Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from the Chair of the Committee Janet Finch-Saunders MS.

In the absence of the Chair, Jack Sargeant was appointed temporary Chair for the duration of the meeting.

The temporary Chair welcomed Members to the meeting.

Item 2

Item 3

The Committee agreed to exclude the public for the discussion of Item 3.

The Committee discussed a recent increase the number of petitions collecting in excess of 5000 signatures and how it could make appropriate requests for time in Plenary. The Committee agreed to consider each petition individually and to consider grouping petitions for debate where appropriate, and requesting shorter debates if that would facilitate more petitions to be debated in Plenary.

The Committee considered the petition for the first time and in light of the fact that the Minister has no intention of changing the guidance in relation to the grants scheme, and the scheme has now closed to new applications, the Committee agreed to close the petition and thank the petitioner

The Committee considered the petition for the first time and noted that it is clear that the Government has no intention of implementing the proposed solution. The Committee agreed to close the petition and thank the petitioner for raising a valid issue.

In doing so, the Committee agreed to write back the Minister for Economy and Transport to ask how he considers addressing the wider issue highlighted by the petitioner.

The Committee considered the petition for the first time and agreed to:

·         await the publication of the Welsh Government’s response to the recommendations produced by the Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee, before deciding whether there is any further action that it can take; and

·         ask for a legal note outlining the legislation in relation to disabled people’s rights.

The Committee considered the petition for the first time alongside P-05-1005 Make sure face masks in shops do not become compulsory and agreed to:

·         write back to the Minister asking for further clarification relating to concerns about enforcement and certification for those exempt from wearing face coverings; and

·         close the petition in light of the fact that wearing a face covering in shops has recently  been made compulsory in Wales.

The Committee considered the petition for the first time alongside P-05-998 Wearing of face masks/coverings to be mandatory in shops and agreed to:

·         write back to the Minister asking for further clarification relating to concerns about enforcement and certification for those exempt from wearing face coverings; and

• close the petition in light of the fact that wearing a face covering in shops has recently been made compulsory in Wales.

The Committee considered the petition for the first time and agreed to await the views of the petitioner on the response from the Minister for Education before considering the petition further.

The Committee considered the petition for the first time and In light of the decisions taken by the Welsh Government and the satisfaction of the petitioner, the Committee agreed to close the petition.

The Committee considered the petition for the first time and In light of the ability for dance schools to reopen subject to following safety requirements, the Committee agreed to close the petition.

The Committee considered the petition for the first time and In light of the decisions taken by the Welsh Government and the satisfaction of the petitioner, the Committee agreed to close the petition.

The Committee considered the petition for the first time and agreed to write back to the Minister for Health and Social Services to ask for details of when the WHSSC will carry out a review of Specialised Services Service Specification: CP89 Prosthetic and Amputee Rehabilitation Services, and for an explanation of why the position in relation to access to microprocessor controlled prosthetics is different in Wales.

The Committee considered the petition for the first time and agreed to:

·         write to Business Committee to seek time for a combined plenary debate on the petition and petition P-05-1000 Make it compulsory for Black and POC UK histories to be taught in the Welsh education curriculum;

·         write to the Minister for Education to ask for further details of the work being carried out to commission new resources to support the teaching of Welsh history under the new curriculum; and

·         write to Estyn to ask for details of the work they will be undertaking as part of their Review of Welsh history.

The Committee considered the petition for the first time and agreed to write to Business Committee to seek time for a combined plenary debate on the petition and petition P-05-992 We call on the Welsh Government to create a common body of knowledge about Welsh history that all pupils will learn.

The Committee considered the petition for the first time and agreed to await the audit commissioned by the Welsh Government and the Culture, Welsh Language and Communications Committee’s inquiry and to inform the petitioner how to submit their views to the inquiry.

The Committee considered for the petition for the first time alongside P-05-1018 Support for the current proposed plans to build a new Velindre Cancer Centre, Cardiff, in any future inquiry and agreed to:

• write again to the Minister for Health and Social Services to seek a response to the petitions, as well as in relation to concerns recently expressed over the clinical model;
• write to the Chair of the Health and Social Care Committee to ask whether that committee intends to conduct any work into this matter;
• write to Velindre University NHS Trust to ask a number of further questions with regards to the Transforming Cancer Services programme; and
• write to cancer leads in each health board in Wales to seek their views on the model proposed.

The Committee considered for the petition for the first time alongside P-05-1018 Support for the current proposed plans to build a new Velindre Cancer Centre, Cardiff, in any future inquiry and agreed to:

• write again to the Minister for Health and Social Services to seek a response to the petitions, as well as in relation to concerns recently expressed over the clinical model;
• write to the Chair of the Health and Social Care Committee to ask whether that committee intends to conduct any work into this matter;
• write to Velindre University NHS Trust to ask a number of further questions with regards to the Transforming Cancer Services programme; and
• write to cancer leads in each health board in Wales to seek their views on the model proposed.

The Committee considered the petition for the first time and in light of the response to the petition provided by the Minister for Finance and the forthcoming Plenary debate on the relevant Welsh Government Regulations where individual members can ask questions, the Committee agreed to close the petition and thank the petitioner.

The Committee considered the petition for the first time and agreed to write to Business Committee to seek time for a Plenary debate on the issue.

The Committee considered further updates on the petition and noted the information provided by the Minister for Education about the Welsh Government’s communication with specialist FE colleges and the extension requests approved to date.

Whilst acknowledging the petitioner’s concerns about the guidance, which go wider than the petition, the Committee agreed to close the petition.

Following the Plenary debate held on the petition on 8 July 2020, the further information provided by the Minister and the petitioner’s indication that he has no further comments to add, the Committee agreed to close the petition.

The Committee considered an update on the petition and, given that the Welsh Government have indicated the previous and ongoing support to zoos and aquaria, and that this is being kept under review, agreed to close the petition and thank the petitioner.

The Committee considered the petition alongside P-05-986 Allow small gyms and personal training spaces to open sooner during COVID restrictions and agreed that, as indoor gyms have now been allowed to reopen and the Deputy Minister has provided information about the scientific advice used to inform decisions, agreed to close the petitions.

The Committee considered the petition alongside P-05-981 Allow gyms and leisure centres to reopen and agreed that, as indoor gyms have now been allowed to reopen and the Deputy Minister has provided information about the scientific advice used to inform decisions, to close the petitions.

Given that there is little further action that the Committee could usefully take, the Committee agreed to close the petition and thank the petitioner.

In light of the decisions that have been made by the Welsh Government on the eligibility criteria for support the Committee agreed to close the petition and thank the petitioner, as there is little further the Committee could do in relation to the specific circumstances faced by this business.

The Committee agreed to write back to the Minister for Housing and Local Government to ask for details of the criteria used in considering whether to agree an extension to the timescales associated with consultation or submission requirements at the full application stage for Developments of National Significance.

The Committee agreed to write back to the Minister for Education to state that further consideration needs to be given to the availability of childcare for children of key workers during core working hours in any future lockdowns, and share the petitioner’s views about how local authorities should approach future school closures or lockdowns.

The Committee agreed to write back to the Minister for Education to ask whether more specific guidance would be provided to schools about the inclusion of children who also need to use key worker childcare, in the event of any future phased reopening of schools.