Agenda and minutes

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

View Questions

The item started at 13.30

The first 8 questions were asked. The Presiding Officer invited party spokespeople to ask questions to the Cabinet Secretary after Question 2.

View Questions

The item started at 14.14

The 3 questions were asked.

To the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Well-Being and Sport

Jeremy Miles (Neath): Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement about his decision to approve the use of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis in Wales as part of a study?

To the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Well-Being and Sport

Darren Millar (Clwyd West): Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement into the investigation being undertaken by Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board into reports that the quality of care for dementia patients on the Tawel Fan ward at Glan Clwyd Hospital may have contributed to at least seven deaths?

The item started at 14.26

There were no 90-second statements.

NDM6296 Lynne Neagle (Torfaen)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

Notes the Children, Young People and Education Committee Report on the Inquiry into the Education Improvement Grant: Gypsy, Roma and Traveller, and Minority Ethnic Children which was laid in the Table Office on 21 February 2017.

Supporting document:

Response by the Welsh Government (PDF, 401KB)

The item started at 14.47

NDM6296 Lynne Neagle (Torfaen)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

Notes the Children, Young People and Education Committee Report on the Inquiry into the Education Improvement Grant: Gypsy, Roma and Traveller, and Minority Ethnic Children which was laid in the Table Office on 21 February 2017.

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

NDM6295 Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Believes that quality local public services are key to the prosperity and wellbeing of our nation.

2. Regrets that since 2011-12, funding for local authorities in Wales has decreased by 6.5 per cent, disproportionately affecting some of the weakest and most vulnerable people in communities across Wales.

3. Recognises the important role played by local authorities in:

a) developing local economies in partnership with the business community;

b) ensuring that our streets are clean and safe;

c) delivering quality education; and

d) delivering social service care that look after the most vulnerable people in communities across Wales.

4. Notes that the average salary for Chief Executives running Plaid Cymru-led Councils is nearly £22,000 less than those run by Labour Councils in Wales.

5. Believes that local affordable housing development projects should be rooted in the needs of the community.

6. Notes the successful child development tracking model, used by Ceredigion Council - the only council judged by Estyn to have excellent performance in Wales in the last full cycle of inspections - to ensure children are reaching their potential, with assistance provided at an early stage to those who are falling behind.

7. Regrets that, since 2012, the percentage total of local government procurement spend in Wales has remained static at just 58 per cent.

8. Calls on the Welsh Government to scrap zero hours contracts in the social care sector.

The following amendments have been tabled:

Amendment 1. Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

Delete all after point 1

[If amendment 1 is agreed, amendments 2, 3, 4 and 5 will be de-selected]

Amendment 2. Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

Delete point 2 and replace with:

Regrets that since 2013-14, funding for local authorities in Wales has decreased by 6.78 per cent, disproportionately affecting our rural communities, including cuts of 9.98 per cent to Monmouthshire, 9.36 per cent to Vale of Glamorgan and 7.96 per cent to Conwy.

Amendment 3. Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

Delete point 4 and replace with:

Notes that the Chief Executive salary for Welsh Conservative-led Monmouthshire County Council is one of the lowest in Wales, and commends the transparency of the council in publishing all expenditure.

Amendment 4. Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

Delete point 6 and replace with:

Notes the right of every child and young person to be given the opportunity to realise their full potential, and highlights the importance of direct funding for schools in enabling parents to be able to choose the best school for their children.

Amendment 5. Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

Delete point 8 and replace with:

Notes the value of social care workers in relieving overburdened, centralised NHS services, and the importance of integration between the health and social care sectors in Wales.

The item started at 15.28

The Presiding Officer suspended proceedings at 16.17 due to microphone failure affecting the Siambr. The bell was rung 2 minutes before reconvening at 16.40.

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

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM6295 Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Believes that quality local public services are key to the prosperity and wellbeing of our nation.

2. Regrets that since 2011-12, funding for local authorities in Wales has decreased by 6.5 per cent, disproportionately affecting some of the weakest and most vulnerable people in communities across Wales.

3. Recognises the important role played by local authorities in:

a) developing local economies in partnership with the business community;

b) ensuring that our streets are clean and safe;

c) delivering quality education; and

d) delivering social service care that look after the most vulnerable people in communities across Wales.

4. Notes that the average salary for Chief Executives running Plaid Cymru-led Councils is nearly £22,000 less than those run by Labour Councils in Wales.

