Agenda and minutes

Venue: Y Siambr - Y Senedd. View directions

Expected timing: 108(v4) 

Media

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Transcript: Transcript for 13/12/2017 - Plenary - Fifth Senedd

Items
Expected timing No. Item

(45 mins)

1.

Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Education

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

The first 9 questions were asked. Questions 1, 6 and 7 were answered by the Minister for Welsh Language and Lifelong Learning. The Presiding Officer invited party spokespeople to ask questions to the Cabinet Secretary after question 2.

(45 mins)

2.

Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Services

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

View Questions

Minutes:

The item started at 14.19

The first 7 questions were asked. The Presiding Officer invited party spokespeople to ask questions to the Cabinet Secretary after question 2.

(20 mins)

3.

Topical Questions

To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Local Government and Public Services:

David Melding (South Wales Central): Given the recently released new house building figures for Wales, will the Cabinet Secretary confirm why the number of new homes built in Wales each year is shrinking?

To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Finance:

Simon Thomas (Mid and West Wales): Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the reasons why the starting threshold for land transaction tax will increase for the residential main rates when the tax is devolved in April 2018?

Adam Price (Carmarthen East and Dinefwr): Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the introduction of a permanent small business rates relief scheme for Wales, following its announcement today through a written statement?

Minutes:

The item started at 15.08

To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Local Government and Public Services (answered by the Minister for Housing and Regeneration):

David Melding (South Wales Central): Given the recently released new house building figures for Wales, will the Cabinet Secretary confirm why the number of new homes built in Wales each year is shrinking?

To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Finance:

Simon Thomas (Mid and West Wales): Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the reasons why the starting threshold for land transaction tax will increase for the residential main rates when the tax is devolved in April 2018?

Adam Price (Carmarthen East and Dinefwr): Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the introduction of a permanent small business rates relief scheme for Wales, following its announcement today through a written statement?

Point of Order

Joyce Watson raised a Point of Order under Standing Order 13.9(v) regarding comments made by Gareth Bennett AM the previous day during a debate on the Equality and Human Rights Commission Annual Review 2016–2017.

The Presiding Officer thanked the Member for her Point of Order. She had since reviewed the record, and while she took the right of Assembly Members in the Chamber to make comments that aren’t wholly appreciated by other Members very seriously, it was her view that some of Gareth Bennett’s comments were particularly hateful and discriminatory to the transgender community, in particular the reference to ‘deviation from the norm’.

The Presiding Officer gave the Member the opportunity to withdraw his comments and apologise to the Chamber. As the Member refused to apologise or withdraw his comments, the Llywydd stated that the Member would not be called to speak in the Chamber again until he had done so.

(5 mins)

4.

90 Second Statements

Minutes:

The item started at 15.37

Mark Isherwood made a statement on the decline of the curlew population in Wales.

(60 mins)

5.

Debate on the Climate Change, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee report: Branching out: a new ambition for woodland policies

NDM6611 Mike Hedges (Swansea East)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

Notes the report of the Climate Change, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee, 'Branching out: a new ambition for woodland policies', which was laid in the Table Office on 28 July 2017.

Note: The response by the Welsh Government was laid on 20 September 2017.

Supporting documents
Correspondence between the Chair and Welsh Government

Minutes:

The item started at 15.39

NDM6611 Mike Hedges (Swansea East)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

Notes the report of the Climate Change, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee, 'Branching out: a new ambition for woodland policies', 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.

Member Debate under Standing Order 11.21(iv)

NDM6572

Lee Waters (Llanelli)
Mick Antoniw (Pontypridd)
David Melding (South Wales Central)
Nick Ramsay (Monmouth)
Hefin David (Caerphilly)
Suzy Davies (South Wales West)
Mike Hedges (Swansea East)
David Rees (Aberavon)
Jenny Rathbone (Cardiff Central)
Julie Morgan (Cardiff North)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Recognises the importance of a modern public transport network to relieve pressure on Wales’s road network.

2. Notes the evidence that a fully integrated public transport system - including active travel - is needed to provide a practical and attractive alternative to car use.

3. Welcomes the commitment to the first stages of a south Wales metro.

4. Endorses the commitment to develop a vision for a north-east Wales metro, and the allocation of funding for the development of a strategic outline case for a Swansea Bay metro, and calls on the Welsh Government to identify funding for full feasibility studies as a next step.

5. Believes Transport for Wales must have the power to act as a development corporation - with the ability to capitalise on rising land values in areas close to metro stations - in order to lever in further funding to expand the metro network.

