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 Spokespeople to ask questions without notice after Question 2.

View Questions

The item started at 13.30

The first 8 questions were asked. Questions 7 and 8 were grouped together for answer. Question 3 was answered by the Deputy Minister for Social Partnership. The Presiding Officer invited party spokespeople to ask questions to the Minister after question 2.

The Presiding Officer will call Party Spokespeople to ask questions without notice after Question 2.

View Questions

The item started at 14.20

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

In accordance with Standing Order 12.18, at 15.12 the meeting was suspended by the Deputy Presiding Officer.

View Questions

The item started at 15.21

All 8 questions were asked.

[To ask the Minister for Climate Change]

Mabon ap Gwynfor (Dwyfor Meirionydd): Will the Minister make a statement on the Welsh Government's eviction policy?

[To ask the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language]

Laura Anne Jones (South Wales East): In light of comments made by the Minister at a coronavirus press briefing on Monday, what steps is the Welsh Government taking to support schools, colleges and universities across Wales with the implementation of their own COVID-safety rules in the next term?

The item started at 15.46

To ask the Minister for Climate Change:

Mabon ap Gwynfor (Dwyfor Meirionydd): Will the Minister make a statement on the Welsh Government's eviction policy?

To ask the Minister for Education and Welsh Language:

Laura Anne Jones (South Wales East): In light of comments made by the Minister at a coronavirus press briefing on Monday, what steps is the Welsh Government taking to support schools, colleges and universities across Wales with the implementation of their own COVID-safety rules in the next term?

The item started at 16.06

Vikki Howells (Cynon Valley) made a statement on Remembering the Albion Colliery disaster.

Sioned Williams (South Wales West) made a statement on Neath Tennis – recognised by the Lawn Tennis Association’s annual awards as one of the best Community Tennis Projects in the UK.

Delyth Jewell (South Wales East) made a statement on Bryn Seion Chapel in Ystrad Mynach -will be closing and will have its final service on Sunday.

The item started at 16.10

NDM7746 Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Order 17.3, elects:

1. Rhianon Passmore (Welsh Labour), Alun Davies (Welsh Labour), and Peter Fox (Welsh Conservatives) as members of the Finance Committee.

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

NDM7713 Gareth Davies (Vale of Clwyd)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes a proposal for a Bill that would embed a rights-based approach in the development, planning and delivery of public services that affect older people in Wales.

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

a) place a duty on Welsh Ministers to have due regard for the United Nations Principles for Older Persons when making decisions that may impact upon older people in Wales;

b) extend the due regard duty to local authorities, local health boards and other Welsh public authorities;

c) place a duty on Welsh Ministers to promote knowledge and understanding of the UN Principles for Older Persons amongst older people and Welsh public authorities;

d) place a requirement for Welsh Ministers to consult the Older People’s Commissioner, older people and other relevant stakeholders before making or revising the older people’s rights scheme; and

e) place a duty for Welsh Ministers to issue guidance to Welsh public authorities.

UN Principles for Older Persons 

The item started at 16.11

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

NDM7713 Gareth Davies (Vale of Clwyd)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes a proposal for a Bill that would embed a rights-based approach in the development, planning and delivery of public services that affect older people in Wales.

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

a) place a duty on Welsh Ministers to have due regard for the United Nations Principles for Older Persons when making decisions that may impact upon older people in Wales;

b) extend the due regard duty to local authorities, local health boards and other Welsh public authorities;

c) place a duty on Welsh Ministers to promote knowledge and understanding of the UN Principles for Older Persons amongst older people and Welsh public authorities;

d) place a requirement for Welsh Ministers to consult the Older People’s Commissioner, older people and other relevant stakeholders before making or revising the older people’s rights scheme; and

e) place a duty for Welsh Ministers to issue guidance to Welsh public authorities.

UN Principles for Older Persons 

The result was as follows:

The motion was agreed.

In accordance with Standing Order 12.18, at 16.31 the meeting was suspended by the Deputy Presiding Officer.

NDM7725 Sian Gwenllian (Arfon)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes the Senedd’s declaration of a climate emergency in 2019.

2. Notes that the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) will meet this autumn to agree to a global biodiversity framework.

3. Believes there should be parity between actions taken by the Welsh Government to tackle climate change and those taken to tackle biodiversity loss.

4. Recognises the need to close the environmental governance gap created by our departure from the EU.

5. Declares a nature emergency.

6. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

a) introduce legally binding requirement to reverse biodiversity loss through statutory targets;

b) legislate to establish an independent environmental governance body for Wales.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

Delete point 4 and replace with:

Recognises the opportunity for Wales to be a world leader on environmental governance following the United Kingdom’s departure from the European Union.

Amendment 2 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

Add as new sub-point at end of point 6:

'work more closely with the UK Government on the response to the climate emergency and nature recovery.'

The item started at 16.43

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

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM7725 Sian Gwenllian (Arfon)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes the Senedd’s declaration of a climate emergency in 2019.

2. Notes that the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) will meet this autumn to agree to a global biodiversity framework.

3. Believes there should be parity between actions taken by the Welsh Government to tackle climate change and those taken to tackle biodiversity loss.

4. Recognises the need to close the environmental governance gap created by our departure from the EU.

5. Declares a nature emergency.

6. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

a) introduce legally binding requirement to reverse biodiversity loss through statutory targets;

b) legislate to establish an independent environmental governance body for Wales.

The motion without amendment was agreed

In accordance with Standing Order 12.18, at 17.43 proceedings were suspended to allow a technical break before voting time.

The item started at 17.48

NDM7743 James Evans (Brecon and Radnorshire)

The impact of Natural Resources Wales's phosphate regulations.

The item started at 17.50

NDM7743 James Evans (Brecon and Radnorshire)

The impact of Natural Resources Wales's phosphate regulations.