Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.

Apologies were received from Joel James MS. Altaf Hussein

MS attended as a substitute for Joel James.

The Committee considered the petition and agreed to draw the petitioners’ comments to the attention of the Chair of the Children, Young People and Education Committee as part of its ongoing scrutiny of the ALN reforms. In light of this, the Committee agreed to close the petition.

The Committee considered the petition and agreed to write to the Cabinet Secretary setting out the petitioners’ questions, and to copy the correspondence relating to the petition to the Children, Young People and Education Committee for awareness. It was agreed to keep the petition open pending the Cabinet Secretary’s response, but noting the limited time remaining in the current Senedd term would prevent further action on the petition beyond this.

The Committee expressed concern about breast cancer screening uptake, noting the importance of ensuring women took up their first invitation, as this was more likely to ensure repeat attendance. Members agreed to write to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care seeking further information on:

•       The current utilisation of the 12 mobile screening centres in Wales and whether that could be increased;

•       Data on differences in take-up relating to, for example, socio-economic or age factors;

•       An explanation of the particularly low screening uptake in Ynys Môn;

•       The measures being taken to resource Breast Test Wales and Public Health Wales to increase uptake, and to raise public awareness, including whether involving prominent Welsh women has been considered;

•       What account is being taken of lessons learnt and best practice from NHS England’s recent awareness raising work;

•       When will the new screening equity strategy be published and brought to the attention of Senedd Members and the public, and what is being done to involve women of screening age and under-served groups in developing that strategy?

The Committee noted that screening equity extends beyond breast cancer, and agreed to copy the correspondence to the Chair of the Health and Social Care Committee. The petition would remain open pending that response. It was noted there was limited time remaining in the current Senedd term for Members to debate the issue in the Siambr, however individual Members could still highlight its importance.

The Committee considered the petition and noted that the plenary debate marked the conclusion of its journey. While recognising the role of local Members in supporting campaigners, a judicial review had been conducted, and it was considered that keeping the petition open indefinitely would not be an effective use of the Committee’s time.

It was agreed to close the petition and thank the petitioner, but in doing so to send a final letter to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care requesting a timeline for when the Rapid Response Vehicles will be fully operational and when the bases will close. The correspondence would be copied to the Health and Social Care Committee, to inform any future scrutiny of the air ambulance service.

The Committee considered the petition and noted the significant difference of opinion between the petitioner and the Cabinet Secretary, and that two of the petitioner’s requests – potential compensation and a public inquiry - were beyond the Committee’s powers. In light of this, Members agreed to write to the Cabinet Secretary asking if she would be willing to meet with the petitioners, with the Chair available to attend any such meeting if necessary, and to then close the petition.

The Committee considered the petition and noted the detailed response from British Transport Police. While the number of offences is low, it was recognised that the impact is significant. The extensive CCTV coverage at the station and the strong partnership working between relevant bodies to address community concerns was noted - Members considered this a positive outcome for the petitioner, and likely to deter anti-social behaviour and ensure offenders could be dealt with. In light of this, the Committee agreed to close the petition and thank the petitioner for raising the issue.

The Committee considered the petition and noted that the issues raised in the plenary debate reflected wider, ongoing health and social care challenges. Members considered that these matters are now for political parties to address through their manifestos. In light of this, Members agreed to close the petition and to thank the petitioners for raising the issue.

The Committee considered the petition and noted that, in the absence of new research evidence and in light of the responses from the Welsh Government and the Food Standards Agency, there are limited ways to take the petition forward further. Members therefore agreed to close the petition, but while doing so they would also write to Professor Adam Fox OBE, a national expert in paediatric allergy, to highlight the petition and seek his comments. Any response would be noted by the Committee and published.

The Committee considered the petition and noted the letter from the Cabinet Secretary, including the invitation for the petitioner to participate in the scallop fishing management review. As no response has been received from the petitioner to the Cabinet Secretary’s latest correspondence, and given that the situation in Wales differs from other areas, it was agreed to thank the petitioner and close the petition.

Members noted the paper. 

The procedural motion was agreed.

Before closing the meeting, in private discussion, Members noted there were now only four more meetings scheduled before dissolution. Therefore those with open petitions at the 250 threshold would be invited to choose either to close their petition early with the possibility of receiving a response from the current Welsh Government, or to wait for a response from the next Welsh Government after Senedd elections.

The Committee considered its Forward work programme.