Meetings
Welsh Liberal Democrats Debate - Fourth Assembly
This page gives details of any meetings held which will, or did, discuss the matter, and includes links to the relevant Papers, Agendas and Minutes.
Note: Meeting Agenda can change at short notice. Particularly where future meeting dates are indicated more than a week in advance. Please check before planning to attend a Committee Meeting that the item you are interested in has not been moved.
Meeting: 16/03/2016 - Plenary - Fourth Assembly (Item 12)
Welsh Liberal Democrats Debate
NDM6011 Aled
Roberts (North Wales)
To
propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
1.
Recognises the challenges facing the primary care sector in Wales, with
increasing pressure on resources and an ageing population with more complex
care needs;
2.
Notes that the percentage of NHS funding spent on general practice has fallen
from 10.27 per cent in 2005-2006 to 7.9 per cent in 2015-2016;
3.
Notes that Wales has the second lowest GP coverage in the UK with 23 per cent
of GPs aged over 50 and difficulties in training enough GPs to fulfil future
workforce requirements; and
4.
Calls on the next Welsh Government to:
a)
introduce an access to GPs scheme to fund innovative ways of providing primary
care services to improve access to GPs for patients;
b)
improve the availability of specialist mental health training for health
professionals;
c)
review the capacity of the general practice workforce to meet the needs of
patients;
d)
improve public education on appropriate health services;
e)
review the administration requirements on GPs; and
f)
improve the promotion of general practice as a profession.
The
following amendment has been tabled:
Amendment 1
- Elin Jones (Ceredigion)
Add
as new point at end of motion:
Calls
on the Welsh Government to increase training places for GPs, and to ensure that
training rotas for GPs cover rural and deprived areas in order to increase the
prospects of GPs practicing in those areas.
Decision:
The item started at 18.09
NDM6011 Aled Roberts (North Wales)
To
propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
1.
Recognises the challenges facing the primary care sector in Wales, with
increasing pressure on resources and an ageing population with more complex
care needs;
2.
Notes that the percentage of NHS funding spent on general practice has fallen
from 10.27 per cent in 2005-2006 to 7.9 per cent in 2015-2016;
3.
Notes that Wales has the second lowest GP coverage in the UK with 23 per cent
of GPs aged over 50 and difficulties in training enough GPs to fulfil future
workforce requirements; and
4.
Calls on the next Welsh Government to:
a)
introduce an access to GPs scheme to fund innovative ways of providing primary
care services to improve access to GPs for patients;
b)
improve the availability of specialist mental health training for health
professionals;
c)
review the capacity of the general practice workforce to meet the needs of
patients;
d)
improve public education on appropriate health services;
e)
review the administration requirements on GPs; and
f)
improve the promotion of general practice as a profession.
The motion was agreed in accordance with
Standing Order 12.36.
Meeting: 27/01/2016 - Plenary - Fourth Assembly (Item 7)
Welsh Liberal Democrats Debate
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.
'Holmans
Report – Future Need and Demand for Housing in Wales'
The
following amendments have been 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.
Bevan
Foundation Report – The Shape of Wales to Come
Amendment 2
- Elin Jones (Ceredigion)
In
point 2:
Delete
'should' and replace with 'could'.
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.
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.
Decision:
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.
Meeting: 09/12/2015 - Plenary - Fourth Assembly (Item 6)
Welsh Liberal Democrats Debate
NDM5906 Aled
Roberts (North Wales)
To
propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
1. Regrets that Wales lags behind the rest of
the UK in educational outcomes, particularly in key areas of reading,
mathematics and science.
2. Believes that educational policies should
help foster strong leadership and governance, excellent teaching, high
aspirations and opportunities to innovate.
3. Calls on the Welsh Government to empower
teachers and school leaders who have shown capacity and innovation with the
freedom to excel, by:
a)
reducing infant class sizes to 25 to give teachers more time for individual
learning with pupils;
b)
introducing a talented headteachers programme to encourage top leaders to use
their expertise to support underperforming schools;
c)
ensuring that teachers are given protected time to undertake continuous
professional development;
d)
introducing elected representation of peers from the teaching profession to the
Education Workforce Council to ensure proper accountability; and
e)
introducing a system of individual pupil monitoring, so that teachers can focus
on the experiences, achievements and outcomes for individual pupils.
The
following amendments have been tabled:
Amendment
1 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)
Insert as new
point 2 and renumber accordingly:
Believes that
investing in early education is the most effective way of raising educational
attainment.
Amendment
2 - Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)
Delete point 3
and replace with:
Calls on the
Welsh Government to empower teachers and school leaders who have shown capacity
and innovation with the freedom to excel, by:
a) introducing a
comprehensive headteachers programme that provides continual professional
development and ongoing support to all headteachers;
b) working with
the teaching profession to develop and offer a suite of continuous professional
development programmes that delivers for the needs of teachers and schools;
c) ensuring that
teachers are given protected time to undertake mandatory continuous professional
development; and
d) removing the
bureaucratic burden from teachers to enable them to practise a system of
individual pupil monitoring.
[If
amendment 2 is agreed, amendments 3 and 4 will be de-selected]
Amendment
3 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)
In point 3,
delete sub-point a).
Amendment
4 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)
Add as new
sub-point at end of point 3:
introducing
compulsory continuous professional development for teachers.
Amendment
5 - Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)
Adds new point at
the end of the motion
Calls on the Welsh Government to undertake a review of teaching capacity and training needs in order to enable accurate workforce planning.
Decision:
The item started at 16.51
Voting on the motion and amendments under
this item was deferred until Voting Time.
A
vote was taken on the motion without amendment:
NDM5906 Aled Roberts (North Wales)
To
propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
1. Regrets that Wales lags behind the rest of
the UK in educational outcomes, particularly in key areas of reading,
mathematics and science.
2. Believes that educational policies should
help foster strong leadership and governance, excellent teaching, high aspirations
and opportunities to innovate.
3. Calls on the Welsh Government to empower
teachers and school leaders who have shown capacity and innovation with the
freedom to excel, by:
a)
reducing infant class sizes to 25 to give teachers more time for individual
learning with pupils;
b)
introducing a talented headteachers programme to encourage top leaders to use
their expertise to support underperforming schools;
c)
ensuring that teachers are given protected time to undertake continuous
professional development;
d)
introducing elected representation of peers from the teaching profession to the
Education Workforce Council to ensure proper accountability; and
e)
introducing a system of individual pupil monitoring, so that teachers can focus
on the experiences, achievements and outcomes for individual pupils.
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
5 |
0 |
43 |
48 |
The motion without amendment was not agreed.
The following amendments were tabled:
Amendment
1 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)
Insert
as new point 2 and renumber accordingly:
Believes
that investing in early education is the most effective way of raising
educational attainment.
A vote was taken on Amendment 1:
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
38 |
10 |
0 |
48 |
Amendment 1 was agreed.
Amendment
2 - Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)
Delete
point 3 and replace with:
Calls
on the Welsh Government to empower teachers and school leaders who have shown
capacity and innovation with the freedom to excel, by:
a)
introducing a comprehensive headteachers programme that provides continual
professional development and ongoing support to all headteachers;
b)
working with the teaching profession to develop and offer a suite of continuous
professional development programmes that delivers for the needs of teachers and
schools;
c)
ensuring that teachers are given protected time to undertake mandatory
continuous professional development; and
d)
removing the bureaucratic burden from teachers to enable them to practise a
system of individual pupil monitoring.
A vote was taken on Amendment 2:
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
10 |
0 |
38 |
48 |
Amendment 2 was not agreed.
Amendment
3 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)
In
point 3, delete sub-point a).
A vote was taken on Amendment 3:
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
33 |
0 |
15 |
48 |
Amendment 3 was agreed.
Amendment
4 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)
Add
as new sub-point at end of point 3:
introducing
compulsory continuous professional development for teachers.
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.
Amendment
5 - Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)
Adds
new point at the end of the motion
Calls
on the Welsh Government to undertake a review of teaching capacity and training
needs in order to enable accurate workforce planning.
A vote was taken on Amendment 5:
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.
A vote was taken on the motion as amended:
NDM5906 Aled Roberts (North Wales)
To
propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
1.
Regrets that Wales lags behind the rest of the UK in educational outcomes,
particularly in key areas of reading, mathematics and science.
2.
Believes that investing in early education is the most effective way of raising
educational attainment.
3. Believes that educational policies should
help foster strong leadership and governance, excellent teaching, high
aspirations and opportunities to innovate.
4. Calls on the Welsh Government to empower teachers
and school leaders who have shown capacity and innovation with the freedom to
excel, by:
a) introducing a talented headteachers programme
to encourage top leaders to use their expertise to support underperforming
schools;
b)
ensuring that teachers are given protected time to undertake continuous
professional development;
c)
introducing elected representation of peers from the teaching profession to the
Education Workforce Council to ensure proper accountability; and
d)
introducing a system of individual pupil monitoring, so that teachers can focus
on the experiences, achievements and outcomes for individual pupils.
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 motion as
amended. Therefore, the motion as amended was not agreed.
Meeting: 25/11/2015 - Plenary - Fourth Assembly (Item 7)
Welsh Liberal Democrats Debate
NDM5889 Aled
Roberts (North Wales)
To
propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
1.
Recognises the importance of securing global agreement on a climate change
treaty at the 2015 UN Climate Change Conference in Paris, to ensure that the
internationally agreed objective of limiting average global temperature
increases to below two degrees Celsius is kept within reach.
2.
Calls on the Welsh Government to lead with ambition by setting a target for a
100 per cent reduction in greenhouse gases by 2050 within the Environment
(Wales) Bill.
The following amendments have been tabled:
Amendment 1
- Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)
Delete
point 2.
Amendment 2
- Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)
Add
as new point at end of motion:
Regrets
that the Welsh Government is not on track to meet its Climate Change 2020
targets.
Amendment 3 -
Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)
Add
as new point at end of motion:
Calls
on the Welsh Government to accelerate its low-carbon economy planning for
Wales, to provide green jobs for the future.
Amendment 4
- Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)
Add
as new point at end of motion:
Recognises
the importance of monitoring annual carbon emissions.
Amendment 5
- Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)
Add
as new point at end of motion:
Notes
the role retrofitting of older properties can play in meeting carbon reduction
targets.
Amendment 6
- Elin Jones (Ceredigion)
Add
as new point at end of motion:
Calls
on the Welsh Government to strengthen building regulations and significantly
upscale its retrofitting programme in order to cut emissions, help tackle fuel
poverty and create jobs.
Decision:
The item started at 16.49
Voting on the motion and amendments under
this item was deferred until Voting Time.
A
vote was taken on the motion without amendment:
NDM5889 Aled Roberts (North Wales)
To
propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
1.
Recognises the importance of securing global agreement on a climate change
treaty at the 2015 UN Climate Change Conference in Paris, to ensure that the
internationally agreed objective of limiting average global temperature
increases to below two degrees Celsius is kept within reach.
2.
Calls on the Welsh Government to lead with ambition by setting a target for a
100 per cent reduction in greenhouse gases by 2050 within the Environment
(Wales) Bill.
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
5 |
0 |
47 |
52 |
The motion without amendment was not agreed.
The following amendments were tabled:
Amendment 1 - Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)
Delete
point 2.
A vote was taken on Amendment 1:
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
26 |
11 |
15 |
52 |
Amendment 1 was agreed.
Amendment 2 - Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)
Add
as new point at end of motion:
Regrets
that the Welsh Government is not on track to meet its Climate Change 2020
targets.
A vote was taken on Amendment 2:
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
26 |
0 |
27 |
53 |
As required by Standing Order
6.20 the Deputy Presiding Officer exercised his casting vote by voting against
Amendment 2.
Amendment 3 - Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)
Add
as new point at end of motion:
Calls
on the Welsh Government to accelerate its low-carbon economy planning for
Wales, to provide green jobs for the future.
A vote was taken on Amendment 3:
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
51 |
0 |
0 |
51 |
Amendment 3 was agreed.
Amendment 4 - Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)
Add
as new point at end of motion:
Recognises
the importance of monitoring annual carbon emissions.
A vote was taken on Amendment 4:
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
52 |
0 |
0 |
52 |
Amendment 4 was agreed.
Amendment 5 - Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)
Add
as new point at end of motion:
Notes
the role retrofitting of older properties can play in meeting carbon reduction
targets.
A vote was taken on Amendment 5:
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
52 |
0 |
0 |
52 |
Amendment 5 was agreed.
Amendment 6 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)
Add
as new point at end of motion:
Calls
on the Welsh Government to strengthen building regulations and significantly
upscale its retrofitting programme in order to cut emissions, help tackle fuel
poverty and create jobs.
A vote was taken on Amendment 6:
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
52 |
0 |
0 |
52 |
Amendment 6 was agreed.
A vote was taken on the motion as amended:
NDM5889 Aled Roberts (North Wales)
To
propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
1.
Recognises the importance of securing global agreement on a climate change
treaty at the 2015 UN Climate Change Conference in Paris, to ensure that the
internationally agreed objective of limiting average global temperature
increases to below two degrees Celsius is kept within reach.
2.
Calls on the Welsh Government to accelerate its low-carbon economy planning for
Wales, to provide green jobs for the future.
3.
Recognises the importance of monitoring annual carbon emissions.
4.
Notes the role retrofitting of older properties can play in meeting carbon
reduction targets.
5.
Calls on the Welsh Government to strengthen building regulations and
significantly upscale its retrofitting programme in order to cut emissions,
help tackle fuel poverty and create jobs.
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
52 |
0 |
0 |
52 |
The motion as amended was agreed.
Meeting: 18/11/2015 - Plenary - Fourth Assembly (Item 6)
Welsh Liberal Democrats Debate
NDM5878 Aled
Roberts (North Wales)
To
propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
1. Notes that over 170,000 people in Wales are
employed directly and indirectly in tourism and related sectors;
2. Notes that 44 per cent of people employed within
the tourism sector are under 30 years old, and therefore measures to support
this sector could play a key role in reducing the youth unemployment rate in
Wales;
3. Believes that a reduction in VAT on tourism
would encourage more domestic and international visitors, provide a significant
boost to local businesses and lead to increased investment, jobs and economic
growth.
4. Notes that 25 other EU Member States already
take advantage of an EU dispensation for a lower VAT rate on tourist
attractions and accommodation; and
5. Calls on the Welsh Government to make
representations to the UK Government to lower the VAT on tourism from 20 per
cent to 5 per cent, to help us compete with other European countries and send a
strong message that Wales is open to tourists and open for business.
The
following amendments have been tabled:
Amendment
1- Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)
Add as new
point at end of motion:
Welcomes the
role that private tourism businesses play in local regeneration, as well as the
wider Welsh economy.
Amendment
2 - Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)
Add as new
point at end of motion:
Regrets that
some tourism providers remain unclear as to Visit Wales's role.
Amendment
3 - Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)
Add as new
point at end of motion:
Notes that
there is widespread support for transferring responsibility for delivering
tourism development and promotion from the Welsh Government.
Amendment
4 - Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)
Add as new
point at end of motion:
Calls on the Welsh
Government to publish a value for money assessment of Destination Management
Plans before the end of January 2016.
Decision:
The item started at 17.04
NDM5878 Aled Roberts (North Wales)
To
propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
1. Notes that over 170,000 people in Wales are
employed directly and indirectly in tourism and related sectors;
2. Notes that 44 per cent of people employed
within the tourism sector are under 30 years old, and therefore measures to
support this sector could play a key role in reducing the youth unemployment
rate in Wales;
3. Believes that a reduction in VAT on tourism
would encourage more domestic and international visitors, provide a significant
boost to local businesses and lead to increased investment, jobs and economic
growth.
4. Notes that 25 other EU Member States already
take advantage of an EU dispensation for a lower VAT rate on tourist
attractions and accommodation; and
5. Calls on the Welsh Government to make
representations to the UK Government to lower the VAT on tourism from 20 per
cent to 5 per cent, to help us compete with other European countries and send a
strong message that Wales is open to tourists and open for business.
The motion without amendment was agreed in
accordance with Standing Order 12.36.
Meeting: 04/11/2015 - Plenary - Fourth Assembly (Item 5)
Welsh Liberal Democrats Debate
NDM5865
Aled Roberts (North Wales)
To propose that
the National Assembly for Wales:
1. Believes
that a vibrant and diverse Welsh high street has a key role to play in building
sustainable communities for the future; supporting jobs and local enterprise, and
improving social inclusion and cohesion;
2. Recognises
the need to tackle barriers to the growth of town centres, which includes:
a) the increase
in online and out of town retail;
b) the loss of
local services or community assets and the recent round of bank closures;
c) the high
street vacancy rate which is consistently above the UK average;
d) the lack of
early consideration of sustainable transport in regeneration projects; and
e) the failure
of the planning system to facilitate development and encourage investment in
response to changing consumer demand.
3. Calls on the
Welsh Government to consider innovative proposals for the regeneration of high
streets in Wales, including the development of a national learning network to
offer training and resources, facilitate networking for inspiration on best
practice and collect and share access to research from around the world on
revitalising town centres.
The
following amendment has been tabled:
Amendment
1 – Paul Davies (Preseli
Pembrokeshire)
Insert as point
1 and renumber accordingly:
Acknowledges
the Welsh Conservatives' policies contained in 'A Vision for the Welsh High
Street'.
Decision:
The item started at 16.47
Voting on the motion and amendment under this
item was deferred until Voting Time.
A
vote was taken on the motion without amendment:
NDM5865 Aled Roberts
(North Wales)
To propose that the
National Assembly for Wales:
1. Believes that a vibrant
and diverse Welsh high street has a key role to play in building sustainable
communities for the future; supporting jobs and local enterprise, and improving
social inclusion and cohesion;
2. Recognises the need to
tackle barriers to the growth of town centres, which includes:
a) the increase in online
and out of town retail;
b) the loss of local
services or community assets and the recent round of bank closures;
c) the high street vacancy
rate which is consistently above the UK average;
d) the lack of early consideration
of sustainable transport in regeneration projects; and
e) the failure of the
planning system to facilitate development and encourage investment in response
to changing consumer demand.
3. Calls on the Welsh
Government to consider innovative proposals for the regeneration of high
streets in Wales, including the development of a national learning network to
offer training and resources, facilitate networking for inspiration on best
practice and collect and share access to research from around the world on
revitalising town centres.
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
33 |
0 |
10 |
43 |
The
motion without amendment was agreed.
Meeting: 07/10/2015 - Plenary - Fourth Assembly (Item 5)
Welsh Liberal Democrats Debate
NDM5840 Aled Roberts
(North Wales)
To
propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
1.
Notes that without proper support and treatment, mental health problems can
have a devastating impact on a person's quality of life, affecting their work, their
home life and their relationships;
2.
Welcomes world mental health day, Time to Change Wales, All Together Now! and
other campaigns which help to raise awareness of mental health and end stigma
and discrimination;
3.
Believes that there is still much to be done to provide better care and support
for people of all ages with mental health problems in Wales;
4.
Calls on the Welsh Government to:
a)
give equal priority to mental health and physical health in law to help drive a
culture change in attitudes;
b)
ensure that the proportion of funding for mental health within the overall NHS
Wales budget is consistent with the disease burden, reflecting the relative
size of the health challenge in relation to physical health;
c)
introduce new waiting time standards for mental health, including for access to
psychological therapies;
d)
improve mental health training to equip teachers, health professionals and
employers with the skills to identify and support those experiencing mental
health problems; and
e)
introduce a core set of mental health data, focused on outcomes for service
users, to inform decision making on priorities for action and to ensure the
most effective allocation of resources.
The following amendments
have been tabled:
Amendment 1 – Paul Davies
(Preseli Pembrokeshire)
In
point 4, add as new sub-point:
consider
the introduction of a ring fence to ensure that there is adequate investment in
mental health services for children and young people in Wales.
Amendment 2 – Paul Davies
(Preseli Pembrokeshire)
Add
as new point at end of motion:
Notes
ongoing concerns regarding the capacity of mental health services for children
and young people in Wales to meet demand.
Amendment 3 – Paul Davies
(Preseli Pembrokeshire)
Add
as new point at end of motion:
Regrets
that real term cuts to NHS expenditure in Wales will make securing improvements
in mental health services more challenging.
Decision:
The item started at 16.42
NDM5840 Aled Roberts (North Wales)
To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
1. Notes that without proper support and treatment,
mental health problems can have a devastating impact on a person's quality of
life, affecting their work, their home life and their relationships;
2. Welcomes world mental health day, Time to Change
Wales, All Together Now! and other campaigns which help to raise awareness of
mental health and end stigma and discrimination;
3. Believes that there is still much to be done to
provide better care and support for people of all ages with mental health
problems in Wales;
4. Calls on the Welsh Government to:
a) give equal priority to mental health and
physical health in law to help drive a culture change in attitudes;
b) ensure that the proportion of funding for mental
health within the overall NHS Wales budget is consistent with the disease
burden, reflecting the relative size of the health challenge in relation to
physical health;
c) introduce new waiting time standards for mental
health, including for access to psychological therapies;
d) improve mental health training to equip
teachers, health professionals and employers with the skills to identify and
support those experiencing mental health problems; and
e) introduce a core set of mental health data,
focused on outcomes for service users, to inform decision making on priorities
for action and to ensure the most effective allocation of resources.
The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.
Meeting: 23/09/2015 - Plenary - Fourth Assembly (Item 6)
Welsh Liberal Democrats Debate
NDM5826 Aled Roberts
(North Wales)
To
propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
1.
Recognises the importance of the Supporting People Programme which offers
invaluable support for vulnerable people to live independently within their community
and to end social exclusion;
2.
Notes that last year the programme supported over 60,000 people in Wales
including those who are homeless, at risk of domestic violence, elderly,
disabled, or have complex needs;
3.
Notes that the Supporting People Programme had an 8.3 per cent real terms cut
in funding between 2014-15 and 2015-16.
4.
Calls on the Welsh Government to:
a)
review the administration and monitoring requirements of the Supporting People
programme to ensure that funding is prioritised for front-line provision; and
b)
protect the Supporting People grant within the 2016-17 Welsh Government budget.
The following amendment
has been tabled:
Amendment 1 – Paul Davies
(Preseli Pembrokeshire)
Add
as new point at end of motion:
Notes
that the Supporting People programme reduces unnecessary pressures on statutory
services such as health and social services and that it is estimated that every
£1 invested in this programme can save up to £2.30 for the public purse.
Decision:
The item started at 16.27
Voting on the motion and amendments under
this item was deferred until Voting Time.
A
vote was taken on the motion without amendment:
NDM5826 Aled Roberts (North Wales)
To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
1. Recognises the importance of the Supporting
People Programme which offers invaluable support for vulnerable people to live
independently within their community and to end social exclusion;
2. Notes that last year the programme supported
over 60,000 people in Wales including those who are homeless, at risk of
domestic violence, elderly, disabled, or have complex needs;
3. Notes that the Supporting People Programme had
an 8.3 per cent real terms cut in funding between 2014-15 and 2015-16.
4. Calls on the Welsh Government to:
a) review the administration and monitoring
requirements of the Supporting People programme to ensure that funding is
prioritised for front-line provision; and
b) protect the Supporting People grant within the
2016-17 Welsh Government budget.
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
25 |
0 |
26 |
51 |
The
motion without amendment was not agreed.
The following amendment was tabled:
Amendment 1 – Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)
Add as new point at end of motion:
Notes that the Supporting People programme reduces
unnecessary pressures on statutory services such as health and social services
and that it is estimated that every £1 invested in this programme can save up
to £2.30 for the public purse.
A vote was taken on Amendment 1:
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
51 |
0 |
0 |
51 |
Amendment 1 was
agreed.
A vote was taken on the motion as amended:
NDM5826 Aled Roberts (North Wales)
To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
1. Recognises the importance of the Supporting
People Programme which offers invaluable support for vulnerable people to live
independently within their community and to end social exclusion;
2. Notes that last year the programme supported
over 60,000 people in Wales including those who are homeless, at risk of
domestic violence, elderly, disabled, or have complex needs;
3. Notes that the Supporting People Programme had
an 8.3 per cent real terms cut in funding between 2014-15 and 2015-16.
4. Calls on the Welsh Government to:
a) review the administration and monitoring
requirements of the Supporting People programme to ensure that funding is
prioritised for front-line provision; and
b) protect the Supporting People grant within the
2016-17 Welsh Government budget.
5. Notes that the Supporting People programme
reduces unnecessary pressures on statutory services such as health and social
services and that it is estimated that every £1 invested in this programme can
save up to £2.30 for the public purse.
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
25 |
0 |
26 |
51 |
The
motion as amended was not agreed.
Meeting: 24/06/2015 - Plenary - Fourth Assembly (Item 5)
Welsh Liberal Democrats Debate
NDM5790 Aled Roberts
(North Wales)
To
propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
1.
Recognises the value of distinctive Welsh-language broadcasting and the
important contribution of S4C in safeguarding our Welsh language and enriching
the culture of Wales;
2.
Opposes any further cuts in S4C funding by the UK Government Department for
Culture, Media and Sport, which could threaten the future of this channel; and
3.
Calls on the Welsh Government to make representations to the UK Government on
the importance of maintaining the editorial, managerial and operational
independence of S4C and the need for a sustainable funding basis to protect the
future of Welsh-language broadcasting.
The following amendments
have been tabled:
Amendment 1 – Paul Davies
(Preseli Pembrokeshire)
Delete
point 2 and replace with:
Opposes
any cuts to S4C funding by the UK Government's Department for Culture, Media
and Sport, during the current UK Parliament.
Amendment 2 – Paul Davies
(Preseli Pembrokeshire)
Add
as new point at end of motion:
Welcomes
measures that increase the accountability of S4C, as well as other Welsh public
service broadcasters, to the National Assembly and the commitment to strengthen
that accountability by the UK Government, as set out in the St David's Day
'Powers for a Purpose' document.
Powers
for a Purpose: Towards a Lasting Devolution Settlement for Wales can be found
at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/powers-for-a-purpose-towards-a-lasting-devolution-settlement-for-wales
Amendment 3 – Elin Jones
(Ceredigion)
Add
as new point at end of motion:
Calls
for the devolution of full responsibility and funding for S4C.
Decision:
The item started at 16.17
A vote was taken on the
motion without amendment:
NDM5790
Aled Roberts (North Wales)
To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
1. Recognises the value of distinctive
Welsh-language broadcasting and the important contribution of S4C in
safeguarding our Welsh language and enriching the culture of Wales;
2. Opposes any further cuts in S4C funding by the
UK Government Department for Culture, Media and Sport, which could threaten the
future of this channel; and
3. Calls on the Welsh Government to make representations
to the UK Government on the importance of maintaining the editorial, managerial
and operational independence of S4C and the need for a sustainable funding
basis to protect the future of Welsh-language broadcasting.
The motion without amendment was agreed in accordance with Standing Order
12.36.
Meeting: 10/06/2015 - Plenary - Fourth Assembly (Item 5)
Welsh Liberal Democrats Debate
NDM5779 Aled Roberts
(North Wales)
To
propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
1.
Believes that the current system for ensuring the quality and safety of
healthcare services is not fit for purpose and that Healthcare Inspectorate
Wales does not fulfil the need for independent inspection of the health system
in Wales.
2.
Calls on the Welsh Government to establish a more robust quality assurance
system that includes:
a)
scrapping Health Inspectorate Wales and establishing a new inspectorate that is
fully independent of the Welsh Government;
b)
appointing a chief inspector for hospitals and healthcare;
c)
introducing clinically-led and peer-reviewed inspections with significant
patient input;
d)
supporting staff and patients to use mechanisms for whistleblowing by
encouraging a stronger culture of openness and transparency; and
e)
reforming the complaints procedure to ensure greater independence and restore
the trust of patients and their families.
The following amendments
have been tabled:
Amendment 1 – Elin Jones
(Ceredigion)
Insert
new sub-point at end of point 2:
f)
considering a full merger of health and social care inspectorates.
Amendment 2 – Paul Davies
(Preseli Pembrokeshire)
Add
as new point at end of motion:
Calls
on the Welsh Government to increase transparency in the inspection and
regulation of healthcare providers in Wales by commissioning a full and
independent inquiry into the Welsh NHS.
Decision:
The
item started at 16.46
Voting
on the motion and amendments under this item was deferred until Voting Time.
A
vote was taken on the motion without amendment:
NDM5779 Aled Roberts
(North Wales)
To
propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
1.
Believes that the current system for ensuring the quality and safety of
healthcare services is not fit for purpose and that Healthcare Inspectorate
Wales does not fulfil the need for independent inspection of the health system
in Wales.
2.
Calls on the Welsh Government to establish a more robust quality assurance
system that includes:
a)
scrapping Health Inspectorate Wales and establishing a new inspectorate that is
fully independent of the Welsh Government;
b)
appointing a chief inspector for hospitals and healthcare;
c)
introducing clinically-led and peer-reviewed inspections with significant
patient input;
d)
supporting staff and patients to use mechanisms for whistleblowing by
encouraging a stronger culture of openness and transparency; and
e)
reforming the complaints procedure to ensure greater independence and restore
the trust of patients and their families.
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
6 |
0 |
42 |
48 |
The
motion without amendment was not agreed.
The
following amendments were tabled:
Amendment 1 – Elin Jones
(Ceredigion)
Insert
new sub-point at end of point 2:
f)
considering a full merger of health and social care inspectorates.
A vote was taken on Amendment 1:
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
48 |
0 |
0 |
48 |
Amendment
1 was agreed.
Amendment 2 – Paul Davies
(Preseli Pembrokeshire)
Add
as new point at end of motion:
Calls
on the Welsh Government to increase transparency in the inspection and
regulation of healthcare providers in Wales by commissioning a full and
independent inquiry into the Welsh NHS.
A
vote was taken on Amendment 2:
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
10 |
9 |
29 |
48 |
Amendment
2 was not agreed.
A
vote was taken on the motion as amended:
NDM5779 Aled Roberts
(North Wales)
To
propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
1.
Believes that the current system for ensuring the quality and safety of
healthcare services is not fit for purpose and that Healthcare Inspectorate
Wales does not fulfil the need for independent inspection of the health system
in Wales.
2.
Calls on the Welsh Government to establish a more robust quality assurance
system that includes:
a)
scrapping Health Inspectorate Wales and establishing a new inspectorate that is
fully independent of the Welsh Government;
b)
appointing a chief inspector for hospitals and healthcare;
c)
introducing clinically-led and peer-reviewed inspections with significant
patient input;
d)
supporting staff and patients to use mechanisms for whistleblowing by
encouraging a stronger culture of openness and transparency; and
e)
reforming the complaints procedure to ensure greater independence and restore
the trust of patients and their families.
f)
considering a full merger of health and social care inspectorates.
3.
Calls on the Welsh Government to increase transparency in the inspection and
regulation of healthcare providers in Wales by commissioning a full and
independent inquiry into the Welsh NHS.
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.
Meeting: 03/06/2015 - Plenary - Fourth Assembly (Item 6)
Welsh Liberal Democrats Debate
NDM5770
Aled Roberts (North Wales)
To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
Firmly opposes any attempt by the UK Government to
repeal the Human Rights Act 1998, which would undermine our Welsh devolution
settlement and be a retrograde step in the promotion and protection of human
rights.
The Human Right Act 1998 (c.42) can be found at:
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1998/42/contents
The
following amendments have been tabled:
Amendment
1 – Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)
Delete all and replace with:
1. Notes the manifesto commitment made by the
Conservative Party during the 2015 general election to introduce a British Bill
of Rights; and
2. Recognises the intention of the UK Government to
bring forward proposals to meet this commitment.
Amendment
2 – Elin Jones (Ceredigion)
Add as new point at end of motion:
Believes that any proposal to abolish, amend or
replace the Human Rights Act 1998 requires the assent of the National Assembly
expressed through a Legislative Consent Motion.
Decision:
The
item started at 18.00
Voting
on the motion and amendments under this item was deferred until Voting Time.
