Meetings

NDM6669  Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

 

1. Recognises the importance of broadcasting to the sustainability of viable democracy in Wales;

2. Is concerned by the significant decline in ITV Wales's broadcasting hours, and significant cuts to S4C and its current uncertain financial position;

3. Is also concerned about the position of Welsh-language and Welsh broadcasting on commercial radio and local television, along with the impact of the UK Government's proposals to further regulate the radio market;

4. Notes that Wales needs to be at the forefront of the development of media technologies and that Welsh-language and Welsh broadcasting needs to be on a broader number of platforms and modes of producing, publishing and distributing content;

5. Agrees that full consideration needs to be given to the devolution of responsibilities for broadcasting to Wales;

6. Calls on the Welsh Government to investigate the feasibility of devolving powers over broadcasting to Wales and to report back to the Assembly within one year.

 

The following amendments have been tabled:

 

Amendment 1. Julie James (Swansea West)

Delete Points 5 and 6 and replace with:

Notes that the publication by Departure of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport of the independent review of S4C being undertaken by Euryn Ogwen Williams is still awaited.

Calls on the UK Government and broadcasters to ensure that both Welsh and English language broadcasting in Wales is funded adequately.

Recognises that the public service broadcasters should be fully accountable to all national parliaments of the United Kingdom, as appropriate to their remit.

 

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

 

Amendment 2. Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

Delete point 6 and replace with:

 

Calls on the Welsh Government to investigate the viability of devolving powers over broadcasting to Wales and to report back to the Assembly within one year.

 

Amendment 3. Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

Add as new point at end of motion:

 

Notes the statutory obligation on the UK Government to provide S4C with sufficient funds to carry out its purposes.

 

Amendment 4. Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

Add as new point at end of motion:

 

Calls on the Welsh Government and the Assembly to press for the retention of the statutory obligation on the UK Government to provide S4C with sufficient funds to carry out its purposes to fund any expanded purposes that S4C may acquire following the Ogwen review.

 

Amendment 5. Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

Add as new point at end of motion:

 

Notes the increased obligations imposed on the BBC regarding portrayal and commissioning in the nations and regions in its renewed charter.

 

Amendment 6. Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

Add as a new point at the end of the motion:

 

Notes that a UK national broadcasting system is better placed to reach all nations and regions to promote understanding of devolution, notwithstanding that it has failed to do so to date.

The item started at 16.40

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

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM6669  Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)

 To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1) Recognises the importance of broadcasting to the sustainability of viable democracy in Wales;

2) Is concerned by the significant decline in ITV Wales's broadcasting hours, and significant cuts to S4C and its current uncertain financial position;

3) Is also concerned about the position of Welsh-language and Welsh broadcasting on commercial radio and local television, along with the impact of the UK Government's proposals to further regulate the radio market;

4) Notes that Wales needs to be at the forefront of the development of media technologies and that Welsh-language and Welsh broadcasting needs to be on a broader number of platforms and modes of producing, publishing and distributing content;

5) Agrees that full consideration needs to be given to the devolution of responsibilities for broadcasting to Wales;

6) Calls on the Welsh Government to investigate the feasibility of devolving powers over broadcasting to Wales and to report back to the Assembly within one year.

For	Abstain	Against	Total
12	1	38	51

The motion without amendment was not agreed.

 

The following amendments were tabled:

 

Amendment 1. Julie James (Swansea West)

Delete Points 5 and 6 and replace with:

Notes that the publication by Departure of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport of the independent review of S4C being undertaken by Euryn Ogwen Williams is still awaited.

Calls on the UK Government and broadcasters to ensure that both Welsh and English language broadcasting in Wales is funded adequately.

Recognises that the public service broadcasters should be fully accountable to all national parliaments of the United Kingdom, as appropriate to their remit.

A vote was taken on amendment 1:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
29	0	22	51

Amendment 1 was agreed.

As amendment 1 was agreed, amendment 2 was deselected

Amendment 3. Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Notes the statutory obligation on the UK Government to provide S4C with sufficient funds to carry out its purposes.

A vote was taken on amendment 3:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
41	0	8	49

Amendment 3 was agreed.

Amendment 4. Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Calls on the Welsh Government and the Assembly to press for the retention of the statutory obligation on the UK Government to provide S4C with sufficient funds to carry out its purposes to fund any expanded purposes that S4C may acquire following the Ogwen review.

A vote was taken on amendment 4:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
50	0	1	51

Amendment 4 was agreed.

Amendment 5. Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Notes the increased obligations imposed on the BBC regarding portrayal and commissioning in the nations and regions in its renewed charter.

A vote was taken on amendment 5:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
51	0	0	51

Amendment 5 was agreed.

Amendment 6. Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

Add as a new point at the end of the motion:

Notes that a UK national broadcasting system is better placed to reach all nations and regions to promote understanding of devolution, notwithstanding that it has failed to do so to date.

A vote was taken on amendment 6:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
43	0	8	51

Amendment 6 was agreed.

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

NDM6669  Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)

 To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

 1) Recognises the importance of broadcasting to the sustainability of viable democracy in Wales;

2) Is concerned by the significant decline in ITV Wales's broadcasting hours, and significant cuts to S4C and its current uncertain financial position;

3) Is also concerned about the position of Welsh-language and Welsh broadcasting on commercial radio and local television, along with the impact of the UK Government's proposals to further regulate the radio market;

4) Notes that Wales needs to be at the forefront of the development of media technologies and that Welsh-language and Welsh broadcasting needs to be on a broader number of platforms and modes of producing, publishing and distributing content;

5) Notes that the publication by Departure of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport of the independent review of S4C being undertaken by Euryn Ogwen Williams is still awaited;

6) Calls on the UK Government and broadcasters to ensure that both Welsh and English language broadcasting in Wales is funded adequately.

 

7) Recognises that the public service broadcasters should be fully accountable to all national parliaments of the United Kingdom, as appropriate to their remit;

8) Notes the statutory obligation on the UK Government to provide S4C with sufficient funds to carry out its purposes;

9) Calls on the Welsh Government and the Assembly to press for the retention of the statutory obligation on the UK Government to provide S4C with sufficient funds to carry out its purposes to fund any expanded purposes that S4C may acquire following the Ogwen review;

10) Notes the increased obligations imposed on the BBC regarding portrayal and commissioning in the nations and regions in its renewed charter;

11) Notes that a UK national broadcasting system is better placed to reach all nations and regions to promote understanding of devolution, notwithstanding that it has failed to do so to date.

For	Abstain	Against	Total
41	0	8	49

The motion as amended was agreed.