Agenda and decisions

 

View Questions

 

The item started at 13.30

 

All 15 questions were asked.

 

View Questions

 

The item started at 14.17

 

All 15 questions were asked.  Question 6 and 9 were grouped together for answer.

 

View Questions

 

The item started at 15.00

 

The question was asked.

NDM5437 Nick Ramsay (Monmouth)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

 

Notes the report of the Enterprise and Business Committee on the Inquiry into the Future of the Wales and Borders Rail Franchise, which was laid in the Table Office on 11 December 2013.

 

Note: The response by the Welsh Government was laid on 12 February 2014.

 

Supporting Documents

 

Enterprise and Business Committee’s Report

Welsh Government’s Response

 

The item started at 15.02

 

NDM5437 Nick Ramsay (Monmouth)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

 

Notes the report of the Enterprise and Business Committee's Report on the Inquiry into the Future of the Wales and Borders Rail Franchise, which was laid in the Table Office on 11 December 2013.

 

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

NDM5438 Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

 

1. Notes the 44% drop in farm incomes across all farm types in Wales last year;

 

2. Regrets the Welsh Government’s decision to transfer the full 15% from Pillar 1 to Pillar 2 of the Common Agriculture Policy and the subsequent 23.4% reduction to Single Payment Scheme entitlements; and

 

3. Calls on the Welsh Government to give full regard to these and other challenging circumstances currently being faced by the agriculture industry as it introduces reforms to the Common Agriculture Policy, a new Rural Development Plan and wider rural policy initiatives in Wales.

 

The following amendment has been tabled:

 

Amendment 1 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

 

Insert as new point 3 and renumber accordingly:

 

Calls on the Welsh Government to use the Rural Development Plan to bring forward a Moorland specific Areas of Natural Constraint scheme.

 

Amendment 2 - Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

 

Insert as new point 3 and renumber accordingly:

 

Further regrets the impact of Bovine TB on farm income in Wales and the Welsh Government’s failure to tackle this important issue.

 

The item started at 15.55

 

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

 

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

 

NDM5438 Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

 

1. Notes the 44% drop in farm incomes across all farm types in Wales last year;

 

2. Regrets the Welsh Government’s decision to transfer the full 15% from Pillar 1 to Pillar 2 of the Common Agriculture Policy and the subsequent 23.4% reduction to Single Payment Scheme entitlements; and

 

3. Calls on the Welsh Government to give full regard to these and other challenging circumstances currently being faced by the agriculture industry as it introduces reforms to the Common Agriculture Policy, a new Rural Development Plan and wider rural policy initiatives in Wales.

 

For	Abstain	Against	Total
10	0	43	53

The motion without amendment was not agreed.

 

The following amendments were tabled:

 

Amendment 1 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

 

Insert as new point 3 and renumber accordingly:

 

Calls on the Welsh Government to use the Rural Development Plan to bring forward a Moorland specific Areas of Natural Constraint scheme.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 1:

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 2 - Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

 

Insert as new point 3 and renumber accordingly:

 

Further regrets the impact of Bovine TB on farm income in Wales and the Welsh Government’s failure to tackle this important issue.

A vote was taken on Amendment 2:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
26	1	27	54

Amendment 2 was not agreed.

 

As the Assembly did not agree the motion without amendment, and did not agree the amendments tabled to the motion, the motion is therefore not agreed.

NDM5439 Aled Roberts (North Wales)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

 

1. Recognises that affordable, accessible and high quality childcare can be the key to a stronger economy and fairer society, enabling parents to return to work, reducing child poverty and giving children the best start in life.

 

2. Welcomes the positive action being taken by the UK Government including £1 billion investment in childcare to increase free early education for all 3 and 4 year olds and extended to 2 year olds from low income families, the introduction of tax free childcare for working families and new rights on shared parental leave.

 

3. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

 

a) review the system of pre-school childcare entitlement in light of enhanced provision in England;

 

b) examine the effectiveness of Flying Start on parenting and child development outcomes and the inequality in Welsh medium early years provision;

 

c) assess whether local authorities are fully utilising funding for the statutory provision of an early years education place for 3-4 year olds;

 

d) examine ways to improve childcare supply across all ages, in particular wraparound and holiday childcare schemes;

 

e) provide clarity for parents on eligibility for childcare schemes in Wales in light of recent UK Government policy developments; and

 

f) introduce a single online source of information to help new parents with information about childcare services and entitlements and how to access them.

 

The following amendment has been tabled:

 

Amendment 1 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

 

In point 1 delete all after ‘child poverty and’ and replace with ‘helping children to get the best start in life.’

 

Amednment 2 - Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

 

Delete point 2 and replace with:

 

Notes the failure of the UK Government to take action on tax credits for childcare this side of the general election, expresses serious concern at their shift of resources away from families in greatest need and further notes the decimation of the Sure Start programme in England with the closure of over 500 centres.

