Meeting Venue:
Y Siambr - Y Senedd/ Zoom
Meeting date:
Wednesday, 23 September 2020
Meeting time: 13.30
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This meeting will
be held in a hybrid format, with some Members in the Senedd Chamber
and others joining by video-conference. Having consulted with the
Business Committee, the Llywydd has determined that in accordance
with Standing Order 34.14A-D, Members will be able to vote from any
location by electronic means.
The Llywydd also gives notice, in accordance with Standing Order
34.15, that the public have been excluded from attending this
Plenary meeting, as is required to protect public health. The
meeting will continue to be broadcast live and the record of
proceedings will be published as usual.
1 Statement by the First Minister - Keeping Wales Safe from Coronavirus
(45 mins)
2 Questions to the Minister for Finance and Trefnydd
(45 mins)
3 Questions to the Minister for International Relations and the Welsh Language
(45 mins)
4 Questions to the Senedd Commission
(30 mins)
5 Topical Questions
(0 mins)
No topical questions have been accepted.
6 90 Second Statements
(5 mins)
7 Motion to amend Standing Orders: Oversight of the Electoral Commission
(5 mins)
NDM7388 Elin Jones (Ceredigion)
To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Order 33.2:
1. Considers the report of the Business Committee, ‘Amending Standing Orders - Oversight of the Electoral Commission’, laid in the Table Office on 16 September 2020;
2. Approves the proposals to amend Standing Orders as set out in Annex B of the report of the Business Committee; and
3. Notes that this motion takes effect when section 28 of the Senedd and Elections (Wales) Act 2020 is commenced by order made under Section 42 (3) (b) of the Senedd and Elections (Wales) Act 2020.
8 Motion to establish a committee under Standing Order 16.3: The Llywydd's Committee
(5 mins)
NDM7389 Elin Jones (Ceredigion)
To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Order 16.3:
1. Establishes the Llywydd’s Committee to carry out the functions set out in Standing Order 18.B2; and
2. Notes that this motion takes effect when section 28 of the Senedd and Elections (Wales) Act 2020 is commenced by order made under Section 42 (3) (b) of the Senedd and Elections (Wales) Act 2020
9 Motion to elect a member to the Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee.
(5 mins)
NDM7390 Elin Jones (Ceredigion)
To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Order 17.3, elects Caroline Jones (Independent) as a member of the Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee.
10 Motion to elect Members to the Llywydd's Committee
(5 mins)
NDM7391 Elin Jones (Ceredigion)
To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Order 17.3 and 18B.4:
1. Elects the following as members of the Llywydd’s Committee:
a) The Deputy Presiding Officer as Chair of the Committee;
b) Llyr Gruffydd, (chair of the responsible committee under Standing Order 19); and
c) Rhianon Passmore (Welsh Labour), Suzy Davies (Welsh Conservatives), Dai Lloyd (Plaid Cymru), and David Rowlands (Brexit Party).
2. Notes that this motion takes effect when section 28 of the Senedd and Elections (Wales) Act 2020 is commenced by order made under Section 42 (3) (b) of the Senedd and Elections (Wales) Act 2020.
Senedd and Elections (Wales) Act 2020
11 Debate on the Finance Committee report - Impact of variations in national and sub-national income tax
(60 mins)
NDM7385 Llyr Gruffydd (North Wales)
To propose that the Senedd:
Notes the report of the Finance Committee on the Impact of variations in national and sub-national income tax, which was laid in the Table Office on 2 July 2020.
Note: The response of the Welsh Government to the report was laid in the Table Office on 16 September 2020.
12 Welsh Conservatives debate - Higher Education
(60 mins)
NDM7387 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)
To propose that the Senedd:
1. Notes the importance of higher and further education to Wales and its economy.
2. Believes that students deserve value for money in return for the investment they make in their higher and further education.
3. Regrets the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on students in Wales and the interruption to courses.
4. Welcomes the additional financial resources provided to Welsh colleges and universities to support them through the pandemic.
5. Notes that there has been no reduction in fees paid by students to reflect the adverse impact of the pandemic on their studies.
6. Calls upon the Welsh Government to:
a) work with colleges and universities to ensure that fees reflect the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on their courses;
b) ensure that students take the opportunity to access learning either in person or, in the event of unavoidable COVID-19 restrictions, through more live streaming;
c) address the concerns of students, employers, and further and higher education providers in relation to a narrowing of the syllabus of some courses which contribute towards entry requirements for colleges and universities.
Amendment 1 Siân Gwenllian (Arfon)
Delete point 4 and renumber accordingly.
Amendment 2 Rebecca Evans (Gower)
Delete points 5 and 6 and replace with:
Welcomes the efforts of students, colleges and universities to continue operating safely and effectively in challenging circumstances over the coming term, and thanks them for their efforts.
Notes the extensive work by colleges and universities to maintain opportunities to access learning either in person or, in the event of unavoidable COVID-19 restrictions, through online tuition, assessment, and support.
Notes the guidance issued by Welsh Government to support higher and further education providers to prepare for the new term and open campuses safely.
