Wednesday, 13 January 2021
The Senedd met by video-conference at 13:29 with the Llywydd (Elin Jones) in the Chair.
Welcome, all, to this Plenary session. Before we begin, I want to set out a few points. A Plenary meeting held by video-conference, in accordance with the Standing Orders of the Welsh Parliament,...
The first item is questions to the Minister for Finance, and the first question is from John Griffiths.
1. What further financial provision will the Welsh Government make within its annual budget to address the impact of COVID-19 on pre-existing inequalities in Wales? OQ56099
2. What consideration has the Minister given to supporting people affected by the coronavirus in South Wales East when formulating the Welsh Government's budget for 2021-22? OQ56117
Questions now from the party leaders. The Conservatives' spokesperson, Nick Ramsay.
3. What priority is the Welsh Government giving to funding youth services in next year’s budget? OQ56107
4. What action will the Welsh Government take to reduce the risks to public finances in light of the COVID-19 pandemic? OQ56115
5. What resources have been allocated in the 2021-22 budget for education in the post-COVID period? OQ56104
6. What additional funding does the Minister intend to allocate to the environment and rural affairs budget in the current financial year? OQ56111
7. What measures are in place to improve the transparency of the Welsh Government's budget process? OQ56082
8. What consideration has the Minister given to funding for businesses in Alyn and Deeside when allocating the Welsh Government budget? OQ56074
The next item is questions to the Minister for Education, and the first question is from Laura Jones.
1. Will the Minister provide an update on measures to enable students to progress their education in Wales during the current pandemic? OQ56086
2. Will the Minister make a statement on ensuring that all pupils have access to the necessary equipment and resources to enable remote learning? OQ56097
We now turn to party spokespersons questions, and the first up this afternoon is Bethan Sayed from Plaid Cymru.
3. What steps is the Welsh Government taking to ensure consistency in relation to remote learning in schools across Wales? OQ56116
5. What is the Welsh Government doing to help schools find more innovative ways of delivering education amidst the constraints of suppressing the pandemic? OQ56106
6. What is the Welsh Government doing to improve education standards in South Wales Central throughout the COVID-19 pandemic? OQ56087
7. What assessment has the Minister made of the impact of ongoing school closures on educational standards in North Wales? OQ56079
Item 3 on the agenda is questions to the Senedd Commission. All the questions this afternoon will be answered by the Llywydd. Question 1, Helen Mary Jones.
1. Will the Commission provide an update on plans to engage with newly enfranchised voters, particularly as schools and colleges have moved once again to online learning? OQ56092
Thank you, Deputy Llywydd, and thank you, Llywydd, for that information, it was brilliant.
I think my question leads on nicely from my colleague Mandy Jones's question. I would like to endorse her grateful thanks to all our staff. I think it's been remarkable how everyone has adapted...
Item 4 is topical questions, of which none have been accepted this week.
Therefore, item 5 is the 90-second statements. Helen Mary Jones.
Thank you. Item 6 on the agenda is a debate on the petitions concerning access to facilities for sport and physical activity during lockdowns, and I call on the Chair of the committee to move the...
Item 7 is postponed.
There are no votes this afternoon.
Which brings us immediately to the short debate. I call on Mark Reckless to speak to the topic that he has chosen. Mark Reckless.
What further steps will the Welsh Government take to address the impact of COVID -19 on inequalities in education in Wales?
Will the Minister make a statement on how the 2021-22 budget will benefit North Wales?
The Senedd, officially known as the Welsh Parliament in English and Senedd Cymru in Welsh, is the devolved, unicameral legislature of Wales. A democratically elected body, it makes laws for Wales, agrees certain taxes and scrutinises the Welsh Government. It is a bilingual institution, with both Welsh and English being the official languages of its business. From its creation in May 1999 until May 2020, the Senedd was known as the National Assembly for Wales (Welsh: Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru). – Wikipedia
