Agenda and minutes

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Expected timing: 98(v3) 

Media

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Transcript: Transcript for 25/10/2017 - Plenary - Fifth Senedd

Items
Expected timing No. Item

Record of Proceedings

(45 mins)

1.

Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government

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

View Questions

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The item started at 13.30

The first 6 questions were asked. The Presiding Officer invited party spokespeople to ask questions to the Cabinet Secretary after question 2.

(15 mins)

2.

Questions to the Assembly Commission

Minutes:

The item started at 14.22

The 3 questions were asked.

(20 mins)

3.

Topical Questions

To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Children:

Mark Isherwood (North Wales): Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the Targeted Regeneration Investment Programme, following its launch on 20 October 2017?

To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Education (to be answered by the Minister for Lifelong Learning and Welsh Language):

Darren Millar (Clwyd West): Will the Cabinet Secretary respond to data which shows that Welsh students accounted for just 2 per cent of last year’s Oxbridge intake?

Minutes:

The item started at 14.33

To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Children:

Mark Isherwood (North Wales): Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the Targeted Regeneration Investment Programme, following its launch on 20 October 2017?

To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Education (answered by the Minister for Lifelong Learning and Welsh Language):

Darren Millar (Clwyd West): Will the Cabinet Secretary respond to data which shows that Welsh students accounted for just 2 per cent of last year’s Oxbridge intake?

(5 mins)

4.

90 Second Statements

Minutes:

The item started at 14.44

Darren Millar made a statement on the 500th anniversary of the Reformation.

Dawn Bowden made a statement on the rededication of a plaque in Merthyr Tydfil to commemorate International Brigade volunteers from the area who fought in the Spanish Civil War.

Jenny Rathbone made a statement on the simultaneous Vegetable Summits held in Cardiff, London and Edinburgh on 24 October.

(30 mins)

5.

Debate on a Member's Legislative Proposal

NDM6350 Simon Thomas (Mid and West Wales)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Notes a proposal for a Bill to alter the planning process so there would be a presumption against hydraulic fracturing (fracking).

2. Notes that the purpose of this Bill would be to protect the landscape of Wales and public health.

In accordance with Standing Order 12.23 (iii), the amendment tabled to this motion has not been selected.

Minutes:

The item started at 14.49

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

NDM6350 Simon Thomas (Mid and West Wales)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Notes a proposal for a Bill to alter the planning process so there would be a presumption against hydraulic fracturing (fracking).

2. Notes that the purpose of this Bill would be to protect the landscape of Wales and public health.

The result was as follows:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

46

6

0

52

The motion was agreed.

In accordance with Standing Order 12.23(iii), the amendment tabled to this motion was not selected.

 

(60 mins)

6.

Debate on the Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee's report: Communities First – Lessons learnt

NDM6547 John Griffiths (Newport East)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

Notes the report of the Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee on the inquiry into poverty in Wales, 'Communities First – Lessons Learnt', which was laid in the Table Office on 18 October 2017.

Note: The response of the Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Children to the report was laid in the Table Office on 18 October 2017.

Minutes:

The item started at 15.19

NDM6547 John Griffiths (Newport East)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

Notes the report of the Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee on the inquiry into poverty in Wales, 'Communities First – Lessons Learnt', which was laid in the Table Office on 18 October 2017.

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

(60 mins)

7.

Welsh Conservatives debate

NDM6546 Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

Does not believe that a tourism tax should be implemented in Wales.

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 that:

a) the Wales Act 2014 includes powers for Wales to propose new taxes in areas of devolved responsibility;

b) the Welsh Government's intention to test the Wales Act machinery for proposing and introducing new taxes in areas of devolved responsibility;

c) following feedback from the public a potential tourism tax has been identified as a proposal for consideration; and

d) no decision has been made to introduce a new tax in Wales.

'Wales Act 2014'

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

Amendment 2. Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)

Delete all and replace with:

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

Believes that a disposable plastics tax should be implemented in Wales.

Minutes:

The item started at 16.19

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

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM6546 Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

Does not believe that a tourism tax should be implemented in Wales.

For

Abstain

Against

Total

17

0

36

53

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 that:

a) the Wales Act 2014 includes powers for Wales to propose new taxes in areas of devolved responsibility;

b) the Welsh Government's intention to test the Wales Act machinery for proposing and introducing new taxes in areas of devolved responsibility;

c) following feedback from the public a potential tourism tax has been identified as a proposal for consideration; and

d) no decision has been made to introduce a new tax in Wales.

