Agenda and decisions

 

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

View Questions

The item started at 13.30

Questions 1-7 and 9-10 were asked. Question 8 was withdrawn. The Presiding Officer invited party leaders to ask questions to the First Minister after Question 2.

 

The item started at 14.15

Angela Burns (Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire): Will the Minister make a statement on his review of Higher Education funding?

 

View Business Statement and Announcement

The item started at 14.26

 

The item started at 14.36

 

The item started at 15.18

 

NDM5355 Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales; in accordance with Standing Order 27.5:

Approves that the draft The Welsh Development Agency Act 1975 (Amendment) (Wales) Order 2013 is made in accordance with the draft laid in the Table Office on 22 October 2013.

 

Supporting Documents

 

The Welsh Development Agency Act 1975 (Amendment) (Wales) Order 2013

Explanatory Memorandum

Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee Report
Welsh Government Response to the Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee Report - The Welsh Development Agency Act 1975 (Amendment) (Wales) Order 2013

 

The item started at 15.50

NDM5355 Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales; in accordance with Standing Order 27.5:

Approves that the draft The Welsh Development Agency Act 1975 (Amendment) (Wales) Order 2013 is made in accordance with the draft laid in the Table Office on 22 October 2013.

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

 

 

NDM5356 Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales, in accordance with Standing Order 20.12:

Notes the Draft Budget for the financial year 2014-2015 laid in the Table Office by the Minister for Finance on 8 October 2013.

The Draft Budget Proposals 2014-15 is available on the following link:

http://www.assemblywales.org/bus-home/bus-business-fourth-assembly-laid-docs.htm?act=dis&id=250809&ds=10/2013

The following amendments have been tabled:

Amendment 1 - William Graham (South Wales East)

Delete all and replace with:

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales

1. Recognises the additional investment made in the draft budget to the health service arising from the pressure applied by the Welsh Conservatives; and

2. Calls on the Welsh Government to redraft their Draft Budget for 2014-15 so that it:

a) protects the health budget in real terms and fully addresses the extreme financial pressures facing local health boards in Wales;

b) meets the needs of businesses across Wales, for the benefit of the Welsh economy;

c) addresses the funding challenges facing FE colleges, so that they can provide a full range of skills and vocational courses for learners in Wales.

 

Amendment 2 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

Add as new points at end of motion:

Notes the important agreement achieved by the Party of Wales and the Welsh Liberal Democrats in securing:

a) an Intermediate Care Fund to alleviate pressures on A&E departments and provide care closer to home;

b) more than a doubling of the Pupil Deprivation Grant;

c) three state-of-the-art Da Vinci robots that will provide less invasive surgical procedures;

d) a health technology and telemedicine fund to put Wales at the forefront of medical technology;

e) protection of the Supporting People Programme; and

Further notes the positive impact such investments will have on communities across the country and the improvement in community-based services that will follow.

Supported by:

Aled Roberts (North Wales)

 

Amendment 3 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

Insert as new point at end of the motion:

Welcomes the joint approach between the Welsh Liberal Democrats and Plaid Cymru, which has secured within the Draft Budget:

a) an additional £35million to double funding for the Pupil Deprivation Grant to help break the link between poverty and educational underachievement;

b) a £50million Intermediate Care Fund to support independent living and reduce pressure on the emergency care system;

c) an additional £9.5million investment in the Health Technology Fund to increase investment in telemedicine; and

d) a £5.5million Support People Package to help tackle homelessness.

Supported by:

Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

 

Supporting Document

The Draft Budget for the financial year 2014-2015
Report of the Finance Committee's Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2014-15

Research Paper: Draft Budget Proposals 2014-15 (October 2013) – Research Service

 

 

 

The item started at 15.52

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

NDM5356 Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales, in accordance with Standing Order 20.12:

Notes the Draft Budget for the financial year 2014-2015 laid in the Table Office by the Minister for Finance on 8 October 2013.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 - William Graham (South Wales East)

Delete all and replace with:

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales

1. Recognises the additional investment made in the draft budget to the health service arising from the pressure applied by the Welsh Conservatives; and

2. Calls on the Welsh Government to redraft their Draft Budget for 2014-15 so that it:

a) protects the health budget in real terms and fully addresses the extreme financial pressures facing local health boards in Wales;

b) meets the needs of businesses across Wales, for the benefit of the Welsh economy;

c) addresses the funding challenges facing FE colleges, so that they can provide a full range of skills and vocational courses for learners in Wales.

A vote was taken on Amendment 1:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
12	0	41	53

Amendment 1 was not agreed.

Amendment 2 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

Add as new points at end of motion:

Notes the important agreement achieved by the Party of Wales and the Welsh Liberal Democrats in securing:

a) an Intermediate Care Fund to alleviate pressures on A&E departments and provide care closer to home;

b) more than a doubling of the Pupil Deprivation Grant;

c) three state-of-the-art Da Vinci robots that will provide less invasive surgical procedures;

d) a health technology and telemedicine fund to put Wales at the forefront of medical technology;

e) protection of the Supporting People Programme; and

Further notes the positive impact such investments will have on communities across the country and the improvement in community-based services that will follow.

