Meetings

NDM6959 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

1. Notes that regional economic inequality remains stark across Wales, as evident in the latest GVA figures.

2. Regrets that the Welsh Government’s policies have failed to address economic inequalities between regions in Wales.

3. Welcomes the contribution that the Cardiff city region deal, the Swansea Bay city region deal, a north Wales growth deal and a mid Wales growth deal will make to addressing regional inequality in Wales.

4. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

a) work constructively with the UK Government to deliver growth deals in Wales;

b) review the economic action plan to incorporate a strategy to grow wages and economic prosperity in all parts of Wales and address economic inequalities between regions; and

c) promote a regional development policy post-Brexit which supports deprived communities across Wales, including those outside west Wales and the valleys.

Prosperity for All: economic action plan

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 - Rebecca Evans (Gower)

Delete all and replace with:

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Recognises the importance of strong, resilient regional economies across all parts of Wales as a driver of inclusive growth

2. Notes the cross-government measures set out in the Economic Action Plan including the appointment of Chief Regional Officers and teams in Welsh Government to support Regional Economic Development across Wales

3. Notes the important role for City and Growth Deals in driving regional economic growth when they are coordinated alongside wider interventions such as infrastructure, transport and skills.

4. Notes the recent announcement that the OECD is supporting the development of regional economic development policy in Wales based on international best practice

5. Calls on the UK Government to address inequalities in infrastructure funding between the nations and regions of the UK and do more to spread investment opportunities equitably across the country

6. Calls on the UK Government to respect the devolution settlement and ensure that strategic decisions relating to the management and administration of replacement structural funding to address regional economic inequalities are made by the Welsh Government.

7. Notes the development of regional indicative budgets for Economy and Transport investment across Wales.

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

Amendment 2 - Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)

Delete point 2 and replace with:

Notes that the UK Government's policy of austerity, along with the Welsh Government's mismanagement, has led to a large increase in economic inequalities between Wales's regions.

Amendment 3 - Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)

In sub-point (a) in point 4, after 'the UK Government' insert 'and local authorities'.

Amendment 4 - Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Calls for a regional investment bill, with the aim of ensuring fair financial investment across all of Wales.

Amendment 5 - Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)

Add new points at the end of the motion:

Welcomes the fact that the Arfor project board has held its first meeting and has agreed on an outline programme of activities for the next two years.

Notes the fact that £2 million has been earmarked in the budget for secretariat support and investment  for Arfor during 2018-19 and 2019-20 as Plaid Cymru's budget priority with the Welsh Government.

Confirms the importance of maximising the undeniable link between economic prosperity and linguistic prosperity in Welsh-speaking western areas of Wales.

 

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:

NDM6959 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

1. Notes that regional economic inequality remains stark across Wales, as evident in the latest GVA figures.

2. Regrets that the Welsh Government’s policies have failed to address economic inequalities between regions in Wales.

3. Welcomes the contribution that the Cardiff city region deal, the Swansea Bay city region deal, a north Wales growth deal and a mid Wales growth deal will make to addressing regional inequality in Wales.

4. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

a) work constructively with the UK Government to deliver growth deals in Wales;

b) review the economic action plan to incorporate a strategy to grow wages and economic prosperity in all parts of Wales and address economic inequalities between regions; and

c) promote a regional development policy post-Brexit which supports deprived communities across Wales, including those outside west Wales and the valleys.

For	Abstain	Against	Total
12	1	32	45

The motion without amendment was not agreed.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 - Rebecca Evans (Gower)

Delete all and replace with:

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Recognises the importance of strong, resilient regional economies across all parts of Wales as a driver of inclusive growth

2. Notes the cross-government measures set out in the Economic Action Plan including the appointment of Chief Regional Officers and teams in Welsh Government to support Regional Economic Development across Wales

3. Notes the important role for City and Growth Deals in driving regional economic growth when they are coordinated alongside wider interventions such as infrastructure, transport and skills.

4. Notes the recent announcement that the OECD is supporting the development of regional economic development policy in Wales based on international best practice

5. Calls on the UK Government to address inequalities in infrastructure funding between the nations and regions of the UK and do more to spread investment opportunities equitably across the country

6. Calls on the UK Government to respect the devolution settlement and ensure that strategic decisions relating to the management and administration of replacement structural funding to address regional economic inequalities are made by the Welsh Government.

7. Notes the development of regional indicative budgets for Economy and Transport investment across Wales.

A vote was taken on amendment 1:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
27	1	17	45

Amendment 1 was agreed.

As amendment 1 was agreed, amendments 2 and 3 were de-selected

Amendment 4 - Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Calls for a regional investment bill, with the aim of ensuring fair financial investment across all of Wales.

A vote was taken on amendment 4:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
5	10	30	45

Amendment 4 was not agreed.

Amendment 5 - Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)

Add new points at the end of the motion:

Welcomes the fact that the Arfor project board has held its first meeting and has agreed on an outline programme of activities for the next two years.

Notes the fact that £2 million has been earmarked in the budget for secretariat support and investment  for Arfor during 2018-19 and 2019-20 as Plaid Cymru's budget priority with the Welsh Government.

Confirms the importance of maximising the undeniable link between economic prosperity and linguistic prosperity in Welsh-speaking western areas of Wales.

A vote was taken on amendment 5:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
32	0	13	45

Amendment 5 was agreed.

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

NDM6959 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Recognises the importance of strong, resilient regional economies across all parts of Wales as a driver of inclusive growth

2. Notes the cross-government measures set out in the Economic Action Plan including the appointment of Chief Regional Officers and teams in Welsh Government to support Regional Economic Development across Wales

3. Notes the important role for City and Growth Deals in driving regional economic growth when they are coordinated alongside wider interventions such as infrastructure, transport and skills.

4. Notes the recent announcement that the OECD is supporting the development of regional economic development policy in Wales based on international best practice

5. Calls on the UK Government to address inequalities in infrastructure funding between the nations and regions of the UK and do more to spread investment opportunities equitably across the country

6. Calls on the UK Government to respect the devolution settlement and ensure that strategic decisions relating to the management and administration of replacement structural funding to address regional economic inequalities are made by the Welsh Government.

7. Notes the development of regional indicative budgets for Economy and Transport investment across Wales.

8. Welcomes the fact that the Arfor project board has held its first meeting and has agreed on an outline programme of activities for the next two years.

9. Notes the fact that £2 million has been earmarked in the budget for secretariat support and investment  for Arfor during 2018-19 and 2019-20 as Plaid Cymru's budget priority with the Welsh Government.

10. Confirms the importance of maximising the undeniable link between economic prosperity and linguistic prosperity in Welsh-speaking western areas of Wales.

For	Abstain	Against	Total
32	0	13	45

The motion as amended was agreed.