Agenda and minutes

This meeting was held in a hybrid format, with some Members in the Senedd Chamber and others joining by video-conference.

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

View Questions

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.

 

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

View Questions

The item started at 14.20

The first 8 questions were asked. Questions 3 and 9 were grouped together for answer. The Presiding Officer invited party spokespeople to ask questions to the Minister after question 2.

 

No topical questions were accepted.

No Topical Questions were accepted

 

The item started at 15.05

Huw Irranca-Davies made a statement on - 15 years of Pontyclun Bosom Pals.

Vikki Howells made a statement on - Dare Valley country park celebrates turning 50 (3 December).

Buffy Williams made a statement on - World AIDS Day (1 December).

 

Supporting documents

Residential Outdoor Education (Wales) Bill (as introduced)

Explanatory Memorandum

The item started at 15.11

 

NDM8417 Delyth Jewell (South Wales East)

To propose that the Senedd:

Notes the report of the Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee ‘Wales-Ireland relations: Exploring an old relationship in a new age’, which was laid in the Table Office on 6 October 2023.

Notes: The response from the Welsh Government to the report was laid on 22 November 2023.

The item started at 16.10

NDM8417 Delyth Jewell (South Wales East)

To propose that the Senedd:

Notes the report of the Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee ‘Wales-Ireland relations: Exploring an old relationship in a new age’, which was laid in the Table Office on 6 October 2023.

Notes: The response from the Welsh Government to the report was laid on 22 November 2023.

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

 

NDM8418 Llyr Gruffydd (North Wales)

To propose that the Senedd:

Notes the Climate Change, Environment and Infrastructure Committee report: Report on operation of the interim environmental protection measures 2022-23, laid on 21 September 2023.

Notes: The response from the Welsh Government to the report was laid in the Table Office on 22 November 2023. The Interim Environmental Protection Assessor for Wales responded on 30 October 2023.

The item started at 17.01

NDM8418 Llyr Gruffydd (North Wales)

To propose that the Senedd:

Notes the Climate Change, Environment and Infrastructure Committee report: Report on operation of the interim environmental protection measures 2022-23, laid on 21 September 2023.

Notes: The response from the Welsh Government to the report was laid in the Table Office on 22 November 2023. The Interim Environmental Protection Assessor for Wales responded on 30 October 2023.

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

 

NDM8420 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes that Small Business Saturday will take place on 2 December 2023.

2. Recognises the vital contribution small businesses make in creating jobs, supporting communities and developing local economies.

3. Welcomes the Chancellor of the Exchequer's cuts to national insurance contributions, which will benefit the self-employed from April 2024.

4. Encourages communities to shop locally to support small businesses to grow and thrive.

5. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

a) use all available levers it has to better support small businesses in Wales; and

b) continue to support small businesses through changes in procurement policy across the public sector.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

Delete point 3 and replace with:

Regrets the economic mismanagement of successive Chancellors in recent years which has caused preventable harm to small businesses who face higher energy and mortgage costs than many comparative economies.

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

Amendment 2 Heledd Fychan (South Wales Central)

Delete point 3 and replace with:

Regrets that the proposed cut to National Insurance will do little to alleviate the impact of fiscal drag on Welsh workers in the small business sector.

Further regrets that the Office of Budget Responsibility has downgraded its growth forecasts for the next two years, which will inhibit the prosperity of our SME sector.

Amendment 3 Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

Delete point 5 and replace with:

Welcomes:

a) the support provided to small businesses and entrepreneurs by the Welsh Government via services and initiatives such as Business Wales, the Development Bank of Wales and the Barriers to Start Up Grant; and

b) the Welsh Government’s approach to the everyday economy and the progress made in helping more small businesses win more contracts across Welsh public services.

The item started at 17.37

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

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM8420 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes that Small Business Saturday will take place on 2 December 2023.

2. Recognises the vital contribution small businesses make in creating jobs, supporting communities and developing local economies.

3. Welcomes the Chancellor of the Exchequer's cuts to national insurance contributions, which will benefit the self-employed from April 2024.

4. Encourages communities to shop locally to support small businesses to grow and thrive.

5. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

a) use all available levers it has to better support small businesses in Wales; and

b) continue to support small businesses through changes in procurement policy across the public sector.

For	Abstain	Against	Total
14	0	36	50

The motion without amendment was not agreed.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

Delete point 3 and replace with:

Regrets the economic mismanagement of successive Chancellors in recent years which has caused preventable harm to small businesses who face higher energy and mortgage costs than many comparative economies.

A vote was taken on amendment 1:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
27	0	23	50

Amendment 1 was agreed.

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

Amendment 3 Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

Delete point 5 and replace with:

Welcomes:

a) the support provided to small businesses and entrepreneurs by the Welsh Government via services and initiatives such as Business Wales, the Development Bank of Wales and the Barriers to Start Up Grant; and

b) the Welsh Government’s approach to the everyday economy and the progress made in helping more small businesses win more contracts across Welsh public services.

A vote was taken on amendment 3:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
26	0	24	50

Amendment 3 was agreed.

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

NDM8420 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes that Small Business Saturday will take place on 2 December 2023.

2. Recognises the vital contribution small businesses make in creating jobs, supporting communities and developing local economies.

3. Regrets the economic mismanagement of successive Chancellors in recent years which has caused preventable harm to small businesses who face higher energy and mortgage costs than many comparative economies.

4. Encourages communities to shop locally to support small businesses to grow and thrive.

5. Welcomes:

a) the support provided to small businesses and entrepreneurs by the Welsh Government via services and initiatives such as Business Wales, the Development Bank of Wales and the Barriers to Start Up Grant; and

b) the Welsh Government’s approach to the everyday economy and the progress made in helping more small businesses win more contracts across Welsh public services.

For	Abstain	Against	Total
25	0	26	51

As required by Standing Order 6.20 the Deputy Presiding Officer exercised his casting vote by voting against the motion as amended. Therefore, the motion as amended was not agreed.

 

The item started at 18.32

 

NDM8421 James Evans (Brecon and Radnorshire)

The importance of grass roots rugby in communities

The item started at 18.37

NDM8421 James Evans (Brecon and Radnorshire)

The importance of grass roots rugby in communities.