Decision details

The item started at 15.15

NDM4934 Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

The National Assembly for Wales:

1. Regrets the impact that the UK Government's proposed changes to housing benefit will have on the poorest people in Wales;

2. Notes the continuing work that the Welsh Government is undertaking with stakeholders to help people cope with the changes.

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

The following amendments were tabled:

 [If Amendment 1 is agreed, amendments 2 and 4 will be deselected]

Amendment 1 - Peter Black (South Wales West)

Delete all and replace with:

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Notes the UK Government’s proposed changes to housing benefit, which are necessary in order to tackle the deficit left by the previous Labour Government.

2. Welcomes the UK Government’s intention to incorporate housing support into a Universal Credit.

A vote was taken on Amendment 1:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
17	0	38	55

Amendment 1 was not agreed.

Amendment 2 - Jocelyn Davies (South Wales East)

Insert at the end of point 1 ‘including low paid workers’.

A vote was taken on Amendment 2:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
38	13	4	55

Amendment 2 was agreed.

Amendment 3 - Jocelyn Davies (South Wales East)

Add as new point 2 and renumber accordingly:

2. Notes the report from Cuts Watch Cymru 'Wales on the Edge' and its recommendations in relation to the changes in housing benefit.

A vote was taken on Amendment 3:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
42	13	0	55

Amendment 3 was agreed.

Amendment 4 - William Graham (South Wales East)

Insert at end of point 2:

‘, but believes that the time has come for talking with stakeholders to end and for good models of delivery to begin’

A vote was taken on Amendment 4:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
17	0	38	55

Amendment 4 was not agreed.

Amendment 5 -  William Graham (South Wales East)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Notes that the previous UK Government’s consultation on Housing Benefit showed that in “some areas, Housing Benefit can support customers to live in accommodation that many people in work cannot afford” and argued that “further reforms are needed”.

A vote was taken on Amendment 5:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
17	0	38	55

Amendment 5 was not agreed.

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

NDM4934 Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

The National Assembly for Wales:

1. Regrets the impact that the UK Government's proposed changes to housing benefit will have on the poorest people in Wales including low paid workers.

2. Notes the report from Cuts Watch Cymru 'Wales on the Edge' and its recommendations in relation to the changes in housing benefit.

3. Notes the continuing work that the Welsh Government is undertaking with stakeholders to help people cope with the changes

For	Abstain	Against	Total
38	0	17	55

The motion as amended was agreed.