Agenda and minutes

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

View Questions

The item started at 13.30

Questions 1 – 2 and 4 - 9 were asked. Question 3 was withdrawn. Question 5 was answered by the Minister for Skills and Science. The Presiding Officer invited party spokespeople to ask questions to the Cabinet Secretary after Question 2.

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

View Questions

The item started at 14.22

The first 8 questions were asked. Questions 1 and 5 were grouped together for answer. Questions 3 and 7 were answered by the Minister for Social Services and Public Health. The Presiding Officer invited party spokespeople to ask questions to the Cabinet Secretary and Minister after Question 2.

To the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Wellbeing and Sport:

 

Eluned Morgan (Mid and West Wales): What assurances can the Cabinet Secretary give that the IT infrastructure in Wales is protected, to ensure the continuity of care for Welsh patients following the cyber-attacks in the NHS in England?

 

To the Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs:

 

Simon Thomas (Mid and West Wales): Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the 1,761 Glastir applications that have still not been paid?

The item started at 15.14

To the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Wellbeing and Sport

 

Eluned Morgan (Mid and West Wales): What assurances can the Cabinet Secretary give that the IT infrastructure in Wales is protected, to ensure the continuity of care for Welsh patients following the cyber-attacks in the NHS in England?

 

To the Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs

 

Simon Thomas (Mid and West Wales): Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the 1,761 Glastir applications that have still not been paid?

 

The item started at 15.28

Hannah Blythyn made a statement on International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia.

Simon Thomas made a statement on Biodiversity in Penparcau.

David Rees made a statement on International Clinical Trials Day.

NDM6301 Dawn Bowden (Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Notes a proposal for an amendment to the Housing Act (Wales) 2014.

2. Notes that the purpose of the amendment would be to outlaw the practice of landlords advertising properties for free rent in return for sexual favours.

‘Housing Act (Wales) 2014’

The item started at 15.33

Voting on the motion under this item was deferred until voting time.

NDM6301 Dawn Bowden (Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Notes a proposal for an amendment to the Housing Act (Wales) 2014.

2. Notes that the purpose of the amendment would be to outlaw the practice of landlords advertising properties for free rent in return for sexual favours.

The result was as follows:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
36	11	0	47

The motion was agreed.

NDM6305 Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Recognises the multitude of risks which children face using the internet.

2. Notes the immense importance of taking action to ensure children are kept safe online, and educating them as to the steps they should be taking to help protect themselves when using the internet.

3. Calls on the Welsh Government to outline a comprehensive response to concerns raised by the NSPCC, regarding an increase in related calls they have received about internet safety.

4. Further calls on the Welsh Government to ensure that prioritisation of online safety is integral to all strategies aiming to deliver safer communities for children across Wales.

The following amendments have been tabled:

Amendment 1. Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)

Add as new point after point 1 and re-number accordingly:

Notes the importance of a digitally literate Wales, and that encouraging safe internet use is an essential part of a child's education.

Amendment 2. Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Calls on the UK government to work with the relevant companies to tackle online abuse, noting in particular the abuse experienced by women and minority groups.

The item started at 16.03

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

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM6305 Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Recognises the multitude of risks which children face using the internet.

2. Notes the immense importance of taking action to ensure children are kept safe online, and educating them as to the steps they should be taking to help protect themselves when using the internet.

3. Calls on the Welsh Government to outline a comprehensive response to concerns raised by the NSPCC, regarding an increase in related calls they have received about internet safety.

4. Further calls on the Welsh Government to ensure that prioritisation of online safety is integral to all strategies aiming to deliver safer communities for children across Wales.

For	Abstain	Against	Total
13	0	34	47

The motion without amendment was not agreed.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1. Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)

Add as new point after point 1 and re-number accordingly:

Notes the importance of a digitally literate Wales, and that encouraging safe internet use is an essential part of a child's education.

A vote was taken on amendment 1:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
47	0	0	47

Amendment 1 was agreed.

Amendment 2. Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Calls on the UK government to work with the relevant companies to tackle online abuse, noting in particular the abuse experienced by women and minority groups.

A vote was taken on amendment 2:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
47	0	0	47

Amendment 2 was agreed.

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

NDM6305 Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Recognises the multitude of risks which children face using the internet.

