, Petitions Committee
Updates to previous petitions
Okay. So, to confirm and summarise, we'll keep this one open, recommend it's taken forward for Plenary debate, and review it as it progresses. Thank you. The next item is P-07-1588, 'Introduce a Basic Income for the Arts scheme in Wales, modelled on Ireland’s…
, Petitions Committee
Updates to previous petitions
Okay. Does anybody want to come in? Janet. No. Lyn. No. Okay. I'm happy to take your recommendation on that. We'll recommend this one is taken forward to the Business Committee for debate in Plenary.
, Petitions Committee
Updates to previous petitions
Moving on, then, to agenda item 3.1, 'Stop the detention of learning disabled and autistic children, young people and adults in hospital'. The submitter is Stolen Lives, with 1,754 signatures, 1,300 from Wales. This one has quite a history to it. I will be…
, Petitions Committee
New Petitions
Well, we'll implement those recommendations with the two letters. But if we bring this back to committee again, I think maybe this is something we can look at in more of a detailed evidence session, and invite representatives from Men's Sheds and these man…
, Petitions Committee
New Petitions
Yes, I agree. That's a great recommendation, so we'll certainly include that. Just from my point of view, it's a term I wasn't aware of until this petition came in, so I thank the petitioner for raising it. It is an increasingly more visible issue that now…
, Petitions Committee
New Petitions
Okay, thank you. Would anybody else like to come in?
, Petitions Committee
New Petitions
Moving on then to P-07-1610, 'Andropause is Real, Men Deserve Support Too. Don't Leave Men Behind, Andropause Care for North Wales'. The petition reads: 'There are no dedicated Andropause services in Wales. 'Men experiencing symptoms are often misdiagnosed…
, Petitions Committee
New Petitions
Okay. Thank you. Agree? Yes. Okay. I agree with that. Just to confirm, the action there is that we as a committee will write to the Deputy Minister to seek greater clarity on the plans, but we'll keep the petition open until we receive that response and…
, Petitions Committee
New Petitions
Yes, agreed. Okay, thank you very much. Moving on to the next one, P-07-1623, 'Funding for road repairs must be increased immediately to prevent serious injury or loss of life'. The petition reads: 'Funding for road repairs must be increased immediately to…
, Petitions Committee
New Petitions
But it is good to see that the Government have taken that position. I agree that we need to close this petition down now, but, obviously, as ever, it's our job to keep the Government's feet to the fire on this, which we will do. But, in terms of the petition…
, Petitions Committee
New Petitions
Hear, hear, well said. Anybody else? No. Okay, thank you very much. I don't know if I can agree with your party leader on this—he wanted to call it the 'Janet Finch-Saunders Bridge'. [Laughter.]
, Petitions Committee
New Petitions
I think we've lost Janet there. Okay, we'll come back to that one when she's back online. Oh, is she back? You're back, but we can't hear you. There you go.
, Petitions Committee
New Petitions
Okay, moving on, item 2.5, P-07-1594, 'Build a new crossing over the Menai'. 'Anglesey is currently connected to the mainland by just two bridges, one is 150 years old, the other is 200 years old this year. Although beautiful, the existing crossings require…
, Petitions Committee
New Petitions
Okay. Thank you. Anybody else want to come in? I'll just add to this. I did submit a written question to the responsible Minister on cat microchipping, I think last week. So, I'm just waiting for a response back. But that was part of the Blue Cross animal pet…
, Petitions Committee
New Petitions
Okay, good. So, to confirm, we're going to keep this open. We will write to the Minister just to confirm that we will see some action on this, track that through, but we will then look to invite some individuals to attend a future meeting to give more…
, Petitions Committee
New Petitions
Yes, thank you. Okay. So—. Janet, did you want to come in then?
, Petitions Committee
New Petitions
Okay, thank you. We'll close this petition, then, and we'll move on to the next. Item 2.3, so P-07-1574, 'The GCSE (Curriculum Wales) course needs to put a much greater focus on Welsh history'. 'At the moment, school leavers in Wales will know more about the…
, Petitions Committee
New Petitions
Yes, thank you. I'm minded to agree with that. And I would just, you know, echo your sentiments there. Mr Gittins has been a regular communicator on the issue. It's clear that he feels passionately about this, and I think his work has been reflected in some…
, Petitions Committee
New Petitions
Okay, thank you very much. Anybody else like to come in on that, or make any comment? No. Happy with the recommendation? Okay. So, to confirm, we'll keep the petition open, pending receipt of further updates from the relevant Minister. Okay, thank you. Moving…
, Petitions Committee
New Petitions
Moving straight into it, item 2 is new petitions. This is new petitions being considered in the committee for the first time. I'll invite Members to comment on these petitions as we go through them in turn. The first one we have to discuss today, item 2.1, is…
, Petitions Committee
Introductions, apologies and substitutions
Good afternoon, everybody. Welcome to this session of the Petitions Committee. We have a hybrid session today. Before going into the formal business of the afternoon, I'd like to welcome new member Lyn Ackerman to the group—thank you very much for joining…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning
I don't wish to speak, Llywydd.
, Plenary
Welsh Conservatives Debate: The defence sector
Reform heartily supports today's motion that's before us today. Wales has a proud defence tradition, and our aerospace and defence sector directly employs 16,000 people. The UK defence investment plan commits £298 billion over the next four years, with almost…
, Plenary
Reform UK Debate: Default 20 mph speed limit
Diolch, Lywydd. I move this motion, submitted in the name of my colleague Llŷr Powell. Three years ago, Labour imposed the default 20 mph limit across Wales. They told motorists that it was necessary. They told communities it would make them safer and then…
, Plenary
Topical Questions
Thank you to the Minister for the previous answer. I think a lot of what I'm about to say has been touched upon. We recognise that rising fuel prices are putting growing pressure on Welsh businesses, driving up the cost of deliveries, transport and everyday…
