Agenda and decisions

View Questions

Question 1 was not asked. The first 13 questions were asked.  Question 5 and 12 were answered by the Deputy Minister for Skills. Question 11 was withdrawn.

View Questions

The first 10 questions were asked.

NDM4792 Rosemary Butler (Newport West)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales, in accordance with Standing Order 17.14, elects Aled Roberts (Welsh Liberal Democrats)  as a member of the Children and Young People Committee in place of Kirsty Williams (Welsh Liberal Democrats) to take effect from 19 September 2011.

 

NDM4793 Rosemary Butler (Newport West)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales, in accordance with Standing Order 17.14, elects Eluned Parrott (Welsh Liberal Democrats)  as a member of the Enterprise and Business Committee in place of William Powell (Welsh Liberal Democrats) to take effect from 19 September 2011.

 

NDM4794 Rosemary Butler (Newport West)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales, in accordance with Standing Order 17.14, elects Aled Roberts (Welsh Liberal Democrats)  as a member of the Public Accounts Committee in place of Peter Black (Welsh Liberal Democrats) to take effect from 19 September 2011.

 

NDM4795 Rosemary Butler (Newport West)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales, in accordance with Standing Order 17.14, elects Eluned Parrott (Welsh Liberal Democrats)  as a member of the Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee in place of Peter Black (Welsh Liberal Democrats) to take effect from 19 September 2011.

 

The motions were agreed, in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

NDM4787 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 Orders following the Assembly powers referendum’ laid in the Table Office on 6 July 2011;

 

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

 

Supporting document:

Business Committee Report - Proposed amendments to Standing Orders following the Assembly powers referendum

The motion was agreed, in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

NDM4786 Nick Ramsay (Monmouthshire)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

 

1. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

 

a) Recognise the key role of tourism in the Welsh economy;

 

b) Promote Wales overseas as a whole;

 

c) Increase the number of companies exporting from Wales and the value of Welsh exports;

 

d) Ensure that further inward investment into Wales is encouraged.

 

The following amendments have been tabled:

 

Amendment 1 - Peter Black (South Wales West)

 

Add as new sub point at end of point 1:

 

Invest in skills so that businesses in Wales will have increased potential for exports and attracting greater inward investment.

 

Amendment 2 - Jocelyn Davies (South Wales East)

 

Add as new point at end of motion:

 

e) Explore all avenues in order to sustain capital spending on infrastructure projects as a means of boosting Welsh companies and their ability to compete in a globalised marketplace.

 

Amendment 3 - Peter Black (South Wales West)

 

Add as new point at end of motion:

 

Believes a Welsh Stock Exchange will help promote Wales as a modern economy.

 

NDM4786 Nick Ramsay (Monmouthshire)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

 

1. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

 

a) Recognise the key role of tourism in the Welsh economy;

 

b) Promote Wales overseas as a whole;

 

c) Increase the number of companies exporting from Wales and the value of Welsh exports;

 

d) Ensure that further inward investment into Wales is encouraged.

 

The motion without amendment was agreed, in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

NDM4789 Jocelyn Davies (South Wales East)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

 

1. Recognises the importance of public sector employment to communities throughout the country; and

 

2. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

 

a) Publish its plan regarding the future staffing of Welsh Government offices;

 

b) Reject any proposal to close Welsh Government offices;

 

c) Ensure an equitable distribution of Welsh Government jobs throughout Wales.

 

The following amendments have been tabled:

 

Amendment 1 - Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

 

Delete point 2 and replace with:

 

2. Calls on the Welsh Government to continue with the Location Strategy, which supports the delivery of Welsh Government jobs and services from efficient and accessible buildings across Wales.

 

Amendment 2 - Peter Black (South Wales West)

 

Add as new point at end of motion:

 

Calls on the Welsh Government to ensure the optimal use of its estate for supporting communities throughout Wales.

 

Amendment 3 - Nick Ramsay (Monmouth)

 

Add as new point at end of motion:

 

Recognises the importance to the local economies of Welsh Government jobs in Llandrindod Wells, Newtown, Carmarthen and Caernarfon.

