Decision details

Welsh Conservatives 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 16.00

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

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM5282 William Graham (South Wales East)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Recognises the huge potential for tourism in rural Wales and urges the Welsh Government to address industry concerns about how the new strategy for tourism will work in rural areas.

2. Calls on the Welsh Government to encourage local councils to implement Tan 6 planning guidance to support the sustainable rural economy and encourage diversification in rural areas by enabling automatic conversion of redundant farm buildings into business premises or accommodation.

3. Recognises the difficult environmental conditions that face farmers working in Less Favoured Areas (LFA) and calls on the Welsh Government to implement an LFA support package to address these unique challenges.

4. Notes the importance of sustainable bus services as a lifeline for rural communities and calls on the Welsh Government to provide sufficient funding for rural bus services.

5. Further notes the importance of the Royal Welsh Show and National Eisteddfod in supporting the rural economy and promoting Welsh culture.

For

Abstain

Against

Total

13

0

35

48

The motion without amendment was not agreed.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

Insert as new point 1 and renumber accordingly:

Recognises the importance of a high street bank to the rural economy and regrets that, according to a recent ‘Last Bank in Town’ analysis by the Campaign for Community Banking Services, there are now thirty-eight communities in rural Wales with only one bank remaining.

A vote was taken on Amendment 1:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

48

0

0

48

Amendment 1 was agreed.

Amendment 2 - Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

In point 1, delete all after ‘urges the Welsh Government to’ and replace with ‘work with the industry to develop that potential by taking forward the new strategy for tourism’

A vote was taken on Amendment 2:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

26

0

22

48

Amendment 2 was agreed.

Amendment 3 - Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

Delete point 2

A vote was taken on Amendment 3:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

26

0

22

48

Amendment 3 was agreed.

As amendment 3 was agreed, amendment 4 was de-selected.

Amendment 5 - Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

Delete point 3 and replace with:

‘Recognises the difficult economic and environmental conditions that face farmers working in the current Less Favoured Area (LFA), notes the Welsh Government's work in developing the new Areas of Natural Constraint designation in advance of the final deadline of 2018 and further notes the Government's commitment to use this new designation to help address these unique challenges.’

A vote was taken on Amendment 5:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

31

0

17

48

Amendment 5 was agreed.

As amendment 5 was agreed, amendment 6 was de-selected.

Amendment 7 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

Insert as new point 4 and renumber accordingly:

Recognises the essential role European Union funding plays in supporting the rural Welsh economy and therefore firmly believes that Wales’ interests are best served by remaining a committed part of the United Kingdom and the European Union.

A vote was taken on Amendment 7:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

30

13

5

48

Amendment 7 was agreed.

Amendment 8 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

Insert as new point 5 and renumber accordingly:

Notes the importance of accessible rail services to the delivery of an integrated transport system in rural areas and calls on the Welsh Government to support the re-opening of suitable railway stations across rural Wales.

A vote was taken on Amendment 8:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

48

0

0

48

Amendment 8 was agreed.

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

NDM5282 William Graham (South Wales East)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Recognises the importance of a high street bank to the rural economy and regrets that, according to a recent ‘Last Bank in Town’ analysis by the Campaign for Community Banking Services, there are now thirty-eight communities in rural Wales with only one bank remaining.

2. Recognises the huge potential for tourism in rural Wales and urges the Welsh Government to work with the industry to develop that potential by taking forward the new strategy for tourism.

3. Recognises the difficult economic and environmental conditions that face farmers working in the current Less Favoured Area (LFA), notes the Welsh Government's work in developing the new Areas of Natural Constraint designation in advance of the final deadline of 2018 and further notes the Government's commitment to use this new designation to help address these unique challenges.

4. Recognises the essential role European Union funding plays in supporting the rural Welsh economy and therefore firmly believes that Wales’ interests are best served by remaining a committed part of the United Kingdom and the European Union.

5. Notes the importance of sustainable bus services as a lifeline for rural communities and calls on the Welsh Government to provide sufficient funding for rural bus services.

6. Notes the importance of accessible rail services to the delivery of an integrated transport system in rural areas and calls on the Welsh Government to support the re-opening of suitable railway stations across rural Wales.

7. Further notes the importance of the Royal Welsh Show and National Eisteddfod in supporting the rural economy and promoting Welsh culture.

For

Abstain

Against

Total

35

13

0

48

The motion as amended was agreed.

 

Publication date: 03/07/2013

Date of decision: 03/07/2013

Decided at meeting: 03/07/2013 - Plenary - Fourth Assembly