Meeting Venue:
Y Siambr - Y Senedd/Zoom
Meeting date:
Wednesday, 16 December 2020
Meeting time: 13.30
------
This meeting will be held in a hybrid format, with some Members in the Senedd Chamber and others joining by video-conference.
Having consulted with the Business Committee, the Llywydd has determined that in accordance with Standing Order 34.14A-D, Members will be able to vote from any location by electronic means.
The Llywydd also gives notice, in accordance with Standing Order 34.15, that the public have been excluded from attending this Plenary meeting, as is required to protect public health. The meeting will continue to be broadcast live and the record of proceedings will be published as usual.
Emergency Question
(30 mins)
To ask the First Minister
Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): Will the First Minister make a statement on the Welsh Government’s proposals to introduce further restrictions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic?
1 Questions to the Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs
(45 mins)
The Presiding Officer will call party spokespeople to ask questions without notice after Question 2.
2 Questions to the Minister for Housing and Local Government
(45 mins)
The Presiding Officer will call party spokespeople to ask questions without notice after Question 2.
3 Topical Questions
(20 mins)
To ask the Minister for Economy, Transport and North Wales
Mick Antoniw (Pontypridd): Will the Minister make a statement on job losses at Rhys Davies Logistics in Taff’s Well as a result of the company being put into administration?
To ask the Minister for Health and Social Services
Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn): Will the Minister make a statement on NHS winter pressures, on services and waiting times for diagnosis and treatment?
4 90 Second Statements
(5 mins)
5 Debate on the Children, Young People and Education Committee report: Mind over matter: two years on
(60 mins)
NDM7518 Lynne Neagle (Torfaen)
To propose that the Senedd:
Notes the Children, Young People and Education Committee Report, Mind over matter: Two years on, which was laid in the Table Office on 9 October 2020.
Note: The response by the Welsh Government was laid on 2 December 2020.
6 Debate on the Culture, Welsh language and Communications Committee’s report on the impact of the pandemic on the Welsh language
(30 mins)
NDM7519 Helen Mary Jones (Mid and West Wales)
To propose that the Senedd:
Notes the report of the Culture, Welsh Language and Communications Committee, The impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on the Welsh language, laid in the Table Office on 1 December 2020.
7 Plaid Cymru debate – Free school meals
(60 mins)
NDM7521 Sian Gwenllian (Arfon)
To propose that the Senedd:
Calls on the Welsh Government to immediately amend the eligibility criteria for free school meals so that any child in any family receiving universal credit or equivalent benefit and any child in a family with no recourse to public funds is eligible, as the first step towards implementing universal provision of nutritious free school meals for all school-aged children in Wales.
The following amendments have been tabled:
Amendment 1 Rebecca Evans (Gower)
Delete all and replace with:
Welcomes that the Welsh Government:
a) provided over £50 million of additional funding to ensure the continued provision of free school meals during the pandemic and was the first government in the UK to provide provision during school holidays;
b) provided additional funding to ensure that children who are self-isolating or shielding continue to receive free school meal provision when they are not able to attend school;
c) provides funding of £19.50 per week to free school meal-eligible families, which is the most generous provision in the UK;
d) ensured that Wales remains the only country in the UK to have a universal free breakfasts in primary schools scheme;
e) has been recognised by the Education Policy Institute (EPI) for being successful in ensuring families eligible for free school meals during the pandemic had “access to timely and appropriate support”;
f) is committed to reviewing the income threshold for receiving free school meals when Pupil Level Annual School Census (PLASC) data becomes available in April 2021.
[If amendment 1 is agreed, amendment 2 will be de-selected]
Amendment 2 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)
Delete all and replace with:
To propose that the Senedd:
1. Notes the existing eligibility criteria for free school meals in Wales.
2. Recognises the financial hardship faced by families across Wales as a result of the coronavirus pandemic and the challenges that this has posed for parents and guardians, and its impact on the demand for free school meals.
3. Welcomes the role that free school meals have in improving health and nutrition.
4. Calls on the Welsh Government to amend the eligibility criteria for free school meals to extend provision to:
a) learners in further education; and
b) families without an income and who are not immediately able to claim public funds.
Motion to suspend Standing Orders
(5 mins)
NDM7528 Rebecca Evans (Gower)
To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Orders 33.6 and 33.8:
Suspends Standing Orders 12.20(i), 12.22(i), 29.4 and that part of Standing Order 11.16 that requires the weekly announcement under Standing Order 11.11 to constitute the timetable for business in Plenary for the following week, to allow NDM7529 to be considered in Plenary on Wednesday 16 December 2020.
8 Legislative Consent Motion on the Trade (Disclosure of Information) Bill
(15 mins)
NDM7529 Jeremy Miles (Neath)
To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Order 29.6 agrees that provisions in the Trade (Disclosure of Information) Bill in so far as they fall within the legislative competence of Senedd Cymru, should be considered by the UK Parliament.
A Legislative Consent Memorandum was laid in Table Office on 16 December 2020 in accordance with Standing Order 29.2.
Trade (Disclosure of Information) Bill
9 Voting Time
10 Short Debate – Postponed from 9 December
(30 mins)
NDM7504 Andrew R.T. Davies (South Wales Central)
The importance of fans at sporting events for the social fabric of our communities.
11 Short Debate
(30 mins)
NDM7517 Neil Hamilton (Mid and West Wales)
Save our statues : the continuing importance of historic memorials and monuments.
The Senedd will sit again in Plenary at 13.30, Tuesday, 12 January 2021