Meeting Venue:
Y Siambr - Senedd
Meeting date:
Wednesday, 6 February 2019
Meeting time: 13.30
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(45 mins)
The Presiding Officer will call party spokespeople to ask questions without notice after Question 2.
(45 mins)
The Presiding Officer will call party spokespeople to ask questions without notice after Question 2.
No Topical Questions were accepted.
(60 mins)
NDM6952 David J. Rowlands (South Wales East)
To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
Notes the report of the Petitions Committee on Petition P-04-628 To improve access to education and services in British Sign Language, which was laid in the Table Office on 5 October 2018.
(60 mins)
NDM6950 David Rees (Aberavon)
To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
1. Welcomes the investments made by the Welsh Government to support a sustainable future for the steel industry in Wales in recent years.
2. Recognises the challenges facing the Welsh steel industry following the UK's departure from the EU.
3. Calls on the Welsh Government to continue supporting the Welsh steel sector which is a key industry for the Welsh economy.
4. Calls on the UK Government to address the high costs of energy facing the steel sector in the UK in comparison to electricity costs in the EU.
Co-Submitters
John Griffiths (Newport East)
Bethan Sayed (South Wales West)
Russell George (Montgomeryshire)
Suzy Davies (South Wales West)
Jayne Bryant (Newport West)
Huw Irranca-Davies (Ogmore)
Caroline Jones (South Wales West)
Supporters
Alun Davies (Blaenau Gwent)
Dawn Bowden (Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney)
Jack Sargeant (Alyn and Deeside)
Mike Hedges (Swansea East)
Vikki Howells (Cynon Valley)
(60 mins)
NDM6959 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)
1. Notes that regional economic inequality remains stark across Wales, as evident in the latest GVA figures.
2. Regrets that the Welsh Government’s policies have failed to address economic inequalities between regions in Wales.
3. Welcomes the contribution that the Cardiff city region deal, the Swansea Bay city region deal, a north Wales growth deal and a mid Wales growth deal will make to addressing regional inequality in Wales.
4. Calls on the Welsh Government to:
a) work constructively with the UK Government to deliver growth deals in Wales;
b) review the economic action plan to incorporate a strategy to grow wages and economic prosperity in all parts of Wales and address economic inequalities between regions; and
c) promote a regional development policy post-Brexit which supports deprived communities across Wales, including those outside west Wales and the valleys.
Prosperity for All: economic action plan
The following amendments were tabled:
Amendment 1 - Rebecca Evans (Gower)
Delete all and replace with:
To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
1. Recognises the importance of strong, resilient regional economies across all parts of Wales as a driver of inclusive growth
2. Notes the cross-government measures set out in the Economic Action Plan including the appointment of Chief Regional Officers and teams in Welsh Government to support Regional Economic Development across Wales
3. Notes the important role for City and Growth Deals in driving regional economic growth when they are coordinated alongside wider interventions such as infrastructure, transport and skills.
4. Notes the recent announcement that the OECD is supporting the development of regional economic development policy in Wales based on international best practice
5. Calls on the UK Government to address inequalities in infrastructure funding between the nations and regions of the UK and do more to spread investment opportunities equitably across the country
6. Calls on the UK Government to respect the devolution settlement and ensure that strategic decisions relating to the management and administration of replacement structural funding to address regional economic inequalities are made by the Welsh Government.
7. Notes the development of regional indicative budgets for Economy and Transport investment across Wales.
[If amendment 1 is agreed, amendments 2 and 3 will be de-selected]
Amendment 2 - Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)
Delete point 2 and replace with:
Notes that the UK Government's policy of austerity, along with the Welsh Government's mismanagement, has led to a large increase in economic inequalities between Wales's regions.
Amendment 3 - Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)
In sub-point (a) in point 4, after 'the UK Government' insert 'and local authorities'.
Amendment 4 - Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)
Add as new point at end of motion:
Calls for a regional investment bill, with the aim of ensuring fair financial investment across all of Wales.
Amendment 5 - Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)
Add new points at the end of the motion:
Welcomes the fact that the Arfor project board has held its first meeting and has agreed on an outline programme of activities for the next two years.
Notes the fact that £2 million has been earmarked in the budget for secretariat support and investment for Arfor during 2018-19 and 2019-20 as Plaid Cymru's budget priority with the Welsh Government.
Confirms the importance of maximising the undeniable link between economic prosperity and linguistic prosperity in Welsh-speaking western areas of Wales.
(30 mins)
NDM6957 Hefin David (Caerphilly)
Plastic-Free Caerphilly, Plastic-Free Wales:
What can be done at a local and national level to reduce plastic pollution.
The Assembly will sit again in Plenary at 13.30, Tuesday, 12 February 2019