Agenda and decisions

The Presiding Officer announced that the Further and Higher Education (Governance and Information) (Wales) Act, National Health Service Finance (Wales) Act and the Control of Horses (Wales) Act received Royal Assent on 27 January 2014.

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

 

View Questions

 

The item started at 13.30

 

The first 8 questions were asked. Question 4 and 10 were grouped together for answer.  Question 9 was withdrawn. The Presiding Officer invited party leaders to ask questions to the First Minister after Question 2.

View Questions

The item started at 14.16

 

The first 10 questions were asked. 

View Business Statement and Announcement

The item started at 15.02

The item started at 15.11

The item started at 15.50

NDM5414 Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales, in accordance with Standing Order 26.36:

 

Agrees to dispose of sections and schedules to the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Bill at Stage 3 in the following order:

 

a)sections 2-76

b)schedule 1

c)section 77 -133

d)schedule 2

e)sections 134-169

f)schedule 3

g)sections 170 – 183

h)section 1

i)Long title

 

The item started at 16.21

 

NDM5414 Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales, in accordance with Standing Order 26.36:

 

Agrees to dispose of sections and schedules to the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Bill at Stage 3 in the following order:

 

a)sections 2-76

b)schedule 1

c)section 77 -133

d)schedule 2

e)sections 134-169

f)schedule 3

g)sections 170 – 183

h)section 1

i)Long title

 

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

NDM5412 Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

Notes the Report of the Commission on Public Service Governance and Delivery.

 

The Report can be accessed on the following link: http://wales.gov.uk/topics/improvingservices/public-service-governance-and-delivery/report/?lang=en

 

The following amendments have been tabled:

 

Amendment 1 - William Graham (South Wales East)

 

Insert at start of motion and renumber accordingly:

 

1. Calls upon the Welsh Government to indicate a timeframe to respond to the recommendations in the Report of the Commission on Public Service Governance and Delivery, and

 

2. If minded to implement the recommendations in the Report of the Commission on Public Service Governance and Delivery, calls on the Welsh Government to define:

 

a) the function and structure of any new local authority areas;

 

b) a transparent system of monitoring and evaluating service delivery in those areas;

 

c) the anticipated number of electors per councillor in those areas.

 

Amendment 2 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

 

Add as new point at end of motion:

 

Welcomes the evidence presented in the Commission report on the need to reduce complexity in public services and affirms that any changes to public service delivery should improve outcomes for our citizens.

 

Amendment 3 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

 

Add as new point at end of motion:

 

Notes the report’s recommendation to begin the process of integrating health and social care, and regrets that the merger of these services was not considered fully.

 

Amendment 4 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

 

Add as new point at end of motion:

 

Believes that if a reduction in the number of local authorities is agreed, then a reduction in the overall number of councillors should take place.

 

Amendment 5 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

 

Add as new point at end of motion:

 

Notes that voting reform for council elections was not part of the Williams Commission’s remit but believes that the implementation of STV would be the most appropriate method of electing a reduced number of councillors.

 

Amendment 6 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

 

Add as new point at end of motion:

 

Regrets that voting reform was not part of the Williams Commission’s remit and believes that any reorganisation of local government should increase accountability through the introduction of STV for council elections, as recommended by the Sunderland Commission, and as currently happens in Scotland and Northern Ireland

The item started at 16.22

 

NDM5412 Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

Notes the Report of the Commission on Public Service Governance and Delivery.

 

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 - William Graham (South Wales East)

Insert at start of motion and renumber accordingly:

1. Calls upon the Welsh Government to indicate a timeframe to respond to the recommendations in the Report of the Commission on Public Service Governance and Delivery, and

 

2. If minded to implement the recommendations in the Report of the Commission on Public Service Governance and Delivery, calls on the Welsh Government to define:

 

a) the function and structure of any new local authority areas;

 

b) a transparent system of monitoring and evaluating service delivery in those areas;

 

c) the anticipated number of electors per councillor in those areas.

 

Amendment 1 was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

 

Amendment 2 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Welcomes the evidence presented in the Commission report on the need to reduce complexity in public services and affirms that any changes to public service delivery should improve outcomes for our citizens.

 

Amendment 2 was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

 

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

 

Amendment 3 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Notes the report’s recommendation to begin the process of integrating health and social care, and regrets that the merger of these services was not considered fully.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 3:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
25	1	26	52

Amendment 3 was not agreed.

 

Amendment 4 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

 

Add as new point at end of motion:

Believes that if a reduction in the number of local authorities is agreed, then a reduction in the overall number of councillors should take place.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 4:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
41	11	0	52

Amendment 4 was agreed.

 

Amendment 5 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

 

Add as new point at end of motion:

 

Notes that voting reform for council elections was not part of the Williams Commission’s remit but believes that the implementation of STV would be the most appropriate method of electing a reduced number of councillors.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 5:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
15	0	37	52

Amendment 5 was not agreed.

 

Amendment 6 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

 

Add as new point at end of motion:

 

Regrets that voting reform was not part of the Williams Commission’s remit and believes that any reorganisation of local government should increase accountability through the introduction of STV for council elections, as recommended by the Sunderland Commission, and as currently happens in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 6:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
16	0	36	52

Amendment 6 was not agreed.

 

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

NDM5412 Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

 

1. Calls upon the Welsh Government to indicate a timeframe to respond to the recommendations in the Report of the Commission on Public Service Governance and Delivery, and

 

2. If minded to implement the recommendations in the Report of the Commission on Public Service Governance and Delivery, calls on the Welsh Government to define:

 

a) the function and structure of any new local authority areas;

 

b) a transparent system of monitoring and evaluating service delivery in those areas;

 

c) the anticipated number of electors per councillor in those areas.

 

3. Notes the Report of the Commission on Public Service Governance and Delivery.

 

4. Welcomes the evidence presented in the Commission report on the need to reduce complexity in public services and affirms that any changes to public service delivery should improve outcomes for our citizens.

 

5.Believes that if a reduction in the number of local authorities is agreed, then a reduction in the overall number of councillors should take place.

 

For	Abstain	Against	Total
52	0	0	52

The motion as amended was agreed.

 

 

The item started at 17.15

 

The meeting was adjourned and reconvened at 17.20 for voting time.