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

Items
Expected timing No. Item

Record of Proceedings

(45 mins)

1.

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.

View Questions

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 Question 5 was withdrawn.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.

(30 mins)

2.

Questions to the Counsel General

Minutes:

The item started at 14.20

The 6 questions were asked.

(0 mins)

3.

Topical Questions

No topical questions were selected.

Minutes:

The item started at 14.48

No topical questions were selected.

(5 mins)

4.

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.

(60 mins)

5.

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.

(60 mins)

6.

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.

(60 mins)

7.

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.

For

Abstain

Against

Total

5

0

43

48

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:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

25

0

23

48

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:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

22

1

25

48

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:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

15

0

33

48

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:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

22

0

26

48

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.

For

Abstain

Against

Total

25

0

22

47

The motion as amended was agreed.

8.

Voting Time

Minutes:

The item started at 17.25

(30 mins)

9.

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

Votes Summary

Supporting documents: