Agenda and minutes

Venue: Y Siambr - Y Senedd. View directions

Expected timing: 38(v3) 

Media

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Transcript: Transcript for 07/12/2016 - Plenary - Fifth Senedd

Items
Expected timing No. Item

Record of Proceedings

(45 mins)

1.

Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure

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 10 questions were asked. Question 9 was answered by the Minister for Skills and Science. The Presiding Officer invited party spokespeople to ask questions to the Cabinet Secretary and the Minister after Question 2.

(45 mins)

2.

Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Well-being and Sport

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

View Questions

Minutes:

The item started at 14.22

The first 10 questions were asked. Question 5 was withdrawn. The Presiding Officer invited party spokespeople to ask questions to the Cabinet Secretary and the Minister after Question 2.

Urgent Question 1

The item started at 15.09

Dai Lloyd (South Wales West): Will the Minister make a statement on devolving the Wales and Borders rail franchise, following comments yesterday by the Secretary of State for Transport suggesting that the UK Government will not devolve the franchise as a whole?

Urgent Question 2

The item started at 15.15

Simon Thomas (Mid and West Wales): Will the Minister make a statement on steps the Welsh Government is taking to protect birds in Wales from avian flu?

(5 mins)

3.

90 Second Statements

Minutes:

The item started at 15.22

David Melding made a statement to mark the centenary of David Lloyd George becoming Prime Minister.

Leanne Wood made a statement on Standing Rock.

Ann Jones made a statement on Team Tachyon, a group of four students from Denbigh High School who are world champions for the F1 challenge in schools.

(60 mins)

4.

Debate by Individual Members under Standing Order 11.21(iv)

NDM6144

Jenny Rathbone (Cardiff Central)
Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)
Vikki Howells (Cynon Valley)
Angela Burns (Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire)
Dai Lloyd (South Wales West)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

Notes that

a) levels of obesity across Wales continue to rise and obesity is more prevalent amongst poorer communities;

b) changing people's eating habits is complicated and involves a combination of good food availability, affordability and cookery skills;

c) the Active Travel (Wales) Act 2013 has yet to impact significantly on the amount of exercise people undertake;

d) declining rates of smoking have only been achieved through decades of education and tough government action, and took place against the tobacco industry's efforts to deny the science and block government action; and

e) a combination of education, legislation and public procurement is required to tackle a growing public health problem.

'Active Travel (Wales) Act 2013'

Minutes:

The item started at 15.27

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

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM6144

Jenny Rathbone (Cardiff Central)
Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)
Vikki Howells (Cynon Valley)
Angela Burns (Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire)
Dai Lloyd (South West Wales)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

Notes that

a) levels of obesity across Wales continue to rise and obesity is more prevalent amongst poorer communities;

b) changing people's eating habits is complicated and involves a combination of good food availability, affordability and cookery skills;

c) the Active Travel (Wales) Act 2013 has yet to impact significantly on the amount of exercise people undertake;

d) declining rates of smoking have only been achieved through decades of education and tough government action, and took place against the tobacco industry's efforts to deny the science and block government action; and

e) a combination of education, legislation and public procurement is required to tackle a growing public health problem.

For

Abstain

Against

Total

48

0

0

48

The motion without amendment was agreed.

(60 mins)

5.

Welsh Conservatives debate

NDM6182
 
Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire):

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Notes the UK Government's Autumn Statement;

2. Acknowledges the announcement that the Welsh Government will benefit from an additional £436 million by 2020-21 to its capital budgets from the Autumn Statement;

3. Notes that the UK Government will raise the National Living Wage to £7.50 to support jobs and earnings across the UK;

4. Further notes that the Personal Allowance and Higher Rate threshold will increase to £12,000 and £50,000 respectively by 2020-21, which will reduce the income tax bill for 1.4 million individuals in Wales in 2017-18.

'Autumn Statement 2016
'

The following amendments have been tabled:

Amendment 1. Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)
 
Delete point 2 and replace with, renumbering accordingly:

2. Notes the Autumn Statement includes additional capital allocations for the Welsh budget of £442m between 2016-17 and 2020-21.

3. Regrets the UK Government did not use the Autumn Statement to end its damaging policy of austerity.

4. Regrets the UK Government did not recognise the need for investment in the health service, social care and other essential public services in the Autumn Statement.

