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 15.16

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

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM5385 William Graham (South Wales East)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Regrets the Welsh Government’s failure to hold a debate on the arts during this Assembly.

2. Notes:

a) the intrinsic importance of the arts and culture to the identity of Wales and the personal well-being of its citizens;

b) the Arts Council of Wales report “An independent report for the Welsh Government into Arts in Education in the Schools of Wales” on the role of the arts in developing literacy and numeracy; and

c) that VisitBritain research identifies that more overseas visitors go to the theatre, musicals, the opera or ballet,  than to a live sporting event, when visiting Britain.

3. Calls on Welsh Government to explain how funding for the arts will be protected within the education and local government budgets.

For	Abstain	Against	Total
12	0	41	53

The motion without amendment was not agreed.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

Insert as new sub-point 2b) and renumber accordingly:

the importance of the arts in promoting the use of the Welsh language;

A vote was taken on Amendment 1:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
53	0	0	53

Amendment 1 was agreed.

Amendment 2 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

Insert as new sub-point 2c) and renumber accordingly:

that the Arts Council of Wales report recommends that the Welsh Government should explore funding options aimed at ensuring that equitable provision is available to young people in all art forms, and that exceptionally talented young people are able to pursue and develop their talent;

A vote was taken on Amendment 2:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
26	0	27	53

Amendment 2 was not agreed.

Amendment 3 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Calls on the Welsh Government to work with museums, galleries and other collections of art and heritage in Wales to ensure that items which are not on display can be loaned to other facilities in Wales.

A vote was taken on Amendment 3:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
53	0	0	53

Amendment 3 was agreed.

Amendment 4 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Calls on the Welsh Government to give strategic direction to the Arts Council to invest in smaller festivals and up-and-coming artists, musicians and writers and ensure that arts and cultural events move towards sustainable business plans.

A vote was taken on Amendment 4:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
41	12	0	53

Amendment 4 was agreed.

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

NDM5385 William Graham (South Wales East)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Regrets the Welsh Government’s failure to hold a debate on the arts during this Assembly.

2. Notes:

a) the intrinsic importance of the arts and culture to the identity of Wales and the personal well-being of its citizens;

b) the importance of the arts in promoting the use of the Welsh language;

c) the Arts Council of Wales report “An independent report for the Welsh Government into Arts in Education in the Schools of Wales” on the role of the arts in developing literacy and numeracy; and

d) that VisitBritain research identifies that more overseas visitors go to the theatre, musicals, the opera or ballet,  than to a live sporting event, when visiting Britain.

3. Calls on Welsh Government to explain how funding for the arts will be protected within the education and local government budgets.

4. Calls on the Welsh Government to work with museums, galleries and other collections of art and heritage in Wales to ensure that items which are not on display can be loaned to other facilities in Wales.

5. Calls on the Welsh Government to give strategic direction to the Arts Council to invest in smaller festivals and up-and-coming artists, musicians and writers and ensure that arts and cultural events move towards sustainable business plans.

For	Abstain	Against	Total
26	0	27	53

The motion as amended was not agreed.