Agenda and minutes

Venue: Y Siambr - Y Senedd

Expected timing: 126(v3) 

Media

Senedd.TV: View the webcast

Transcript: Transcript for 14/03/2018 - Plenary - Fifth Senedd

Items
Expected timing No. Item

(45 mins)

1.

Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Services

The Presiding Officer will call Party Spokespeople to ask questions without notice to the Cabinet Secretary after Question 2.

 

View Questions

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The item started at 13.30

The first 8 questions were asked. Question 5 was answered by the Minister for Children and Social Care. The Presiding Officer invited party spokespeople to ask questions to the Cabinet Secretary after question 2.

(45 mins)

2.

Questions to the Counsel General

Minutes:

The item started at 14.26

The 7 questions were asked.

(20 mins)

3.

Topical Questions

To ask the Leader of the House and Chief Whip:

Bethan Sayed (South Wales West): Will the Leader of the House make a statement on Welsh Government plans to tackle Islamophobia and improve community cohesion in light of the 'Punish a Muslim' letters that have come to light recently?

Minutes:

The item started at 14.53

To ask the Leader of the House and Chief Whip:

Bethan Sayed (South Wales West): Will the Leader of the House make a statement on Welsh Government plans to tackle Islamophobia and improve community cohesion in light of the 'Punish a Muslim' letters that have come to light recently?

(5 mins)

4.

90 Second Statements

Minutes:

The item started at 15.10

David Rees made a statement on British Science Week, and how science has benefitted the Welsh economy.

Dawn Bowden made a statement on Bedlinog community library.

Nick Ramsay made a statement on the forthcoming visit to the Assembly of Ambassador Ruben Zamora.

Russell George made a statement promoting Newtown as Britain’s Best Walking Neighbourhood.

(5 mins)

5.

Motion to amend Standing Order 20 in relation to the Statement on the Draft Budget Proposals

NDM6690 Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

 

To propose that the National Assembly, in accordance with Standing Order 33.2:

 

1. Considers the Report of the Business Committee, ‘Amending Standing Orders: Standing Order 20 – Statement on the Draft Budget Proposals’, laid in the Table Office on 7 March 2018.

 

2. Approves the proposal to revise Standing Order 20, as set out in Annex B of the Report of the Business Committee.

Minutes:

The item started at 15.17

NDM6690 Elin Jones (Ceredigion) 

To propose that the National Assembly, in accordance with Standing Order 33.2:

1. Considers the Report of the Business Committee, ‘Amending Standing Orders: Standing Order 20 – Statement on the Draft Budget Proposals’, laid in the Table Office on 7 March 2018.

2. Approves the proposal to revise Standing Order 20, as set out in Annex B of the Report of the Business Committee.

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

(5 mins)

6.

Motion to amend Standing Orders 26, 26A and 26B in relation to the Requirement for Justice Impact Assessments (s110A of the Act)

NDM6689 Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

 

To propose that the National Assembly, in accordance with Standing Order 33.2:

 

1. Considers the Report of the Business Committee, ‘Amending Standing Orders: Standing Orders 26, 26A and 26B – Requirement for Justice Impact Assessments (s110A of the Act)’, laid in the Table Office on 7 March 2018. 

 

2. Approves the proposal to revise Standing Orders 26, 26A and 26B, as set out in Annex B of the Report of the Business Committee, to take effect from the 1 April 2018. 

Minutes:

The item started at 15.17

NDM6689 Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

To propose that the National Assembly, in accordance with Standing Order 33.2:

1. Considers the Report of the Business Committee, ‘Amending Standing Orders: Standing Orders 26, 26A and 26B – Requirement for Justice Impact Assessments (s110A of the Act)’, laid in the Table Office on 7 March 2018. 

2. Approves the proposal to revise Standing Orders 26, 26A and 26B, as set out in Annex B of the Report of the Business Committee, to take effect from the 1 April 2018. 

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

(30 mins)

7.

Debate on a Member's Legislative Proposal – Estate Management Companies

NDM6681 Hefin David (Caerphilly)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

 

1. Notes a proposal for a Bill on the regulation of estate management companies.

 

2. The purpose of this Bill would be to:

 

a) give freeholders who pay charges for the maintenance of communal areas and facilities on a private or mixed-use estate equivalent rights as leaseholders to challenge the reasonableness of service charges;

 

b) ensure that, where a freeholder pays a rent charge, the rent charge owner is not able to take possession or grant a lease on the property where the rent charge remains unpaid for a short period of time; and

 

c) give freeholders in Wales equivalent rights to those in England as a result of changes to the regulation of estate management companies planned by the UK Government.

 

Supporters:

David Rees (Aberavon)

Mike Hedges (Swansea East)

Vikki Howells (Cynon Valley)

Minutes:

The item started at 15.26

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

NDM6681 Hefin David (Caerphilly)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Notes a proposal for a Bill on the regulation of estate management companies.

2. The purpose of this Bill would be to:

a) give freeholders who pay charges for the maintenance of communal areas and facilities on a private or mixed-use estate equivalent rights as leaseholders to challenge the reasonableness of service charges;

b) ensure that, where a freeholder pays a rent charge, the rent charge owner is not able to take possession or grant a lease on the property where the rent charge remains unpaid for a short period of time; and

c) give freeholders in Wales equivalent rights to those in England as a result of changes to the regulation of estate management companies planned by the UK Government.

Supporters:

David Rees (Aberavon)

Mike Hedges (Swansea East)

Vikki Howells (Cynon Valley)

The result was as follows:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

37

11

1

49

The motion was agreed.

 

(60 mins)

8.

Debate on the Children, Young People and Education Committee report on Teachers' Professional Learning and Education

NDM6688 Lynne Neagle (Torfaen)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

 

Notes the Children, Young People and Education Committee Report on Teacher's Professional Learning and Education which was laid in the Table Office on 21 December 2017.

 

Note: The response by the Welsh Government was laid on 7 February 2018

Minutes:

The item started at 15.52

NDM6688 Lynne Neagle (Torfaen)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

Notes the Children, Young People and Education Committee Report on Teacher's Professional Learning and Education which was laid in the Table Office on 21 December 2017

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

(60 mins)

9.

Plaid Cymru debate – Young people and communities in Wales

NDM6692 Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

 

1. Notes that many communities across Wales experience significant outward migration of young people to other parts of Wales, the UK and beyond.

 

2. Recognises the contribution of young people to the resilience and sustainability of Welsh communities.

 

3. Welcomes Plaid Cymru’s success in securing funding for a young farmers grant scheme to help retain and attract young people in rural areas.

 

4. Regrets the current Welsh Government’s failure to create opportunities for young people to choose to live and work in their communities.

 

5. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

 

a) improve the economic opportunities afforded to young people in communities in all parts of Wales;

 

b) provide better support for business start-ups in Wales and enhance the digital and transport infrastructure which they rely upon;

 

c) support a new regional approach to retain young people in areas under particular pressure as a result of outward migration e.g. the Arfor region and the valleys;

 

d) examine whether existing or new national institutions can be located in areas in Wales which require greater job opportunities;

 

e) provide affordable housing and reform the planning system to enable young people to stay and/or return to live in their communities; and

 

f) respond positively to the Diamond Review’s recommendation to incentivise students who study away to return to Wales after graduation.

 

Diamond Review - The Review of Higher Education Funding and Student Finance Arrangements in Wales - Final Report

 

The following amendments have been tabled:

 

Amendment 1. Neil Hamilton (Mid and West Wales)

 

Delete all and replace with:

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

 

1. Notes Plaid Cymru’s compact with the Labour-led Welsh Government from 2016-2017 and the One Wales coalition agreement with the Labour-led Welsh Government from 2007-2011, and believes that current and past Welsh Governments have failed to create opportunities for young people to choose to live and work in their communities.

 

2. Calls on the Welsh Government to work with the UK Government to create well-paid jobs for young people in Wales’s communities by taking action that includes:

 

a) reducing mass immigration, and its associated squeeze on the wages of unskilled and semi-skilled occupations, as revealed in Bank of England working paper, 'The Impact of Immigration on Occupational Wages';

 

b) reducing taxes and regulation on all businesses, especially small and medium sized enterprises;

 

c) reducing the income tax and national insurance burden;

 

d) abandoning the man-made global warming and decarbonisation agenda, and its associated green subsidies, which transfer wealth from the poor to the rich;

 

e) encouraging policy makers and planners to stimulate the creation of well-paid jobs in rural areas, villages and smaller towns, rather than just large cities; and

 

f) cutting the non-humanitarian foreign aid budget and redirecting the savings proportionately to the people of Wales.

 

Bank of England - The impact of immigration on occupational wages: evidence from Britain

 

[If amendment 1 is selected, amendments 2 and 3 will be de-selected]

 

Amendment 2. Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

 

Delete all and replace with:

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

 

1. Welcomes the UK Government's ambitious, modern Industrial Strategy which sets out a long term plan to boost the productivity and earning power of young people throughout Wales and the UK.

