Agenda and minutes

Venue: Zoom

Contact: Aled Elwyn Jones 

Expected timing: 317(v3) 

Media

Senedd.TV: View the webcast

Transcript: Transcript for 20/01/2021 - Plenary - Fifth Senedd

Items
Expected timing No. Item

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

 

The Llywydd announced, in accordance with Standing Order 26.75, that the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021 was given Royal Assent on that day.

 

(45 mins)

1.

Questions to the Minister for Health and Social Services

The Presiding Officer will call party spokespeople to ask questions without notice after Question 2.

View Questions

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The item started at 13.30

The first 8 questions were asked. Questions 5 and 8 were grouped together for answer. 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.

 

(45 mins)

2.

Questions to the Minister for Mental Health, Wellbeing and Welsh Language

The Presiding Officer will call party spokespeople to ask questions without notice after Question 2.

View Questions

Minutes:

The item started at 14.21

The first 8 questions were asked. Questions 5 and 8 were grouped together for answer. The Presiding Officer invited party spokespeople to ask questions to the Minister after question 2.

 

(0 mins)

3.

Topical Questions

No Topical Questions have been accepted

Minutes:

No Topical Questions were accepted

 

(5 mins)

4.

90 Second Statements

Minutes:

No 90 Second Statements were submitted

 

(30 mins)

5.

Debate on petition P-05-1032 Legislate to prevent people from changing Welsh house names

NDM7550 Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy)

To propose that the Senedd:

Notes the petition ‘P-05-1032 Legislate to prevent people from changing Welsh house names’ which received 18,103 signatures.

P-05-1032 Legislate to prevent people from changing Welsh house names

Minutes:

The item started at 15.18

NDM7550 Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy)

To propose that the Senedd:

Notes the petition ‘P-05-1032 Legislate to prevent people from changing Welsh house names’ which received 18,103 signatures.

P-05-1032 Legislate to prevent people from changing Welsh house names

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

(60 mins)

6.

Debate on the Children, Young People and Education Committee report: Children’s rights in Wales

NDM7549 Lynne Neagle (Torfaen)

To propose that the Senedd:

Notes the Children, Young People and Education Committee Report, Children’s rights in Wales, which was laid in the Table Office on 11 August 2020.

Note: The response by the Welsh Government was laid on 5 October 2020.

Supporting documents
Letter from the Deputy Minister for Health and Social Services to the Committee – 17 December 2020

Minutes:

The item started at 15.34

NDM7549 Lynne Neagle (Torfaen)

To propose that the Senedd:

Notes the Children, Young People and Education Committee Report, Children’s rights in Wales, which was laid in the Table Office on 11 August 2020.

Note: The response by the Welsh Government was laid on 5 October 2020.

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

 

(30 mins)

7.

Independent Alliance for Reform Group debate - Future measures to prevent and tackle the spread of Covid-19

NDM7547 Caroline Jones (South Wales West)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Recognises the harms caused by measures taken to prevent the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

2. Believes that coronavirus mitigation measures have resulted in damage to the Welsh economy and have negatively impacted the life chances of younger generations.

3. Calls upon the Welsh Government to guarantee that the current lockdown is the last, by ensuring that:

a) Wales has an adequate test, trace and isolate regime and provides facilities to allow individuals to totally isolate themselves from all face-to-face contact.

b) NHS Wales has a greater number of critical care beds, with ICU beds per capita closer to that of Germany or the US, both of which have seen fewer deaths per capita than Wales.

4. Further calls upon the Welsh Government to end the postcode lottery of business support, ensuring that all Welsh businesses forced to close as a result of the Welsh Government’s action plan are adequately compensated.

The following amendments have been tabled:

Amendment 1 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

Delete all and replace with:

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Recognises the impact of COVID-19 on public services and business in Wales.

2. Welcomes the UK Government's action to protect lives and livelihoods in Wales and to support the public sector response to the pandemic, including:

a) £5.2 billion in financial support for the Welsh Government;

b) the coronavirus job retention scheme;

c) the self-employed income support scheme;

d) the coronavirus business interruption loans scheme;

e) the bounce-back loans scheme;

f) UK procurement of vaccines and PPE; and

g) deployment of the armed forces.

3. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

a) allocate remaining unused resources received from the UK Government to support Welsh businesses;

b) end the first-come-first-served basis distribution of Welsh Government support for businesses and focus resources at those in greatest need;

c) guarantee that business support is immediately available when restrictions are introduced; and

d) develop a comprehensive plan to bounce back from the pandemic with innovative infrastructure projects and a welcoming environment for businesses in Wales.

[If amendment 1 is agreed, amendment 2 will be de-selected]

Amendment 2 Rebecca Evans (Gower)

Delete all and replace with:

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Recognises that the necessary measures taken to protect lives and to prevent the spread of the SARS-COV-2 virus have had a profound impact on our economy, society and communities.

2. Notes the actions being taken by the Welsh Government to continue to support the Welsh economy and its commitment to ensuring that our young people do not lose out educationally or economically through the effects of the pandemic.

3. Notes the Welsh Government’s commitment to end the lockdown as soon as it is safe to do so.

4. Notes our package of business support is the most generous in the UK and more than £1.67bn of Welsh Government financial assistance has reached businesses since the beginning of April 2020.

