Wednesday, 18 January 2023
The Senedd met in the Chamber and by video-conference at 13:30 with the Llywydd (Elin Jones) in the Chair.
Good afternoon. We are ready to begin today's meeting. The first item this afternoon will be questions to the Minister for Finance and Local Government, and the first question is from Vikki Howells.
1. How is the Welsh Government prioritising interventions to eliminate fuel poverty within its draft budget for 2023-24? OQ58945
2. What discussions has the Minister had with local government partners on how they can support residents during the cost-of-living crisis? OQ58962
Questions now from party spokespeople. The Conservative Party spokesperson, Sam Rowlands.
3. What discussions has the Minister had with the Minister for Health and Social Services regarding funding local authorities to promote public health? OQ58963
4. How is the Minister working with the Minister for Climate Change to ensure that local authorities have the funding required to meet their climate change commitments? OQ58967
5. What discussions has the Minister had with local authorities about the expectation for them to maintain non-statutory public services following the 2022-23 budget? OQ58968
6. What discussions has the Minister had with other Ministers regarding the funding of preventive health measures across the Government? OQ58961
7. What financial assessment has the Minister made of local authorities' approach to investing in school catering? OQ58952
8. What discussions is the Minister having with councils in South Wales Central regarding the future of non-statutory services in light of the financial challenges that they are facing? OQ58953
The next item is questions to the Minister for rural affairs and north Wales, and the first question is from Altaf Hussain.
1. What action is the Welsh Government taking to make Wales pollinator friendly? OQ58955
2. Will the Minister provide an update on efforts to combat the spread of disease in livestock in Mid and West Wales? OQ58965
Questions from party spokespeople now. Conservative spokesperson, Samuel Kurtz.
3. What is the Minister doing to help manage common land in South Wales East? OQ58943
4. What discussions has the Minister had with the Minister for Climate Change regarding the use of genetic modification of plants for carbon sequestration? OQ58948
5. How is the Welsh Government encouraging local authorities to enhance urban green infrastructure in Gwent? OQ58964
6. What measures is the Welsh Government taking to reduce the catfish population in Denbighshire? OQ58949
7. How will the Government measure the success of the Agriculture (Wales) Bill 2022? OQ58966
9. What are the Welsh Government's priorities for creating a vibrant agricultural industry sector? OQ58946
10. What action is the Welsh Government taking to protect threatened wildlife species? OQ58941
11. What discussions has the Minister had with the Minister for Climate Change about how farmers can contribute to improving energy efficiency in Arfon? OQ58969
12. What assessment has the Minister made of the health of the Welsh egg industry? OQ58957
Item 3 is next, the topical question. The question is to be asked by James Evans, and is to be answered by the Minister for education. James Evans.
1. Will the Minister make a statement on his expectations of his meetings with the teaching trade unions later this week in terms of avoiding school closures? TQ711
I have agreed to a point of order, and Heledd Fychan with that point of order.
The 90-second statements are next. The only statement today is from Sioned Williams.
Item 5 this afternoon is a debate on the Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee report, 'The future of bus and rail in Wales'. I call on the Chair of the committee to move...
Item 6 this afternoon is the Welsh Conservatives debate on offshore renewable energy. I call on Janet Finch-Saunders to move the motion.
Item 7 is next, the Plaid Cymru debate, on management of NHS pressures. I call on Rhun ap Iorwerth to move the motion.
So, we have a single vote this afternoon, on the debate that's just been held, on item 7, which is the Plaid Cymru debate on management of NHS pressures. I therefore call for a vote on the...
Today's short debate is to be presented by Janet Finch-Saunders.
What consideration did the Minister give to highway maintenance when deciding this year’s local authority settlement?
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
