Decision details
Plaid Cymru Debate
Decision Maker: Plenary - Fourth Assembly
Status: Recommendations approved
Is Key decision?: Yes
Purpose:
Debates are one of the
most frequent items of business on the Plenary
agenda. Many types of debate are brought forward in Plenary, including:
- Opposition party debates on a topic of
their choice;
Other than in the case of
Government debates, the time allocated for all other types of debates and their
frequency are determined by the Business
Committee
Decision:
The item started at 16.46
Voting on the motion and amendments
under this item was deferred until Voting Time.
A vote was taken on the motion without
amendment:
NDM5405
Elin Jones (Ceredigion)
To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
1. Notes that over a year has passed since the publication of
the figures of the 2011 census that show a reduction of 2% in the number of
Welsh speakers in Wales.
2. Calls on the Welsh Government to act to enable the Welsh
language to thrive, by, among other things:
a) ensuring that everyone in Wales has the opportunity to
learn Welsh;
b) investing in Welsh-medium childcare;
c) increasing the number of pupils receiving the Foundation
Phase through the medium of Welsh;
d) using the potential under the Welsh Language Measure 2011
to set standards for the Welsh language that provide Welsh speakers with
stronger rights than those provided by Welsh-language schemes under the Welsh
Language Act 1993;
e) encouraging public bodies to use the Welsh language as an
administrative language internally;
f) creating economic opportunities and jobs in Welsh-language
strongholds, by promoting Bangor and
Menai, Aberystwyth and Carmarthen as city-regions;
g) ensuring that the Welsh language is taken seriously within
the planning system.
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
9 |
0 |
43 |
52 |
The motion without amendment was not agreed.
The following amendments were tabled:
Amendment
1 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)
Insert as new point 2 and renumber accordingly:
Notes failures by the Welsh Government to fully meet
standards to promote the use of regional and minority languages in public life
as set out in the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages.
A vote was taken on Amendment 1:
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
26 |
0 |
27 |
53 |
As required by Standing Order 6.20 the Deputy Presiding
Officer exercised his casting vote by voting against the amendment. Therefore,
the amendment was not agreed.
Amendment
2 - William Graham (South Wales East)
Insert ‘effectively’ at end of sub-point 2a.
A vote was taken on Amendment 2:
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
38 |
0 |
14 |
52 |
Amendment 2 was agreed.
Amendment
3 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)
Delete point 2f and replace with:
supporting Welsh-language heartlands in West Wales by
developing an economic strategy for these areas that reflects their character
and is tailored to their needs
A vote was taken on Amendment 3:
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
31 |
0 |
21 |
52 |
Amendment 3 was agreed.
As amendment 3 was agreed,
amendment 4 was de-selected.
Amendment
5 - William Graham (South Wales East)
Add as new sub-point at end of point 2:
capitalising on the extra funding for Flying Start to improve
the promotion of Welsh to young children and their families.
A vote was taken on Amendment 5:
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
52 |
0 |
0 |
52 |
Amendment 5 was agreed.
Amendment
6 - William Graham (South Wales East)
Add as new sub-point at end of point 2:
working with adults learning Welsh to create opportunities
for Welsh to be spoken in their community.
A vote was taken on Amendment 6:
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
52 |
0 |
0 |
52 |
Amendment 6 was agreed.
Amendment
7 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)
Add as new sub-point at the end of point 2:
addressing local difficulties faced in receiving Welsh
language broadcasting since the digital TV switchover in 2010.
A vote was taken on Amendment 7:
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
52 |
0 |
0 |
52 |
Amendment 7 was agreed.
Amendment
8 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)
Add as new sub-point at end of point 2:
addressing weaknesses in Welsh second language provision in
schools.
A vote was taken on Amendment 8:
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
52 |
0 |
0 |
52 |
Amendment 8 was agreed.
Amendment
9 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)
Add as new sub-point at end of point 2:
ensuring the Welsh Language Commissioner is appointed by the
National Assembly for Wales.
A vote was taken on Amendment 9:
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
17 |
0 |
35 |
52 |
Amendment 9 was not agreed.
Amendment
10 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)
Add as new sub-point at end of point 2:
ensuring that Welsh Education Strategic Plans are robust and
contain deliverable measures to meet demand for Welsh medium education and
ensure continuity between primary and secondary education on offer.
A vote was taken on Amendment 10:
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
52 |
0 |
0 |
52 |
Amendment 10 was agreed.
Amendment
11 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)
Add as new sub-point at end of point 2:
ensure that any evaluation of the Flying Start programme
addresses Welsh language provision.
A vote was taken on Amendment 11:
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
52 |
0 |
0 |
52 |
Amendment 11 was agreed.
A vote was taken on the motion as amended:
NDM5405
Elin Jones (Ceredigion)
To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
1. Notes that over a year has passed since the publication of
the figures of the 2011 census that show a reduction of 2% in the number of
Welsh speakers in Wales.
2. Calls on the Welsh Government to act to enable the Welsh
language to thrive, by, among other things:
a) ensuring that everyone in Wales has the opportunity to
learn Welsh effectively;
b) investing in Welsh-medium childcare;
c) increasing the number of pupils receiving the Foundation
Phase through the medium of Welsh;
d) using the potential under the Welsh Language Measure 2011
to set standards for the Welsh language that provide Welsh speakers with
stronger rights than those provided by Welsh-language schemes under the Welsh
Language Act 1993;
e) encouraging public bodies to use the Welsh language as an
administrative language internally;
f) supporting Welsh-language heartlands in West Wales by
developing an economic strategy for these areas that reflects their character
and is tailored to their needs
g) ensuring that the Welsh language is taken seriously within
the planning system.
h) capitalising on the extra funding for Flying Start to
improve the promotion of Welsh to young children and their families
i) working with adults learning Welsh to create opportunities
for Welsh to be spoken in their community.
j) addressing local difficulties faced in receiving Welsh
language broadcasting since the digital TV switchover in 2010.
k) addressing weaknesses in Welsh second language provision
in schools.
l) ensuring that Welsh Education Strategic Plans are robust
and contain deliverable measures to meet demand for Welsh medium education and
ensure continuity between primary and secondary education on offer.
m) ensure that any evaluation of the Flying Start programme
addresses Welsh language provision.
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
40 |
12 |
0 |
52 |
The motion as amended was agreed.
Publication date: 22/01/2014
Date of decision: 22/01/2014
Decided at meeting: 22/01/2014 - Plenary - Fourth Assembly