Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed Members to the meeting. There were no apologies.

Jonathan Rhys Williams, Lead Petitioner

The Committee heard evidence from the petitioner.

The Committee agreed to write to the Special Purpose Committee on Senedd Reform to make them aware of the petition, should this be an area being considered by them. In writing to the Committee, members agreed to close the petition and thank the petitioner.

The Committee agreed to write to the Special Purpose Committee on Senedd Reform to make them aware of the petition, should this be an area being considered by them. In writing to the Committee, members agreed to close the petition and thank the petitioner.

The Committee noted that the Welsh Government has acknowledged the impact of the pandemic on GP’s and has extended the funding for another year to support the implementation and embedding of access standards. The Committee also noted that The British Medical Association (BMA) General Practice Committee have been party to the negotiations regarding the standards and service contracts. The Committee agreed to close the petition and thank the petitioner.

Joel James MS declared the following relevant interest under Standing Order 17.24A:

He used to be a member on the Rhondda Cynon Taf Council Welsh Language Steering Committee

The Committee agreed to seek views from the Welsh Language Commissioner on this issue and ask if he’s undertaking any work in this area.

The Committee agreed to write back to the Deputy Minister for Climate Change to seek further detail on the exemption process.

The Committee noted the petitioner’s concerns whilst recognising that the Welsh Government’s Transport strategy places emphasis on the environment, air quality and people’s well-being through focusing on alternative travel and improved public travel infrastructure. The Committee concluded that the Welsh Government has no plans to remove the average speed cameras at present, agreeing to thank the petitioner and close the petition.

In light of the UK Government publishing its response to the consultation on this issue in three months, the Committee agreed to wait to see this response before considering this petition further.

The Committee also agreed to write to the WLGA to see if there has been any coordination between maritime local authorities in Wales on this issue.

The Committee congratulate the petitioner Rhian Mannings and all those who supported the petition on achieving a positive change and commitment from Welsh Government to ensure all those who lose a child or young adult will be offered immediate bereavement care and support which meet agreed standards. The Committee agreed to close the petition and also to use this petition as a case study for future petitions.

The Committee noted that it will take time to establish and to embed the Welsh Government’s approach to provide 24 hour appropriate response and pathway to support. The Committee agreed to write to the Chair of the Health Committee and Finance Committee to request that the petition and correspondence is included in future scrutiny work regarding mental health services.

The Committee also agreed to thank Laura for sharing her experiences of the challenges she continues to face accessing appropriate and timely mental health support to influence change for others in a similar circumstances and close the petition.

The Committee agreed to write to the new Health Minister seeking an update on the work of the working group and a timetable for progress on this issue.

The Committee accepted the recommended approach in the scoping paper and agreed to take direct evidence from care-experienced parents, local authorities, CAFCASS and third sector organisations who support the young people and invite academics from the Children’s Social Care Research and Development Centre at Cardiff University to present their research findings in this area.

Joel James MS declared the following relevant interest under Standing Order 17.24A:

He has been in direct discussion with the petitioners on this issue.

The Committee agreed to refer the petition for a debate in Plenary.

The Committee noted that the Welsh Government will publish an Animal Welfare Plan for Wales 2021-26 soon, agreeing to write back to the Minister one final time to ask that addressing the call for a scheme to help people access veterinary care for their companion animals is addressed. In doing so the Committee agreed that it would close the petition and thank the petitioner for raising this issue.

Joel James MS declared the following relevant interest under Standing Order 17.24A:

He knows the petitioner.

The Committee agreed that the Welsh Government’s announcement to introduce a moratorium on new large scale energy from waste plants is welcomed and further clarification regarding the process appreciated.

In light of the fact that the petitioner had no further issues to raise, the Committee agreed to close the petition and congratulate the petitioner on a successful outcome.

The Committee agreed to request an update from the Minister following the meetings held so far, asking how she intends to take this issue forward.

The Committee agreed to write to the Minister once again to seek clarity on whether home-educated students will be assured the same rights and access to qualifications as other children, and be able to take their exams, free of charge, at local exam centres.

The Committee agreed to write to the Children, Young People, & Education (CYPE) Committee scrutinising the TER Bill, asking them to scrutinise whether the bill will perpetuate the current anomaly identified by the petitioner and whether it could be amended to address it.

The Committee also agreed to share with petitioners the link to the current consultation on the bill. Agreeing to bring the petition back once the Welsh Government has responded to Stage 1 report from CYPE Committee.

The Committee agreed to congratulate the petitioner on having influenced the Minister’s thinking, adding that the Committee look forward to seeing the final results in due course. The Committee agreed to keep the petition open pending the results of the eligibility review.

The motion was agreed.

The Committee considered the evidence received.