Guidance for safe operation in post-16 learning from September 2020
Guidance for higher education: Keep Wales Safe (COVID-19)
If Amendment 2 is agreed, Amendment 3 and 4 will be de-selected
Amendment 3
Siân Gwenllian (Arfon)
Delete sub-point 6(a) and replace with:
ensure that the higher education sector has sufficient resources to enable institutions to continue to maintain standards and to continue to widen access;
Amendment 4 Siân Gwenllian (Arfon)
Insert as new sub-point 6(b) and renumber accordingly:
work with the further education and work-based learning sectors to ensure that they are adequately and sustainably resourced to provide the best possible learning opportunities, especially to disadvantaged learners, at this challenging time
13 Plaid Cymru debate - Second Homes
(60 mins)
NDM7386 Sian Gwenllian (Arfon)
To propose that the Senedd:
1. Recognises the housing crisis in many of Wales’s communities and specifically recognises the detrimental impact of unsustainable levels of second homes in depriving the ability of local people to access homes in those communities.
2. Welcomes the steps some local authorities have taken as a result of the Housing (Wales) Act 2014 to introduce council tax premiums on second homes as one behaviour changing method around the use of second homes and to facilitate the introduction of measures to meet the local need for housing, but agrees that renewed intervention and leadership is now required at a national level.
3. Calls on the Welsh Government to act immediately in developing and introducing a package of measures which would include but would not be limited to:
a) using the planning system to control the ability to change the use of a residential dwelling from a sole or main residence to a second home;
b) enabling the introduction of a cap on the proportion of the overall housing stock in a community which may be used as second homes in communities where the concentration of second homes is already unsustainable;
c) modernising legislation which currently means that not a penny of council tax must be paid on some second homes;
d) doubling the council tax premium which may be charged on second homes to at least 200 per cent to reinforce work already taking place in some local authorities in seeking to change behaviour around the use of second homes, generate revenue to be invested in social housing and to compensate communities for the detrimental impact of an overuse of second homes on local communities and local services;
e) doubling the higher rates of land transaction tax for an initial period of six months in an attempt to prevent house prices from spiralling further beyond the reach of the local population and first time buyers in many communities;
f) taking positive steps to promote access to housing at a price which is within the reach of the local market, including the possibility of encouraging the development of homes which have local market clauses attached;
g) encouraging and prioritising the purchase of empty homes by local authorities and housing associations in order to meet the local need for social housing; and
h) looking afresh at what constitutes an affordable home.
Amendment 1 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)
Delete all and replace with:
To propose that the Senedd:
1. Recognises the housing crisis in many of Wales’s communities and the need to enable local people to access homes in those communities.
2. Calls on the Welsh Government to act immediately in developing and introducing a package of measures which would include but would not be limited to:
a) taking positive steps to promote access to housing at a price which is within the reach of local people, including reintroducing a reformed right to buy and exploring the options for encouraging the development of homes which have local market clauses attached;
b) encouraging and prioritising the purchase of empty homes by local authorities and housing associations in order to meet the local need for social housing; and
c) clarifying what constitutes an affordable home.
3. Calls on the Welsh Government to work with the tourism sector and the Valuation Office Agency to establish an evidence base for policy regarding eligibility for self-catering accommodation to be recorded on the non-domestic rating list.
If Amendment 1 is agreed, Amendments 2and 3 will be de-selected
Amendment 2 Rebecca Evans (Gower)
Delete all and replace with:
To propose that the Senedd:
1. Recognises the challenges second homes – and empty homes - can have on the affordability and availability of housing in some communities in Wales.
2. Welcomes the Welsh Government’s long-standing commitment to the provision of good quality, affordable housing, recognising its fundamental role as the bedrock of strong sustainable communities.
3. Welcomes that whilst the pandemic has had an impact on the building of affordable homes, the Welsh Government will meet the 20,000 target by the end of this Senedd term, which will help to meet the need for local housing.
4. Notes that Wales is the only nation in the UK where local authorities are able to charge a premium of up to 100 per cent of the standard rate of council tax both on second homes and long-term empty properties.
5. Further notes that in Wales, unlike the rest of the UK, the Welsh Government did not provide a temporary tax reduction for buy to let investors, investors in furnished holiday lets or buyers of second homes.
6. Calls on the Welsh Government to undertake an evidenced, thorough review of second home ownership in Wales and the measures that might be necessary to ensure the needs of individuals, communities and the economy, in particular the visitor economy, are well balanced. Such a review should look at the role of taxation, planning, local regulation and the supply and access to affordable housing of all tenures.
If Amendment 2 is agreed, Amendment 3 will be de-selected
Amendment 3 Neil McEvoy (South Wales Central)
In sub-point 3(g), after 'associations' insert:
', through compulsory purchase if necessary,'
14 Voting Time
15 Short Debate
(30 mins)
NDM7377 Mark Isherwood (North Wales)
Building the foundations for change: the impact of the Welsh Government’s Neurological Conditions Delivery Plan.
The Senedd will sit again in Plenary at 13.30, Tuesday, 29 September 2020