Agenda and decisions

Venue: Y Siambr - Y Senedd

Media

Senedd.TV: View the webcast

Items
Expected timing No. Item

(45 mins)

1.

Finance Questions to the Minister for Finance and Leader of the House

Decision:

The first 10 questions were asked.

 

(45 mins)

2.

Questions to the Minister for Business, Enterprise, Technology and Science

Decision:

All 15 questions were asked.  Question 8 was transferred for a written answer by the Minister for Education and Skills.  Questions 10 and 11 were grouped together for answer.

(5 mins)

3.

Motions to elect Members to committees

NNDM4801 Rosemary Butler (Newport West)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales, in accordance with Standing Order 17.14, elects:

 

1. Nick Ramsay (Welsh Conservatives) as a member of the Enterprise and Business Committee in place of Andrew RT Davies (Welsh Conservatives); and

 

2. Nick Ramsay as Chair of the Enterprise and Business Committee in place of Andrew RT Davies (Welsh Conservatives).

 

NNDM4802 Rosemary Butler (Newport West)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales, in accordance with Standing Order 17.14, elects Suzy Davies (Welsh Conservatives) as a member of the Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee in place of Antoinette Sandbach (Welsh Conservatives).

 

NNDM4803 Rosemary Butler (Newport West)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales, in accordance with Standing Order 17.14, elects Paul Davies (Welsh Conservatives) as a member of the Finance Committee in place of Nick Ramsay (Welsh Conservatives).

 

NNDM8404 Rosemary Butler (Newport West)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales, in accordance with Standing Order 17.14, elects William Graham (Welsh Conservatives) as a member of the Business Committee in place of Nick Ramsay (Welsh Conservatives).

 

NNDM4805 Rosemary Butler (Newport West)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales, in accordance with Standing Order 17.14, elects Janet Finch-Saunders (Welsh Conservatives) as a member of the Communities, Equality and Local Government Committee in place of William Graham (Welsh Conservatives).

 

NNDM4806 Rosemary Butler (Newport West)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales, in accordance with Standing Order 17.14, elects William Graham (Welsh Conservatives) as a member of the Health and Social Care Committee in place of Janet Finch-Saunders (Welsh Conservatives).

 

Decision:

The motions were agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

(60 mins)

4.

Welsh Conservatives Debate

NDM4798 William Graham (South Wales East)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

 

1. Notes with concern that less than half of Wales’ railway stations are fully accessible to disabled people;

 

2. Calls for the Welsh Government to:

 

a) Make public transport more accessible, through the provision of audio-visual information and extension of the Companion Bus Pass;

 

b).Promote staff awareness and training in disabled passenger requirements.

 

The following amendment has been tabled:

 

Amendment 1 - Peter Black (South Wales West)

 

Add new point at end of motion:

 

Calls for the Welsh government to ensure that it fully consults with disabled people and representatives of disability groups in developing any plans for improvements for accessibility to public transport.

 

Decision:

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

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

 

NDM4798 William Graham (South Wales East)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

 

1. Notes with concern that less than half of Wales’ railway stations are fully accessible to disabled people;

 

2. Calls for the Welsh Government to:

 

a) Make public transport more accessible, through the provision of audio-visual information and extension of the Companion Bus Pass;

 

b).Promote staff awareness and training in disabled passenger requirements.

 

For

Abstain

Against

Total

23

0

33

56

The motion without amendment was not agreed.


The following amendment was tabled:


Amendment 1 - Peter Black (South Wales West)

 

Add new point at end of motion:

 

Calls for the Welsh government to ensure that it fully consults with disabled people and representatives of disability groups in developing any plans for improvements for accessibility to public transport.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 1:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

56

0

0

56

Amendment 1 was agreed.

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

 

1. Notes with concern that less than half of Wales’ railway stations are fully accessible to disabled people;

 

2. Calls for the Welsh Government to:

 

a) Make public transport more accessible, through the provision of audio-visual information and extension of the Companion Bus Pass;

 

b).Promote staff awareness and training in disabled passenger requirements.

 

3. Calls for the Welsh government to ensure that it fully consults with disabled people and representatives of disability groups in developing any plans for improvements for accessibility to public transport.

 

For

Abstain

Against

Total

27

0

29

56

 

As the Assembly did not agree the motion without amendment, and did not agree the amendment tabled to the motion, the motion was therefore not agreed.

 

 

(60 mins)

5.

Plaid Cymru Debate

NDM4800 Jocelyn Davies (South Wales East)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

 

1. Notes:

 

a) The severe cuts in capital funding available to the Welsh government;

 

b) The lack of action taken by the current Welsh government to identify and attract new sources of funding to Wales; and

 

c) The effects of the current economic climate, including the difficulties faced by Welsh businesses due to slowing global conditions and resulting threats to jobs; and.

 

2. Calls on the Welsh government to:

 

a) Proactively seek out additional funding streams for Wales as governments of other devolved nations have done;

 

b) Work with the Welsh public sector to urgently bring forward changes to procurement practises in order to stimulate industry and job creation in Wales; and

 

c) Make representation to the UK government to introduce a temporary cut in VAT in order to further stimulate economic growth.

 

The following amendments have been tabled:

 

[If amendment 1 is agreed, amendment 2 will be deselected]

 

Amendment 1 - William Graham (South Wales East)

 

Delete point 1a) and replace with:

 

‘The need for the Welsh Government to make best use of available capital funds in the current economic climate.’

 

Amendment 2 - Peter Black (South Wales West)

 

In point 1a), after 'Welsh government' insert, 'and that under plans announced by Alastair Darling in his 2009 budget, the Welsh capital budget would have been cut by 45% over 3 years’.

 

Amendment 3 - Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

 

Delete “lack of” in point 1b)

 

[If amendment 4 is agreed, amendment 5 will be deselected]

 

Amendment 4 - William Graham (South Wales East)

 

Delete point 2c) and replace with:

 

Establish a ‘Made in Wales’ public-private partnership scheme as part of a Welsh Infrastructure plan.

 

Amendment 5 - Peter Black (South Wales West)

 

Delete point 2c).

 

Amendment 6 - Peter Black (South Wales West)

 

Add as new point at end of motion:

 

Calls on all parties represented in the Assembly to work constructively with the Calman-style process being conducted by the UK Government.

 

 

 

 

Decision:

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

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

 

NDM4800 Jocelyn Davies (South Wales East)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

 

1. Notes:

 

a) The severe cuts in capital funding available to the Welsh government;

 

b) The lack of action taken by the current Welsh government to identify and attract new sources of funding to Wales; and

 

c) The effects of the current economic climate, including the difficulties faced by Welsh businesses due to slowing global conditions and resulting threats to jobs; and.

 

2. Calls on the Welsh government to:

 

a) Proactively seek out additional funding streams for Wales as governments of other devolved nations have done;

 

b) Work with the Welsh public sector to urgently bring forward changes to procurement practises in order to stimulate industry and job creation in Wales; and

 

c) Make representation to the UK government to introduce a temporary cut in VAT in order to further stimulate economic growth.

 

For

Abstain

Against

Total

11

0

45

56

The motion without amendment was not agreed.


The following amendments were tabled:


Amendment 1 - William Graham (South Wales East)

 

Delete point 1a) and replace with:

 

‘The need for the Welsh Government to make best use of available capital funds in the current economic climate.’

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 1:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

13

0

43

56

Amendment 1 was not agreed.

Amendment 2 - Peter Black (South Wales West)

 

In point 1a), after 'Welsh government' insert, 'and that under plans announced by Alastair Darling in his 2009 budget, the Welsh capital budget would have been cut by 45% over 3 years’.


A vote was taken on Amendment 2:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

17

0

39

56

Amendment 2 was not agreed.

Amendment 3 - Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

 

Delete “lack of” in point 1b)


A vote was taken on Amendment 3:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

29

0

27

56

Amendment 3 was agreed.

Amendment 4 - William Graham (South Wales East)

 

Delete point 2c) and replace with:

 

Establish a ‘Made in Wales’ public-private partnership scheme as part of a Welsh Infrastructure plan.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 4:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

13

0

43

56

Amendment 4 was not agreed.

Amendment 5 - Peter Black (South Wales West)

 

Delete point 2c).

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 5:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

17

0

39

56

Amendment 5 was not agreed.

Amendment 6 - Peter Black (South Wales West)

 

Add as new point at end of motion:

 

Calls on all parties represented in the Assembly to work constructively with the Calman-style process being conducted by the UK Government.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 6:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

56

0

0

56

Amendment 6 was agreed.

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

 

1. Notes:

 

a) The severe cuts in capital funding available to the Welsh government;

 

b) The action taken by the current Welsh government to identify and attract new sources of funding to Wales; and

 

c) The effects of the current economic climate, including the difficulties faced by Welsh businesses due to slowing global conditions and resulting threats to jobs; and.

 

2. Calls on the Welsh government to:

 

a) Proactively seek out additional funding streams for Wales as governments of other devolved nations have done;

 

b) Work with the Welsh public sector to urgently bring forward changes to procurement practises in order to stimulate industry and job creation in Wales; and

 

c) Make representation to the UK government to introduce a temporary cut in VAT in order to further stimulate economic growth.

 

3. Calls on all parties represented in the Assembly to work constructively with the Calman-style process being conducted by the UK Government.

 

For

Abstain

Against

Total

30

0

26

56

 

The motion as amended was agreed.

(60 mins)

6.

Welsh Conservatives Debate

NDM4799 William Graham (South Wales East)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

 

1. Expresses concern about the lack of transparency from the Welsh Government regarding the future of local government;

 

2. Recognises the importance of local government as being fundamental to democracy in Wales; and

 

3. Calls for a full and open debate on the delivery of public services.

 

The following amendments have been tabled:

 

Amendment 1 - Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

 

Delete point 1 and replace with 

 

Notes the clear direction provided by the Welsh Government to local government, including at the Local Government Partnership Council in July and inthe Minister for Local Government and Communities' written statement to the Assembly of 13 July 2011.