Supported by:

Aled Roberts (North Wales)

A vote was taken on Amendment 2:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
42	0	11	53

Amendment 2 was agreed.

Amendment 3 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

Insert as new point at end of the motion:

Welcomes the joint approach between the Welsh Liberal Democrats and Plaid Cymru, which has secured within the Draft Budget:

a) an additional £35million to double funding for the Pupil Deprivation Grant to help break the link between poverty and educational underachievement;

b) a £50million Intermediate Care Fund to support independent living and reduce pressure on the emergency care system;

c) an additional £9.5million investment in the Health Technology Fund to increase investment in telemedicine; and

d) a £5.5million Support People Package to help tackle homelessness.

Supported by:

Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

A vote was taken on Amendment 3:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
42	0	11	53

Amendment 3 was agreed.

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

NDM5356 Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales, in accordance with Standing Order 20.12:

1. Notes the Draft Budget for the financial year 2014-2015 laid in the Table Office by the Minister for Finance on 8 October 2013.

2. Notes the important agreement achieved by the Party of Wales and the Welsh Liberal Democrats in securing:

a) an Intermediate Care Fund to alleviate pressures on A&E departments and provide care closer to home;

b) more than a doubling of the Pupil Deprivation Grant;

c) three state-of-the-art Da Vinci robots that will provide less invasive surgical procedures;

d) a health technology and telemedicine fund to put Wales at the forefront of medical technology;

e) protection of the Supporting People Programme; and

Further notes the positive impact such investments will have on communities across the country and the improvement in community-based services that will follow.

Supported by:

Aled Roberts (North Wales)

3. Welcomes the joint approach between the Welsh Liberal Democrats and Plaid Cymru, which has secured within the Draft Budget:

a) an additional £35million to double funding for the Pupil Deprivation Grant to help break the link between poverty and educational underachievement;

b) a £50million Intermediate Care Fund to support independent living and reduce pressure on the emergency care system;

c) an additional £9.5million investment in the Health Technology Fund to increase investment in telemedicine; and

d) a £5.5million Support People Package to help tackle homelessness.

Supported by:

Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

For	Abstain	Against	Total
27	14	12	53

The motion as amended was agreed.

 

 

NDM5357 Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

Notes the Children’s Commissioner for Wales’ Annual report 2012-13.

The 2012-13 Annual Report of the Children’s Commissioner for Wales can be accessed on the following link: http://www.childcomwales.org.uk/uploads/publications/400.pdf

 

The following amendments have been tabled:

 

Amendment 1 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

Insert as new point at end of the motion:

Acknowledges the concern raised by the Children’s Commissioner for Wales regarding the severity of insufficient safeguarding arrangements.

 

Amendment 2 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

Insert as new point at end of the motion:

Regrets the finding within the report that often the voices of children and young people are completely ignored and calls on the Welsh Government to show stronger leadership on access to independent professional advocacy.

 

Amendment 3 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

Insert as new point at end of the motion:

Regrets the decision by the Welsh Government not to introduce a Children and Young Persons (Wales) Bill despite their commitment within the 2011 legislative statement, and calls on the Welsh Government to reverse this decision and bring forward legislation to strengthen the rights of children and young people and reform the statutory basis for the Children’s Commissioner’s office.

 

Amendment 4 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

Insert as new point at end of the motion:

Calls on the Welsh Government to provide a response to the Children's Commissioner for Wales' Annual Report prior to the annual debate on this report.

The item started at 17.22

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

NDM5357 Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

Notes the Children’s Commissioner for Wales’ Annual report 2012-13.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

Insert as new point at end of the motion:

Acknowledges the concern raised by the Children’s Commissioner for Wales regarding the severity of insufficient safeguarding arrangements.

A vote was taken on Amendment 1:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
26	0	27	53

Amendment 1 was not agreed.

Amendment 2 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

Insert as new point at end of the motion:

Regrets the finding within the report that often the voices of children and young people are completely ignored and calls on the Welsh Government to show stronger leadership on access to independent professional advocacy.

A vote was taken on Amendment 2:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
25	1	27	53

Amendment 2 was not agreed.

Amendment 3 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

Insert as new point at end of the motion:

Regrets the decision by the Welsh Government not to introduce a Children and Young Persons (Wales) Bill despite their commitment within the 2011 legislative statement, and calls on the Welsh Government to reverse this decision and bring forward legislation to strengthen the rights of children and young people and reform the statutory basis for the Children’s Commissioner’s office.

A vote was taken on Amendment 3:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
26	0	27	53

Amendment 3 was not agreed.

Amendment 4 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

Insert as new point at end of the motion:

Calls on the Welsh Government to provide a response to the Children's Commissioner for Wales' Annual Report prior to the annual debate on this report. 

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:

NDM5357 Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

Notes the Children’s Commissioner for Wales’ Annual report 2012-13.

For	Abstain	Against	Total
53	0	0	53

The motion was agreed.

 

The item started at 18.13