Minutes:

The item started at 16.30

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

NDM6572

Lee Waters (Llanelli)
Mick Antoniw (Pontypridd)
David Melding (South Wales Central)
Nick Ramsay (Monmouth)
Hefin David (Caerphilly)
Suzy Davies (South Wales West)
Mike Hedges (Swansea East)
David Rees (Aberavon)
Jenny Rathbone (Cardiff Central)
Julie Morgan (Cardiff North)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Recognises the importance of a modern public transport network to relieve pressure on Wales’s road network.

2. Notes the evidence that a fully integrated public transport system - including active travel - is needed to provide a practical and attractive alternative to car use.

3. Welcomes the commitment to the first stages of a south Wales metro.

4. Endorses the commitment to develop a vision for a north-east Wales metro, and the allocation of funding for the development of a strategic outline case for a Swansea Bay metro, and calls on the Welsh Government to identify funding for full feasibility studies as a next step.

5. Believes Transport for Wales must have the power to act as a development corporation - with the ability to capitalise on rising land values in areas close to metro stations - in order to lever in further funding to expand the metro network.

The result was as follows:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

39

7

1

47

The motion was agreed.

(60 mins)

7.

United Kingdom Independence Party debate

NDM6612 Gareth Bennett (South Wales Central)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Believes that modular housing can be used as an innovative component in addressing Wales’s housing needs.

2. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

a) undertake a review of the planning process to remove red tape and barriers to individuals who wish to build their own modular home;

b) establish a housing development corporation to acquire brownfield sites at existing use value and using compulsory purchase if necessary, where such sites have been undeveloped for three years or more; and

c) develop a register of such sites and give priority on development to small-scale modular housing schemes, to incentivise individuals who wish to build their own home.

The following amendments have been tabled:

Amendment 1. Julie James (Swansea West)

Delete point 2 and replace with:

Recognises:

a) the Welsh Government’s decision to start building new models of housing in 2017-18 through its Innovative Housing Programme; 

b) that, of the 22 schemes approved for funding under the programme this year, 7 will be built using modular techniques with programme support totalling £5.6 million;

c) that a further £71 million will be available between 2018-19 and 2019-20 for the programme to build even more homes;

d) the welcome extension of the Property Development Fund to £40 million which will support SMEs to build more homes including modular housing and help to bring forward housing sites at an increased rate.

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

Amendment 2. Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

In point 2, delete sub-point b) and replace with:

'examine incentives for local authorities and public agencies to identify brownfield sites that are suitable for development.'

Minutes:

The item started at 17.18

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

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM6612 Gareth Bennett (South Wales Central)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Believes that modular housing can be used as an innovative component in addressing Wales’s housing needs.

2. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

a) undertake a review of the planning process to remove red tape and barriers to individuals who wish to build their own modular home;

b) establish a housing development corporation to acquire brownfield sites at existing use value and using compulsory purchase if necessary, where such sites have been undeveloped for three years or more; and

c) develop a register of such sites and give priority on development to small-scale modular housing schemes, to incentivise individuals who wish to build their own home.

For

Abstain

Against

Total

5

0

42

47

The motion without amendment was not agreed.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1. Julie James (Swansea West)

Delete point 2 and replace with:

Recognises:

a) the Welsh Government’s decision to start building new models of housing in 2017-18 through its Innovative Housing Programme; 

b) that, of the 22 schemes approved for funding under the programme this year, 7 will be built using modular techniques with programme support totalling £5.6 million;

c) that a further £71 million will be available between 2018-19 and 2019-20 for the programme to build even more homes;

d) the welcome extension of the Property Development Fund to £40 million which will support SMEs to build more homes including modular housing and help to bring forward housing sites at an increased rate.

A vote was taken on amendment 1:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

31

0

16

47

Amendment 1 was agreed.

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

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

NDM6612 Gareth Bennett (South Wales Central)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Believes that modular housing can be used as an innovative component in addressing Wales’s housing needs.

2. Recognises:

a) the Welsh Government’s decision to start building new models of housing in 2017-18 through its Innovative Housing Programme; 

b) that, of the 22 schemes approved for funding under the programme this year, 7 will be built using modular techniques with programme support totalling £5.6 million;

c) that a further £71 million will be available between 2018-19 and 2019-20 for the programme to build even more homes;

d) the welcome extension of the Property Development Fund to £40 million which will support SMEs to build more homes including modular housing and help to bring forward housing sites at an increased rate.

For

Abstain

Against

Total

42

0

5

47

The motion as amended was agreed.

8.

Voting Time

Minutes:

The item started at 17.55

Votes Summary

Supporting documents:

(30 mins)

9.

Short Debate

NDM6610 Mike Hedges (Swansea East)

The construction industry in Wales

Minutes:

The item started at 17.57

NDM6610 - Mike Hedges (Swansea East)

The construction industry in Wales