 

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

 

Amendment 3 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

 

In point 2 delete ‘Welcomes the positive’ and replace with ‘Notes the’.

 

Amendment 4 - Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

 

Insert as new point 3 and renumber accordingly:

 

Notes that the £1 billion investment in childcare is only for England, as childcare in Wales is devolved.

 

Amendment 5 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

 

Delete sub-point 3a) and replace with ‘assess the system of pre-school childcare entitlement’.

 

Amendment 6 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

 

In sub-point 3e) delete all after ‘Wales’.

 

Amendment 7 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

 

Delete sub-point 3f).     

 

[If amendment 7 is agreed, amendment 8 will be de-selected]

 

Amendment 8 - Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

 

Delete sub-point 3f and replace with:

 

consider how best to provide parents with information about childcare services and entitlements and how to access them.

The item started at 16.53

 

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

 

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

 

NDM5439 Aled Roberts (North Wales)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

 

1. Recognises that affordable, accessible and high quality childcare can be the key to a stronger economy and fairer society, enabling parents to return to work, reducing child poverty and giving children the best start in life.

 

2. Welcomes the positive action being taken by the UK Government including £1 billion investment in childcare to increase free early education for all 3 and 4 year olds and extended to 2 year olds from low income families, the introduction of tax free childcare for working families and new rights on shared parental leave.

 

3. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

 

a) review the system of pre-school childcare entitlement in light of enhanced provision in England;

 

b) examine the effectiveness of Flying Start on parenting and child development outcomes and the inequality in Welsh medium early years provision;

 

c) assess whether local authorities are fully utilising funding for the statutory provision of an early years education place for 3-4 year olds;

 

d) examine ways to improve childcare supply across all ages, in particular wraparound and holiday childcare schemes;

 

e) provide clarity for parents on eligibility for childcare schemes in Wales in light of recent UK Government policy developments; and

 

f) introduce a single online source of information to help new parents with information about childcare services and entitlements and how to access them.

 

For	Abstain	Against	Total
16	0	38	54

The motion without amendment not agreed.

 

The following amendments were tabled:

 

Amendment 1 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

 

In point 1 delete all after ‘child poverty and’ and replace with ‘helping children to get the best start in life.’

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 1:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
37	0	17	54

Amendment 1 was agreed.

 

Amednment 2 - Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

 

Delete point 2 and replace with:

 

Notes the failure of the UK Government to take action on tax credits for childcare this side of the general election, expresses serious concern at their shift of resources away from families in greatest need and further notes the decimation of the Sure Start programme in England with the closure of over 500 centres.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 2:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
27	10	17	54

Amendment 2 was agreed.

 

As amendment 2 was agreed, amendment 3 was de-selected.

 

Amendment 4 was not moved.

 

Amendment 5 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

 

Delete sub-point 3a) and replace with ‘assess the system of pre-school childcare entitlement’.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 5:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
37	0	17	54

Amendment 5 was agreed.

 

Amendment 6 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

 

In sub-point 3e) delete all after ‘Wales’.

A vote was taken on Amendment 6:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
37	0	17	54

Amendment 6 was agreed.

 

Amendment 7 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

 

Delete sub-point 3f).     

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 7:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
49	0	5	54

Amendment 7 was agreed.

 

As amendment 7 was agreed, amendment 8 was de-selected.

 

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

 

NDM5439 Aled Roberts (North Wales)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

 

1. Recognises that affordable, accessible and high quality childcare can be the key to a stronger economy and fairer society, enabling parents to return to work, reducing child poverty and helping children to get the best start in life.

 

2. Notes the failure of the UK Government to take action on tax credits for childcare this side of the general election, expresses serious concern at their shift of resources away from families in greatest need and further notes the decimation of the Sure Start programme in England with the closure of over 500 centres.

 

3. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

 

a) assess the system of pre-school childcare entitlement;

 

b) examine the effectiveness of Flying Start on parenting and child development outcomes and the inequality in Welsh medium early years provision;

 

c) assess whether local authorities are fully utilising funding for the statutory provision of an early years education place for 3-4 year olds;

 

d) examine ways to improve childcare supply across all ages, in particular wraparound and holiday childcare schemes; and

 

e) provide clarity for parents on eligibility for childcare schemes in Wales.

 

For	Abstain	Against	Total
37	5	12	54

The motion as amended was agreed.

 

The item started at 17.48

 

NDM5431 Mohammad Asghar (South Wales East)

 

Opening the Gateway to Wales

 

How to regenerate the economy of South East Wales.

The item started at 17.54

 

NDM5431 Mohammad Asghar (South Wales East)

 

Opening the Gateway to Wales

 

How to regenerate the economy of South East Wales.