Amendment 2. Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn):

Add as new point at end of motion:

Regrets that the UK Government failed to commit to a timescale for the delivery of electrification of the Great Western railway between Cardiff and Swansea, and the electrification of the North Wales Main Line.

Amendment 3. Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn):

Add as new point at end of motion:

Regrets that the UK Government failed to commit to delivering the Swansea Bay tidal lagoon.

Amendment 4. Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn):

Add as new point at end of motion:

Regrets that the UK Government failed to designate HS2 as an England-only infrastructure project.

Amendment 5. Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn):

Add as new point at end of motion:

Regrets the failure of the UK Government to devolve air passenger duty.

Minutes:

The item started at 16.24

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

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM6182

Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire):

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Notes the UK Government's Autumn Statement;

2. Acknowledges the announcement that the Welsh Government will benefit from an additional £436 million by 2020-21 to its capital budgets from the Autumn Statement;

3. Notes that the UK Government will raise the National Living Wage to £7.50 to support jobs and earnings across the UK;

4. Further notes that the Personal Allowance and Higher Rate threshold will increase to £12,000 and £50,000 respectively by 2020-21, which will reduce the income tax bill for 1.4 million individuals in Wales in 2017-18.

For

Abstain

Against

Total

17

0

31

48

The motion without amendment was not agreed.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1. Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

Delete point 2 and replace with, renumbering accordingly:

2. Notes the Autumn Statement includes additional capital allocations for the Welsh budget of £442m between 2016-17 and 2020-21.

3. Regrets the UK Government did not use the Autumn Statement to end its damaging policy of austerity.

4. Regrets the UK Government did not recognise the need for investment in the health service, social care and other essential public services in the Autumn Statement.

A vote was taken on Amendment 1:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

31

0

17

48

Amendment 1 was agreed.

Amendment 2. Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn):

Add as new point at end of motion:

Regrets that the UK Government failed to commit to a timescale for the delivery of electrification of the Great Western railway between Cardiff and Swansea, and the electrification of the North Wales Main Line.

A vote was taken on Amendment 2:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

37

0

11

48

Amendment 2 was agreed.

Amendment 3. Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn):

Add as new point at end of motion:

Regrets that the UK Government failed to commit to delivering the Swansea Bay tidal lagoon.

A vote was taken on Amendment 3:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

37

0

11

48

Amendment 3 was agreed.

Amendment 4. Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn):

Add as new point at end of motion:

Regrets that the UK Government failed to designate HS2 as an England-only infrastructure project.

A vote was taken on Amendment 4:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

12

0

36

48

Amendment 4 was not agreed.

Amendment 5. Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn):

Add as new point at end of motion:

Regrets the failure of the UK Government to devolve air passenger duty.

A vote was taken on Amendment 5:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

48

0

0

48

Amendment 5 was agreed.

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

NDM6182

Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire):

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Notes the UK Government's Autumn Statement;

2. Notes the Autumn Statement includes additional capital allocations for the Welsh budget of £442m between 2016-17 and 2020-21.

3. Regrets the UK Government did not use the Autumn Statement to end its damaging policy of austerity.

4. Regrets the UK Government did not recognise the need for investment in the health service, social care and other essential public services in the Autumn Statement.

5. Notes that the UK Government will raise the National Living Wage to £7.50 to support jobs and earnings across the UK;

6. Further notes that the Personal Allowance and Higher Rate threshold will increase to £12,000 and £50,000 respectively by 2020-21, which will reduce the income tax bill for 1.4 million individuals in Wales in 2017-18.

7. Regrets that the UK Government failed to commit to a timescale for the delivery of electrification of the Great Western railway between Cardiff and Swansea, and the electrification of the North Wales Main Line.

8. Regrets that the UK Government failed to commit to delivering the Swansea Bay tidal lagoon.

9. Regrets the failure of the UK Government to devolve air passenger duty.

For

Abstain

Against

Total

31

0

17

48

The motion as amended was agreed.

(60 mins)

6.

United Kingdom Independence Party debate

NDM6181

Neil Hamilton (Mid and West Wales):
Gareth Bennett (South Wales Central):

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Notes proposals from the UK Government to abolish fees charged by letting agents to tenants in England.

