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 item started at 13.30

The Deputy Presiding Officer invited nominations for the appointment of First Minister, in accordance with Standing Order 8.2.

Mark Drakeford nominated Vaughan Gething.

Samuel Kurtz nominated Andrew RT Davies.

Delyth Jewell nominated Rhun ap Iorwerth.

As there were three nominations, a vote was conducted by roll call. The Deputy Presiding Officer invited each Member present to vote for a candidate. Members were called in alphabetical order. In accordance with Standing Order 8.2, neither the Presiding Officer nor the Deputy Presiding Officer were permitted to vote.

The results of the roll call were as follows:

As Vaughan Gething received more votes than the total number of votes cast for all other candidates the Deputy Presiding Officer declared that he is nominated for appointment as First Minister of Wales, and that in accordance with Section 47(4) of the Government of Wales Act, a recommendation would be made to His Majesty that Vaughan Gething is appointed as First Minister.

The Deputy Presiding Officer invited Vaughan Gething to address the Senedd.

To ask the Deputy Minister for Social Services

Jane Dodds (Mid and West Wales): Would the Minister make a statement on the Child Practice Review into the death of Kaylea Titford?

To ask the Minister for Economy

David Rees (Aberavon): What discussions has the Welsh Government had with Tata following the announcement to close the coke ovens at Port Talbot?

The item started at 13.47

Answered by the Deputy Minister for Social Services

Jane Dodds (Mid and West Wales): Would the Minister make a statement on the Child Practice Review into the death of Kaylea Titford?

Answered by the Minister for Economy

David Rees (Aberavon): What discussions has the Welsh Government had with Tata following the announcement to close the coke ovens at Port Talbot?

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

View Questions

The item started at 14.18

The first 8 questions were asked. Question 1 was answered by the Deputy Minister for Climate Change. The Deputy 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 Minister after Question 2.

View Questions

The item started at 15.14

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

The item started at 16.07

Jayne Bryant made a statement on – 100 years of Marshfield Women’s Institute

Mark Isherwood made a statement on – Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month (March)

Delyth Jewell made a statement on – Senghenydd’s National Mining Memorial officially recognised (12 March)

NDM8505 Heledd Fychan (South Wales Central)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Believes that:

a) the national collections of Wales, which are under the care of the National Library of Wales and Amgueddfa Cymru, belong to everyone in Wales;

b) the collections need to be protected for future generations, while also continuing to be used to inspire and motivate people of all ages; and

c) free access to our national museums has been an undoubted success since the introduction of the policy in 2001, and that this policy is one that should be protected.

2. Notes:

a) warnings from the institutions that revenue and capital fiscal cuts endanger the national collections, due to unsuitable spaces and stores and also a reduction in the number of specialist staff who are now employed to care for them;

b) the concerns that further cuts will worsen the situation; and

c) Welsh Government responsibilities under the Government of Wales Act 2006 for our national collections.

3. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

a) commission a panel of experts to establish what the danger is to the collections, and work with the institutions and the Welsh Government to implement a plan to protect them;

b) work with the National Library of Wales and Amgueddfa Cymru, and the unions that represent the staff in these institutions, to ensure their viability for the future; and

c) work with Amgueddfa Cymru to retain the free entry policy to our national museums.

Co-submitters

Mabon ap Gwynfor (Dwyfor Meirionnydd)

Jane Dodds (Mid and West Wales)

Delyth Jewell (South Wales East)

Sioned Williams (South Wales West)

Tom Giffard (South Wales West)

The item started at 16.12

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

NDM8505 Heledd Fychan (South Wales Central)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Believes that:

a) the national collections of Wales, which are under the care of the National Library of Wales and Amgueddfa Cymru, belong to everyone in Wales;

b) the collections need to be protected for future generations, while also continuing to be used to inspire and motivate people of all ages; and

c) free access to our national museums has been an undoubted success since the introduction of the policy in 2001, and that this policy is one that should be protected.