A vote was taken on amendment 1:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

27

0

26

53

Amendment 1 was agreed.

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

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

NDM6546 Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Notes that:

a) the Wales Act 2014 includes powers for Wales to propose new taxes in areas of devolved responsibility;

b) the Welsh Government's intention to test the Wales Act machinery for proposing and introducing new taxes in areas of devolved responsibility;

c) following feedback from the public a potential tourism tax has been identified as a proposal for consideration; and

d) no decision has been made to introduce a new tax in Wales.

For

Abstain

Against

Total

27

9

17

53

The motion as amended was agreed.

 

(60 mins)

8.

Plaid Cymru debate

NDM6549 Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Expresses concern about the roll out of universal credit.

2. Believes that administrative control over welfare should be devolved so that the Welsh Government can alter the frequency of payments, end the culture of sanctions, and ensure payments to individuals not households.

The following amendments have been tabled:

Amendment 1. Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

Delete all and replace with:

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Acknowledges concern about the roll-out of universal credit.

2. Welcomes the principles behind universal credit, which are to give people a helping hand into work, and notes that when the Centre for Social Justice envisaged universal credit it found that most people claiming benefits wanted to work but were held back by a system that did not incentivise employment.

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

Amendment 2. Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

Delete point 2 and insert new points:

Notes the devastating impact on vulnerable families of anxiety, debt, homelessness and mental ill-health caused by the roll-out of universal credit which is putting significant pressure on devolved public services.

Believes that it is an important founding principle of the welfare state that risks should be shared equitably across society and that control over welfare costs, payments and administration should therefore be undertaken at a UK level.

Calls on the UK Government to reverse its damaging cuts to welfare, to pause the universal credit roll-out and address the fundamental concerns being raised.

Minutes:

The item started at 17.28

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

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM6549 Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Expresses concern about the roll out of universal credit.

2. Believes that administrative control over welfare should be devolved so that the Welsh Government can alter the frequency of payments, end the culture of sanctions, and ensure payments to individuals not households.

For

Abstain

Against

Total

9

0

44

53

The motion without amendment was not agreed.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1. Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

Delete all and replace with:

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Acknowledges concern about the roll-out of universal credit.

2. Welcomes the principles behind universal credit, which are to give people a helping hand into work, and notes that when the Centre for Social Justice envisaged universal credit it found that most people claiming benefits wanted to work but were held back by a system that did not incentivise employment.

A vote was taken on amendment 1:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

17

0

36

53

Amendment 1 was not agreed.

Amendment 2. Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

Delete point 2 and insert new points:

Notes the devastating impact on vulnerable families of anxiety, debt, homelessness and mental ill-health caused by the roll-out of universal credit which is putting significant pressure on devolved public services.

Believes that it is an important founding principle of the welfare state that risks should be shared equitably across society and that control over welfare costs, payments and administration should therefore be undertaken at a UK level.

Calls on the UK Government to reverse its damaging cuts to welfare, to pause the universal credit roll-out and address the fundamental concerns being raised.

A vote was taken on amendment 2:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

32

0

21

53

Amendment 2 was agreed.

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

NDM6549 Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Expresses concern about the roll out of universal credit.

2. Notes the devastating impact on vulnerable families of anxiety, debt, homelessness and mental ill-health caused by the roll-out of universal credit which is putting significant pressure on devolved public services.

3. Believes that it is an important founding principle of the welfare state that risks should be shared equitably across society and that control over welfare costs, payments and administration should therefore be undertaken at a UK level.

4. Calls on the UK Government to reverse its damaging cuts to welfare, to pause the universal credit roll-out and address the fundamental concerns being raised.

For

Abstain

Against

Total

32

0

21

53

The motion as amended was agreed.

 

9.

Voting Time

Minutes:

The item started at 18.25

 

(30 mins)

10.

Short Debate

NDM6548 Russell George (Montgomeryshire)

Delivering primary care in Llanidloes: An innovative approach to alleviate pressure on GPs

Minutes:

The item started at 18.30

NDM6548 Russell George (Montgomeryshire)

Delivering primary care in Llanidloes: An innovative approach to alleviate pressure on GPs.

 

Votes Summary

Supporting documents: