Agenda and minutes

This meeting was held in a hybrid format, with some Members in the Senedd Chamber and others joining by video-conference.

At 13.30, the Presiding Officer announced that Mark Isherwood may seek the Senedd’s agreement on their proposal for a British Sign Language (BSL) (Wales) Bill, following the result of the Member Bill ballot.

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

View Questions

The item started at 13.30

The first 8 questions were asked. The Presiding Officer invited party spokespeople to ask questions to the Cabinet Secretary after question 2.

In accordance with Standing Order 12.18, at 14.17 the meeting was suspended by the Presiding Officer for 3 minutes.

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

View Questions

The item started at 14.20

The first 9 questions were asked. Questions 3 and 4 were grouped together for answer. The Presiding Officer invited party spokespeople to ask questions to the Cabinet Secretary after question 2.

View Questions

The item started at 15.10

The question was asked.

To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care

Mabon ap Gwynfor (Dwyfor Meirionnydd): Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the final outcome of the Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service review into the future provision of air ambulance services in Wales?

The item started at 15.12

Answered by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care

Mabon ap Gwynfor (Dwyfor Meirionnydd): Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the final outcome of the Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service review into the future provision of air ambulance services in Wales?

The item started at 15.34

Sioned Williams made a statement on - Adenomyosis Awareness Month (April).

Carolyn Thomas made a statement on - World Earth Day (22 April).

Jane Dodds made a statement on - National Stalking Awareness Week (22-26 April).

NDM8504 Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes a proposal for a Bill that would make provisions for targets to strengthen food security in Wales. 

2. Notes that the purpose of the Bill would be to create a duty for the Welsh Government to set targets to improve food security in Wales.

The item started at 15.40

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

NDM8504 Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes a proposal for a Bill that would make provisions for targets to strengthen food security in Wales. 

2. Notes that the purpose of the Bill would be to create a duty for the Welsh Government to set targets to improve food security in Wales.

The result was as follows:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
24	14	11	49

The motion was agreed.

NDM8544 Llyr Gruffydd (North Wales)

To propose that the Senedd:

Notes the Climate Change, Environment and Infrastructure Committee report, ‘Report on performance of Dŵr Cymru’, laid on 8 February 2024.

Notes: The response from the Welsh Government to the report was laid in the Table Office on 17 April 2024. Ofwat and Natural Resources Wales responded on 20 March 2024 and Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water responded on 28 March 2024.

The item started at 16.11

NDM8544 Llyr Gruffydd (North Wales)

To propose that the Senedd:

Notes the Climate Change, Environment and Infrastructure Committee report, ‘Report on performance of Dŵr Cymru’, laid on 8 February 2024.

Notes: The response from the Welsh Government to the report was laid in the Table Office on 17 April 2024. Ofwat and Natural Resources Wales responded on 20 March 2024 and Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water responded on 28 March 2024.

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

The item started at 16.55

Answered by the Cabinet Secretary for Education

Adam Price (Carmarthen East and Dinefwr): Will the Government state what information it can share regarding the serious incident in Ysgol Dyffryn Aman today?

NDM8545 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes the Major Challenges for Education in Wales report published by the Institution for Fiscal Studies which highlighted that:

a) PISA scores declined more in Wales than in most other countries in 2022;

b) post-16 educational outcomes in Wales are the worst in the UK;

c) pupils in Wales were performing only as well as disadvantaged children in England;

d) the explanation for lower educational performance in Wales is likely to reflect Welsh Government policy and approach; and

e) the new curriculum for Wales and Welsh Government reforms run the risk of widening inequalities, increasing teacher workload, and limiting future education opportunities.

2. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

a) commission an independent review into the current educational reforms being brought forward;

b) prioritise children’s education by getting 5,000 more teachers back into classrooms;

c) ensure those with additional learning needs are provided with the right support sooner; and

d) roll-out the introduction of free schools and academies.

Major Challenges for Education in Wales report published by the Institute for Fiscal Studies

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

Delete all and replace with:

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Welcomes the First Minister’s commitment to sustained improvement in educational attainment as a top priority for the Welsh Government.

2. Supports the Welsh Government’s rollout of the Curriculum for Wales and implementation of the Additional Learning Needs (Wales) Act.

3. Expresses thanks to the education workforce for their continued hard work throughout the year.

4. Notes that, despite the UK Government’s mismanagement of our public finances, the Welsh Government has protected the funding available to schools through the local government settlement and grant funding.

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

Amendment 2 Heledd Fychan (South Wales Central)

Delete sub-point 2(d)

The item started at 17.10

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

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM8545 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes the Major Challenges for Education in Wales report published by the Institution for Fiscal Studies which highlighted that:

a) PISA scores declined more in Wales than in most other countries in 2022;

b) post-16 educational outcomes in Wales are the worst in the UK;

c) pupils in Wales were performing only as well as disadvantaged children in England;

d) the explanation for lower educational performance in Wales is likely to reflect Welsh Government policy and approach; and

e) the new curriculum for Wales and Welsh Government reforms run the risk of widening inequalities, increasing teacher workload, and limiting future education opportunities.

2. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

a) commission an independent review into the current educational reforms being brought forward;

b) prioritise children’s education by getting 5,000 more teachers back into classrooms;

c) ensure those with additional learning needs are provided with the right support sooner; and

d) roll-out the introduction of free schools and academies.

Major Challenges for Education in Wales report published by the Institute for Fiscal Studies

For	Abstain	Against	Total
14	0	35	49

The motion without amendment was not agreed.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

Delete all and replace with:

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Welcomes the First Minister’s commitment to sustained improvement in educational attainment as a top priority for the Welsh Government.

2. Supports the Welsh Government’s rollout of the Curriculum for Wales and implementation of the Additional Learning Needs (Wales) Act.

3. Expresses thanks to the education workforce for their continued hard work throughout the year.

4. Notes that, despite the UK Government’s mismanagement of our public finances, the Welsh Government has protected the funding available to schools through the local government settlement and grant funding.

A vote was taken on amendment 1:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
26	0	23	49

Amendment 1 was agreed.

As amendment 1 was agreed, amendment 2 was de-selected.

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

NDM8545 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Welcomes the First Minister’s commitment to sustained improvement in educational attainment as a top priority for the Welsh Government.

2. Supports the Welsh Government’s rollout of the Curriculum for Wales and implementation of the Additional Learning Needs (Wales) Act.

3. Expresses thanks to the education workforce for their continued hard work throughout the year.

4. Notes that, despite the UK Government’s mismanagement of our public finances, the Welsh Government has protected the funding available to schools through the local government settlement and grant funding.

For	Abstain	Against	Total
26	0	23	49

The motion as amended was agreed.

The item started at 17.47

NDM8540 Peter Fox (Monmouth)

Primary care and the preventative agenda. 

The item started at 17.50

NDM8540 Peter Fox (Monmouth)

Primary care and the preventative agenda.