Agenda and minutes

Venue: Y Siambr - Y Senedd. View directions

Expected timing: 282(v4) 

Media

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Transcript: Transcript for 01/07/2020 - Plenary - Fifth Senedd

Items
Expected timing No. Item

The item started at 11.00

The Llywydd welcomed Members to the virtual Plenary and set out that this Plenary meeting, being held by video conference in accordance with the Standing Orders of the Welsh Parliament, constitutes proceedings of the Senedd for the purposes of the Government of Wales Act 2006.

The Llywydd stated that, having consulted with the Business Committee, some of the provisions of Standing Order 34 will apply - all of which were noted on the agenda.

The Llywydd stated that, in accordance with Standing Order 34.15, that the public have been excluded from attending this Plenary meeting, as is required to protect public health, though the meeting would be broadcast live and the record of proceedings would be published as usual.

The Llywydd also reminded Members that Standing Orders relating to Order and the organisation of business in Plenary meetings would apply to this meeting.

 

(45 mins)

1.

Questions to the First Minister

The Presiding Officer will call Party Leaders to ask questions without notice to the First Minister after Question 2.

View Questions

 

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The item started at 11.01

The first 6 questions were asked. The Presiding Officer invited party leaders to ask questions to the First Minister after question 2.

(15 mins)

2.

Business Statement and Announcement

Minutes:

The item started at 12.05

 

(30 mins)

3.

Questions to the Counsel General and European Transition (in respect of his "law officer" responsibilities

Minutes:

The item started at 12.15

All 7 questions were asked.

 

(45 mins)

4.

Questions to the Minister for Finance and Trefnydd

The Presiding Officer will call party spokespeople to ask questions without notice after Question 2.

View Questions

Minutes:

The item started at 12.44

The first 8 questions were asked. The Presiding Officer invited party spokespeople to ask questions to the Minister after question 2.

At 13.28, the meeting was suspended until 14.15.

 

(45 mins)

5.

Questions to the Minister for International Relations and Welsh Language

The Presiding Officer will call party spokespeople to ask questions without notice after Question 2.

View Questions

Minutes:

The item started at 14.15

The first 7 questions were asked. Questions 1 to 5 were answered by the Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism. The Presiding Officer invited party spokespeople to ask questions to the Minister after question 2.

 

(20 mins)

6.

Questions to the Senedd Commission

Minutes:

The item started at 15.02

The first 5 questions were asked. Question 6 was not asked due to technical difficulties.

At 15.22 there was a technical break.

 

(20 mins)

7.

Topical Questions

To ask the Minister for Economy, Transport and North Wales

 

Jack Sargeant (Alyn and Deeside): Will the Minister make a statement on discussions held between the Welsh and UK governments following the announcement of job losses at Airbus?

Minutes:

The item started at 15.23

To ask the Minister for Economy, Transport and North Wales

Jack Sargeant (Alyn and Deeside): Will the Minister make a statement on discussions held between the Welsh and UK governments following the announcement of job losses at Airbus?

 

(45 mins)

8.

Statement by the Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs: The Climate Emergency

Minutes:

The item started at 15.39

 

(15 mins)

9.

Debate: Statutory Instrument Consent Memorandum on The Direct Payments to Farmers (Legislative Continuity) Act 2020 (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2020

NDM7340 Rebecca Evans (Gower)

To propose that the Senedd agrees, in accordance with Standing Order 30A.10, that the Secretary of State makes The Direct Payments to Farmers (Legislative Continuity) Act 2020 (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2020, in accordance with the draft laid in Table Office on 4 May 2020.

The Statutory Instrument Consent Memorandum was laid in Table Office on 4 May 2020 in accordance with Standing Order 30A.2.

Supporting Document
Report of the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee

 

 

Minutes:

The item started at 16.10

NDM7340 Rebecca Evans (Gower)

To propose that the Senedd agrees, in accordance with Standing Order 30A.10, that the Secretary of State makes The Direct Payments to Farmers (Legislative Continuity) Act 2020 (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2020, in accordance with the draft laid in Table Office on 4 May 2020.

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

 

(60 mins)

10.

Economy, Infrastructure and Skills Committee debate on the effects of COVID-19 on Wales' Economy, Infrastructure and Skills

NDM7341 Russell George (Montgomeryshire)

To propose that the Senedd:

Notes the reports of the Economy, Infrastructure and Skills Committee: The impact of COVID-19: Summary of initial findings which was laid in the Table Office on 4 June 2020 and The impact of COVID-19: Skills - early findings which was laid in the Table Office on 19 June 2020.