A
vote was taken on the motion without amendment:
NDM5770 Aled Roberts
(North Wales)
To
propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
Firmly
opposes any attempt by the UK Government to repeal the Human Rights Act 1998,
which would undermine our Welsh devolution settlement and be a retrograde step
in the promotion and protection of human rights.
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
24 |
0 |
15 |
39 |
The
motion without amendment was agreed
Meeting: 29/04/2015 - Plenary - Fourth Assembly (Item 5)
Welsh Liberal Democrats Debate
NDM5746 Aled Roberts
(North Wales)
To
propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
1.
Notes the sudden closure of the Welsh Government's flagship yet ineffective
Jobs Growth Wales scheme, without any replacement.
2.
Notes that the 2014 interim evaluation report on Jobs Growth Wales found that:
a)
73% of young people would have found employment without the scheme;
b)
there were significant failures to target those young people most in need of
help to find work; and
c)
scheme participants were shown to be trapped on low wages, earning only 67% of
the average for their age group.
3.
Calls on the Welsh Government to focus future European Social Fund employment
schemes on improving skill levels, increasing the number of apprenticeships and
developing work-based training opportunities, which would support young people
most at risk of long-term unemployment and give them the skills and
opportunities to help build a stronger economy to enable them to get on in
life.
The
2014 'Jobs Growth Wales: Interim evaluation report' is available here:
The following amendments
have been tabled:
Amendment 1 - Paul Davies
(Preseli Pembrokeshire)
Add
as new point 1 and renumber accordingly:
1.
Acknowledges that a strong UK economy:
a)
creates the conditions for growth in job opportunities for our young people;
b)
challenges schools, further and higher education institutions, governments and
employers to identify and meet skills
required in the growth employment market; a
c)
allows young entrepreneurs to seize the opportunities of economic growth.
Amendment 2 - Elin Jones
(Ceredigion)
Delete
point 1 and replace with:
Notes
the sudden closure of the Welsh Government's flagship Jobs Growth Wales scheme
and calls for the swift reinstatement of an equivalent programme.
Decision:
The item started at
16.28
Voting on the Motion and Amendments under this item
was deferred until Voting Time.
A vote was taken on the Motion without amendment:
NDM5746 Aled Roberts (North Wales)
To propose that the
National Assembly for Wales:
1. Notes the sudden
closure of the Welsh Government's flagship yet ineffective Jobs Growth Wales
scheme, without any replacement.
2. Notes that the
2014 interim evaluation report on Jobs Growth Wales found that:
a) 73% of young
people would have found employment without the scheme;
b) there were
significant failures to target those young people most in need of help to find
work; and
c) scheme
participants were shown to be trapped on low wages, earning only 67% of the
average for their age group.
3. Calls on the
Welsh Government to focus future European Social Fund employment schemes on
improving skill levels, increasing the number of apprenticeships and developing
work-based training opportunities, which would support young people most at
risk of long-term unemployment and give them the skills and opportunities to
help build a stronger economy to enable them to get on in life.
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
4 |
0 |
37 |
41 |
The Motion without
amendment was not agreed.
The following amendments were tabled:
Amendment 1 - Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)
Add as new point 1
and renumber accordingly:
1. Acknowledges
that a strong UK economy:
a) creates the
conditions for growth in job opportunities for our young people;
b) challenges
schools, further and higher education institutions, governments and employers
to identify and meet skills required in
the growth employment market; a
c) allows young
entrepreneurs to seize the opportunities of economic growth.
A vote was taken on
Amendment 1:
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
35 |
0 |
7 |
42 |
Amendment 1 was agreed.
Amendment 2 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)
Delete point 1 and
replace with:
Notes the sudden
closure of the Welsh Government's flagship Jobs Growth Wales scheme and calls
for the swift reinstatement of an equivalent programme.
A vote was taken on
Amendment 2:
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
11 |
9 |
21 |
41 |
Amendment 2 was not agreed.
A vote was taken on the Motion as amended:
NDM5746 Aled Roberts (North Wales)
To propose that the
National Assembly for Wales:
1. Acknowledges
that a strong UK economy:
a) creates the
conditions for growth in job opportunities for our young people;
b) challenges
schools, further and higher education institutions, governments and employers
to identify and meet skills required in
the growth employment market; a
c) allows young
entrepreneurs to seize the opportunities of economic growth.
2. Notes the sudden
closure of the Welsh Government's flagship yet ineffective Jobs Growth Wales
scheme, without any replacement.
3. Notes that the
2014 interim evaluation report on Jobs Growth Wales found that:
a) 73% of young
people would have found employment without the scheme;
b) there were
significant failures to target those young people most in need of help to find
work; and
c) scheme
participants were shown to be trapped on low wages, earning only 67% of the
average for their age group.
4. Calls on the
Welsh Government to focus future European Social Fund employment schemes on
improving skill levels, increasing the number of apprenticeships and developing
work-based training opportunities, which would support young people most at
risk of long-term unemployment and give them the skills and opportunities to
help build a stronger economy to enable them to get on in life.
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
13 |
0 |
28 |
41 |
The Motion as amended was
not agreed.
Meeting: 18/03/2015 - Plenary - Fourth Assembly (Item 5)
Welsh Liberal Democrats Debate
NDM5727 Aled Roberts
(North Wales)
To
propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
1.
Notes that one in three Welsh children live below the poverty line.
2.
Notes that Wales has the lowest education attainment levels in the UK, which has
a particularly negative impact on deprived communities.
3.
Notes that childhood obesity, female youth smoking rates and youth alcohol
consumption rates are worse in Wales than in England.
4.
Notes that Young people aged between 11 and 16 in Wales drink more alcohol each
week than in any other part of the UK.
5.
Welcomes the recent budget deal between the Welsh Liberal Democrats and Welsh
Government which will increase the Pupil Deprivation Grant (PDG) to £1,150 per
pupil, extend the PDG to under 5s, and introduce a Young Travellers' Youth
Concessionary Fare.
6.
Believes people should be empowered to lead the life they want to lead and
there is no room for complacency in the battle to ensure equality for all.
7.
Calls on the Welsh Government to:
a)
provide access to the Flying Start initiative to all children across Wales on
the basis of need rather than geographical location;
b)
improve the system of continuous professional development for teachers and
establish a Welsh Academy of Education Leadership;
c)
amend the Estyn Framework to ensure that greater focus is given to education on
healthy eating and exercise in schools;
d)
focus more resources on the cessation of youth smoking and tackling illegal
tobacco; and
e)
ensure that all apprentices receive the highest quality of training that
provides them with portable qualifications.
The following amendments
have been tabled:
Amendment 1 - Elin Jones
(Ceredigion)
Insert
as new point 5 and renumber accordingly:
Notes
the projected rise in the number of children living in poverty to 3.4 million
across the UK by 2020 and further notes the impact of UK Government welfare
reforms on rising child poverty levels.
Amendment 2 - Paul
Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)
Delete
point 5.
Amendment 3 - Paul
Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)
In
sub-point 7b), delete 'establish a Welsh Academy of Education Leadership' and
replace with 'ensure it progresses effectively from new Initial Teacher
Education provision'.
Amendment 4 - Paul Davies
(Preseli Pembrokeshire)
Add
as a new sub-point at the end of motion:
ensure
that schools show evidence that they are using the PDG to help pupils from
low-income households.
Decision:
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:
NDM5727
Aled Roberts (North Wales)
To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
1. Notes that one in three Welsh children live below
the poverty line.
2. Notes that Wales has the lowest education
attainment levels in the UK, which has a particularly negative impact on
deprived communities.
3. Notes that childhood obesity, female youth
smoking rates and youth alcohol consumption rates are worse in Wales than in
England.
4. Notes that Young people aged between 11 and 16 in
Wales drink more alcohol each week than in any other part of the UK.
5. Welcomes the recent budget deal between the Welsh
Liberal Democrats and Welsh Government which will increase the Pupil
Deprivation Grant (PDG) to £1,150 per pupil, extend the PDG to under 5s, and
introduce a Young Travellers' Youth Concessionary Fare.
6. Believes people should be empowered to lead the
life they want to lead and there is no room for complacency in the battle to
ensure equality for all.
7. Calls on the Welsh Government to:
a) provide access to the Flying Start initiative to
all children across Wales on the basis of need rather than geographical
location;
b) improve the system of continuous professional
development for teachers and establish a Welsh Academy of Education Leadership;
c) amend the Estyn Framework to ensure that greater
focus is given to education on healthy eating and exercise in schools;
d) focus more resources on the cessation of youth
smoking and tackling illegal tobacco; and
e) ensure that all apprentices receive the highest
quality of training that provides them with portable qualifications.
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
4 |
0 |
46 |
50 |
The
motion without amendment was not agreed.
The
following amendments were tabled:
Amendment 1 - Elin Jones
(Ceredigion)
Insert
as new point 5 and renumber accordingly:
Notes
the projected rise in the number of children living in poverty to 3.4 million
across the UK by 2020 and further notes the impact of UK Government welfare
reforms on rising child poverty levels.
A
vote was taken on Amendment 1:
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
34 |
0 |
16 |
50 |
Amendment
1 was agreed.
Amendment 2 - Paul
Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)
Delete
point 5.
A
vote was taken on Amendment 2:
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
21 |
0 |
29 |
50 |
Amendment
2 was not agreed.
Amendment
3 - Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)
In sub-point 7b), delete 'establish a Welsh Academy
of Education Leadership' and replace with 'ensure it progresses effectively
from new Initial Teacher Education provision'.
A
vote was taken on Amendment 3:
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
43 |
0 |
4 |
47 |
Amendment
3 was agreed.
Amendment 4 - Paul
Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)
Add
as a new sub-point at the end of motion:
ensure
that schools show evidence that they are using the PDG to help pupils from
low-income households.
A
vote was taken on Amendment 4
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
49 |
1 |
0 |
50 |
Amendment
4 was agreed.
A
vote was taken on the motion as amended:
NDM5727
Aled Roberts (North Wales)
To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
1. Notes that one in three Welsh children live below
the poverty line.
2. Notes that Wales has the lowest education attainment
levels in the UK, which has a particularly negative impact on deprived
communities.
3. Notes that childhood obesity, female youth
smoking rates and youth alcohol consumption rates are worse in Wales than in
England.
4. Notes that Young people aged between 11 and 16 in
Wales drink more alcohol each week than in any other part of the UK.
5. Notes
the projected rise in the number of children living in poverty to 3.4 million
across the UK by 2020 and further notes the impact of UK Government welfare
reforms on rising child poverty levels.
6. Welcomes the recent budget deal between the Welsh
Liberal Democrats and Welsh Government which will increase the Pupil
Deprivation Grant (PDG) to £1,150 per pupil, extend the PDG to under 5s, and
introduce a Young Travellers' Youth Concessionary Fare.
7. Believes people should be empowered to lead the
life they want to lead and there is no room for complacency in the battle to
ensure equality for all.
8. Calls on the Welsh Government to:
a) provide access to the Flying Start initiative to
all children across Wales on the basis of need rather than geographical
location;
b) improve the system of continuous professional
development for teachers and ensure it progresses effectively from new Initial
Teacher Education provision;
c) amend the Estyn Framework to ensure that greater
focus is given to education on healthy eating and exercise in schools;
d) focus more resources on the cessation of youth
smoking and tackling illegal tobacco; and
e) ensure that all apprentices receive the highest
quality of training that provides them with portable qualifications.
f)
ensure that schools show evidence that they are using the PDG to help pupils
from low-income households.
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
0 |
8 |
42 |
50 |
The
motion as amended was not agreed.
Meeting: 25/02/2015 - Plenary - Fourth Assembly (Item 6)
Welsh Liberal Democrats Debate
NDM5702 Aled Roberts
(North Wales)
1.
Notes that:
a)
the Office for National Statistics estimates that one in four British adults
will experience a mental health problem within any given year;
b)
the World Health Organisation estimates that 20% of the 'burden of disease' in
the UK is represented by mental illness but that mental health accounts for
just 11% of NHS spending;
c)
mental health problems can interact with other conditions to further worsen a
person's wellbeing;
d)
according to the UK Chief Medical Officer, three-quarters of adult mental
disorders are in evidence by the age of 21, but three-quarters of children and
young people with these disorders are not diagnosed or treated;
e)
Stats Wales showed young people under the age of 18 accounted for 85% of the
population waiting more than 18 weeks in December 2014 between referral and
receiving first treatment for mental health problems;
f)
research by Mind found that 1 in 3 workers in the UK wouldn't be able to talk
openly with their line managers about stress.
2.
Welcomes the excellent work of the third sector in raising awareness for mental
health wellbeing.
3.
Believes more must be done to support people to look after their own mental
health.
4.
Believes there must be a parity of emphasis between mental and physical health.
5.
Calls on the Welsh Government to:
a)
carry out a study to determine what additional funding and resources are
required for mental health provision in Wales in order to ensure parity of
emphasis between mental and physical health services;
b)
expand liaison psychiatry in the NHS to provide mental healthcare support for
people being treated with physical health problems;
c)
offer mental health support training and advice to all those who work closely
with children;
d)
ensure all new student teachers receive basic mental health support training as
part of the qualified teacher status;
e)
ensure that employers make workplaces a mental health friendly environment.
Decision:
The item started at 16.54
Due to a technical fault with the microphone system proceedings were
suspended at 17.18. The bell was rung before reconvening at 17.30.
NDM5702 Aled
Roberts (North Wales)
1. Notes that:
a) the Office for National Statistics estimates that one in four British
adults will experience a mental health problem within any given year;
b) the World Health Organisation estimates that 20% of the 'burden of
disease' in the UK is represented by mental illness but that mental health
accounts for just 11% of NHS spending;
c) mental health problems can interact with other conditions to further
worsen a person's wellbeing;
d) according to the UK Chief Medical Officer, three-quarters of adult
mental disorders are in evidence by the age of 21, but three-quarters of
children and young people with these disorders are not diagnosed or treated;
e) Stats Wales showed young people under the age of 18 accounted for 85%
of the population waiting more than 18 weeks in December 2014 between referral
and receiving first treatment for mental health problems;
f) research by Mind found that 1 in 3 workers in the UK wouldn't be able
to talk openly with their line managers about stress.
2. Welcomes the excellent work of the third sector in raising awareness
for mental health wellbeing.
3. Believes more must be done to support people to look after their own
mental health.
4. Believes there must be a parity of emphasis between mental and
physical health.
5. Calls on the Welsh Government to:
a) carry out a study to determine what additional funding and resources
are required for mental health provision in Wales in order to ensure parity of
emphasis between mental and physical health services;
b) expand liaison psychiatry in the NHS to provide mental healthcare
support for people being treated with physical health problems;
c) offer mental health support training and advice to all those who work
closely with children;
d) ensure all new student teachers receive basic mental health support
training as part of the qualified teacher status;
e) ensure that employers make workplaces a mental health friendly
environment.
The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.
Meeting: 28/01/2015 - Plenary - Fourth Assembly (Item 7)
Welsh Liberal Democrats Debate
NDM5676 Aled Roberts
(North Wales)
To
propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
1.
Notes that access to financial capital for Welsh businesses is essential to
encourage growth in the private sector.
2.
Notes that up skilling the Welsh population is crucial to increasing
productivity and putting the Welsh economy at a competitive advantage.
3.
Notes that our rurality and geography mean that innovative and radical
proposals are needed to grow our economy and improve connectivity.
4.
Believes that there are many strengths that will help build the Welsh economy
such as our proximity to UK and EU markets, existing pockets of innovation and
excellence, and training capacity.
5.
Calls on the Welsh Government to deliver a balanced, integrated, export-led
economic strategy and address Wales's underdevelopment with a long-term
commitment to investing in Wales's people, business and infrastructure,
including by:
a)
creating a Welsh development bank;
b)
developing networks of advisors to provide professional business support;
c)
embedding wider skills such as entrepreneurship, leadership and management into
the curriculum;
d)
decentralising more powers over economic development from Cardiff Bay, directly
to communities;
e)
improving our transport infrastructure by supporting electrification of the
North Wales Coast Main Line, developing passenger transport authorities to
regulate public transport and ensure suitable provision; and funding a
feasibility study into reinstating the rail links between Aberyswyth and
Carmarthen to link up with the existing network; and
f)
launching a radical and systematic review of the way that business rates are
run in Wales.
The following amendments
have been tabled:
Amendment 1 - Paul
Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)
Insert
as a new point 1 and renumber accordingly:
Acknowledges
that a successful private sector, including social enterprises, is vital for
sustainable economic growth throughout Wales and the enhancement of public
service provision.
Amendment 2 - Elin Jones
(Ceredigion)
In
subpoint 5(e), insert after 'North Wales Coast Main Line':
'and
the Wales Marches Line'.
Amendment 3 - Jane Hutt
(Vale of Glamorgan)
In
point 5e) delete 'developing passenger transport authorities to regulate public
transport and ensure suitable provision' and replace with 'developing a
not-for-dividend model as a key part of delivering an integrated transport
system'.
Amendment 4 - Elin Jones
(Ceredigion)
Add
as new sub-point at end of point 5:
extending
the Small Business Rate Relief Scheme to give all businesses with a Rateable
Value of £10,000 or less 100% relief and tapered relief for those with a
Rateable Value between £10,001 and £15,000.
Amendment 5 - Elin Jones
(Ceredigion)
Add
as new sub-point at end of point 5:
establishing
a new body to work alongside UKTI to build trading relationships between Welsh
businesses and the international community.
Decision:
The item started at 16.50
Voting on the motion and amendments under this item was deferred until
Voting Time.
A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:
NDM5676 Aled Roberts (North Wales)
To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
1. Notes that access to financial capital for Welsh
businesses is essential to encourage growth in the private sector.
2. Notes that up skilling the Welsh population is
crucial to increasing productivity and putting the Welsh economy at a
competitive advantage.
3. Notes that our rurality and geography mean that
innovative and radical proposals are needed to grow our economy and improve
connectivity.
4. Believes that there are many strengths that will
help build the Welsh economy such as our proximity to UK and EU markets,
existing pockets of innovation and excellence, and training capacity.
5. Calls on the Welsh Government to deliver a
balanced, integrated, export-led economic strategy and address Wales's
underdevelopment with a long-term commitment to investing in Wales's people,
business and infrastructure, including by:
a) creating a Welsh development bank;
b) developing networks of advisors to provide
professional business support;
c) embedding wider skills such as entrepreneurship,
leadership and management into the curriculum;
d) decentralising more powers over economic
development from Cardiff Bay, directly to communities;
e) improving our transport infrastructure by
supporting electrification of the North Wales Coast Main Line, developing
passenger transport authorities to regulate public transport and ensure
suitable provision; and funding a feasibility study into reinstating the rail
links between Aberyswyth and Carmarthen to link up with the existing network;
and
f) launching a radical and systematic review of the
way that business rates are run in Wales.
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
5 |
0 |
47 |
52 |
The motion without amendment was not agreed.
The following amendments have been tabled:
Amendment 1 - Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)
Insert as a new point 1 and renumber accordingly:
Acknowledges that a successful private sector,
including social enterprises, is vital for sustainable economic growth
throughout Wales and the enhancement of public service provision.
A vote was taken on Amendment 1:
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
52 |
0 |
0 |
52 |
Amendment 1 was agreed.
Amendment 2 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)
In subpoint 5(e), insert after 'North Wales Coast
Main Line':
'and the Wales Marches Line'.
A vote was taken on Amendment 2:
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
26 |
0 |
27 |
53 |
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 3 - Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)
In point 5e) delete 'developing passenger transport
authorities to regulate public transport and ensure suitable provision' and
replace with 'developing a not-for-dividend model as a key part of delivering
an integrated transport system'.
A vote was taken on Amendment 3:
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
35 |
0 |
17 |
52 |
Amendment 3 was agreed.
Amendment 4 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)
Add as new sub-point at end of point 5:
extending the Small Business Rate Relief Scheme to
give all businesses with a Rateable Value of £10,000 or less 100% relief and
tapered relief for those with a Rateable Value between £10,001 and £15,000.
A vote was taken on Amendment 4:
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
21 |
0 |
31 |
52 |
Amendment 4 was not agreed.
Amendment 5 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)
Add as new sub-point at end of point 5:
establishing a new body to work alongside UKTI to
build trading relationships between Welsh businesses and the international
community.
A vote was taken on Amendment 5:
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
9 |
0 |
43 |
52 |
Amendment 5 was not agreed.
A vote was taken on the motion as amended:
NDM5676 Aled Roberts (North Wales)
To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
1. Acknowledges that a successful private sector,
including social enterprises, is vital for sustainable economic growth throughout
Wales and the enhancement of public service provision.
2. Notes that access to financial capital for Welsh
businesses is essential to encourage growth in the private sector.
3. Notes that up skilling the Welsh population is
crucial to increasing productivity and putting the Welsh economy at a
competitive advantage.
4. Notes that our rurality and geography mean that
innovative and radical proposals are needed to grow our economy and improve
connectivity.
5. Believes that there are many strengths that will
help build the Welsh economy such as our proximity to UK and EU markets,
existing pockets of innovation and excellence, and training capacity.
6. Calls on the Welsh Government to deliver a
balanced, integrated, export-led economic strategy and address Wales's
underdevelopment with a long-term commitment to investing in Wales's people,
business and infrastructure, including by:
a) creating a Welsh development bank;
b) developing networks of advisors to provide
professional business support;
c) embedding wider skills such as entrepreneurship,
leadership and management into the curriculum;
d) decentralising more powers over economic
development from Cardiff Bay, directly to communities;
e) improving our transport infrastructure by
supporting electrification of the North Wales Coast Main Line, developing a
not-for-dividend model as a key part of delivering an integrated transport
system; and funding a feasibility study into reinstating the rail links between
Aberyswyth and Carmarthen to link up with the existing network; and
f) launching a radical and systematic review of the
way that business rates are run in Wales.
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
40 |
0 |
12 |
52 |
The motion as amended was agreed.
Meeting: 19/11/2014 - Plenary - Fourth Assembly (Item 6)
Welsh Liberal Democrats Debate
NDM5623 Aled Roberts
(North Wales)
To
propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
1.
Recognises that transgender people in Wales are among the most vulnerable to
social isolation and prejudice.
2.
Notes that there is inadequate service provision in Wales for the transgender
community in a number of areas, including employment and training, healthcare
and housing.
3.
Calls on the Welsh Government to:
a)
identify a Minister to take responsibility for the issues faced by the trans
community;
b)
formulate an action plan for identifying institutionalised prejudice, improving
access to public services and tackling social stigmatisation, harassment and
bullying for this group; and
c)
report back to the Assembly within 6 months of the Minister being appointed.
The following amendments
have been tabled:
Amendment 1 - Paul
Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)
Insert
new sub point at end of point 3:
"raise
public awareness of transgender hate crime, to encourage reporting of incidents
by victims."
Amendment 2 - Paul
Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)
Insert
new sub point at end of point 3:
"ensure
that transgender victims of hate crime have access to comprehensive and easily
accessible support services."
Amendment 3 - Elin Jones
(Ceredigion)
Add
as new point at end of motion:
Work
with LGBT groups and Police and Crime Commissioners to ensure that the police
force takes transgender hate crimes seriously and that victims feel able to
report crimes and are supported throughout the criminal justice process.
Decision:
The item started at 17.11
Voting
on the motion and amendments under this item was deferred until Voting Time.
A
vote was taken on the motion without amendment:
NDM5623 Aled Roberts (North Wales)
To propose that the
National Assembly for Wales:
1. Recognises that
transgender people in Wales are among the most vulnerable to social isolation
and prejudice.
2. Notes that there is
inadequate service provision in Wales for the transgender community in a number
of areas, including employment and training, healthcare and housing.
3. Calls on the Welsh
Government to:
a) identify a Minister to
take responsibility for the issues faced by the trans community;
b) formulate an action
plan for identifying institutionalised prejudice, improving access to public
services and tackling social stigmatisation, harassment and bullying for this
group; and
c) report back to the
Assembly within 6 months of the Minister being appointed.
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
28 |
0 |
19 |
47 |
The
motion without amendment was agreed.
Meeting: 12/11/2014 - Plenary - Fourth Assembly (Item 6)
Welsh Liberal Democrats Debate
NDM5615 Aled Roberts
(North Wales)
To
propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
1.
Notes the current forecasts that the concession agreement for the Severn
Bridges will come to an end in 2018 and that early discussions need to take
place as to the future ownership, maintenance and tolling system for the
bridges.
2.
Believes that the current tolling system is an unfair burden on businesses,
commuters and the public.
3.
Calls on the Welsh Government to work closely with the UK Government on
planning for the future of the bridges.
4.
Calls on the UK Government to abolish the tolls on the Severn Bridges once the
existing construction and repair costs are paid off.
The following amendments
have been tabled:
Amendment 1 - Elin Jones
(Ceredigion)
Delete
point 4 and replace with
4.
Calls for responsibility for setting tolls on the Severn crossings, following
the concession, to be transferred to the Welsh Government.
5.
Calls on the next Welsh Government to reduce the tolls on the Severn Bridges to
reflect maintenance costs only, and for the longer term option of abolishing
the tolls to be kept under review.
[If amendment 1 is
agreed, amendments 2 and 3 will be de-selected]
Amendment 2 - Paul
Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)
Delete
point 4 and replace with:
Calls
on the UK Government to commission a feasibility study on the effect of
abolishing the Severn Bridge tolls.
[If amendment 2 is
agreed, amendment 3 will be de-selected]
Amendment 3 - Jane Hutt
(Vale of Glamorgan)
Delete
point 4 and replace with:
Recognises
that, as set out in the economic research "Impact of the Severn Tolls on
the Welsh Economy", the Severn tolls cost the Welsh economy around £80
million and, therefore, believes that the Welsh Government should have the
responsibility for future decisions on tolling.
"Impact
of the Severn Tolls on the Welsh Economy" can be found on the following
link:
http://wales.gov.uk/statistics-and-research/impact-severn-bridge-tolls-welsh-economy/?lang=en
Decision:
The item started at 17.17
Voting
on the motion and amendments under this item was deferred until Voting Time.
A
vote was taken on the motion without amendment:
NDM5615 Aled Roberts (North Wales)
To propose that the
National Assembly for Wales:
1. Notes the current
forecasts that the concession agreement for the Severn Bridges will come to an
end in 2018 and that early discussions need to take place as to the future
ownership, maintenance and tolling system for the bridges.
2. Believes that the
current tolling system is an unfair burden on businesses, commuters and the
public.
3. Calls on the Welsh
Government to work closely with the UK Government on planning for the future of
the bridges.
4. Calls on the UK
Government to abolish the tolls on the Severn Bridges once the existing
construction and repair costs are paid off.
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
5 |
0 |
39 |
44 |
The
motion without amendment was not agreed.
The
following amendments were tabled:
Amendment 1 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)
Delete point 4 and replace with
4. Calls for responsibility for setting tolls on
the Severn crossings, following the concession, to be transferred to the Welsh
Government.
5. Calls on the next Welsh Government to reduce the
tolls on the Severn Bridges to reflect maintenance costs only, and for the
longer term option of abolishing the tolls to be kept under review.
A vote was taken on Amendment 1:
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
39 |
0 |
5 |
44 |
Amendment 1 was agreed
As Amendment 1 was agreed Amendments 2 and 3 were
de-selected.
A
vote was taken on the motion as amended:
NDM5615 Aled Roberts (North Wales)
To propose that the
National Assembly for Wales:
1. Notes the current forecasts
that the concession agreement for the Severn Bridges will come to an end in
2018 and that early discussions need to take place as to the future ownership,
maintenance and tolling system for the bridges.
2. Believes that the
current tolling system is an unfair burden on businesses, commuters and the
public.
3. Calls on the Welsh
Government to work closely with the UK Government on planning for the future of
the bridges.
4. Calls for responsibility for setting tolls on
the Severn crossings, following the concession, to be transferred to the Welsh
Government.
5. Calls on the next Welsh Government to reduce the
tolls on the Severn Bridges to reflect maintenance costs only, and for the
longer term option of abolishing the tolls to be kept under review.
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
39 |
0 |
5 |
44 |
The
motion as amended was agreed.
Meeting: 08/10/2014 - Plenary - Fourth Assembly (Item 7)
Welsh Liberal Democrats Debate
NDM5593 Aled Roberts
(North Wales)
To
propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
1.
Welcomes that the Welsh Government, together with the Welsh Liberal Democrats,
have secured an additional £95m of funding over two years in the new budget for
the Pupil Deprivation Grant.
2.
Welcomes that funding has also been extended to include the Early Years Pupil
Premium for children under the age of 5.
3.
Recognises that the two year budget deal helps address concerns expressed by
schools in previous years of the scheme regarding the continuity of funding.
4.
Recognises the importance of both schemes in helping break the link between
poverty and educational under-achievement, and in closing the attainment gap
between pupils from disadvantaged and more advantaged backgrounds.
The following amendments
have been tabled:
Amendment 1 - Elin Jones
(Ceredigion)
Delete all and replace
with:
1. Notes the real term
cut of £56m in this year's education budget which includes cuts of £5m to the
School Effectiveness Grant and £10.7m to the Young Recruits apprenticeships
scheme.
2. Notes further cuts of
£26.4m in the draft budget to post-16 education compared with the supplementary
budget for June 2014.
3. Believes that the
Welsh Government has broken the spirit of previous budget deals and rejects
budget tinkering while fundamental flaws remain.
Amendment 2 - Paul
Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)
Add as new point at end
of motion:
Notes that a formal
evaluation of the Pupil Deprivation Grant is not yet available.
Decision:
The item started at 16.24
Voting
on the motion and amendments under this item was deferred until Voting Time.
A
vote was taken on the motion without amendment:
NDM5593
Aled Roberts (North Wales)
To
propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
1.
Welcomes that the Welsh Government, together with the Welsh Liberal Democrats,
have secured an additional £95m of funding over two years in the new budget for
the Pupil Deprivation Grant.
2.
Welcomes that funding has also been extended to include the Early Years Pupil
Premium for children under the age of 5.
3.
Recognises that the two year budget deal helps address concerns expressed by
schools in previous years of the scheme regarding the continuity of funding.
4.
Recognises the importance of both schemes in helping break the link between
poverty and educational under-achievement, and in closing the attainment gap
between pupils from disadvantaged and more advantaged backgrounds.
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
29 |
0 |
19 |
48 |
The
motion without amendment was agreed.
Meeting: 24/09/2014 - Plenary - Fourth Assembly (Item 5)
Welsh Liberal Democrats Debate
NDM5574 Aled Roberts
(North Wales)
To
propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
1.
Welcomes that 16 and 17 year olds were able to vote in the recent Scottish
independence referendum, which was the first time they have had the right to do
so in a major ballot in the United Kingdom;
2. Recognises the importance of empowering young
people in Wales to engage in politics and contribute their views and ideas to
help shape the communities in which they live;
3. Notes the Electoral Commission 2014 report
which found that 49% of 16-17 year olds in the UK are not registered to vote
and believes that more needs to be done to encourage the participation of young
people in democracy; and
4. Welcomes the steps proposed in the Voter
Registration Bill, which aims to increase the participation of young people in
politics by empowering electoral registration officers in Wales to improve data
sharing and increase the number of people registered from underrepresented
groups.
The
report 'The quality of the 2014 electoral registers in Great Britain' can be
found here:
The
Voter Registration Bill [HL] 2014-15 can be found here:
http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2014-15/voterregistration.html
The following amendments
have been tabled:
Amendment 1 - Paul
Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire):
Add
as new point at end of motion:
Recognises
the work Funky Dragon has done over many years to increase young person
participation in politics and believes the Welsh Government should reinstate
this funding.
Decision:
The item started at 17.05
NDM5574 Aled Roberts (North Wales)
To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
1. Welcomes that 16 and 17 year olds were able to
vote in the recent Scottish independence referendum, which was the first time
they have had the right to do so in a major ballot in the United Kingdom;
2.
