Agenda and decisions

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

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The item started at 13.30

The first 8 questions were asked. Questions 4, 5 and 7 were answered by the Deputy Minister for Health. The Deputy Presiding Officer invited party spokespeople to ask questions to the Minister after Question 2.

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

View Questions

The item started at 14.18

The first 9 questions were asked.  Questions 3 and 9 were answered by the Deputy Minister for Skills and Technology. The Deputy Presiding Officer invited party spokespeople to ask questions to the Minister after Question 2.

 

NDM5881

David Rees (Aberavon)
Mike Hedges (Swansea East)
Aled Roberts (North Wales)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Recognises the importance of steel production to the Welsh economy.

2. Calls on the Welsh Government to continue to do all that it can to support the steel industry during these difficult times.

3. Calls on the UK Government to take urgent action on a number of areas including addressing the high energy costs faced by energy intensive industries in Wales, such as steel, to ensure they can be competitive with other European producers in a global market.

Supported by:

Lindsay Whittle (South Wales East)
William Powell (Mid and West Wales)
Peter Black (South Wales West)
Jenny Rathbone (Cardiff Central)
John Griffiths (Newport East)
Lynne Neagle (Torfaen)
Jeff Cuthbert (Caerphilly)
Keith Davies (Llanelli)
William Graham (South Wales East)
Simon Thomas (Mid and West Wales)
Llyr Gruffydd (North Wales)
Alun Davies (Blaenau Gwent) R
Christine Chapman (Cynon Valley)

The item started at 15.05

NDM5881

David Rees (Aberavon)
Mike Hedges (Swansea East)
Aled Roberts (North Wales)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Recognises the importance of steel production to the Welsh economy.

2. Calls on the Welsh Government to continue to do all that it can to support the steel industry during these difficult times.

3. Calls on the UK Government to take urgent action on a number of areas including addressing the high energy costs faced by energy intensive industries in Wales, such as steel, to ensure they can be competitive with other European producers in a global market.

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

 

NDM5898 Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Notes the UK Government's spending review and autumn statement;

2. Welcomes the introduction of a Barnett Floor at 115 per cent of comparable spending per head in England; and

3. Notes that capital spending in Wales will rise by over £900 million.

Spending Review and Autumn Statement 2015: documents

The following amendments have been tabled:

Amendment 1 - Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

At the end of point 2 insert:

'and notes the need to have a formal inter-government agreement to secure a long-lasting outcome'

Supported by:

Aled Roberts (North Wales)

Amendment 2 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

Insert as new point 3 and renumber accordingly:

Welcomes the UK Government U-turn on scrapping tax credits, but notes with concern that cuts to universal credit could result in similar loss for low-income families by 2020.

Amendment 3 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Regrets the delay in the delivery of electrification of the Great Western mainline from London to Swansea and lack of update on the electrification of the North Wales line.

Amendment 4 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Regrets the lack of clarity over the extent of financial support for a city deal for Cardiff.

Amendment 5 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Regrets the omission of the Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon project from the autumn statement.

Amendment 6 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Regrets the 22 per cent cut to the UK Department for Energy and Climate Change, which threatens our ability to meet climate change and decarbonisation targets in Wales.

Amendment 7 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Regrets the £1.7 million cut in funding for S4C, despite the Welsh Conservatives manifesto commitment to 'safeguard the funding and editorial independence of S4C'.

The Conservative Party Welsh Manifesto 2015

[If amendment 7 is moved, amendment 13 will be de-selected]

Amendment 8 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Calls on the UK Government and the Welsh Government to work together to update the analysis of Gerry Holtham on Wales's underfunding, and then increase the block grant to the equitable level.

Fairness and accountability: a new funding settlement for Wales

Amendment 9 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Regrets that Wales – unlike Scotland and Northern Ireland – will not receive a full Barnett consequential as a result of the high speed 2 project.

Amendment 10 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Notes an increase of around £945 million to Wales's consequential share of increased health spending in England and calls for the Welsh Government to ring-fence this sum for health and care budgets in Wales.

Amendment 11 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Regrets the scrapping of nursing bursaries in England and their replacement with loans, which will impact negatively on future workforce planning and recruitment for the NHS in Wales and calls on the Welsh Government to confirm whether funding for nursing studies in Wales will remain.

Amendment 12 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Regrets the capping of housing benefit to the local housing allowance rate in the social sector which presents a risk to the most vulnerable and calls on the Welsh Government to clarify the impact of this decision on homelessness and other supported accommodation services in Wales.

Amendment 13 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Regrets the UK Government's decision to break a manifesto commitment to protect S4C's budget.

The item started at 16.05

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

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM5898 Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Notes the UK Government's spending review and autumn statement;

2. Welcomes the introduction of a Barnett Floor at 115 per cent of comparable spending per head in England; and

3. Notes that capital spending in Wales will rise by over £900 million.

For	Abstain	Against	Total
11	0	34	45

The motion without amendment was not agreed.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 - Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

At the end of point 2 insert:

'and notes the need to have a formal inter-government agreement to secure a long-lasting outcome'

Supported by:

Aled Roberts (North Wales)

A vote was taken on Amendment 1:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
45	0	0	45

Amendment 1 was agreed.

Amendment 2 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

Insert as new point 3 and renumber accordingly:

Welcomes the UK Government U-turn on scrapping tax credits, but notes with concern that cuts to universal credit could result in similar loss for low-income families by 2020.

A vote was taken on Amendment 2:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
34	0	11	45

Amendment 2 was agreed.

Amendment 3 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Regrets the delay in the delivery of electrification of the Great Western mainline from London to Swansea and lack of update on the electrification of the North Wales line.

A vote was taken on Amendment 3:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
45	0	0	45

Amendment 3 was agreed.

Amendment 4 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Regrets the lack of clarity over the extent of financial support for a city deal for Cardiff.

A vote was taken on Amendment 4:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
34	0	11	45

Amendment 4 was agreed.

Amendment 5 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Regrets the omission of the Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon project from the autumn statement.

A vote was taken on Amendment 5:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
45	0	0	45

Amendment 5 was agreed.

Amendment 6 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Regrets the 22 per cent cut to the UK Department for Energy and Climate Change, which threatens our ability to meet climate change and decarbonisation targets in Wales.

A vote was taken on Amendment 6:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
34	0	11	45

Amendment 6 was agreed.
Amendment 7 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Regrets the £1.7 million cut in funding for S4C, despite the Welsh Conservatives manifesto commitment to 'safeguard the funding and editorial independence of S4C'.

A vote was taken on Amendment 7:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
45	0	0	45

Amendment 7 was agreed.

Amendment 8 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Calls on the UK Government and the Welsh Government to work together to update the analysis of Gerry Holtham on Wales's underfunding, and then increase the block grant to the equitable level.

A vote was taken on Amendment 8:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
34	11	0	45

Amendment 8 was agreed.

Amendment 9 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Regrets that Wales – unlike Scotland and Northern Ireland – will not receive a full Barnett consequential as a result of the high speed 2 project.

A vote was taken on Amendment 9:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
11	0	34	45

Amendment 9 was not agreed.

Amendment 10 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Notes an increase of around £945 million to Wales's consequential share of increased health spending in England and calls for the Welsh Government to ring-fence this sum for health and care budgets in Wales.

A vote was taken on Amendment 10:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
7	15	23	45

Amendment 10 was not agreed.

Amendment 11 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Regrets the scrapping of nursing bursaries in England and their replacement with loans, which will impact negatively on future workforce planning and recruitment for the NHS in Wales and calls on the Welsh Government to confirm whether funding for nursing studies in Wales will remain.

A vote was taken on Amendment 11:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
11	11	23	45

Amendment 11 was not agreed.

Amendment 12 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Regrets the capping of housing benefit to the local housing allowance rate in the social sector which presents a risk to the most vulnerable and calls on the Welsh Government to clarify the impact of this decision on homelessness and other supported accommodation services in Wales.