 

Amendment 4 - Nick Ramsay (Monmouth)

 

Add as new point at end of motion:

 

Calls on the Welsh Government to clarify without delay the position of its regional offices in a written statement to the National Assembly for Wales.

 

Amendment 5 - Nick Ramsay (Monmouth)

 

Add as new point at end of motion:

 

Calls on the Welsh Government to consult with unions in its review of staffing needs in regional offices.

 

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

 

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

 

NDM4789 Jocelyn Davies (South Wales East)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

 

1. Recognises the importance of public sector employment to communities throughout the country; and

 

2. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

 

a) Publish its plan regarding the future staffing of Welsh Government offices;

 

b) Reject any proposal to close Welsh Government offices;

 

c) Ensure an equitable distribution of Welsh Government jobs throughout Wales.

 

For	Abstain	Against	Total
14	1	37	52

The motion without amendment was not agreed.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 - Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

 

Delete point 2 and replace with:

 

2. Calls on the Welsh Government to continue with the Location Strategy, which supports the delivery of Welsh Government jobs and services from efficient and accessible buildings across Wales.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 1:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
40	0	14	54

Amendment 1 was agreed.

Amendment 2 - Peter Black (South Wales West)

 

Add as new point at end of motion:

 

Calls on the Welsh Government to ensure the optimal use of its estate for supporting communities throughout Wales.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 2:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
54	0	0	54

Amendment 2 was agreed.

 

Amendment 3 - Nick Ramsay (Monmouth)

 

Add as new point at end of motion:

 

Recognises the importance to the local economies of Welsh Government jobs in Llandrindod Wells, Newtown, Carmarthen and Caernarfon.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 3:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
54	0	0	54

Amendment 3 was agreed.

 

Amendment 4 - Nick Ramsay (Monmouth)

 

Add as new point at end of motion:

 

Calls on the Welsh Government to clarify without delay the position of its regional offices in a written statement to the National Assembly for Wales.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 4:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
53	0	0	53

Amendment 4 was agreed.

 

Amendment 5 - Nick Ramsay (Monmouth)

 

Add as new point at end of motion:

 

Calls on the Welsh Government to consult with unions in its review of staffing needs in regional offices.

 

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:

 

NDM4789 Jocelyn Davies (South Wales East)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

 

1. Recognises the importance of public sector employment to communities throughout the country; and

 

2. Calls on the Welsh Government to continue with the Location Strategy, which supports the delivery of Welsh Government jobs and services from efficient and accessible buildings across Wales.

 

3. Calls on the Welsh Government to ensure the optimal use of its estate for supporting communities throughout Wales.

 

4. Recognises the importance to the local economies of Welsh Government jobs in Llandrindod Wells, Newtown, Carmarthen and Caernarfon.

 

5. Calls on the Welsh Government to clarify without delay the position of its regional offices in a written statement to the National Assembly for Wales.

 

6. Calls on the Welsh Government to consult with unions in its review of staffing needs in regional offices.

 

For	Abstain	Against	Total
39	0	15	54

The motion as amended was agreed.

 

NDM4788 Peter Black (South Wales West)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

 

1. Notes that small businesses are essential to the Welsh economic recovery and play a role in local economies across Wales;

 

2. Calls on the Welsh Government to conduct a full review of business rates in order to:

 

a) Avoid the scenario whereby the improvement of premises increases their value and therefore their business rate;

 

b) Change the role local authorities should have in collecting and retaining business rates, to address local needs;

 

c) End huge rises in business rates when values increase and costs go up between years as has happened to many B&Bs recently;

 

d) Extend business rate relief to help more community facilities such as post offices, pubs, social enterprises and independent shops;

 

e) Determine whether Wales would benefit from adopting the same accounting arrangements for business rates as Scotland and Northern Ireland have with the UK Government.

 

3. Further calls on the Welsh Government to:

 

a) Freeze business rates until the recommendations of this review are implemented;

 

b) Set out details on its plans to develop a comprehensive plan to reduce regulatory burdens on small businesses; and

 

4. Calls on the Minister for Business, Enterprise, Technology and Science to regularly assess the impact of her policies on small businesses.

