Agenda and decisions

Venue: Y Siambr - Y Senedd

Media

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Items
Expected timing No. Item

Presiding Officer Statement

 

The Presiding Officer made a statement following a Point of Order raised the previous day by Andrew RT Davies regarding remarks made by the First Minister during First Minister’s Questions.

 

The Presiding Officer ruled that while First Minister’s Questions is the opportunity for Members to scrutinise the First Minister and robust political debate is to be expected. However, the Presiding Officer expects Members to behave courteously, even when both sides are disputing evidence. She reminded Members that they should not make remarks in the Chamber which appear to call into question another Member’s integrity.

 

(45 mins)

1.

Questions to the Minister for Education and Skills

Supporting documents:

Decision:

The item started at 13.31

All 15 questions were asked.  Question 13 was answered by the Deputy Minister for Skills.

(45 mins)

2.

Questions to the Minister for Local Government and Communities

Decision:

The item started at 14.19

The first 12 questions were asked.

(5 mins)

3.

Motion to amend Standing Order 12 in relation to Tabling Deadlines for Oral Assembly Questions

 

NDM5156 Rosemary Butler (Newport West)

 

To propose that the National Assembly, in accordance with Standing Order 33.2:

 

1. Considers the Report of the Business Committee ‘Proposed amendments to Standing Order 12: Tabling Deadlines for Oral Assembly Questions’ laid in the Table Office on 23 January 2013; and

 

2. Approves the proposal to revise Standing Order 12, as set out in Annex B of the Report of the Business Committee.

 

Supporting documents:

Business Committee report

Decision:

The item started at 14.55

NDM5156 Rosemary Butler (Newport West)

To propose that the National Assembly, in accordance with Standing Order 33.2:

 

1. Considers the Report of the Business Committee ‘Proposed amendments to Standing Order 12: Tabling Deadlines for Oral Assembly Questions’ laid in the Table Office on 23 January 2013; and

 

2. Approves the proposal to revise Standing Order 12, as set out in Annex B of the Report of the Business Committee.

 

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

(60 mins)

4.

Debate by Individual Members under Standing Order 11.21(iv)

 

NDM5147

 

Simon Thomas (Mid and West Wales)

David Rees (Aberavon)

William Powell (Mid and West Wales)

 

The National Assembly for Wales recognises the benefits to Wales of being part of the European Union.

 

Supported by:

 

Eluned Parrott (South Wales Central)

Mike Hedges (Swansea East)

Llyr Huws Gruffydd (North Wales)

Bethan Jenkins (South Wales West)

Rhodri Glyn Thomas (Carmarthen East and Dinefwr)

Ieuan Wyn Jones (Ynys Môn)

Rebecca Evans (Mid and West Wales)

Dafydd Elis-Thomas (Dwyfor Meirionnydd)

Julie Morgan (Cardiff North)

Aled Roberts (North Wales)

Lindsay Whittle (South Wales East)

Keith Davies (Llanelli)

Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

Christine Chapman (Cynon Valley)

 

The following amendments have been tabled:

 

Amendment 1 - William Graham (South Wales East)

 

After ‘Union’ add ', but notes the need to renegotiate the terms of the United Kingdom’s relationship with the EU'.

 

Amendment 2 - William Graham (South Wales East)

 

Add as a new point at end of motion:

 

Regrets that successive Labour-led Welsh Governments have continually failed to utilise European structural funds to develop a strong and sustainable Welsh economy.

 

Amendment 3 - William Graham (South Wales East)

 

Add as a new point at end of motion:

 

Notes that anyone under the age of 55 in Wales has not had a vote on the United Kingdom’s relationship with Europe.

 

Amendment 4 - William Graham (South Wales East)

 

Add as a new point at end of motion:

 

Welcomes the Prime Minister’s commitment to offering a referendum on United Kingdom’s future in the European Union.

Decision:

The item started at 14.56

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

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

 

NDM5147

 

Simon Thomas (Mid and West Wales)

David Rees (Aberavon)

William Powell (Mid and West Wales)

 

The National Assembly for Wales recognises the benefits to Wales of being part of the European Union.

 

 

For

Abstain

Against

Total

43

7

3

53

The motion without amendment was agreed.

(60 mins)

5.

Debate on the Communities, Equality and Local Government Committee’s Inquiry into the Welsh Premier League

 

NDM5155 Ann Jones (Vale of Clwyd)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

 

Notes the Report of the Communities, Equality and Local Government Committee on the Welsh Premier League which was laid in the Table Office on 19 November 2012.

 

Note: The response of the Minister Housing, Regeneration and Heritage to the report was laid in the Table Office on 23 January 2013.

 

Supporting documents:

Communities, Equality and Local Government Committee’s report

Welsh Government’s response

Decision:

The item started at 16.04

NDM5155 Ann Jones (Vale of Clwyd)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

 

Notes the Report of the Communities, Equality and Local Government Committee on the Welsh Premier League which was laid in the Table Office on 19 November 2012.

 

Note: The response of the Minister Housing, Regeneration and Heritage to the report was laid in the Table Office on 23 January 2013.

 

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

(60 mins)

6.

Welsh Conservatives Debate

 

NDM5157 William Graham (South Wales East)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

 

1. Notes that small and medium sized businesses (SMEs) make up 99.2% of the Welsh business stock and that access to finance is crucial for SME longevity.

 

2. Expresses concern that, according to a Federation of Small Business Wales survey, 64% of businesses had never heard of Finance Wales.

 

3. Recognises the different economic challenges facing communities throughout Wales and the importance of localising access to finance.

 

4. Recognises the value of building partnerships between the Welsh Government and high street banks, or other financial institutions, in order to effectively and efficiently deliver public finance to local businesses.

 

5. Calls on the Welsh Government to consider the merits of the proposals outlined in ‘A Vision for Welsh Investment: Invest Wales’ and, where appropriate, consider incorporating them into Welsh Government support for SMEs in Wales.

 

The Federation of Small Business Wales survey can be found at:

 

http://www.fsb.org.uk/policy/rpu/wales/images/innovation%20strategy.pdf

 

‘A Vision for Welsh Investment: Invest Wales’ can be found at:

 

http://www.welshconservatives.com/invest-wales

 

The following amendments have been tabled:

 

Amendment 1 - Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

 

Insert at end of point 3:

 

and of understanding the financial needs of local businesses’

 

Amendment 2 - Jocelyn Davies (South Wales East)

 

Delete point 4 and replace with:

 

Regrets the lack of progress made by the UK Government in encouraging high street banks to lend to SMEs.

 

Amendment 3 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

 

Insert new point after point 4 and renumber accordingly:

 

Notes the Welsh Government review into the availability of funding for SMEs in Wales and regrets the lack of SME representatives on the advisory panel.

 

Amendment 4 - Jocelyn Davies (South Wales East)

 

Delete point 5 and replace with:

 

Calls on the Welsh Government to consider the merits of a publically owned business bank as part of its review into SMEs’ access to finance.

 

Amendment 5 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

 

Add as a new point at end of motion:

 

Calls on the Welsh Government to promote the use of Funding Circles and consider the merits of offering finance though the Funding Circle marketplace, as part of its review of funding for SMEs.

Decision:

The item started at 17.02

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

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM5157 William Graham (South Wales East)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

 

1. Notes that small and medium sized businesses (SMEs) make up 99.2% of the Welsh business stock and that access to finance is crucial for SME longevity.

 

2. Expresses concern that, according to a Federation of Small Business Wales survey, 64% of businesses had never heard of Finance Wales.

 

3. Recognises the different economic challenges facing communities throughout Wales and the importance of localising access to finance.

 

4. Recognises the value of building partnerships between the Welsh Government and high street banks, or other financial institutions, in order to effectively and efficiently deliver public finance to local businesses.

 

5. Calls on the Welsh Government to consider the merits of the proposals outlined in ‘A Vision for Welsh Investment: Invest Wales’ and, where appropriate, consider incorporating them into Welsh Government support for SMEs in Wales.

 

For

Abstain

Against

Total

13

0

41

54

The motion without amendment was not agreed.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 - Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

 

Insert at end of point 3:

 

‘and of understanding the financial needs of local businesses’

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 1:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

53

0

1

54

Amendment 1 was agreed.

Amendment 2 - Jocelyn Davies (South Wales East)

 

Delete point 4 and replace with:

 

Regrets the lack of progress made by the UK Government in encouraging high street banks to lend to SMEs.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 2:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

36

0

18

54

Amendment 2 was agreed.

Amendment 3 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

 

Insert new point after point 4 and renumber accordingly:

 

Notes the Welsh Government review into the availability of funding for SMEs in Wales and regrets the lack of SME representatives on the advisory panel.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 3:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

27

0

28

55

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

Amendment 4 - Jocelyn Davies (South Wales East)

 

Delete point 5 and replace with:

 

Calls on the Welsh Government to consider the merits of a publically owned business bank as part of its review into SMEs’ access to finance.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 4:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

36

5

13

54

Amendment 4 was agreed.

Amendment 5 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

 

Add as a new point at end of motion:

 

Calls on the Welsh Government to promote the use of Funding Circles and consider the merits of offering finance though the Funding Circle marketplace, as part of its review of funding for SMEs.

A vote was taken on Amendment 5:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

53

0

0

53

Amendment 5 was agreed.

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

NDM5157 William Graham (South Wales East)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

 

1. Notes that small and medium sized businesses (SMEs) make up 99.2% of the Welsh business stock and that access to finance is crucial for SME longevity.

 

2. Expresses concern that, according to a Federation of Small Business Wales survey, 64% of businesses had never heard of Finance Wales.

 

3. Recognises the different economic challenges facing communities throughout Wales and the importance of localising access to finance and of understanding the financial needs of local businesses.

 

4. Regrets the lack of progress made by the UK Government in encouraging high street banks to lend to SMEs.

 

5. Calls on the Welsh Government to consider the merits of a publically owned business bank as part of its review into SMEs’ access to finance.

 

6. Calls on the Welsh Government to promote the use of Funding Circles and consider the merits of offering finance though the Funding Circle marketplace, as part of its review of funding for SMEs.

 

For

Abstain

Against

Total

36

0

18

54

The motion as amended was agreed.

Voting Time

 

The item started at 18.00

 

Votes Summary

Supporting documents:

(30 mins)

7.

Short Debate

 

NDM5158 Leanne Wood (South Wales Central):

 

Welsh speaking communities – the future

 

Making sure the Welsh language survives.

Decision:

The item started at 18.04

NDM5158 Leanne Wood (South Wales Central):

 

Welsh speaking communities – the future

 

Making sure the Welsh language survives.

Record of Proceedings

Supporting documents: