Agenda and minutes

Venue: Y Siambr - Y Senedd. View directions

Expected timing: 159(v3) 

Media

Senedd.TV: View the webcast

Transcript: Transcript for 27/09/2023 - 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 Climate Change

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 1, 4 and 7 were answered by the Deputy Minister for Climate Change. The Presiding Officer invited party spokespeople to ask questions to the Minister after question 2.

(45 mins)

2.

Questions to the Minister for Education and Welsh Language

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 14.19

The first 8 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 Deputy Minister for Climate Change

Cefin Campbell (Mid and West Wales): Will the Minister make a statement on the announcement that the Fflecsi Bwcabus service will be coming to an end, and the impact of this on the communities of Mid and West Wales?

To ask the Minister for Health and Social Services

Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): Will the Minister make a statement on reports that Withybush hospital will be partially closed for most of 2024?

Minutes:

The item started at 15.10

Answered by the Deputy Minister for Climate Change

Cefin Campbell (Mid and West Wales): Will the Minister make a statement on the announcement that the Fflecsi Bwcabus service will be coming to an end, and the impact of this on the communities of Mid and West Wales?

Answered by the Minister for Health and Social Services

Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): Will the Minister make a statement on reports that Withybush hospital will be partially closed for most of 2024?

 

At 15.45, Darren Millar raised a Point of Order regarding figures referred to by the Minister for Health and Social Services in her response to the Topical Question from Paul Davies.

(5 mins)

4.

90 Second Statements

Minutes:

The item started at 15.45

Russell George made a statement on – World Pharmacy Day (25 September).

Rhys ab Owen made a statement on – Clwb Ifor Bach is 40.

(5 mins)

5.

Motion to amend Standing Orders - The making of statutory instruments following EU withdrawal

NDM8363 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: The making of statutory instruments following EU withdrawal, laid in the Table Office on 20 September 2023.

2. Approves the proposals to amend Standing Orders 21, 27, 30B and 30C, as set out in Annex A of the Business Committee’s report.

Minutes:

The item started at 15.49

NDM8363 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: The making of statutory instruments following EU withdrawal, laid in the Table Office on 20 September 2023.

2. Approves the proposals to amend Standing Orders 21, 27, 30B and 30C, as set out in Annex A of the Business Committee’s report.

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

(60 mins)

6.

Member Debate under Standing Order 11.21(iv) - Full devolution of water

NDM8274 Rhys ab Owen (South Wales Central)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Calls on the Welsh Government to formally request the UK Government to commence section 48(1) of the Wales Act 2017, which would align the boundary for legislative competence for water with the national border.

2. Calls on the Welsh Government to formally request the powers for the licensing of a water supply or sewerage licensee thereby fully devolving water to Wales.

Co-submitters

Mike Hedges (Swansea East)

Jane Dodds (Mid and West Wales)

The following amendment was tabled:

Amendment 1 Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy)

Delete all and replace with

1. Notes that the Welsh Government requested to postpone the enactment of section 48(1) of the Wales Act 2017.

2. Acknowledges that in a letter addressed to the UK Government in 2018, the Welsh Government said the process of aligning the Senedd’s legislative competence to geographical boundaries was complex.

3. Welcomes the willingness of the Secretary of State for Wales and the UK Government to work with their Welsh counterparts to agree a timetable that works best for both governments and the water industry.

Minutes:

The item started at 15.50

Amendment 1 was not moved.

Voting on the motion without amendment under this item was deferred until Voting Time.

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM8274 Rhys ab Owen (South Wales Central)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Calls on the Welsh Government to formally request the UK Government to commence section 48(1) of the Wales Act 2017, which would align the boundary for legislative competence for water with the national border.

2. Calls on the Welsh Government to formally request the powers for the licensing of a water supply or sewerage licensee thereby fully devolving water to Wales.

Co-submitters

Mike Hedges (Swansea East)

Jane Dodds (Mid and West Wales)

For

Abstain

Against

Total

43

3

12

58

The motion without amendment was agreed.

(30 mins)

7.

Debate on petition P-06-1332 - Fund vaccine research to protect red squirrels from deadly Squirrelpox virus

NDM8359 Jack Sargeant (Alyn and Deeside)

To propose that the Senedd:

Notes the petition ‘P-06-1332 Fund vaccine research to protect red squirrels from deadly Squirrelpox virus’ which received 11,306 signatures.

Minutes:

The item started at 16.30

NDM8359 Jack Sargeant (Alyn and Deeside)

To propose that the Senedd:

Notes the petition ‘P-06-1332 Fund vaccine research to protect red squirrels from deadly Squirrelpox virus’ which received 11,306 signatures.

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

 

(30 mins)

8.

Welsh Conservatives Debate - Community assets

NDM8361 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Recognises that community assets act as local hubs and provide important access to information, services, skills and social experiences.

2. Further recognises community assets improve community cohesion and allow local communities to take control of shaping the area they live in.

3. Notes Audit Wales’s community resilience and self-reliance report which outlines that local authorities find it difficult to empower people and communities to be more self-reliant and less dependent on services.

4. Regrets that there is no statutory right for communities in Wales to buy land or assets as in Scotland, and no right to bid, challenge, or build as in England.

5. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

a) protect community assets by enabling local people to run and expand facilities that benefit the local community; and

b) introduce a Community Ownership Fund and Right to Bid to support the takeover of assets such as libraries, pubs, leisure centres and green spaces.

Audit Wales: 'Together we can’ – Community resilience and self-reliance

Supporters

Natasha Asghar (South Wales East)

The following amendment was tabled:

Amendment 1 Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

Delete points 4 and 5 and replace with:

Welcomes the Welsh Government’s long-standing commitment to:

a)  protect community assets by enabling local people to run and expand facilities that benefit the local community;

b)  recognise, promote and share best practice across the public sector through Ystadau Cymru; and

c)  establishing a Community Assets Commission with a remit to further stimulate innovative thinking on community ownership of land and assets in Wales.

Minutes:

The item started at 16.59

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

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM8361 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Recognises that community assets act as local hubs and provide important access to information, services, skills and social experiences.

2. Further recognises community assets improve community cohesion and allow local communities to take control of shaping the area they live in.

3. Notes Audit Wales’s community resilience and self-reliance report which outlines that local authorities find it difficult to empower people and communities to be more self-reliant and less dependent on services.

4. Regrets that there is no statutory right for communities in Wales to buy land or assets as in Scotland, and no right to bid, challenge, or build as in England.

5. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

a) protect community assets by enabling local people to run and expand facilities that benefit the local community; and

b) introduce a Community Ownership Fund and Right to Bid to support the takeover of assets such as libraries, pubs, leisure centres and green spaces.

Audit Wales: 'Together we can’ – Community resilience and self-reliance

Supporters

Natasha Asghar (South Wales East)

For

Abstain

Against

Total

29

0

30

59

As required by Standing Order 6.20 the Presiding Officer used her casting vote by voting against the motion without amendment. Therefore, the motion without amendment was not agreed.

The following amendment was tabled:

Amendment 1 Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

Delete points 4 and 5 and replace with:

Welcomes the Welsh Government’s long-standing commitment to:

a)  protect community assets by enabling local people to run and expand facilities that benefit the local community;

b)  recognise, promote and share best practice across the public sector through Ystadau Cymru; and

c)  establishing a Community Assets Commission with a remit to further stimulate innovative thinking on community ownership of land and assets in Wales.

A vote was taken on amendment 1:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

42

0

16

58

Amendment 1 was agreed.

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

NDM8361 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Recognises that community assets act as local hubs and provide important access to information, services, skills and social experiences.

2. Further recognises community assets improve community cohesion and allow local communities to take control of shaping the area they live in.

3. Notes Audit Wales’s community resilience and self-reliance report which outlines that local authorities find it difficult to empower people and communities to be more self-reliant and less dependent on services.

4. Welcomes the Welsh Government’s long-standing commitment to:

a)  protect community assets by enabling local people to run and expand facilities that benefit the local community;

b)  recognise, promote and share best practice across the public sector through Ystadau Cymru; and

c)  establishing a Community Assets Commission with a remit to further stimulate innovative thinking on community ownership of land and assets in Wales.

Audit Wales: 'Together we can’ – Community resilience and self-reliance

For

Abstain

Against

Total

58

0

0

58

The motion as amended was agreed.

(30 mins)

9.

Welsh Conservatives Debate - Deputy Minister for Climate Change

NDM8362 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

To propose that the Senedd:

Has no confidence in the Deputy Minister for Climate Change given the record-breaking number of signatories to the petition: 'We want the Welsh Government to rescind and remove the disastrous 20mph law'.

Petition: We want the Welsh Government to rescind and remove the disastrous 20mph law

Minutes:

The item started at 17.34

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

NDM8362 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

To propose that the Senedd:

Has no confidence in the Deputy Minister for Climate Change given the record-breaking number of signatories to the petition: 'We want the Welsh Government to rescind and remove the disastrous 20mph law'.

Petition: We want the Welsh Government to rescind and remove the disastrous 20mph law

The result was as follows:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

16

0

42

58

The motion was not agreed.

10.

Voting Time

Minutes:

The item started at 18.28

Votes Summary

Supporting documents:

(30 mins)

11.

Short Debate

NDM8360 Luke Fletcher (South Wales West)

Navigating Wales's Brain Drain: Challenges and Solutions

Minutes:

The item started at 18.34

NDM8360 Luke Fletcher (South Wales West)

Navigating Wales's Brain Drain: Challenges and Solutions