Agenda and minutes

Venue: Y Siambr - Y Senedd. View directions

Expected timing: 241(v3) 

Media

Senedd.TV: View the webcast

Transcript: Transcript for 12/11/2019 - Plenary - Fifth Senedd

Items
Expected timing No. Item

1.

Statement by the Llywydd: The Commissioner for Standards

Minutes:

The item started at 13.30

 

2.

Statement by the Chair of the Standards of Conduct Committee: Integrity in Standards

Minutes:

The item started at 13.32

 

(60 mins)

3.

Questions to the First Minister

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

The Deputy Minister and Chief Whip will answer questions for the last 15 minutes of this session on matters relating to her responsibilities.

View Questions

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The item started at 13.35

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

The Deputy Minister and Chief Whip answered questions for the last 15 minutes of this session on matters relating to her responsibilities. Both questions were asked.

 

Point of Order

Carwyn Jones raised a point of order regarding the conduct of Members in the Chamber. The Llywydd thanked the Member and stated that she would review the Record to consider whether there had been a breach of Standing Orders. The Llywydd reminded Members that they are expected to do their work in good and orderly conduct.

(30 mins)

4.

Business Statement and Announcement

Minutes:

The item started at 14.49

 

(45 mins)

5.

Statement by the Deputy Minister for Housing and Local Government: Marking Remembrance Day and supporting our Armed Forces community

Minutes:

The item started at 14.58

 

(45 mins)

6.

Statement by the Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs: The Welsh National Marine Plan

Minutes:

The item started at 15.29

 

(45 mins)

7.

Statement by the Minister for Economy and Transport: The Proposed Future Delivery Model for the Business Wales Service

Minutes:

The item started at 16.17

 

(15 mins)

8.

The Public Health (Minimum Price for Alcohol) (Minimum Unit Price) (Wales) Regulations 2019

NDM7181 - Rebecca Evans (Gower)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales; in accordance with Standing Order 27.5:

1. Approves that the draft The Public Health (Minimum Price for Alcohol) (Minimum Unit Price) (Wales) Regulations 2019 is made in accordance with the draft laid in the Table Office on 15 October 2019.

Supporting Documents
Explanatory Memorandum
Report of the Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee

Minutes:

The item started at 16.50

Voting on the motion was deferred until Voting Time

NDM7181 - Rebecca Evans (Gower)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales; in accordance with Standing Order 27.5:

1. Approves that the draft The Public Health (Minimum Price for Alcohol) (Minimum Unit Price) (Wales) Regulations 2019 is made in accordance with the draft laid in the Table Office on 15 October 2019.

A vote was taken on the motion:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

38

0

5

43

The motion was agreed

 

(60 mins)

9.

Debate: Digital Connectivity

NDM7180 - Rebecca Evans (Gower)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Recognises the work undertaken by the Welsh Government since 2012 to improve digital connectivity across Wales through the Superfast Cymru programme, with 733,000 premises now having access to fast fibre broadband.

2. Notes that the Welsh Government has undertaken this work in a non-devolved area owing to the failure of the UK Government at that time to sufficiently invest where the commercial market would not provide.

3. Calls on the UK Government to fulfil its responsibilities and invest in gigabit-capable broadband that meets the needs of homes and businesses in Wales ensuring that:

a) funding reflects the challenges of deploying digital infrastructure in Wales;

b) delivery takes an ‘outside-in’ approach providing connectivity to those premises in rural and very rural areas; and

c) connectivity is provided first to those premises which cannot receive fast broadband.

The following amendments have been tabled:

Amendment 1 - Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

Delete point 2 and replace with:

Regrets:

a) the failure of the Welsh Government to deliver on its promise to ensure that all residential and business premises would have next generation broadband by 2015;

b) that some communities have been left with stranded assets following the completion of Superfast Cymru phase 1;

c) the lack of a seamless transition between the deployment of phase one and phase two of the Superfast Cymru scheme;

d) the lack of a clear timetable for the delivery of high speed broadband to remaining premises.

 

Amendment 2 - Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

Delete point 3 and replace with:

Welcomes:

a) the UK Government’s introduction of a universal service obligation (USO) which will give eligible homes and businesses in the UK a clear, enforceable right to request a decent and affordable broadband connection by March 2020;

b) the UK Government’s investment to provide superfast broadband coverage and its stimulation for commercial investment in full fibre connections in both rural and urban locations across the whole of the UK;

c) the Chancellor’s recent £5 billion commitment to fund gigabit-capable deployment to 20 per cent of the hardest to reach premises through an 'Outside-In' approach;

d) the recent £1 billion announcement by the UK Government and the UK’s four mobile network operators to build a shared rural network that would see 4G mobile coverage extended to 95 per cent of the UK’s landmass;

e) the Home Office’s commitment to build the additional network infrastructure required to deliver the new emergency service network (ESN) and extended area services (EAS) Programme, which will provide a commercial 4G service in rural areas of Wales which would not be otherwise served.

