Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.

Apologies were received from Luke Fletcher MS who was substituting on the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee.

Members declared the following relevant interests under Standing Order 17.24A for petitions under consideration:

Item 2.1 – Peter Fox Ms declared that he is a farmer.

Item 2.2 – Members noted that all Senedd Members are in receipt of expenses under the Determination on Members’ Pay and Allowances.

Item 3.1 - Vaughan Gething MS is an honorary associate of the British Veterinary Association;

Item 3.1 Carolyn Thomas MS has a sister-in-law who works for a veterinary practice which has been taken over by a corporate.

The Committee considered the petition and highlighted the plenary debate scheduled to take place on Committee reports from both the Climate Change, Environment and Infrastructure Committee and the Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee on the Sustainable Farming Scheme. 

Members noted there will be an opportunity to raise the petitioners concerns on the floor of the Senedd later this month.

In light of the forthcoming debate, the Committee agreed to close the petition and thank the petitioner for raising the important issue.

The Committee considered the petition and agreed to forward it to the Independent Remuneration Board which is responsible for such matters. In doing so Members agreed to close the petition and thank the petitioners.

The Committee considered the petition and noted the recent correspondence received from the petitioner, academics and Cats Matter.

The Chair also drew Members’ attention to information received from Unite concerning the situation with Valley Vets.

Members thanked the petitioner for the work done on this issue and agreed to keep a watching brief on the petition pending the conclusion of the Competition and Markets Authority inquiry, which is expected to conclude in May 2025.

The Committee also noted the petitioner’s request that the Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee consider an inquiry on the matter within its forward work programme, and agreed to write to the Chair of the Committee to pass on the request.

The Committee considered the petition and noted that since the last consideration of the petition the Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidates List) Bill has been withdrawn and it is unlikely that any further legislation will be forthcoming prior to the next Senedd election.

Members agreed that increasing the representativeness of the Senedd will now be a matter for political parties in their selection of candidates, and the electorate at voting time. In light of this Members agreed to close the petition and thanked the petitioner.   

Peter Fox MS declared the following relevant interest under Standing Order 17.24A:

He is a caravanner and member of caravan clubs.

The Committee considered the petition and noted the forthcoming consultation by the Welsh Government, and agreed to write to the petitioner to encourage them to respond to it when it launches.

In doing so Members agreed to close the petition and thank the petitioner.

The Committee considered the petition and thanked the Llywydd for a comprehensive response to the petition.

Members noted the Senedd Commission now has a transparent, publicly-available policy covering which channels are included on the internal TV system. In light of this Members agreed to close the petition and thank the petitioner.

The Committee considered the petition and congratulated the students for their #nohungrylearners campaign and thanked them for taking the time to submit evidence to the Committee.

Members agreed to close the petition, but in doing so would write to the Cabinet Secretary for Education to share the petitioner’s evidence.

The Committee considered the petition again following the plenary debate on 18th September.

Members agreed that as the issues would be taken forward by other Senedd Committees, the petition should now be closed.

In doing so Members thanked the petitioner and agreed to share their latest correspondence with the Minister for Culture, Skills and Social Partnership.

The Committee considered the petition alongside four other petitions relating to ALN reform and support and funding for ALN provision. Members noted that the Minister is already working with campaigners to address concerns, and the ongoing work in this area by the CYPE Committee, which is due to report again by the end of the Senedd. There are also forthcoming Senedd debates which will address the issue. It was therefore agreed to close the petition and thank the petitioner.

The Committee considered the petition alongside four other petitions relating to ALN reform and support and funding for ALN provision. Members noted that the Minister is already working with campaigners to address concerns, and the ongoing work in this area by the CYPE Committee, which is due to report again by the end of the Senedd. There are also forthcoming Senedd debates which will address the issue. It was therefore agreed to close the petition and thank the petitioner.

The Committee considered the petition alongside four other petitions relating to ALN reform and support and funding for ALN provision. Members noted that the Minister is already working with campaigners to address concerns, and the ongoing work in this area by the CYPE Committee, which is due to report again by the end of the Senedd. There are also forthcoming Senedd debates which will address the issue. It was therefore agreed to close the petition and thank the petitioner.

The Committee considered the petition alongside four other petitions relating to ALN reform and support and funding for ALN provision. Members noted that the Minister is already working to address concerns, and the ongoing work on ALN by the CYPE Committee, which is due to report again by the end of the Senedd. There are also forthcoming Senedd debates which will address the issue. It was therefore agreed to close the petition and thank the petitioner.

The Committee considered the petition alongside four other petitions relating to ALN reform and support and funding for ALN provision. Members noted that the Minister has accepted there are inconsistencies between local authorities, but that fines are not being considered. Members noted the ongoing work on ALN by the CYPE Committee, which is due to report again by the end of the Senedd. There are also forthcoming Senedd debates which will address ALN-related issues. It was therefore agreed to close the petition and thank the petitioner.

Members noted the correspondence form Natural Resources Wales.

Members noted the correspondence form Natural Resources Wales.

The motion was agreed.

The Committee considered a scoping paper for evidence gathering on the petition Ban smartphones in all schools in Wales (with exemptions for exceptional circumstances).