Agenda and minutes

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Expected timing: 180(v4) 

Media

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Transcript: Transcript for 09/01/2019 - Plenary - Fifth Senedd

Items
Expected timing No. Item

(45 mins)

1.

Questions to the Minister for Education

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

View Questions

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The item started at 13.30

The first 8 questions were asked. The Presiding Officer invited party spokespeople to ask questions to the MInister after question 2.

 

(45 mins)

2.

Questions to the Minister for Health and Social Services

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

View Questions

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The item started at 14.22

The first 8 questions were asked. The Presiding Officer invited party spokespeople to ask questions to the Minister after question 2.

 

(20 mins)

3.

Topical Questions

To ask the Minister for Health and Social Care

Dawn Bowden (Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney): Will the Minister provide the users of services in Cwm Taf University Health Board with reassurance as to the purpose of the enhanced monitoring announced today?

Minutes:

The item started at 15.12

 

To ask the Minister for Health and Social Care

Dawn Bowden (Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney): Will the Minister provide the users of services in Cwm Taf University Health Board with reassurance as to the purpose of the enhanced monitoring announced today?

 

(5 mins)

4.

90 Second Statements

Minutes:

The item started at 15.27

Elin Jones made a statement on Cranogwen: Master Mariner, bard and Campaigner. 180 years since her birth.

 

Motion to elect a Member to a Committee

The item started at 15.30

NDM6916 Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales, in accordance with Standing Order 17.14, elects Rebecca Evans (Labour) as a Member of the Business Committee in place of Julie James (Labour).

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

 

(60 mins)

5.

Debate on the Finance Committee report: The Cost of Caring for an Ageing Population

NDM6908 Llyr Gruffydd (North Wales)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

Notes the report of the Finance Committee, 'The cost of caring for an ageing population', which was laid in the Table Office on 12 October 2018.

Note: The response of the Welsh Government to the report was laid in the Table Office on 2 January 2019.

 

Minutes:

The item started at 15.30

NDM6908 Llyr Gruffydd (North Wales)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

Notes the report of the Finance Committee, 'The cost of caring for an ageing population', which was laid in the Table Office on 12 October 2018.

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

 

(60 mins)

6.

Debate on the Economy, Infrastructure and Skills Committee report: State of the Roads in Wales

NDM6907 Russell George (Montgomeryshire)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

Notes the report of the Economy, Infrastructure and Skills Committee, 'State of Roads in Wales' , which was laid in the Table Office on 24 October 2018.

Note: The response by the Welsh Government was laid on 2 January 2019.

 

Minutes:

The item started at 16.15

NDM6907 Russell George (Montgomeryshire)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

Notes the report of the Economy, Infrastructure and Skills Committee, 'State of Roads in Wales' , which was laid in the Table Office on 24 October 2018.

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

 

(60 mins)

7.

Welsh Conservatives debate - Housing

NDM6909 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Recognises that the number of homes being built in Wales is inadequate to meet demand.

2. Regrets that:

a) there are currently more than 27,000 empty homes in Wales; and

b) the average house price in Wales is now roughly over 6 times the average earnings due to a shortage of homes.

3. Notes the Welsh Conservatives 'Housing a Nation' white paper which presents a comprehensive strategy to tackle Wales's housing crisis and provide suitable housing for all.

4. Calls on the Welsh Government to;

a) acknowledge the need to build at least 100,000 homes between 2021-2031; and

b) give greater flexibility to housing associations so that they can develop a range of tenures to meet the demand for affordable housing.

Welsh Conservatives - Housing a Nation

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 - Rebecca Evans (Gower)

Delete all and replace with:

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1.    Recognises:

a) the record investment being made in housing by the Welsh Government.

b) that a new assessment of housing need and demand is necessary, based on up-to-date data and the latest household projections.

2.    Welcomes:

a) the Welsh Government commitment to deliver 20,000 affordable homes during this term of government, which is on track and will be delivered in partnership with the housing sector.

b)  the introduction of land transaction tax in Wales and the £180,000 starting threshold for the main residential rate, which means that the majority of homebuyers, and the vast majority of first-time buyers, pay no tax when buying a home.

3.  Acknowledges the Welsh Government’s continuing commitment to social housing, which has remained a fundamental priority, supporting the most vulnerable and protecting our existing social housing stock, unlike in England.

