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 has received notification, under Standing Order 12.58, that the Deputy Minister for Climate Change and the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd will answer questions on behalf of the Minister.

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

View Questions

The item started at 13.30

Questions 1–2, 4 and 6–10 were asked. Question 3 was withdrawn. Question 5 was not asked. Questions 1, 4, 8 and 10 were answered by Deputy Minister for Climate Change. Questions 2, 6, 7 and 9 were answered by the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd, on behalf of the Minister for Climate Change. The Presiding Officer invited Party Spokespeople to ask questions to the Deputy Minister for Climate Change and the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd, after question 2.

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

View Questions

The item started at 14.16

Questions 1-7, 9 and 11 were asked. Question 8 was withdrawn. Question 10 was not asked. The Presiding Officer invited Party Spokespeople to ask questions to the Minister after question 2.

This item was postponed

This item was postponed

To ask the Minister for Economy

Hefin David (Caerphilly): Will the Minister make a statement on the recent news that Bearmach Ltd at Pantglas Industrial Estate, Bedwas has gone into administration?

To ask the Deputy Minister for Arts and Sport

Heledd Fychan (South Wales Central): What discussions has the Minister held with local stakeholders and union representatives on the protection of workers’ rights following the recent announcement regarding the outsourcing of services at Plas Menai National Outdoor Centre?

The item started at 15.03

Answered by the Minister for Economy

Hefin David (Caerphilly): Will the Minister make a statement on the recent news that Bearmach Ltd at Pantglas Industrial Estate, Bedwas has gone into administration?

Answered by the Deputy Minister for Arts and Sport

Heledd Fychan (South Wales Central): What discussions has the Minister held with local stakeholders and union representatives on the protection of workers’ rights following the recent announcement regarding the outsourcing of services at Plas Menai National Outdoor Centre?

The item started at 15.22

Russell George made a statement on - PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide Charity – 3 fathers who are raising money in memory of their children who have committed suicide.

Natasha Asghar made a statement on - World Alzheimer’s Day.

Rhys ab Owen made a statement on - Tony Paris, one of the Cardiff Three wrongly jailed for murder, dies aged 65.

Delyth Jewell made a statement on – Tribute to Eddie Butler.

Elin Jones made a statement on - Tribute to Mavis Nicholson, innovative broadcaster.

NDM8072 Jenny Rathbone (Cardiff Central)

To propose that the Senedd:

Notes the Equality and Social Justice Committee report on Fuel poverty and the Warm Homes Programme, laid on 18 May 2022.

Note: The response of the Welsh Government to the report was laid in the Table Office on 19 August 2022.

The item started at 15.31

NDM8072 Jenny Rathbone (Cardiff Central)

To propose that the Senedd:

Notes the Equality and Social Justice Committee report on Fuel poverty and the Warm Homes Programme, laid on 18 May 2022.

Note: The response of the Welsh Government to the report was laid in the Table Office on 19 August 2022.

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

The motion has been withdrawn

The motion was withdrawn

This item was postponed

This item was postponed

The item started at 16.31

NNDM8075 Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Orders 33.6 and 33.8:

Suspends Standing Order 12.22(i) to allow amendments to NDM8073 to be considered in Plenary on Wednesday 21 September 2022.

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

NDM8073 Sian Gwenllian (Arfon)

To propose that the Senedd: 

1. Believes that the current increases in energy bills are unsustainable and that they will cause financial strain and hardship on households, businesses, and community groups, whilst fossil fuel companies are making record profits.

2. Calls on the Welsh Government to immediately implement broader cost-of-living emergency measures, such as: 

a. halving rail fares and cap bus fares;

b. working with local authorities to clear some of the significant council tax arrears that have been built up over the course of the pandemic; 

c. a rent freeze; 

d. reinstating measures to ban winter evictions; 

e. expanding the free school meals scheme to secondary school children;

f. increasing the educational maintenance allowance to £45.

The following amendments have been tabled:

Amendment 1 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

Delete all and replace with:

Notes that the UK Government has introduced an energy profits levy.

Welcomes the action taken by the UK Government to tackle the cost of living, including:

a) an energy price guarantee, capping energy costs;

b) cost of living payments for those on low income benefits and tax credits worth £650;

c) a disability cost of living payment worth £150;

d) monthly reductions in fuel bills from October worth £400;

e) an increase in the National Living Wage to £9.50 an hour;

f) a reduction in the universal credit taper rate;

g) a freeze on fuel duty;

h) a two year freeze on the TV licence fee;

i) extra winter fuel payments.

Calls on the Welsh Government to work with the UK Government to support people, businesses and the third sector to meet the challenges ahead.

