Agenda and decisions

Venue: Y Siambr - Y Senedd

Media

Senedd.TV: View the webcast

Items
Expected timing No. Item

(45 mins)

1.

Questions to the Minister for Health and Social Services

Decision:

Question 1- 6, 8 - 12 and 14 were asked.  Question 7 was not asked. Question 13 was withdrawn.

(45 mins)

2.

Questions to the Counsel General

Decision:

Question 1 – 2 and 4 were asked. Question 3 was not asked.

(15 mins)

3.

Questions to the Assembly Commission

Decision:

Questions 1 and 5 were answered by Peter Black.  Questions 3 and 7 were answered by Sandy Mewies.  Questions 4 and 6 were answered by Rhodri Glyn Thomas.  Question 2 was withdrawn.

(60 mins)

4.

Debate by Individual Members under Standing Order 11.21(iv)

NDM4862

 

Mick Antoniw (Pontypridd)

Nick Ramsay (Monmouth)

Lindsay Whittle (South Wales East)

Jocelyn Davies (South Wales East)

Byron Davies (South Wales West)

Vaughan Gething (Cardiff South and Penarth)

Dafydd Elis-Thomas (Dwyfor Meirionnydd)

Keith Davies (Llanelli)

Christine Chapman (Cynon Valley)

Lynne Neagle (Torfaen)

Eluned Parrott (South Wales Central)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

 

1. Welcomes the broad range of support, including from the Welsh Government, for an integrated rapid transit system (metro) based on the valleys rail network;

 

2. Acknowledges that the electrification of the Valleys’ Lines is a non-devolved matter and a pre-requisite of the development of the metro; and

 

3. Recognises that the current financial context, coupled with the absence of Welsh Government borrowing powers, will result in incremental progress of the project and will require a collaborative approach co-ordinated by the Welsh Government.

 

Supported by:

 

Julie James (Swansea West

 

Mark Drakeford (Cardiff West)

 

Decision:

The motion was agreed, in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

(60 mins)

5.

Welsh Conservatives Debate

NDM4875 William Graham (South Wales East)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

 

1. Calls on the Welsh Government to: 

 

a) realign Higher Education policy to strengthen teaching standards and improve graduate outcomes;

 

b) establish Welsh Higher Education Institutions as centres for post graduate and research excellence; and

 

c) prioritise voluntary collaboration in preference to forced mergers between Higher Education Institutions.

 

Supported by:

Aled Roberts (North Wales)

Simon Thomas (Mid and West Wales)

Decision:

The motion was agreed, in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

(60 mins)

6.

Welsh Conservatives Debate

NDM4876 William Graham (South Wales East)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

 

1. Regrets the Welsh Government’s decision to merge the Environment Agency Wales, the Countryside Council for Wales and the Forestry Commission Wales into one Single Environmental Body.

 

2. Believes there has been insufficient scrutiny of the Welsh Government’s business case outlining the proposed merger.

 

3. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

 

a) Postpone the proposed merger until it has been subject to full public scrutiny; and

 

b) Address the serious concerns from the forestry sector about the inclusion of Forestry Commission Wales in the merger.

 

The Welsh Government’s business case can be accessed on the following link:

 

http://wales.gov.uk/topics/environmentcountryside/consmanagement/seb/publications/businesscase/?lang=en

 

The following amendment has been tabled:

 

Amendment 1 - Jocelyn Davies (South Wales East)

 

Delete all and replace with:

 

Welcomes the decision of the Environment and Sustainability Committee to hold a thorough inquiry into the Welsh Government's business case concerning the proposed merger of the Environment Agency Wales, the Countryside Council for Wales and the Forestry Commission Wales into one Single Environmental Body.

 

 

Decision:

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

 

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

 

NDM4876 William Graham (South Wales East)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

 

1. Regrets the Welsh Government’s decision to merge the Environment Agency Wales, the Countryside Council for Wales and the Forestry Commission Wales into one Single Environmental Body.

 

2. Believes there has been insufficient scrutiny of the Welsh Government’s business case outlining the proposed merger.

 

3. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

 

a) Postpone the proposed merger until it has been subject to full public scrutiny; and

 

b) Address the serious concerns from the forestry sector about the inclusion of Forestry Commission Wales in the merger.

 

For

Abstain

Against

Total

10

0

42

52

The motion without amendment was not agreed.

 

The following amendment was tabled:

 

Amendment 1 - Jocelyn Davies (South Wales East)

 

Delete all and replace with:

 

Welcomes the decision of the Environment and Sustainability Committee to hold a thorough inquiry into the Welsh Government's business case concerning the proposed merger of the Environment Agency Wales, the Countryside Council for Wales and the Forestry Commission Wales into one Single Environmental Body.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 1:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

42

0

11

53

Amendment 1 was agreed.

