Agenda and decisions

The Presiding Officer stated that a number of unacceptable things were said during Tuesday’s debate on the legislative consent motion on the UK Trade Union Bill, in particular, the use of the word ‘mob’ by the leader of the opposition. The Presiding Officer reminded Members to be respectful when referring to each other and to people outside the Chamber.

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 6 questions were asked. Question 7 was withdrawn. Questions 1, 3 and 4 were answered by the Deputy Minister for Health. The Presiding Officer invited party spokespeople to ask questions to the Minister after Question 2.

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

View Questions

The item started at 14.18

The first 5 questions were asked. Question 1 was answered by the Deputy Minister for Skills and Technology. The Presiding Officer invited party spokespeople to ask questions to the Minister after Question 2.

 

NDM5935 Mark Isherwood (North Wales)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Considers the Report of the Standards of Conduct Committee - Report 01-16 - laid before the Assembly on 19 January 2016 in accordance with Standing Order 22.9; and

2. Endorses the recommendation in the report.

Supporting Document:
Standards of Conduct Committee’s Report

The item started at 15.08

NDM5935 Mark Isherwood (North Wales)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Considers the Report of the Standards of Conduct Committee - Report 01-16 - laid before the Assembly on 19 January 2016 in accordance with Standing Order 22.9; and

2. Endorses the recommendation in the report.

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

 

The item started at 15.08

NNDM5940 Rosemary Butler (Newport West)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales, in accordance with Standing Orders 33.6 and 33.8:

Suspends Standing Order 11.16, which requires the weekly announcement under Standing Order 11.11 to constitute the timetable for business in Plenary for the following week, to allow the motion under item 4 to be considered in Plenary on Wednesday 27 January 2016.

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

 

NNDM5937 Mark Isherwood (North Wales)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Considers the Report of the Standards of Conduct Committee - Report 02-16 - laid before the Assembly on 20 January 2016 in accordance with Standing Order 22.9; and

2. Endorses the recommendations in the report.

Supporting Document:
Standards of Conduct Committee’s Report

The item started at 15.09

NNDM5937 Mark Isherwood (North Wales)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Considers the Report of the Standards of Conduct Committee - Report 02-16 - laid before the Assembly on 20 January 2016 in accordance with Standing Order 22.9; and

2. Endorses the recommendations in the report.

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

 

NDM5934 Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Notes the Welsh Government's draft local government settlement for 2016-17;

2. Regrets proposals to cut funding significantly to many rurally based local authorities across Wales and expresses concern as to the impact this could have on local public services and council tax rates;

3. Further regrets the Welsh Government's failure to sufficiently engage with many rural local authorities across Wales and the WLGA, as to the impact of the 2016-17 local government settlement, leading to great uncertainty in many parts of Wales; and

4. Believes an overhaul of the formula that allocates local government funding in Wales is necessary to prevent many local authorities across Wales being hit disproportionately by Welsh Government settlements.

The following amendments have been tabled:

Amendment 1 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

Add as new point after point 3 and renumber accordingly:

Calls for the introduction in this settlement of the rural stabilisation grant proposed by the WLGA.

Amendment 2 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

Delete point 4 and replace with:

Believes that local government reform is an opportunity to agree a new funding formula that takes equity, deprivation and sparsity into account and is delivered over a three-year funding cycle.

The item started at 15.11

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

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM5934 Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Notes the Welsh Government's draft local government settlement for 2016-17;

2. Regrets proposals to cut funding significantly to many rurally based local authorities across Wales and expresses concern as to the impact this could have on local public services and council tax rates;

3. Further regrets the Welsh Government's failure to sufficiently engage with many rural local authorities across Wales and the WLGA, as to the impact of the 2016-17 local government settlement, leading to great uncertainty in many parts of Wales; and

4. Believes an overhaul of the formula that allocates local government funding in Wales is necessary to prevent many local authorities across Wales being hit disproportionately by Welsh Government settlements.

For	Abstain	Against	Total
15	0	33	48

The motion without amendment was not agreed.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

Add as new point after point 3 and renumber accordingly:

Calls for the introduction in this settlement of the rural stabilisation grant proposed by the WLGA.

A vote was taken on Amendment 1:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
24	0	25	49

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 2 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

Delete point 4 and replace with:

Believes that local government reform is an opportunity to agree a new funding formula that takes equity, deprivation and sparsity into account and is delivered over a three-year funding cycle.

A vote was taken on Amendment 2:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
13	0	35	48

Amendment 2 was not agreed.

As the Assembly did not agree the motion without amendment, and did not agree the amendments tabled to the motion, the motion was therefore not agreed.

 

NDM5939 Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Believes that closing the prosperity gap with the rest of the UK should be a priority for the Welsh Government;

2. Notes Plaid Cymru's long-term economic plan as a means to drive sustainable economic growth to include establishing a new trade body, a national bank of Wales, and a national infrastructure commission; and

3. Supports a successful and sustainable future for foundation industries, in particular, the steel industry.

The following amendments have been tabled:

Amendment 1 - Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

Insert as new point 1 and re-number accordingly:

Regrets that, since 1999, successive Welsh Government administrations have failed to address closing the prosperity gap effectively.

Amendment 2 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

Delete point 2 and replace with:

Believes in the importance of delivering a balanced, integrated, export-led economic strategy that addresses Wales's underdevelopment and the need for a Welsh development bank to support a long-term commitment to investing in Wales's people, business and infrastructure.

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

Amendment 3 - Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

In point 2, delete all after 'notes' and insert:

'the UK Government's long-term economic plan as a means to drive sustainable economic growth'.

Amendment 4 - Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

Insert a new point 3 and renumber accordingly:

Acknowledges that the policies detailed in 'Destination Cymru', 'Invest Wales' and 'A Vision for the Welsh High Street' will deliver sustainable economic and social development throughout Wales.

Destination Cymru

Invest Wales

A Vision for the Welsh High Street

Amendment 5 - Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

Insert a new point 3 and renumber accordingly:

Acknowledges that a successful and sustainable future for the steel industry requires:

a) action from the European Union to deal with Chinese dumping of steel;

b) continued action from the UK Government to deal with Labour's legacy of high energy prices;

c) business rate relief to be brought forward by the Welsh Government;

d) minimum steel standards for public sector procurement;

e) a package of support for staff set to lose their jobs.

Amendment 6 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

Insert at end of point 3:

'and calls for the scrapping of business rates on plant and machinery and the establishment of an urban regeneration company for Port Talbot.'

The item started at 16.12

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

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM5939 Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Believes that closing the prosperity gap with the rest of the UK should be a priority for the Welsh Government;

2. Notes Plaid Cymru's long-term economic plan as a means to drive sustainable economic growth to include establishing a new trade body, a national bank of Wales, and a national infrastructure commission; and

3. Supports a successful and sustainable future for foundation industries, in particular, the steel industry.

For	Abstain	Against	Total
9	0	39	48

The motion without amendment was not agreed.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 - Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

Insert as new point 1 and re-number accordingly:

Regrets that, since 1999, successive Welsh Government administrations have failed to address closing the prosperity gap effectively.

A vote was taken on Amendment 1:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
16	0	32	48

Amendment 1 was not agreed.

Amendment 2 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

Delete point 2 and replace with:

Believes in the importance of delivering a balanced, integrated, export-led economic strategy that addresses Wales's underdevelopment and the need for a Welsh development bank to support a long-term commitment to investing in Wales's people, business and infrastructure.

A vote was taken on Amendment 2:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
28	0	20	48

Amendment 2 was agreed.

As Amendment 2 was agreed, amendment 3 was de-selected

Amendment 4 - Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

Insert a new point 3 and renumber accordingly:

Acknowledges that the policies detailed in 'Destination Cymru', 'Invest Wales' and 'A Vision for the Welsh High Street' will deliver sustainable economic and social development throughout Wales.

A vote was taken on Amendment 4:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
11	0	37	48

Amendment 4 was not agreed.

Amendment 5 - Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

Insert a new point 3 and renumber accordingly:

Acknowledges that a successful and sustainable future for the steel industry requires:

a) action from the European Union to deal with Chinese dumping of steel;

b) continued action from the UK Government to deal with Labour's legacy of high energy prices;

c) business rate relief to be brought forward by the Welsh Government;

d) minimum steel standards for public sector procurement;

e) a package of support for staff set to lose their jobs.

A vote was taken on Amendment 5:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
15	0	33	48

Amendment 5 was not agreed.

Amendment 6 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

Insert at end of point 3:

'and calls for the scrapping of business rates on plant and machinery and the establishment of an urban regeneration company for Port Talbot.'

A vote was taken on Amendment 6:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
15	0	33	48

Amendment 6 was not agreed.

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

NDM5939 Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Believes that closing the prosperity gap with the rest of the UK should be a priority for the Welsh Government;

2. Believes in the importance of delivering a balanced, integrated, export-led economic strategy that addresses Wales's underdevelopment and the need for a Welsh development bank to support a long-term commitment to investing in Wales's people, business and infrastructure; and

3. Supports a successful and sustainable future for foundation industries, in particular, the steel industry.

For	Abstain	Against	Total
36	0	11	47

The motion as amended was agreed.

 

NDM5938 Aled Roberts (North Wales)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Recognises that there is a housing crisis in Wales, noting in particular that:

a) Welsh Government housing targets fall far short of the recommendations of the Holmans report on house building and the number of affordable homes needed by 2031;

b) there are estimated to be over 90,000 households on social housing waiting lists;

c) many first-time buyers still struggle to get on the property ladder; and

d) more must be done to protect tenants from unfair practices and to improve the quality and safety of poor private rented sector homes.

2. Believes that greater ambition is needed to ensure that every person has a secure and affordable home which can be a key factor in boosting health, well-being and opportunity, and that this should include:

a) doubling the target on affordable homes to 20,000 over the next Assembly;

b) a rent-to-own scheme to help first time buyers to buy their own home without a deposit; and

c) action to improve the quality and safety of homes in the private rented sector and a Residential Property Tribunal to adjudicate on landlord and tenant disputes.

'Holmans Report – Future Need and Demand for Housing in Wales'

The following amendments have been tabled:

Amendment 1 - Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

Delete point 1a) and replace with:

Welsh Government housing targets fall far short of:

i) the recommendations of the Holmans report on house building and the number of affordable homes needed by 2031;

ii) the recommendations of the Bevan Foundation report,'The Shape of Wales to Come', and the number of affordable homes needed by 2028; and

iii) the views expressed by the Chartered Institute of Housing Cymru on investment in social housing.

Bevan Foundation Report – The Shape of Wales to Come

Amendment 2 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

In point 2:

Delete 'should' and replace with 'could'.

Amendment 3 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

Insert as new sub-points at end of point 2:

reforming tenancy law to introduce rent controls and to grant renters longer-term, more secure and higher quality tenancies;

bringing empty properties back into use;

developing publicly owned housing companies to respond to local need.

Amendment 4 - Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

Add as a new point at end of the motion:

Believes that Wales needs to implement a comprehensive housing reform programme to increase supply and therefore make housing more affordable.

The item started at 17.14

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

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM5938 Aled Roberts (North Wales)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Recognises that there is a housing crisis in Wales, noting in particular that:

a) Welsh Government housing targets fall far short of the recommendations of the Holmans report on house building and the number of affordable homes needed by 2031;

b) there are estimated to be over 90,000 households on social housing waiting lists;

c) many first-time buyers still struggle to get on the property ladder; and

d) more must be done to protect tenants from unfair practices and to improve the quality and safety of poor private rented sector homes.

2. Believes that greater ambition is needed to ensure that every person has a secure and affordable home which can be a key factor in boosting health, well-being and opportunity, and that this should include:

a) doubling the target on affordable homes to 20,000 over the next Assembly;

b) a rent-to-own scheme to help first time buyers to buy their own home without a deposit; and

c) action to improve the quality and safety of homes in the private rented sector and a Residential Property Tribunal to adjudicate on landlord and tenant disputes.

For	Abstain	Against	Total
4	0	44	48

The motion without amendment was not agreed.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 - Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

Delete point 1a) and replace with:

Welsh Government housing targets fall far short of:

i) the recommendations of the Holmans report on house building and the number of affordable homes needed by 2031;

ii) the recommendations of the Bevan Foundation report,'The Shape of Wales to Come', and the number of affordable homes needed by 2028; and

iii) the views expressed by the Chartered Institute of Housing Cymru on investment in social housing.

A vote was taken on Amendment 1:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
19	0	27	46

Amendment 1 was not agreed.

Amendment 2 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

In point 2:

Delete 'should' and replace with 'could'.

A vote was taken on Amendment 2:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
20	0	28	48

Amendment 2 was not agreed.

Amendment 3 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

Insert as new sub-points at end of point 2:

reforming tenancy law to introduce rent controls and to grant renters longer-term, more secure and higher quality tenancies;

bringing empty properties back into use;

developing publicly owned housing companies to respond to local need.

A vote was taken on Amendment 3:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
13	0	35	48

Amendment 3 was not agreed.

Amendment 4 - Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

Add as a new point at end of the motion:

Believes that Wales needs to implement a comprehensive housing reform programme to increase supply and therefore make housing more affordable.

A vote was taken on Amendment 4:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
24	0	25	49

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.

As the Assembly did not agree the motion without amendment, and did not agree the amendments tabled to the motion, the motion was therefore not agreed.

 

The item started at 18.04

 

NDM5936 Angela Burns (Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire)

A New Way for West Wales

The need for more support and investment in public services in west Wales.

The item started at 18.11

NDM5936 Angela Burns (Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire)

A New Way for West Wales

The need for more support and investment in public services in west Wales.