Agenda and minutes

Venue: Y Siambr - Y Senedd

Expected timing: 137 

Media

Senedd.TV: View the webcast

Transcript: Transcript for 10/05/2023 - 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 Finance and Local Government

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

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

 

(45 mins)

2.

Questions to the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd

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

View Questions

Minutes:

The item started at 14.21

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

 

(20 mins)

3.

Topical Questions

To ask the Minister for Economy

Alun Davies (Blaenau Gwent): Will the Minister make a statement on the future of Tillery Valley Foods?

To ask the Minister for Health and Social Services

Darren Millar (Clwyd West): Will the Minister make a statement on the announcement that four vascular patient deaths at Glan Clwyd Hospital are to be investigated further by the coroner?

Minutes:

The item started at 15.02

Answered by the Minister for Economy

Alun Davies (Blaenau Gwent): Will the Minister make a statement on the future of Tillery Valley Foods?

Answered by the Minister for Health and Social Services

Darren Millar (Clwyd West): Will the Minister make a statement on the announcement that four vascular patient deaths at Glan Clwyd Hospital are to be investigated further by the coroner?

 

(0 mins)

4.

90 Second Statements

Minutes:

There were no 90 Second Statements

(60 mins)

5.

Member Debate under Standing Order 11.21(iv) - Incontinence

NDM8252 Jenny Rathbone (Cardiff Central)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes that:

a) incontinence remains a taboo subject for both women and men despite being a significant public health issue;

b) there is over 90 per cent incidence of perineal trauma among first-time mothers during childbirth, which can lead to incontinence issues;

c) 75 per cent of women do not seek medical help for their incontinence despite it affecting their quality of life irrespective of severity;

d) men suffer from incontinence too, particularly in later life but it is a largely hidden problem.

2. Calls on the Welsh Government to develop a strategy for tackling the causes and consequences of incontinence and to raise awareness of the issue among the public.

Co-submitters

Joyce Watson (Mid and West Wales)

Altaf Hussain (South Wales West)

Sioned Williams (South Wales West)

Minutes:

The item started at 15.19

NDM8252 Jenny Rathbone (Cardiff Central)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes that:

a) incontinence remains a taboo subject for both women and men despite being a significant public health issue;

b) there is over 90 per cent incidence of perineal trauma among first-time mothers during childbirth, which can lead to incontinence issues;

c) 75 per cent of women do not seek medical help for their incontinence despite it affecting their quality of life irrespective of severity;

d) men suffer from incontinence too, particularly in later life but it is a largely hidden problem.

2. Calls on the Welsh Government to develop a strategy for tackling the causes and consequences of incontinence and to raise awareness of the issue among the public.

Co-submitters

Joyce Watson (Mid and West Wales)

Altaf Hussain (South Wales West)

Sioned Williams (South Wales West)

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

 

(45 mins)

6.

Debate on the Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee report - Annual report on the National Infrastructure Commission for Wales – 2022-23

NDM8258 Llyr Gruffydd (North Wales)

To propose that the Senedd:

Notes the Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee report: ‘Annual report on the National Infrastructure Commission for Wales – 2022-23’, laid on 2 March 2023.

Minutes:

The item started at 16.06

NDM8258 Llyr Gruffydd (North Wales)

To propose that the Senedd:

Notes the Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee report: ‘Annual report on the National Infrastructure Commission for Wales – 2022-23’, laid on 2 March 2023.

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

 

(45 mins)

7.

Debate on the Petitions Committee report - From Five to Four? P-06-1247 Support trials of a four-day week in Wales

NDM8257 Jack Sargeant (Alyn and Deeside)

To propose that the Senedd:

Notes the report of the Petitions Committee, ‘From Five to Four? P-06-1247 Support trials of a four-day week in Wales’, which was laid in the Table Office on 24 January 2023.

Note: The response of the Welsh Government to the report was laid in the Table Office on 10 March 2023.

 

Minutes:

The item started at 16.41

NDM8257 Jack Sargeant (Alyn and Deeside)

To propose that the Senedd:

Notes the report of the Petitions Committee, ‘From Five to Four? P-06-1247 Support trials of a four-day week in Wales’, which was laid in the Table Office on 24 January 2023.

Note: The response of the Welsh Government to the report was laid in the Table Office on 10 March 2023.

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

 

(60 mins)

8.

Welsh Conservatives Debate - Tourism

NDM8259 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes that 15 – 23 May is Wales Tourism Week 2023.

2. Recognises the vital contribution made to Welsh society by the tourism sector.

3. Regrets that the tourism industry has still not recovered to pre-pandemic levels.

4. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

a) celebrate Wales’s strength as a world-class tourist destination;

b) encourage the provision and improvement of tourist amenities and facilities in Wales;

c) support self-catering accommodation providers by repealing the 182-day occupancy threshold;

d) abandon damaging proposals for a tourism tax in Wales.

