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

 

All 15 questions were asked.  Question 10 was withdrawn. The Presiding Officer invited party leaders to ask questions to the First Minister after Question 2.

View Business Statement and Announcement

The item started at 14.24

 

The item started at 14.41

 

Supporting document

Report on the Effectiveness Review of the Sustainable Development Scheme

The item started at 15.23

 

Supporting documents
UK Climate Change Risk Assessment
Climate Change Risk Assessment for Wales
Climate Change Risk Assessment for Wales Summary Document

The item started at 15.56

 

NDM4854 Carwyn Jones (Bridgend)

That the National Assembly for Wales, in accordance with Standing Order 29.6, agrees that, in addition to the provisions referred to in motion NDM4680, those further provisions which have been brought forward in the Protection of Freedoms Bill relating to freedom of information and data protection, in so far as they fall within the legislative competence of the National Assembly for Wales, should be considered by the UK Parliament.

A Legislative Consent Memorandum has been laid in Table Office on 10 November 2011 in accordance with Standing Order 29.2(iii)

Supporting Documents
A copy of the Protection of Freedoms Bill can be found at: http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2010-11/protectionoffreedoms/documents.html

Legislative Consent Memorandum

Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee report on the Protection of Freedoms Bill (Legislative Consent Memorandum

The item started at 16.23

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

NDM4901 Carl Sargeant (Alyn and Deeside)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

Agrees that the Secretary of State should make The Local Better Regulation Office (Dissolution and Transfer of Functions, Etc.) Order 2012, in accordance with the draft laid in Table Office on 24 January 2012.

The Explanatory Memorandum and a consent memorandum were laid in Table Office on 24 January 2012.

Supporting Documents
The Local Better Regulation Office (Dissolution and Transfer of Functions, Etc.) Order 2012
Explanatory Memorandum
Consent Memorandum
Report of the Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee on the "The Local Better Regulation Office (Dissolution and Transfer of Functions, Etc.) Order 2012" on Tuesday, 24 January 2012

 

The item started at 16.26

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

NDM4902 Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

Notes the prioritised National Transport Plan, which has rescheduled delivery of the National Transport Plan published in 2010 to focus on making the transport system work better to help tackle poverty, increase well-being and assist economic growth.

Supporting Document
The Prioritised National Transport Plan and National Transport Plan are available on the following link:
http://wales.gov.uk/topics/transport/publications/ntp/?lang=en

 

The following amendments have been tabled:

Amendment 1 - William Graham (South Wales East)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Regrets that the National Transport Plan has no clear vision for connecting Wales or reducing the growing problem of congestion on the M4 corridor.

Amendment 2 - William Graham (South Wales East)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Calls on the Welsh Government to renew its National Transport Plan, coordinating with the UK Government, to take full advantage of the funding available through the Trans European Transport network.

Amendment 3 - Jocelyn Davies (South Wales East)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Welcomes the retention of the strategic north-south links, planned by the One Wales Government, in the re-profiled National Transport Plan.

Amendment 4 - Jocelyn Davies (South Wales East)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Notes the effect of severe cuts in Welsh capital spending on transport projects and the need for additional sources of capital to be identified by the Welsh Government for this purpose.

Amendment 5 - Peter Black (South Wales West):

Add as new point at end of motion:

Opposes the intention in the National Transport Plan to ‘increase the capacity of the intra-Wales air service’ beyond 2015 and calls on the Welsh Government to develop a broader aviation strategy for Wales.

Amendment 6 - Peter Black (South Wales West):

Add as new point at end of motion:

Recognises the valuable contribution of community transport service providers and calls on the Welsh Government to outline funding arrangements post-March 2012 as a matter of urgency.

 

The item started at 16.29

NDM4902 Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

Notes the prioritised National Transport Plan, which has rescheduled delivery of the National Transport Plan published in 2010 to focus on making the transport system work better to help tackle poverty, increase well-being and assist economic growth.

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

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 - William Graham (South Wales East)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Regrets that the National Transport Plan has no clear vision for connecting Wales or reducing the growing problem of congestion on the M4 corridor.

A vote was taken on Amendment 1:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
18	0	32	50

Amendment 1 was not agreed.

Amendment 2 - William Graham (South Wales East)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Calls on the Welsh Government to renew its National Transport Plan, coordinating with the UK Government, to take full advantage of the funding available through the Trans European Transport network.

A vote was taken on Amendment 2:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
18	0	32	50

Amendment 2 was not agreed.

Amendment 3 - Jocelyn Davies (South Wales East)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Welcomes the retention of the strategic north-south links, planned by the One Wales Government, in the re-profiled National Transport Plan.

A vote was taken on Amendment 3:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
32	13	5	50

Amendment 3 was agreed.

Amendment 4 - Jocelyn Davies (South Wales East)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Notes the effect of severe cuts in Welsh capital spending on transport projects and the need for additional sources of capital to be identified by the Welsh Government for this purpose.

A vote was taken on Amendment 4:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
36	0	14	50

Amendment 4 was agreed.

Amendment 5 - Peter Black (South Wales West):

Add as new point at end of motion:

Opposes the intention in the National Transport Plan to ‘increase the capacity of the intra-Wales air service’ beyond 2015 and calls on the Welsh Government to develop a broader aviation strategy for Wales.

A vote was taken on Amendment 5:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
18	0	32	50

Amendment 5 was agreed.

Amendment 6 - Peter Black (South Wales West):

Add as new point at end of motion:

Recognises the valuable contribution of community transport service providers and calls on the Welsh Government to outline funding arrangements post-March 2012 as a matter of urgency.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 6:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
48	0	2	50

Amendment 6 was agreed.