Recognises the importance of empowering young people in Wales to engage
in politics and contribute their views and ideas to help shape the communities
in which they live;
3. Notes the
Electoral Commission 2014 report which found that 49% of 16-17 year olds in the
UK are not registered to vote and believes that more needs to be done to
encourage the participation of young people in democracy; and
4. Welcomes
the steps proposed in the Voter Registration Bill, which aims to increase the
participation of young people in politics by empowering electoral registration
officers in Wales to improve data sharing and increase the number of people
registered from underrepresented groups.
Voting on the motion and
amendments under this item was deferred until Voting Time.
A
vote was taken on the motion without amendment:
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
41 |
0 |
11 |
52 |
The
motion without amendment was agreed.
Meeting: 18/06/2014 - Plenary - Fourth Assembly (Item 6)
Welsh Liberal Democrats Debate
NDM5530
Aled Roberts (North Wales)
To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
1. Recognises the importance of microgeneration and
community-owned generation to the development of a diverse energy mix to
provide for Wales’ energy needs in the future, and the need for greater energy
efficiency to reduce our energy use and decrease fuel poverty.
2. Welcomes the proposals by the UK Government for
communities to have the chance to buy a stake in their local renewable
electricity scheme.
3. Regrets the findings within the Welsh Government’s Ynni’r
Fro Mid-term Evaluation that ‘achievement against the targets for energy
generation, reductions in greenhouse emissions and job creation has been
minimal to date’.
4. Calls on the Welsh Government to do more to support
community energy and energy efficiency by:
a) ensuring that microgeneration projects are considered with
a presumption in favour of development;
b) providing a model legal and business framework for Community-Owned
Renewable Energy Co-Operatives to reduce the legal costs and complexity for
communities wishing to establish their own;
c) ensuring that the advice and support offered by Ynni’r Fro
Technical Development Officers continues beyond the existing programme;
d) creating a library of resources to support community
groups in applying for support for community generation projects; and
e) working with education providers to ensure climate change
and education policies fully recognise the role of education and schools in
delivering behaviour change, and bring more understanding of ecological issues
into our schools.
The Ynni’r Fro Mid-term Evaluation can be found here:
http://wales.gov.uk/statistics-and-research/evaluation-ynnir-fro/?lang=en
The
following amendments have been tabled:
Amendment
1 - Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)
In point 2, delete ‘Welcomes’ and replace with ‘Notes’.
Amendment
2 - Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)
In point 3, delete ‘Regrets’ and replace with ‘Notes’.
Amendment
3 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)
Add as new sub-point at end of point 4:
establishing a community energy fund, based on the successful
Community Energy Scotland programme, to provide loan finance to local
communities wishing to set up community energy projects which would be written
off if unsuccessful.
Amendment
4 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)
Add as new sub-point at end of point 4:
considering rolling out a nationwide retrofitting programme
to drastically cut Wales’s energy consumption.
Amendment
5 - Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)
Add as new point at end of motion:
Notes the economic, social and environmental benefits that
can be achieved within a single community-owned generational project.
Amendment
6 - Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)
Add as new point at end of motion:
Calls on the Welsh Government to provide Community Energy
Wales with public funding to facilitate such community projects.
Decision:
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:
NDM5530 Aled Roberts (North Wales)
To propose that the National Assembly for
Wales:
1. Recognises the importance of microgeneration
and community-owned generation to the development of a diverse energy mix to
provide for Wales’ energy needs in the future, and the need for greater energy
efficiency to reduce our energy use and decrease fuel poverty.
2. Welcomes the proposals by the UK Government
for communities to have the chance to buy a stake in their local renewable
electricity scheme.
3. Regrets the findings within the Welsh
Government’s Ynni’r Fro Mid-term Evaluation that ‘achievement against the
targets for energy generation, reductions in greenhouse emissions and job
creation has been minimal to date’.
4. Calls on the Welsh Government to do more to
support community energy and energy efficiency by:
a) ensuring that microgeneration projects are
considered with a presumption in favour of development;
b) providing a model legal and business
framework for Community-Owned Renewable Energy Co-Operatives to reduce the
legal costs and complexity for communities wishing to establish their own;
c) ensuring that the advice and support offered
by Ynni’r Fro Technical Development Officers continues beyond the existing
programme;
d) creating a library of resources to support
community groups in applying for support for community generation projects; and
e) working with education providers to ensure climate change and education
policies fully recognise the role of education and schools in delivering
behaviour change, and bring more understanding of ecological issues into our
schools.
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
5 |
0 |
47 |
52 |
The motion without amendment was not agreed.
The following amendments were tabled:
Amendment 1 - Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)
In point 2, delete ‘Welcomes’ and replace with‘Notes’.
A vote was taken on Amendment 1:
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
36 |
0 |
16 |
52 |
Amendment 1 was agreed.
Amendment 2 - Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)
In point 3, delete ‘Regrets’ and replace with‘Notes’.
A vote was taken on Amendment 2:
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
26 |
0 |
27 |
53 |
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 3 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)
Add as new sub-point at end of point 4:
establishing a community energy fund, based on the successful Community
Energy Scotland programme, to provide loan finance to local communities wishing
to set up community energy projects which would be written off if unsuccessful.
A vote was taken on Amendment 3:
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
41 |
0 |
11 |
52 |
Amendment 3 was agreed.
Amendment 4 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)
Add as new sub-point at end of point 4:
considering rolling out a nationwide retrofitting programme to drastically
cut Wales’s energy consumption.
A vote was taken on Amendment 4:
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
52 |
0 |
0 |
52 |
Amendment 4 was agreed.
Amendment 5 - Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)
Add as new point at end of motion:
Notes the economic, social and environmental benefits that can be achieved
within a single community-owned generational project.
A vote was taken on Amendment 5:
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
52 |
0 |
0 |
52 |
Amendment 5 was agreed.
Amendment 6 - Paul Davies (Preseli
Pembrokeshire)
Add as new point at end of motion:
Calls on the Welsh Government to provide Community Energy Wales with
public funding to facilitate such community projects.
A vote was taken on Amendment 6:
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
52 |
0 |
0 |
52 |
Amendment 6 was agreed.
A vote was taken on the motion as amended:
NDM5530 Aled Roberts (North Wales)
To propose that the National Assembly for
Wales:
1. Recognises the importance of microgeneration
and community-owned generation to the development of a diverse energy mix to
provide for Wales’ energy needs in the future, and the need for greater energy
efficiency to reduce our energy use and decrease fuel poverty.
2. Notes the proposals by the UK Government for
communities to have the chance to buy a stake in their local renewable
electricity scheme.
3. Regrets the findings within the Welsh
Government’s Ynni’r Fro Mid-term Evaluation that ‘achievement against the
targets for energy generation, reductions in greenhouse emissions and job
creation has been minimal to date’.
4. Calls on the Welsh Government to do more to
support community energy and energy efficiency by:
a) ensuring that microgeneration projects are
considered with a presumption in favour of development;
b) providing a model legal and business
framework for Community-Owned Renewable Energy Co-Operatives to reduce the
legal costs and complexity for communities wishing to establish their own;
c) ensuring that the advice and support offered
by Ynni’r Fro Technical Development Officers continues beyond the existing
programme;
d) creating a library of resources to support community
groups in applying for support for community generation projects;
e) working with education providers to ensure climate change and education
policies fully recognise the role of education and schools in delivering
behaviour change, and bring more understanding of ecological issues into our
schools;
f) establishing a community energy fund, based on the successful Community
Energy Scotland programme, to provide loan finance to local communities wishing
to set up community energy projects which would be written off if unsuccessful;
and
g) considering rolling out a nationwide retrofitting programme to
drastically cut Wales’s energy consumption.
5. Notes the economic, social and environmental benefits that can be
achieved within a single community-owned generational project.
6. Calls on the Welsh Government to provide Community Energy Wales with
public funding to facilitate such community projects.
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
41 |
0 |
11 |
52 |
The motion as amended was agreed.
Meeting: 11/06/2014 - Plenary - Fourth Assembly (Item 5)
Welsh Liberal Democrats Debate
NDM5524
Aled Roberts (North Wales)
To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
1. Supports Carers Week 2014 which recognises and celebrates
the contribution of more than 370,000 unpaid carers in Wales, who provide invaluable
support to family members and friends.
2. Notes the growing evidence on the incredibly demanding
role of caring, which can have an adverse impact on the health, employment
opportunities, social and leisure activities of those providing unpaid care.
3. Notes the findings of the 2013 ‘Prepared to Care?’ report
which found that 75 per cent of carers were unprepared for a caring role and 81
per cent were not aware of the support available, which often leaves carers
feeling vulnerable and isolated.
4. Calls on the Welsh Government to:
a) support an awareness campaign to encourage
self-identification and access to support and improve public understanding of
the role of carers;
b) develop information for employers to support workers
seeking to balance their work and caring roles; and
c) work with education providers to provide more flexible
provision to enable carers of all ages to access opportunities for education
and training.
The 'Prepared to Care?' report can be found here:
http://www.carersweek.org/media/k2/attachments/Prepared_to_Care_FINAL.pdf
The
following amendments have been tabled:
Amendment
1 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)
Insert as new point 2 and re-number accordingly:
Notes that there are 11,000 children who are carers.
Amendment
2 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)
Insert as new point 4 and re-number accordingly:
Notes that the ‘Prepared to Care?’ report identified the
financial difficulties that face carers, and regrets that changes to social
security entitlements have adversely affected carers and their families.
Amendment
3 - Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)
Add as new point at end of motion:
Notes the importance of respite to carers and calls upon the
Welsh Government to take action to establish a carers’ right to respite.
Decision:
The item started at 17.20
Voting on the motion and amendments
under this item was deferred until Voting Time.
A vote was taken on the motion without
amendment:
NDM5524 Aled Roberts (North Wales)
To propose that the National Assembly for
Wales:
1. Supports Carers Week 2014 which recognises
and celebrates the contribution of more than 370,000 unpaid carers in Wales,
who provide invaluable support to family members and friends.
2. Notes the growing evidence on the incredibly
demanding role of caring, which can have an adverse impact on the health,
employment opportunities, social and leisure activities of those providing
unpaid care.
3. Notes the findings of the 2013 ‘Prepared to
Care?’report which found that 75 per cent of carers were unprepared for a
caring role and 81 per cent were not aware of the support available, which
often leaves carers feeling vulnerable and isolated.
4. Calls on the Welsh Government to:
a) support an awareness campaign to encourage
self-identification and access to support and improve public understanding of
the role of carers;
b) develop information for employers to support
workers seeking to balance their work and caring roles; and
c) work with education providers to provide more flexible provision to
enable carers of all ages to access opportunities for education and training.
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
38 |
0 |
11 |
49 |
The motion without amendment was agreed.
Meeting: 07/05/2014 - Plenary - Fourth Assembly (Item 5)
Welsh Liberal Democrats Debate
NDM5499
Aled Roberts (North Wales)
To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
1. Notes the publication of the Welsh Liberal Democrat report
'Powering Wales’ Future'.
2. Regrets that politically conservative parties across the UK
are increasingly denying the overwhelming evidence which substantiates climate
change.
3. Recognises that a sustainable low carbon future can be
achieved through an ambitious change in how we generate energy.
4. Acknowledges that a smart and diverse grid network is
essential for ensuring that our future energy needs can be met in a reliable
and sustainable manner.
5. Calls on the Welsh Government to:
a) review Technical Advice Note 8 to permit updates which
reflect technological improvements and the development of new Strategic Search
Areas, to encourage new projects and reduce existing concentrations;
b) work with industry to develop regional community benefit
schemes, so that communities along transportation and grid corridors can
benefit from the economic investments which come with renewables;
c) maximise the economic benefits of renewables by working
with developers and educational institutions to expand supply chains and
centres of excellence for the next generation of engineers and apprentices;
d) explore the development of Marine Energy Hubs to provide a
safe environment to manufacture and test emergent marine technologies to help
Wales gain a competitive advantage;
e) focus public support for research into large scale
electrical storage technology such as batteries;
f) explore the potential of developing new pumped storage
facilities so that more energy can be stored for peak time usage and ensure a
stable supply of low carbon electricity; and
g) develop new technical advice for hydraulic fracturing,
including test drilling, to ensure that safety and environmental protection can
be guaranteed to the highest standards.
The Welsh Liberal Democrat report 'Powering Wales’ Future'
can be found here:
http://welshlibdems.org.uk/en/document/energy-policy-paper-2014.pdf
Technical Advice Note 8 is available at:
http://wales.gov.uk/docs/desh/publications/050701techical-advice-note-8-en.pdf
The
following amendments have been tabled:
Amendment
1 - Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)
Delete point 2 and replace with “Notes that there are people
across all aspects of society who will continue to question the rationale
behind changes in our global climate”.
[If
amendment 1 is agreed, amendment 2 will be de-selected]
Amendment
2 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)
In point 2, delete ‘politically conservative parties across
the UK are’ and replace with ‘the UK Government is’.
Amendment
3 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)
Insert as new point 3 and renumber accordingly:
Regrets the restrictions placed on the competence of the
National Assembly for Wales in the field of energy.
Amendment
4 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)
Insert as new sub-point 5b) and renumber accordingly:
explore the potential of establishing a publicly-owned,
not-for-distributable-profit, arm’s length energy company
Amendment
5 - Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)
Delete sub-point 5g
Amendment
6 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)
Add as new sub-point at end of point 5:
fund a nation-wide retrofitting scheme to cut energy
consumption and lower energy bills for consumers
Amendment
7 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)
Add as new sub-point at end of point 5:
publish any research into the feasibility of building a grid
connection between the north and south of Wales
Amendment
8 - Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)
Add as new point at end of motion:
Believes that the Welsh Government must support and invest in
a variety of renewable energy forms to achieve key climate change objectives
and notes that there are enough onshore wind farm applications in the planning
pipeline to fulfil UK renewable energy targets
Amendment
9 - Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)
Add as new point at end of motion:
Believes the Planning Bill should give local communities more
power to accept or reject particular renewable energy schemes to best fit their
locality.
Decision:
The item started at 17.11
Voting on the motion and amendments under this item was
deferred until Voting Time.
A
vote was taken on the motion without amendment:
NDM5499 Aled Roberts (North Wales)
To propose that the National Assembly for
Wales:
1. Notes the publication of the Welsh Liberal
Democrat report 'Powering Wales’ Future'.
2. Regrets that politically conservative
parties across the UK are increasingly denying the overwhelming evidence which
substantiates climate change.
3. Recognises that a sustainable low carbon
future can be achieved through an ambitious change in how we generate energy.
4. Acknowledges that a smart and diverse grid
network is essential for ensuring that our future energy needs can be met in a
reliable and sustainable manner.
5. Calls on the Welsh Government to:
a) review Technical Advice Note 8 to permit
updates which reflect technological improvements and the development of new
Strategic Search Areas, to encourage new projects and reduce existing
concentrations;
b) work with industry to develop regional
community benefit schemes, so that communities along transportation and grid
corridors can benefit from the economic investments which come with renewables;
c) maximise the economic benefits of renewables
by working with developers and educational institutions to expand supply chains
and centres of excellence for the next generation of engineers and apprentices;
d) explore the development of Marine Energy
Hubs to provide a safe environment to manufacture and test emergent marine
technologies to help Wales gain a competitive advantage;
e) focus public support for research into large
scale electrical storage technology such as batteries;
f) explore the potential of developing new
pumped storage facilities so that more energy can be stored for peak time usage
and ensure a stable supply of low carbon electricity; and
g) develop new technical advice for hydraulic fracturing, including test
drilling, to ensure that safety and environmental protection can be guaranteed
to the highest standards.
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
5 |
0 |
43 |
48 |
The motion without amendment was not agreed.
The following amendments were tabled:
Amendment 1 - Paul Davies (Preseli
Pembrokeshire)
Delete point 2 and replace with “Notes that there are people across all
aspects of society who will continue to question the rationale behind changes
in our global climate”.
A vote was taken on Amendment 1:
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
11 |
0 |
37 |
48 |
Amendment 1 was not agreed.
Amendment 2 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)
In point 2, delete ‘politically conservative parties across the UK are’
and replace with ‘the UK Government is’.
A vote was taken on Amendment 2:
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
32 |
0 |
16 |
48 |
Amendment 2 was agreed.