The following amendment was tabled:

Amendment 1 Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

Delete all after 4b and replace with new points:

Supports the United Nations World Tourism Organization’s definition of sustainable tourism development.

Notes The Non-Domestic Rating (Amendment of Definition of Domestic Property) (Wales) Order 2022 passed by the Senedd in July, introduced as part of a wider commitment to address the issues of second homes and unaffordable housing facing many communities in Wales.

Welcomes the discretionary powers and guidance on council tax and second homes, made available to local authorities, to reduce or remove the requirement to pay either or both of the premium or the standard rate of council tax. 

Recognises that visitor levies are commonplace across the world, are used to the benefit of local communities, tourists and businesses, helping make tourism sustainable and successful.

Welcomes the commitment to give local authorities the power to introduce a visitor levy should they choose to, subject to consultation. 

United Nations World Tourism Organisation - Sustainable Development

The Non-Domestic Rating (Amendment of Definition of Domestic Property) (Wales) Order 2022

Guidance on Council Tax on Empty and Second Homes

Minutes:

The item started at 17.32

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

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM8259 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes that 15 – 23 May is Wales Tourism Week 2023.

2. Recognises the vital contribution made to Welsh society by the tourism sector.

3. Regrets that the tourism industry has still not recovered to pre-pandemic levels.

4. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

a) celebrate Wales’s strength as a world-class tourist destination;

b) encourage the provision and improvement of tourist amenities and facilities in Wales;

c) support self-catering accommodation providers by repealing the 182-day occupancy threshold;

d) abandon damaging proposals for a tourism tax in Wales.

For

Abstain

Against

Total

15

0

36

51

The motion without amendment was not agreed.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

Delete all after 4b and replace with new points:

Supports the United Nations World Tourism Organization’s definition of sustainable tourism development.

Notes The Non-Domestic Rating (Amendment of Definition of Domestic Property) (Wales) Order 2022 passed by the Senedd in July, introduced as part of a wider commitment to address the issues of second homes and unaffordable housing facing many communities in Wales.

Welcomes the discretionary powers and guidance on council tax and second homes, made available to local authorities, to reduce or remove the requirement to pay either or both of the premium or the standard rate of council tax. 

Recognises that visitor levies are commonplace across the world, are used to the benefit of local communities, tourists and businesses, helping make tourism sustainable and successful.

Welcomes the commitment to give local authorities the power to introduce a visitor levy should they choose to, subject to consultation. 

United Nations World Tourism Organisation - Sustainable Development

The Non-Domestic Rating (Amendment of Definition of Domestic Property) (Wales) Order 2022

Guidance on Council Tax on Empty and Second Homes

A vote was taken on amendment 1:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

36

0

15

51

Amendment 1 was agreed.

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

NDM8259 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes that 15 – 23 May is Wales Tourism Week 2023.

2. Recognises the vital contribution made to Welsh society by the tourism sector.

3. Regrets that the tourism industry has still not recovered to pre-pandemic levels.

4. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

a) celebrate Wales’s strength as a world-class tourist destination;

b) encourage the provision and improvement of tourist amenities and facilities in Wales;

5. Supports the United Nations World Tourism Organization’s definition of sustainable tourism development.

6. Notes The Non-Domestic Rating (Amendment of Definition of Domestic Property) (Wales) Order 2022 passed by the Senedd in July, introduced as part of a wider commitment to address the issues of second homes and unaffordable housing facing many communities in Wales.

7. Welcomes the discretionary powers and guidance on council tax and second homes, made available to local authorities, to reduce or remove the requirement to pay either or both of the premium or the standard rate of council tax. 

8. Recognises that visitor levies are commonplace across the world, are used to the benefit of local communities, tourists and businesses, helping make tourism sustainable and successful.

9. Welcomes the commitment to give local authorities the power to introduce a visitor levy should they choose to, subject to consultation. 

United Nations World Tourism Organisation - Sustainable Development

The Non-Domestic Rating (Amendment of Definition of Domestic Property) (Wales) Order 2022

Guidance on Council Tax on Empty and Second Homes

For

Abstain

Against

Total

36

0

15

51

The motion as amended was agreed.

 

9.

Voting Time

Minutes:

The item started at 18.22

 

Votes Summary

Supporting documents:

(30 mins)

10.

Short Debate

NDM8256 Huw Irranca-Davies (Ogmore)

Are salmon facing extinction from the rivers of Wales?

Minutes:

The item started at 18.25

NDM8256 Huw Irranca-Davies (Ogmore)

Are salmon facing extinction from the rivers of Wales?