Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.

Apologies were received from Rhiannon Passmore MS.

Rhys ab Owen MS was absent.

Dr Sue Paterson, President of the Royal College of Veterinary  Surgeons (RCVS)

Dr Julia Mewes, The Mewes Vets

The Committee heard evidence from Dr Sue Paterson, President of the Royal College of Veterinary  Surgeons and Dr Julia Mewes, from the Mewes Vets.

The Committee considered the petition and noted that the Bill has had extensive scrutiny as it passed through the Senedd. However, it has now been passed by the Senedd and is awaiting Royal Assent to become an Act. In light of this Members agreed there is nothing further the Committee can do and closed the petition and thanked the petitioner.

The Committee considered the petition and agreed to write to Gwent Police asking for up-to-date annual data regarding incidents at the roundabout in question to consider whether the safety measure put in place have been effective.

The Committee considered the petition and agreed to write to the:

• Business Committee to request an urgent date on the issue;
• Chair of the Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee to highlight the petition; and the

Chair of the Finance Committee highlighting the petition and asking them to take it into consideration when undertaking scrutiny of the supplementary budget later this month, and ahead of the plenary debate at the start of July.

Members noted the history of the petition and the recent plenary debate in the Senedd on 1 May 2024. In light of this Members agreed to close the petition but continue to support the campaigners in their capacity as individual Members of the Senedd.

The Committee considered the petition and noted the recent plenary debate in the Senedd on 8 May 2024.

In light of the extensive detailed response received from ALN Reform Wales, Members agreed to forward it to the Cabinet Secretary for Education seeking answers to the specific questions raised, including how the Minister intends to work with campaigners such as ALN Reform Wales.

The Committee considered the petition and agreed to write to the:

·        Cabinet Secretary for Housing, Local Government and Planning seeking answers to the specific questions raised in the petitioners correspondence; and

Chair of the Climate Change, Environment and Infrastructure Committee to ask if they have any plans to undertake work on the issue.  

Caroline Allen, Chief Veterinary officer at RSPCA Cymru

Carlie Power, Cats Matter

The Committee heard evidence from Caroline Allen, Chief Veterinary officer at RSPCA Cymru and Carlie Power from Cats Matter.

The motion was agreed.

Members discussed the evidence sessions.

Members held a discussion on potential nominations for the petition of the year.