Agenda and decisions

The Presiding Officer announced that in accordance with Standing Order 26.75, the Housing (Wales) Bill has today been given Royal Assent.

The Presiding Officer will call Party Spokespeople to ask questions without notice to the Minister after Question 2.

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The item started at 13:30

The first 9 questions were asked. The Presiding Officer invited party spokespeople to ask questions to the Minister for Education and Skills after Question 2. Question 3 was answered by the Deputy Minister for Skills and Technology.

The Presiding Officer will call Party Spokespeople to ask questions without notice to the Minister after Question 2.

View Questions

The item started at 14:18

The first 9 questions were asked. The Presiding Officer invited party spokespeople to ask questions to the Minister for Economy, Science and Transport after Question 2. Question 4 was answered by the Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism. Question 5 was answered by the Deputy Minister for Skills and Technology. Question 7 was answered by the Deputy Minister for Farming and Food.

NDM5563 William Graham (South Wales East)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

Notes the report of the Enterprise and Business Committee on its Inquiry into EU funding opportunities 2014-2020, which was laid in the Table Office on 16 July 2014.

Note: The response by the Welsh Government was laid on 10 September 2014.

Supporting Documents

Enterprise and Business Committee’s Report

Welsh Government’s Response

The item started at 15:08

NDM5563 William Graham (South Wales East)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

Notes the report of the Enterprise and Business Committee on its Inquiry into EU funding opportunities 2014-2020, which was laid in the Table Office on 16 July 2014.

The Motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

NDM5565 Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

Believes that Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and England are better together and that Scotland should choose to remain in the UK on 18 September 2014.

The following amendments have been tabled:

Amendment 1 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

Delete all after 'National Assembly for Wales' and replace with:

1. Believes that Scotland's future is a matter for the people of Scotland.

2. Further believes that strong relations between the nations of these islands are best served through a spirit of cooperation and equality.

3. Notes that the entrenchment of the Barnett Formula, as pledged by the UK parties in the 'No' campaign for the referendum on 18 September 2014, would be to the detriment of Wales.

Amendment 2 - Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan), Aled Roberts (North Wales)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Believes that whatever the result, Wales should speak with one voice, and calls for a swift implementation of the recommendations of Parts 1 and 2 of the Commission on Devolution in Wales and for a UK-wide constitutional convention to be established to draft a plan for a new union.

The Part 1 report of the Commission on Devolution in Wales can be found on the following link: http://commissionondevolutioninwales.independent.gov.uk/files/2013/01/English-WEB-main-report1.pdf

The Part 2 report of the Commission on Devolution in Wales can be found on the following link:

http://commissionondevolutioninwales.independent.gov.uk/files/2014/03/Empowerment-Responsibility-Legislative-Powers-to-strengthen-Wales.pdf

The item started at 15:53

NDM5565 Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

Believes that Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and England are better together and that Scotland should choose to remain in the UK on 18 September 2014.

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

The motion without amendment was not agreed.

The following amendments have been tabled:

Amendment 1 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

Delete all after 'National Assembly for Wales' and replace with:

1. Believes that Scotland's future is a matter for the people of Scotland.

2. Further believes that strong relations between the nations of these islands are best served through a spirit of cooperation and equality.

3. Notes that the entrenchment of the Barnett Formula, as pledged by the UK parties in the 'No' campaign for the referendum on 18 September 2014, would be to the detriment of Wales.

A vote was taken on Amendment 1:

Amendment 1 was not agreed.

Amendment 2 - Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan), Aled Roberts (North Wales)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Believes that whatever the result, Wales should speak with one voice, and calls for a swift implementation of the recommendations of Parts 1 and 2 of the Commission on Devolution in Wales and for a UK-wide constitutional convention to be established to draft a plan for a new union.

A vote was taken on Amendment 2:

Amendment 2 was agreed.

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

NDM5565 Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Believes that Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and England are better together and that Scotland should choose to remain in the UK on 18 September 2014.

2. Believes that whatever the result, Wales should speak with one voice, and calls for a swift implementation of the recommendations of Parts 1 and 2 of the Commission on Devolution in Wales and for a UK-wide constitutional convention to be established to draft a plan for a new union.

The motion as amended was agreed.

NDM5562 Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Notes that 266,000 workers in Wales are paid less than the living wage.

2. Calls on the Welsh Government to work towards creating a living wage in Wales through:

a) establishing the living wage throughout the Welsh public sector;

b) working with employers to explain the benefits of paying the living wage; and

c) making representations to the Low Pay Commission to ensure that the minimum wage rises to the level of the living wage by 2020.

The following amendments have been tabled:

Amendment 1 - Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

Add as new point 2 and renumber accordingly:

Further notes that 98.4% of all businesses in Wales are classified as micro or small businesses, and that there is a need to ensure the workability of any living wage policy alongside the survival of our small businesses.

Amendment 2 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

Delete 2 c) and replace with:

Establishing an independent review to consult on how to set a fair living wage, working with stakeholders such as the Living Wage Foundation, without damaging employment opportunities and in order to improve enforcement action.

Amendment 3 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Welcomes that from April 2015 1.2 million people in Wales will have a tax cut of £800 thanks to the UK Government raising the income tax threshold to £10,500, and that this will assist those workers in Wales who are being paid less than the living wage.

Amendment 4 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Believes that the income tax threshold should be raised to £12,500, to bring minimum wage workers out of paying income tax altogether.

The item started at 16:53

NDM5562 Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Notes that 266,000 workers in Wales are paid less than the living wage.

2. Calls on the Welsh Government to work towards creating a living wage in Wales through:

a) establishing the living wage throughout the Welsh public sector;

b) working with employers to explain the benefits of paying the living wage; and

c) making representations to the Low Pay Commission to ensure that the minimum wage rises to the level of the living wage by 2020.

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

The motion without amendment was agreed.

The item started at 17:44

NDM5564 Suzy Davies (South Wales West)

Keep Me Posted: The Consumer's Right to Choose

The item started at 17:47

NDM5564 Suzy Davies (South Wales West)

Keep Me Posted: The Consumer's Right to Choose.