Agenda and decisions

The item started at 13.30

The Presiding Officer made a statement about the conduct of Members in the Chamber and emphasised the need to conduct proceedings in a dignified and ordered way including respecting the authority of the Chair.

 

 

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

View Questions

The item started at 13.31

The first 11 questions were asked. Questions 1 and 2 were answered by the Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism. The Presiding Officer invited party spokespeople to ask questions to the Minister and the Deputy Minister after Question 2.

 

View Questions

The item started at 14.16

All 4 questions were asked.

 

No questions tabled.

No questions were tabled.

 

NDM5922 David Melding (South Wales Central)

The National Assembly for Wales:

Notes the report of the Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee on its inquiry into Making Laws in Wales, laid in the Table Office on 8 October 2015.

The Welsh Government's response to the report was laid in the Table Office on 13 January 2016.

The Assembly Commission's response to the report was laid in the Table Office on 13 January 2016.

Supporting Documents

Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee's report
Welsh Government’s response
Assembly Commission's response
Business Committee’s response

The item started at 14.25

NDM5922 David Melding (South Wales Central)

The National Assembly for Wales:

Notes the report of the Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee on its inquiry into Making Laws in Wales, laid in the Table Office on 8 October 2015.

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

 

NDM5920 Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Notes the findings from the interim report into the Review of Higher Education Funding and Student Finance Arrangements in Wales, which states the existing system is "not sustainable", echoing calls from Universities Wales, the Learned Society of Wales and University and College Union;

2. Recognises the need, identified by the interim report, for the Welsh Government to "revisit the tuition fee grant policy" in Wales;

3. Believes the Welsh Government should remodel higher education funding in Wales, implementing a more sustainable policy and offering greater priority to a progressive system of living cost support.

Independent Review of Higher Education Funding and Student Finance Arrangements

The following amendments have been tabled:

Amendment 1 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

Insert as new point 2 and renumber accordingly:

Notes the Welsh Liberal Democrat 2013 policy report 'Fairness and Freedom in Higher Education' which calls for a student living support grant, to shift the focus of government assistance from tuition fee debt relief to support for living costs, as a fairer and more effective way of ensuring finance is not a barrier to higher education.

Fairness and Freedom in Higher Education

Amendment 2 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

Insert as new point 2 and renumber accordingly:

Notes the National Union of Students' policy report, 'Pound in Your Pocket', which found that 58 per cent of students regularly worry about not having enough money to meet their basic living expenses such as rent or utility bills.

Pound in Your Pocket

Amendment 3 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

At end of point 3, insert:

'such as by the introduction of a student living support grant.'

Amendment 4 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Condemns the severe cut to HEFCW's funding in the draft budget 2016-2017, which comes as a direct consequence of the Welsh Government's current fees policy. Believes that this is likely to lead to damaging cuts in support for part time students, research, high cost subjects and the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol.

The item started at 15.10

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

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM5920 Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Notes the findings from the interim report into the Review of Higher Education Funding and Student Finance Arrangements in Wales, which states the existing system is "not sustainable", echoing calls from Universities Wales, the Learned Society of Wales and University and College Union;

2. Recognises the need, identified by the interim report, for the Welsh Government to "revisit the tuition fee grant policy" in Wales;

3. Believes the Welsh Government should remodel higher education funding in Wales, implementing a more sustainable policy and offering greater priority to a progressive system of living cost support.

For	Abstain	Against	Total
17	0	36	53

The motion without amendment was not agreed.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

Insert as new point 2 and renumber accordingly:

Notes the Welsh Liberal Democrat 2013 policy report 'Fairness and Freedom in Higher Education' which calls for a student living support grant, to shift the focus of government assistance from tuition fee debt relief to support for living costs, as a fairer and more effective way of ensuring finance is not a barrier to higher education.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 1:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
5	13	35	53

Amendment 1 was not agreed.

Amendment 2 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

Insert as new point 2 and renumber accordingly:

Notes the National Union of Students' policy report, 'Pound in Your Pocket', which found that 58 per cent of students regularly worry about not having enough money to meet their basic living expenses such as rent or utility bills.

A vote was taken on Amendment 2:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
53	0	0	53

Amendment 2 was agreed.

Amendment 3 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

At end of point 3, insert:

'such as by the introduction of a student living support grant.'

A vote was taken on Amendment 3:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
5	13	35	53

Amendment 3 was not agreed.

Amendment 4 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Condemns the severe cut to HEFCW's funding in the draft budget 2016-2017, which comes as a direct consequence of the Welsh Government's current fees policy. Believes that this is likely to lead to damaging cuts in support for part time students, research, high cost subjects and the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol.

A vote was taken on Amendment 4:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
26	0	27	53

Amendment 4 was not agreed.

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

NDM5920 Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Notes the findings from the interim report into the Review of Higher Education Funding and Student Finance Arrangements in Wales, which states the existing system is "not sustainable", echoing calls from Universities Wales, the Learned Society of Wales and University and College Union;

2.Notes the National Union of Students' policy report, 'Pound in Your Pocket', which found that 58 per cent of students regularly worry about not having enough money to meet their basic living expenses such as rent or utility bills.

3. Recognises the need, identified by the interim report, for the Welsh Government to "revisit the tuition fee grant policy" in Wales;

4. Believes the Welsh Government should remodel higher education funding in Wales, implementing a more sustainable policy and offering greater priority to a progressive system of living cost support.

For	Abstain	Against	Total
26	0	27	53

The motion as amended was not agreed.

