Decision details

The item started at 16.36

NDM5169 Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

Notes the Welsh Government’s commitment to ensure that there is a wide range of advice and initiatives to encourage and support entrepreneurship and start-up businesses in Wales.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

Insert as new point 1 and renumber:

'Expresses concern that many new businesses in Wales rely on bank overdrafts and credit cards as primary sources of funding to cover cash flow problems for day to day activities.'

Amendment 1 was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

Amendment 2 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

Delete ‘Notes the Welsh Government’s commitment to ensure that there is’ and replace with ‘Notes the importance of the Welsh Government providing’.

Amendment 2 was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

Amendment 3 - Jocelyn Davies (South Wales east)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Notes that the business birth rate for the priority sectors is lower than that of the non-priority sectors and calls on the government to ensure entrepreneurism is promoted in schools and colleges.

Amendment 3 was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

Amendment 4 - Jocelyn Davies (South Wales east)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Calls on the Welsh Government to consider the merits of bringing different government support schemes and initiatives together in order to develop a more consistent and coordinated approach to business start-up support.

Amendment 4 was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

Amendment 5 - William Graham (South Wales East)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Regrets that the enterprise birth rate in Wales remains below the UK average.

Amendment 5 was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

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

Amendment 6 - William Graham (South Wales East)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Recognises the need to harness entrepreneurial spirit from a young age and believes the establishment of social enterprises in all secondary schools would ensure our young people are equipped with important business skills.

A vote was taken on Amendment 6:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
19	0	30	49

Amendment 6 was not agreed.

Amendment 7 - William Graham (South Wales East)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Calls on the Welsh Government to prioritise a localised approach to supporting new businesses.

A vote was taken on Amendment 7:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
24	0	25	49

Amendment 7 was not agreed.

Amendment 8 - William Graham (South Wales East)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Notes the positive impact business rate relief has in encouraging the development of business start-ups in Wales, and urges the Welsh Government to provide further rate relief for small businesses.

A vote was taken on Amendment 8:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
24	0	25	49

Amendment 8 was not agreed.

Amendment 9 - William Graham (South Wales East)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Believes the proposals for new business outlined in ‘A Vision for Welsh Investment: Invest Wales’ should be strongly considered by the review into Welsh business access to finance commissioned by the Welsh Government in January 2013.

A vote was taken on Amendment 9:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
37	5	7	49

Amendment 9 was agreed.

Amendment 10 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

Insert as new point at the end of the motion:

Calls on the Welsh Government to promote a range of sources of funding for start-up businesses, for example through Credit Unions and other Community Development Finance Initiatives.

A vote was taken on Amendment 10:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
42	7	0	49

Amendment 10 was agreed.

Amendment 11 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

Insert as new point at the end of the motion:

Calls on the Welsh Government to further promote entrepreneurship opportunities in Wales to students studying at both Higher and Further Education levels.

A vote was taken on Amendment 11:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
49	0	0	49

Amendment 11 was agreed.

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

NDM5169 Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Expresses concern that many new businesses in Wales rely on bank overdrafts and credit cards as primary sources of funding to cover cash flow problems for day to day activities.

2. Notes the importance of the Welsh Government providing a wide range of advice and initiatives to encourage and support entrepreneurship and start-up businesses in Wales.

3. Notes that the business birth rate for the priority sectors is lower than that of the non-priority sectors and calls on the government to ensure entrepreneurism is promoted in schools and colleges.

4. Calls on the Welsh Government to consider the merits of bringing different government support schemes and initiatives together in order to develop a more consistent and coordinated approach to business start-up support.

5. Regrets that the enterprise birth rate in Wales remains below the UK average.

6. Believes the proposals for new business outlined in ‘A Vision for Welsh Investment: Invest Wales’ should be strongly considered by the review into Welsh business access to finance commissioned by the Welsh Government in January 2013.

7. Calls on the Welsh Government to promote a range of sources of funding for start-up businesses, for example through Credit Unions and other Community Development Finance Initiatives.

8. Calls on the Welsh Government to further promote entrepreneurship opportunities in Wales to students studying at both Higher and Further Education levels.

For	Abstain	Against	Total
37	0	12	49

The motion as amended was agreed.