Agenda and minutes

Venue: Zoom

Contact: Aled Elwyn Jones 

Expected timing: 329(v3) 

Media

Senedd.TV: View the webcast

Transcript: Transcript for 10/03/2021 - Plenary - Fifth Senedd

Items
Expected timing No. Item

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

 

(45 mins)

1.

Questions to the Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs

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

Questions 1-6, 8 and 10 were asked. Questions 7 and 9 were withdrawn. The Presiding Officer invited party spokespeople to ask questions to the Minister after question 2.

 

(45 mins)

2.

Questions to the Minister for Housing and Local Government

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

View Questions

Minutes:

The item started at 14.18

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

 

(0 mins)

3.

Topical Questions

No Topical Questions were accepted.

Minutes:

No Topical Questions were accepted.

 

(5 mins)

4.

90 Second Statements

Minutes:

The item started at 15.15

Huw Irranca-Davies made a statement on: The 250th Anniversary of the Birth of Robert Owen (to mark his contribution to the co-operative ideals and to workers’ rights and more) (born on 14 May 1771).

 

Russell George made a statement on: The 20th Anniversary of the Wales Air Ambulance (launched on 1 March 2001).

 

(30 mins)

5.

Member Debate under Standing Order 11.21(iv) - Type 2 diabetes

NDM7552 Jenny Rathbone (Cardiff Central)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes:

a) that Wales has the highest rates of type 2 diabetes anywhere in western Europe, with over 200,000 diagnosed, an estimated 65,000 with undiagnosed type 2, and a further 500,000 at risk of contracting diabetes;

b) that caring for people with diabetes already consumes 10 per cent of the NHS budget;

c) the heightened risks of catching COVID-19 for citizens who have diabetes as a pre-existing condition; and

d) the success and cost effectiveness of the award-winning Nutrition Skills for Life programme piloted in the Afan Valley.

2. Urges the Welsh Government to mainstream the Nutrition Skills for Life programme throughout Wales as a central element of a Welsh diabetes prevention plan.

Co-submitters
Dai Lloyd
Jack Sargeant

Supporters
Andrew RT Davies
Darren Millar
Helen Mary Jones
Jayne Bryant

Minutes:

The item started at 15.18

NDM7552 Jenny Rathbone (Cardiff Central)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes:

a) that Wales has the highest rates of type 2 diabetes anywhere in western Europe, with over 200,000 diagnosed, an estimated 65,000 with undiagnosed type 2, and a further 500,000 at risk of contracting diabetes;

b) that caring for people with diabetes already consumes 10 per cent of the NHS budget;

c) the heightened risks of catching COVID-19 for citizens who have diabetes as a pre-existing condition; and

d) the success and cost effectiveness of the award-winning Nutrition Skills for Life programme piloted in the Afan Valley.

2. Urges the Welsh Government to mainstream the Nutrition Skills for Life programme throughout Wales as a central element of a Welsh diabetes prevention plan.

Co-submitters

Dai Lloyd

Jack Sargeant

Supporters

Andrew RT Davies

Darren Millar

Helen Mary Jones

Jayne Bryant

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

 

(60 mins)

6.

Debate on the Economy, Infrastructure and Skills Committee report on long term recovery from COVID-19

NDM7623 Russell George (Montgomeryshire)

To propose that the Senedd:

Notes the report of the Economy, Infrastructure and Skills Committee on its inquiry, Long-term recovery from COVID-19, which was laid in the Table Office on 3 March 2021.

 

Minutes:

The item started at 15.38

NDM7623 Russell George (Montgomeryshire)

To propose that the Senedd:

Notes the report of the Economy, Infrastructure and Skills Committee on its inquiry, Long-term recovery from COVID-19, which was laid in the Table Office on 3 March 2021.

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

 

(30 mins)

7.

Debate on petition P-05-1078 Increase funding for mental health services and improve waiting times for people needing help in crisis

NDM7624 Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy)

To propose that the Senedd:

Notes the petition 'P-05-1078 Increase funding for mental health services and improve waiting times for people needing help in crisis’ which received 5,159 signatures.

P-05-1078 Increase funding for mental health services and improve waiting times for people needing help in crisis

 

Minutes:

The item started at 16.21

NDM7624 Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy)

To propose that the Senedd:

Notes the petition 'P-05-1078 Increase funding for mental health services and improve waiting times for people needing help in crisis’ which received 5,159 signatures.

P-05-1078 Increase funding for mental health services and improve waiting times for people needing help in crisis

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

 

(30 mins)

8.

Welsh Conservatives debate - NHS waiting times

NDM7626 Mark Isherwood (North Wales)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes that 1 in 5 patients are on a waiting list and over 2,000 people have waited longer than two years for treatment.

2. Recognises that over the last five years 5 out of 7 health boards have been in special measures or targeted intervention.

3. Believes the Welsh Government has held back the Welsh NHS.

4. Calls on the Welsh Government to urgently publish a recovery plan for the Welsh NHS which will:

a) clear the backlog in treatment and ensure that no-one has to wait more than one year for treatment;

b) recruit at least 1,200 doctors and 2,000 nurses to reduce waiting times; and

c) transform mental health by treating it with the same urgency as physical health.

