Agenda and minutes
Venue: Y Siambr - Y Senedd. View directions
Expected timing: 94(v3)
Media
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Transcript: Transcript for 11/10/2017 - Plenary - Fifth Senedd
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Record of Proceedings View
the Record
of Proceedings |
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(45 mins) |
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure The Presiding Officer will call Party Spokespeople to
ask questions without notice to the Cabinet Secretary after question 2. Supporting documents: Minutes: The
item started at 13.30 Questions
1–4 and 6–9 were asked. Question 5 was withdrawn. The Presiding Officer invited
party spokespeople to ask questions to the Cabinet Secretary after question 2. |
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(30 mins) |
Questions to the Counsel General Minutes: The
item started at 14.20 The
6 questions were asked. |
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(0 mins) |
Topical Questions No
topical questions were selected. Minutes: The
item started at 14.48 No
topical questions were selected. |
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(5 mins) |
90 Second Statements Minutes: The
item started at 14.48 Mark
Isherwood made a statement on Hospice Care Week. Rhun ap Iorwerth made a statement on the Disasters Emergency Committee appeal for people fleeing Myanmar. |
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(60 mins) |
Debate on the Economy, Infrastructure and Skills Committee report: Taming the traffic: The impact of Congestion on Bus Services NDM6524 Russell
George (Montgomeryshire) To propose that the National Assembly for Wales: Notes the report of the Economy, Infrastructure and Skills
Committee on its inquiry into the impact of congestion on bus services which
was laid
in the Table Office on 28 July 2017. Note: The response by the Welsh Government was laid
on 4 October 2017. Minutes: The item started at 14.51 NDM6524 Russell George (Montgomeryshire) To propose that the
National Assembly for Wales: Notes the report of
the Economy, Infrastructure and Skills Committee on its inquiry into the impact
of congestion on bus services which was laid in the Table
Office on 28 July 2017. The motion was
agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36. |
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(60 mins) |
Debate on the External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee's report on the implications of Brexit for Welsh ports NDM6525 David
Rees (Aberavon) To propose that the National Assembly for Wales: Notes the report of the External Affairs and Additional
Legislation Committee on its inquiry into the implications of Brexit for Welsh
ports, which was laid
in the Table Office on 4 August 2017. Note: The response by the Welsh Government was laid
on 4 October 2017. Minutes: The item started at 15.41 NDM6525 David Rees (Aberavon) To propose that the
National Assembly for Wales: Notes the report of
the External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee on its inquiry into
the implications of Brexit for Welsh ports, which was laid in the Table
Office on 4 August 2017 The motion was
agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36. |
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(60 mins) |
United Kingdom Independence Party debate NDM6526 Caroline
Jones (South Wales West) To
propose that the National Assembly for Wales: 1.
Believes that: a)
small businesses constitute the economic and social heart of the Welsh high
street but that the current business rates regime significantly disadvantages
retailers in small towns and cities; b)
business rates are inherently inequitable because they bear little, if any,
relation to business profitability and they have a chilling effect on town
centres by adding significant costs to the establishment of new businesses; c)
reducing the impact of business rates would help businesses survive the
challenges posed by internet shopping and give a significant boost to the high
street. 2.
Resolves that: a)
as an interim measure, pending the replacement of business rates by a tax
related to ability to pay, business premises with a rateable value below
£15,000 should be exempt and the rates of business properties within the band
of £15,000 - £50,000 are reduced by 20%; b)
Welsh local authorities should encourage local trade by offering at least 60
minutes free parking in their town centre car parks; c)
out-of-town shopping developments should bear a greater but reasonable share of
the burden of business rates, and such rates should apply to their car parks,
to help revive town centres. The following amendments
have been tabled: Amendment 1. Jane
Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan): Delete
all and replace with: To
propose that the National Assembly for Wales: 1.
Recognises the importance of micro, small and medium-sized businesses to the
success of communities and the wider Welsh economy. 2.
Notes the vital importance of cross-government policies that support businesses
on Welsh high streets to thrive and grow. 3.
Recognises the Welsh Government's commitment to supporting high street
retailers and other businesses by providing more than £200 million of funding
in 2017-18 to support around three-quarters of ratepayers in Wales through
rates relief. 4.
Acknowledges that in 2017-18, more than half of all businesses across Wales pay
no rates at all. 5.
