Agenda and decisions

 

View Questions

 

The item started at 13.30

 

The first 8 questions were asked. Question 2 was answered by the Deputy Minister for Social Services.

 

View Questions

 

The item started at 14.16

 

The first 12 questions were asked. Questions 1, 7 , 8, 9, 11 and 12 were answered by the Deputy Minister for Tackling Poverty.

 

View Questions

 

The item started at 15.05

 

All 3 questions were asked. 

The item started at 15.14

NDM5468 Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

 

1. Expresses concern that some students taking English GCSE modules in January 2014 were awarded unexpectedly low grades;

 

2. Welcomes the Welsh Government's rapid review into the situation;

 

3. Notes the importance of considering all the evidence which is available for the review; and

 

4. Calls on the Welsh Government to share the nature of the review process and the evidence received as part of the review in an open and frank manner.

 

Supported by:

 

Simon Thomas (Mid and West Wales)

Aled Roberts (North Wales)

 

The item started at 16.04

 

NDM5468 Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

 

1. Expresses concern that some students taking English GCSE modules in January 2014 were awarded unexpectedly low grades;

 

2. Welcomes the Welsh Government's rapid review into the situation;

 

3. Notes the importance of considering all the evidence which is available for the review; and

 

4. Calls on the Welsh Government to share the nature of the review process and the evidence received as part of the review in an open and frank manner.

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

NDM5469 Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

 

1. Recognises the recent upturn in the UK economy as a result of UK Government actions.

 

2. Acknowledges that the overall UK GDP growth was 0.7 per cent in Q4 2013.

 

3. Calls on the Welsh Government to work collaboratively with the UK Government to ensure long-term economic growth.

 

The following amendments have been tabled:

 

Amendment 1 - Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

 

Delete point 1.

 

[If amendment 1 is agreed, amendment 2 will be de-selected]

 

Amendment 2 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

 

In point 1, delete all after ‘Recognises' and replace with 'improving economic conditions’.

 

Amendment 3 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

 

Delete point 2 and replace with:

 

Regrets that latest GDP data show a decline in Wales’s GDP compared to the EU average.

 

Amendment 4 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

 

Add as new point at end of motion:

 

Further calls on the Welsh Government to ensure the regular publication of key economic indicators such as GDP and GVA statistics in order to inform future policies.

 

Amendment 5 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

 

Add as new point at end of motion:

 

Resolves that urgent steps are needed to improve Wales’s economic fortunes including the adoption of an export-led, skills-based strategy.

 

Amendment 6 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

 

Add as new point at end of motion:

 

Notes the positive impact that the creation of more than a million apprenticeships in England since 2010 will have had on UK economy and regrets that in Wales the number of people on apprenticeships placements fell by more than 26% between 2006 and 2012.

 

The item started at 17.04

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

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM5469 Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

 

1. Recognises the recent upturn in the UK economy as a result of UK Government actions.

 

2. Acknowledges that the overall UK GDP growth was 0.7 per cent in Q4 2013.

 

3. Calls on the Welsh Government to work collaboratively with the UK Government to ensure long-term economic growth.

For	Abstain	Against	Total
12	0	40	52

The motion without amendment was not agreed.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 - Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

 

Delete point 1.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 1:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
35	0	17	52

Amendment 1 was agreed.

As amendment 1 was agreed, amendment 2 was de-selected.

Amendment 3 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

 

Delete point 2 and replace with:

 

Regrets that latest GDP data show a decline in Wales’s GDP compared to the EU average.

A vote was taken on Amendment 3:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
35	0	17	52

Amendment 3 was agreed.

Amendment 4 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

 

Add as new point at end of motion:

 

Further calls on the Welsh Government to ensure the regular publication of key economic indicators such as GDP and GVA statistics in order to inform future policies.

A vote was taken on Amendment 4:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
49	0	3	52

Amendment 4 was agreed.

Amendment 5 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

 

Add as new point at end of motion:

 

Resolves that urgent steps are needed to improve Wales’s economic fortunes including the adoption of an export-led, skills-based strategy.

A vote was taken on Amendment 5:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
26	0	27	53

As required by Standing Order 6.20 the Deputy Presiding Officer exercised his casting vote by voting against the amendment. Therefore, the amendment was not agreed.

Amendment 6 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

 

Add as new point at end of motion:

 

Notes the positive impact that the creation of more than a million apprenticeships in England since 2010 will have had on UK economy and regrets that in Wales the number of people on apprenticeships placements fell by more than 26% between 2006 and 2012.

A vote was taken on Amendment 6:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
17	0	35	52

Amendment 6 was not agreed.

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

NDM5469 Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

 

1. Regrets that latest GDP data show a decline in Wales’s GDP compared to the EU average.

 

2. Calls on the Welsh Government to work collaboratively with the UK Government to ensure long-term economic growth.

3. Further calls on the Welsh Government to ensure the regular publication of key economic indicators such as GDP and GVA statistics in order to inform future policies.

For	Abstain	Against	Total
52	0	0	52

The motion as amended was agreed.

NDM5467 Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

 

Calls on the Welsh Government to tackle barriers to employment and career progression by:

 

a) Extending affordable childcare across Wales;

 

b) Ensuring public sector bodies take positive action to increase diversity;

 

c) Working with large employers to increase opportunities for disabled people;

 

d) Supporting the living wage and eliminating poor employment practices such as zero-hours contracts.

 

The following amendments have been tabled:

 

Amendment 1 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

 

Insert as new sub-point b) and renumber accordingly:

 

Reviewing the causes of increasing workloads and stress-related sick leave for public sector workers, in particular nurses and teachers.

 

Amendment 2 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

 

Delete sub-point d) and replace with:

 

Welcoming the raise in the personal allowance to £10,000 and the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills’ consultation into zero-hours contracts.

 

The Department of Business, Innovation and Skills’ consultation is available at:

 

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/zero-hours-employment-contracts

 

[If amendment 2 is agreed, amendment 3 will be de-selected]

 

Amendment 3 - Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

 

Delete all in sub-point d) and replace with:

 

Supporting good management practices that secure good workplace relationships and sustainable employment.

 

Amendment 4 - Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

 

Add as new point at end of motion:

 

Calls on the Welsh Government to ensure that workplace skills are at the heart of their new Assessment and Curriculum Review, in order to reduce the barriers to employment faced by young people.

The item started at 18.08

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

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM5467 Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

 

Calls on the Welsh Government to tackle barriers to employment and career progression by:

 

a) Extending affordable childcare across Wales;

 

b) Ensuring public sector bodies take positive action to increase diversity;

 

c) Working with large employers to increase opportunities for disabled people;

 

d) Supporting the living wage and eliminating poor employment practices such as zero-hours contracts.

For	Abstain	Against	Total
35	0	17	52

The motion without amendment was agreed.

The item started at 18.50

 

NDM5466 Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

 

Save Our Services – The people of Pembrokeshire’s campaign to retain services at Withybush hospital.

The item started at 18.53

 

NDM5466 Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

 

Save Our Services – The people of Pembrokeshire’s campaign to retain services at Withybush hospital.