Concise Minutes - Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee

Meeting Venue:

Committee Room 3 - The Senedd

Meeting date: Thursday, 19 April 2018

Meeting time: 09.05 - 12.41
This meeting can be viewed
on Senedd TV at:
http://senedd.tv/en/4845

------

Attendance

Category	Names
Assembly Members:	John Griffiths AM (Chair) Gareth Bennett AM Janet Finch-Saunders AM Siân Gwenllian AM Bethan Sayed AM Jenny Rathbone AM
Witnesses:	Dr Alison Parken, Cardiff University Rosalind Bragg, Maternity Action Cerys Furlong, Chwarae Teg Catherine Fookes Emma Webster, Your Employment Settlement Service James Moss, Slate Legal Bethan Darwin, Thompson Darwin Law
Committee Staff:	Naomi Stocks (Clerk) Elizabeth Wilkinson (Second Clerk) Chloe Davies (Deputy Clerk) Hannah Johnson (Researcher) Jennifer Cottle (Legal Adviser)

<AI1>

1 Introductions, apologies, substitutions and declarations of interest

1.1 The Chair welcomed Members and members of the public to the meeting

1.2 Apologies for absence were received from Rhianon Passmore AM and Jack Sargeant AM.

</AI1>

<AI2>

2 Inquiry into pregnancy, maternity and work in Wales - evidence session 1

2.1 The Committee received evidence from:

· Dr Alison Parken, Wales Committee Member, Equality and Human Rights Commission

· Rosalind Bragg, Director, Maternity Action

2.2 During the evidence session the Equality and Human Rights Commission agreed to provide:

· an overview of the legal protections to protect women from discrimination as a result of pregnancy and maternity.

2.3 During the evidence session the Equality and Human Rights Commission and Maternity Action agreed to provide:

· examples of good practice from other countries of employers maintaining positive relationships with employees, during pregnancy and maternity leave;

· written answers to questions not reached during the meeting, including:

- whether careers advice is sufficiently tailored to help women entering or returning to work after having a child; and

- how the Welsh Government’s employability programmes can support self-employed mothers;

- any further information on the Economic Action Plan and Employability Plan.

</AI2>

<AI3>

3 Inquiry into pregnancy, maternity and work in Wales - evidence session 2

3.1  The Committee received evidence from:

· Cerys Furlong, Chief Executive, Chwarae Teg

· Catherine Fookes, Director, Women’s Equality Network Wales

</AI3>

<AI4>

4 Inquiry into pregnancy, maternity and work in Wales - evidence session 3

4.1   The Committee received evidence from:

· Emma Webster, Joint CEO& Senior Solicitor, Your Employment Settlement Service

· James Moss, Partner, Slate Legal

· Bethan Darwin, Partner, Thompson Darwin Law

</AI4>

<AI5>

5 Papers to note

</AI5>

<AI6>

5.8 Letter from the Chair of the Children, Young People and Education Committee to the Cabinet Secretary for Education in relation to the Welsh Government draft budget 2018-19

5.1 The Committee noted the letter from the Chair of the Children, Young People and Education Committee to the Cabinet Secretary for Education in relation to the Welsh Government draft budget 2018-19.

</AI6>

<AI7>

5.2 Letter to the First Minister in relation to human rights in Wales

5.2 The Committee noted the letter to the First Minister in relation to human rights in Wales.

</AI7>

<AI8>

5.3 Letter from the Chair of the Equalities and Human Rights Committee, Scottish Parliament, in relation to human rights in WalesThe Committee

5.3 The Committee noted the letter from the Chair of the Equalities and Human Rights Committee, Scottish Parliament, in relation to human rights in Wales.

</AI8>

<AI9>

6 Motion under Standing Order 17.42 (vi) to resolve to exclude the public from the remainder of the meeting

6.1 The Committee agreed the motion.

</AI9>

<AI10>

7 Inquiry into pregnancy, maternity and work in Wales - discussion of the evidence received under items 2, 3 and 4

7.1 The Committee discussed the evidence received under items under 2, 3 and 4.

</AI10>

<AI11>

8 Consideration of letter in relation to resourcing for Brexit scrutiny

8.1 The Committee considered and agreed the letter.

</AI11>

<AI12>

9 Inquiry into pregnancy, maternity and work in Wales: Consultation Responses

</AI12>

<TRAILER_SECTION>

</TRAILER_SECTION>

<LAYOUT_SECTION>

1.FIELD_TITLE

FIELD_SUMMARY

</LAYOUT_SECTION>

<TITLE_ONLY_LAYOUT_SECTION>

2.FIELD_TITLE

</TITLE_ONLY_LAYOUT_SECTION>

<HEADING_LAYOUT_SECTION>

FIELD_TITLE

</HEADING_LAYOUT_SECTION>

<TITLED_COMMENT_LAYOUT_SECTION>

FIELD_TITLE

FIELD_SUMMARY

</TITLED_COMMENT_LAYOUT_SECTION>

<COMMENT_LAYOUT_SECTION>

FIELD_SUMMARY

</COMMENT_LAYOUT_SECTION>

<SUBNUMBER_LAYOUT_SECTION>

2.1FIELD_TITLE

FIELD_SUMMARY

</SUBNUMBER_LAYOUT_SECTION>

<TITLE_ONLY_SUBNUMBER_LAYOUT_SECTION>

2.2FIELD_TITLE

</TITLE_ONLY_SUBNUMBER_LAYOUT_SECTION>