Decision details

Welsh Liberal Democrats Debate

Decision Maker: Plenary - Fourth Assembly

Status: Recommendations approved

Is Key decision?: Yes

Purpose:

Debates are one of the most frequent items of business on the Plenary agenda. Many types of debate are brought forward in Plenary, including:

  • Opposition party debates on a topic of their choice;

Other than in the case of Government debates, the time allocated for all other types of debates and their frequency are determined by the Business Committee

Decision:

The item started at 17.02

 

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

 

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

 

NDM5727 Aled Roberts (North Wales)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

 

1. Notes that one in three Welsh children live below the poverty line.

 

2. Notes that Wales has the lowest education attainment levels in the UK, which has a particularly negative impact on deprived communities.

 

3. Notes that childhood obesity, female youth smoking rates and youth alcohol consumption rates are worse in Wales than in England.

 

4. Notes that Young people aged between 11 and 16 in Wales drink more alcohol each week than in any other part of the UK.

 

5. Welcomes the recent budget deal between the Welsh Liberal Democrats and Welsh Government which will increase the Pupil Deprivation Grant (PDG) to £1,150 per pupil, extend the PDG to under 5s, and introduce a Young Travellers' Youth Concessionary Fare.

 

6. Believes people should be empowered to lead the life they want to lead and there is no room for complacency in the battle to ensure equality for all.

 

7. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

 

a) provide access to the Flying Start initiative to all children across Wales on the basis of need rather than geographical location;

 

b) improve the system of continuous professional development for teachers and establish a Welsh Academy of Education Leadership;

c) amend the Estyn Framework to ensure that greater focus is given to education on healthy eating and exercise in schools;

 

d) focus more resources on the cessation of youth smoking and tackling illegal tobacco; and

 

e) ensure that all apprentices receive the highest quality of training that provides them with portable qualifications.

 

For

Abstain

Against

Total

4

0

46

50

The motion without amendment was not agreed.

 

The following amendments were tabled:

 

Amendment 1 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

Insert as new point 5 and renumber accordingly:

 

Notes the projected rise in the number of children living in poverty to 3.4 million across the UK by 2020 and further notes the impact of UK Government welfare reforms on rising child poverty levels.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 1:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

34

0

16

50

Amendment 1 was agreed.

 

Amendment 2 - Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

Delete point 5.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 2:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

21

0

29

50

Amendment 2 was not agreed.

 

Amendment 3 - Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

In sub-point 7b), delete 'establish a Welsh Academy of Education Leadership' and replace with 'ensure it progresses effectively from new Initial Teacher Education provision'.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 3:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

43

0

4

47

Amendment 3 was agreed.

 

Amendment 4 - Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

Add as a new sub-point at the end of motion:

 

ensure that schools show evidence that they are using the PDG to help pupils from low-income households.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 4

For

Abstain

Against

Total

49

1

0

50

Amendment 4 was agreed.

 

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

 

NDM5727 Aled Roberts (North Wales)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

 

1. Notes that one in three Welsh children live below the poverty line.

 

2. Notes that Wales has the lowest education attainment levels in the UK, which has a particularly negative impact on deprived communities.

 

3. Notes that childhood obesity, female youth smoking rates and youth alcohol consumption rates are worse in Wales than in England.

 

4. Notes that Young people aged between 11 and 16 in Wales drink more alcohol each week than in any other part of the UK.

5. Notes the projected rise in the number of children living in poverty to 3.4 million across the UK by 2020 and further notes the impact of UK Government welfare reforms on rising child poverty levels.

 

6. Welcomes the recent budget deal between the Welsh Liberal Democrats and Welsh Government which will increase the Pupil Deprivation Grant (PDG) to £1,150 per pupil, extend the PDG to under 5s, and introduce a Young Travellers' Youth Concessionary Fare.

 

7. Believes people should be empowered to lead the life they want to lead and there is no room for complacency in the battle to ensure equality for all.

 

8. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

 

a) provide access to the Flying Start initiative to all children across Wales on the basis of need rather than geographical location;

 

b) improve the system of continuous professional development for teachers and ensure it progresses effectively from new Initial Teacher Education provision;

 

c) amend the Estyn Framework to ensure that greater focus is given to education on healthy eating and exercise in schools;

 

d) focus more resources on the cessation of youth smoking and tackling illegal tobacco; and

 

e) ensure that all apprentices receive the highest quality of training that provides them with portable qualifications.

 

f) ensure that schools show evidence that they are using the PDG to help pupils from low-income households.

 

For

Abstain

Against

Total

0

8

42

50

The motion as amended was not agreed.

Publication date: 18/03/2015

Date of decision: 18/03/2015

Decided at meeting: 18/03/2015 - Plenary - Fourth Assembly