Agenda and minutes

This meeting was held in a virtual format, with Members joining by video-conference.

The item started at 12.45

In accordance with Standing Order 12.18, at 13.31 the meeting was suspended for 3 minutes.

View Questions

The item started at 13.34

The first 8 questions were asked. Question 2 was answered by the Deputy Minister for Health and Social Services. The Presiding Officer invited party spokespeople to ask questions to the Minister after question 2.

View Questions

The item started at 14.28

The first 8 questions were asked. Questions 2 and 8 were answered by the Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism. The Presiding Officer invited party spokespeople to ask questions to the Minister after question 2.

[To ask the Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural affairs]

Adam Price (Carmarthen East and Dinefwr)

Will the Minister make a statement on the support that is available to

people following the recent floods that have affected communities across Wales?

The item started at 15.17

To the Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs:

Adam Price (Carmarthen East and Dinefwr): Will the Minister make a statement on the support that is available to people following the recent floods that have affected communities across Wales? 

The item started at 15.23 

Dawn Bowden made a statement on: Trevithick Steam Engine’s first journey from Penydarren, Merthyr Tydfil to Abercynon 

Nick Ramsay made a statement on: Fairtrade Fortnight - Building Back Fairer. 

David Rees made a statement on: 50 years of the inverse care law. 

Angela Burns made a statement on: International Rare Disease Day – 28 February.

NDM7478 Mark Isherwood (North Wales)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes a proposal for a Bill that would make provision to encourage the use of British Sign Language (BSL) in Wales, and improve access to education and services in BSL.

2. Notes that the purpose of the Bill would be to:

a) ensure that the deaf community and people with hearing loss have a voice in the design and delivery of services to ensure they meet the needs of service users;

b) establish a BSL national advisory group to empower the BSL community in Wales;

c) require the Welsh Government to co-produce and publish a national BSL plan, and to establish strategic goals to improve the accessibility of public services, support services and enhance BSL skills across society.

d) require public bodies to co-produce and publish their own BSL plan to develop BSL awareness and training, and improve access to frontline services.

The item started at 15.30

Voting on the motion under this item was deferred until Voting Time.

NDM7478 Mark Isherwood (North Wales)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes a proposal for a Bill that would make provision to encourage the use of British Sign Language (BSL) in Wales, and improve access to education and services in BSL.

2. Notes that the purpose of the Bill would be to:

a) ensure that the deaf community and people with hearing loss have a voice in the design and delivery of services to ensure they meet the needs of service users;

b) establish a BSL national advisory group to empower the BSL community in Wales;

c) require the Welsh Government to co-produce and publish a national BSL plan, and to establish strategic goals to improve the accessibility of public services, support services and enhance BSL skills across society.

d) require public bodies to co-produce and publish their own BSL plan to develop BSL awareness and training, and improve access to frontline services.

The result was as follows:

The motion was agreed.

NDM7599 Mark Isherwood (North Wales)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Calls on the Welsh Government to reverse the introduction of the Wales-wide nitrate vulnerable zone.

2. Further calls on the next Welsh Government to bring forward proposals to tackle pollution in Wales.

Amendment 1  Rebecca Evans (Gower)

Delete point 1 and replace with:

Supports the ambition of Welsh farming to be the most climate and nature friendly in the world and joins with the farming unions in recognising one agricultural pollution incident is one too many.

Recognises Welsh farming offers many of the most important solutions to the climate emergency, and many Welsh farmers already exemplify the changes in farming practice needed.

Accepts that control of agricultural emissions is an integral part of reaching net zero emissions in Wales and across the UK.

Agrees the first step in tackling agricultural emissions is to implement good practice measures already undertaken by the majority of farmers.

The item started at 16.02

Voting on the motion and amendments under this item was deferred until Voting Time.

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM7599 Mark Isherwood (North Wales)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Calls on the Welsh Government to reverse the introduction of the Wales-wide nitrate vulnerable zone.

2. Further calls on the next Welsh Government to bring forward proposals to tackle pollution in Wales.

The motion without amendment was not agreed.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1  Rebecca Evans (Gower)

Delete point 1 and replace with:

Supports the ambition of Welsh farming to be the most climate and nature friendly in the world and joins with the farming unions in recognising one agricultural pollution incident is one too many.

Recognises Welsh farming offers many of the most important solutions to the climate emergency, and many Welsh farmers already exemplify the changes in farming practice needed.

Accepts that control of agricultural emissions is an integral part of reaching net zero emissions in Wales and across the UK.

Agrees the first step in tackling agricultural emissions is to implement good practice measures already undertaken by the majority of farmers.

A vote was taken on amendment 1:

Amendment 1 was agreed.

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

NDM7599 Mark Isherwood (North Wales)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Supports the ambition of Welsh farming to be the most climate and nature friendly in the world and joins with the farming unions in recognising one agricultural pollution incident is one too many.

2. Recognises Welsh farming offers many of the most important solutions to the climate emergency, and many Welsh farmers already exemplify the changes in farming practice needed.

3. Accepts that control of agricultural emissions is an integral part of reaching net zero emissions in Wales and across the UK.

4. Agrees the first step in tackling agricultural emissions is to implement good practice measures already undertaken by the majority of farmers.

5. Further calls on the next Welsh Government to bring forward proposals to tackle pollution in Wales.

The motion as amended was agreed.

NDM7598 Sian Gwenllian (Arfon)

To propose that the Senedd:

Calls on the Welsh Government to ensure that the unallocated fiscal resource in the draft 2021-22 budget is used in the final budget for 2021-22 to expand free school meal eligibility criteria to include all children in families in receipt of universal credit or equivalent benefit and any child in a family with no recourse to public funds.

Amendment 1 - Rebecca Evans (Gower)

Delete all and replace with:

1. Believes that it is unacceptable in a modern society that children still go hungry and that we will continue to step-up all our efforts in the provision of free school meals to stamp out the scourge of poverty and hunger.

2. Welcomes that the Welsh Government:

a) provided over £50 million of additional funding to ensure the continued provision of free school meals during the pandemic and was the first government in the UK to provide provision during school holidays;

b) provided additional funding to ensure that children who are self-isolating or shielding continue to receive free school meal provision when they are not able to attend school;

c) provides funding of £19.50 per week to free school meal-eligible families, which is the most generous provision in the UK;

d) ensured that Wales remains the only country in the UK to have a universal free breakfasts in primary schools scheme;

e) has been recognised by the Education Policy Institute (EPI) for being successful in ensuring families eligible for free school meals during the pandemic had “access to timely and appropriate support”;

f) is committed to a rapid review of all available resource and policy options including the income threshold for receiving free school meals based on the Pupil Level Annual School Census (PLASC) data.

Education Policy Institute

The item started at 16.36

Voting on the motion and amendments under this item was deferred until Voting Time.

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM7598 Sian Gwenllian (Arfon)

To propose that the Senedd:

Calls on the Welsh Government to ensure that the unallocated fiscal resource in the draft 2021-22 budget is used in the final budget for 2021-22 to expand free school meal eligibility criteria to include all children in families in receipt of universal credit or equivalent benefit and any child in a family with no recourse to public funds.

The motion without amendment was not agreed.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 - Rebecca Evans (Gower)

Delete all and replace with:

1. Believes that it is unacceptable in a modern society that children still go hungry and that we will continue to step-up all our efforts in the provision of free school meals to stamp out the scourge of poverty and hunger.

2. Welcomes that the Welsh Government:

a) provided over £50 million of additional funding to ensure the continued provision of free school meals during the pandemic and was the first government in the UK to provide provision during school holidays;

b) provided additional funding to ensure that children who are self-isolating or shielding continue to receive free school meal provision when they are not able to attend school;

c) provides funding of £19.50 per week to free school meal-eligible families, which is the most generous provision in the UK;

d) ensured that Wales remains the only country in the UK to have a universal free breakfasts in primary schools scheme;

e) has been recognised by the Education Policy Institute (EPI) for being successful in ensuring families eligible for free school meals during the pandemic had “access to timely and appropriate support”;

f) is committed to a rapid review of all available resource and policy options including the income threshold for receiving free school meals based on the Pupil Level Annual School Census (PLASC) data.

Education Policy Institute

A vote was taken on amendment 1:

Amendment 1 was agreed.

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

NDM7598 Sian Gwenllian (Arfon)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Believes that it is unacceptable in a modern society that children still go hungry and that we will continue to step-up all our efforts in the provision of free school meals to stamp out the scourge of poverty and hunger.

2. Welcomes that the Welsh Government:

a) provided over £50 million of additional funding to ensure the continued provision of free school meals during the pandemic and was the first government in the UK to provide provision during school holidays;

b) provided additional funding to ensure that children who are self-isolating or shielding continue to receive free school meal provision when they are not able to attend school;

c) provides funding of £19.50 per week to free school meal-eligible families, which is the most generous provision in the UK;

d) ensured that Wales remains the only country in the UK to have a universal free breakfasts in primary schools scheme;

e) has been recognised by the Education Policy Institute (EPI) for being successful in ensuring families eligible for free school meals during the pandemic had “access to timely and appropriate support”;

f) is committed to a rapid review of all available resource and policy options including the income threshold for receiving free school meals based on the Pupil Level Annual School Census (PLASC) data.

Education Policy Institute

The motion as amended was agreed.

In accordance with Standing Order 12.18, at 17.06 proceedings were suspended to allow a technical break before voting time.

The item started at 17.10

NDM7595 David Melding (South Wales Central)

The Cumberlege Review: lessons for informed consent in the NHS.

The item started at 17.15

NDM7595 David Melding (South Wales Central)

The Cumberlege Review: lessons for informed consent in the NHS.

NDM7597 Llyr Gruffydd (North Wales)

What is the future of the sea fishing industry?

The item started at 17.39

NDM7597 Llyr Gruffydd (North Wales)

What is the future of the sea fishing industry?