Agenda and minutes

Venue: Committee Room 1 - Senedd. View directions

Contact: Graeme Francis 

Media

Senedd.TV: View the webcast

Transcript: Transcript for 21/11/2017 - Petitions Committee - Fifth Senedd

Items
Expected timing No. Item

1.

Introduction, apologies, substitutions and declarations of interest

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.  There were no apologies.

2.

New petitions

2.1

P-05-785 Suspend Marine Licence 12/45/ML to dump radioactive marine sediments from the Hinkley Point nuclear site into Wales coastal waters off Cardiff

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

Neil McEvoy declared the following relevant interest under Standing Order 17.24A:

 

He had signed the petition in support of the issue.

 

The Committee considered the petition for the first time and agreed to:

 

  • invite the petitioner to give evidence to the Committee at the nearest available meeting; and
  • await a response from Natural Resources Wales to detailed questions put to them in a letter from the Climate Change, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee.

 

Once these actions have been completed the Committee agreed it will consider again whether to seek time for a Plenary debate on the petition.

2.2

P-05-786 Save our Countryside - Revise TAN 1

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered the petition for the first time and agreed to await the views of the petitioner on the response provided by the Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs before considering any further action.

 

3.

Updates to previous petitions

3.1

P-04-526 Please make Senedd TV accessible to deaf people

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

Members considered correspondence from the Llywydd in her capacity as Chair of the Assembly Commission and agreed to await a response from the petitioner to the latest information provided before considering whether to take any further action.

 

3.2

P-04-408 Child and Adolescent Eating Disorder Service

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

Members considered correspondence on the petition and agreed to write back to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Services to ask for details of the timescales in which he intends the review of the Welsh Government’s Eating Disorder Framework to be carried out.

 

3.3

P-05-761 Demand Funding from the Welsh Government to Support Autism Spectrum Connections Cymru

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered correspondence from Autism Spectrum Connections Cymru together with further comments from the petitioner and agreed to write to the Minister for Children and Social Care to ask for details of the processes that were followed when funding for the Integrated Autism Service was awarded, and whether opportunities were given to third sector organisations to apply.

 

3.4

P-05-763 Introduce updated stroke advice - B.E.F.A.S.T. - and help save lives and livelihoods

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered correspondence from the Stroke Association together with further comments from the petitioner and agreed to:

 

·         write to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Services to ask whether he considers that there are any additional steps which could be taken by the Welsh Government or the Stroke Implementation Group to ensure that health professionals are aware of the additional symptoms of strokes, such as problems with eyesight and balance; and in doing so

·         close the petition, given the advice provided by the Stroke Association and the view of the Stroke Implementation Group that there is limited evidence to support changing current messaging around stroke symptoms, and communicating the Committee’s thanks to the petitioner for contributing to a useful discussion on this issue.

 

3.5

P-04-667 Roundabout for the A477/ A4075 Junction

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered correspondence from the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Transport and, given the detailed nature of the information provided, agreed to give the petitioners more time to prepare comments before considering any further action on the petition.

 

3.6

P-05-716 Free Train Transport for school pupils with Arriva Trains Wales

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered correspondence from Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council and agreed to await the views of the petitioner on the latest correspondence, along with a response to information previously requested from Arriva Trains Wales, before considering any further action on the petition.

 

3.7

P-05-770 Reopen Crumlin Railway Station

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered correspondence from the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure and agreed to await the views of the petitioner on this before considering any further action in relation to the petition.

 

3.8

P-05-774 Pass Wide and Slow Wales

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

Members considered correspondence from the British Horse Society and the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Transport, together with further comments from the petitioner and agreed to write to:

 

  • the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Transport to ask for an outline of the activities undertaken by the Welsh Government to deliver the relevant actions in the Road Safety Framework; and
  • Police and Crime Commissioners to ask whether any work has been undertaken by police forces in Wales to improve the safety of horses and horse riders using roads, including to promote campaigns to prevent close passes.

 

3.9

P-05-775 Put an end to the Cross Border and Sub-contracting Taxi Licensing loophole

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered correspondence from the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Transport together with further comments from the petitioner and agreed to await the publication of the Welsh Government’s summary of the outcome of their recent public consultation on possible reforms to taxi licensing, expected before the end of 2017, before considering further action on the petition.

 

3.10

P-05-778 Protect the Razor Clams on Llanfairfechan Beach

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered correspondence from the Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs together with further comments from the petitioner and agreed to write back to the Cabinet Secretary to seek confirmation that the fishery will not be reopened until the results of the stock assessment have been considered.

3.11

P-04-628 To improve access to Education and services in British Sign Language

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered correspondence from the WLGA together with further comments from the petitioners and agreed to:

 

  • write to the British Association of Teachers of the Deaf (BATOD) Cymru to seek their views on the issues raised by the petition, in particular the teaching of, and through, BSL in schools; and
  • draw together an outline of the evidence received so that Members can decide whether to produce a report on the Committee’s consideration of the petition.

 

(09.50)

4.

Evidence session for - P-05-736 To Make Mental Health Services More Accessible

Laura Williams, Petitioner

 

Alun Thomas, Chief Executive - Hafal

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Committee heard evidence from the petitioner, Laura Williams, and Alun Thomas, Chief Executive, Hafal.

 

5.

Motion under Standing Order 17.42 to resolve to exclude the public for the remainder of the meeting

Minutes:

Members agreed the motion.

6.

Discussion of previous evidence sessions

6.1

P-05-736 To Make Mental Health Services More Accessible

Minutes:

Members considered the evidence heard in the earlier session and agreed to invite the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Services to give evidence to the Committee at a future meeting.

 

6.2

P-04-472 Make the MTAN law

Minutes:

Members considered the evidence sessions held on 3 October and 7 November in relation to this petition and P-04-575 Call in all Opencast Mining Planning Applications, and agreed to produce a report on the Committee’s consideration of both petitions.

 

6.3

P-04-575 Call in All Opencast Mining Planning Applications

Minutes:

Members considered the evidence sessions held on 3 October and 7 November in relation to this petition and P-04-472 Make the MTan Law, and agreed to produce a report on the Committee’s consideration of both petitions.

 

7.

Consideration of summary - P-04-564 Restoration of Inpatient Beds, Minor Injuries Cover and X-Ray Unit to the Ffestiniog Memorial Hospital

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

Members discussed the draft summary and further amendments, and agreed to publish it once finalised.