Agenda and minutes

Venue: Y Siambr - Y Senedd. View directions

Expected timing: 19(v4) 

Media

Senedd.TV: View the webcast

Transcript: Transcript for 22/09/2021 - 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.

Presiding Officer's Statement

The Presiding Officer announced that Peter Fox may seek the Senedd’s agreement on his proposal for a Food (Wales) Bill, after being successful in the Member Bill ballot held that day.

 

(45 mins)

1.

Questions to the Minister for Social Justice

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

View Questions

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The item started at 13.31

Questions 1-6 and question 8 were asked. Question 7 was transferred for written by the Minister for Economy. Question 1 was answered by the Deputy Minister for Social Partnership. The Presiding Officer invited party spokespeople to ask questions to the Minister after question 2.

 

(45 mins)

2.

Questions to the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution

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

View Questions

Minutes:

The item started at 14.22

The first 8 questions were asked. Question 6 was withdrawn. The Presiding Officer invited party spokespeople to ask questions to the Minister after question 2.

 

(20 mins)

3.

Questions to the Senedd Commission

Minutes:

The item started at 15.12

Questions 1, 3 and 4 were asked. Question 2 was withdrawn.

 

(20 mins)

4.

Topical Questions

To ask the Minister for Climate Change :

Delyth Jewell (South Wales East): What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the impact of significant gas price increases and the concurrent increase in energy prices on Welsh consumers?

Minutes:

The item started at 15.21

To the Minister for Climate Change:

Delyth Jewell (South Wales East): What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the impact of significant gas price increases and the concurrent increase in energy prices on Welsh consumers?

 

(5 mins)

5.

90 Second Statements

Minutes:

The item started at 15.36

Gareth Davies made a statement on The 50th Anniversary of the Offa’s Dyke Path.

Heledd Fychan made a statement on Pontypridd Green Week (18-26 September).

 

In accordance with Standing Order 12.18, at 15.39 the meeting was suspended by the Deputy Presiding Officer.

 

(60 mins)

6.

Welsh Conservatives debate – Ambulance response times

NDM7779 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes that just over half of red ambulance calls met the Welsh Government’s target of eight minutes in July 2021.

2. Further notes the immense pressure the Welsh Ambulance Service is under with increasing transfer-of-care times of up to 18 hours.

3. Recognises the hard work and dedication of Welsh Ambulance Service staff in such challenging circumstances.

4. Acknowledges the pressures in social and primary care and the knock-on effects on the ambulance service.

5. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

a) declare an emergency in the Welsh Ambulance Service.

b) bring forward a comprehensive plan to improve ambulance response times, including action to:

i) ensure an adequate social care workforce;

ii) improve access to face-to-face primary care appointments; and

iii) increase hospital bed capacity.  

c) set out a clear plan and timetable for raising the wage of care workers across Wales.

d) consider engaging the support of Her Majesty’s Armed Forces to assist with increasing ambulance response capacity.

e) redouble efforts for the rapid recruitment of paramedics.

The following amendments have been tabled:

Amendment 1 – Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

Delete all and replace with:

To propose that the Senedd:

1.  Notes that in the context of record levels of demand, just over half of red ambulance calls met the Welsh Government’s target in July 2021

2. Further notes the immense pressure on all health and care services in Wales including the Welsh Ambulance Service and the range of national and local challenges that impact patient flow

3. Recognises the hard work and dedication of Welsh Ambulance Service staff and all health and care service staff in such challenging circumstances

4. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

a) ensure the actions identified in the Emergency Ambulance Service Committee delivery plan are delivered with pace and purpose;

b) support a range of initiatives to drive recruitment and retention within the social care sector and provide support to social care employers;

c) improve access to face-to-face primary care appointments where clinically appropriate;

d) deliver on its Programme for Government commitment to pay care workers the real living wage;

e) continue engagement with Her Majesty’s Armed Forces to assist with increasing ambulance response capacity; and

f) redouble efforts for the rapid recruitment of ambulance clinicians.

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

Amendment 2 – Sian Gwenllian (Arfon)

Add as new sub-points at end of point 5:

Genuinely integrate health and care services nationally

Train and recruit 6,000 additional staff into the NHS, including doctors, nurses and other allied health professionals

Minutes:

The item started at 15.49

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

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM7779 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes that just over half of red ambulance calls met the Welsh Government’s target of eight minutes in July 2021.

2. Further notes the immense pressure the Welsh Ambulance Service is under with increasing transfer-of-care times of up to 18 hours.

3. Recognises the hard work and dedication of Welsh Ambulance Service staff in such challenging circumstances.

4. Acknowledges the pressures in social and primary care and the knock-on effects on the ambulance service.

5. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

a) declare an emergency in the Welsh Ambulance Service.

b) bring forward a comprehensive plan to improve ambulance response times, including action to:

i) ensure an adequate social care workforce;

ii) improve access to face-to-face primary care appointments; and

iii) increase hospital bed capacity.  

c) set out a clear plan and timetable for raising the wage of care workers across Wales.

d) consider engaging the support of Her Majesty’s Armed Forces to assist with increasing ambulance response capacity.

e) redouble efforts for the rapid recruitment of paramedics.

For

Abstain

Against

Total

13

0

34

47

The motion without amendment was not agreed.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 – Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

Delete all and replace with:

To propose that the Senedd:

1.  Notes that in the context of record levels of demand, just over half of red ambulance calls met the Welsh Government’s target in July 2021

2. Further notes the immense pressure on all health and care services in Wales including the Welsh Ambulance Service and the range of national and local challenges that impact patient flow

3. Recognises the hard work and dedication of Welsh Ambulance Service staff and all health and care service staff in such challenging circumstances

4. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

a) ensure the actions identified in the Emergency Ambulance Service Committee delivery plan are delivered with pace and purpose;

b) support a range of initiatives to drive recruitment and retention within the social care sector and provide support to social care employers;

c) improve access to face-to-face primary care appointments where clinically appropriate;

d) deliver on its Programme for Government commitment to pay care workers the real living wage;

e) continue engagement with Her Majesty’s Armed Forces to assist with increasing ambulance response capacity; and

f) redouble efforts for the rapid recruitment of ambulance clinicians.

A vote was taken on amendment 1:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

25

0

22

47

Amendment 1 was agreed.

As amendment 1 was agreed, amendment 2 was de-selected.

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

NDM7779 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

To propose that the Senedd:

1.  Notes that in the context of record levels of demand, just over half of red ambulance calls met the Welsh Government’s target in July 2021

2. Further notes the immense pressure on all health and care services in Wales including the Welsh Ambulance Service and the range of national and local challenges that impact patient flow

3. Recognises the hard work and dedication of Welsh Ambulance Service staff and all health and care service staff in such challenging circumstances

4. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

a) ensure the actions identified in the Emergency Ambulance Service Committee delivery plan are delivered with pace and purpose;

b) support a range of initiatives to drive recruitment and retention within the social care sector and provide support to social care employers;

c) improve access to face-to-face primary care appointments where clinically appropriate;

d) deliver on its Programme for Government commitment to pay care workers the real living wage;

e) continue engagement with Her Majesty’s Armed Forces to assist with increasing ambulance response capacity; and

f) redouble efforts for the rapid recruitment of ambulance clinicians.

For

Abstain

Against

Total

37

0

10

47

The motion as amended was agreed.

 

 

(60 mins)

7.

Plaid Cymru debate – A four-day working week

NDM7780 Siân Gwenllian (Arfon)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Recognises the change in work practices as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and that this has brought with it many wellbeing and work-life balance benefits.

2. Believes that reforming working practices to meet the challenges of the automation revolution is necessary.

3. Notes with interest that governments in Scotland, Spain and Ireland are planning national-level pilots for a four-day working week.

4. Recognises pilots of a four-day working week in Iceland were an overwhelming success and led to many workers moving to shorter hours with no reduction in pay.

5. Calls on the Welsh Government to establish a four-day working week pilot in Wales to explore the benefits to all Welsh workers, the economy and the environment.

The following amendments have been tabled:

Amendment 1 – Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

Delete points 3, 4 and 5.

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

Amendment 2 – Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

Delete point 5 and replace with:

Calls on the Welsh Government to consider the progress that is made through pilots in other countries and examine the lessons Wales can learn.

Amendment 3 – Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Believes that working arrangements should be agreed between employers and employees and that no workers or employers should be forced to adopt a four-day working week.

Amendment 4 – Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Notes that employment matters are reserved to the UK Parliament.

Minutes:

The item started at 16.46

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

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM7780 Siân Gwenllian (Arfon)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Recognises the change in work practices as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and that this has brought with it many wellbeing and work-life balance benefits.

2. Believes that reforming working practices to meet the challenges of the automation revolution is necessary.

3. Notes with interest that governments in Scotland, Spain and Ireland are planning national-level pilots for a four-day working week.

4. Recognises pilots of a four-day working week in Iceland were an overwhelming success and led to many workers moving to shorter hours with no reduction in pay.

5. Calls on the Welsh Government to establish a four-day working week pilot in Wales to explore the benefits to all Welsh workers, the economy and the environment.

For

Abstain

Against

Total

11

0

36

47

The motion without amendment was not agreed.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 – Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

Delete points 3, 4 and 5.

A vote was taken on amendment 1:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

13

0

34

47

Amendment 1 was not agreed.

Amendment 2 – Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

Delete point 5 and replace with:

Calls on the Welsh Government to consider the progress that is made through pilots in other countries and examine the lessons Wales can learn.

A vote was taken on amendment 2:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

25

0

22

47

Amendment 2 was agreed.

Amendment 3 – Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Believes that working arrangements should be agreed between employers and employees and that no workers or employers should be forced to adopt a four-day working week.

A vote was taken on amendment 3:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

12

0

35

47

Amendment 3 was not agreed.

Amendment 4 – Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Notes that employment matters are reserved to the UK Parliament.

A vote was taken on amendment 4:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

12

0

35

47

Amendment 4 was not agreed.

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

NDM7780 Siân Gwenllian (Arfon)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Recognises the change in work practices as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and that this has brought with it many wellbeing and work-life balance benefits.

2. Believes that reforming working practices to meet the challenges of the automation revolution is necessary.

3. Notes with interest that governments in Scotland, Spain and Ireland are planning national-level pilots for a four-day working week.

4. Recognises pilots of a four-day working week in Iceland were an overwhelming success and led to many workers moving to shorter hours with no reduction in pay.

5. Calls on the Welsh Government to consider the progress that is made through pilots in other countries and examine the lessons Wales can learn.

For

Abstain

Against

Total

35

0

12

47

The motion as amended was agreed.

 

8.

Voting Time

Minutes:

In accordance with Standing Order 12.18, at 17.43 proceedings were suspended to allow a technical break before voting time.

The item started at 17.48

 

(30 mins)

9.

Short Debate

NDM7774 Jenny Rathbone (Cardiff Central)

We are what we eat: focusing on the nutrient density of food in order to improve public health.

Minutes:

The item started at 17.55

NDM7774 Jenny Rathbone (Cardiff Central)

We are what we eat: focusing on the nutrient density of food in order to improve public health.

 

Votes Summary

Supporting documents: