Agenda and decisions

 

View Questions

The item started at 13.30

The first 10 questions were asked.  Question 8 was answered by the Deputy Minister for Skills.

 

View Questions

The item started at 14.18

Questions 1-5, 8-13 and 15 were asked. Question 6 was transferred for written answer by the Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty. Question 7 was withdrawn. Question 14 transferred for written answer by the Minister for Housing and Regeneration.

 

NDM5283 Nick Ramsay (Monmouth)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

 

Notes the report of the Enterprise and Business Committee on the inquiry into Integrated Public Transport in Wales, which was laid in the Table Office on 22 May 2012.

 

Note: The response by the Welsh Government was laid on 26 June 2013.

 

Supporting documents:

Enterprise and Business Committee report

Welsh Government response

The item started at 14.46

NDM5283 Nick Ramsay (Monmouth)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

Notes the report of the Enterprise and Business Committee on the inquiry into Integrated Public Transport in Wales, which was laid in the Table Office on 22 May 2012.

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

 

NDM5284 Nick Ramsay (Monmouth)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

 

Notes the Stage 2 report of the Enterprise and Business Committee on the inquiry into Horizon 2020, which was laid in the Table Office on 31 May 2012.

 

Note: The response by the Welsh Government was laid on 26 June 2013.

 

Supporting documents:

Enterprise and Business Committee report

Welsh Government response

The item started at 15.26

NDM5284 Nick Ramsay (Monmouth)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

Notes the Stage 2 report of the Enterprise and Business Committee on the inquiry into Horizon 2020, which was laid in the Table Office on 31 May 2012.

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

 

NDM5282 William Graham (South Wales East)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

 

1. Recognises the huge potential for tourism in rural Wales and urges the Welsh Government to address industry concerns about how the new strategy for tourism will work in rural areas.

 

2. Calls on the Welsh Government to encourage local councils to implement Tan 6 planning guidance to support the sustainable rural economy and encourage diversification in rural areas by enabling automatic conversion of redundant farm buildings into business premises or accommodation.

 

3. Recognises the difficult environmental conditions that face farmers working in Less Favoured Areas (LFA) and calls on the Welsh Government to implement an LFA support package to address these unique challenges.

 

4. Notes the importance of sustainable bus services as a lifeline for rural communities and calls on the Welsh Government to provide sufficient funding for rural bus services.

 

5. Further notes the importance of the Royal Welsh Show and National Eisteddfod in supporting the rural economy and promoting Welsh culture.

 

‘Partnership for Growth: The Welsh Government Strategy for Tourism 2013-2020’ can be accessed on the following link:

 

http://wales.gov.uk/topics/tourism/developmentl1/partnershipforgrowth/?lang=en

 

‘TAN6 – planning for sustainable rural communities’ can be accessed on the following link:

 

http://wales.gov.uk/docs/desh/policy/100722tan6en.pdf

 

The following amendments have been tabled:

 

Amendment 1 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

 

Insert as new point 1 and renumber accordingly:

 

Recognises the importance of a high street bank to the rural economy and regrets that, according to a recent ‘Last Bank in Town’ analysis by the Campaign for Community Banking Services, there are now thirty-eight communities in rural Wales with only one bank remaining.

 

The report by the Campaign for Community Banking Services ‘Last Bank in Town’ can be found here:

 

http://www.communitybanking.org.uk/revised-last-bank-in-town.htm

 

Amendment 2 - Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

 

In point 1, delete all after ‘urges the Welsh Government to’ and replace with ‘work with the industry to develop that potential by taking forward the new strategy for tourism’

 

Amendment 3 - Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

 

Delete point 2

 

[If amendment 3 is agreed, amendment 4 will be de-selected]

 

Amendment 4 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

 

In point 2 delete ‘automatic’.

 

Amendment 5 - Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

 

Delete point 3 and replace with:

 

‘Recognises the difficult economic and environmental conditions that face farmers working in the current Less Favoured Area (LFA), notes the Welsh Government's work in developing the new Areas of Natural Constraint designation in advance of the final deadline of 2018 and further notes the Government's commitment to use this new designation to help address these unique challenges.’

 

[If amendment 5 is agreed, amendment 6 will be de-selected]

 

Amendment 6 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

 

In point 3 delete all after ‘(LFA)’ and replace with:

 

‘; notes the potential of Areas of Natural Constraints to recognising these conditions and calls on the Welsh Government to explore the implementation a dedicated support package for LFA/ANC equivalent areas that could be delivered through rural development regulations akin to other counties and regions within the European Union.’

 

Amendment 7 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

 

Insert as new point 4 and renumber accordingly:

 

Recognises the essential role European Union funding plays in supporting the rural Welsh economy and therefore firmly believes that Wales’ interests are best served by remaining a committed part of the United Kingdom and the European Union.

 

Amendment 8 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

 

Insert as new point 5 and renumber accordingly:

 

Notes the importance of accessible rail services to the delivery of an integrated transport system in rural areas and calls on the Welsh Government to support the re-opening of suitable railway stations across rural Wales.