4. Notes the flexibility available to housing associations so they can develop a range of tenures to meet the demand for affordable housing.

[If amendment 1 is agreed, amendments 2, 3 and 4 will be de-selected] 

Amendment 2 - Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)

In point 1, after ‘being built’, insert ‘in the social housing sector’.

Amendment 3 - Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)

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

that low wages, insecure employment and high rents present significant barriers to home ownership.

Amendment 4 - Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)

Delete points 3 and 4 and replace with:

Notes that homelessness has risen substantially, and that this has cost public services considerably more than it would have cost to prevent homelessness.

Calls on the Welsh Government to:

a) support housing associations and local authorities to increase the social housing stock through maximising their ability to access finance for this purpose, including through the use of Welsh Government borrowing powers;

b)  implement the recommendations of the Crisis report, 'Everybody In: How to end homelessness in Great Britain';

c) ensure that local development plans include a requirement for investment in public services in order that new developments can become sustainable communities; and

d) ensure that local development plans include a substantially greater proportion of social housing.

Everybody In: How to end homelessness in Great Britain  

 

 

Minutes:

The item started at 16.59

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

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM6909 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Recognises that the number of homes being built in Wales is inadequate to meet demand.

2. Regrets that:

a) there are currently more than 27,000 empty homes in Wales; and

b) the average house price in Wales is now roughly over 6 times the average earnings due to a shortage of homes.

3. Notes the Welsh Conservatives 'Housing a Nation' white paper which presents a comprehensive strategy to tackle Wales's housing crisis and provide suitable housing for all.

4. Calls on the Welsh Government to;

a) acknowledge the need to build at least 100,000 homes between 2021-2031; and

b) give greater flexibility to housing associations so that they can develop a range of tenures to meet the demand for affordable housing.

For

Abstain

Against

Total

16

1

37

54

The motion without amendment was not agreed.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 - Rebecca Evans (Gower)

Delete all and replace with:

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1.    Recognises:

a) the record investment being made in housing by the Welsh Government.

b) that a new assessment of housing need and demand is necessary, based on up-to-date data and the latest household projections.

2.    Welcomes:

a) the Welsh Government commitment to deliver 20,000 affordable homes during this term of government, which is on track and will be delivered in partnership with the housing sector.

b)  the introduction of land transaction tax in Wales and the £180,000 starting threshold for the main residential rate, which means that the majority of homebuyers, and the vast majority of first-time buyers, pay no tax when buying a home.

3.  Acknowledges the Welsh Government’s continuing commitment to social housing, which has remained a fundamental priority, supporting the most vulnerable and protecting our existing social housing stock, unlike in England.

4. Notes the flexibility available to housing associations so they can develop a range of tenures to meet the demand for affordable housing.

[If amendment 1 is agreed, amendments 2, 3 and 4 will be de-selected] 

A vote was taken on amendment 1:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

30

3

21

54

Amendment 1 was not agreed.

As amendment 1 was agreed, amendments 2, 3 and 4 were de-selected 

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

NDM6909 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1.    Recognises:

a) the record investment being made in housing by the Welsh Government.

b) that a new assessment of housing need and demand is necessary, based on up-to-date data and the latest household projections.

2.    Welcomes:

a) the Welsh Government commitment to deliver 20,000 affordable homes during this term of government, which is on track and will be delivered in partnership with the housing sector.

b)  the introduction of land transaction tax in Wales and the £180,000 starting threshold for the main residential rate, which means that the majority of homebuyers, and the vast majority of first-time buyers, pay no tax when buying a home.

3.  Acknowledges the Welsh Government’s continuing commitment to social housing, which has remained a fundamental priority, supporting the most vulnerable and protecting our existing social housing stock, unlike in England.

4. Notes the flexibility available to housing associations so they can develop a range of tenures to meet the demand for affordable housing.

For

Abstain

Against

Total

30

3

21

54

The motion as amended was agreed.

 

8.

Voting Time

Minutes:

The item started at 18.06

 

Votes Summary

Supporting documents:

(30 mins)

9.

Short Debate

NDM6900 Mohammad Asghar (South Wales East)

The white heat of technology?

Closing the skills gap in Wales in the digital age.

 

Minutes:

The item started at 18.08

NDM6900 Mohammad Asghar (South Wales East)

The white heat of technology?

Closing the skills gap in Wales in the digital age.