 

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

 

NDM4876 William Graham (South Wales East)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

 

Welcomes the decision of the Environment and Sustainability Committee to hold a thorough inquiry into the Welsh Government's business case concerning the proposed merger of the Environment Agency Wales, the Countryside Council for Wales and the Forestry Commission Wales into one Single Environmental Body.

 

For

Abstain

Against

Total

53

0

0

53

The motion as amended was agreed.

 

(60 mins)

7.

Plaid Cymru Debate

NDM4874 Jocelyn Davies (South Wales East)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

 

1. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

 

a) make urgent representations to the UK Government, following the publication of the Autumn Statement, as to its failure to provide sufficient  economic stimulus for Wales in response to the current economic situation and on its proposals to introduce regional public sector pay; and

 

b) urgently set out its own plans for an economic stimulus which should include infrastructure projects, assistance to businesses and help for the young unemployed.

 

The following amendments have been tabled:

 

Amendment 1 - William Graham (South Wales East)

 

Delete sub point 1a) and replace with:

 

Continue working with the UK Government, following the publication of the Autumn Statement which includes measures for economic stimulus, on its proposals to consider regional public sector pay.

 

Amendment 2 - William Graham (South Wales East)

 

Insert as new sub point b) and renumber accordingly:

 

Incorporate in any representations to the UK Government over regional public sector pay, the relative implications of devolved pay.

 

Amendment 3 - Peter Black (South Wales West)

 

Add as new point at end of motion:

 

Welcomes the economic stimulus which will result from the £216 million of additional capital funding for Wales announced as part of the UK Government’s Autumn Statement.

 

The Autumn Statement can be accessed on the following hyperlink:

 

http://cdn.hm-treasury.gov.uk/autumn_statement.pdf

 

Amendment 4 - Peter Black (South Wales West)

 

Add as new point at end of motion:

 

Welcomes the announcement of the Youth Contract which will provide help for young unemployed people.

Decision:

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

 

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

 

NDM4874 Jocelyn Davies (South Wales East)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

 

1. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

 

a) make urgent representations to the UK Government, following the publication of the Autumn Statement, as to its failure to provide sufficient  economic stimulus for Wales in response to the current economic situation and on its proposals to introduce regional public sector pay; and

 

b) urgently set out its own plans for an economic stimulus which should include infrastructure projects, assistance to businesses and help for the young unemployed.

 

For

Abstain

Against

Total

38

0

15

53

The motion without amendment was agreed.

(60 mins)

8.

Welsh Liberal Democrats Debate

NDM4877 Peter Black (South Wales West)

 

The National Assembly for Wales:

 

1. Notes:

 

a. the importance of retail to the Welsh economy;

 

b. the social value of vibrant high streets to local communities; and

 

2. Calls on the Welsh government to protect Welsh high streets by:

 

a. Addressing the specific needs of retailers in its review of business rates and relief schemes;

 

b. developing guidance for local authorities containing best practice advice for town centre management; and

 

c. acknowledging the effect of out-of-town developments on high streets in its review of the planning system.

 

The following amendments have been tabled:

 

Amendment 1 - Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

 

Delete sub point 2 a).

 

Amendment 2 - William Graham (South Wales East)

 

Add as new sub point at end of point 2:

 

publishing a retail strategy.

 

 

Decision:

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

 

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

 

NDM4877 Peter Black (South Wales West)

 

The National Assembly for Wales:

 

1. Notes:

 

a. the importance of retail to the Welsh economy;

 

b. the social value of vibrant high streets to local communities; and

 

2. Calls on the Welsh government to protect Welsh high streets by:

 

a. Addressing the specific needs of retailers in its review of business rates and relief schemes;

 

b. developing guidance for local authorities containing best practice advice for town centre management; and

 

c. acknowledging the effect of out-of-town developments on high streets in its review of the planning system.

 

For

Abstain

Against

Total

13

0

40

53

The motion without amendment was not agreed.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 - Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

 

Delete sub point 2 a).

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 1:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

29

0

24

53

Amendment 1 was agreed.

 

Amendment 2 - William Graham (South Wales East)

 

Add as new sub point at end of point 2:

 

publishing a retail strategy.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 2:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

24

0

29

53

Amendment 2 was not agreed.

 

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

 

NDM4877 Peter Black (South Wales West)

 

The National Assembly for Wales:

 

1. Notes:

 

a. the importance of retail to the Welsh economy;

 

b. the social value of vibrant high streets to local communities; and

 

2. Calls on the Welsh government to protect Welsh high streets by:

 

a. developing guidance for local authorities containing best practice advice for town centre management; and

 

b. acknowledging the effect of out-of-town developments on high streets in its review of the planning system.

 

For

Abstain

Against

Total

45

0

8

53

The motion as amended was agreed.

 

Voting Time

Votes Summary

Supporting documents:

(30 mins)

9.

Short Debate

NDM4873 Vaughan Gething (Cardiff South and Penarth):

 

Credit rates and public interest - should short term loan rates be regulated

 

Record of Proceedings

Supporting documents: