Meeting Venue:
Y Siambr - Senedd
Meeting date:
Wednesday, 26 February 2020
Meeting time: 13.30
This meeting can be
viewed
on Senedd TV at:
http://senedd.tv/en/6259
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The item started at 13.30
The first 8 questions were asked. The Presiding Officer invited party spokespeople to ask questions to the Minister after question 2.
The item started at 14.24
All 8 questions were asked. Questions 5 and 6 were grouped together for answer. The Presiding Officer invited party spokespeople to ask questions to the Minister after question 2.
The item started at 15.00
To ask the Minister for Economy, Transport and North Wales:
Dawn Bowden (Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney): Will the Minister make a statement on the announcement by KASAI that it will close its Merthyr Tydfil plant in 2021?
The item started at 15.13
Darren Millar made a statement on - Commemorating the 30 year anniversary of the Towyn Floods.
Angela Burns made a statement on - Promoting Rare Diseases Day - 29 February 2020.
Rhianon Passmore made a statement on - The creation of the Pantside Woodland Park and Play Area in Newbridge (officially opened on Saturday 22 February 2020) following years of hard work by local residents and the securing of a £250,000 grant from the National Lottery Fund.
The item started at 15.18
Voting on the motion and amendments under this item was deferred until Voting Time.
A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:
NDM7274 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)
To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
1. Recognises the importance of roads as vital economic arteries which promote prosperity.
2. Acknowledges the adverse economic and environmental impact of poor road connectivity and congestion.
3. Regrets that the First Minister has taken the unilateral decision not to proceed with the M4 relief road in spite of the support offered by the UK Government.
4. Calls upon the Welsh Government to:
a) work with the UK Government to deliver an M4 relief road as soon as possible;
b) develop proposals for a major upgrade of the A55 trunk road and the dualling of the A40 to Fishguard;
c) engage with the UK Government to progress the deli
|
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
|
14 |
0 |
37 |
51 |
The motion without amendment was not agreed.
The following amendments were tabled:
Amendment 1 - Rebecca Evans (Gower)
Delete all and replace with:
To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
1. Recognises the climate emergency and the cross-party consensus that exists to realising net zero emissions, including decarbonisation of the Welsh road and public transport network and achieving modal shift.
2. Acknowledges the interdependence of road and rail infrastructure and the importance of the Welsh Government’s £5bn rail service, bus re-regulation and record investment in active travel in delivering a low-carbon, multi-modal transport network which will play a part in alleviating traffic congestion on roads.
3. Regrets that road traffic congestion has been exacerbated by the UK Government’s £1bn underfunding of transport infrastructure in Wales and failure to electrify the mainlines in north and south Wales, leading to increased traffic on our trunk roads.
4. Further regrets that the UK Government’s decade of austerity has had a direct impact on the maintenance of the UK’s road network.
5. Calls upon the UK Government to:
a) make a similar commitment to the Welsh Government to fund a comprehensive package of borderland road and transport projects to improve strategic arterial routes into Wales including the Broughton Corridor around Chester; the A5 from Shrewsbury to Wales and at Pant/Llanymynech;
b) help alleviate congestion on the road network by pledging £1bn to electrify the mainline from Crewe to Holyhead, invest in the upgrading of the Wrexham to Liverpool Lime Street line and fully electrify the South Wales mainline.
6. Notes the decision and oral statement made by the First Minister on Tuesday 4 June 2019 regarding the M4 corridor around Newport project and the significant work being undertaken by the South East Wales Transport Commission to develop sustainable and effective solutions to congestion in Newport and the wider region.
7. Welcomes the Welsh Government’s commitment to reduce road traffic congestion, including an unprecedented £1bn package of improvements to road and transport infrastructure in North Wales, including major upgrades of the A55 and A483, active travel schemes and the North Wales Metro.
A vote was taken on amendment 1:
|
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
|
27 |
0 |
24 |
51 |
Amendment 1 was agreed.
As Amendment 1 was agreed amendments 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 were de-selected
A vote was taken on the motion as amended:
NDM7274 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)
To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
1. Recognises the climate emergency and the cross-party consensus that exists to realising net zero emissions, including decarbonisation of the Welsh road and public transport network and achieving modal shift.
2. Acknowledges the interdependence of road and rail infrastructure and the importance of the Welsh Government’s £5bn rail service, bus re-regulation and record investment in active travel in delivering a low-carbon, multi-modal transport network which will play a part in alleviating traffic congestion on roads.
3. Regrets that road traffic congestion has been exacerbated by the UK Government’s £1bn underfunding of transport infrastructure in Wales and failure to electrify the mainlines in north and south Wales, leading to increased traffic on our trunk roads.
4. Further regrets that the UK Government’s decade of austerity has had a direct impact on the maintenance of the UK’s road network.