 

2. Notes the figures released by the Higher Education Statistics Agency which show Welsh graduates earn less than anywhere else in the UK.

 

3. Regrets that since 1999, successive Labour Welsh Governments – supported by other parties – have failed to lift the educational and economic prosperity of young people in Wales.

 

4. Calls on the Welsh Government to increase employment opportunities for young people and support for businesses and entrepreneurs by:

 

a) abolishing business rates for all small businesses (up to £15,000);

 

b)  introducing free bus travel and discounted rail cards for all 16-24 year olds; and

 

c)  increasing the opportunities for younger people to secure finance for start-ups.

 

UK Government - The UK's Industrial Strategy

Higher Education Statistics Agency - Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Longitudinal survey

 

[If amendment 2 is selected, amendment 3 will be de-selected]

 

Amendment 3. Julie James (Swansea West)

 

Delete all after point 3 and replace with:

 

Recognises the support the Welsh Government provides for young people, including through:

 

a) Jobs Growth Wales, which has supported more than 18,000 young people into good-quality employment;

 

b) high-quality apprenticeships and the commitment made by the Welsh Government to create a minimum of 100,000 all-age apprenticeships this Assembly term;

 

c) access to housing as 10,000 affordable homes were built in the fourth Assembly and the Welsh Government plans to deliver a further 20,000 this Assembly term;

 

d) supporting students’ living costs by ensuring they will receive the equivalent of the national living wage while they study;

 

e) maintaining the NHS Bursary to support young people to start a career in NHS Wales; and

 

f) investing £100m to raise school standards across Wales over the course of this Assembly term.

 

Minutes:

The item started at 16.35

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

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM6692 Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Notes that many communities across Wales experience significant outward migration of young people to other parts of Wales, the UK and beyond.

2. Recognises the contribution of young people to the resilience and sustainability of Welsh communities.

3. Welcomes Plaid Cymru’s success in securing funding for a young farmers grant scheme to help retain and attract young people in rural areas.

4. Regrets the current Welsh Government’s failure to create opportunities for young people to choose to live and work in their communities.

5. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

a) improve the economic opportunities afforded to young people in communities in all parts of Wales;

b) provide better support for business start-ups in Wales and enhance the digital and transport infrastructure which they rely upon;

c) support a new regional approach to retain young people in areas under particular pressure as a result of outward migration e.g. the Arfor region and the valleys;

d) examine whether existing or new national institutions can be located in areas in Wales which require greater job opportunities;

e) provide affordable housing and reform the planning system to enable young people to stay and/or return to live in their communities; and

f) respond positively to the Diamond Review’s recommendation to incentivise students who study away to return to Wales after graduation.

For

Abstain

Against

Total

7

1

41

49

The motion without amendment was not agreed.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1. Neil Hamilton (Mid and West Wales)

Delete all and replace with:

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Notes Plaid Cymru’s compact with the Labour-led Welsh Government from 2016-2017 and the One Wales coalition agreement with the Labour-led Welsh Government from 2007-2011, and believes that current and past Welsh Governments have failed to create opportunities for young people to choose to live and work in their communities.

2. Calls on the Welsh Government to work with the UK Government to create well-paid jobs for young people in Wales’s communities by taking action that includes:

a) reducing mass immigration, and its associated squeeze on the wages of unskilled and semi-skilled occupations, as revealed in Bank of England working paper, 'The Impact of Immigration on Occupational Wages'; 

b) reducing taxes and regulation on all businesses, especially small and medium sized enterprises;

c) reducing the income tax and national insurance burden;

d) abandoning the man-made global warming and decarbonisation agenda, and its associated green subsidies, which transfer wealth from the poor to the rich;

e) encouraging policy makers and planners to stimulate the creation of well-paid jobs in rural areas, villages and smaller towns, rather than just large cities; and

f) cutting the non-humanitarian foreign aid budget and redirecting the savings proportionately to the people of Wales.

Bank of England - The impact of immigration on occupational wages: evidence from Britain [Opens in a new browser window]

 A vote was taken on amendment 1:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

5

0

44

49

Amendment 1 was not agreed.

Amendment 2. Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

Delete all and replace with:

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Welcomes the UK Government's ambitious, modern Industrial Strategy which sets out a long term plan to boost the productivity and earning power of young people throughout Wales and the UK.

2. Notes the figures released by the Higher Education Statistics Agency which show Welsh graduates earn less than anywhere else in the UK. 

3. Regrets that since 1999, successive Labour Welsh Governments – supported by other parties – have failed to lift the educational and economic prosperity of young people in Wales.

4. Calls on the Welsh Government to increase employment opportunities for young people and support for businesses and entrepreneurs by:

a) abolishing business rates for all small businesses (up to £15,000);

b)  introducing free bus travel and discounted rail cards for all 16-24 year olds; and

c)  increasing the opportunities for younger people to secure finance for start-ups.

UK Government - The UK's Industrial Strategy [Opens in a new browser window]

Higher Education Statistics Agency - Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Longitudinal survey [Opens in a new browser window]

A vote was taken on amendment 2:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

11

5

33

49

Amendment 2 was not agreed.

Amendment 3. Julie James (Swansea West)

Delete all after point 3 and replace with:

Recognises the support the Welsh Government provides for young people, including through:

a) Jobs Growth Wales, which has supported more than 18,000 young people into good-quality employment;

b) high-quality apprenticeships and the commitment made by the Welsh Government to create a minimum of 100,000 all-age apprenticeships this Assembly term; 

c) access to housing as 10,000 affordable homes were built in the fourth Assembly and the Welsh Government plans to deliver a further 20,000 this Assembly term;

d) supporting students’ living costs by ensuring they will receive the equivalent of the national living wage while they study;

e) maintaining the NHS Bursary to support young people to start a career in NHS Wales; and

f) investing £100m to raise school standards across Wales over the course of this Assembly term.

 A vote was taken on amendment 3:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

26

0

23

49

Amendment 3 was agreed.

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

NDM6692 Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Notes that many communities across Wales experience significant outward migration of young people to other parts of Wales, the UK and beyond.

2. Recognises the contribution of young people to the resilience and sustainability of Welsh communities.

3. Welcomes Plaid Cymru’s success in securing funding for a young farmers grant scheme to help retain and attract young people in rural areas.

4. Recognises the support the Welsh Government provides for young people, including through:

a) Jobs Growth Wales, which has supported more than 18,000 young people into good-quality employment;

b) high-quality apprenticeships and the commitment made by the Welsh Government to create a minimum of 100,000 all-age apprenticeships this Assembly term; 

c) access to housing as 10,000 affordable homes were built in the fourth Assembly and the Welsh Government plans to deliver a further 20,000 this Assembly term;

d) supporting students’ living costs by ensuring they will receive the equivalent of the national living wage while they study;

e) maintaining the NHS Bursary to support young people to start a career in NHS Wales; and

f) investing £100m to raise school standards across Wales over the course of this Assembly term.

For

Abstain

Against

Total

26

7

16

49

The motion as amended was agreed.

 

10.

Voting Time

Minutes:

The item started at 17.35

 

Votes Summary

Supporting documents:

(30 mins)

11.

Short Debate

NDM6685 Llyr Gruffydd (North Wales)

 

The importance of early language development: current action on this key issue and what more needs to be done to drive forward change in Wales.

Minutes:

The item started at 17.38

NDM6685 Llyr Gruffydd (North Wales)

The importance of early language development: current action on this key issue and what more needs to be done to drive forward change in Wales.

 

(30 mins)

12.

Short Debate - postponed from 28 February

NDM6664 Vikki Howells (Cynon Valley)

 

Land banking, a vacant land tax and some lessons from the Cynon Valley.

Minutes:

The item started at 18.06

NDM6664 Vikki Howells (Cynon Valley)

Land banking, a vacant land tax and some lessons from the Cynon Valley.

 

(5 mins)

13.

Nomination under Standing Order 10.5 for the appointment of the Auditor General for Wales

NDM6691 Simon Thomas (Mid and West Wales)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales, in accordance with Standing Order 10.5:

 

1. Expresses its gratitude for the contribution of Huw Vaughan Thomas during his term of office as Auditor General for Wales.

 

2. Acting under section 2(2) of the Public Audit (Wales) Act 2013, and having consulted representatives of local government bodies in Wales in accordance with section 2(3), nominates Adrian Crompton for appointment by Her Majesty as Auditor General for Wales for a term of eight years to commence immediately after the current Auditor General for Wales ceases to hold office.

Minutes:

The item started at 15.18

NDM6691 Simon Thomas (Mid and West Wales) 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales, in accordance with Standing Order 10.5:

1. Expresses its gratitude for the contribution of Huw Vaughan Thomas during his term of office as Auditor General for Wales.

2. Acting under section 2(2) of the Public Audit (Wales) Act 2013, and having consulted representatives of local government bodies in Wales in accordance with section 2(3), nominates Adrian Crompton for appointment by Her Majesty as Auditor General for Wales for a term of eight years to commence immediately after the current Auditor General for Wales ceases to hold office.

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.