Agenda and decisions

View Questions

The item started at 13:30.

 

All 12 questions were asked.

View Questions

The item started at 14.16.

 

All 13 questions were asked. Questions 2 and 12 were grouped together for Answer by the Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries, Food and European Programmes.

The Presiding Officer announced that Mick Antoniw had won the Members’ ballot to submit proposals for legislation. In accordance with Standing Order 26.91, Mick Antoniw may now each seek the Assembly’s agreement to introduce a Member proposed Bill on Asbestos (Recovery of Medical Costs).

NDM4948 Jocelyn Davies (South Wales East)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

 

Endorses the Protocol on Changes to the Budget Motion, as agreed between the Welsh Government and the Committee with responsibility for the functions specified in Standing Order 19.

 

The Protocol on Changes to the Budget Motion was laid before the Assembly on 14 March 2012.

 

Supporting document:

Protocol on changes to the Budget motion

The item started at 14.57.

 

NDM4948 Jocelyn Davies (South Wales East)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

 

Endorses the Protocol on Changes to the Budget Motion, as agreed between the Welsh Government and the Committee with responsibility for the functions specified in Standing Order 19.

 

The Protocol on Changes to the Budget Motion was laid before the Assembly on 14 March 2012.

 

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

 

NDM4940

 

Peter Black (South Wales West)

Aled Roberts (North Wales)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales in accordance with Standing Order 27.2:

 

Agrees that the Isle of Anglesey Local Authorities (Change to the Years of Ordinary Elections) Order 2012, laid before the Assembly on 6 March 2012, be annulled.

 

Supporting Documents:

The Isle of Anglesey Local Authorities (Change to the Years of Ordinary Elections) Order 2012

Explanatory Memorandum

Report of the Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee

The item started at 15.06.

 

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

 

The result was as follows:

 

A vote was taken on the Motion:

 

NDM4940

 

Peter Black (South Wales West)

Aled Roberts (North Wales)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales in accordance with Standing Order 27.2:

 

Agrees that the Isle of Anglesey Local Authorities (Change to the Years of Ordinary Elections) Order 2012, laid before the Assembly on 6 March 2012, be annulled.

 

For	Abstain	Against	Total
17	0	33	50

The motion was not agreed.

NDM4946 William Graham (South Wales East)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

 

1. Notes the importance of local government acting in a manner which is both transparent and accountable to the people it represents;

 

2. Believes that the introduction of referenda on proposed annual council tax increases above 3.5% would enhance transparency, accountability and democracy in Wales; and

 

3. Welcomes steps taken by some local authorities in Wales to publish all expenditure over £500.00, and encourages all local authorities in Wales to make this information public.

 

The following amendments have been tabled:

 

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

 

Amendment 1 - Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

 

Delete point 2 and replace with:

 

‘Recognises that the setting of council tax is a matter for individual local authorities and transparency and accountability for this is delivered via the ballot box every four years.’

 

[If amendment 2 is agreed, amendment 3 will be deselected]

 

Amendment 2 - Jocelyn Davies (South Wales East)

 

In point 2 delete all before ‘would enhance’ and replace with ‘Believes that the introduction of the Single Transferable Voting system at local government level’.

 

Amendment 3 - Peter Black (South Wales West)

 

Insert at end of point 2 'but believes that, while ordinary families are facing tough times, the increased cost of running local referendums is not a priority.

 

Amendment 4 - Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

 

Delete point 3 and replace with:

 

‘Welcomes steps towards increased transparency taken by councils in Wales but recognises the need to ensure that administrative burdens placed on local authorities as a result of increased transparency are proportionate.’

 

The item started at 15.47.

 

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

 

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

 

NDM4946 William Graham (South Wales East)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

 

1. Notes the importance of local government acting in a manner which is both transparent and accountable to the people it represents;

 

2. Believes that the introduction of referenda on proposed annual council tax increases above 3.5% would enhance transparency, accountability and democracy in Wales; and

 

3. Welcomes steps taken by some local authorities in Wales to publish all expenditure over £500.00, and encourages all local authorities in Wales to make this information public.

 

For	Abstain	Against	Total
15	0	35	50

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:

 

‘Recognises that the setting of council tax is a matter for individual local authorities and transparency and accountability for this is delivered via the ballot box every four years.’

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 1:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
33	0	17	50

Amendment 1 was agreed.

 

Amendment 2 - Jocelyn Davies (South Wales East)

 

In point 2 delete all before ‘would enhance’ and replace with ‘Believes that the introduction of the Single Transferable Voting system at local government level’.

 

As amendment 1 was agreed, amendment 2 was deselected.

 

Amendment 3 - Peter Black (South Wales West)

 

Insert at end of point 2 'but believes that, while ordinary families are facing tough times, the increased cost of running local referendums is not a priority.

 

As amendment 1 was agreed, amendment 3 was deselected.

 

Amendment 4 - Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

 

Delete point 3 and replace with:

 

‘Welcomes steps towards increased transparency taken by councils in Wales but recognises the need to ensure that administrative burdens placed on local authorities as a result of increased transparency are proportionate.’

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 4:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
33	0	17	50

Amendment 4 was agreed.