 

Link to"Approach to regional collaboration: promoting coherence" paper (PC 37-04) for the Local Government Partnership Council meeting on 21 July 2011.

 

http://wales.gov.uk/topics/localgovernment/partnership/council/agendas/37thmeeting/?lang=en

 

Link to Statement on 13 July2011

 

http://wales.gov.uk/about/cabinet/cabinetstatements/2011/13julypublicservices/?lang=en

 

Amendment 2 - Jocelyn Davies (South Wales East)

 

Add new point after point 2 and renumber accordingly:

 

Recognises the severe pressures placed on local government due to funding cuts imposed by the UK Government.

 

Amendment 3 - Peter Black (South Wales West)

 

In point 3, after 'public services' insert 'which includes discussion about reorganisation and services outside local government such as health, higher and further education, transport and community and economic development'.

 

Amendment 4 - Peter Black (South Wales West)

 

Add new point at end of motion:

 

Remains concerned about the powers granted to the Welsh Ministers to amalgamate local authorities through subordinate legislation.

 

Amendment 5 - Peter Black (South Wales West)

 

Add new point at end of motion:

 

Expresses concern about the possible implementation of six local authority regional groups in addition to four regional education groups.

 

 

 

Decision:

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

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

 

NDM4799 William Graham (South Wales East)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

 

1. Expresses concern about the lack of transparency from the Welsh Government regarding the future of local government;

 

2. Recognises the importance of local government as being fundamental to democracy in Wales; and

 

3. Calls for a full and open debate on the delivery of public services.

 

For

Abstain

Against

Total

22

0

34

56

The motion without amendment was not agreed.


The following amendments were tabled:


Amendment 1 - Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

 

Delete point 1 and replace with 

 

Notes the clear direction provided by the Welsh Government to local government, including at the Local Government Partnership Council in July and in the Minister for Local Government and Communities' written statement to the Assembly of 13 July 2011.

 

Link to "Approach to regional collaboration: promoting coherence" paper (PC 37-04) for the Local Government Partnership Council meeting on 21 July 2011.

 

http://wales.gov.uk/topics/localgovernment/partnership/council/agendas/37thmeeting/?lang=en

 

Link to Statement on 13 July2011

 

http://wales.gov.uk/about/cabinet/cabinetstatements/2011/13julypublicservices/?lang=en

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 1:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

29

0

27

56

Amendment 1 was agreed.

Amendment 2 - Jocelyn Davies (South Wales East)

 

Add new point after point 2 and renumber accordingly:

 

Recognises the severe pressures placed on local government due to funding cuts imposed by the UK Government.


A vote was taken on Amendment 2:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

39

0

17

56

Amendment 2 was agreed.

Amendment 3 - Peter Black (South Wales West)

 

In point 3, after 'public services' insert 'which includes discussion about reorganisation and services outside local government such as health, higher and further education, transport and community and economic development'.


A vote was taken on Amendment 3:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

44

0

12

56

Amendment 3 was agreed.

Amendment 4 - Peter Black (South Wales West)

 

Add new point at end of motion:

 

Remains concerned about the powers granted to the Welsh Ministers to amalgamate local authorities through subordinate legislation.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 4:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

17

0

39

56

Amendment 4 was not agreed.

Amendment 5 - Peter Black (South Wales West)

 

Add new point at end of motion:

 

Expresses concern about the possible implementation of six local authority regional groups in addition to four regional education groups.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 5:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

17

0

39

56

Amendment 5 was not agreed.

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

 

1. Notes the clear direction provided by the Welsh Government to local government, including at the Local Government Partnership Council in July and in the Minister for Local Government and Communities' written statement to the Assembly of 13 July 2011.

 

Link to "Approach to regional collaboration: promoting coherence" paper (PC 37-04) for the Local Government Partnership Council meeting on 21 July 2011.

 

http://wales.gov.uk/topics/localgovernment/partnership/council/agendas/37thmeeting/?lang=en

 

Link to Statement on 13 July2011

 

http://wales.gov.uk/about/cabinet/cabinetstatements/2011/13julypublicservices/?lang=en

 

2. Recognises the importance of local government as being fundamental to democracy in Wales; and

 

3. Recognises the severe pressures placed on local government due to funding cuts imposed by the UK Government.

 

4. Calls for a full and open debate on the delivery of public services which includes discussion about reorganisation and services outside local government such as health, higher and further education, transport and community and economic development.

 

For

Abstain

Against

Total

29

0

27

56

 

The motion as amended was agreed.

 

Voting Time

Votes Summary

Supporting documents:

(30 mins)

7.

Short Debate

NDM4797 Antoinette Sandbach (North Wales):

The Child Support Agency – The Need for Change

 

Record of Proceedings

Supporting documents: