Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies. Carolyn Thomas MS declared an interest as the Chair of the Cross Party Group on Animal Welfare in relation to Items 2.1 and 3.1. Joel James MS declared an interest in relation to Item 3.1 as a member of the British Association of Shooting and Conservation.

The Committee noted that fewer than half the petition’s signatures had come from Wales and that there was limited time remaining in this Senedd term - particularly to discuss non-devolved matters – and for those reasons, they would not be recommending it for debate.

Members agreed they would thank the petitioner and close the petition, with the understanding that individual Members were free to raise the issue in the Siambr. But in doing so they also agreed to write to the Welsh Universities referred to, to ask for their position on animal testing and what they were doing to move away from that.

Members agreed that access to swimming facilities in Wales was a very important issue. Given that the pool remains open, it was agreed to write to Pembrokeshire County Council to: clarify what its proposals are for the future of the pool; what the Council intends to do and how future budget planning will enable that.

Given that the budget for local authorities has been decided for this financial year, the Committee agreed to thank the petitioners and close the petition pending a response from the Council, which would then be publicly available for the petitioners’ information.

The Committee considered the petition and agreed to write to the Children, Young People and Education Committee ahead of their scrutiny of Cardiff University’s Vice-Chancellor, to highlight the range of petitions relating to higher education funding currently open, and to copy in the Culture Committee for its consideration. In light of this referral to the relevant subject committees, the Committee decided to thank the petitioner and close the petition.

The Committee considered the petition and noted the substantial evidence provided by the petitioner and that Natural Resources Wales are taking measures to deal with non-compliance issues at the site. Members noted the Cabinet Secretary has been clear that he will not direct the closure of the Hafod site, and that this is at odds with the petitioner’s goal.

The Committee agreed that the clerk would explore with the clerks of the relevant subject scrutiny Committees – Climate Change, Environment and Infrastructure and Local Government and Housing – whether those committees would be able to scrutinise the matter further as part of their forward work programmes. Members noted that an inquiry would need to involve the business, the regulator and the local authority in addition to the community concerned, and the legislative scrutiny commitments of those Committees at this point in the Senedd term was a factor to consider. The clerk would report back to Members at the next Committee meeting.

Joel James MS had declared an interest at the start of the meeting that he was a Member of the British Association of Shooting and Conservation (BASC), and the Chair declared an interest as Chair of the Cross-Party Group on Animal Welfare. The Committee considered the petition and noted that the HSE opinion was being reviewed by the UK Government in conjunction with the Welsh and Scottish Governments. Members therefore agreed to write to the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) to highlight the petition and interest in the outcome on this issue. In thanking the petitioner and closing the petition they would be informed that the Committee would be writing to DEFRA, and encouraged to follow the outcome of the review.

The Committee noted that the Women’s Health Plan includes endometriosis as a significant priority but it is too early to consider the Plan’s impact. The Committee agreed to refer the latest updates from the Cabinet Secretary and the petitioner to the Health and Social Care Committee, noting that this was an important issue for future Senedd scrutiny, and to consider for legacy reporting for the Seventh Senedd.

Members therefore agreed to thank the petitioner and close the petition, and in doing so to notify the petitioner of the work of the Health and Social Care Committee in relation to the Plan and its impact.

The Committee considered the petition and agreed to write to both Transport for Wales and the Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales to ask that learning disabled passengers be involved in the discussion with officials and TfW on that, as requested by Mencap Cymru. Having done that, the Committee agreed to then close the petition.

In discussing the petition it was noted that the Petitions Committee was not best placed to know the best model of care provision for the area concerned, and Members agreed it was a matter for the Health Board to engage locally as they had indicated in their correspondence.

Members agreed to write to the Health Board to ask that they update the Health and Social Care Committee directly, noting the Chief Executive’s offer to update Members on progress, and that this would be a matter for public scrutiny, and to write to the Health and Social Care Committee to ask that they raise the matter in their next engagement with the Health Board.

Members discussed the petition and agreed to write back to the Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales for the timelines for the work outlined in his letter, as requested by the petitioner, and look to then close the petition.

In discussing the petition it was noted that a statement was expected from the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs on delivery of animal welfare licensing, and so it was agreed to keep the petition open pending more information.

Members discussed the petition. In light of the publication of the suicide prevention and self-harm strategy, and imminent publication of the Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy (which was launched on 30 April by a Cabinet Minister with specific responsibility for Mental Health and Wellbeing), it was agreed to thank the petitioner and close the petition.

Members discussed the petition and agreed to thank the petitioner and close the petition. But in doing so they agreed to write to the Cabinet Secretary for Education to ask for confirmation that those from the community and voluntary sector with the appropriate expertise will be included in developing the strategic education workforce plan. The letter to be copied to the Children, Young People and Education Committee which has the scrutiny remit.

Members discussed the petition and agreed to thank the petitioner and close the petition, but in doing so to make the petitioner aware that the Senedd Local Government and Housing Committee would continue to look at the issue as it develops.

Members discussed the petition and agreed to request that the Business Committee schedule a debate on the petition which had gathered over 10,000 signatures.

Members noted the papers.

The motion was agreed.

Members agreed the report.