 

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

 

NDM4946 William Graham (South Wales East)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

 

1. Notes the importance of local government acting in a manner which is both transparent and accountable to the people it represents;

 

2. Recognises that the setting of council tax is a matter for individual local authorities and transparency and accountability for this is delivered via the ballot box every four years.; and

 

3. Welcomes steps towards increased transparency taken by councils in Wales but recognises the need to ensure that administrative burdens placed on local authorities as a result of increased transparency are proportionate.

 

For	Abstain	Against	Total
37	0	13	50

The motion as amended was agreed.

NDM4945 Jocelyn Davies (South Wales East)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

 

Believes that further devolution of powers would help deliver a sustainable and prosperous economy.

 

The following amendments have been tabled:

 

Amendment 1- William Graham (South Wales East)

 

Add as new point at end of motion:

 

Welcomes the work of the Silk Commission and awaits its recommendations on further constitutional reform.

 

Amendment 2 - William Graham (South Wales East)

 

Add as new point at end of motion:

 

Acknowledges that a sustainable, prosperous economy requires:

 

a) a strategy to promote indigenous businesses on the international market; and

 

b) full engagement with the UK Government to promote those UK companies who have establishments within Wales.

 

Amendment 3 - Peter Black (South Wales West)

 

Add as new point at end of motion:

 

Welcomes the Commission on Devolution in Wales established by the UK government to look at further advancement in the devolution of powers, including fiscal responsibility.

 

The item started at 16:42.

 

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

 

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

 

NDM4945 Jocelyn Davies (South Wales East)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

 

Believes that further devolution of powers would help deliver a sustainable and prosperous economy.

 

For	Abstain	Against	Total
33	0	17	50

The motion without amendment was agreed.

NDM4947 Peter Black (South Wales West)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

 

1. Regrets new statistics that show the GDP per capita of West Wales and the Valleys has fallen from 79% to 68.4% of the EU average;

 

2. Notes that those statistics have been measured on a consistent basis from year to year and across the different regions and nations of the EU; and

 

3. Calls on the Welsh government to publish an economic development strategy for West Wales and the Valleys as a matter of urgency, in order to ensure that should Wales qualify for an additional round of funding, projects focused on driving economic growth can begin immediately.

 

The following amendments have been tabled:

 

Amendment 1- Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

 

Delete point 3 and replace with:

 

‘Notes that the Welsh Government in association with its partners, is preparing strategies and possible projects to be delivered in the impending Structural Funds 2014-2019 Programme period, together with the series of actions currently being undertaken to assist the economic recovery of West Wales & the Valleys and East Wales.’

 

Amendment 2 - William Graham (South Wales East)

 

Add as new point at end of motion:

 

Acknowledges that a strong private sector is essential in order to encourage economic growth in the poorest parts of Wales.

 

The item started at 17.35.

 

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

 

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

 

NDM4947 Peter Black (South Wales West)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

 

1. Regrets new statistics that show the GDP per capita of West Wales and the Valleys has fallen from 79% to 68.4% of the EU average;

 

2. Notes that those statistics have been measured on a consistent basis from year to year and across the different regions and nations of the EU; and

 

3. Calls on the Welsh government to publish an economic development strategy for West Wales and the Valleys as a matter of urgency, in order to ensure that should Wales qualify for an additional round of funding, projects focused on driving economic growth can begin immediately.

 

For	Abstain	Against	Total
17	0	33	50

The motion without amendment was not agreed.

 

The following amendments were tabled:

 

Amendment 1- Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

 

Delete point 3 and replace with:

 

‘Notes that the Welsh Government in association with its partners, is preparing strategies and possible projects to be delivered in the impending Structural Funds 2014-2019 Programme period, together with the series of actions currently being undertaken to assist the economic recovery of West Wales & the Valleys and East Wales.’

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 1:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
33	0	17	50

Amendment 1 was agreed.

 

Amendment 2 - William Graham (South Wales East)

 

Add as new point at end of motion:

 

Acknowledges that a strong private sector is essential in order to encourage economic growth in the poorest parts of Wales.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 2:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
50	0	0	50

Amendment 2 was agreed.

 

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

 

NDM4947 Peter Black (South Wales West)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

 

1. Regrets new statistics that show the GDP per capita of West Wales and the Valleys has fallen from 79% to 68.4% of the EU average;

 

2. Notes that those statistics have been measured on a consistent basis from year to year and across the different regions and nations of the EU; and

 

3. Notes that the Welsh Government in association with its partners, is preparing strategies and possible projects to be delivered in the impending Structural Funds 2014-2019 Programme period, together with the series of actions currently being undertaken to assist the economic recovery of West Wales & the Valleys and East Wales.

 

4. Acknowledges that a strong private sector is essential in order to encourage economic growth in the poorest parts of Wales.

 

For	Abstain	Against	Total
37	0	13	50

The motion as amended was agreed.

Voting Time started at 18.33.

 

 

NDM4944 Joyce Watson (Mid and West Wales):

 

Pre-paying the price for electricity and gas.

 

Should energy companies ensure the poorest households are on the lowest tariffs available?

 

The item started at 18.38.

 

NDM4944 Joyce Watson (Mid and West Wales):

 

Pre-paying the price for electricity and gas.

 

Should energy companies ensure the poorest households are on the lowest tariffs available?