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 9 questions were asked. Questions 4–6 and 8 were answered by the Deputy Minister for Climate Change. 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 14.24

The first 9 questions were asked. The Presiding Officer invited party spokespeople to ask questions to the Minister after question 2.

For answer by the Deputy Minister for Social Services:

Jane Dodds (Mid and West Wales): What resources and guidance is the Welsh Government providing to local authorities, and other statutory agencies to identify potential child safeguarding concerns, following the death of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes in Solihull?

The item started at 15.12

Answered by the Deputy Minister for Social Services:

Jane Dodds (Mid and West Wales): What resources and guidance is the Welsh Government providing to local authorities, and other statutory agencies to identify potential child safeguarding concerns, following the death of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes in Solihull?

The item started at 15.24

Mabon ap Gwynfor made a statement to celebrate the success of Tŷ Doctor, the surgery in Nefyn, on its vaccination efforts.

In accordance with Standing Order 12.18, at 15.26 the Deputy Presiding Officer suspended the meeting.

NDM7860 Jack Sargeant (Alyn and Deeside)

To propose that the Senedd:

Notes the petition ‘P-06-1208 New laws to protect rare red squirrels from habitat loss which causes population decline’ which received 10,553 signatures.

P-06-1208 New laws to protect rare red squirrels from habitat loss which causes population decline

The item started at 15.33

NDM7860 Jack Sargeant (Alyn and Deeside)

To propose that the Senedd:

Notes the petition ‘P-06-1208 New laws to protect rare red squirrels from habitat loss which causes population decline’ which received 10,553 signatures.

P-06-1208 New laws to protect rare red squirrels from habitat loss which causes population decline

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

NDM7861 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes the findings of the Holden report into failings at the Hergest unit at Ysbyty Gwynedd.

2. Regrets:

a) that it has taken almost eight years and a direction from the information commissioner for Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board to publish the report;

b) the delay between the publication of the report and Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board being placed in special measures;

c) that the health board and Welsh Government have failed to address all of the issues identified in the report;

d) the lack of accountability for the poor performance of mental health services across North Wales;

e) the devastating impact of these failings on staff, patients and their loved ones.

3. Calls upon the Welsh Government to:

a) apologise to staff, patients and the families of those adversely affected by the failings at the Hergest Unit;

b) require all health boards to publish reports routinely and in a timely manner in the future; 

c) deliver radical improvements in the provision of mental health services in North Wales; 

d) undertake a fundamental review of mental health services across Wales with patients, families, professionals and other stakeholders;

e) publish meaningful information on the performance and quality of mental health services across Wales, including waiting times for mental health assessments and treatment, such as talking therapies;

f) establish a network of 24 hour mental health walk-in centres for those experiencing a mental health crisis;

g) work on a cross-party basis to deliver a new mental health Act for Wales. 

Holden Report

The following amendment has been tabled:

Amendment 1. Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

Delete all after point 1 and replace with:

2. Notes the progress being made to improve the quality and safety of mental health services in Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board since the Holden recommendations were published in 2015.

3. Recognises the significant challenges that remain in mental health services in Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board and the improvements needed to address them.

2014 Holden report

The item started at 16.07

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

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM7861 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes the findings of the Holden report into failings at the Hergest unit at Ysbyty Gwynedd.

2. Regrets:

a) that it has taken almost eight years and a direction from the information commissioner for Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board to publish the report;

b) the delay between the publication of the report and Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board being placed in special measures;

c) that the health board and Welsh Government have failed to address all of the issues identified in the report;

d) the lack of accountability for the poor performance of mental health services across North Wales;

e) the devastating impact of these failings on staff, patients and their loved ones.

3. Calls upon the Welsh Government to:

a) apologise to staff, patients and the families of those adversely affected by the failings at the Hergest Unit;

b) require all health boards to publish reports routinely and in a timely manner in the future; 

c) deliver radical improvements in the provision of mental health services in North Wales; 

d) undertake a fundamental review of mental health services across Wales with patients, families, professionals and other stakeholders;

e) publish meaningful information on the performance and quality of mental health services across Wales, including waiting times for mental health assessments and treatment, such as talking therapies;

f) establish a network of 24 hour mental health walk-in centres for those experiencing a mental health crisis;

g) work on a cross-party basis to deliver a new mental health Act for Wales. 

Holden Report

As required by Standing Order 6.20 the Presiding Officer exercised her casting vote by voting against the motion. Therefore, the motion was not agreed.

The following amendment was tabled:

Amendment 1 Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

Delete all after point 1 and replace with:

2. Notes the progress being made to improve the quality and safety of mental health services in Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board since the Holden recommendations were published in 2015.

3. Recognises the significant challenges that remain in mental health services in Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board and the improvements needed to address them.

2014 Holden report

A vote was taken on amendment 1:

As required by Standing Order 6.20 the Presiding Officer exercised her casting vote by voting against the amendment. Therefore, the amendment was not agreed.

As the Senedd did not agree the motion without amendment, and did not agree the amendment tabled to the motion, the motion was therefore not agreed.

NDM7862 Siân Gwenllian (Arfon)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes that almost a quarter of people in Wales are in poverty.

2. Further notes that the use of food banks was increasing before the COVID-19 pandemic, has effectively doubled during the pandemic and all indications are that this situation will continue to get worse.

3. Acknowledges the profound, devastating and enduring consequences of food insecurity on the health, wellbeing and livelihoods of people.

4. Calls on the UK Government to support the right to food campaign, which is particularly critical given the cost of living crisis faced by so many across Wales.

5. Calls on the Welsh Government to explore all options on ensuring that the right to food is embedded in cross-governmental policy approaches to poverty.

The following amendments have been tabled:

Amendment 1. Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

Delete point 2 and replace with:

Believes that every human being has a right to a nutritious and adequate food supply.

Amendment 2. Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

Delete point 4 and replace with:

Further acknowledges that the UK Government has increased the living wage and is spending over £111 billion on welfare support for people of working age in 2021/22.

Amendment 3. Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Further calls on the Welsh Government to work with the UK Government in delivering its Plan for Jobs including the kickstart programme, aiming to create full-time jobs to reduce the risk of poverty.

The item started at 17.02

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

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM7862 Siân Gwenllian (Arfon)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes that almost a quarter of people in Wales are in poverty.

2. Further notes that the use of food banks was increasing before the COVID-19 pandemic, has effectively doubled during the pandemic and all indications are that this situation will continue to get worse.

3. Acknowledges the profound, devastating and enduring consequences of food insecurity on the health, wellbeing and livelihoods of people.

4. Calls on the UK Government to support the right to food campaign, which is particularly critical given the cost of living crisis faced by so many across Wales.

5. Calls on the Welsh Government to explore all options on ensuring that the right to food is embedded in cross-governmental policy approaches to poverty.

The motion without amendment was agreed.

In accordance with Standing Order 12.18, at 18.12 proceedings were suspended to allow a technical break before Voting Time.

The item started at 18.16

NDM7859 Rhys ab Owen (South Wales Central)

The Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015: envy of the world?

The item started at 18.21

NDM7859 Rhys ab Owen (South Wales Central)

The Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015: envy of the world?