 

NDM5923 Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Notes that communities across Wales have been devastated by flooding in recent weeks; and pays tribute to the work of all of those who have provided vital support to those communities;

2. Recognises the importance of thorough, collaborative engagement with stakeholders across Wales in the development of a robust, flood prevention strategy; and

3. Calls on the Welsh Government to take immediate, tangible action to support flood-hit communities, including:

a) exploring the viability of providing rate relief to impacted businesses;

b) reviewing how the Trunk Road Agency responds to adverse weather conditions, and in particular assessing the management of the A55 in relation to flooding;

c) providing additional freedoms to farmers and landowners to undertake any necessary clearance of ditches, drains and agricultural channels; and

d) assessing how the Rural Development Programme can better support flood prevention schemes for communities affected by flooding.

Rural Development Programme

The following amendments have been tabled:

Amendment 1 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

Insert as new point 3 and renumber accordingly:

Regrets the failure of the UK Government to apply for EU solidarity funds for flood relief.

Amendment 2 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

Insert as new point 3 and renumber accordingly:

Regrets the decision of the UK Government to cut support for clean energy projects, which threatens our ability to tackle climate change and will increase the risk of extreme weather conditions and flooding in the future.

Amendment 3 - Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

At start of sub-point 3c), insert:

'reviewing the evidence for'

Amendment 4 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

Insert as new sub-point at end of point 3:

Promoting schemes to alleviate flood risk through innovative land management including by planting trees and vegetation to slow run-off, restoring wetland areas, and creating safe flood reservoirs.

Amendment 5 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Calls on the Welsh Government to strengthen the planning guidance regarding development on land susceptible to flooding.

Amendment 6 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Calls on the Welsh Government to make more use of the natural environment in its management of flood risk.

The item started at 16.11

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

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM5923 Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Notes that communities across Wales have been devastated by flooding in recent weeks; and pays tribute to the work of all of those who have provided vital support to those communities;

2. Recognises the importance of thorough, collaborative engagement with stakeholders across Wales in the development of a robust, flood prevention strategy; and

3. Calls on the Welsh Government to take immediate, tangible action to support flood-hit communities, including:

a) exploring the viability of providing rate relief to impacted businesses;

b) reviewing how the Trunk Road Agency responds to adverse weather conditions, and in particular assessing the management of the A55 in relation to flooding;

c) providing additional freedoms to farmers and landowners to undertake any necessary clearance of ditches, drains and agricultural channels; and

d) assessing how the Rural Development Programme can better support flood prevention schemes for communities affected by flooding.

For	Abstain	Against	Total
17	0	36	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:

Regrets the failure of the UK Government to apply for EU solidarity funds for flood relief.

A vote was taken on Amendment 1:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
40	0	13	53

Amendment 1 was agreed.

Amendment 2 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

Insert as new point 3 and renumber accordingly:

Regrets the decision of the UK Government to cut support for clean energy projects, which threatens our ability to tackle climate change and will increase the risk of extreme weather conditions and flooding in the future.

A vote was taken on Amendment 2:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
40	0	13	53

Amendment 2 was agreed.

Amendment 3 - Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

At start of sub-point 3c), insert:

'reviewing the evidence for'

A vote was taken on Amendment 3:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
27	0	26	53

Amendment 3 was agreed.

Amendment 4 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

Insert as new sub-point at end of point 3:

Promoting schemes to alleviate flood risk through innovative land management including by planting trees and vegetation to slow run-off, restoring wetland areas, and creating safe flood reservoirs.

A vote was taken on Amendment 4:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
53	0	0	53

Amendment 4 was agreed.

Amendment 5 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Calls on the Welsh Government to strengthen the planning guidance regarding development on land susceptible to flooding.

A vote was taken on Amendment 5:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
53	0	0	53

Amendment 5 was agreed.

Amendment 6 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Calls on the Welsh Government to make more use of the natural environment in its management of flood risk.

A vote was taken on Amendment 6:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
53	0	0	53

Amendment 6 was agreed.

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

NDM5923 Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Notes that communities across Wales have been devastated by flooding in recent weeks; and pays tribute to the work of all of those who have provided vital support to those communities;

2. Recognises the importance of thorough, collaborative engagement with stakeholders across Wales in the development of a robust, flood prevention strategy; and

3. Regrets the failure of the UK Government to apply for EU solidarity funds for flood relief.

4. Regrets the decision of the UK Government to cut support for clean energy projects, which threatens our ability to tackle climate change and will increase the risk of extreme weather conditions and flooding in the future.

5. Calls on the Welsh Government to take immediate, tangible action to support flood-hit communities, including:

a) exploring the viability of providing rate relief to impacted businesses;

b) reviewing how the Trunk Road Agency responds to adverse weather conditions, and in particular assessing the management of the A55 in relation to flooding;

c) reviewing the evidence for providing additional freedoms to farmers and landowners to undertake any necessary clearance of ditches, drains and agricultural channels; and

d) assessing how the Rural Development Programme can better support flood prevention schemes for communities affected by flooding.

e) promoting schemes to alleviate flood risk through innovative land management including by planting trees and vegetation to slow run-off, restoring wetland areas, and creating safe flood reservoirs.

6. Calls on the Welsh Government to strengthen the planning guidance regarding development on land susceptible to flooding.

7. Calls on the Welsh Government to make more use of the natural environment in its management of flood risk.

For	Abstain	Against	Total
40	0	13	53

The motion as amended was agreed.

 

The item started at 17.09

 

NDM5924 Lynne Neagle (Torfaen)

A national dementia strategy for Wales – responding to the health challenge of our time.

The item started at 17.14

NDM5924 Lynne Neagle (Torfaen)

A national dementia strategy for Wales – responding to the health challenge of our time.