Decision details

The item started at 16.15

NDM5605

Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

Aled Roberts (North Wales)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Welcomes the Prime Minister’s commitment that Wales will be at the heart of the debate on the future of the United Kingdom.

2. Calls for bilateral talks that are informed by the Holtham and Silk 1 Commissions’ findings, including an updated assessment of the current level and likely future direction of Welsh relative funding.

3. Calls for those talks, which should begin immediately and be completed by January 2015, to have a particular focus on fair funding, with the goal of securing rapid implementation of a funding floor which both addresses underfunding in a way that is consistent with Welsh needs and halts future convergence.

4. Calls for the UK Government to:

a) ensure that the same powers are given to Wales regarding the devolution of Corporation Tax  if they are provided  to Northern Ireland and Scotland;

b) devolve Air Passenger Duty for direct long-haul flights;

c) review  the level of the borrowing powers afforded to Wales in the Wales Bill; and

d) work with the Welsh Government to enable it to issue its own bonds.

5. Seeks recognition that if a  decision is taken to hold a Referendum on tax varying powers, this should reflect the view of the people of Wales.

6. Seeks confirmation that the Reserved Powers model will be instituted for Wales.

7. Calls on the UK Government to give the National Assembly for Wales the power to determine its electoral arrangements.

8. Calls on the UK Government to make progress on Silk 2.

9. Affirms that these matters should be taken forward in legislative proposals, published before the end of the current Westminster parliamentary session.

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.