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 17:01

 

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

 

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

 

NDM5068 William Graham (South Wales East)

 

The National Assembly for Wales:

 

1. Recognises the responsibility of the Welsh Government in ensuring the provision of high-quality services that meet the diverse needs of all children in Wales.

 

2. Notes that:

 

a) the level of child poverty in Wales is the highest of any UK nation;

 

b) educational attainment in Wales is lower than the UK average, and key attainment gaps have widened; and

 

c) many inequalities in health exist between children in Wales and the rest of the UK.

 

3. Regrets that the Welsh Government is failing to deliver the high-quality services needed to assist children in fulfilling their full potential.

 

For	Abstain	Against	Total
11	0	34	45

The motion without amendment was not agreed.

 

The following amendments were tabled:

 

Amendment 1 - Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

 

Delete points 2 and 3 and replace with:

 

Notes the priority given by the Welsh Government to the rights of children and young people and its significant investment to give children the best start in life, such as the expansion of Flying Start, and its support for children to achieve their potential.

 

A vote was taken on amendment 1:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
24	0	21	45

Amendment 1 was agreed.

 

 

Amendment 2 - Jocelyn Davies (South Wales East)

 

Add as new point 2 and renumber accordingly:

 

Recognises the adverse impact of the UK Government’s welfare reforms on children already living in poverty in Wales.

 

A vote was taken on amendment 2:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
30	0	15	45

Amendment 2 was agreed.

 

 

Amendment 3 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

 

Add as new point 3 and re-number accordingly:

 

Welcomes the introduction of the Pupil Deprivation Grant in Wales.

 

A vote was taken on amendment 3:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
28	17	0	45

Amendment 3 was agreed.

 

 

Amendment 4 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

 

Add as new point 3 and re-number accordingly:

 

Believes that renewed focus on improving housing and public health in deprived areas will reduce inequalities in health between children in Wales and the rest of the UK.

 

A vote was taken on amendment 4:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
45	0	0	45

Amendment 4 was agreed.

 

 

Amendment 5 - Jocelyn Davies (South Wales East)

 

Add as new point at end of motion:

 

Calls on the Welsh Government to remit Estyn to monitor and regularly evaluate the School Effectiveness Grant and Pupil Deprivation Grant to ensure that schools and local authorities use them to maximum effect to ameliorate the effects of poverty on children’s educational attainment.

 

A vote was taken on amendment 5:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
45	0	0	45

Amendment 5 was agreed.

 

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

 

NDM5068 William Graham (South Wales East)

 

The National Assembly for Wales:

 

1. Recognises the responsibility of the Welsh Government in ensuring the provision of high-quality services that meet the diverse needs of all children in Wales.

 

2. Notes the priority given by the Welsh Government to the rights of children and young people and its significant investment to give children the best start in life, such as the expansion of Flying Start, and its support for children to achieve their potential.

 

3. Recognises the adverse impact of the UK Government’s welfare reforms on children already living in poverty in Wales.

 

4. Welcomes the introduction of the Pupil Deprivation Grant in Wales.

 

5. Believes that renewed focus on improving housing and public health in deprived areas will reduce inequalities in health between children in Wales and the rest of the UK.

 

6. Calls on the Welsh Government to remit Estyn to monitor and regularly evaluate the School Effectiveness Grant and Pupil Deprivation Grant to ensure that schools and local authorities use them to maximum effect to ameliorate the effects of poverty on children’s educational attainment.

 

For	Abstain	Against	Total
30	0	15	45

The motion as amended was agreed.