Decision details

Welsh Liberal Democrats Debate

Decision Maker: Plenary - Fourth Assembly

Status: Recommendations approved

Is Key decision?: Yes

Purpose:

Debates are one of the most frequent items of business on the Plenary agenda. Many types of debate are brought forward in Plenary, including:

  • Opposition party debates on a topic of their choice;

Other than in the case of Government debates, the time allocated for all other types of debates and their frequency are determined by the Business Committee

Decision:

The item started at 17.10

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

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM5387 Aled Roberts (North Wales)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Recognises the important role of the Wales Audit Office in:

a) providing high quality, independent and comprehensive scrutiny of government activities and expenditure;

b) supporting effective and accountable public services;

c) sharing good practice and identifying improvements to public service delivery; and

d) helping to ensure the best value for money for the people of Wales.

2. Notes the findings of successive reports published by the Wales Audit Office, which highlight significant failings in the governance arrangements and delivery of key public services, including AWEMA; the Caldicot and Wentlooge Levels Internal Drainage Board; the River Lodge Hotel, Unscheduled Care; Higher Education Finances and NHS Finances.

3. Notes the on-going investigation into the Regeneration Investment Fund For Wales, the decision by the Minister to disband this body and to return European funding to WEFO, and the subsequent impact on a number of regeneration projects seeking funding from RIFW.

4. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

 a) conduct a thorough review of all external funding to restore public and investor confidence in the ability of the Welsh Government to monitor and regulate Welsh Government funding;

b) publish the monitoring regime in place in respect of its grant management policy and report annually to the National Assembly on its outcomes; and

c) develop a robust and transparent procedure to more effectively address the substantial and specific failings in Welsh Government policy highlighted by Wales Audit Office reports.

For

Abstain

Against

Total

5

0

48

53

The motion without amendment was not agreed.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 - William Graham (South Wales East)

In sub-point 1c) after ‘delivery’ insert ‘including via the work of its Good Practice Exchange’.

A vote was taken on Amendment 1:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

53

0

0

53

Amendment 1 was agreed.

Amendment 2 - William Graham (South Wales East)

In point 2, delete all after ‘key public services’.

A vote was taken on Amendment 2:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

21

0

32

53

Amendment 2 was not agreed.

Amendment 3 - William Graham (South Wales East)

Delete sub-point 4a) and replace with:

review the funding it provides to Welsh public bodies and other organisations to ensure that the public can be confident that it is being effectively managed, monitored and evaluated;A vote was taken on Amendment 3:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

21

0

32

53

Amendment 3 was not agreed.

Amendment 4 - William Graham (South Wales East)

In sub-point 4c) delete ‘in Welsh Government policy’.

A vote was taken on Amendment 4:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

21

0

32

53

Amendment 4 was not agreed.

Amendment 5 - William Graham (South Wales East)

Add new point at the end of the motion:

Welcomes the joint working between the Wales Audit Office and other inspectorates and notes that this has the ability to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of their work.

A vote was taken on Amendment 5:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

53

0

0

53

Amendment 5 was agreed.

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

NDM5387 Aled Roberts (North Wales)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Recognises the important role of the Wales Audit Office in:

a) providing high quality, independent and comprehensive scrutiny of government activities and expenditure;

b) supporting effective and accountable public services;

c) sharing good practice and identifying improvements to public service delivery; including via the work of its Good Practice Exchange and

d) helping to ensure the best value for money for the people of Wales.

2. Notes the findings of successive reports published by the Wales Audit Office, which highlight significant failings in the governance arrangements and delivery of key public services, including AWEMA; the Caldicot and Wentlooge Levels Internal Drainage Board; the River Lodge Hotel, Unscheduled Care; Higher Education Finances and NHS Finances.

3. Notes the on-going investigation into the Regeneration Investment Fund For Wales, the decision by the Minister to disband this body and to return European funding to WEFO, and the subsequent impact on a number of regeneration projects seeking funding from RIFW.

4. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

 a) conduct a thorough review of all external funding to restore public and investor confidence in the ability of the Welsh Government to monitor and regulate Welsh Government funding;

b) publish the monitoring regime in place in respect of its grant management policy and report annually to the National Assembly on its outcomes; and

c) develop a robust and transparent procedure to more effectively address the substantial and specific failings in Welsh Government policy highlighted by Wales Audit Office reports.

5. Welcomes the joint working between the Wales Audit Office and other inspectorates and notes that this has the ability to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of their work.

For

Abstain

Against

Total

26

0

27

53

The motion as amended not agreed.

Publication date: 11/12/2013

Date of decision: 11/12/2013

Decided at meeting: 11/12/2013 - Plenary - Fourth Assembly