Amendment 3 Mark Reckless (South Wales East)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Regrets that the Welsh Government continues to take a different COVID-19 strategy from the UK Government.

Co-submitters

Gareth Bennett (South Wales Central)

Amendment 4 Mark Reckless (South Wales East)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Believes that the most effective COVID-19 strategy to take in Wales is a united, UK response, led by the UK Government.

Co-submitters

Gareth Bennett (South Wales Central)

In accordance with Standing Order 12.23 (iii), amendment 5 tabled to the motion was not selected.

Minutes:

The item started at 16.11

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

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM7547 Caroline Jones (South Wales West)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Recognises the harms caused by measures taken to prevent the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

2. Believes that coronavirus mitigation measures have resulted in damage to the Welsh economy and have negatively impacted the life chances of younger generations.

3. Calls upon the Welsh Government to guarantee that the current lockdown is the last, by ensuring that:

a) Wales has an adequate test, trace and isolate regime and provides facilities to allow individuals to totally isolate themselves from all face-to-face contact.

b) NHS Wales has a greater number of critical care beds, with ICU beds per capita closer to that of Germany or the US, both of which have seen fewer deaths per capita than Wales.

4. Further calls upon the Welsh Government to end the postcode lottery of business support, ensuring that all Welsh businesses forced to close as a result of the Welsh Government’s action plan are adequately compensated.

For

Abstain

Against

Total

4

0

37

41

The motion without amendment was not agreed.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

Delete all and replace with:

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Recognises the impact of COVID-19 on public services and business in Wales.

2. Welcomes the UK Government's action to protect lives and livelihoods in Wales and to support the public sector response to the pandemic, including:

a) £5.2 billion in financial support for the Welsh Government;

b) the coronavirus job retention scheme;

c) the self-employed income support scheme;

d) the coronavirus business interruption loans scheme;

e) the bounce-back loans scheme;

f) UK procurement of vaccines and PPE; and

g) deployment of the armed forces.

3. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

a) allocate remaining unused resources received from the UK Government to support Welsh businesses;

b) end the first-come-first-served basis distribution of Welsh Government support for businesses and focus resources at those in greatest need;

c) guarantee that business support is immediately available when restrictions are introduced; and

d) develop a comprehensive plan to bounce back from the pandemic with innovative infrastructure projects and a welcoming environment for businesses in Wales.

A vote was taken on amendment 1:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

10

0

32

42

Amendment 1 was not agreed.

Amendment 2 Rebecca Evans (Gower)

Delete all and replace with:

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Recognises that the necessary measures taken to protect lives and to prevent the spread of the SARS-COV-2 virus have had a profound impact on our economy, society and communities.

2. Notes the actions being taken by the Welsh Government to continue to support the Welsh economy and its commitment to ensuring that our young people do not lose out educationally or economically through the effects of the pandemic.

3. Notes the Welsh Government’s commitment to end the lockdown as soon as it is safe to do so.

4. Notes our package of business support is the most generous in the UK and more than £1.67bn of Welsh Government financial assistance has reached businesses since the beginning of April 2020.

A vote was taken on amendment 2:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

23

6

13

42

Amendment 2 was agreed.

Amendment 3 Mark Reckless (South Wales East)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Regrets that the Welsh Government continues to take a different COVID-19 strategy from the UK Government.

Co-submitters

Gareth Bennett (South Wales Central)

A vote was taken on amendment 3:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

2

8

32

42

Amendment 3 was not agreed.

Amendment 4 Mark Reckless (South Wales East)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Believes that the most effective COVID-19 strategy to take in Wales is a united, UK response, led by the UK Government.

Co-submitters

Gareth Bennett (South Wales Central)

A vote was taken on amendment 4:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

2

9

31

42

Amendment 4 was not agreed.

In accordance with Standing Order 12.23 (iii), amendment 5 tabled to the motion was not selected.

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

NDM7547 Caroline Jones (South Wales West)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Recognises that the necessary measures taken to protect lives and to prevent the spread of the SARS-COV-2 virus have had a profound impact on our economy, society and communities.

2. Notes the actions being taken by the Welsh Government to continue to support the Welsh economy and its commitment to ensuring that our young people do not lose out educationally or economically through the effects of the pandemic.

3. Notes the Welsh Government’s commitment to end the lockdown as soon as it is safe to do so.

4. Notes our package of business support is the most generous in the UK and more than £1.67bn of Welsh Government financial assistance has reached businesses since the beginning of April 2020.

For

Abstain

Against

Total

25

8

9

42

The motion as amended was agreed.

8.

Voting Time

Minutes:

In accordance with Standing Order 12.18, at 16.34 proceedings were suspended to allow a technical break before voting time.

The item started at 16.41

Votes Summary

Supporting documents:

(30 mins)

9.

Short Debate

NDM7551 Jayne Bryant (Newport West)

Supporting those who support us: the mental wellbeing of our NHS and social care workforce.

Minutes:

The item started at 16.46

NDM7551 Jayne Bryant (Newport West)

Supporting those who support us: the mental wellbeing of our NHS and social care workforce.