2. Notes:

a) warnings from the institutions that revenue and capital fiscal cuts endanger the national collections, due to unsuitable spaces and stores and also a reduction in the number of specialist staff who are now employed to care for them;

b) the concerns that further cuts will worsen the situation; and

c) Welsh Government responsibilities under the Government of Wales Act 2006 for our national collections.

3. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

a) commission a panel of experts to establish what the danger is to the collections, and work with the institutions and the Welsh Government to implement a plan to protect them;

b) work with the National Library of Wales and Amgueddfa Cymru, and the unions that represent the staff in these institutions, to ensure their viability for the future; and

c) work with Amgueddfa Cymru to retain the free entry policy to our national museums.

Co-submitters

Mabon ap Gwynfor (Dwyfor Meirionnydd)

Jane Dodds (Mid and West Wales)

Delyth Jewell (South Wales East)

Sioned Williams (South Wales West)

Tom Giffard (South Wales West)

The result was as follows:

The motion was agreed.

NDM8525 Jack Sargeant (Alyn and Deeside)

To propose that the Senedd:

Notes the petition ‘P-06-1367: Fund the removal of quarry rocks and the restoration of sand and groynes to Llandudno North Shore’ which received 12,228 signatures.

The item started at 16.57

NDM8525 Jack Sargeant (Alyn and Deeside)

To propose that the Senedd:

Notes the petition ‘P-06-1367: Fund the removal of quarry rocks and the restoration of sand and groynes to Llandudno North Shore’ which received 12,228 signatures.

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

NDM8524 Heledd Fychan (South Wales Central)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Recognises the cross-party consensus in the Senedd around the need to reform the Welsh funding model.

2. Calls on the UK Government to bring the unfair Barnett formula to an end and to fund Wales according to need and not based on population.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

Add as new points after point 1, and renumber accordingly:

Notes the current funding model which sees Wales receive £1.20 for every £1 spent on health and education in England, with only £1.05 reaching the Welsh NHS and classrooms.

Notes the nearly £1 billion in additional investment in Wales from the UK Government through the Shared Prosperity Fund and levelling-up funding.

Amendment 2 Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

Delete point 2 and replace with:

Calls on the UK Government to replace the outdated Barnett formula with a new relative needs-based system agreed by all four nations, within a new fiscal agreement overseen and operated by a body independent of the UK Government.

The item started at 17.32

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

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM8524 Heledd Fychan (South Wales Central)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Recognises the cross-party consensus in the Senedd around the need to reform the Welsh funding model.

2. Calls on the UK Government to bring the unfair Barnett formula to an end and to fund Wales according to need and not based on population.

The motion without amendment was not agreed.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

Add as new points after point 1, and renumber accordingly:

Notes the current funding model which sees Wales receive £1.20 for every £1 spent on health and education in England, with only £1.05 reaching the Welsh NHS and classrooms.

Notes the nearly £1 billion in additional investment in Wales from the UK Government through the Shared Prosperity Fund and levelling-up funding.

A vote was held on amendment 1, the result was as follows:

Amendment 1 was not agreed.

Amendment 2 Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

Delete point 2 and replace with:

Calls on the UK Government to replace the outdated Barnett formula with a new relative needs-based system agreed by all four nations, within a new fiscal agreement overseen and operated by a body independent of the UK Government.

A vote was held on amendment 2, the result was as follows:

Amendment 2 was agreed.

A vote was held on the motion as amended:

NDM8524 Heledd Fychan (South Wales Central)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Recognises the cross-party consensus in the Senedd around the need to reform the Welsh funding model.

2. Calls on the UK Government to replace the outdated Barnett formula with a new relative needs-based system agreed by all four nations, within a new fiscal agreement overseen and operated by a body independent of the UK Government.

The motion as amended was agreed.

The item started at 18.19

NDM8517 Carolyn Thomas (North Wales)

A national plan for flood resilience

The item started at 18.24

NDM8517 Carolyn Thomas (North Wales)

A national plan for flood resilience

NDM8523 Peredur Owen Griffiths (South Wales East)

Saving lives and protecting our communities – the case for overdose prevention centres

The item started at 18.45

NDM8523 Peredur Owen Griffiths (South Wales East)

Saving lives and protecting our communities – the case for overdose prevention centres