Meetings

NDM6274
 
David Rowlands (South Wales East)
Neil Hamilton (Mid and West Wales)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Commends the Welsh Government's aim of achieving one million Welsh-speakers by 2050 and recognises the key role of schools in achieving it.

2. Believes that flying in the face of local public opinion will limit the chance of success and that changes to educational institutions covering Key Stages 1 to 5 should be made in a manner supported by the majority of parents, guardians or local residents, who are best placed to make educational decisions on behalf of their children.

3. Believes that proposals to convert English-medium, dual-stream or transitional schools into Welsh-medium schools or to close them must involve genuine local consultation whereby:

a) all respondents supply their names, addresses and postcodes;

b) each individual named in any submitted petition is recorded as a discrete observation unit; and

c) the opinions of unrelated third parties should not be given priority over the wishes of parents or local residents.

4. Believes that the consultation exercise carried out by Carmarthenshire County Council prior to deciding to close the Llangennech dual stream federated infants and junior schools and convert them to a single Welsh-medium school was flawed.

5. Believes that the council should rescind its decision pending a further consultation based on the principles set out in paragraph 3 above.

The following amendments have been tabled:

1. Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

Delete all after point 1 and replace with:

Welcomes the Welsh Government’s intention to publish a White Paper this year for consultation on provisions for a new Welsh Language Bill as part of plans to increase the use of the Welsh language.

Recognises the additional investment in 2017-18 to improve and increase Welsh in the workplace provision and to promote the Welsh language.

Notes the Welsh Government’s commitment to review the Welsh in Education Strategic Plan process.

Recognises local authorities and other proposers must comply with the School Standards and Organisation (Wales) Act 2013 and the School Organisation Code and must consider a range of factors when proposing significant changes to schools in their jurisdiction.

'School Standards and Organisation (Wales) Act 2013'

'School Organisation Code'

[If amendment 1 is agreed, amendments 2 and 3 will be de-selected]

2. Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)
 
Delete all after point 1.

[If amendment 2 is agreed, amendment 3 will be de-selected]

3. Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)
 
Delete all after point 1.

4. Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)
 
Add as a new point at end of motion:

Regrets that there has been a fall in the number of Welsh speaking teachers entering the profession.
 
5. Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)
 
Add as a new point at end of motion:

Regrets that school closures have disproportionately affected Welsh medium schools.

6. Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)
 
Add as new point at end of motion:

Notes the many cognitive, educational, economic and social benefits of bilingualism.

7. Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Regrets that the percentage of seven-year-old learners being taught through the medium of Welsh has stagnated in recent years.

8. Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Notes that Carmarthenshire County Council's Welsh in Education Strategic Plan 2014-2017, which included the decision to establish a Welsh-medium school at Llangennech, was approved unanimously by the Labour-led Cabinet in July 2014, and that all subsequent decisions were approved by the appropriate authorities.

'Carmarthenshire County Council Welsh in Education Strategic Plan 2014-2017'

The item started at 17.48

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

 

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM6274
 
David Rowlands (South Wales East)
Neil Hamilton (Mid and West Wales)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Commends the Welsh Government's aim of achieving one million Welsh-speakers by 2050 and recognises the key role of schools in achieving it.

2. Believes that flying in the face of local public opinion will limit the chance of success and that changes to educational institutions covering Key Stages 1 to 5 should be made in a manner supported by the majority of parents, guardians or local residents, who are best placed to make educational decisions on behalf of their children.

3. Believes that proposals to convert English-medium, dual-stream or transitional schools into Welsh-medium schools or to close them must involve genuine local consultation whereby:

a) all respondents supply their names, addresses and postcodes;

b) each individual named in any submitted petition is recorded as a discrete observation unit; and

c) the opinions of unrelated third parties should not be given priority over the wishes of parents or local residents.

4. Believes that the consultation exercise carried out by Carmarthenshire County Council prior to deciding to close the Llangennech dual stream federated infants and junior schools and convert them to a single Welsh-medium school was flawed.

5. Believes that the council should rescind its decision pending a further consultation based on the principles set out in paragraph 3 above.

For	Abstain	Against	Total
7	0	45	52

The motion without amendment was not agreed.

The following amendments were tabled:

1. Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

Delete all after point 1 and replace with:

Welcomes the Welsh Government's intention to publish a White Paper this year for consultation on provisions for a new Welsh Language Bill as part of plans to increase the use of the Welsh language.

Recognises the additional investment in 2017-18 to improve and increase Welsh in the workplace provision and to promote the Welsh language.

Notes the Welsh Government's commitment to review the Welsh in Education Strategic Plan process.

Recognises local authorities and other proposers must comply with the School Standards and Organisation (Wales) Act 2013 and the School Organisation Code and must consider a range of factors when proposing significant changes to schools in their jurisdiction.

A vote was taken on Amendment 1:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
35	0	17	52

Amendment 1 was agreed.

 

As amendment 1 was agreed, amendment 3 was de-selected.

 

Amendment 2 was not moved.

4. Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)
 
Add as a new point at end of motion:

Regrets that there has been a fall in the number of Welsh speaking teachers entering the profession.

A vote was taken on Amendment 4:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
26	0	27	53

As required by Standing Order 6.20 the Presiding Officer exercised her casting vote by voting against the amendment. Therefore, the amended was not agreed.

5. Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)
 
Add as a new point at end of motion:

Regrets that school closures have disproportionately affected Welsh medium schools.

A vote was taken on Amendment 5:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
17	9	26	52

Amendment 5 was not agreed.

6. Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)
 
Add as new point at end of motion:

Notes the many cognitive, educational, economic and social benefits of bilingualism.

A vote was taken on Amendment 6:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
52	0	0	52

Amendment 6 was agreed.

7. Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Regrets that the percentage of seven-year-old learners being taught through the medium of Welsh has stagnated in recent years.

A vote was taken on Amendment 7:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
26	0	27	53

As required by Standing Order 6.20 the Presiding Officer exercised her casting vote by voting against the amendment. Therefore, the amended was not agreed.

8. Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Notes that Carmarthenshire County Council's Welsh in Education Strategic Plan 2014-2017, which included the decision to establish a Welsh-medium school at Llangennech, was approved unanimously by the Labour-led Cabinet in July 2014, and that all subsequent decisions were approved by the appropriate authorities.

A votewas taken on Amendment 8:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
10	11	31	52

Amendment 8 was not agreed.

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

NDM6274
 
David Rowlands (South Wales East)
Neil Hamilton (Mid and West Wales)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Commends the Welsh Government's aim of achieving one million Welsh-speakers by 2050 and recognises the key role of schools in achieving it.

2. Welcomes the Welsh Government's intention to publish a White Paper this year for consultation on provisions for a new Welsh Language Bill as part of plans to increase the use of the Welsh language.

3. Recognises the additional investment in 2017-18 to improve and increase Welsh in the workplace provision and to promote the Welsh language.

4. Notes the Welsh Government's commitment to review the Welsh in Education Strategic Plan process.

5. Recognises local authorities and other proposers must comply with the School Standards and Organisation (Wales) Act 2013 and the School Organisation Code and must consider a range of factors when proposing significant changes to schools in their jurisdiction.

6. Notes the many cognitive, educational, economic and social benefits of bilingualism.

For	Abstain	Against	Total
51	0	1	52

The motion as amended was agreed.