2. Notes the importance of a digitally literate Wales, and that encouraging safe internet use is an essential part of a child's education.

3. Notes the immense importance of taking action to ensure children are kept safe online, and educating them as to the steps they should be taking to help protect themselves when using the internet.

4. Calls on the Welsh Government to outline a comprehensive response to concerns raised by the NSPCC, regarding an increase in related calls they have received about internet safety.

5. Further calls on the Welsh Government to ensure that prioritisation of online safety is integral to all strategies aiming to deliver safer communities for children across Wales.

6. Calls on the UK government to work with the relevant companies to tackle online abuse, noting in particular the abuse experienced by women and minority groups.

For	Abstain	Against	Total
47	0	0	47

The motion as amended was agreed.

NDM6308 Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Notes continuing difficulties with the training and recruiting of medical staff (including doctors) in many parts of Wales, particularly rural and north Wales.

2. Calls for the development of a medical school in Bangor as part of an all-Wales approach to increasing training, recruitment and retention of doctors in Wales.

The following amendments have been tabled:

Amendment 1. Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

Delete all and replace with:

1. Welcomes the Welsh Government's This is Wales: Train Work Live recruitment campaign to encourage healthcare professionals, including doctors, to choose Wales as a place to train, work and live.

2. Notes:

a) there has been a 19 per cent increase in the application rate for GP speciality training in 2017 and the number of filled GP training places is at 84 per cent compared to 68 per cent at the same stage in 2016 following the launch of This is Wales: Train Work Live;

b) there were more than 1,000 more full-time equivalent consultants working in Wales in 2016 than there were in 1999; and

c) there has been a 12 per cent increase in the number of GPs working in Wales between 1999 and 2016.

Amendment 2. Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Calls on the Welsh Government to work with health and education institutions on both sides of the border to build a more in-depth and wide-ranging north Wales medical programme.

The item started at 16.55

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

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM6308 Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Notes continuing difficulties with the training and recruiting of medical staff (including doctors) in many parts of Wales, particularly rural and north Wales.

2. Calls for the development of a medical school in Bangor as part of an all-Wales approach to increasing training, recruitment and retention of doctors in Wales.

For	Abstain	Against	Total
14	0	33	47

The motion without amendment was not agreed.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1. Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

Delete all and replace with:

1. Welcomes the Welsh Government's This is Wales: Train Work Live recruitment campaign to encourage healthcare professionals, including doctors, to choose Wales as a place to train, work and live.

2. Notes:

a) there has been a 19 per cent increase in the application rate for GP speciality training in 2017 and the number of filled GP training places is at 84 per cent compared to 68 per cent at the same stage in 2016 following the launch of This is Wales: Train Work Live;

b) there were more than 1,000 more full-time equivalent consultants working in Wales in 2016 than there were in 1999; and

c) there has been a 12 per cent increase in the number of GPs working in Wales between 1999 and 2016.

A vote was taken on amendment 1:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
26	0	21	47

Amendment 1 was agreed.

Amendment 2. Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Calls on the Welsh Government to work with health and education institutions on both sides of the border to build a more in-depth and wide-ranging north Wales medical programme.

A vote was taken on amendment 2:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
46	0	1	47

Amendment 2 was agreed.

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

NDM6308 Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Welcomes the Welsh Government's This is Wales: Train Work Live recruitment campaign to encourage healthcare professionals, including doctors, to choose Wales as a place to train, work and live.

2. Notes:

a) there has been a 19 per cent increase in the application rate for GP speciality training in 2017 and the number of filled GP training places is at 84 per cent compared to 68 per cent at the same stage in 2016 following the launch of This is Wales: Train Work Live;

b) there were more than 1,000 more full-time equivalent consultants working in Wales in 2016 than there were in 1999; and

c) there has been a 12 per cent increase in the number of GPs working in Wales between 1999 and 2016.

3. Calls on the Welsh Government to work with health and education institutions on both sides of the border to build a more in-depth and wide-ranging north Wales medical programme.

For	Abstain	Against	Total
26	16	5	47

The motion as amended was agreed.

NDM6310 Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Notes that Gross Value-Added per head in the central valleys and Gwent valleys NUTS2 areas is consistently below the Welsh average.

2. Notes that unemployment in most south Wales valleys local authorities is above the Welsh average.

3. Notes that insecure work, low wages and poverty are significant problems in the south Wales valleys.

4. Notes a record of  under-investment in the south Wales valleys by the Welsh and UK Governments.

5. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

a) create a suitably empowered and accountable Valleys Development Agency;

b) bring forward a positive decision on the Circuit of Wales project, subject to normal due diligence; and

c) give greater priority to investment in jobs and infrastructure in the valleys.

The following amendments have been tabled:

Amendment 1. Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

Delete all and replace with:

1. Recognises the impact of the UK Government's ongoing programme of austerity on communities in the south Wales valleys and the rest of Wales, and calls on the next Westminster government to invest in more balanced economic growth across the UK.

2. Supports the aim of the Welsh Government to make Wales a fair work nation where everyone can access better jobs closer to home.

3. Notes the work of the Welsh Government in:

a) supporting nearly 150,000 jobs in the last Assembly term, many of which were in valley communities;

b) preparing a new approach to economic development to stimulate stronger regional growth;

c) planning major infrastructure investments in the valleys and across Wales in a way which supports more resilient regional economies and strengthens local supply chains;

d) setting up a Ministerial Taskforce for the South Wales Valleys working with local communities to attract new jobs, raise skills and improve local services;

e) developing a Better Jobs Closer to Home programme using procurement levers to stimulate the creation of meaningful employment in areas of economic need, such as the valleys; and

f) establishing a Fair Work Commission to help build an economy where more people in valley communities and across Wales can access good work and a secure income.

[If amendment 1 is agreed, amendment 2 will be de-selected]

Amendment 2. Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

Delete point 4 and replace with:

Notes the work that the UK Government is doing to develop both the Swansea and Cardiff City regions, which will offer numerous supply-chain opportunities for the south Wales valleys.

The item started at 17.26

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

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM6310 Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Notes that Gross Value-Added per head in the central valleys and Gwent valleys NUTS2 areas is consistently below the Welsh average.

2. Notes that unemployment in most south Wales valleys local authorities is above the Welsh average.

3. Notes that insecure work, low wages and poverty are significant problems in the south Wales valleys.

4. Notes a record of under-investment in the south Wales valleys by the Welsh and UK Governments.

5. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

a) create a suitably empowered and accountable Valleys Development Agency;

b) bring forward a positive decision on the Circuit of Wales project, subject to normal due diligence; and

c) give greater priority to investment in jobs and infrastructure in the valleys.

For	Abstain	Against	Total
13	0	34	47

The motion without amendment was not agreed.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1. Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

Delete all and replace with:

1. Recognises the impact of the UK Government's ongoing programme of austerity on communities in the south Wales valleys and the rest of Wales, and calls on the next Westminster government to invest in more balanced economic growth across the UK.

2. Supports the aim of the Welsh Government to make Wales a fair work nation where everyone can access better jobs closer to home.

3. Notes the work of the Welsh Government in:

a) supporting nearly 150,000 jobs in the last Assembly term, many of which were in valley communities;

b) preparing a new approach to economic development to stimulate stronger regional growth;

c) planning major infrastructure investments in the valleys and across Wales in a way which supports more resilient regional economies and strengthens local supply chains;

d) setting up a Ministerial Taskforce for the South Wales Valleys working with local communities to attract new jobs, raise skills and improve local services;

e) developing a Better Jobs Closer to Home programme using procurement levers to stimulate the creation of meaningful employment in areas of economic need, such as the valleys; and

f) establishing a Fair Work Commission to help build an economy where more people in valley communities and across Wales can access good work and a secure income.

A vote was taken on amendment 1:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
27	0	20	47

Amendment 1 was agreed.

As Amendment 1 was agreed, Amendment 2 was de-selected.

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

NDM6310 Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Recognises the impact of the UK Government's ongoing programme of austerity on communities in the south Wales valleys and the rest of Wales, and calls on the next Westminster government to invest in more balanced economic growth across the UK.

2. Supports the aim of the Welsh Government to make Wales a fair work nation where everyone can access better jobs closer to home.

