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 17.02

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

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM5157 William Graham (South Wales East)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

 

1. Notes that small and medium sized businesses (SMEs) make up 99.2% of the Welsh business stock and that access to finance is crucial for SME longevity.

 

2. Expresses concern that, according to a Federation of Small Business Wales survey, 64% of businesses had never heard of Finance Wales.

 

3. Recognises the different economic challenges facing communities throughout Wales and the importance of localising access to finance.

 

4. Recognises the value of building partnerships between the Welsh Government and high street banks, or other financial institutions, in order to effectively and efficiently deliver public finance to local businesses.

 

5. Calls on the Welsh Government to consider the merits of the proposals outlined in ‘A Vision for Welsh Investment: Invest Wales’ and, where appropriate, consider incorporating them into Welsh Government support for SMEs in Wales.

 

For	Abstain	Against	Total
13	0	41	54

The motion without amendment was not agreed.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 - Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

 

Insert at end of point 3:

 

‘and of understanding the financial needs of local businesses’

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 1:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
53	0	1	54

Amendment 1 was agreed.

Amendment 2 - Jocelyn Davies (South Wales East)

 

Delete point 4 and replace with:

 

Regrets the lack of progress made by the UK Government in encouraging high street banks to lend to SMEs.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 2:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
36	0	18	54

Amendment 2 was agreed.

Amendment 3 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

 

Insert new point after point 4 and renumber accordingly:

 

Notes the Welsh Government review into the availability of funding for SMEs in Wales and regrets the lack of SME representatives on the advisory panel.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 3:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
27	0	28	55

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.

Amendment 4 - Jocelyn Davies (South Wales East)

 

Delete point 5 and replace with:

 

Calls on the Welsh Government to consider the merits of a publically owned business bank as part of its review into SMEs’ access to finance.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 4:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
36	5	13	54

Amendment 4 was agreed.

Amendment 5 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

 

Add as a new point at end of motion:

 

Calls on the Welsh Government to promote the use of Funding Circles and consider the merits of offering finance though the Funding Circle marketplace, as part of its review of funding for SMEs.

A vote was taken on Amendment 5:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
53	0	0	53

Amendment 5 was agreed.

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

NDM5157 William Graham (South Wales East)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

 

1. Notes that small and medium sized businesses (SMEs) make up 99.2% of the Welsh business stock and that access to finance is crucial for SME longevity.

 

2. Expresses concern that, according to a Federation of Small Business Wales survey, 64% of businesses had never heard of Finance Wales.

 

3. Recognises the different economic challenges facing communities throughout Wales and the importance of localising access to finance and of understanding the financial needs of local businesses.

 

4. Regrets the lack of progress made by the UK Government in encouraging high street banks to lend to SMEs.

 

5. Calls on the Welsh Government to consider the merits of a publically owned business bank as part of its review into SMEs’ access to finance.

 

6. Calls on the Welsh Government to promote the use of Funding Circles and consider the merits of offering finance though the Funding Circle marketplace, as part of its review of funding for SMEs.

 

For	Abstain	Against	Total
36	0	18	54

The motion as amended was agreed.