Agenda and minutes

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

The Committee considered the petition and noted that the subject has been considered in great detail by a number of Committees reports, all recommending the need to increase the number of Members of the Senedd to enable effective scrutiny of the Welsh Government. Members also highlighted that the Welsh Government will bring forward a Senedd Reform Bill in the new year which will be a further opportunity for these issues to be debated and scrutinised in the Senedd. In light of this, Members agreed to close the petition and thank the petitioner.

Rhys ab Owen MS declared the following relevant interest under Standing Order 17.24A:

He was involved with promoting the petition and is one of the signatories.

The Committee considered the petition and agreed to invite Hefin David MS to share his interest and knowledge in this area in the first instance. Following that session the Committee agreed to look at a scoping paper to see what an inquiry into the issue would look like.

The Committee considered the petition and noted that whilst the Welsh Government recognise the importance of addressing peer to peer sexual harassment in all schools, they are clear about the approach they will take, including a need for a review within primary education to better understand the challenges.

In light of this response, Members agreed to close the petition and thank the petitioner for highlighting the important issue.

The Committee considered the petition and noted the petitioner’s questions arising from Powys County Council’s response and agreed to consider both responses further when the response from Welsh Government is received. 

The Committee considered the petition and noted that it has promoted positive engagement with the Minister and that positive steps have been taken. As requested by the petitioners, Members agreed to revisit the petition in the Spring term, when more progress will be visible.

The Committee considered the petition and agreed that whilst the Welsh Government is unable to designate a national holiday, they may now raise this as part of future discussion with UK Government. It was also highlighted that all national colliery disasters are commemorated in the National and Universal Mining Memorial Garden. In light this Members agreed to close the petition and thank the petitioner.

Jack Sargeant MS declared the following relevant interest under Standing Order 17.24A:

The petitioner is one of his constituents.

The Committee considered the petition and agreed to:

• await to see if the issue will be considered as part of  the Local Government and Housing Committee’s work; and
• in the meantime, write back to the Welsh Government to ask what is being done to increase awareness of people's rights with regard to the Renting Homes (Wales) Act.

The Committee considered the petition and agreed to inform the petitioner of the Welsh Government consultations taking place on the issue. Members agreed that they have taken the petition as far as it can and closed the petition and thanked the petitioner for raising the issue.

The Committee considered the petition and noted that the Climate Change, Environment and Infrastructure Committee have now started a piece of work on decarbonising the public sector. In light of the work already underway the Committee agreed to close the petition and thank the petitioner. 

The Committee considered the petition and now that the Minister has clarified the work taking place to improve access to Fracture Liaison services across Wales and the petitioner has no further comment to make, the Committee agreed to close the petition and thank the petitioner for highlighting this concern.

The motion was agreed.

The Committee considered the draft report and agreed to some minor changes. Members asked whether it would be possible to publish before Christmas.

The report was agreed, subject to the addition of a minority view from Joel James MS. It is intended for publication in the new year.

The Committee considered the forward work programme.