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