 

Amendment 3 - Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Calls upon the Welsh Government to:

a) issue quarterly updates showing, for each local authority area, the number of premises connected under Phase 2 of the Superfast Cymru contract;

b) work with the UK Government to collaborate with commercial partners to prioritise the digital connectivity of those premises in Wales which do not have access to reliable high speed broadband services.

 

Amendment 4 - Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Calls on better information to be provided - through a 'one stop shop' - to those who are not connected to the Superfast Cymru programme, about how they can access a fast internet connection.

Minutes:

The item started at 17.02

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

NDM7180 - Rebecca Evans (Gower)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Recognises the work undertaken by the Welsh Government since 2012 to improve digital connectivity across Wales through the Superfast Cymru programme, with 733,000 premises now having access to fast fibre broadband.

2. Notes that the Welsh Government has undertaken this work in a non-devolved area owing to the failure of the UK Government at that time to sufficiently invest where the commercial market would not provide.

3. Calls on the UK Government to fulfil its responsibilities and invest in gigabit-capable broadband that meets the needs of homes and businesses in Wales ensuring that:

a) funding reflects the challenges of deploying digital infrastructure in Wales;

b) delivery takes an ‘outside-in’ approach providing connectivity to those premises in rural and very rural areas; and

c) connectivity is provided first to those premises which cannot receive fast broadband.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 - Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

Delete point 2 and replace with:

Regrets:

a) the failure of the Welsh Government to deliver on its promise to ensure that all residential and business premises would have next generation broadband by 2015;

b) that some communities have been left with stranded assets following the completion of Superfast Cymru phase 1;

c) the lack of a seamless transition between the deployment of phase one and phase two of the Superfast Cymru scheme;

d) the lack of a clear timetable for the delivery of high speed broadband to remaining premises.

 A vote was taken on amendment 1:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

13

0

30

43

Amendment 1 was not agreed.

Amendment 2 - Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

Delete point 3 and replace with:

Welcomes:

a) the UK Government’s introduction of a universal service obligation (USO) which will give eligible homes and businesses in the UK a clear, enforceable right to request a decent and affordable broadband connection by March 2020;

b) the UK Government’s investment to provide superfast broadband coverage and its stimulation for commercial investment in full fibre connections in both rural and urban locations across the whole of the UK;

c) the Chancellor’s recent £5 billion commitment to fund gigabit-capable deployment to 20 per cent of the hardest to reach premises through an 'Outside-In' approach;

d) the recent £1 billion announcement by the UK Government and the UK’s four mobile network operators to build a shared rural network that would see 4G mobile coverage extended to 95 per cent of the UK’s landmass;

e) the Home Office’s commitment to build the additional network infrastructure required to deliver the new emergency service network (ESN) and extended area services (EAS) Programme, which will provide a commercial 4G service in rural areas of Wales which would not be otherwise served.

A vote was taken on amendment 2:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

13

0

30

43

Amendment 2 was not agreed.

Amendment 3 - Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Calls upon the Welsh Government to:

a) issue quarterly updates showing, for each local authority area, the number of premises connected under Phase 2 of the Superfast Cymru contract;

b) work with the UK Government to collaborate with commercial partners to prioritise the digital connectivity of those premises in Wales which do not have access to reliable high speed broadband services.

A vote was taken on amendment 3:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

43

0

0

43

Amendment 3 was agreed.

Amendment 4 - Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Calls on better information to be provided - through a 'one stop shop' - to those who are not connected to the Superfast Cymru programme, about how they can access a fast internet connection.

A vote was taken on amendment 4:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

42

0

1

43

Amendment 4 was agreed.

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

NDM7180 - Rebecca Evans (Gower)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Recognises the work undertaken by the Welsh Government since 2012 to improve digital connectivity across Wales through the Superfast Cymru programme, with 733,000 premises now having access to fast fibre broadband.

2. Notes that the Welsh Government has undertaken this work in a non-devolved area owing to the failure of the UK Government at that time to sufficiently invest where the commercial market would not provide.

3. Calls on the UK Government to fulfil its responsibilities and invest in gigabit-capable broadband that meets the needs of homes and businesses in Wales ensuring that:

a) funding reflects the challenges of deploying digital infrastructure in Wales;

b) delivery takes an ‘outside-in’ approach providing connectivity to those premises in rural and very rural areas; and

c) connectivity is provided first to those premises which cannot receive fast broadband.

4. Calls upon the Welsh Government to:

a) issue quarterly updates showing, for each local authority area, the number of premises connected under Phase 2 of the Superfast Cymru contract;

b) work with the UK Government to collaborate with commercial partners to prioritise the digital connectivity of those premises in Wales which do not have access to reliable high speed broadband services.

5. Calls on better information to be provided - through a 'one stop shop' - to those who are not connected to the Superfast Cymru programme, about how they can access a fast internet connection.

For

Abstain

Against

Total

40

4

0

44

The motion as amended was agreed.

 

10.

Voting Time

Votes Summary

Supporting documents: