176

------

<AI1>

Presiding Officer Statement

PO statement – 13.30. PO made a statement announcing the results of the inaugural Welsh Youth Parliament election. On behalf of the Assembly the Llywydd noted and thanked organisations, schools and the Youth Parliament team for their hard work, congratulated the new Members and stated that the Assembly looks forward to welcoming them all to the Senedd for their inaugural full meeting in February.

</AI1>

<AI2>

1 Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Finance

The item started at 13.33

The first 8 questions were asked. The Presiding Officer invited party spokespeople to ask questions to the Cabinet Secretary after question 2.

</AI2>

<AI3>

2 Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Local Government and Public Services

The item started at 14.19

The first 8 questions were asked. The Presiding Officer invited party spokespeople to ask questions to the Cabinet Secretary and Minister for Housing and Regeneration after question 2.

</AI3>

<AI4>

3 Topical Questions

The item started at 15.08

To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Education

Suzy Davies (South Wales West): With a recent Estyn report stating that secondary schools in Wales could do better, with only half currently judged as good or excellent, what work will the Welsh Government undertake to ensure that standards are raised across all secondary schools in Wales?

</AI4>

<AI5>

4 90 Second Statements

The item started at 15.19

Vikki Howells made a statement on – Let Paul Robeson Sing (celebrating the 80th anniversary of his historic appearance in the Pavilion, Mountain Ash on 7th December 1938).

Helen Mary Jones made a statement on Celebrating the life of Professor Mike Sullivan, Director of the Academy, Swansea University who passed away last Friday.

Bethan Sayed made a statement on Marking Lifelong Learning Week.

</AI5>

<AI6>

5 Debate on the Standards of Conduct Committee's Report 03-18 to the Assembly under Standing Order 22.9

The item started at 15.24

NDM6890 Jayne Bryant (Newport West)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Considers the Report of the Standards of Conduct Committee - Report 03-18 laid before the Assembly on 23 November 2018 in accordance with Standing Order 22.9

2. Endorses the recommendation in the report.

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

</AI6>

<AI7>

6 Welsh Conservatives debate - Welsh Government Performance

The item started at 15.26

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

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM6892 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Regrets that since December 2009:

a) referral-to-treatment waiting times in the Welsh NHS have increased;

b) performance against both the 4 and 12 hour targets in Welsh emergency departments has deteriorated;

c) cancer treatment targets have never been met in Wales;

d) the number of beds in Welsh hospitals has fallen;

e) GCSE performance has deteriorated in Wales with attainment of A*-C grades for summer 2018 the worst since 2005;

f) Wales’s OECD PISA scores are worse in reading, maths and science with the most recent results being worse than in 2009, placing Wales in the bottom half of the OECD global ranking and at the bottom of the UK rankings;

g) scores of Welsh schools have permanently closed;

h) gross disposable household income as a percentage of the UK average has fallen;

i) Wales has had the poorest average wages growth rate of the UK nations;

j) business rates in Wales have become less competitive than other parts of the UK; and

k) the annual number of new homes being built in Wales has fallen.

2. Calls upon the Welsh Government to acknowledge its failures, abandon its failing policies, and to deliver the positive change that Wales needs.

For	Abstain	Against	Total
12	5	25	42

The motion without amendment was not agreed.

The following amendment was tabled:

Amendment 1 - Julie James (Swansea West)

Delete all after Wales and replace with:

1. Recognises:

a) Almost nine out of 10 people are treated within the target time of 26 weeks

b) Investment in the Welsh NHS is at record levels

c) More people are surviving cancer than ever in Wales and receiving treatment within the target time

d) The proportion of pupils awarded the top GCSE grades at A* to A increased to 18.5% in 2018

e) 8.7% of pupils were awarded A* at A-level in 2018 – the best results in Wales since the grade was introduced in 2010

f) Gross disposable household income in 2016 was £15,835 per person, equivalent to 81.5% of the UK GDHI, up from 2015

g) Gross weekly earnings in 2018 for full-time employees working in Wales have increased by 2.1% since 2017

h) 1.5m people were employed in Wales in the three months to September 2018, up 4.2% on the same period a year earlier – the largest increase of any UK country or region

i) Three-quarters of small business in Wales receive help with rates bills and half pay no non-domestics rates at all

j) 20,000 new affordable homes will be built with Welsh Government funding this Assembly term.

2. Thanks the First Minister for his leadership and his work during his nine years in office.

A vote was taken on amendment 1:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
25	5	12	42

Amendment 1 was agreed.

A vote was taken on the motion as amended: