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Petitions Committee |
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Meeting Venue: |
Committee Room 1 - Senedd |
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Meeting date: |
Tuesday, 25 March 2014 |
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Meeting time: |
09.34 - 11.00 |
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This meeting can be viewed on Senedd
TV at: |
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Concise Minutes: |
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Assembly Members: |
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William Powell (Chair) Russell George Bethan Jenkins Joyce Watson |
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Witnesses: |
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Margaret Everson, Bus Users UK Cymru Nesta Jones, Bus Users Cymru |
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Committee Staff: |
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Steve George (Clerk) Kayleigh Driscoll (Deputy Clerk) Kath Thomas (Deputy Clerk) Helen Roberts (Legal Advisor) |
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Transcript
View the meeting transcript.
1 Introduction, apologies and substitutions
The Chair welcomed everyone to the Committee. There were no apologies.
2 Updates to previous petitions
2.1 P-04-526 Please make Senedd TV accessible to deaf people
The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and agreed to:
· ask the petitioner for their response to the Presiding Officer’s letter, and in doing so highlight the Presiding Officer’s offer to facilitate a meeting to discuss the issues with the relevant Assembly staff; and
· write to the Presiding Officer seeking clarification on the work undertaken in relation to the pilot scheme and for further information on the reasons behind the decision to put it on hold.
2.2 P-03-240 Road safety on the A40 in Llanddewi Velfrey
The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and agreed to write to the Minister:
· seeking her views on the petitioner’s suggestion regarding the speed limit warning signs and in particular:
o her views on the petitioner’s assertion that signs that show the actual speed of vehicles would be considerably less costly and more effective;
o further information on costs for the different warning signs; and
- for an update on progress to appoint an Employers’ Agent
2.3 P-04-506 Free bus pass / concessionary travel for benefit claimants , students and under 18s
The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and agreed to write to the petitioner asking for any comments on the Minister’s letter and in doing so, indicate that the Committee will move to close the petition given the Minister’s clear statement that she has no current plans to extend eligibility for concessionary bus passes.
2.4 P-04-456 Dementia - This Could Happen to you
The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and agreed to write urgently to the Minister to:
· pass on the petitioner’s comments and ask what steps were taken to involve the petitioner in the Task and Finish Groups and consultation as indicated in the letter of 3 August; and
· ask whether it is still possible to take the petitioner’s views into account.
2.5 P-04-490 Antiretroviral Medication in Cardiff
The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and agreed to write to:
· the Minister to ask:
o whether his officials are in a position to give further details about how the estimate of £15 million has been arrived at and what proportion of this can be attributed to savings on antiretroviral HIV medicine; and
o for specific information on the reasons behind the current prescribing intervals for antiretroviral medicines; and
· the petitioner asking for comments on the Minister’s letter and associated information.
2.6 P-04-492 Diagnosis of autism in children
The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and agreed to:
· write to the Minister to welcome her response and ask her to keep the Committee informed of developments in the areas identified in the penultimate paragraph of the petitioner’s letter:
· express concern to the Minister at the lack of response from two of the Health Boards and ask what steps she has taken to ensure the information is received; and
· as requested by the petitioner, share the full summary of responses with the Pembrokeshire NAS branch.
2.7 P-04-481 Close the Gap for deaf pupils in Wales
The Committee considered correspondence from NDCS and agreed to look in more detail at the issue of acoustics in schools, in particular how the 21st Century Schools Programme and building regulations can help support improvements.
2.8 P-04-516 Make political science compulsory in education
The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and agreed to:
· seek the petitioner’s views on the Minister’s response;
· seek further information from the steering group established to oversee revisions to the Welsh Baccalaureate on any consideration they are giving to including political science in the curriculum;
· await the results of the questionnaire being circulated by the Assembly’s education team; and
· ask the Committee Clerk to liaise with the Research Service on the work involved in seeking more comprehensive information from schools about whether and how they include political science in their PSE curriculum.
2.9 P-04-522 Asbestos in Schools
The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and agreed to:
· write to the HSE to seek their perspective on the work being done in schools in England and to ask why there is no statutory requirement to inform students and parents about asbestos management in schools; and
· seek the petitioner’s views on the legal advice given at the meeting.
3 Letter from Chair of Communities, Equality and Local Government Committee - Responsibility for Welsh Language Issues
Members noted the correspondence from the Chair of Communities, Equality and Local Government on responsibility for the Welsh Language.
4 Evidence Session - Bus Services in Wales
The witnesses responded to questions from Committee members.
4.1 P-04-475 Wanted - Buses for Meirionnydd
4.2 P-04-513 Save the Wrexham/Barmouth X94 bus service
4.3 P-04-515 Increase Funding for Welsh Bus Services