Agenda and minutes

Venue: Y Siambr - Y Senedd. View directions

Expected timing: 50 

Media

Senedd.TV: View the webcast

Transcript: Transcript for 02/02/2022 - Plenary

Items
Expected timing No. Item

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

 

(45 mins)

1.

Questions to the Minister for Finance and Local Government

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

 

(45 mins)

2.

Questions to the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd

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

 

(20 mins)

3.

Topical Questions

To ask the Minister for Social Justice:

 

Mark Isherwood (North Wales): Will the Minister make a statement on the Winter Fuel Support Scheme Payment?

Minutes:

The item started at 15.03

Answered by the Minister for Social Justice

Mark Isherwood: Will the Minister make a statement on the winter fuel support scheme payment?

 

(5 mins)

4.

90 Second Statements

Minutes:

The item started at 15.16

Sioned Williams made a statement on – Celebrating Neath RFC’s 150th anniversary.

 

Siân Gwenllian made a statement on -  congratulating the pupils of Ysgol Rhosgadfan on the film ‘Blot-deuwedd

 

James Evans made a statement on - the Premier League of Darts coming to Cardiff.

In accordance with Standing Order 12.18, at 15.20 the Llywydd suspended the meeting.

 

(30 mins)

5.

Welsh Conservatives debate - Obesity

NDM7903 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Expresses its concern that nearly two-thirds of adults in Wales are currently overweight or obese.

2. Notes that COVID-19 has a disproportionate effect on those living with obesity, with more than half of critical care admissions having a BMI of over 30.

3. Further notes that weight-management services were paused or adapted as the Welsh NHS treated COVID patients.

4. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

a) urgently reopen those weight-management services which have been paused during the pandemic;

b) indicate when specialist multidisciplinary weight-management services will be expanded across Wales; and

c) provide extra funding to ensure that weight-management services are able to cope with increased need.

The following amendments have been tabled:

Amendment 1 Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

Delete point 4 and replace with:

Acknowledges:

a) the new 2022-24 delivery plan, due to launch on 1 March, which supports the Healthy Weight: Healthy Wales Strategy and aims to prevent and reduce obesity over the next two years.

b) the £5.8m investment into obesity services accompanying the plan, to enable health boards to deliver a revised All Wales Weight Management Pathway and equitable services, including specialist multidisciplinary weight-management services in Wales.

Healthy Weight: Healthy Wales

Amendment 2 Siân Gwenllian (Arfon)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Calls on the Welsh Government to prioritise preventative measures to reduce obesity in Wales, such as:

a) investing in resources to promote physical activity in all communities;

b) improving health education;

c) increasing the time allocated to physical education lessons in schools;

d) Investigate the use of taxation tools to encourage a better diet.

Minutes:

The item started at 15.37

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

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM7903 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Expresses its concern that nearly two-thirds of adults in Wales are currently overweight or obese.

2. Notes that COVID-19 has a disproportionate effect on those living with obesity, with more than half of critical care admissions having a BMI of over 30.

3. Further notes that weight-management services were paused or adapted as the Welsh NHS treated COVID patients.

4. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

a) urgently reopen those weight-management services which have been paused during the pandemic;

b) indicate when specialist multidisciplinary weight-management services will be expanded across Wales; and

c) provide extra funding to ensure that weight-management services are able to cope with increased need.

For

Abstain

Against

Total

15

0

39

54

The motion without amendment was not agreed.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

Delete point 4 and replace with:

Acknowledges:

a) the new 2022-24 delivery plan, due to launch on 1 March, which supports the Healthy Weight: Healthy Wales Strategy and aims to prevent and reduce obesity over the next two years.

b) the £5.8m investment into obesity services accompanying the plan, to enable health boards to deliver a revised All Wales Weight Management Pathway and equitable services, including specialist multidisciplinary weight-management services in Wales.

Healthy Wales: Healthy Weight Strategy

A vote was taken on amendment 1:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

40

0

14

54

Amendment 1 was agreed.

Amendment 2 Siân Gwenllian (Arfon)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Calls on the Welsh Government to prioritise preventative measures to reduce obesity in Wales, such as:

a) investing in resources to promote physical activity in all communities;

b) improving health education;

c) increasing the time allocated to physical education lessons in schools;

d) Investigate the use of taxation tools to encourage a better diet.

A vote was taken on amendment 2:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

40

0

14

54

Amendment 2 was agreed.

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

NDM7903 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Expresses its concern that nearly two-thirds of adults in Wales are currently overweight or obese.

2. Notes that COVID-19 has a disproportionate effect on those living with obesity, with more than half of critical care admissions having a BMI of over 30.

3. Further notes that weight-management services were paused or adapted as the Welsh NHS treated COVID patients.

4. Acknowledges:

a) the new 2022-24 delivery plan, due to launch on 1 March, which supports the Healthy Weight: Healthy Wales Strategy and aims to prevent and reduce obesity over the next two years.

b) the £5.8m investment into obesity services accompanying the plan, to enable health boards to deliver a revised All Wales Weight Management Pathway and equitable services, including specialist multidisciplinary weight-management services in Wales.

5. Calls on the Welsh Government to prioritise preventative measures to reduce obesity in Wales, such as:

a) investing in resources to promote physical activity in all communities;

b) improving health education;

c) increasing the time allocated to physical education lessons in schools;

d) Investigate the use of taxation tools to encourage a better diet.

For

Abstain

Against

Total

40

0

14

54

The motion as amended was agreed.

 

(30 mins)

6.

Welsh Conservatives debate - Adverse childhood experiences

NDM7905 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Recognises the impact that adverse childhood experiences have on health, educational attainment and substance abuse later on in life.

2. Believes that greater focus should be given to preventing child abuse and neglect than dealing with the outcomes.

3. Calls on the Welsh Government to set a target of reducing child abuse, neglect and other adverse childhood experiences by 70 per cent by 2030.

The following amendments have been tabled:

Amendment 1 Siân Gwenllian (Arfon)

Delete all after point 1, and replace with:

Believes that tackling distress during childhood and early intervention must be prioritised in order to give the best start to all children in Wales.

Notes the evidence that there has been an increase in adverse childhood experiences as a result of COVID-19.

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

Amendment 2 Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

Delete point 3.

Amendment 3 Siân Gwenllian (Arfon)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Calls on the Welsh Government to ensure that there will be clear targets in the adverse childhood experiences plan that will be published this summer to measure its effectiveness.

Amendment 4 Siân Gwenllian (Arfon)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Calls on the Welsh Government to incorporate the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child fully into Welsh law.

Minutes:

The item started at 16.08

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

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM7905 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Recognises the impact that adverse childhood experiences have on health, educational attainment and substance abuse later on in life.

2. Believes that greater focus should be given to preventing child abuse and neglect than dealing with the outcomes.

3. Calls on the Welsh Government to set a target of reducing child abuse, neglect and other adverse childhood experiences by 70 per cent by 2030.

For

Abstain

Against

Total

15

0

39

54

The motion without amendment was not agreed.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 Siân Gwenllian (Arfon)

Delete all after point 1, and replace with:

Believes that tackling distress during childhood and early intervention must be prioritised in order to give the best start to all children in Wales.

Notes the evidence that there has been an increase in adverse childhood experiences as a result of COVID-19.

A vote was taken on amendment 1:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

40

0

14

54

Amendment 1 was agreed.

[As amendment 1 was agreed, amendment 2 was de-selected]

Amendment 3 Siân Gwenllian (Arfon)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Calls on the Welsh Government to ensure that there will be clear targets in the adverse childhood experiences plan that will be published this summer to measure its effectiveness.

A vote was taken on amendment 3:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

27

0

28

55

As required by Standing Order 6.20 the Deputy Presiding Officer exercised his casting vote by voting against the amendment Therefore, amendment 3 was not agreed.

Amendment 4 Siân Gwenllian (Arfon)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Calls on the Welsh Government to incorporate the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child fully into Welsh law.

A vote was taken on amendment 4:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

54

0

0

54

Amendment 4 was agreed.

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

NDM7905 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Recognises the impact that adverse childhood experiences have on health, educational attainment and substance abuse later on in life.

2. Believes that tackling distress during childhood and early intervention must be prioritised in order to give the best start to all children in Wales.

3. Notes the evidence that there has been an increase in adverse childhood experiences as a result of COVID-19.

4. Calls on the Welsh Government to incorporate the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child fully into Welsh law.

 

For

Abstain

Against

Total

54

0

0

54

The motion as amended was agreed.

 

(60 mins)

7.

Welsh Conservatives debate - 70th Anniversary of the accession

NDM7904 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Extends its warmest congratulations to Her Majesty the Queen on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of her accession to the throne.

Minutes:

The item started at 16.44

NDM7904 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Extends its warmest congratulations to Her Majesty the Queen on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of her accession to the throne.

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

 

(60 mins)

8.

Plaid Cymru debate - Stalking

NDM7906 Siân Gwenllian (Arfon)

To propose that the Senedd: 

1. Regrets the increases in violence and harassment against women, noting that stalking offences reported to police increased by 30 per cent in Wales between 2020 and 2021.

2. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

a) use the new curriculum and other resources to foster a culture that prevents the occurrence of stalking in the first place;

b) produce guidance for planning bodies that ensures women’s safety is considered in the design of public spaces;

c) work with Police and Crime Commissioners to improve police handling of stalking, ensuring police are trained to handle the real nature of stalking and that stalking protection orders are being utilised;

d) provides specialist support for survivors of stalking;

e) commit to pursuing the devolution of powers over policing and justice to Wales so that it can fully tackle the crime of stalking and make misogyny a hate crime in Wales. 

The following amendments have been tabled:

Amendment 1 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

Add as new point after point 1 and renumber accordingly:

Welcomes both the Stalking Protection Act 2019 and the amendment to the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill to make misogyny a hate crime in England and Wales.

Stalking Protection Act 2019

Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill

Amendment 2 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

In point 2 (c), after 'work with' insert 'police forces and'

Amendment 3 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

In point 2, delete sub-point (e) and replace with:

'ensure that perpetrator programmes are available across Wales'

Minutes:

The item started at 17.24

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

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM7906  Siân Gwenllian (Arfon)

To propose that the Senedd: 

1. Regrets the increases in violence and harassment against women, noting that stalking offences reported to police increased by 30 per cent in Wales between 2020 and 2021.

2. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

a) use the new curriculum and other resources to foster a culture that prevents the occurrence of stalking in the first place;

b) produce guidance for planning bodies that ensures women’s safety is considered in the design of public spaces;

c) work with Police and Crime Commissioners to improve police handling of stalking, ensuring police are trained to handle the real nature of stalking and that stalking protection orders are being utilised;

d) provides specialist support for survivors of stalking;

e) commit to pursuing the devolution of powers over policing and justice to Wales so that it can fully tackle the crime of stalking and make misogyny a hate crime in Wales. 

For

Abstain

Against

Total

40

0

14

54

The motion without amendment was agreed.

In accordance with Standing Order 12.18, at 18.04 proceedings were suspended to allow a technical break before Voting Time.

 

9.

Voting Time

Minutes:

The item started at 18.10

 

Votes Summary

Supporting documents:

(0 mins)

10.

Short Debate - WITHDRAWN