A vote was taken on Amendment 12:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
34	11	0	45

Amendment 12 was agreed.

As amendment 7 was moved, amendment 13 was de-selected
A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

NDM5898 Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Notes the UK Government's spending review and autumn statement;

2. Welcomes the introduction of a Barnett Floor at 115 per cent of comparable spending per head in England and notes the need to have a formal inter-government agreement to secure a long-lasting outcome; and

3. Welcomes the UK Government U-turn on scrapping tax credits, but notes with concern that cuts to universal credit could result in similar loss for low-income families by 2020.

4. Notes that capital spending in Wales will rise by over £900 million.

5. Regrets the delay in the delivery of electrification of the Great Western mainline from London to Swansea and lack of update on the electrification of the North Wales line.

6. Regrets the lack of clarity over the extent of financial support for a city deal for Cardiff.

7. Regrets the omission of the Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon project from the autumn statement.

8. Regrets the 22 per cent cut to the UK Department for Energy and Climate Change, which threatens our ability to meet climate change and decarbonisation targets in Wales.

9. Regrets the £1.7 million cut in funding for S4C, despite the Welsh Conservatives manifesto commitment to 'safeguard the funding and editorial independence of S4C'.

10. Calls on the UK Government and the Welsh Government to work together to update the analysis of Gerry Holtham on Wales's underfunding, and then increase the block grant to the equitable level.

11. Regrets the capping of housing benefit to the local housing allowance rate in the social sector which presents a risk to the most vulnerable and calls on the Welsh Government to clarify the impact of this decision on homelessness and other supported accommodation services in Wales.

For	Abstain	Against	Total
34	0	11	45

The motion as amended was agreed.

NDM5896 Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Believes that small businesses are an integral part of Wales's national and community economies.

2. Welcomes the role that Small Business Saturday plays in championing Wales's small businesses.

3. Recognises the contribution that small businesses make in ensuring the identity of local communities and promoting their unique culture and heritage;

4. Acknowledges that small, local businesses provide a gateway into employment for many young people; and

5. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

a) Offer a better support package for small businesses to enhance the contribution they make to Welsh socio-economic life;

b) Develop infrastructure across Wales to better serve the growth prospects for Wales's small businesses.

The following amendments have been tabled:

Amendment 1 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

At the end of sub-point 5a insert:

'including creating a small business administration within a Welsh development bank, tasked with providing business support in a 'one-stop shop' and varied access to finance'

Amendment 2 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

At the end of sub-point 5b insert:

'including digital infrastructure'

Amendment 3 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

Add as new sub-point at end of point 5:

tackle barriers that prevent microbusinesses in Wales from growing, in order to develop a Welsh "Mittelstand".

Amendment 4 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

Add as new sub-point at end of point 5:

extend the small business rate relief scheme to cover all businesses with a rateable value of £15,000 or less, ensure that new enterprises will not pay any business rates for the first year of operation and revaluate properties for business rates purposes every three years.

The item started at 17.05

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

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM5896 Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Believes that small businesses are an integral part of Wales's national and community economies.

2. Welcomes the role that Small Business Saturday plays in championing Wales's small businesses.

3. Recognises the contribution that small businesses make in ensuring the identity of local communities and promoting their unique culture and heritage;

4. Acknowledges that small, local businesses provide a gateway into employment for many young people; and

5. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

a) Offer a better support package for small businesses to enhance the contribution they make to Welsh socio-economic life;

b) Develop infrastructure across Wales to better serve the growth prospects for Wales's small businesses.

For	Abstain	Against	Total
38	0	7	45

The motion without amendment was agreed.

The item started at 18.01

NDM5897 Christine Chapman (Cynon Valley)

Wasting our talent? Women and the economy in Wales.

The item started at 18.06

NDM5897 Christine Chapman (Cynon Valley)

Wasting our talent? Women and the economy in Wales.