5. Calls upon the UK Government to:
a) make a similar commitment to the Welsh Government to fund a comprehensive package of borderland road and transport projects to improve strategic arterial routes into Wales including the Broughton Corridor around Chester; the A5 from Shrewsbury to Wales and at Pant/Llanymynech;
b) help alleviate congestion on the road network by pledging £1bn to electrify the mainline from Crewe to Holyhead, invest in the upgrading of the Wrexham to Liverpool Lime Street line and fully electrify the South Wales mainline.
6. Notes the decision and oral statement made by the First Minister on Tuesday 4 June 2019 regarding the M4 corridor around Newport project and the significant work being undertaken by the South East Wales Transport Commission to develop sustainable and effective solutions to congestion in Newport and the wider region.
7. Welcomes the Welsh Government’s commitment to reduce road traffic congestion, including an unprecedented £1bn package of improvements to road and transport infrastructure in North Wales, including major upgrades of the A55 and A483, active travel schemes and the North Wales Metro.
|
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
|
27 |
4 |
20 |
51 |
The motion as amended was agreed.
The item started at 16.20
Voting on the motion and amendments under this item was deferred until Voting Time.
A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:
NDM7277 Sian Gwenllian (Arfon)
To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
1. Notes the need to reduce our carbon footprint and notes the potential of hydrogen as one form to help us decarbonise.
2. Welcomes the establishment of the Wales Hydrogen Trade Association.
3. Notes that Wales, with its vast natural resources, has the opportunity to join the pioneers in moving hydrogen forward rapidly for environmental, health and economic benefits.
4. Acknowledges the study already underway to use Anglesey as a pilot area for hydrogen schemes, as well as schemes underway in several other areas of Wales.
5. Calls on the Welsh Government to produce a Welsh hydrogen strategy.
The following amendments have been tabled:
|
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
|
43 |
3 |
5 |
51 |
The motion without amendment was agreed.
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:
NDM7278 Sian Gwenllian (Arfon)
To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
1. Notes the damage and devastation caused to communities across Wales as a result of Storm Ciara and Storm Dennis.
2. Pays tribute to the heroic efforts of public service workers and community volunteers in responding to the effects of adverse weather and storm damage in recent weeks.
3. Recognises that climate change will make adverse weather occurrences, including instances of serious flooding, more likely in future.
4. Calls on the Welsh Government to:
a) initiate a full independent inquiry into the causes of recent flooding, in addition to conducting a review of the sufficiency of its overall adverse weather prevention plans;
b) ensure that additional support is made available to those experiencing psychological trauma as a result of the recent devastation, especially children;
c) ensure that the hardship fund for those individuals affected by adverse weather and storm damage ensures parity for businesses and homeowners, especially those without insurance;
d) clarify the status of grant support available for land reclamation;
e) explore the possibility of introducing a low cost social insurance scheme with the aim of ensuring affordable property insurance cover everywhere in Wales;
f) request a comprehensive assessment from the National Infrastructure Commission for Wales of the measures that would be required to reduce the annual risk of flooding in Wales to 1 per cent, 0.5 per cent and 0.1 per cent and to increase expenditure to this end.
|
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
|
20 |
3 |
28 |
51 |
The motion without amendment was not agreed.
The following amendments were tabled:
Amendment 1 - Darren Millar (Clwyd West)
In point 2, after ‘efforts of’ insert ‘the emergency services, agency staff,’.
A vote was taken on amendment 1:
|
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
|
49 |
2 |
0 |
51 |
Amendment 1 was agreed.
Amendment 2 - Rebecca Evans (Gower)
Delete point 4 and replace with:
Calls on the Welsh Government to:
a) ensure that the investigations being carried out into the cause of flooding are published and subject to scrutiny from affected communities, the Senedd and independent authorities, including the Flood and Coastal Erosion Committee;
b) make additional financial and practical support available to individuals and businesses affected by the flooding;
c) make additional funding available for local authorities to conduct emergency repairs of flood defences and other critical infrastructure;
d) publish new planning policy and flood maps this year to take a stronger stance on development in the flood plain and reflect the growing risks from climate change;
e) publish a new Flood Risk Assessment for Wales alongside a new Flood and Coastal Strategy this year and use this to prioritise flood defence schemes that protect the communities at highest risk of flooding from all sources – coastal, river and surface water;
f) increase financial and practical support to local authorities to accelerate the development of new flood defence schemes.
A vote was taken on amendment 2:
|
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
|
30 |
1 |
19 |
50 |
Amendment 2 was agreed.
As Amendment 2 was agreed amendment 3 was de-selected
Amendment 4 - Darren Millar (Clwyd West)
Add as new point at end of motion:
Further calls on the Welsh Government to work with stakeholders to ensure that local communities and businesses are provided with continuing support beyond the initial clean-up operation to help them recover in the long-term, and to understand the actions required to mitigate future flooding events.
A vote was taken on amendment 4:
|
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
|
50 |
0 |
1 |
51 |
Amendment 4 was agreed.
Amendment 5 - Darren Millar (Clwyd West)
Add as new point at end of motion:
Further calls on the Welsh Government to update planning guidelines by establishing ‘Blue Belts’ in areas of flood risk, such as natural flood plains, to prevent inappropriate development and to reduce the risk of damage to homes and businesses.
A vote was taken on amendment 5:
|
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
|
24 |
0 |
27 |
51 |
Amendment 5 was not agreed.
A vote was taken on the motion as amended:
NDM7278 Sian Gwenllian (Arfon)
To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
1. Notes the damage and devastation caused to communities across Wales as a result of Storm Ciara and Storm Dennis.
2. Pays tribute to the heroic efforts of the emergency services, agency staff, public service workers and community volunteers in responding to the effects of adverse weather and storm damage in recent weeks.
3. Recognises that climate change will make adverse weather occurrences, including instances of serious flooding, more likely in future.
4. Calls on the Welsh Government to:
a) ensure that the investigations being carried out into the cause of flooding are published and subject to scrutiny from affected communities, the Senedd and independent authorities, including the Flood and Coastal Erosion Committee;
b) make additional financial and practical support available to individuals and businesses affected by the flooding;
c) make additional funding available for local authorities to conduct emergency repairs of flood defences and other critical infrastructure;
d) publish new planning policy and flood maps this year to take a stronger stance on development in the flood plain and reflect the growing risks from climate change;
e) publish a new Flood Risk Assessment for Wales alongside a new Flood and Coastal Strategy this year and use this to prioritise flood defence schemes that protect the communities at highest risk of flooding from all sources – coastal, river and surface water;
f) increase financial and practical support to local authorities to accelerate the development of new flood defence schemes.
5. Further calls on the Welsh Government to work with stakeholders to ensure that local communities and businesses are provided with continuing support beyond the initial clean-up operation to help them recover in the long-term, and to understand the actions required to mitigate future flooding events.
|
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
|
49 |
1 |
1 |
51 |
The motion as amended was agreed.
The item started at 17.16
Voting on the motion and amendments under this item was deferred until Voting Time.
A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:
NDM7276 Caroline Jones (South Wales West)
To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
Regrets the failure of Welsh devolution to date.
The following amendments have been tabled:
|
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
|
5 |
0 |
46 |
51 |
The motion without amendment was not agreed.
The following amendments were tabled:
Amendment 1 - Neil McEvoy (South Wales Central)
Delete all and replace with:
To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
1. Regrets that Welsh devolution has been hindered to date by the failure to devolve further powers.
2. Calls for Welsh devolution to be strengthened by:
a) the devolution of air passenger duty; and
b) the full legislative devolution of the justice system and the maintenance of independent Welsh institutions of justice.
A vote was taken on amendment 1:
|
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
|
1 |
0 |
50 |
51 |
Amendment 1 was not agreed.
Amendment 2 - Rebecca Evans (Gower)
Delete all and replace with:
To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
Welcomes the collective contributions that have been made by political parties on all sides and by wider civic society to making devolution the settled will of the Welsh people.
A vote was taken on amendment 2:
|
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
|
27 |
0 |
24 |
51 |
Amendment 2 was agreed.
As Amendment 2 was agreed amendments 3 and 4 were de-selected
Amendment 5 - Neil Hamilton (Mid and West Wales)
Add as new point at end of motion:
Believes that the National Assembly for Wales should be abolished.
A vote was taken on amendment 5:
|
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
|
2 |
0 |
46 |
48 |
Amendment 5 was not agreed.
Amendment 6 - Neil Hamilton (Mid and West Wales)
Add as new point at end of motion:
Believes that practical alternatives to devolution, in the absence of a National Assembly for Wales, include democratising the NHS and giving greater powers to parent-governors to determine schools's education policy.
A vote was taken on amendment 6:
|
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
|
5 |
0 |
46 |
51 |
Amendment 6 was not agreed.
A vote was taken on the motion as amended:
NDM7276 Caroline Jones (South Wales West)
To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
Welcomes the collective contributions that have been made by political parties on all sides and by wider civic society to making devolution the settled will of the Welsh people.
|
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
|
35 |
9 |
7 |
51 |
The motion as amended was agreed.
The item started at 18.19
To ask the Minister for Health and Social Services:
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): In light of the recent escalation of the coronavirus across Europe, will the Minister provide an update on the latest public health advice for people in Wales?
The item started at 18.27
The item started at 18.35
NDM7275 David J. Rowlands (South Wales East)
The economy after Brexit.
The meeting concluded at 18.52
The Assembly will sit again in Plenary at 13.30, Tuesday, 3 March 2020