) encouraging people to visit Wales and people living in Wales and the United Kingdom to take their holidays there;

ii) encouraging the provision and improvement of tourist amenities and facilities in Wales;

iii) promotion of publicity;

iv) provision of advisory and information services; and

v) establishment of committees to advise it in the performance of its functions.

The item started at 16.12

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

NDM8232 Tom Giffard (South Wales West)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes a proposal to create a Wales tourism Bill.

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

a) revoke the Wales Tourist Board (Transfer of Functions to the National Assembly for Wales and Abolition) Order 2005;

b) create a new board of tourism for Wales;

c) transfer the functions of Visit Wales and associated Welsh Government powers to the new board, including but not exclusive to:

i) encouraging people to visit Wales and people living in Wales and the United Kingdom to take their holidays there;

ii) encouraging the provision and improvement of tourist amenities and facilities in Wales;

iii) promotion of publicity;

iv) provision of advisory and information services; and

v) establishment of committees to advise it in the performance of its functions.

The result was as follows:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
24	11	13	48

The motion was agreed.

 

NDM8238 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes that local authorities have an estimated £2.75 billion in useable reserves.

2. Recognises the vital role that local authorities play in delivering public services across Wales and the funding challenges they face.

3. Regrets that the average council tax rise in Wales for 2023-2024 is 5.5 per cent.

4. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

a) commission an independent review of the Welsh local government funding formula;

b) work with local authorities to use their useable reserves to keep council tax as low as possible;

c) require any local authority proposing an excessive increase in council tax to hold a local referendum and obtain a yes vote before implementing the proposed rise.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

Delete all after point 1 and replace with:

Recognises council tax as one of the most regressive forms of taxation, disproportionately impacting on poorer areas and welcomes the Co-operation Agreement commitment to make the system fairer and more progressive;

Recognises the vital role local authorities play in delivering public services across Wales, the significant increases in the local government settlement in 2022-2023 and 2023-24 and the funding challenges authorities nevertheless face.

Notes that the average band D council tax in Wales is £186 less than the average in England.

Calls on the Welsh Government to:

a) continue to develop and maintain the Welsh local government funding formula in partnership with local government;

b) continue to recognise the importance of local democratic decision making on council budgets and public services.

The Co-operation Agreement 2021

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

Amendment 2 Sian Gwenllian (Arfon)

In point 4, delete sub-points (b) and (c).

Amendment 3 Sian Gwenllian (Arfon)

Add as new points at end of motion:

Recognises that council tax is one of the most regressive forms of taxation and disproportionately impacts on poorer areas of the country.

Welcomes the commitment through the Plaid Cymru and Welsh Government Co-operation Agreement to make the council tax system fairer and more progressive.

The Co-operation Agreement 2021

The item started at 16.39

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

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM8238 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes that local authorities have an estimated £2.75 billion in useable reserves.

2. Recognises the vital role that local authorities play in delivering public services across Wales and the funding challenges they face.

3. Regrets that the average council tax rise in Wales for 2023-2024 is 5.5 per cent.

4. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

a) commission an independent review of the Welsh local government funding formula;

b) work with local authorities to use their useable reserves to keep council tax as low as possible;

c) require any local authority proposing an excessive increase in council tax to hold a local referendum and obtain a yes vote before implementing the proposed rise.

For	Abstain	Against	Total
12	0	36	48

The motion without amendment was not agreed.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

Delete all after point 1 and replace with:

Recognises council tax as one of the most regressive forms of taxation, disproportionately impacting on poorer areas and welcomes the Co-operation Agreement commitment to make the system fairer and more progressive;

Recognises the vital role local authorities play in delivering public services across Wales, the significant increases in the local government settlement in 2022-2023 and 2023-24 and the funding challenges authorities nevertheless face.

Notes that the average band D council tax in Wales is £186 less than the average in England.

Calls on the Welsh Government to:

a) continue to develop and maintain the Welsh local government funding formula in partnership with local government;

b) continue to recognise the importance of local democratic decision making on council budgets and public services.

The Co-operation Agreement 2021

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, amendment 1 was not agreed.

Amendment 2 Sian Gwenllian (Arfon)

In point 4, delete sub-points (b) and (c).

A vote was taken on amendment 2:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
36	0	12	48

Amendment 2 was agreed.

Amendment 3 Sian Gwenllian (Arfon)

Add as new points at end of motion:

Recognises that council tax is one of the most regressive forms of taxation and disproportionately impacts on poorer areas of the country.

Welcomes the commitment through the Plaid Cymru and Welsh Government Co-operation Agreement to make the council tax system fairer and more progressive.

The Co-operation Agreement 2021

A vote was taken on amendment 3:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
36	0	12	48

Amendment 3 was agreed.

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

NDM8238 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes that local authorities have an estimated £2.75 billion in useable reserves.

2. Recognises the vital role that local authorities play in delivering public services across Wales and the funding challenges they face.

3. Regrets that the average council tax rise in Wales for 2023-2024 is 5.5 per cent.

4. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

a) commission an independent review of the Welsh local government funding formula.

5. Recognises that council tax is one of the most regressive forms of taxation and disproportionately impacts on poorer areas of the country.

6. Welcomes the commitment through the Plaid Cymru and Welsh Government Co-operation Agreement to make the council tax system fairer and more progressive.

The Co-operation Agreement 2021

For	Abstain	Against	Total
13	0	35	48

The motion as amended was not agreed.

 

NDM8239 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes the Cross-Party Group on Hospice and Palliative Care’s inquiry, Experiences of palliative and end of life care in the community during the COVID-19 pandemic.

2. Acknowledges that during the COVID-19 pandemic, hospice and palliative care played a critical role, and went above and beyond in supporting patients and their families.

3. Regrets that during the COVID-19 pandemic, some people faced difficulties accessing end of life care at home and in care homes, despite the best efforts of those working in health and social care.

4. Recognises that demand for palliative care in the community is forecast to double by 2040 and that the pandemic has given a glimpse into how the health and social care system will cope under similar pressures in the not-so-distant future.

5. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

a) work with the palliative care sector to learn from the COVID-19 pandemic, and ensure palliative care is at the heart of plans for potential future pandemics;

b) prioritise the development of palliative care capacity in the community, upscale existing good practice, and capture all loved ones, including children;

c) ensure that workforce and funding decisions prioritise the wellbeing, staffing, education and training needs of those working across the full spectrum of palliative and end-of-life care. 

Cross Party Group on Hospice and Palliative Care’s Inquiry: Experiences of palliative and end of life care in the community during the COVID-19 pandemic

The item started at 17.36

NDM8239 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes the Cross-Party Group on Hospice and Palliative Care’s inquiry, Experiences of palliative and end of life care in the community during the COVID-19 pandemic.

2. Acknowledges that during the COVID-19 pandemic, hospice and palliative care played a critical role, and went above and beyond in supporting patients and their families.

3. Regrets that during the COVID-19 pandemic, some people faced difficulties accessing end of life care at home and in care homes, despite the best efforts of those working in health and social care.

4. Recognises that demand for palliative care in the community is forecast to double by 2040 and that the pandemic has given a glimpse into how the health and social care system will cope under similar pressures in the not-so-distant future.

5. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

a) work with the palliative care sector to learn from the COVID-19 pandemic, and ensure palliative care is at the heart of plans for potential future pandemics;

b) prioritise the development of palliative care capacity in the community, upscale existing good practice, and capture all loved ones, including children;

c) ensure that workforce and funding decisions prioritise the wellbeing, staffing, education and training needs of those working across the full spectrum of palliative and end-of-life care. 

Cross Party Group on Hospice and Palliative Care’s Inquiry: Experiences of palliative and end of life care in the community during the COVID-19 pandemic

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

The item started at 18.24

 

NDM8237 Huw Irranca-Davies (Ogmore)

Endometriosis and the women’s health plan in Wales

The item started at 18.29

NDM8237 Huw Irranca-Davies (Ogmore)

Endometriosis and the women’s health plan in Wales