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 17.14

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

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM5938 Aled Roberts (North Wales)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Recognises that there is a housing crisis in Wales, noting in particular that:

a) Welsh Government housing targets fall far short of the recommendations of the Holmans report on house building and the number of affordable homes needed by 2031;

b) there are estimated to be over 90,000 households on social housing waiting lists;

c) many first-time buyers still struggle to get on the property ladder; and

d) more must be done to protect tenants from unfair practices and to improve the quality and safety of poor private rented sector homes.

2. Believes that greater ambition is needed to ensure that every person has a secure and affordable home which can be a key factor in boosting health, well-being and opportunity, and that this should include:

a) doubling the target on affordable homes to 20,000 over the next Assembly;

b) a rent-to-own scheme to help first time buyers to buy their own home without a deposit; and

c) action to improve the quality and safety of homes in the private rented sector and a Residential Property Tribunal to adjudicate on landlord and tenant disputes.

For	Abstain	Against	Total
4	0	44	48

The motion without amendment was not agreed.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 - Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

Delete point 1a) and replace with:

Welsh Government housing targets fall far short of:

i) the recommendations of the Holmans report on house building and the number of affordable homes needed by 2031;

ii) the recommendations of the Bevan Foundation report,'The Shape of Wales to Come', and the number of affordable homes needed by 2028; and

iii) the views expressed by the Chartered Institute of Housing Cymru on investment in social housing.

A vote was taken on Amendment 1:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
19	0	27	46

Amendment 1 was not agreed.

Amendment 2 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

In point 2:

Delete 'should' and replace with 'could'.

A vote was taken on Amendment 2:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
20	0	28	48

Amendment 2 was not agreed.

Amendment 3 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

Insert as new sub-points at end of point 2:

reforming tenancy law to introduce rent controls and to grant renters longer-term, more secure and higher quality tenancies;

bringing empty properties back into use;

developing publicly owned housing companies to respond to local need.

A vote was taken on Amendment 3:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
13	0	35	48

Amendment 3 was not agreed.

Amendment 4 - Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

Add as a new point at end of the motion:

Believes that Wales needs to implement a comprehensive housing reform programme to increase supply and therefore make housing more affordable.

A vote was taken on Amendment 4:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
24	0	25	49

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.

As the Assembly did not agree the motion without amendment, and did not agree the amendments tabled to the motion, the motion was therefore not agreed.