Meetings

NDM6335

Neil Hamilton (Mid and West Wales)

David Rowlands (South Wales East)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Notes the Bank of England working paper, The Impact of Immigration on Occupational Wages, and its conclusion that a 10 per cent increase in the proportion of migrants working in semi and unskilled jobs leads, on average, to a 2 per cent cut in wages in those jobs in a particular region.

2. Believes that:

a) a controlled and fair immigration system, placing emphasis on skilled migration, would have significant benefits for the UK economy;

b) public institutions, such as the National Health Service currently depend upon skilled migration from both outside and inside the European Union;

c) uncontrolled, and largely unskilled, immigration from the European Union member states at the current levels is unsustainable;

d) current UK immigration policy gives migrants discrimination in favour of EU nationals to the disadvantage of those from other parts of the world.

3. Calls on the UK Government to introduce a firm but fair system of immigration control which:

a) does not discriminate against non-EU citizens;

b) does not replicate in substance, or in fact, the existing EU or EEA regime for free movement of workers; and

c) seeks to balance immigration and emigration over a five year period.

'The Impact of Immigration on Occupational Wages: evidence from Britain'

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1. Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

Delete all and replace with:

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Believes that Britain and Wales has an open economy and a welcoming society, with immigration playing a significant part in sustaining and developing a modern economy in the 21st century.

2. Recognises the UK Government's commitment to ensure that our public services, businesses and world-class universities can continue to recruit the brightest and best from around the world.

3. Welcomes the UK Government's intention to develop accountability and control within the country's immigration system.

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

Amendment 2. Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)

Delete all and replace with:

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Notes that analysis conducted by the London School of Economics' Centre for Economic Performance concluded that there is very little evidence to suggest that neither immigration as a whole nor EU immigration has had significantly large negative effects on employment, wages and wage inequality for the UK-born population.

2. Believes that the rights and privileges afforded to UK and EU citizens currently living and working in other EU member states should be protected.

3. Believes that a creation of a Welsh Migration Advisory Service that could issue Welsh specific visas is necessary to plug skills gaps in the Welsh economy.

4. Calls upon the UK Government to guarantee the rights of all EU citizens currently living and working in the UK following Brexit.

5. Calls upon the Welsh Government to publish a consultation on how a Welsh work permit system could benefit the Welsh economy.

'London School of Economics' Centre for Economic Performance'

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

Amendment 3. Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

Delete all and replace with:

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Reaffirms support for the joint Welsh Government/Plaid Cymru White Paper Securing Wales' Future which balances jobs and the economy with the need to address concerns about the impact of migration on vulnerable communities.

2. Supports the approach set out in Securing Wales' Future:

a) to link the right of EU/EEA nationals to move to the UK after Brexit, to employment; and

b) to increase efforts to prevent the exploitation of workers, particularly those on low pay.

'Securing Wales' Future'

The item started at 17.24

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

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM6335

Neil Hamilton (Mid and West Wales)

David Rowlands (South Wales East)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Notes the Bank of England working paper, The Impact of Immigration on Occupational Wages, and its conclusion that a 10 per cent increase in the proportion of migrants working in semi and unskilled jobs leads, on average, to a 2 per cent cut in wages in those jobs in a particular region.

2. Believes that:

a) a controlled and fair immigration system, placing emphasis on skilled migration, would have significant benefits for the UK economy;

b) public institutions, such as the National Health Service currently depend upon skilled migration from both outside and inside the European Union;

c) uncontrolled, and largely unskilled, immigration from the European Union member states at the current levels is unsustainable;

d) current UK immigration policy gives migrants discrimination in favour of EU nationals to the disadvantage of those from other parts of the world.

3. Calls on the UK Government to introduce a firm but fair system of immigration control which:

a) does not discriminate against non-EU citizens;

b) does not replicate in substance, or in fact, the existing EU or EEA regime for free movement of workers; and

c) seeks to balance immigration and emigration over a five year period.

For	Abstain	Against	Total
5	0	45	50

The motion without amendment was not agreed.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

Delete all and replace with:

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Believes that Britain and Wales has an open economy and a welcoming society, with immigration playing a significant part in sustaining and developing a modern economy in the 21st century.

2. Recognises the UK Government's commitment to ensure that our public services, businesses and world-class universities can continue to recruit the brightest and best from around the world.

3. Welcomes the UK Government's intention to develop accountability and control within the country's immigration system.

A vote was taken on amendment 1:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
12	0	38	50

Amendment 1 was not agreed.

Amendment 2. Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)

Delete all and replace with:

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Notes that analysis conducted by the London School of Economics' Centre for Economic Performance concluded that there is very little evidence to suggest that neither immigration as a whole nor EU immigration has had significantly large negative effects on employment, wages and wage inequality for the UK-born population.

2. Believes that the rights and privileges afforded to UK and EU citizens currently living and working in other EU member states should be protected.

3. Believes that a creation of a Welsh Migration Advisory Service that could issue Welsh specific visas is necessary to plug skills gaps in the Welsh economy.

4. Calls upon the UK Government to guarantee the rights of all EU citizens currently living and working in the UK following Brexit.

5. Calls upon the Welsh Government to publish a consultation on how a Welsh work permit system could benefit the Welsh economy.

A vote was taken on amendment 2:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
8	0	42	50

Amendment 2 was not agreed.

Amendment 3. Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan

Delete all and replace with:

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Reaffirms support for the joint Welsh Government/Plaid Cymru White Paper Securing Wales' Future which balances jobs and the economy with the need to address concerns about the impact of migration on vulnerable communities.

2. Supports the approach set out in Securing Wales' Future:

a) to link the right of EU/EEA nationals to move to the UK after Brexit, to employment; and

b) to increase efforts to prevent the exploitation of workers, particularly those on low pay.

A vote was taken on amendment 3:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
34	0	16	50

Amendment 3 was agreed.

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

NDM6335

Neil Hamilton (Mid and West Wales)

David Rowlands (South Wales East)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Reaffirms support for the joint Welsh Government/Plaid Cymru White Paper Securing Wales' Future which balances jobs and the economy with the need to address concerns about the impact of migration on vulnerable communities.

2. Supports the approach set out in Securing Wales' Future:

a) to link the right of EU/EEA nationals to move to the UK after Brexit, to employment; and

b) to increase efforts to prevent the exploitation of workers, particularly those on low pay.

For	Abstain	Against	Total
34	0	16	50

The motion as amended was agreed.