Wednesday, 15 February 2023
The Senedd met in the Chamber and by video-conference at 13:30 with the Llywydd (Elin Jones) in the Chair.
Good afternoon. Welcome to this Plenary meeting. The first item on our agenda this afternoon is questions to the Minister for Finance and Local Government. The first question today is from Hefin...
1. What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the potential impact of increasing the basic rate of income tax in Wales? OQ59146
2. What discussions has the Minister had with the Minister for Climate Change and the Minister for Social Justice regarding Welsh Government support to ease the financial pressures on scheduled...
Questions now from party spokespeople. The Conservative spokesperson, Peter Fox.
3. What discussions has the Minister had with the Minister for Climate Change regarding the impact of the Government's draft budget on the future of national parks? OQ59135
The Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964 makes it a duty for the Welsh Government—
5. How is the Welsh Government working with local authorities to support and fund the continuation of shared services? OQ59139
6. What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the impact of its draft budget for 2023-24 on local authorities? OQ59141
7. Will the Minister make a statement on the Isle of Anglesey County Council's budget? OQ59132
8. What discussions has the Minister had with the Minister for Economy regarding funding for local authorities to promote apprenticeship opportunities for young learners? OQ59131
The next item is questions to the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and the first question today is from Heledd Fychan.
1. How is the Welsh Government supporting communities across South Wales Central to access community green spaces? OQ59118
2. How will the Welsh Government continue to support rural development in Mid and West Wales as EU funding comes to an end? OQ59133
Questions now from party spokespeople. Conservative spokesperson, Samuel Kurtz.
3. What is the Welsh Government doing to attract young people into careers in farming and agriculture? OQ59144
4. What is the Minister doing to support the egg industry in South Wales East? OQ59130
5. What discussions has the Minister had with the Minister for Climate Change regarding the impact of the Agriculture (Wales) Bill on the national peatland action programme? OQ59136
6. Will the Minister outline what impact the rising cost of living has had on animal welfare? OQ59111
7. What consideration has the Welsh Government given to banning greyhound racing? OQ59110
8. What plans does the Minister have to improve the control of dogs? OQ59114
The next item, therefore, is the topical questions. There is one question today, and that is to be answered by the Deputy Minister for Climate Change and to be asked by Delyth Jewell.
1. What assurances will the Minister provide that the transition away from bus emergency scheme funding will not lead to the closure of bus routes and render rural bus services unviable? TQ727
No 90-second statements have been submitted this afternoon.
So, we'll move on to item 5, which is a Member debate under Standing Order 11.21(iv) on the education maintenance allowance. And I call on Luke Fletcher to move the motion.
Item 6 this afternoon is the first Welsh Conservatives debate—the invasion of Ukraine and supporting Ukrainian refugees. I call on Mark Isherwood to move the motion.
The following amendment has been selected: amendment 1 in the name of Lesley Griffiths.
That brings us to voting time. We have votes on items 5 and 7. Item 5 is first, a vote on a Member debate under Standing Order 11.21(iv) on the education maintenance allowance. I call for a vote...
We will, therefore, move on to the short debate.
Thank you, Minister. We will now move to our second short debate, and I call on Siân Gwenllian.
What assessment has the Minister made of the number of personnel within local authorities who are paid under the IR35 off-payroll working rules?
How is the Minister promoting rural development in 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
