Agenda and minutes

This meeting was held in a hybrid format, with some Members in the Senedd Chamber and others joining by video-conference.

 

The Presiding Officer will call Party Leaders to ask questions without notice to the First Minister after Question 2.

View Questions

The item started at 13.30

The first 8 questions were asked. The Presiding Officer invited party leaders to ask questions to the First Minister after question 2.

 

View Business Statement and Announcement

The item started at 14.31

 

The item started at 14.49

 

In accordance with Standing Order 12.18, at 15.55 the Llywydd suspended the meeting.

 

The item started at 16.03

NDM7499 Rebecca Evans (Gower)

To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Order 27.5:

1. Approves The Non-Domestic Rating (Multiplier) (Wales) Order 2020 laid in the Table Office on 12 November 2020.

Supporting Documents

Explanatory Memorandum

Report of the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee

The item was postponed

NDM7498 Rebecca Evans (Gower)

To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Order 27.5:

1. Approves that the draft Plant Health (Forestry) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Wales) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 are made in accordance with the draft laid in the Table Office on 17 November 2020.

Supporting Documents

Explanatory Memorandum

Report of the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee

The item started at 16.37

NDM7498 Rebecca Evans (Gower)

To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Order 27.5:

1. Approves that the draft Plant Health (Forestry) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Wales) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 are made in accordance with the draft laid in the Table Office on 17 November 2020.

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

 

NDM7497 Jeremy Miles (Neath)

To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Order 29.6, agrees that provisions in the United Kingdom Internal Market Bill, in so far as they fall within the legislative competence of the Senedd, should be considered by the UK Parliament.

A Legislative Consent Memorandum was laid in Table Office on 25 September 2020 in accordance with Standing Order 29.2.

United Kingdom Internal Market Bill 2019-21

Supporting Documents

Report of the External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee

Report of the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee

Report of the Finance Committee

Supplementary Legislative Consent Memorandum

The item started at 16.39

The Deputy Presiding Officer suspended proceedings at 16.52 for five minutes due to technical difficulties in the Siambr. At 16.57 the meeting reconvened. At 17.02 the meeting was suspended for 25 minutes, and at 17.27 the meeting reconvened. At 17.30 the meeting was suspended again.

The Deputy Presiding Officer adjourned proceedings at 17.45.

The meeting resumed at 12.30 on Wednesday 9 December 2020.

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

NDM7497 Jeremy Miles (Neath)

To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Order 29.6, agrees that provisions in the United Kingdom Internal Market Bill, in so far as they fall within the legislative competence of the Senedd, should be considered by the UK Parliament.

A Legislative Consent Memorandum was laid in Table Office on 25 September 2020 in accordance with Standing Order 29.2.

United Kingdom Internal Market Bill 2019-21

The result was as follows:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
15	0	36	51

The motion was not agreed.

 

The item started at 13.25

NDM7500 Rebecca Evans (Gower)

To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Orders 33.6 and 33.8:

Suspends Standing Orders 12.20(i), 12.22(i) and that part of Standing Order 11.16 that requires the weekly announcement under Standing Order 11.11 to constitute the timetable for business in Plenary for the following week, to allow NNDM7501 to be considered in Plenary on Tuesday, 8 December 2020.

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

 

The item started at 13.26

A procedural motion under Standing Order 12.32 to postpone the next item until Wednesday, 9 December 2020.

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

 

NDM7501 Rebecca Evans (Gower)

To propose that the Senedd:

Notes:

a) the increase in the seven-day rolling incidence rate of coronavirus cases across Wales;

b) the statement by the First Minister on 1 December which set out new national measures to protect public health and reduce the spread of coronavirus; and

c) the £340m package of business support to be made available through the Economic Resilience Fund to support businesses affected by the new national measures.

The following amendments were tabled:

In accordance with Standing Order 12.23 (iii), amendment 1 tabled to the motion was not selected.

Amendment 2 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Does not believe that a Wales-wide approach is proportionate given that COVID-19 is circulating at different rates in different parts of the country.

Amendment 3 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Believes that there is insufficient evidence to demonstrate that the Welsh Government’s current restrictions on the sale of alcohol in public houses, cafes and restaurants are proportionate.

Amendment 4 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Believes that the financial support available to businesses affected by the restrictions is insufficient, especially when firms have spent vast sums on ensuring their premises are COVID secure for staff and customers.

Amendment 5 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Calls upon the Welsh Government to publish the evidence on which it based its decision to close indoor entertainment venues.

Amendment 6 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Further calls upon the Welsh Government to make sufficient financial support available to businesses in a timely manner.

In accordance with Standing Order 12.23 (iii), amendments 7, 8 and 9 tabled to the motion were not selected.

Amendment 10 Caroline Jones (South Wales West)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Regrets:

a) that the Welsh Government has pursued a course of action based on very limited evidence of the situation in Wales;

b) that the restrictions will have a very limited impact upon infection rates in Wales;

c) that these restrictions will have a lasting impact on jobs and livelihoods and will cause lasting damage to the hospitality sector in Wales.

Amendment 11 Sian Gwenllian (Arfon)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Agrees that, whilst hospitality venues can remain open, they should not be subject to a complete ban on the sale of alcohol as currently set out in regulations which came into force on 4 December.

Amendment 12 Sian Gwenllian (Arfon)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Agrees that the cut-off time on the sale of alcohol in supermarkets and off-licences should be consistent with the cut-off time imposed on hospitality venues.

Amendment 13 Sian Gwenllian (Arfon)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Agrees that hospitality venues should be allowed to stay open until 8pm.

Amendment 14 Sian Gwenllian (Arfon)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Calls on the Welsh Government to outline:

a) the specific objectives it hopes the new national restrictions outlined in the First Minister’s statement to the Senedd on 1 December will achieve; and

b) what the threshold will be for relaxing those measures.

Amendment 15 Sian Gwenllian (Arfon)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Agrees that the latest Welsh Government technical advisory cell advice, together with all data supporting the policy decisions taken, should be published alongside or prior to any announcement on further national coronavirus restrictions.

Amendment 16 Sian Gwenllian (Arfon)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Agrees that the Welsh Government should adopt a presumption in favour of holding a meaningful vote in the Senedd to precede the coming into effect of any further national coronavirus restrictions of the magnitude outlined in the First Minister’s statement to the Senedd on 1 December.

Amendment 17 Sian Gwenllian (Arfon)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Calls on the Welsh Government to afford the opportunity for opposition parties to make reasonable requests for independent modelling by the technical advisory cell on alternative proposals in relation to matters such as the closure of the hospitality sector and other non-pharmaceutical interventions.

The item was postponed to the meeting of Wednesday 9 December 2020.

 

NDM7496 Rebecca Evans (Gower)

To propose that the Senedd:

Notes the Equality and Human Rights Commission Wales Committee Impact Report 2019-20.

Wales Impact Report 2019-20

The item was postponed.

In accordance with Standing Order 12.18, at 13.27 proceedings were suspended to allow a technical break before voting time.

The item started at 13.30

The meeting ended at 13.31 on Wednesday 9 December 2020