Supporting Documents - Economy, Infrastructure and Skills Committee

 

Minutes:

The item started at 16.15

NDM7341 Russell George (Montgomeryshire)

To propose that the Senedd:

Notes the reports of the Economy, Infrastructure and Skills Committee: The impact of COVID-19: Summary of initial findings which was laid in the Table Office on 4 June 2020 and The impact of COVID-19: Skills - early findings which was laid in the Table Office on 19 June 2020.

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

 

(60 mins)

11.

Plaid Cymru debate - Proposed New Curriculum

NDM7342 Sian Gwenllian (Arfon)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Declares its general support for the purpose of the proposed new curriculum, which is to enable learners to develop as:

a) ambitious, capable learners, ready to learn throughout their lives;

b) enterprising, creative contributors, ready to play a full part in life and work;

c) ethical, informed citizens of Wales and the world; and

d) healthy, confident individuals, ready to lead fulfilling lives as valued members of society. 

2. Agrees that introducing the new curriculum offers a historic opportunity to right many structural injustices in Wales.

3. Welcomes the Welsh Government’s recognition that government has a responsibility to take specific steps to ensure that the curriculum guarantees a baseline of provision for young people across Wales as a matter of basic human rights and welcomes that some elements of the new curriculum will be mandatory as a result.

4. Agrees that the mandatory elements of the curriculum should include:

a) black and people of colour history; and

b) the history of Wales.

5. Agrees that the new curriculum should support all learners to be fluent in Welsh and English, but that English does not need to be included in the list of mandatory elements in order to achieve this aim.

The following amendments have been tabled:

Amendment 1 - Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

Delete point 2 and replace with: 

Agrees that the new curriculum, if it succeeds in its aims, can help develop a confident, mutually responsible citizenry who will be proactive in tackling injustice from all sources.

Amendment 2 - Rebecca Evans (Gower)

Delete points 4 and 5 and replace with:

Recognises that the new Curriculum for Wales Humanities guidance “promotes an understanding of the ethnic and cultural diversity within Wales” and “enables learners to take committed social action as participative citizens of their local, national and global communities.”

Welcomes the Welsh Government’s commitment to:

a) work with Estyn to ensure that their review of Welsh history takes full account of Welsh, and wider, BAME history, identity and culture; and

b) establishing a working group to oversee the development of learning resources, and identify gaps in current resources or training related to BAME communities, their contributions and experiences.

Agrees that the new curriculum should support all learners to learn Welsh and English.

Curriculum for Wales - Humanities - Guidance 

[If Amendment 2 is agreed amendments 3 and 4 will be de-selected]

Amendment 3 - Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

In point 4, delete sub-points 4(a) and 4(b) and replace with:

the histories of Wales; the histories of the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland; and histories of other parts of the world, and that:

(i) all the above to include black and people of colour history; and

(ii) all the above to be contextualised;

the teaching of life saving skills, as identified as a priority by the Youth Parliament.

Amendment 4 - Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

Delete point 5 and replace with:

Agrees that the new curriculum should support all learners to be fluent in Welsh and English, ensuring that support for Welsh learning takes into account the already advantageous effect of learners’ greater environmental exposure to English.

Amendment 5 - Neil McEvoy (South Wales Central)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Calls on the Welsh Government to ensure that the curriculum makes provision for learning Welsh and that this is accompanied by investment to make Welsh language intensive immersion courses freely available for teachers and pupils alike. 

Amendment 6 - Neil McEvoy (South Wales Central)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Calls on the new curriculum to ensure that every pupil is taught a modern foreign language from year 1 of school.

Amendment 7 - Neil McEvoy (South Wales Central)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Believes that implementing the new curriculum successfully can be best achieved by cutting class sizes to under 20 pupils.

Amendment 8 - Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Calls on Welsh Government to commit to reconsidering the commencement date for the implementation of the new curriculum to accommodate delays in preparation due to Covid-19.

 

 

 

Minutes:

The item started at 17.17

Voting on the motion and amendments under this item was deferred until Voting Time.

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM7342 Sian Gwenllian (Arfon)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Declares its general support for the purpose of the proposed new curriculum, which is to enable learners to develop as:

a) ambitious, capable learners, ready to learn throughout their lives;

b) enterprising, creative contributors, ready to play a full part in life and work;

c) ethical, informed citizens of Wales and the world; and

d) healthy, confident individuals, ready to lead fulfilling lives as valued members of society. 

2. Agrees that introducing the new curriculum offers a historic opportunity to right many structural injustices in Wales.

3. Welcomes the Welsh Government’s recognition that government has a responsibility to take specific steps to ensure that the curriculum guarantees a baseline of provision for young people across Wales as a matter of basic human rights and welcomes that some elements of the new curriculum will be mandatory as a result.

4. Agrees that the mandatory elements of the curriculum should include:

a) black and people of colour history; and

b) the history of Wales.

5. Agrees that the new curriculum should support all learners to be fluent in Welsh and English, but that English does not need to be included in the list of mandatory elements in order to achieve this aim.

For

Abstain

Against

Total

9

1

46

56

The motion without amendment was not agreed.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 - Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

Delete point 2 and replace with: 

Agrees that the new curriculum, if it succeeds in its aims, can help develop a confident, mutually responsible citizenry who will be proactive in tackling injustice from all sources.

A vote was taken on amendment 1:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

10

4

42

56

Amendment 1 was not agreed.

Amendment 2 - Rebecca Evans (Gower)

Delete points 4 and 5 and replace with:

Recognises that the new Curriculum for Wales Humanities guidance “promotes an understanding of the ethnic and cultural diversity within Wales” and “enables learners to take committed social action as participative citizens of their local, national and global communities.”

Welcomes the Welsh Government’s commitment to:

a) work with Estyn to ensure that their review of Welsh history takes full account of Welsh, and wider, BAME history, identity and culture; and

b) establishing a working group to oversee the development of learning resources, and identify gaps in current resources or training related to BAME communities, their contributions and experiences.

Agrees that the new curriculum should support all learners to learn Welsh and English.

A vote was taken on amendment 2:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

30

4

22

56

Amendment 2 was agreed.

As Amendment 2 was agreed, Amendments 3 and 4 were de-selected

Amendment 5 - Neil McEvoy (South Wales Central)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Calls on the Welsh Government to ensure that the curriculum makes provision for learning Welsh and that this is accompanied by investment to make Welsh language intensive immersion courses freely available for teachers and pupils alike. 

A vote was taken on amendment 5:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

15

0

41

56

Amendment 5 was not agreed.

Amendment 6 - Neil McEvoy (South Wales Central)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Calls on the new curriculum to ensure that every pupil is taught a modern foreign language from year 1 of school.

A vote was taken on amendment 6:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

16

0

40

56

Amendment 6 was not agreed.

Amendment 7 - Neil McEvoy (South Wales Central)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Believes that implementing the new curriculum successfully can be best achieved by cutting class sizes to under 20 pupils.

A vote was taken on amendment 7:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

1

14

41

56

Amendment 7 was not agreed.

Amendment 8 - Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Calls on Welsh Government to commit to reconsidering the commencement date for the implementation of the new curriculum to accommodate delays in preparation due to Covid-19.

A vote was taken on amendment 8:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

15

0

41

56

Amendment 8 was not agreed.

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

NDM7342 Sian Gwenllian (Arfon)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Declares its general support for the purpose of the proposed new curriculum, which is to enable learners to develop as:

a) ambitious, capable learners, ready to learn throughout their lives;

b) enterprising, creative contributors, ready to play a full part in life and work;

c) ethical, informed citizens of Wales and the world; and

d) healthy, confident individuals, ready to lead fulfilling lives as valued members of society. 

2. Agrees that introducing the new curriculum offers a historic opportunity to right many structural injustices in Wales.

3. Welcomes the Welsh Government’s recognition that government has a responsibility to take specific steps to ensure that the curriculum guarantees a baseline of provision for young people across Wales as a matter of basic human rights and welcomes that some elements of the new curriculum will be mandatory as a result.

4. Recognises that the new Curriculum for Wales Humanities guidance “promotes an understanding of the ethnic and cultural diversity within Wales” and “enables learners to take committed social action as participative citizens of their local, national and global communities.”

5. Welcomes the Welsh Government’s commitment to:

a) work with Estyn to ensure that their review of Welsh history takes full account of Welsh, and wider, BAME history, identity and culture; and

b) establishing a working group to oversee the development of learning resources, and identify gaps in current resources or training related to BAME communities, their contributions and experiences.

6. Agrees that the new curriculum should support all learners to learn Welsh and English.

For

Abstain

Against

Total

30

14

12

56

The motion as amended was agreed.

12.

Voting Time

Minutes:

The item started at 18.27

As indicated on the Agenda, today’s votes were conducted in accordance with Standing Order 34.11.

Each political group nominated one Member of the group or grouping to carry the same number of votes as there are members of the group. In the case of a political group with an executive role, the nominee will carry the same number of votes as there are members of that group plus any other members of the government. Members who do not belong to a group or grouping voted for themselves.

Votes Summary

Supporting documents: