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Petitions Committee |
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Meeting Venue: |
Committee Room 1 - Senedd |
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Meeting date: |
Tuesday, 16 June 2015 |
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Meeting time: |
09.05 - 10.09 |
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This meeting can be viewed on Senedd TV at:
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Concise Minutes: |
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Assembly Members: |
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William Powell (Chair) Russell George Bethan Jenkins Joyce Watson |
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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) |
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1 Introduction, apologies and substitutions
The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting there were no apologies.
2 New petitions
2.1 P-04-637 To Protect the Future of Youth Music in Wales
The Committee considered the petition for the first time and agreed to write to:
- the Minister asking that he informs the Committee when the Task and Finish Group’s report is published and that he provides further substantive views on the petition at that time;
- In the meanwhile, ask that he provides more details of the methodology used by the Task and Finish Group as requested by the petitioners; and
- Write to the UK and Scottish Government seeking information on the steps they have apparently taken to reintroduce central funding of music services.
2.2 P-04-624 That Foster Carers be Permitted to be Registered with More Than One Local Authority
The Committee considered the petition for the first time and agreed to await the petitioner’s views on the Minister’s letter with a view to asking the Minister when he intends to take advice from CSSIW and to let the Committee know the outcome of that advice.
2.3 P-04-636 Statutory Sex and Relationships Education (SRE)
The Committee considered the petition for the first time and agreed to write to:
- send the petitioners’ further comments to the Minister seeking his views on them; and
- In particular, ask the Minister if the petitioners can be provided, as they request, with the outcomes from the ‘Great Debate’ and that they can be involved as stakeholders in the next stages of discussion.
2.4 P-04-638 Emergency Services - Power of Entry
The Committee considered the petition for the first time and agreed to write to:
· the Deputy Minister to ask that he provides a substantive response to the petitioners points many of which seem reasonable on the face of it; and
· the Welsh Ambulance Service Trust seeking their views on the petition, the Minister’s reply and the petitioner’s response.
2.5 P-04-639 Save Further Education in Powys
The Committee considered the petition for the first time and agreed to:
- await the petitioner’s views before deciding on further action; and
- write to College Powys seeking its views on the petition.
Russell George noted an interest in the petition.
3 Updates to previous petitions
3.1 P-04-346 Free Childcare for 3-4 Year Olds in Wales
The Committee considered the petition and agreed to write to await comments from the petitioner but if no substantive comments are forthcoming within 6 weeks, close the petition.
3.2 P-04-522 Asbestos in Schools
The Committee considered the petition and agreed to:
- ask the Minister to respond on the question of setting up an Asbestos in Schools Steering Group to assist the Department for Education and Skills as it forms and reviews policy on the issue;
- consider whether to invite the Minister to attend a future Committee meeting to answer questions on the matter.
3.3 P-04-571 Treating Pernicious Anaemia
The Committee considered the petition and agreed to:
- welcome and support the Minister’s intention to seek advice from the National Specialist Advisory Committee and ask that he keeps the Committee informed of the outcome; and
- write back to the Petitioners asking that they respond to the specific points raised in the Minister’s letter.
3.4 P-04-601 Proposed Ban on the Use of e-cigarettes in Public Places
The Committee considered the petition and agreed to write to keep a watching brief on the petition given that the consideration of this issue will now be a specific matter for HSC and the Assembly as a whole to consider in due course.
3.5 P-04-603 Helping Babies Born at 22 Weeks to Survive
The Committee considered the petition and agreed to await the response to the Health Committee’s letter to the Chief Medical Officer.
3.6 P-04-597 Protect the future of Funky Dragon, the Children and Young People’s Assembly for Wales
The Committee considered the petition and agreed to:
- await the petitioner’s views before deciding on any further action; and
- write to the Chair of the of the Children, Young People and Education Committee asking for information on undertakings given by the Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty on this matter during a recent evidence session with the Committee.
3.7 P-04-605 Save the Cwmcarn Forest Drive from Indefinite or Permanent Closure
The Committee considered the petition and agreed to maintain a watching brief as requested by the petitioner and revisit the petition at a future meeting and consider closure at that time.
3.8 P-04-619 LOCALISM IN PLANNING and COMPENSATION FOR THIRD PARTIES RE. INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS
The Committee considered the petition and agreed to seek the Minister’s views on the Petitioner’s further comments.
3.9 P-04-627 Improve Commuter Train Services in North Wales
The Committee considered the petition and agreed to await the petitioner’s views on the Minister’s correspondence.