Notes the Welsh Government's intention to put in place a permanent small
business rate relief scheme which is simpler, fairer and better targeted
towards growing businesses in Wales from April 2018. [If amendment 1 is agreed,
amendments 2 and 3 will be de-selected] Amendment 2. Paul
Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): Delete
point 2 and replace with: Welcomes
the full devolution of business rates to the Welsh Government and the potential
this unlocks. [If amendment 2 is agreed,
amendment 3 will be de-selected] Amendment 3. Rhun
ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn): Delete
point 2 and replace with: Calls
on the Welsh Government to: a)
abolish business rates for all businesses with a rateable value of less than
£10,000 per year, and provide tapered relief for businesses whose rateable
value is between £10,000 and £20,000; b)
make all businesses during their first year of operation exempt from paying any
rates in order to encourage new start-ups across Wales; c)
introduce a split multiplier for small and large businesses as is the case in
Scotland and England; and d)
explore replacing business rates altogether with alternative forms of taxation
which do not discourage employment, town centre regeneration and investment in
plant and machinery. Amendment 4. Paul
Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): Add
as new point at end of motion: Regrets
that the Welsh Government has presided over the highest high street vacancy
rate in Great Britain in 2017, at 14.5 per cent. Amendment 5. Paul
Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): Add
as new point at end of motion: Calls
on the Welsh Government to: a)
abolish business rates for all small businesses with rateable values of up to
£15,000; and b)
reform the business rates system and explore splitting the Welsh multiplier to
increase the competitiveness of smaller businesses. Amendment 6. Paul
Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): Add
as new point at end of motion: Believes
that the Welsh Government should extend the funding available to support free
parking pilot schemes in Wales. Minutes: The
item started at 16.44 Voting
on the motion and amendments under this item was deferred until Voting Time. A
vote was taken on the motion without amendment: NDM6526
Caroline Jones (South
Wales West) To
propose that the National Assembly for Wales: 1.
Believes that: a)
small businesses constitute the economic and social heart of the Welsh high
street but that the current business rates regime significantly disadvantages
retailers in small towns and cities; b)
business rates are inherently inequitable because they bear little, if any,
relation to business profitability and they have a chilling effect on town
centres by adding significant costs to the establishment of new businesses; c)
reducing the impact of business rates would help businesses survive the
challenges posed by internet shopping and give a significant boost to the high
street. 2.
Resolves that: a)
as an interim measure, pending the replacement of business rates by a tax
related to ability to pay, business premises with a rateable value below
£15,000 should be exempt and the rates of business properties within the band
of £15,000 - £50,000 are reduced by 20%; b)
Welsh local authorities should encourage local trade by offering at least 60
minutes free parking in their town centre car parks; c)
out-of-town shopping developments should bear a greater but reasonable share of
the burden of business rates, and such rates should apply to their car parks,
to help revive town centres.
The
motion without amendment was not agreed. The
following amendments were tabled: Amendment
1. Jane Hutt (Vale
of Glamorgan): Delete
all and replace with: To
propose that the National Assembly for Wales: 1.
Recognises the importance of micro, small and medium-sized businesses to the
success of communities and the wider Welsh economy. 2.
Notes the vital importance of cross-government policies that support businesses
on Welsh high streets to thrive and grow. 3.
Recognises the Welsh Government's commitment to supporting high street
retailers and other businesses by providing more than £200 million of funding
in 2017-18 to support around three-quarters of ratepayers in Wales through
rates relief. 4.
Acknowledges that in 2017-18, more than half of all businesses across Wales pay
no rates at all. 5.
Notes the Welsh Government's intention to put in place a permanent small business
rate relief scheme which is simpler, fairer and better targeted towards growing
businesses in Wales from April 2018. A
vote was taken on amendment 1:
Amendment
1 was agreed. As amendment 1 was agreed, amendments 2 and 3 were de-selected. Amendment
4. Paul Davies (Preseli
Pembrokeshire): Add as new point at end of motion: Regrets that the Welsh Government has presided over
the highest high street vacancy rate in Great Britain in 2017, at 14.5 per
cent. A
vote was taken on amendment 4:
Amendment
4 was not agreed. Amendment
5. Paul Davies (Preseli
Pembrokeshire): Add as new point at end of motion: Calls on the Welsh Government to: a) abolish business rates for all small businesses
with rateable values of up to £15,000; and b) reform the business rates system and explore
splitting the Welsh multiplier to increase the competitiveness of smaller
businesses. A
vote was taken on amendment 5:
Amendment
5 was not agreed. Amendment
6. Paul Davies (Preseli
Pembrokeshire): Add as new point at end of motion: Believes that the Welsh Government should extend the
funding available to support free parking pilot schemes in Wales. A
vote was taken on amendment 6:
Amendment
6 was not agreed. A
vote was taken on the motion as amended: To
propose that the National Assembly for Wales: 1.
Recognises the importance of micro, small and medium-sized businesses to the
success of communities and the wider Welsh economy. 2.
Notes the vital importance of cross-government policies that support businesses
on Welsh high streets to thrive and grow. 3.
Recognises the Welsh Government's commitment to supporting high street
retailers and other businesses by providing more than £200 million of funding
in 2017-18 to support around three-quarters of ratepayers in Wales through
rates relief. 4.
Acknowledges that in 2017-18, more than half of all businesses across Wales pay
no rates at all. 5.
Notes the Welsh Government's intention to put in place a permanent small
business rate relief scheme which is simpler, fairer and better targeted
towards growing businesses in Wales from April 2018.
The
motion as amended was agreed. |
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Voting Time Minutes: The
item started at 17.25 |
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(30 mins) |
Short Debate NDM6522 Dai
Lloyd (South Wales West) Protecting and developing regional centres of medical
excellence Minutes: The
item started at 17.28 Short
Debate NDM6522
Dai Lloyd (South Wales
West) Protecting
and developing regional centres of medical excellence |
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Votes Summary Supporting documents: |