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

Amendment 2 Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

Delete all after point 1 and replace with:

Believes the UK Government is failing to grasp the severity of this crisis and that it would allow working people to cover the cost of an energy cap instead of taxing the record profits of gas and oil producers.

Welcomes the £1.6bn invested in targeted cost-of-living support and universal programmes which put money back in people’s pockets provided by the Welsh Government this financial year, including:

a) extending the £200 Winter Fuel Support Payment to 400,000 households this winter;

b) rolling out universal primary free school meals from September 2022;

c) investing £51.6m in the Discretionary Assistance Fund to provide an emergency lifeline for people in severe financial crisis;

d) £4m to fund fuel vouchers to help people on pre-payment meters and a fuel bank for people not on mains gas.

The item started at 16.32

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

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM8073 Sian Gwenllian (Arfon)

To propose that the Senedd: 

1. Believes that the current increases in energy bills are unsustainable and that they will cause financial strain and hardship on households, businesses, and community groups, whilst fossil fuel companies are making record profits.

2. Calls on the Welsh Government to immediately implement broader cost-of-living emergency measures, such as: 

a. halving rail fares and cap bus fares;

b. working with local authorities to clear some of the significant council tax arrears that have been built up over the course of the pandemic; 

c. a rent freeze; 

d. reinstating measures to ban winter evictions; 

e. expanding the free school meals scheme to secondary school children;

f. increasing the educational maintenance allowance to £45.

For	Abstain	Against	Total
13	0	39	52

The motion without amendment was not agreed.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

Delete all and replace with:

Notes that the UK Government has introduced an energy profits levy.

Welcomes the action taken by the UK Government to tackle the cost of living, including:

a) an energy price guarantee, capping energy costs;

b) cost of living payments for those on low income benefits and tax credits worth £650;

c) a disability cost of living payment worth £150;

d) monthly reductions in fuel bills from October worth £400;

e) an increase in the National Living Wage to £9.50 an hour;

f) a reduction in the universal credit taper rate;

g) a freeze on fuel duty;

h) a two year freeze on the TV licence fee;

i) extra winter fuel payments.

Calls on the Welsh Government to work with the UK Government to support people, businesses and the third sector to meet the challenges ahead.

A vote was taken on amendment 1:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
13	0	39	52

Amendment 1 was not agreed.

Amendment 2 Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

Delete all after point 1 and replace with:

Believes the UK Government is failing to grasp the severity of this crisis and that it would allow working people to cover the cost of an energy cap instead of taxing the record profits of gas and oil producers.

Welcomes the £1.6bn invested in targeted cost-of-living support and universal programmes which put money back in people’s pockets provided by the Welsh Government this financial year, including:

a) extending the £200 Winter Fuel Support Payment to 400,000 households this winter;

b) rolling out universal primary free school meals from September 2022;

c) investing £51.6m in the Discretionary Assistance Fund to provide an emergency lifeline for people in severe financial crisis;

d) £4m to fund fuel vouchers to help people on pre-payment meters and a fuel bank for people not on mains gas.

A vote was taken on amendment 2:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
27	0	25	52

Amendment 2 was agreed.

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

NDM8073 Sian Gwenllian (Arfon)

To propose that the Senedd: 

1. Believes that the current increases in energy bills are unsustainable and that they will cause financial strain and hardship on households, businesses, and community groups, whilst fossil fuel companies are making record profits.

2. Believes the UK Government is failing to grasp the severity of this crisis and that it would allow working people to cover the cost of an energy cap instead of taxing the record profits of gas and oil producers.

3. Welcomes the £1.6bn invested in targeted cost-of-living support and universal programmes which put money back in people’s pockets provided by the Welsh Government this financial year, including:

a) extending the £200 Winter Fuel Support Payment to 400,000 households this winter;

b) rolling out universal primary free school meals from September 2022;

c) investing £51.6m in the Discretionary Assistance Fund to provide an emergency lifeline for people in severe financial crisis;

d) £4m to fund fuel vouchers to help people on pre-payment meters and a fuel bank for people not on mains gas.

For	Abstain	Against	Total
27	0	25	52

The motion as amended was agreed.

This item was postponed

In accordance with Standing Order 12.18, at 17.26 proceedings were suspended to allow a technical break before Voting Time.

The item started at 17.32

NDM8070 Jenny Rathbone (Cardiff Central)

Delivering on universal free school meals: the challenges and opportunities.

The item started at 17.36

NDM8070 Jenny Rathbone (Cardiff Central)

Delivering on universal free school meals: the challenges and opportunities

This item was postponed