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 16.53

 

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

 

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

 

NDM5439 Aled Roberts (North Wales)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

 

1. Recognises that affordable, accessible and high quality childcare can be the key to a stronger economy and fairer society, enabling parents to return to work, reducing child poverty and giving children the best start in life.

 

2. Welcomes the positive action being taken by the UK Government including £1 billion investment in childcare to increase free early education for all 3 and 4 year olds and extended to 2 year olds from low income families, the introduction of tax free childcare for working families and new rights on shared parental leave.

 

3. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

 

a) review the system of pre-school childcare entitlement in light of enhanced provision in England;

 

b) examine the effectiveness of Flying Start on parenting and child development outcomes and the inequality in Welsh medium early years provision;

 

c) assess whether local authorities are fully utilising funding for the statutory provision of an early years education place for 3-4 year olds;

 

d) examine ways to improve childcare supply across all ages, in particular wraparound and holiday childcare schemes;

 

e) provide clarity for parents on eligibility for childcare schemes in Wales in light of recent UK Government policy developments; and

 

f) introduce a single online source of information to help new parents with information about childcare services and entitlements and how to access them.

 

For	Abstain	Against	Total
16	0	38	54

The motion without amendment not agreed.

 

The following amendments were tabled:

 

Amendment 1 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

 

In point 1 delete all after ‘child poverty and’ and replace with ‘helping children to get the best start in life.’

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 1:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
37	0	17	54

Amendment 1 was agreed.

 

Amednment 2 - Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

 

Delete point 2 and replace with:

 

Notes the failure of the UK Government to take action on tax credits for childcare this side of the general election, expresses serious concern at their shift of resources away from families in greatest need and further notes the decimation of the Sure Start programme in England with the closure of over 500 centres.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 2:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
27	10	17	54

Amendment 2 was agreed.

 

As amendment 2 was agreed, amendment 3 was de-selected.

 

Amendment 4 was not moved.

 

Amendment 5 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

 

Delete sub-point 3a) and replace with ‘assess the system of pre-school childcare entitlement’.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 5:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
37	0	17	54

Amendment 5 was agreed.

 

Amendment 6 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

 

In sub-point 3e) delete all after ‘Wales’.

A vote was taken on Amendment 6:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
37	0	17	54

Amendment 6 was agreed.

 

Amendment 7 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

 

Delete sub-point 3f).     

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 7:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
49	0	5	54

Amendment 7 was agreed.

 

As amendment 7 was agreed, amendment 8 was de-selected.

 

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

 

NDM5439 Aled Roberts (North Wales)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

 

1. Recognises that affordable, accessible and high quality childcare can be the key to a stronger economy and fairer society, enabling parents to return to work, reducing child poverty and helping children to get the best start in life.

 

2. Notes the failure of the UK Government to take action on tax credits for childcare this side of the general election, expresses serious concern at their shift of resources away from families in greatest need and further notes the decimation of the Sure Start programme in England with the closure of over 500 centres.

 

3. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

 

a) assess the system of pre-school childcare entitlement;

 

b) examine the effectiveness of Flying Start on parenting and child development outcomes and the inequality in Welsh medium early years provision;

 

c) assess whether local authorities are fully utilising funding for the statutory provision of an early years education place for 3-4 year olds;

 

d) examine ways to improve childcare supply across all ages, in particular wraparound and holiday childcare schemes; and

 

e) provide clarity for parents on eligibility for childcare schemes in Wales.

 

For	Abstain	Against	Total
37	5	12	54

The motion as amended was agreed.