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

NDM4902 Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

Notes the prioritised National Transport Plan, which has rescheduled delivery of the National Transport Plan published in 2010 to focus on making the transport system work better to help tackle poverty, increase well-being and assist economic growth.

Welcomes the retention of the strategic north-south links, planned by the One Wales Government, in the re-profiled National Transport Plan.

Notes the effect of severe cuts in Welsh capital spending on transport projects and the need for additional sources of capital to be identified by the Welsh Government for this purpose.

Recognises the valuable contribution of community transport service providers and calls on the Welsh Government to outline funding arrangements post-March 2012 as a matter of urgency.

For	Abstain	Against	Total
50	0	0	50

The motion as amended was agreed.

 

 

NDM4903 Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

Welcomes the Micro-Business Task and Finish Group Report and the commitment of the Minister for Business, Enterprise, Technology and Science to draw up a plan for the implementation of a Micro-Business policy and strategy.

Supporting Document
The Micro-Business Task and Finish Group Report is available on the following link:
http://wales.gov.uk/topics/businessandeconomy/publications/120118microbusinessrpt/?lang=en

The following amendments have been tabled:

Amendment 1- Jocelyn Davies (South Wales East)

Insert as new point 1 at start of motion:

Notes that 331,400 people work for 193,010 microbusinesses in Wales and regrets the Welsh Government's decision not to include extra help for micro-businesses in its budget.

Amendment 2 - Jocelyn Davies (South Wales East)

Insert at end of motion:

‘which includes measures to alleviate the burden of business rates’.

Amendment 3 - William Graham (South Wales East)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Notes the report "Buying Smarter in Tougher Times" specifies the Welsh Governments’ estimate that it costs £20m for businesses to pre-qualify to bid for public procurement contracts, making it prohibitive for micro-businesses to compete.

Buying Smarter in Tougher Times can be accessed on the following hyperlink:

http://wales.gov.uk/docs/det/policy/110302agenda5en.pdf

Amendment 4 - William Graham (South Wales East)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Notes the recommendation of the report that the Welsh Government should “create a single well recognised brand for access to business support”.

Amendment 5 - Peter Black (South Wales West)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Welcomes the report’s recommendation to reduce the regulatory burden on micro-businesses and calls on the Welsh Government to:

a) introduce a ‘one in, one out’ policy for regulations affecting micro-business; and

b) introduce a sunset clause for all new regulations affecting micro-businesses in order to assess their effectiveness.

Amendment 6 - Peter Black (South Wales West)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Calls on the Welsh Government to ensure that its Micro-Business Strategy includes provision to tackle broadband ‘not-spots’ as a matter of priority in order to ensure that all micro-businesses have reliable access to the internet.

 

 

The item started at 17.24

NDM4903 Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

Welcomes the Micro-Business Task and Finish Group Report and the commitment of the Minister for Business, Enterprise, Technology and Science to draw up a plan for the implementation of a Micro-Business policy and strategy.

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

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1- Jocelyn Davies (South Wales East)

Insert as new point 1 at start of motion:

Notes that 331,400 people work for 193,010 microbusinesses in Wales and regrets the Welsh Government's decision not to include extra help for micro-businesses in its budget.

A vote was taken on Amendment 1:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
20	0	31	50

Amendment 1 was not agreed.

Amendment 2 - Jocelyn Davies (South Wales East)

Insert at end of motion:

‘which includes measures to alleviate the burden of business rates’.

A vote was taken on Amendment 2:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
25	0	26	51

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 3 - William Graham (South Wales East)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Notes the report "Buying Smarter in Tougher Times" specifies the Welsh Governments’ estimate that it costs £20m for businesses to pre-qualify to bid for public procurement contracts, making it prohibitive for micro-businesses to compete.

A vote was taken on Amendment 3:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
19	0	31	50

Amendment 3 was not agreed.

Amendment 4 - William Graham (South Wales East)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Notes the recommendation of the report that the Welsh Government should “create a single well recognised brand for access to business support”.

A vote was taken on Amendment 4:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
50	0	0	50

Amendment 4 was agreed.

Amendment 5 - Peter Black (South Wales West)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Welcomes the report’s recommendation to reduce the regulatory burden on micro-businesses and calls on the Welsh Government to:

a) introduce a ‘one in, one out’ policy for regulations affecting micro-business; and

b) introduce a sunset clause for all new regulations affecting micro-businesses in order to assess their effectiveness.

A vote was taken on Amendment 5:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
18	7	25	50

Amendment 5 was not agreed.

Amendment 6 - Peter Black (South Wales West)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Calls on the Welsh Government to ensure that its Micro-Business Strategy includes provision to tackle broadband ‘not-spots’ as a matter of priority in order to ensure that all micro-businesses have reliable access to the internet.

A vote was taken on Amendment 6:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
50	0	0	50

Amendment 6 was agreed.

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

NDM4903 Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

Welcomes the Micro-Business Task and Finish Group Report and the commitment of the Minister for Business, Enterprise, Technology and Science to draw up a plan for the implementation of a Micro-Business policy and strategy.

Notes the recommendation of the report that the Welsh Government should “create a single well recognised brand for access to business support.

Calls on the Welsh Government to ensure that its Micro-Business Strategy includes provision to tackle broadband ‘not-spots’ as a matter of priority in order to ensure that all micro-businesses have reliable access to the internet.

For	Abstain	Against	Total
49	0	0	49

The motion as amended was agreed.