Agenda and minutes

The Committee discussed the petition, noting it was probably the most discussed issue of the Senedd term and agreed that there was nothing further to be done by the Committee.

Members noted that individuals dissatisfied with local speed limits could petition their local council, and review political parties’ election manifestos regarding this policy. The Committee thanked the petitioner and closed the petition.

The Committee adjourned from 14:09 to 14:10 due to technical difficulties with a microphone.

The Committee considered the petition. It was agreed there was nothing more the Petitions Committee could do, other than to highlight the petitioners’ views and legislative proposals to the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, and the Chair of the Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee, as the Environment (Principles, Governance and Biodiversity Targets) (Wales) Bill remains under scrutiny. Having done so it was agreed to close the petition.

Members agreed that water quality and flood management should be priority themes to include in the Committee’s legacy report to the next Senedd.

The Committee considered the petition and noted that grants had previously funded the demolition and rebuilding of homes in Wales affected by precast reinforced concrete (PRC), suggesting that similar funding could be considered for RAAC remediation. Members agreed to write to the Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government to seek details of interaction with the UK Government on a UK-wide approach, and to request confirmation of the RAAC situation for homes across Wales. The petition will remain open pending a response.

The Committee considered the petition and took a moment to recognise the women who had shared their distressing experiences of Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG) and the impact on their families.

Members agreed to write to the All Wales Medicines Strategy Group (AWMSG) to strongly urge it to reconsider the earlier decision and keep looking at this issue, highlighting the petitioners’ evidence and emphasising that cost should not be the determining factor.

The Committee also agreed to share all the evidence provided by the petitioners on prescribing Xonvea and maternal health more broadly, with the Chair of the Health and Social Care Committee.

The petition will remain open pending a response from the AWMSG.

The Committee considered the petition, noting that there was ongoing consideration of the siting of solar panels and expressing sympathy with the concerns of local residents but that it was a matter to take up with the appropriate planning authorities. Members agreed the petition should be highlighted with the Chair of Climate Change, Environment and Infrastructure Committee. In doing so, the Committee agreed to close the petition and thank the petitioner.

The Committee considered the petition and agreed that youth ambassadors should play a leading role on this issue. Members noted the constructive engagement from petitioners with the response from the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, and agreed to forward the petitioners’ points to the Cabinet Secretary.

The Committee also agreed to share the petition with the Chair of the Climate Change, Environment and Infrastructure Committee (CCEI) for information, and to include water quality and flood management as priority themes in its own legacy report.

Additionally, Members noted research being conducted at Bangor University’s School of Environmental and Natural Sciences and the Birmingham Institute for Forestry Research, and agreed to ensure petitioners are informed of this work.

The Committee considered the petition and noted the Welsh Government’s explanation that Swansea University was unsuccessful in an open tender. However, Members questioned how this a) aligns with Welsh Government policy legislated for in the Social Partnership and Public Procurement (Wales) Act 2023, and b) addresses the issues raised by the petitioner about bilingual provision. The Committee agreed to seek clarity from the Cabinet Secretary for Education on those matters and to keep the petition open pending a response.

The Committee considered the petition and noted that it had been considered multiple times and welcomed the Welsh Government having taken significant steps to address the petitioner’s concerns. Members agreed to now close the petition, thank the petitioner, and share their most recent correspondence with the Chair of the Health and Social Care Committee, with a view to this being an area that Committee could choose to follow up on.

The Committee considered the petition and expressed sympathy for the petitioner and others affected by the impact of flooding. Members noted that while progress appears to be planned, work is not expected to begin until 2027 and uncertainties remain around funding. The Committee agreed to keep the petition open in the hope that the next Government will allocate funding to support Neath Port Talbot and alleviate the hardship faced by local residents. They also noted their earlier decision to include the issue of flood management as a priority theme in the Committee’s legacy report.

The Committee considered the petition and welcomed the Welsh Government’s announcement on 5 December of additional investment for the canal, providing certainty for those involved for the next five years. Members reflected on the value of their recent visit and the Senedd debate. The Committee congratulated the petitioners on a successful campaign to secure the future of the canal, and the Chair noted the campaigners’ thanks to Members for their support on this issue. The Committee agreed to now close the petition, but in doing so to seek written confirmation from the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs on the long-term future of the canal. They noted the current £400k allocation is interim and limited to one Senedd term, but that the Task and Finish Group would be looking at that longer-term issue. The Deputy First Minister’s response would be noted by the Committee at a future meeting, and local Members would be available should there be further issues the campaigners needed to bring to their attention.

Members noted the papers.  It was also noted, in relation to the letter to the Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee on Petition P-06-1291, that the Chair’s short debate on Wednesday 10 December would be on the veterinary profession.

Members noted the paper.

Members noted the paper.

Members noted the paper.

The motion was agreed.

Members discussed the draft report and agreed it subject to some amendments. The report would be translated and published after the Christmas recess. It was noted that responses to the report would not be available until later in the spring term, and Members agreed not to request a debate on the report.