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Petitions Committee |
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Meeting Venue: |
Committee Room 1 - Senedd |
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Meeting date: |
Tuesday, 23 September 2014 |
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Meeting time: |
09.00 - 10.18 |
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This meeting can be viewed on Senedd
TV at: |
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Concise Minutes: MeetingTitle |
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Assembly Members: |
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William Powell (Chair) Russell George Joyce Watson Rhodri Glyn Thomas (In place of Bethan Jenkins) |
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Witnesses: |
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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 meeting. Apologies were received from Bethan Jenkins AM, who was substituted by Rhodri Glyn Thomas AM.
2 New petitions
2.1 P-04-579 Reinstate funding for Skomer Island's Guillemot monitoring
The Committee considered the petition for the first time and agreed to write to the Minister for Natural Resources seeking his views on the petition.
2.2 P-04-580 Restrictions on Donating Blood
The Committee considered the petition for the first time and agreed to:
- write to the Minister for Health and Social Services and the Welsh Blood Service seeking their views on the petition; and
- request a brief factual research briefing paper on the issue behind the petition.
2.3 P-04-581 Opposition to cuts in provision for learners of English as an Additional Language
The Committee considered the petition for the first time and agreed to write to:
· the Minister for Education and Skills; and
· Swansea County Council
seeking their views on the petition.
2.4 P-04-582 Much Needed Change to the Rules in our Schools with Regards to Head Lice and Nits
The Committee considered the petition for the first time and agreed to write to the Minister for Education and Skills and the Minister for Health and Social Services seeking their views on the petition.
2.5 P-04-583 Ban all Growing and Selling of all GM seeds / Foods and Animal / Fish Feed in Wales
The Committee considered the petition for the first time and agreed to write to the Minister for Natural Resources seeking his views on the petition.
2.6 P-04-584 Wales Planning Bill to Protect Town and Village Greens in Wales
The Committee considered the petition for the first time and agreed to write to the Minister for Natural Resources seeking his views on the petition.
2.7 P-04-585 Changes to A494/A470 Junction Dolgellau
The Committee considered the petition for the first time and agreed to write to the Minister for Economy Science and Transport seeking her views on the petition and an update on the current road safety position after the summer period.
2.8 P-04-586 All NHS Wales staff to be Paid at Least the Hourly Living Wage Rate of £7.65.
The Committee considered the petition for the first time and agreed to write to the Minister for Health and Social Services seeking his views on the petition.
2.9 P-04-587 A Dedicated Support Team for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (M.E.),Chronic Fatigue Syndrome & Fibromyalgia Sufferers in South East Wales
The Committee considered the petition for the first time and agreed to write to the Minister for Health and Social Services seeking his views on the petition.
2.10 P-04-588 Charter for Children and Fathers
The Committee considered the petition for the first time and agreed to write to the Minister for Health and Social Services seeking his views on the petition.
2.11 P-04-589 Reduce the Number of Councillors and Executive Members in Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council
The Committee considered the petition for the first time and agreed to write to the Minister for Public Services seeking his views on the petition.
2.12 P-04-590 Funding for the Cardi Bach Coastal Bus Service
The Committee considered the petition for the first time and agreed to write to:
· the Minister for Economy, Science and Transport; and
· Ceredigion County Council
seeking their views on the petition.
2.13 P-04-591 Fair Funding for Local Government
The Committee considered the petition for the first time and agreed to write to the Minister for Public Services seeking his views on the petition.
2.14 P-04-592 Democratically Binding Plebiscites at Local Government Level
The Committee considered the petition for the first time and agreed to write to the Minister for Public Services seeking his views on the petition.
2.15 P-04-593 Advise schools on visits to Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm
The Committee considered the petition for the first time and agreed to write to the Minister for Education and Skills seeking his views on the petition and forward the correspondence received from Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm and the Petitioner.
2.16 P-04-594 Cilmeri Community Council Appeal for The Prince Llywelyn Monument
The Committee considered the petition for the first time and agreed to write to the Minister for Economy, Science and Transport seeking her views on the petition.
2.17 P-04-595 Foresight Pathway
The Committee considered the petition for the first time and agreed to write to the Minister for Natural Resources seeking his views on the petition.
2.18 P-04-596 Save Porth Fire Station - SECONDS COST LIVES!
The Committee considered the petition for the first time and agreed to write to the Minister for Public Services seeking his views on the petition.
2.19 P-04-597 Protect the future of Funky Dragon, the Children and Young People’s Assembly for Wales
The Committee considered the petition for the first time and agreed to
write to:
- the Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty;
- the Presiding Officer, in her role as Chair of the Assembly Commission;
- the Children’s Commissioner; and
- Children in Wales
seeking their views on the petition.
2.20 P-04-598 Disability Awareness Training
The Committee considered the petition for the first time and agreed to
write to the Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty seeking his views on the petition.
2.21 P-04-599 Impact of Domestic Rating on Self Catering Accommodation
The Committee considered the petition for the first time and agreed to
write to the Minister for Economy, Science and Transport seeking her views on the petition.
3 Updates to previous petitions
3.1 P-04-549 Make ’Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau’ the Official Welsh National Anthem
The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and agreed to:
· seek the petitioner’s views on the First Minister’s correspondence; and
· move to close the petition.
3.2 P-04-319 Newtown traffic petition
The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and agreed to:
· thank the Minister for her reply and ask for continued updates; and
· await any further comments from the lead petitioner.
3.3 P-04-555 Stop the unethical and draconian proposed compulsory microchipping of dogs
The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and agreed to:
- write to the Minister for Natural Resources and Deputy Minister for Farming and Food seeking their views on the petition; and
- send a copy of the Deputy Minister for Farming and Food’s written statement of 22 September, on the subject of ‘Animal Welfare – Dogs’, to the petitioner for information.
3.4 P-04-556 No to Junction 41 closure
The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and agreed to seek further comments from the lead petitioner.
3.5 P-04-565 Revive disused railway lines for leisure
The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and agreed to seek further comments from the lead petitioner.
3.6 P-04-574 Bus Services in Burryport
The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and agreed to write to Carmarthen County Council seeking their views on the correspondence.
3.7 P-04-539 Save Cardiff Coal Exchange
The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and agreed to:
- Seek official confirmation of the ownership status of the building;
- await further comments from the lead petitioner; and
- continue to pursue a visit to the building.
3.8 P-04-440 Say NO to Asset Stripping Bronllys Hospital
The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and agreed to write to the Health Board asking for an update from its perspective and asking for their views on the petitioner’s letter and the proposals from the local action group.
3.9 P-04-492 Diagnosis of autism in children
The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and agreed to seek further comments from the lead petitioner.
3.10 P-04-505 Eating Disorder Unit in Wales
The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and agreed to maintain a watching brief.
3.11 P-04-568 Public Inquiry into ABMU Health Board
The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and agreed to:
· seek the Minister’s comments on the petitioner’s request for a public inquiry; and
· draw the petition to the attention of the Health and Social Care Committee and ask if they have any plans to look at the matter.
3.12 P-04-571 Treating Pernicious Anaemia
The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and agreed to:
- await further response from Minister; and
- seek comments from the lead petitioner on the letter already received from the Minister.
3.13 P-04-528 All Primary Schools in Wales taught through the medium of Welsh
The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and agreed to seek the Minister’s views on the petitioner’s comments.
3.14 P-04-538 Involving lecturers to ensure a Further Education Inspection Framework that is fit for purpose
The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and agreed to seek comments from the lead petitioner.
3.15 P-04-543 No Increase to University Tuition Fees
The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and agreed to close the petition as there seems little prospect of further dialogue with petitioners.
3.16 P-04-551 Basic First Aid To Be Taught In Schools
The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and agreed to seek comments from the lead petitioner.
3.17 P-04-567 A Fair Deal for Welsh Students
The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and agreed to:
· convey the Petitioner’s further comments to the Minister; but
· as the Minister clearly indicates that the Welsh Government has considered this matter previously and is not prepared to change its position, close the petition.
3.18 P-04-569 Stop National Tests for Primary School Children
The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and agreed to seek comments from the lead petitioner.
3.19 P-04-544 Ban the Shooting of Greenland White-fronted Geese
The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and agreed to seek the Minister for Natural Resources’ views on the petitioner’s comments.
3.20 P-04-547 Ban Polystyrene(EPS) Fast Food and Drinks Packaging
The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and agreed to:
· seek clarification from the petitioner on whether they wish to continue to actively pursue the matter, given the generally positive tone of their recent correspondence; and
· depending on the petitioner’s response, carry out a ‘piece of work’ on the petition.
3.21 P-04-572 Grants for Flood Resilience
The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and agreed to seek comments from the lead petitioner.
3.22 P-04-550 Planning Powers
The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and agreed to seek comments from the lead petitioner.
3.23 P-04-557 Valuation Tribunal Service
The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and agreed to:
· forward the petitioner’s further comments to the Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty for information; and
· close the petition in light of the former Minister’s views and that the issues of concern to the petitioner appear to have been considered by the Ombudsman.
3.24 P-04-563 Provision of Services at Pontypridd Fire Station
The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and agreed to seek comments from the lead petitioner.
3.25 P-04-577 Reinstate Funding to the Real Opportunities Project
The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and agreed to seek the Minister’s views on the outline proposal put forward by the petitioners.