Amendment 3 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)
Insert as new point 3 and renumber accordingly:
Regrets the restrictions placed on the competence of the National Assembly
for Wales in the field of energy.
A vote was taken on Amendment 3:
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
37 |
11 |
0 |
48 |
Amendment 3 was agreed.
Amendment 4 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)
Insert as new sub-point 5b) and renumber
accordingly:
explore the potential of establishing a publicly-owned,
not-for-distributable-profit, arm’s length energy company
A vote was taken on Amendment 4:
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
48 |
0 |
0 |
48 |
Amendment 4 was agreed.
Amendment 5 - Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)
Delete sub-point 5g
A vote was taken on Amendment 5:
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
25 |
0 |
23 |
48 |
Amendment 5 was agreed.
Amendment 6 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)
Add as new sub-point at end of point 5:
fund a nation-wide retrofitting scheme to cut energy consumption and lower
energy bills for consumers
A vote was taken on Amendment 6:
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
37 |
11 |
0 |
48 |
Amendment 6 was agreed.
Amendment 7 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)
Add as new sub-point at end of point 5:
publish any research into the feasibility of building a grid connection
between the north and south of Wales
A vote was taken on Amendment 7:
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
48 |
0 |
0 |
48 |
Amendment 7 was agreed.
Amendment 8 - Paul Davies (Preseli
Pembrokeshire)
Add as new point at end of motion:
Believes that the Welsh Government must support and invest in a variety of
renewable energy forms to achieve key climate change objectives and notes that
there are enough onshore wind farm applications in the planning pipeline to
fulfil UK renewable energy targets
A vote was taken on Amendment 8:
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
11 |
7 |
30 |
48 |
Amendment 8 was not agreed.
Amendment 9 - Paul Davies (Preseli
Pembrokeshire)
Add as new point at end of motion:
Believes the Planning Bill should give local communities more power to
accept or reject particular renewable energy schemes to best fit their
locality.
A vote was taken on Amendment 9:
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
18 |
5 |
25 |
48 |
Amendment 9 was not agreed.
A vote was taken on the
motion as amended:
NDM5499 Aled Roberts (North Wales)
To propose that the National Assembly for
Wales:
1. Notes the publication of the Welsh Liberal
Democrat report 'Powering Wales’ Future'.
2. Regrets that the UK Government is increasingly
denying the overwhelming evidence which substantiates climate change.
3. Regrets the restrictions placed on the
competence of the National Assembly for Wales in the field of energy
4. Recognises that a sustainable low carbon
future can be achieved through an ambitious change in how we generate energy.
5. Acknowledges that a smart and diverse grid
network is essential for ensuring that our future energy needs can be met in a
reliable and sustainable manner.
6. Calls on the Welsh Government to:
a) review Technical Advice Note 8 to permit
updates which reflect technological improvements and the development of new
Strategic Search Areas, to encourage new projects and reduce existing
concentrations;
b) explore the potential of establishing a publicly-owned,
not-for-distributable-profit, arm’s length energy company
c) work with industry to develop regional
community benefit schemes, so that communities along transportation and grid
corridors can benefit from the economic investments which come with renewables;
d) maximise the economic benefits of renewables
by working with developers and educational institutions to expand supply chains
and centres of excellence for the next generation of engineers and apprentices;
e) explore the development of Marine Energy
Hubs to provide a safe environment to manufacture and test emergent marine
technologies to help Wales gain a competitive advantage;
f) focus public support for research into large
scale electrical storage technology such as batteries;
g) explore the potential of developing new
pumped storage facilities so that more energy can be stored for peak time usage
and ensure a stable supply of low carbon electricity;
h) fund a nation-wide retrofitting scheme to cut energy consumption and
lower energy bills for consumers; and
i) publish any research into the feasibility of building a grid connection
between the north and south of Wales.
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
32 |
5 |
11 |
48 |
The motion as amended was agreed.
Meeting: 02/04/2014 - Plenary - Fourth Assembly (Item 7)
Welsh Liberal Democrats Debate
NDM5485
Aled Roberts (North Wales)
To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
1. Notes that 1 in 10 children and adolescents will
experience a mental health issue and recognises the importance of early intervention
to support young people in reaching their full potential.
2. Regrets the failure of the Welsh Government to address key
findings from the 2009 review of Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services
(CAMHS) and notes the significant concerns within the 2013 follow up review of
safety issues.
3. Regrets that over the past year, the number of vulnerable
young people in Wales waiting more than 14 weeks to access child and adolescent
psychiatric services has almost quadrupled, from 199 in January 2013 to 736 in
January 2014.
4. Calls on the Welsh Government to:
a) address the inequitable variation in the availability and
accessibility of CAMHS in Wales;
b) investigate the waiting times between a child or young
person’s first assessment with CAMHS and their subsequent service referral;
c) review the governance arrangements for CAMHS inpatient
units and out of area placements;
d) routinely publish readmission statistics to help inform
trends in the patient discharging system;
e) ensure that all clinical staff within CAMHS have
undertaken appropriate safeguarding checks;
f) establish a firmer procedure for health boards to report
on inappropriate placements on adult mental health wards;
g) clarify the status of the National Service Framework for
Children, Young People and Maternity Services;
h) consider the introduction of mental health education
within the school curriculum to raise awareness and help address issues of
stigma; and
i) introduce a national framework to ensure continuity of treatment
in the transition between CAMHS and Adult Mental Health Services, including a
streamlined information sharing system between providers.
The 2009 review ‘Services for children and young people with
emotional and mental health needs’ is available at:
http://www.hiw.org.uk/Documents/477/CAMHS%20241109-e.pdf
The ‘Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services: Follow-up
Review of Safety Issues’ (11 December 2013) is available at:
http://www.hiw.org.uk/Documents/477/CAMHS_Final_english.pdf
The National Service Framework for Children, Young People and
Maternity Services is available at:
http://www.wales.nhs.uk/sites3/docmetadata.cfm?orgid=441&id=46873
The
following amendments have been tabled:
Amendment
1 - Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)
Delete all after point 1 and replace with:
2. Recognises the steps being taken by successive Welsh
Governments to improve mental health services for young people; and
3. Reaffirms the partnership approach, which sees Welsh
Government, health, education, local government and the third sector working
together as partners to address the continuing challenges of providing
effective services in this area.
Amendment
2 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)
Insert as new point 2 and renumber accordingly:
Notes that the Children's Commissioner has repeatedly expressed
concern about support services for children and adolescents with mental health
issues.
Amendment
3 - Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)
Add as new point at end of motion:
Regrets that real term cuts to the health budget have the potential
to hinder the ability of Welsh Local Health Boards to deliver improvements in
CAMHS.
Amendment
4 - Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)
Add as new point at end of motion:
Notes the commitment of the Welsh Government to ring-fence
spending on mental health services and calls upon the Minister for Health and
Social Services to publish information to demonstrate that it is monitoring and
delivering this commitment and how it is impacting upon CAMHS services.
Decision:
The item started at 16.53
Voting on the motion and amendments under this item was
deferred until Voting Time.
A
vote was taken on the motion without amendment:
NDM5485 Aled Roberts (North Wales)
To propose that the National
Assembly for Wales:
1. Notes that 1 in 10 children and
adolescents will experience a mental health issue and recognises the importance
of early intervention to support young people in reaching their full potential.
2. Regrets the failure of the
Welsh Government to address key findings from the 2009 review of Children and
Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and notes the significant concerns
within the 2013 follow up review of safety issues.
3. Regrets that over the past
year, the number of vulnerable young people in Wales waiting more than 14 weeks
to access child and adolescent psychiatric services has almost quadrupled, from
199 in January 2013 to 736 in January 2014.
4. Calls on the Welsh Government
to:
a) address the inequitable
variation in the availability and accessibility of CAMHS in Wales;
b) investigate the waiting times
between a child or young person’s first assessment with CAMHS and their
subsequent service referral;
c) review the governance
arrangements for CAMHS inpatient units and out of area placements;
d) routinely publish readmission
statistics to help inform trends in the patient discharging system;
e) ensure that all clinical staff
within CAMHS have undertaken appropriate safeguarding checks;
f) establish a firmer procedure
for health boards to report on inappropriate placements on adult mental health
wards;
g) clarify the status of the
National Service Framework for Children, Young People and Maternity Services;
h) consider the introduction of mental
health education within the school curriculum to raise awareness and help
address issues of stigma; and
i) introduce a national framework
to ensure continuity of treatment in the transition between CAMHS and Adult
Mental Health Services, including a streamlined information sharing system
between providers.
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
12 |
0 |
37 |
49 |
The motion without amendment was not agreed.
The following amendments were tabled:
Amendment 1 - Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)
Delete all after point 1 and
replace with:
2. Recognises the steps being
taken by successive Welsh Governments to improve mental health services for
young people; and
3. Reaffirms the partnership
approach, which sees Welsh Government, health, education, local government and
the third sector working together as partners to address the continuing
challenges of providing effective services in this area.
A vote was taken on Amendment 1:
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
25 |
8 |
16 |
49 |
Amendment 1 was agreed.
Amendment 2 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)
Insert as new point 2 and renumber
accordingly:
Notes that the Children's
Commissioner has repeatedly expressed concern about support services for
children and adolescents with mental health issues.
A vote was taken on Amendment 2:
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
49 |
0 |
0 |
49 |
Amendment 2 was agreed.
Amendment 3 - Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)
Add as new point at end of motion:
Regrets that real term cuts to the
health budget have the potential to hinder the ability of Welsh Local Health
Boards to deliver improvements in CAMHS.
A vote was taken on Amendment 3:
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
12 |
0 |
37 |
49 |
Amendment 3 was not agreed.
Amendment 4 - Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)
Add as new point at end of motion:
Notes the commitment of the Welsh
Government to ring-fence spending on mental health services and calls upon the
Minister for Health and Social Services to publish information to demonstrate
that it is monitoring and delivering this commitment and how it is impacting
upon CAMHS services.
A vote was taken on Amendment 4:
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
49 |
0 |
0 |
49 |
Amendment 4 was agreed.
A vote was taken on the motion
as amended:
NDM5485 Aled Roberts (North Wales)
To propose that the National
Assembly for Wales:
1. Notes that 1 in 10 children and
adolescents will experience a mental health issue and recognises the importance
of early intervention to support young people in reaching their full potential.
2. Notes that the Children's
Commissioner has repeatedly expressed concern about support services for
children and adolescents with mental health issues.
3. Recognises the steps being
taken by successive Welsh Governments to improve mental health services for
young people; and
4. Reaffirms the partnership
approach, which sees Welsh Government, health, education, local government and
the third sector working together as partners to address the continuing challenges
of providing effective services in this area.
5. Notes the commitment of the
Welsh Government to ring-fence spending on mental health services and calls
upon the Minister for Health and Social Services to publish information to
demonstrate that it is monitoring and delivering this commitment and how it is
impacting upon CAMHS services.
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
25 |
4 |
20 |
49 |
The motion as amended was agreed.
Meeting: 12/03/2014 - Plenary - Fourth Assembly (Item 5)
Welsh Liberal Democrats Debate
NDM5450
Aled Roberts (North Wales)
To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
1. Notes that safe and affordable public transport is key to
enabling young people to access work, education, training and apprenticeships.
2. Regrets that the affordability of public transport acts as
a significant barrier for part-time workers and to the post-16 choices of young
people.
3. Welcomes the steps taken by some local authorities in
Wales to introduce a concessionary fare scheme for young people but regrets
that significant variability in concessions leads to a postcode lottery of
affordable transport for young travellers.
4. Recognises the achievements of community transport schemes
including Bwcabus and Grass Routes in providing accessible and flexible
transport for local communities.
5. Calls on the Welsh Government to:
a) work with bus operators to introduce a national
concessionary fare scheme for young people through a new ‘young travellers’
rate for 16-18 year olds and students;
b) examine the feasibility of a season ticket for part-time
workers;
c) explore the potential for extending community transport
schemes such as Bwcabus and Grass Routes in rural areas; and
d) examine ways to develop a low carbon network of public
transport in Wales.
The
following amendment has been tabled:
Amendment
1 - Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)
Add as new point at end of motion:
Welcomes the fact that bus operators are actively pursuing
concessionary fare schemes for young people and students.
Decision:
The item started at 16.59
Voting on the motion and amendment under
this item was deferred until Voting Time.
A vote was taken on the motion without
amendment:
NDM5450 Aled Roberts (North Wales)
To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
1. Notes that safe and affordable public
transport is key to enabling young people to access work, education, training
and apprenticeships.
2. Regrets that the affordability of public
transport acts as a significant barrier for part-time workers and to the
post-16 choices of young people.
3. Welcomes the steps taken by some local
authorities in Wales to introduce a concessionary fare scheme for young people
but regrets that significant variability in concessions leads to a postcode
lottery of affordable transport for young travellers.
4. Recognises the achievements of community
transport schemes including Bwcabus and Grass Routes in providing accessible
and flexible transport for local communities.
5. Calls on the Welsh Government to:
a) work with bus operators to introduce a
national concessionary fare scheme for young people through a new ‘young
travellers’ rate for 16-18 year olds and students;
b) examine the feasibility of a season ticket for
part-time workers;
c) explore the potential for extending community
transport schemes such as Bwcabus and Grass Routes in rural areas; and
d) examine ways to develop a low carbon network
of public transport in Wales.
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
43 |
0 |
12 |
55 |
The motion without amendment was agreed.
Meeting: 19/02/2014 - Plenary - Fourth Assembly (Item 6)
Welsh Liberal Democrats Debate
NDM5439
Aled Roberts (North Wales)
To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
1. Recognises that affordable, accessible and high quality
childcare can be the key to a stronger economy and fairer society, enabling
parents to return to work, reducing child poverty and giving children the best
start in life.
2. Welcomes the positive action being taken by the UK
Government including £1 billion investment in childcare to increase free early
education for all 3 and 4 year olds and extended to 2 year olds from low income
families, the introduction of tax free childcare for working families and new
rights on shared parental leave.
3. Calls on the Welsh Government to:
a) review the system of pre-school childcare entitlement in
light of enhanced provision in England;
b) examine the effectiveness of Flying Start on parenting and
child development outcomes and the inequality in Welsh medium early years
provision;
c) assess whether local authorities are fully utilising
funding for the statutory provision of an early years education place for 3-4
year olds;
d) examine ways to improve childcare supply across all ages,
in particular wraparound and holiday childcare schemes;
e) provide clarity for parents on eligibility for childcare
schemes in Wales in light of recent UK Government policy developments; and
f) introduce a single online source of information to help
new parents with information about childcare services and entitlements and how
to access them.
The
following amendment has been tabled:
Amendment
1 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)
In point 1 delete all after ‘child poverty and’ and replace
with ‘helping children to get the best start in life.’
Amednment
2 - Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)
Delete point 2 and replace with:
Notes the failure of the UK Government to take action on tax
credits for childcare this side of the general election, expresses serious
concern at their shift of resources away from families in greatest need and
further notes the decimation of the Sure Start programme in England with the
closure of over 500 centres.
[If
amendment 2 is agreed, amendment 3 will be de-selected]
Amendment
3 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)
In point 2 delete ‘Welcomes the positive’ and replace with
‘Notes the’.
Amendment
4 - Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)
Insert as new point 3 and renumber accordingly:
Notes that the £1 billion investment in childcare is only for
England, as childcare in Wales is devolved.
Amendment
5 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)
Delete sub-point 3a) and replace with ‘assess the system of
pre-school childcare entitlement’.
Amendment
6 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)
In sub-point 3e) delete all after ‘Wales’.
Amendment
7 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)
Delete sub-point 3f).
[If
amendment 7 is agreed, amendment 8 will be de-selected]
Amendment
8 - Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)
Delete sub-point 3f and replace with:
consider how best to provide parents with information about
childcare services and entitlements and how to access them.
Decision:
The item
started at 16.53
Voting on the motion and amendments
under this item was deferred until Voting Time.
A vote was taken on the motion without
amendment:
NDM5439
Aled Roberts (North Wales)
To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
1. Recognises that affordable, accessible and high quality
childcare can be the key to a stronger economy and fairer society, enabling
parents to return to work, reducing child poverty and giving children the best
start in life.
2. Welcomes the positive action being taken by the UK
Government including £1 billion investment in childcare to increase free early
education for all 3 and 4 year olds and extended to 2 year olds from low income
families, the introduction of tax free childcare for working families and new
rights on shared parental leave.
3. Calls on the Welsh Government to:
a) review the system of pre-school childcare entitlement in
light of enhanced provision in England;
b) examine the effectiveness of Flying Start on parenting and
child development outcomes and the inequality in Welsh medium early years
provision;
c) assess whether local authorities are fully utilising
funding for the statutory provision of an early years education place for 3-4
year olds;
d) examine ways to improve childcare supply across all ages,
in particular wraparound and holiday childcare schemes;
e) provide clarity for parents on eligibility for childcare
schemes in Wales in light of recent UK Government policy developments; and
f) introduce a single online source of information to help
new parents with information about childcare services and entitlements and how
to access them.
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
16 |
0 |
38 |
54 |
The motion without amendment not agreed.
The following amendments were tabled:
Amendment
1 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)
In point 1 delete all after ‘child poverty and’ and replace
with ‘helping children to get the best start in life.’
A vote was taken on Amendment 1:
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
37 |
0 |
17 |
54 |
Amendment 1 was agreed.
Amednment
2 - Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)
Delete point 2 and replace with:
Notes the failure of the UK Government to take action on tax credits
for childcare this side of the general election, expresses serious concern at
their shift of resources away from families in greatest need and further notes
the decimation of the Sure Start programme in England with the closure of over
500 centres.
A vote was taken on Amendment 2:
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
27 |
10 |
17 |
54 |
Amendment 2 was agreed.
As amendment 2 was agreed, amendment 3 was de-selected.
Amendment 4 was not moved.
Amendment 5 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)
Delete sub-point 3a) and replace
with ‘assess the system of pre-school childcare entitlement’.
A vote was taken on Amendment 5:
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
37 |
0 |
17 |
54 |
Amendment 5 was agreed.
Amendment 6 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)
In sub-point 3e) delete all after
‘Wales’.
A vote was taken on Amendment 6:
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
37 |
0 |
17 |
54 |
Amendment 6 was agreed.
Amendment
7 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)
Delete sub-point 3f).
A vote was taken on Amendment 7:
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
49 |
0 |
5 |
54 |
Amendment 7 was agreed.
As amendment 7 was agreed, amendment 8 was de-selected.
A vote was taken on the motion as amended:
NDM5439
Aled Roberts (North Wales)
To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
1. Recognises that affordable, accessible and high quality childcare
can be the key to a stronger economy and fairer society, enabling parents to
return to work, reducing child poverty and helping children to get the best
start in life.
2. Notes the failure of the UK Government to take action on
tax credits for childcare this side of the general election, expresses serious
concern at their shift of resources away from families in greatest need and
further notes the decimation of the Sure Start programme in England with the
closure of over 500 centres.
3. Calls on the Welsh Government to:
a) assess the system
of pre-school childcare entitlement;
b) examine the effectiveness of Flying Start on parenting and
child development outcomes and the inequality in Welsh medium early years
provision;
c) assess whether local authorities are fully utilising
funding for the statutory provision of an early years education place for 3-4
year olds;
d) examine ways to improve childcare supply across all ages,
in particular wraparound and holiday childcare schemes; and
e) provide clarity for parents on eligibility for childcare
schemes in Wales.
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
37 |
5 |
12 |
54 |
The motion as amended was agreed.
Meeting: 29/01/2014 - Plenary - Fourth Assembly (Item 5)
Welsh Liberal Democrats Debate
NDM5417
Aled Roberts (North Wales)
To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
1. Notes the findings of the School Food Plan that free
school meals for all children in primary schools would lead to positive improvements
in health, educational attainment and social cohesion and help families with
the cost of living.
2. Notes that in Wales only 21% of infants currently receive
a free school meal and only around 24% of primary age pupils in 2012-13 took a
free school breakfast.
3. Notes that Wales will receive over £62m of Barnett
consequential revenue funding for 2014-16 and over £4m of capital funding in
2014-15 following the announcement by the UK Government on free school meals
for all infant age pupils in England.
4. Calls on the Welsh Government to use the Barnett
consequential to introduce universal free school meals for infants in Wales, so
that all infants can receive a hot, healthy school lunch to boost pupil health,
education and well-being.
The School Food Plan is available here: http://www.schoolfoodplan.com/plan/
The
following amendments have been tabled:
Amendment
1 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)
In point 1, delete all after ‘School Food Plan’ and replace
with ‘that well-nourished children fare better at school’.
Amendment
2 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)
In point 4, delete all after ‘Barnett consequential’ and
replace with ‘in the most effective and proven way to improve standards and
well-being and to publish a programme of its intentions for all school meals
provision’.
Decision:
The item started at 16.51
Voting on the motion and amendments
under this item was deferred until Voting Time.
A vote was taken on the motion without
amendment:
NDM5417
Aled Roberts (North Wales)
To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
1. Notes the findings of the School Food Plan that free
school meals for all children in primary schools would lead to positive
improvements in health, educational attainment and social cohesion and help
families with the cost of living.
2. Notes that in Wales only 21% of infants currently receive
a free school meal and only around 24% of primary age pupils in 2012-13 took a
free school breakfast.
3. Notes that Wales will receive over £62m of Barnett
consequential revenue funding for 2014-16 and over £4m of capital funding in
2014-15 following the announcement by the UK Government on free school meals
for all infant age pupils in England.
4. Calls on the Welsh Government to use the Barnett
consequential to introduce universal free school meals for infants in Wales, so
that all infants can receive a hot, healthy school lunch to boost pupil health,
education and well-being.
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
5 |
0 |
49 |
54 |
The motion without amendment was not agreed.
The following amendments were tabled:
Amendment
1 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)
In point 1, delete all after ‘School Food Plan’ and replace
with ‘that well-nourished children fare better at school’.
A vote was taken on Amendment 1:
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
10 |
0 |
44 |
54 |
Amendment 1 was not agreed.
Amendment
2 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)
In point 4, delete all after ‘Barnett consequential’ and
replace with ‘in the most effective and proven way to improve standards and well-being
and to publish a programme of its intentions for all school meals provision’.
A vote was taken on Amendment 2:
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
10 |
0 |
44 |
54 |
Amendment 2 was not agreed.
As the Assembly has not agreed the motion without amendment,
and has not agreed the amendments tabled to the motion, the motion is therefore
not agreed.
Meeting: 11/12/2013 - Plenary - Fourth Assembly (Item 5)
Welsh Liberal Democrats Debate
NDM5387
Aled Roberts (North Wales)
To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
1. Recognises the important role of the Wales Audit Office
in:
a) providing high quality, independent and comprehensive scrutiny
of government activities and expenditure;
b) supporting effective and accountable public services;
c) sharing good practice and identifying improvements to
public service delivery; and
d) helping to ensure the best value for money for the people
of Wales.
2. Notes the findings of successive reports published by the
Wales Audit Office, which highlight significant failings in the governance
arrangements and delivery of key public services, including AWEMA; the Caldicot
and Wentlooge Levels Internal Drainage Board; the River Lodge Hotel,
Unscheduled Care; Higher Education Finances and NHS Finances.
3. Notes the on-going investigation into the Regeneration
Investment Fund For Wales, the decision by the Minister to disband this body
and to return European funding to WEFO, and the subsequent impact on a number
of regeneration projects seeking funding from RIFW.
4. Calls on the Welsh Government to:
a) conduct a thorough review of all external funding to
restore public and investor confidence in the ability of the Welsh Government
to monitor and regulate Welsh Government funding;
b) publish the monitoring regime in place in respect of its
grant management policy and report annually to the National Assembly on its
outcomes; and
c) develop a robust and transparent procedure to more
effectively address the substantial and specific failings in Welsh Government
policy highlighted by Wales Audit Office reports.
The
following amendments have been tabled:
Amendment
1 - William Graham (South Wales East)
In sub-point 1c) after ‘delivery’ insert ‘including via the
work of its Good Practice Exchange’.
Amendment
2 - William Graham (South Wales East)
In point 2, delete all after ‘key public services’.
Amendment
3 - William Graham (South Wales East)
Delete sub-point 4a) and replace with:
review the funding it provides to Welsh public bodies and
other organisations to ensure that the public can be confident that it is being
effectively managed, monitored and evaluated;
Amendment
4 - William Graham (South Wales East)
In sub-point 4c) delete ‘in Welsh Government policy’.
Amendment
5 - William Graham (South Wales East)
Add new point at the end of the motion:
Welcomes the joint working between the Wales Audit Office and
other inspectorates and notes that this has the ability to improve the
efficiency and effectiveness of their work.
Decision:
The item started at 17.10
Voting on the motion and amendments under this item was
deferred until Voting Time.
A
vote was taken on the motion without amendment:
NDM5387 Aled Roberts (North Wales)
To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
1. Recognises the important role of the Wales Audit Office
in:
a) providing high quality, independent and comprehensive
scrutiny of government activities and expenditure;
b) supporting effective and accountable public services;
c) sharing good practice and identifying improvements to
public service delivery; and
d) helping to ensure the best value for money for the people
of Wales.
2. Notes the findings of successive reports published by the
Wales Audit Office, which highlight significant failings in the governance
arrangements and delivery of key public services, including AWEMA; the Caldicot
and Wentlooge Levels Internal Drainage Board; the River Lodge Hotel,
Unscheduled Care; Higher Education Finances and NHS Finances.
3. Notes the on-going investigation into the Regeneration
Investment Fund For Wales, the decision by the Minister to disband this body
and to return European funding to WEFO, and the subsequent impact on a number
of regeneration projects seeking funding from RIFW.
4. Calls on the Welsh Government to:
a) conduct a thorough
review of all external funding to restore public and investor confidence in the
ability of the Welsh Government to monitor and regulate Welsh Government
funding;
b) publish the monitoring regime in place in respect of its
grant management policy and report annually to the National Assembly on its
outcomes; and
c) develop a robust and transparent procedure to more
effectively address the substantial and specific failings in Welsh Government
policy highlighted by Wales Audit Office reports.
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
5 |
0 |
48 |
53 |
The motion without amendment was not agreed.
The following amendments were tabled:
Amendment 1 - William Graham
(South Wales East)
In sub-point 1c) after ‘delivery’ insert ‘including via
the work of its Good Practice Exchange’.
A vote was taken on Amendment 1:
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
53 |
0 |
0 |
53 |
Amendment 1 was agreed.
Amendment 2 - William Graham
(South Wales East)
In point 2, delete all after ‘key public services’.
A vote was taken on Amendment 2:
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
21 |
0 |
32 |
53 |
Amendment 2 was not agreed.
Amendment 3 - William Graham (South Wales East)
Delete sub-point 4a) and
replace with:
review the funding it
provides to Welsh public bodies and other organisations to ensure that the
public can be confident that it is being effectively managed, monitored and
evaluated;A vote was taken on Amendment 3:
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
21 |
0 |
32 |
53 |
Amendment 3 was not agreed.
Amendment 4 - William Graham
(South Wales East)
In sub-point 4c) delete ‘in Welsh Government policy’.
A vote was taken on Amendment 4:
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
21 |
0 |
32 |
53 |
Amendment 4 was not agreed.
Amendment 5 - William Graham (South Wales East)
Add new point at the end of
the motion:
Welcomes the joint working
between the Wales Audit Office and other inspectorates and notes that this has
the ability to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of their work.
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:
NDM5387 Aled Roberts (North Wales)
To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
1. Recognises the important role of the Wales Audit Office
in:
a) providing high quality, independent and comprehensive
scrutiny of government activities and expenditure;
b) supporting effective and accountable public services;
c) sharing good practice and identifying improvements to
public service delivery; including via the work of its Good Practice Exchange
and
d) helping to ensure the best value for money for the people
of Wales.
2. Notes the findings of successive reports published by the
Wales Audit Office, which highlight significant failings in the governance
arrangements and delivery of key public services, including AWEMA; the Caldicot
and Wentlooge Levels Internal Drainage Board; the River Lodge Hotel,
Unscheduled Care; Higher Education Finances and NHS Finances.
3. Notes the on-going investigation into the Regeneration
Investment Fund For Wales, the decision by the Minister to disband this body
and to return European funding to WEFO, and the subsequent impact on a number
of regeneration projects seeking funding from RIFW.
4. Calls on the Welsh Government to:
a) conduct a thorough
review of all external funding to restore public and investor confidence in the
ability of the Welsh Government to monitor and regulate Welsh Government
funding;
b) publish the monitoring regime in place in respect of its
grant management policy and report annually to the National Assembly on its
outcomes; and
c) develop a robust and transparent procedure to more
effectively address the substantial and specific failings in Welsh Government
policy highlighted by Wales Audit Office reports.
5. Welcomes the joint working between the Wales Audit Office
and other inspectorates and notes that this has the ability to improve the efficiency
and effectiveness of their work.
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
26 |
0 |
27 |
53 |
The motion as amended not agreed.
Meeting: 13/11/2013 - Plenary - Fourth Assembly (Item 5)
Welsh Liberal Democrats Debate
NDM5354 Aled Roberts
(North Wales)
To
propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
1.
Recognises that the SME sector accounts for 73% of all employment in rural
areas and that small and medium sized enterprises play a vital role in the
sustainable economic growth of rural areas, in stimulating innovation and
advancement and helping to address the key challenges of unemployment, rural to
urban migration and poverty.
2.
Notes that lack of access to finance impedes the potential role of SMEs in
rural economic development.
3.
Notes the particular challenges in the uptake of apprenticeships in SMEs.
4.
Notes that the digital divide in broadband and mobile coverage hinders the
competitiveness and accessibility of businesses in rural areas.
5.
Calls on the Welsh Government to:
a)
examine a community bank structure to sustain the presence of local banks in
rural communities, and to work with credit unions to increase lending to
businesses;
b)
work with businesses in the agricultural, renewable energy and tourism sectors
to identify ways to overcome barriers to increasing the supply of rural
apprenticeships;
c)
make universal access to broadband an obligation for providers and to work with
Ofcom and network operators to investigate the shared provision of
infrastructure in rural areas to maximise coverage.
The following amendments
have been tabled:
Amendment 1 - Elin Jones
(Ceredigion)
Insert
at end of point 2:
'and
notes the inability of Finance Wales to offer finance to SMEs at competitive
rates'
Amendment 2 - Elin Jones
(Ceredigion)
Insert
at end of point 3:
'and
recognises the positive steps taken through the 2013/14 budget agreement on
apprenticeships between Plaid Cymru and the Welsh Government.'
Amendment 3 - Elin Jones
(Ceredigion)
Add
as new point 4 and renumber accordingly:
Regrets
the negative impact on the rural economy of the mis-selling of interest rate
hedging products by high street banks.
Amendment 4 - William
Graham (South Wales East)
Insert
as new point 4 and renumber accordingly:
Further
notes the points detailed in the Enterprise and Business Committee report on
apprenticeships in rural areas.
The
Enterprise and Business Committee report ‘Apprenticeships in Wales’ is
available at:
Amendment 5 - Elin Jones
(Ceredigion)
Add
as new point 5 and renumber accordingly:
Believes
that the cost of fuel in rural areas has a negative impact on the rural
economy, and regrets that the UK Government’s application for an extension to
the Rural Fuel Rebate did not include any Welsh areas.
Amendment 6 - William
Graham (South Wales East)
Insert
as new point 5 and renumber accordingly:
Notes
that effective rural transport infrastructure is a lifeline for rural
communities and essential for stimulating economic development and tackling
rural isolation.
Amendment 7 - William
Graham (South Wales East)
Insert
as new point 5 and renumber accordingly:
Recognises
the burden of business rates on rural SMEs and calls on the Welsh Government to
introduce further business rate relief for small businesses across Wales.
Amendment 8 - Elin Jones
(Ceredigion)
Insert
as new sub-point 5b) and renumber accordingly:
‘examine
the benefits to rural SMEs of establishing a publicly owned, arm's length,
not-for dividend business bank, to offer finance at competitive rates to Welsh
SMEs.’
Amendment 9 - Lesley
Griffiths (Wrexham)
Delete
sub-point 5c.
[If amendment 9 is
agreed, amendment 10 will be de-selected]
Amendment 10 - William
Graham (South Wales East)
In
sub-point 5c) delete all after ‘providers’ and replace with ‘and ensure
mandatory roaming in all rural areas for all operators to enhance price
competition and increase coverage’.
Decision:
The item started at 16.47
Voting
on the motion and amendments under this item was deferred until Voting Time.
A vote was taken on
the motion without amendment:
NDM5354
Aled Roberts (North Wales)
To
propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
1.
Recognises that the SME sector accounts for 73% of all employment in rural
areas and that small and medium sized enterprises play a vital role in the
sustainable economic growth of rural areas, in stimulating innovation and
advancement and helping to address the key challenges of unemployment, rural to
urban migration and poverty.
2.
Notes that lack of access to finance impedes the potential role of SMEs in
rural economic development.
3.
Notes the particular challenges in the uptake of apprenticeships in SMEs.
4.
Notes that the digital divide in broadband and mobile coverage hinders the
competitiveness and accessibility of businesses in rural areas.
5.
Calls on the Welsh Government to:
a)
examine a community bank structure to sustain the presence of local banks in
rural communities, and to work with credit unions to increase lending to
businesses;
b)
work with businesses in the agricultural, renewable energy and tourism sectors
to identify ways to overcome barriers to increasing the supply of rural
apprenticeships;
c)
make universal access to broadband an obligation for providers and to work with
Ofcom and network operators to investigate the shared provision of
infrastructure in rural areas to maximise coverage.
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
5 |
0 |
49 |
54 |
The
motion without amendment was not agreed.
The
following amendments were tabled:
Amendment
1 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)
Insert
at end of point 2:
'and
notes the inability of Finance Wales to offer finance to SMEs at competitive
rates'
A vote was taken on Amendment 1:
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
26 |
0 |
28 |
54 |
Amendment 1 was not
agreed.
Amendment
2 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)
Insert
at end of point 3:
'and
recognises the positive steps taken through the 2013/14 budget agreement on apprenticeships
between Plaid Cymru and the Welsh Government.'
A vote was taken on Amendment 2:
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
37 |
5 |
12 |
54 |
Amendment 2 was
agreed.
Amendment
3 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)
Add
as new point 4 and renumber accordingly:
Regrets
the negative impact on the rural economy of the mis-selling
of interest rate hedging products by high street banks.
A vote was taken on Amendment 3:
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
54 |
0 |
0 |
54 |
Amendment 3 was
agreed.
Amendment
4 - William Graham (South Wales East)
Insert
as new point 4 and renumber accordingly:
Further
notes the points detailed in the Enterprise and Business Committee report on
apprenticeships in rural areas.
A vote was taken on Amendment 4:
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
54 |
0 |
0 |
54 |
Amendment 4 was
agreed.
Amendment
5 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)
Add
as new point 5 and renumber accordingly:
Believes
that the cost of fuel in rural areas has a negative impact on the rural
economy, and regrets that the UK Government’s application for an extension to
the Rural Fuel Rebate did not include any Welsh areas.
A vote was taken on Amendment 5:
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
37 |
17 |
0 |
54 |
Amendment 5 was
agreed.
Amendment
6 - William Graham (South Wales East)
Insert
as new point 5 and renumber accordingly:
Notes
that effective rural transport infrastructure is a lifeline for rural
communities and essential for stimulating economic development and tackling
rural isolation.
A vote was taken on Amendment 6:
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
54 |
0 |
0 |
54 |
Amendment 6 was
agreed.
Amendment
7 - William Graham (South Wales East)
Insert
as new point 5 and renumber accordingly:
Recognises
the burden of business rates on rural SMEs and calls on the Welsh Government to
introduce further business rate relief for small businesses across Wales.
A vote was taken on Amendment 7:
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
26 |
0 |
28 |
54 |
Amendment 7 was not
agreed.
Amendment
8 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)
Insert
as new sub-point 5b) and renumber accordingly:
‘examine
the benefits to rural SMEs of establishing a publicly owned, arm's length, not-for
dividend business bank, to offer finance at competitive rates to Welsh SMEs.’
A vote was taken on Amendment 8:
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
37 |
5 |
12 |
54 |
Amendment 8 was
agreed.
Amendment
9 - Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)
Delete
sub-point 5c.
A vote was taken on Amendment 9:
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
28 |
0 |
26 |
54 |
Amendment 9 was
agreed.
As amendment 9 was
agreed, amendment 10 was deselected.
A vote was taken on the motion as amended:
NDM5354 Aled
Roberts (North Wales)
To
propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
1.
Recognises that the SME sector accounts for 73% of all employment in rural
areas and that small and medium sized enterprises play a vital role in the
sustainable economic growth of rural areas, in stimulating innovation and
advancement and helping to address the key challenges of unemployment, rural to
urban migration and poverty.
2.
Notes that lack of access to finance impedes the potential role of SMEs in rural
economic development.
3.
Notes the particular challenges in the uptake of apprenticeships in SMEs and
recognises the positive steps taken through the 2013/14 budget agreement on
apprenticeships between Plaid Cymru and the Welsh Government.
4.
Regrets the negative impact on the rural economy of the mis-selling
of interest rate hedging products by high street banks.
5.
Further notes the points detailed in the Enterprise and Business Committee
report on apprenticeships in rural areas
6.
Believes that the cost of fuel in rural areas has a negative impact on the
rural economy, and regrets that the UK Government’s application for an
extension to the Rural Fuel Rebate did not include any Welsh areas.
7.
Notes that effective rural transport infrastructure is a lifeline for rural
communities and essential for stimulating economic development and tackling
rural isolation.
8.
Notes that the digital divide in broadband and mobile coverage hinders the
competitiveness and accessibility of businesses in rural areas.
9.
Calls on the Welsh Government to:
a)
examine a community bank structure to sustain the presence of local banks in
rural communities, and to work with credit unions to increase lending to
businesses;
b)
examine the benefits to rural SMEs of establishing a publicly owned, arm's
length, not-for dividend business bank, to offer finance at competitive rates
to Welsh SMEs.
c)
work with businesses in the agricultural, renewable energy and tourism sectors
to identify ways to overcome barriers to increasing the supply of rural
apprenticeships;
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
42 |
0 |
12 |
54 |
The
motion as amended was agreed.
Meeting: 02/10/2013 - Plenary - Fourth Assembly (Item 7)
Welsh Liberal Democrats Debate
NDM5313 Aled Roberts (North Wales)
To
propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
1.
Notes with concern that:
a)
Wales has the largest proportion of premises in potential not-spots, and the lowest
availability of superfast broadband services in the UK;
b)
the recent rationalisation and decommissioning of
mobile masts has resulted in many customers facing a frustrating loss or
degradation of mobile signal.
2.
Believes that broadband and mobile services play an integral and ever expanding
role in the lives of Welsh consumers and citizens and that a lack of access to
digital infrastructure is a hindrance to social, economic and cultural
development, noting in particular that:
a)
according to a recent Estyn
report ‘The impact of ICT on pupils’ learning in primary schools’, around half
the schools surveyed say that the poor quality of the internet connection
hinders their ICT work;
b)
the Welsh Affairs Committee report ‘Broadband services
in Wales’ expresses concern that the existence of broadband not-spots and slowspots, particularly in rural areas, has hindered local
businesses at a cost to the local economy;
c)
the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee report ‘Rural Communities’ notes
that households in rural areas are less likely to take up schemes that may
reduce fuel costs, such as cheaper tariffs or energy efficiency schemes, due to
a lack of broadband access; and
d)
the Chairman of the Commission for Rural Communities
has said that poor web coverage is a factor in pushing young people out of
rural areas.
3.
Regrets the problems experienced by the Welsh Government’s Regional Innovative
Broadband Support Scheme and calls on the Welsh Government to:
a)
ensure that the Access Broadband Cymru
scheme is widely advertised and does not experience the same issues;
b)
examine the planning system to ensure that planning
rules support the development of digital infrastructure;
c)
examine what support can be offered to businesses to
improve their ability to compete worldwide through better access to digital
services; and
d)
investigate recent problems with mobile signal and
work with network providers to ensure these issues are addressed and coverage
is maximised across Wales.
The
Estyn report is available here:
The
Welsh Affairs Committee report is available here:
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201213/cmselect/cmwelaf/580/58002.htm
The
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee report is available here:
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201314/cmselect/cmenvfru/602/602.pdf
The following amendments
have been tabled:
Amendment 1 - William
Graham (South Wales East)
Insert
as new point 2c and renumber accordingly:
the rise of online shopping
has contributed to the challenges faced by the high street, however recognises
the potential of the internet as a source for high street regeneration;
Amendment 2 - William
Graham (South Wales East)
Add
as new sub-point at the end of point 2:
the increasing
digitalisation of farm administration and the impact this has on farmers who
suffer from poor broadband coverage.
Amendment 3 - William
Graham (South Wales East)
Insert
as new point 3a and renumber accordingly:
guarantee that during the rollout
of the Superfast Cymru scheme BT ensures that
premises which do not qualify for connection will be notified accordingly in a
timely manner;
Decision:
The item started at 16.50
Voting
on the motion and amendments under this item was deferred until Voting Time.
A vote was taken on
the motion without amendment:
NDM5313
Aled Roberts (North Wales)
To
propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
1.
Notes with concern that:
a)
Wales has the largest proportion of premises in potential not-spots, and the
lowest availability of superfast broadband services in the UK;
b)
the recent rationalisation and decommissioning of
mobile masts has resulted in many customers facing a frustrating loss or
degradation of mobile signal.
2.
Believes that broadband and mobile services play an integral and ever expanding
role in the lives of Welsh consumers and citizens and that a lack of access to
digital infrastructure is a hindrance to social, economic and cultural
development, noting in particular that:
a)
according to a recent Estyn
report ‘The impact of ICT on pupils’ learning in primary schools’, around half
the schools surveyed say that the poor quality of the internet connection
hinders their ICT work;
b)
the Welsh Affairs Committee report ‘Broadband services
in Wales’ expresses concern that the existence of broadband not-spots and slowspots, particularly in rural areas, has hindered local
businesses at a cost to the local economy;
c)
the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee report ‘Rural Communities’
notes that households in rural areas are less likely to take up schemes that
may reduce fuel costs, such as cheaper tariffs or energy efficiency schemes, due
to a lack of broadband access; and
d)
the Chairman of the Commission for Rural Communities
has said that poor web coverage is a factor in pushing young people out of
rural areas.
3.
Regrets the problems experienced by the Welsh Government’s Regional Innovative
Broadband Support Scheme and calls on the Welsh Government to:
a)
ensure that the Access Broadband Cymru scheme is
widely advertised and does not experience the same issues;
b)
examine the planning system to ensure that planning
rules support the development of digital infrastructure;
c)
examine what support can be offered to businesses to
improve their ability to compete worldwide through better access to digital
services; and
d)
investigate recent problems with mobile signal and
work with network providers to ensure these issues are addressed and coverage
is maximised across Wales.
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
13 |
0 |
37 |
50 |
The
motion without amendment was not agreed.
The
following amendments were tabled:
Amendment
1 - William Graham (South Wales East)
Insert
as new point 2c and renumber accordingly:
the rise of online shopping
has contributed to the challenges faced by the high street, however recognises
the potential of the internet as a source for high street regeneration;
A vote was taken on Amendment 1:
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
50 |
0 |
0 |
50 |
Amendment 1 was
agreed.
Amendment
2 - William Graham (South Wales East)
Add
as new sub-point at the end of point 2:
the increasing
digitalisation of farm administration and the impact this has on farmers who
suffer from poor broadband coverage.
A vote was taken on Amendment 2:
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
49 |
0 |
0 |
49 |
Amendment 2 was
agreed.
Amendment
3 - William Graham (South Wales East)
Insert
as new point 3a and renumber accordingly:
guarantee that during the rollout
of the Superfast Cymru scheme BT ensures that premises which do not qualify for
connection will be notified accordingly in a timely manner;
A vote was taken on Amendment 3:
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
24 |
0 |
26 |
50 |
Amendment 3 was not
agreed.
A vote was taken on the motion as amended:
NDM5313
Aled Roberts (North Wales)
To
propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
1.
Notes with concern that:
a)
Wales has the largest proportion of premises in potential not-spots, and the
lowest availability of superfast broadband services in the UK;
b)
the recent rationalisation and decommissioning of
mobile masts has resulted in many customers facing a frustrating loss or
degradation of mobile signal.
2.
Believes that broadband and mobile services play an integral and ever expanding
role in the lives of Welsh consumers and citizens and that a lack of access to
digital infrastructure is a hindrance to social, economic and cultural
development, noting in particular that:
a)
according to a recent Estyn
report ‘The impact of ICT on pupils’ learning in primary schools’, around half
the schools surveyed say that the poor quality of the internet connection
hinders their ICT work;
b)
the Welsh Affairs Committee report ‘Broadband services
in Wales’ expresses concern that the existence of broadband not-spots and slowspots, particularly in rural areas, has hindered local
businesses at a cost to the local economy;
c)
the rise of online shopping has contributed to the
challenges faced by the high street, however recognises the potential of the
internet as a source for high street regeneration;
d)
the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee report ‘Rural Communities’
notes that households in rural areas are less likely to take up schemes that may
reduce fuel costs, such as cheaper tariffs or energy efficiency schemes, due to
a lack of broadband access; and
e)
the Chairman of the Commission for Rural Communities
has said that poor web coverage is a factor in pushing young people out of
rural areas.
f)
the increasing digitalisation of farm administration
and the impact this has on farmers who suffer from poor broadband coverage.
3.
Regrets the problems experienced by the Welsh Government’s Regional Innovative
Broadband Support Scheme and calls on the Welsh Government to:
a)
ensure that the Access Broadband Cymru scheme is
widely advertised and does not experience the same issues;
b)
examine the planning system to ensure that planning
rules support the development of digital infrastructure;
c)
examine what support can be offered to businesses to
improve their ability to compete worldwide through better access to digital
services; and
d)
investigate recent problems with mobile signal and
work with network providers to ensure these issues are addressed and coverage
is maximised across Wales.
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
24 |
0 |
26 |
50 |
The
motion as amended was not agreed.
Meeting: 25/09/2013 - Plenary - Fourth Assembly (Item 6)
Welsh Liberal Democrats Debate
NDM5306 Aled Roberts (North Wales)
To
propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
1.
Recognises the importance of the Pupil Deprivation Grant in helping to break
the link between poverty and educational underachievement, and close the
attainment gap between pupils from disadvantaged and more advantaged
backgrounds.
2.
Notes the recent research by the Welsh Liberal Democrats into the impact of the
Pupil Deprivation Grant in Wales, which:
a)
indicates that the funding is having a positive impact
on the attainment levels of children from poorer backgrounds and improving
confidence and attendance; and
b)
examines ways to improve the grant in the future.
3.
Notes that funding for the Pupil Premium in England has increased year on year,
from £488 per eligible pupil in 2011-12 to £1300 for 2014-15 compared to £450
per eligible pupil in Wales.
4.
Calls on the Welsh Government to:
a)
substantially increase the Pupil Deprivation Grant
funding per pupil in the next budget;
b)
examine the benefits of extending the Pupil
Deprivation Grant to pupils under the age of 5;
c)
ensure that guidance on the grant is clear and concise
and prioritise the development of a Sutton Trust Toolkit for Wales;
d)
provide certainty over the future of the Pupil Deprivation
Grant and timely information on individual allocations to schools;
e)
encourage schools to have a clear policy for robust
monitoring and appraisal whilst ensuring that the process is not overly
bureaucratic; and
f)
establish a fairer funding formula which ensures that
funding accurately reflects the number of pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds
being supported by Pupil Deprivation Grant funding.
The
Pupil Deprivation Grant research by the Welsh Liberal Democrats is available
here:
http://welshlibdems.org.uk/en/document/learning-lessons-from-the-pupil-deprivation-grant.pdf