Decision details

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

The item started at 16.24

 

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

 

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

 

NDM5611 Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

 

1. Regrets that the inequality gap between the poorest and richest people and regions has grown under successive UK Governments.

 

2. Notes that GVA per capita in West Wales and the Valleys is 62.7% of the UK average while GVA per capita in Inner London is 308.8%.

 

3. Recognises the need for a rebalancing of the UK economy away from a concentration of wealth in the South East of England.

 

4. Notes the focus of the UK Government's economic strategy on the financial services sector and further notes that whilst this can be a growth sector in Wales, the core of Wales's economy is built around manufacturing, production and exports.

 

5. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

 

a) focus on realising and building on Wales's economic potential;

 

b) prioritise infrastructure investments in areas that need it most;

 

c) establish a publicly-owned business bank to offer finance to small businesses at competitive rates; and

 

d) extend the small business rate relief scheme to cover all businesses with a rateable value of £15,000 or less.

 

For	Abstain	Against	Total
10	0	40	50

The motion without amendment was not agreed.

 

The following amendments were tabled:

 

Amendment 1 - Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

 

In point 1, after UK insert "and Welsh"

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 1:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
15	0	35	50

Amendment 1 was not agreed.

 

Amendment 2 - Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

 

Insert at end of point 3:

 

and also recognises the need for a rebalancing of the Welsh economy away from a concentration of wealth along the south Wales (M4) corridor.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 2:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
15	0	35	50

Amendment 2 was not agreed.

 

Amendment 3 - Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

 

Delete point 4 and replace with:

 

Acknowledges the economic stability arising from the UK Government's policies which are stimulating UK-wide economic growth.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 3:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
15	0	35	50

Amendment 3 was not agreed.

 

Amendment 4 - Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

 

Delete sub-point 5(d).

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 4:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
25	5	20	50

Amendment 4 was agreed.

 

Amendment 5 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

 

Insert as new subpoint at the end of point 5:

 

Produce a clear export strategy for Wales to match private sector ingenuity with public sector support.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 5:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
25	0	26	51

As required by Standing Order 6.20 the Deputy Presiding Officer exercised his casting vote by voting against the amendment. Therefore, the amendment was not agreed.

 

Amendment 6 - Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

 

Add new point at end of motion

 

Calls on the Welsh Government to adopt the Welsh Conservative proposals which include replacing Finance Wales with Invest Wales.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 6:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
10	0	40	50

Amendment 6 was not agreed.

 

Amendment 7 - Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

 

Add new point at end of motion:

 

Regrets the decline in Wales's GVA under fifteen years of Labour Government in Wales.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 7:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
15	0	35	50

Amendment 7 was not agreed.

 

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

 

NDM5611 Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

 

1. Regrets that the inequality gap between the poorest and richest people and regions has grown under successive UK Governments.

 

2. Notes that GVA per capita in West Wales and the Valleys is 62.7% of the UK average while GVA per capita in Inner London is 308.8%.

 

3. Recognises the need for a rebalancing of the UK economy away from a concentration of wealth in the

South East of England.

 

4. Notes the focus of the UK Government's economic strategy on the financial services sector and further notes that whilst this can be a growth sector in Wales, the core of Wales's economy is built around manufacturing, production and exports.

 

5. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

 

a) focus on realising and building on Wales's economic potential;

 

b) prioritise infrastructure investments in areas that need it most;

 

c) establish a publicly-owned business bank to offer finance to small businesses at competitive rates.

 

For	Abstain	Against	Total
35	0	15	50

The motion as amended was agreed.