 

The following amendments have been tabled:

 

[If amendment 1 is agreed, amendments 2, 3 and 4 will be deselected]

 

Amendment 1 - Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

 

Delete points 2 and 3 of the original motion and replace with new points 2 and 3, as below:

 

2. Acknowledges that placing lead responsibility for business rates policy in the portfolio of the Business, Enterprise, Technology and Science Minister sends a clear signal about the impact that business rates can have on Welsh businesses.

 

3. Notes that the Welsh Government will review business rates policies to implement fair and proportionate rates for Welsh businesses to meet the Government's economic and social objectives.

 

Amendment 2 - Jocelyn Davies (South Wales East)

 

Delete point 2 and replace with:

 

2. Calls on the Welsh Government to conduct a full review of business rates and to continue with the current small business rate relief scheme while the review is underway.

 

[If amendment 3 is agreed, amendment 4 will be deselected]

 

Amendment 3 - Nick Ramsay (Monmouth)

 

Delete sub point 3a) and replace with:

 

Abolish all business rates for businesses with a rateable value of £12000 or under and taper business rates with a rateable value of between £12000 - £15000.

 

Amendment 4 - Jocelyn Davies (South Wales East)

 

Delete sub point 3a) and renumber accordingly.

 

 

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

 

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

 

NDM4788 Peter Black (South Wales West)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

 

1. Notes that small businesses are essential to the Welsh economic recovery and play a role in local economies across Wales;

 

2. Calls on the Welsh Government to conduct a full review of business rates in order to:

 

a) Avoid the scenario whereby the improvement of premises increases their value and therefore their business rate;

 

b) Change the role local authorities should have in collecting and retaining business rates, to address local needs;

 

c) End huge rises in business rates when values increase and costs go up between years as has happened to many B&Bs recently;

 

d) Extend business rate relief to help more community facilities such as post offices, pubs, social enterprises and independent shops;

 

e) Determine whether Wales would benefit from adopting the same accounting arrangements for business rates as Scotland and Northern Ireland have with the UK Government.

 

3. Further calls on the Welsh Government to:

 

a) Freeze business rates until the recommendations of this review are implemented;

 

b) Set out details on its plans to develop a comprehensive plan to reduce regulatory burdens on small businesses; and

 

4. Calls on the Minister for Business, Enterprise, Technology and Science to regularly assess the impact of her policies on small businesses.

 

For	Abstain	Against	Total
5	0	48	53

The motion without amendment was not agreed.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 - Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

 

Delete points 2 and 3 of the original motion and replace with new points 2 and 3, as below:

 

2. Acknowledges that placing lead responsibility for business rates policy in the portfolio of the Business, Enterprise, Technology and Science Minister sends a clear signal about the impact that business rates can have on Welsh businesses.

 

3. Notes that the Welsh Government will review business rates policies to implement fair and proportionate rates for Welsh businesses to meet the Government's economic and social objectives.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 1:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
28	0	26	54

Amendment 1 was agreed.

As amendment 1 was agreed, amendments 2, 3 and 4 were deselected. 

Amendment 2 - Jocelyn Davies (South Wales East)

 

Delete point 2 and replace with:

 

2. Calls on the Welsh Government to conduct a full review of business rates and to continue with the current small business rate relief scheme while the review is underway.

 

Amendment 3 - Nick Ramsay (Monmouth)

 

Delete sub point 3a) and replace with:

 

Abolish all business rates for businesses with a rateable value of £12000 or under and taper business rates with a rateable value of between £12000 - £15000.

 

Amendment 4 - Jocelyn Davies (South Wales East)

 

Delete sub point 3a) and renumber accordingly.

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

 

NDM4788 Peter Black (South Wales West)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

 

1. Notes that small businesses are essential to the Welsh economic recovery and play a role in local economies across Wales;

 

2. Acknowledges that placing lead responsibility for business rates policy in the portfolio of the Business, Enterprise, Technology and Science Minister sends a clear signal about the impact that business rates can have on Welsh businesses.

 

3. Notes that the Welsh Government will review business rates policies to implement fair and proportionate rates for Welsh businesses to meet the Government's economic and social objectives.

 

4. Calls on the Minister for Business, Enterprise, Technology and Science to regularly assess the impact of her policies on small businesses.

 

For	Abstain	Against	Total
42	0	12	54

The motion as amended was agreed.