5. Believes that local affordable housing development projects should be rooted in the needs of the community.

6. Notes the successful child development tracking model, used by Ceredigion Council - the only council judged by Estyn to have excellent performance in Wales in the last full cycle of inspections - to ensure children are reaching their potential, with assistance provided at an early stage to those who are falling behind.

7. Regrets that, since 2012, the percentage total of local government procurement spend in Wales has remained static at just 58 per cent.

8. Calls on the Welsh Government to scrap zero hours contracts in the social care sector.

The motion without amendment was not agreed.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1. Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

Delete all after point 1

A vote was taken on amendment 1:

Amendment 1 was agreed.

As amendment 1 was agreed, amendments 2, 3, 4 and 5 were de-selected.

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

NDM6295 Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Believes that quality local public services are key to the prosperity and wellbeing of our nation.

The motion as amended was agreed.

NDM6297 David J Rowlands (South Wales East)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Directs the Welsh Government to review its energy generation policies and environmental impact policy.

2. Notes that there is an aim of achieving a zero-carbon economy in Wales.

3. Believes that:

a) communities should have the final say over whether to approve solar farms in their locality;

b) mature woodland should not be cut down to build solar farms; and

c) the method of reducing residential, public sector and business energy usage should be supported by:

i) encouraging the installation of triple glazing in residential and other properties; and

ii) encouraging the installation of fuel-efficient boilers.

The following amendments have been tabled:

Amendment 1. Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

Delete all and replace with:

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Notes the Welsh Government’s energy policy strategy Energy Wales.

2. Notes the legislative target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in Wales by at least 80 per cent by 2050.

3. Recognises the planning system provides opportunities to both protect Wales’ unique landscape and also promote opportunities for renewable energy generation.

Energy Wales

[If amendment 1 is agreed, amendments 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 will be de-selected]

Amendment 2. Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)

Insert at end of point 1:

‘with the aim of achieving a 40 per cent reduction in carbon emissions by 2020, an 80 per cent reduction in carbon emissions by 2050 and a zero-carbon economy.’

Amendment 3. Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)

Delete point 2.

Amendment 4. Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)

In sub-point 3(a) delete ‘the final’ and replace with ‘a’.

Amendment 5. Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)

Insert at end of sub-point 3(a):

‘through their democratic local and national decision-making structures based on the principles of the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015.’

‘Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015’

Amendment 6. Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)

Delete sub-point 3(b).

Amendment 7. Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)

Delete sub-point 3(c) and replace with:

‘the method of reducing residential, public sector and business energy usage should be supported by strengthened building regulations for new buildings to be nearly zero energy and through a large-scale retrofitting programme for existing residential homes.’

The item started at 16.54

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

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM6297 David J Rowlands (South Wales East)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Directs the Welsh Government to review its energy generation policies and environmental impact policy.

2. Notes that there is an aim of achieving a zero-carbon economy in Wales.

3. Believes that:

a) communities should have the final say over whether to approve solar farms in their locality;

b) mature woodland should not be cut down to build solar farms; and

c) the method of reducing residential, public sector and business energy usage should be supported by:

i) encouraging the installation of triple glazing in residential and other properties; and

ii) encouraging the installation of fuel-efficient boilers.

The motion without amendment was not agreed.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1. Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

Delete all and replace with:

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Notes the Welsh Government’s energy policy strategy Energy Wales.

2. Notes the legislative target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in Wales by at least 80 per cent by 2050.

3. Recognises the planning system provides opportunities to both protect Wales’ unique landscape and also promote opportunities for renewable energy generation.

A vote was taken on amendment 1:

Amendment 1 was agreed.

As amendment 1 was agreed, amendments 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 were de-selected.

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

NDM6297 David J Rowlands (South Wales East)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Notes the Welsh Government’s energy policy strategy Energy Wales.

2. Notes the legislative target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in Wales by at least 80 per cent by 2050.

3. Recognises the planning system provides opportunities to both protect Wales’ unique landscape and also promote opportunities for renewable energy generation.

The motion as amended was agreed.

The item started at 17.45

NDM6294 Hannah Blythyn (Delyn)

School of Politics - empowering the next generation of active citizens in Wales

The item started at 17.49

NDM6294 Hannah Blythyn (Delyn)

School of Politics - empowering the next generation of active citizens in Wales