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 16.33

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

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM5276 William Graham (South Wales East)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Believes that small businesses throughout Wales need urgent support and calls on the Welsh Government to outline their proposals for a high street campaign before the summer recess;

2. Regrets that the high street shop vacancy rate in Wales is the highest in mainland Britain;

3. Acknowledges the increase in lending from Finance Wales, however, believes a more localised approach in accessing finance is necessary, and therefore calls on the Minister for Economy, Science and Transport to work with Finance Wales to assess if the financial package offered to businesses is competitive in the long term;

4. Notes the proposals outlined in the Welsh Conservative documents ‘A Vision for the Welsh High Street’ and ‘Invest Wales’ and their support for small businesses throughout Wales; and

5. Further notes the importance of transport infrastructure to supporting the national and local economy.

For	Abstain	Against	Total
11	0	41	52

The motion without amendment was not agreed.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

Insert at the end of point 2:

“and calls on the Welsh Government to work with local authorities to reduce business rates for tenants taking over the lease of a property that has been empty for at least 12 months, to encourage re-location and revitalise town centres”

A vote was taken on Amendment 1:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
44	8	0	52

Amendment 1 was agreed.

Amendment 2 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

Insert as new point 3 and renumber accordingly:

Recognises the potential for apprenticeships to improve the profit and productivity of small businesses and therefore calls on the Welsh Government to explore ways to improve access to apprenticeships for small businesses.

A vote was taken on Amendment 2:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
52	0	0	52

Amendment 2 was agreed.

Amendment 3 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

Insert as new point 3 and renumber accordingly:

Recognises the importance of local banking to the successful and sustainable economic growth of businesses in rural areas and calls on the Welsh Government to explore ways to expand the provision of community banking and credit unions in rural communities.

A vote was taken on Amendment 3:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
52	0	0	52

Amendment 3 was agreed.

Amendment 4 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

Insert as new point 4 and renumber accordingly:

Notes that Finance Wales is restricted in its ability to offer finance at competitive rates, and therefore calls on the Welsh Government to explore alternative methods of financing businesses.

A vote was taken on Amendment 4:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
52	0	0	52

Amendment 4 was agreed.

Amendment 5 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

Delete point 4.

A vote was taken on Amendment 5:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
41	0	11	52

Amendment 5 was agreed.

Amendment 6 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

Insert as new point 5 and renumber accordingly:

Notes the proposals outlined in Plaid Cymru’s ‘Plan C: A Plan to Move the Welsh Economy Forward’ to support SMEs and town centres.

A vote was taken on Amendment 6:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
36	5	11	52

Amendment 6 was agreed.

Amendment 7 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Calls on the Welsh Government to extend the small business rate relief scheme to cover more high street businesses.

A vote was taken on Amendment 7:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
24	0	28	52

Amendment 7 was not agreed.

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

NDM5276 William Graham (South Wales East)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Believes that small businesses throughout Wales need urgent support and calls on the Welsh Government to outline their proposals for a high street campaign before the summer recess;

2. Regrets that the high street shop vacancy rate in Wales is the highest in mainland Britain and calls on the Welsh Government to work with local authorities to reduce business rates for tenants taking over the lease of a property that has been empty for at least 12 months, to encourage re-location and revitalise town centres

3. Recognises the importance of local banking to the successful and sustainable economic growth of businesses in rural areas and calls on the Welsh Government to explore ways to expand the provision of community banking and credit unions in rural communities.

4. Notes that Finance Wales is restricted in its ability to offer finance at competitive rates, and therefore calls on the Welsh Government to explore alternative methods of financing businesses.

5. Notes the proposals outlined in Plaid Cymru’s ‘Plan C: A Plan to Move the Welsh Economy Forward’ to support SMEs and town centres.

6. Recognises the potential for apprenticeships to improve the profit and productivity of small businesses and therefore calls on the Welsh Government to explore ways to improve access to apprenticeships for small businesses.

7. Acknowledges the increase in lending from Finance Wales, however, believes a more localised approach in accessing finance is necessary, and therefore calls on the Minister for Economy, Science and Transport to work with Finance Wales to assess if the financial package offered to businesses is competitive in the long term;

8. Further notes the importance of transport infrastructure to supporting the national and local economy.

For	Abstain	Against	Total
14	0	38	52

The motion as amended was not agreed.