2. Regrets that, on average, tenants are charged £233 in letting fees.

3. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

(a) take action to consider the impact of the abolition of these fees which has already taken place in Scotland;

(b) bring forward legislation in this Assembly to ban renters fees, ensuring that costs cannot be passed on to:

(i) tenants, by way of artificially higher rents; and

(ii) private landlords, noting that they form a valuable part of helping renters on to the property ladder

The following amendments have been tabled:

Amendment 1. Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn):
 
Add as new point 3 and renumber accordingly:

regrets that in the previous Assembly, the Welsh Government failed to take the opportunity to ban excessive letting agents fees.

Amendment 2. Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

In point 3, delete sub-points (a) and (b) and replace with:

(a) Consider how legislation on this subject might work in light of the evidence on the impact of abolition in Scotland and the responses to the consultation in England.

(b) Consult with other parties in the Assembly and stakeholders on the best way forward for Wales.

Amendment 3. Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn):

Add as new sub-point at end of point 3:

further consider ways of tackling excessive and unfair service charges, or unjustified rises in service charges, that are levied on to leaseholders.

Amendment 4. Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn):
 
Add as new point at end of motion:

Believes that, if the Welsh Government has produced legal advice suggesting a Bill on banning excessive agents fees would be outside of the legislative competency of the Assembly, this advice should be published.

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:

NDM6181

Neil Hamilton (Mid and West Wales):
Gareth Bennett (South Wales Central):

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Notes proposals from the UK Government to abolish fees charged by letting agents to tenants in England.

2. Regrets that, on average, tenants are charged £233 in letting fees.

3. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

(a) take action to consider the impact of the abolition of these fees which has already taken place in Scotland;

(b) bring forward legislation in this Assembly to ban renters fees, ensuring that costs cannot be passed on to:

(i) tenants, by way of artificially higher rents; and

(ii) private landlords, noting that they form a valuable part of helping renters on to the property ladder

For

Abstain

Against

Total

6

11

31

48

The motion without amendment was not agreed.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1. Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn):

Add as new point 3 and renumber accordingly:

regrets that in the previous Assembly, the Welsh Government failed to take the opportunity to ban excessive letting agents fees.

A vote was taken on Amendment 1:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

23

0

25

48

Amendment 1 was not agreed.

Amendment 2. Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

In point 3, delete sub-points (a) and (b) and replace with:

(a) Consider how legislation on this subject might work in light of the evidence on the impact of abolition in Scotland and the responses to the consultation in England.

(b) Consult with other parties in the Assembly and stakeholders on the best way forward for Wales.

A vote was taken on Amendment 2:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

36

6

6

48

Amendment 2 was agreed.

Amendment 3. Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn):

Add as new sub-point at end of point 3:

further consider ways of tackling excessive and unfair service charges, or unjustified rises in service charges, that are levied on to leaseholders.

A vote was taken on Amendment 3:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

48

0

0

48

Amendment 3 was agreed.

Amendment 4. Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn):

Add as new point at end of motion:

Believes that, if the Welsh Government has produced legal advice suggesting a Bill on banning excessive agents fees would be outside of the legislative competency of the Assembly, this advice should be published.

A vote was taken on Amendment 4:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

12

11

25

48

Amendment 4 was not agreed.

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

NDM6181

Neil Hamilton (Mid and West Wales):
Gareth Bennett (South Wales Central):

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Notes proposals from the UK Government to abolish fees charged by letting agents to tenants in England.

2. Regrets that, on average, tenants are charged £233 in letting fees.

3. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

(a) Consider how legislation on this subject might work in light of the evidence on the impact of abolition in Scotland and the responses to the consultation in England.

(b) Consult with other parties in the Assembly and stakeholders on the best way forward for Wales

(c) further consider ways of tackling excessive and unfair service charges, or unjustified rises in service charges, that are levied on to leaseholders.

For

Abstain

Against

Total

48

0

0

48

The motion as amended was agreed.

Urgent Question 3

The item started at 18.04

Adam Price (Carmarthen East and Dinefwr): Will the Welsh Government make a statement on the outcome of recent talks between Tata Steel and unions over the future of its Welsh and British operations?

7.

Voting time

Minutes:

The item started at 18.25

Votes Summary

Supporting documents:

(30 mins)

8.

Short Debate

NDM6183
 
John Griffiths (Newport East):
 
Newport – a city on the rise

To highlight the regeneration, growth, and future potential of Newport and its surrounding area.

Minutes:

The item started at 18.32

NDM6183

John Griffiths (Newport East):

Newport – a city on the rise

To highlight the regeneration, growth, and future potential of Newport and its surrounding area.