The following amendments have been tabled:

Amendment 1. Rebecca Evans (Gower)

Delete all after point 1 and replace with:

Recognises:

a) that despite this challenging time, through additional support, and dedicated NHS staff, four health boards have reduced their escalation status, and we now have one health board in special measures and one in targeted intervention;

b) the impact the pandemic has had on the health service in Wales and across the world;

c) and acknowledges the outstanding contribution of all health and care staff during the pandemic; and

d) the need for a clear recovery plan to include all areas of health services such as mental health, to ensure parity between physical and mental health.

[If amendment 1 is agreed, amendments 2 and 3 will be de-selected]

Amendment 2. Mark Reckless (South Wales East)

Delete all after point 2 and replace with:

Believes that devolution has held back healthcare provision and outcomes in Wales.

Calls for an integrated UK-wide approach to healthcare with one National Health Service.

Co-submitter
Gareth Bennett (South Wales Central)

[If amendment 2 is agreed, amendment 3 will be de-selected]

Amendment 3. Caroline Jones (South Wales West)

Delete all after point 2 and replace with:

Regrets the fact that more than 23,000 UK-domiciled applicants failed to gain nurse training places last year and that, since 2010, more than 54 per cent of UK-domiciled applicants to nursing courses have been rejected.

Believes the Welsh NHS has been held back by both the UK and Welsh Governments due to a complete lack of workforce planning over many decades.

Calls upon the Welsh Government to:

a) work with UK higher education providers to provide more medical training places to UK-domiciled students;

b) work with the royal colleges and professional bodies to assess the true staffing needs of the Welsh NHS;

c) recruit sufficient doctors, nurses and healthcare professionals to address the massive backlogs in treatment waiting times as well as diagnostic waits;

d) ensure that no one will wait more than 12 months for treatment; and

e) transform mental health by ensuring it has equal footing with physical health.

Amendment 4. Siân Gwenllian (Arfon)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Believes transformation of health and care can only be secured through:

a) a new focus on preventative measures; and

b) seamless integration of health and social care through a new integrated national health and care service.

Minutes:

The item started at 16.42

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

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM7626 Mark Isherwood (North Wales)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes that 1 in 5 patients are on a waiting list and over 2,000 people have waited longer than two years for treatment.

2. Recognises that over the last five years 5 out of 7 health boards have been in special measures or targeted intervention.

3. Believes the Welsh Government has held back the Welsh NHS.

4. Calls on the Welsh Government to urgently publish a recovery plan for the Welsh NHS which will:

a) clear the backlog in treatment and ensure that no-one has to wait more than one year for treatment;

b) recruit at least 1,200 doctors and 2,000 nurses to reduce waiting times; and

c) transform mental health by treating it with the same urgency as physical health.

For

Abstain

Against

Total

11

3

35

49

The motion without amendment was not agreed.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1. Rebecca Evans (Gower)

Delete all after point 1 and replace with:

Recognises:

a) that despite this challenging time, through additional support, and dedicated NHS staff, four health boards have reduced their escalation status, and we now have one health board in special measures and one in targeted intervention;

b) the impact the pandemic has had on the health service in Wales and across the world;

c) and acknowledges the outstanding contribution of all health and care staff during the pandemic; and

d) the need for a clear recovery plan to include all areas of health services such as mental health, to ensure parity between physical and mental health.

A vote was taken on amendment 1:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

27

2

20

49

Amendment 1 was agreed.

As amendment 1 was agreed, amendments 2 and 3 were de-selected.

Amendment 4. Siân Gwenllian (Arfon)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Believes transformation of health and care can only be secured through:

a) a new focus on preventative measures; and

b) seamless integration of health and social care through a new integrated national health and care service.

A vote was taken on amendment 4:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

10

0

40

50

Amendment 4 was not agreed.

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

NDM7626 Mark Isherwood (North Wales)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes that 1 in 5 patients are on a waiting list and over 2,000 people have waited longer than two years for treatment.

2. Recognises:

a) that despite this challenging time, through additional support, and dedicated NHS staff, four health boards have reduced their escalation status, and we now have one health board in special measures and one in targeted intervention;

b) the impact the pandemic has had on the health service in Wales and across the world;

c) and acknowledges the outstanding contribution of all health and care staff during the pandemic; and

d) the need for a clear recovery plan to include all areas of health services such as mental health, to ensure parity between physical and mental health.

For

Abstain

Against

Total

28

8

14

50

The motion as amended was agreed.

 

9.

Voting Time

Minutes:

In accordance with Standing Order 12.18, at 17.27 proceedings were suspended to allow a technical break before voting time.

The item started at 17.30.

 

Votes Summary

Supporting documents:

(30 mins)

10.

Short Debate

NDM7625 Huw Irranca-Davies (Ogmore)

Putting things right? Shortcomings in the case of Kelly Wilson and exploring the extent to which the culture and processes within the NHS have changed.

 

Minutes:

The item started at 17.34

NDM7625 Huw Irranca-Davies (Ogmore)

Putting things right? Shortcomings in the case of Kelly Wilson and exploring the extent to which the culture and processes within the NHS have changed.