Agenda and minutes

Venue: Y Siambr - Y Senedd

Expected timing: 136(v3) 

Media

Senedd.TV: View the webcast

Transcript: Transcript for 09/05/2018 - Plenary - Fifth Senedd

Items
Expected timing No. Item

(45 mins)

1.

Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Planning and Rural Affairs

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 Question 5 was withdrawn. Questions 2, 6 and 9 were answered by the Minister for Environment. The Presiding Officer invited party spokespeople to ask questions to the Cabinet Secretary and the Minister after question 2.

(45 mins)

2.

Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Local Government and Public Services

The Presiding Officer will call Party Spokespeople to ask questions without notice to the Cabinet Secretary after Question 3.

View Questions

Minutes:

The item started at 14.18

Questions 1, 3-7 and 9 were asked. Questions 2 and 8 were withdrawn. Question 6 was answered by the Minister for Housing and Regeneration. The Presiding Officer invited party spokespeople to ask questions to the Cabinet Secretary and the Minister after question 3.

(20 mins)

3.

Topical Questions

To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Transport:

Suzy Davies (South Wales West): Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement following Virgin Media's decision to close its call centre in Swansea resulting in the loss of over 700 jobs?

 

To ask the Minister for Housing and Regeneration.

 

Hefin David (Caerphilly): What discussions has the Welsh Government had with the UK Government regarding the proposed centralisation of existing Department of Work and Pensions jobs at Treforest industrial estate?

Minutes:

The item started at 15.08

To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Transport:

Suzy Davies (South Wales West): Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement following Virgin Media's decision to close its call centre in Swansea resulting in the loss of over 700 jobs?

To ask the Minister for Housing and Regeneration:

Hefin David (Caerphilly): What discussions has the Welsh Government had with the UK Government regarding the proposed centralisation of existing Department of Work and Pensions jobs at Treforest industrial estate?

(5 mins)

4.

90 Second Statements

Minutes:

The item started at 15.49

Vikki Howells made a statement on Dystonia Awareness Week (5–13 May).

Jayne Bryant made a statement on Lady Rhondda, following the 60th Anniversary on the Life Peerages Act the previous week.

 

(60 mins)

5.

Debate on the Economy, Infrastructure and Skills Committee report: Apprenticeships in Wales

NDM6716 Russell George (Montgomeryshire)

The National Assembly for Wales:

Notes the Economy, Infrastructure and Skills Committee’s report into Apprenticeships in Wales which was laid in the Table Office on 14 February 2018.

Note: The response by the Welsh Government was laid on 1 May 2018.

Minutes:

The item started at 15.52

NDM6716 Russell George (Montgomeryshire)

The National Assembly for Wales:

Notes the Economy, Infrastructure and Skills Committee’s report into Apprenticeships in Wales which was laid in the Table Office on 14 February 2018.

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

 

(60 mins)

6.

Welsh Conservatives debate – Land transaction tax on commercial land

NDM6719 Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Notes that the new six per cent rate of land transaction tax (LTT) on commercial land transactions above £1 million is significantly higher than the equivalent rates for such transactions in England (five per cent) and Scotland (4.5 per cent).

2. Notes the Welsh Government’s completion on its circa £12 million purchase of the Cardiff bus station site on 29 March 2018, thus avoiding its own LTT regime by three days and ensuring the transaction took place under the UK Government’s stamp duty land tax.

3. Calls on the Welsh Government, in light of sector representation, to reconsider the new six per cent LTT rate on commercial land transactions above £1 million which will have a detrimental impact on economic development in Wales.

The following amendments have been tabled:

Amendment 1. Julie James (Swansea West)

Delete all and replace with:

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

Notes that:

a) The rates and bands for land transaction tax were approved by the National Assembly on 30 January 2018, with no Assembly Members voting against, and that the rates and bands came into effect on 1 April 2018.

b) The purchase of Cardiff bus station was not liable for any stamp duty land tax and would have been exempt from land transaction tax if the sale was completed under that regime.

Amendment 2. Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Welcomes the Assembly's new powers to vary tax rates according to Wales's economic, social and environmental needs.

Amendment 3. Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Calls on the Welsh Government to expedite its work to review all property-related taxes.

Minutes:

The item started at 17.00

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

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM6719 Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Notes that the new six per cent rate of land transaction tax (LTT) on commercial land transactions above £1 million is significantly higher than the equivalent rates for such transactions in England (five per cent) and Scotland (4.5 per cent).

2. Notes the Welsh Government’s completion on its circa £12 million purchase of the Cardiff bus station site on 29 March 2018, thus avoiding its own LTT regime by three days and ensuring the transaction took place under the UK Government’s stamp duty land tax.

3. Calls on the Welsh Government, in light of sector representation, to reconsider the new six per cent LTT rate on commercial land transactions above £1 million which will have a detrimental impact on economic development in Wales.

For

Abstain

Against

Total

14

2

33

49

The motion without amendment was not agreed.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1. Julie James (Swansea West)

Delete all and replace with:

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

Notes that:

a) The rates and bands for land transaction tax were approved by the National Assembly on 30 January 2018, with no Assembly Members voting against, and that the rates and bands came into effect on 1 April 2018.

b) The purchase of Cardiff bus station was not liable for any stamp duty land tax and would have been exempt from land transaction tax if the sale was completed under that regime.

A vote was taken on amendment 1:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

25

12

12

49

Amendment 1 was agreed.

Amendment 2. Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Welcomes the Assembly's new powers to vary tax rates according to Wales's economic, social and environmental needs.

A vote was taken on amendment 2:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

49

0

0

49

Amendment 2 was agreed.

Amendment 3. Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Calls on the Welsh Government to expedite its work to review all property-related taxes.

A vote was taken on amendment 3:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

49

0

0

49

Amendment 3 was agreed.

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

NDM6719 Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

Notes that:

a) The rates and bands for land transaction tax were approved by the National Assembly on 30 January 2018, with no Assembly Members voting against, and that the rates and bands came into effect on 1 April 2018.

b) The purchase of Cardiff bus station was not liable for any stamp duty land tax and would have been exempt from land transaction tax if the sale was completed under that regime.

Welcomes the Assembly's new powers to vary tax rates according to Wales's economic, social and environmental needs.

Calls on the Welsh Government to expedite its work to review all property-related taxes.

For

Abstain

Against

Total

37

0

12

49

The motion as amended was agreed.

(60 mins)

7.

United Kingdom Independence Party debate – A minimum price for alcohol

NDM6718 Neil Hamilton (Mid and West Wales)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Notes the problems caused by the harmful consumption of alcohol and the damaging impact that substance misuse has on families and communities.

2. Believes that:

a) the Welsh Government proposal for minimum unit pricing of alcohol will have a detrimental financial impact on the poorest people in society; and 

b) the suggested value of around 50 pence per alcoholic unit will fail to make any substantial change to the quantity of alcohol consumed by those who habitually drink alcohol in large quantities.

3. Calls on the Welsh Government to abandon the Public Health (Minimum Price for Alcohol) (Wales) Bill and do more to tackle alcohol misuse without resorting to minimum unit pricing.

Public Health (Minimum Price for Alcohol) (Wales) Bill

The following amendments have been tabled:

Amendment 1. Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

Delete all after point 1 and replace with:

Supports the general principles of the Public Health (Minimum Price for Alcohol) (Wales) Bill.

Regrets the adverse impact that the Bill may have on the budgets of households on low incomes and that it may lead to the substitution of alcohol for illicit substances.

Supports amending the Bill, as recommended by the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee, in order to produce an evaluation report that makes reference to the impacts of minimum pricing by reference to age group, gender and socio-economic status, substitution behaviour, domestic violence, impact on support services and the impact on alcohol retailers.

[If amendment 1 is agreed, amendments 2 and 3 will be de-selected]

Amendment 2. Julie James (Swansea West)

Delete all after point 1 and replace with:

Notes the Public Health (Minimum Price for Alcohol) (Wales) Bill which is currently being scrutinised by the National Assembly.

Notes a proposed minimum unit price for alcohol is only one of the Welsh Government’s measures to tackle the harms associated with harmful and hazardous alcohol use in Wales.

Notes the £50m package of support for people with alcohol and substance use problems in Wales every year.

[If amendment 2 is agreed, amendment 3 will be de-selected]

Amendment 3. Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)

Delete all after point 1 and replace with:

Notes that public health measures require the support of the public to be successful and that, to achieve this, the minimum price needs to be a set a level that is underpinned by robust research that can demonstrate the public health impacts, and recognises the need to avoid disproportionately affecting moderate drinkers on lower incomes.

Calls on the Welsh Government to accompany the legislation with an extensive communications campaign that explains the aims and purpose of the legislation, including steps moderate drinkers can take to minimise the financial impact on themselves, for example through reducing consumption overall or choosing drinks with lower alcohol content; both of which would bring health benefits.

Recognises the potential benefits of minimum unit alcohol pricing for pubs.

Minutes:

The item started at 18.05

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

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM6718 Neil Hamilton (Mid and West Wales)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Notes the problems caused by the harmful consumption of alcohol and the damaging impact that substance misuse has on families and communities.

2. Believes that:

a) the Welsh Government proposal for minimum unit pricing of alcohol will have a detrimental financial impact on the poorest people in society; and 

b) the suggested value of around 50 pence per alcoholic unit will fail to make any substantial change to the quantity of alcohol consumed by those who habitually drink alcohol in large quantities.

3. Calls on the Welsh Government to abandon the Public Health (Minimum Price for Alcohol) (Wales) Bill and do more to tackle alcohol misuse without resorting to minimum unit pricing.

For

Abstain

Against

Total

5

0

44

49

The motion without amendment was not agreed.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1. Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

Delete all after point 1 and replace with:

Supports the general principles of the Public Health (Minimum Price for Alcohol) (Wales) Bill.

Regrets the adverse impact that the Bill may have on the budgets of households on low incomes and that it may lead to the substitution of alcohol for illicit substances.

Supports amending the Bill, as recommended by the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee, in order to produce an evaluation report that makes reference to the impacts of minimum pricing by reference to age group, gender and socio-economic status, substitution behaviour, domestic violence, impact on support services and the impact on alcohol retailers.

[If amendment 1 is agreed, amendments 2 and 3 will be de-selected]

A vote was taken on amendment 1:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

11

0

38

49

Amendment 1 was not agreed.

Amendment 2. Julie James (Swansea West)

Delete all after point 1 and replace with:

Notes the Public Health (Minimum Price for Alcohol) (Wales) Bill which is currently being scrutinised by the National Assembly.

Notes a proposed minimum unit price for alcohol is only one of the Welsh Government’s measures to tackle the harms associated with harmful and hazardous alcohol use in Wales.

Notes the £50m package of support for people with alcohol and substance use problems in Wales every year.

[If amendment 2 is agreed, amendment 3 will be de-selected]

A vote was taken on amendment 2:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

34

0

15

49

Amendment 2 was agreed.

As amendment 2 was agreed, amendment 3 was de-selected.

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

NDM6718 Neil Hamilton (Mid and West Wales)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Notes the problems caused by the harmful consumption of alcohol and the damaging impact that substance misuse has on families and communities.

2.Notes the Public Health (Minimum Price for Alcohol) (Wales) Bill which is currently being scrutinised by the National Assembly.

3.Notes a proposed minimum unit price for alcohol is only one of the Welsh Government’s measures to tackle the harms associated with harmful and hazardous alcohol use in Wales.

4.Notes the £50m package of support for people with alcohol and substance use problems in Wales every year.

 

For

Abstain

Against

Total

36

8

5

49

The motion as amended was agreed.

8.

Voting Time

Minutes:

The item started at 18.58

Votes Summary

Supporting documents:

(30 mins)

9.

Short Debate

NDM6713 David Melding (South Wales Central)

Valleys housing: A heritage worth investing in.

Minutes:

The item started at 19.03

NDM6713 David Melding (South Wales Central)

Valleys housing: A heritage worth investing in.