The item started at 16.00

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

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM5282 William Graham (South Wales East)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Recognises the huge potential for tourism in rural Wales and urges the Welsh Government to address industry concerns about how the new strategy for tourism will work in rural areas.

2. Calls on the Welsh Government to encourage local councils to implement Tan 6 planning guidance to support the sustainable rural economy and encourage diversification in rural areas by enabling automatic conversion of redundant farm buildings into business premises or accommodation.

3. Recognises the difficult environmental conditions that face farmers working in Less Favoured Areas (LFA) and calls on the Welsh Government to implement an LFA support package to address these unique challenges.

4. Notes the importance of sustainable bus services as a lifeline for rural communities and calls on the Welsh Government to provide sufficient funding for rural bus services.

5. Further notes the importance of the Royal Welsh Show and National Eisteddfod in supporting the rural economy and promoting Welsh culture.

For	Abstain	Against	Total
13	0	35	48

The motion without amendment was not agreed.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

Insert as new point 1 and renumber accordingly:

Recognises the importance of a high street bank to the rural economy and regrets that, according to a recent ‘Last Bank in Town’ analysis by the Campaign for Community Banking Services, there are now thirty-eight communities in rural Wales with only one bank remaining.

A vote was taken on Amendment 1:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
48	0	0	48

Amendment 1 was agreed.

Amendment 2 - Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

In point 1, delete all after ‘urges the Welsh Government to’ and replace with ‘work with the industry to develop that potential by taking forward the new strategy for tourism’

A vote was taken on Amendment 2:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
26	0	22	48

Amendment 2 was agreed.

Amendment 3 - Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

Delete point 2

A vote was taken on Amendment 3:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
26	0	22	48

Amendment 3 was agreed.

As amendment 3 was agreed, amendment 4 was de-selected.

Amendment 5 - Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

Delete point 3 and replace with:

‘Recognises the difficult economic and environmental conditions that face farmers working in the current Less Favoured Area (LFA), notes the Welsh Government's work in developing the new Areas of Natural Constraint designation in advance of the final deadline of 2018 and further notes the Government's commitment to use this new designation to help address these unique challenges.’

A vote was taken on Amendment 5:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
31	0	17	48

Amendment 5 was agreed.

As amendment 5 was agreed, amendment 6 was de-selected.

Amendment 7 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

Insert as new point 4 and renumber accordingly:

Recognises the essential role European Union funding plays in supporting the rural Welsh economy and therefore firmly believes that Wales’ interests are best served by remaining a committed part of the United Kingdom and the European Union.

A vote was taken on Amendment 7:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
30	13	5	48

Amendment 7 was agreed.

Amendment 8 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

Insert as new point 5 and renumber accordingly:

Notes the importance of accessible rail services to the delivery of an integrated transport system in rural areas and calls on the Welsh Government to support the re-opening of suitable railway stations across rural Wales.

A vote was taken on Amendment 8:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
48	0	0	48

Amendment 8 was agreed.

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

NDM5282 William Graham (South Wales East)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Recognises the importance of a high street bank to the rural economy and regrets that, according to a recent ‘Last Bank in Town’ analysis by the Campaign for Community Banking Services, there are now thirty-eight communities in rural Wales with only one bank remaining.

2. Recognises the huge potential for tourism in rural Wales and urges the Welsh Government to work with the industry to develop that potential by taking forward the new strategy for tourism.

3. Recognises the difficult economic and environmental conditions that face farmers working in the current Less Favoured Area (LFA), notes the Welsh Government's work in developing the new Areas of Natural Constraint designation in advance of the final deadline of 2018 and further notes the Government's commitment to use this new designation to help address these unique challenges.

4. Recognises the essential role European Union funding plays in supporting the rural Welsh economy and therefore firmly believes that Wales’ interests are best served by remaining a committed part of the United Kingdom and the European Union.

5. Notes the importance of sustainable bus services as a lifeline for rural communities and calls on the Welsh Government to provide sufficient funding for rural bus services.

6. Notes the importance of accessible rail services to the delivery of an integrated transport system in rural areas and calls on the Welsh Government to support the re-opening of suitable railway stations across rural Wales.

7. Further notes the importance of the Royal Welsh Show and National Eisteddfod in supporting the rural economy and promoting Welsh culture.

For	Abstain	Against	Total
35	13	0	48

The motion as amended was agreed.

 

The item started at 16.54

 

 

NDM5281 Nick Ramsay (Monmouth): The Solidarity String: Supporting Stroke Victims in Wales

 

Highlighting the importance of clubbing together to overcome strokes through a range of therapies and treatments.

The item started at 16.58

NDM5281 Nick Ramsay (Monmouth): The Solidarity String: Supporting Stroke Victims in Wales

Highlighting the importance of clubbing together to overcome strokes through a range of therapies and treatments.