Meetings

NDM6309 Neil Hamilton (Mid and West Wales)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Believes that, whilst there is a case to support humanitarian and emergency aid to poorer countries especially in specific crises, it makes no sense to fix the foreign aid budget at an arbitrary 0.7 per cent of gross national income (GNI).

2. Notes that the UK national debt has been doubled since 2009 and now stands at £1.6 trillion, which equates to £22,000 for every UK man, woman and child.

3. Believes that the wellbeing of future generations must be considered when making all public spending decisions and that the foreign aid budget should be evaluated by the UK Government in the context of other pressing needs at home.

4. Calls for the repeal of the International Development (Official Development Assistance Target) Act 2015, which enshrined the 0.7 per cent target figure in UK law.

5. Believes that much of the foreign aid budget is wasted, diverted by corruption and spent unproductively.

6. Calls on the Welsh Government to urge the UK Government to reduce foreign aid target spending to 0.2 per cent of GNI, which is similar to the US, Italian and Spanish aid budgets.

7. Believes that the £8 billion savings which would be released should be redirected proportionately to the UK nations and spent on deserving causes like the NHS or social housing.

‘International Development (Official Development Assistance Target) Act 2015’

The following amendment has been tabled:

Amendment 1. Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)

Delete all and replace with:

1. Notes the importance of international aid in alleviating human suffering.

2. Supports Wales's contribution to humanitarian projects through initiatives such as Wales for Africa.

3. Calls on the Welsh Government to develop and publish a comprehensive international policy for Wales including enhancing the nation's international aid activities.

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:

NDM6309 Neil Hamilton (Mid and West Wales)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Believes that, whilst there is a case to support humanitarian and emergency aid to poorer countries especially in specific crises, it makes no sense to fix the foreign aid budget at an arbitrary 0.7 per cent of gross national income (GNI).

2. Notes that the UK national debt has been doubled since 2009 and now stands at £1.6 trillion, which equates to £22,000 for every UK man, woman and child.

3. Believes that the wellbeing of future generations must be considered when making all public spending decisions and that the foreign aid budget should be evaluated by the UK Government in the context of other pressing needs at home.

4. Calls for the repeal of the International Development (Official Development Assistance Target) Act 2015, which enshrined the 0.7 per cent target figure in UK law.

5. Believes that much of the foreign aid budget is wasted, diverted by corruption and spent unproductively.

6. Calls on the Welsh Government to urge the UK Government to reduce foreign aid target spending to 0.2 per cent of GNI, which is similar to the US, Italian and Spanish aid budgets.

7. Believes that the £8 billion savings which would be released should be redirected proportionately to the UK nations and spent on deserving causes like the NHS or social housing.

The motion without amendment was not agreed.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1. Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)

Delete all and replace with:

1. Notes the importance of international aid in alleviating human suffering.

2. Supports Wales's contribution to humanitarian projects through initiatives such as Wales for Africa.

3. Calls on the Welsh Government to develop and publish a comprehensive international policy for Wales including enhancing the nation's international aid activities.

A vote was taken on amendment 1:

Amendment 1 was agreed.

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

NDM6309 Neil Hamilton (Mid and West Wales)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Notes the importance of international aid in alleviating human suffering.

2. Supports Wales's contribution to humanitarian projects through initiatives such as Wales for Africa.

3. Calls on the Welsh Government to develop and publish a comprehensive international policy for Wales including enhancing the nation's international aid activities.

The motion as amended was agreed.