3. Notes the work of the Welsh Government in:

a) supporting nearly 150,000 jobs in the last Assembly term, many of which were in valley communities;

b) preparing a new approach to economic development to stimulate stronger regional growth;

c) planning major infrastructure investments in the valleys and across Wales in a way which supports more resilient regional economies and strengthens local supply chains;

d) setting up a Ministerial Taskforce for the South Wales Valleys working with local communities to attract new jobs, raise skills and improve local services;

e) developing a Better Jobs Closer to Home programme using procurement levers to stimulate the creation of meaningful employment in areas of economic need, such as the valleys; and

f) establishing a Fair Work Commission to help build an economy where more people in valley communities and across Wales can access good work and a secure income.

For	Abstain	Against	Total
25	0	22	47

The motion as amended was agreed.

NDM6309 Neil Hamilton (Mid and West Wales)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Believes that, whilst there is a case to support humanitarian and emergency aid to poorer countries especially in specific crises, it makes no sense to fix the foreign aid budget at an arbitrary 0.7 per cent of gross national income (GNI).

2. Notes that the UK national debt has been doubled since 2009 and now stands at £1.6 trillion, which equates to £22,000 for every UK man, woman and child.

3. Believes that the wellbeing of future generations must be considered when making all public spending decisions and that the foreign aid budget should be evaluated by the UK Government in the context of other pressing needs at home.

4. Calls for the repeal of the International Development (Official Development Assistance Target) Act 2015, which enshrined the 0.7 per cent target figure in UK law.

5. Believes that much of the foreign aid budget is wasted, diverted by corruption and spent unproductively.

6. Calls on the Welsh Government to urge the UK Government to reduce foreign aid target spending to 0.2 per cent of GNI, which is similar to the US, Italian and Spanish aid budgets.

7. Believes that the £8 billion savings which would be released should be redirected proportionately to the UK nations and spent on deserving causes like the NHS or social housing.

‘International Development (Official Development Assistance Target) Act 2015’

The following amendment has been tabled:

Amendment 1. Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)

Delete all and replace with:

1. Notes the importance of international aid in alleviating human suffering.

2. Supports Wales's contribution to humanitarian projects through initiatives such as Wales for Africa.

3. Calls on the Welsh Government to develop and publish a comprehensive international policy for Wales including enhancing the nation's international aid activities.

The item started at 18.00

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

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM6309 Neil Hamilton (Mid and West Wales)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Believes that, whilst there is a case to support humanitarian and emergency aid to poorer countries especially in specific crises, it makes no sense to fix the foreign aid budget at an arbitrary 0.7 per cent of gross national income (GNI).

2. Notes that the UK national debt has been doubled since 2009 and now stands at £1.6 trillion, which equates to £22,000 for every UK man, woman and child.

3. Believes that the wellbeing of future generations must be considered when making all public spending decisions and that the foreign aid budget should be evaluated by the UK Government in the context of other pressing needs at home.

4. Calls for the repeal of the International Development (Official Development Assistance Target) Act 2015, which enshrined the 0.7 per cent target figure in UK law.

5. Believes that much of the foreign aid budget is wasted, diverted by corruption and spent unproductively.

6. Calls on the Welsh Government to urge the UK Government to reduce foreign aid target spending to 0.2 per cent of GNI, which is similar to the US, Italian and Spanish aid budgets.

7. Believes that the £8 billion savings which would be released should be redirected proportionately to the UK nations and spent on deserving causes like the NHS or social housing.

For	Abstain	Against	Total
5	0	42	47

The motion without amendment was not agreed.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1. Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)

Delete all and replace with:

1. Notes the importance of international aid in alleviating human suffering.

2. Supports Wales's contribution to humanitarian projects through initiatives such as Wales for Africa.

3. Calls on the Welsh Government to develop and publish a comprehensive international policy for Wales including enhancing the nation's international aid activities.

A vote was taken on amendment 1:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
42	0	5	47

Amendment 1 was agreed.

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

NDM6309 Neil Hamilton (Mid and West Wales)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Notes the importance of international aid in alleviating human suffering.

2. Supports Wales's contribution to humanitarian projects through initiatives such as Wales for Africa.

3. Calls on the Welsh Government to develop and publish a comprehensive international policy for Wales including enhancing the nation's international aid activities.

For	Abstain	Against	Total
47	0	0	47

The motion as amended was agreed.

The item started at 19.05

NDM6307 Dawn Bowden (Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney)

Electrical fires - an increasing threat in today's technological age.