Agenda and minutes

Venue: Y Siambr - Y Senedd. View directions

Expected timing: 198(v4) 

Media

Senedd.TV: View the webcast

Transcript: Transcript for 20/03/2019 - Plenary - Fifth Senedd

Items
Expected timing No. Item

(45 mins)

1.

Questions to the Minister for Economy and Transport

The Presiding Officer will call party spokespeople to ask questions without notice after Question 2.

View Questions

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The item started at 13.30

The first 10 questions were asked. Question 7 was withdrawn. Questions 5, 9 and 10 were answered by the Deputy Minister. The Presiding Officer invited party spokespeople to ask questions to the Minister after question 2.

 

(45 mins)

2.

Questions to the Counsel General and Brexit Minister (in respect of his Brexit Minister responsibilities)

The Presiding Officer will call party spokespeople to ask questions without notice after Question 2.

 

View Questions

Minutes:

The item started at 14.21

The first 9 questions were asked. The Presiding Officer invited party spokespeople to ask questions to the Minister after question 2.

 

(20 mins)

3.

Topical Questions

To ask the Minister for Economy and Transport

Joyce Watson (Mid and West Wales): Will the Minister make a statement on the impact of the collapse of construction company Dawnus, which has gone into administration?

 

To ask the Deputy Minister for Economy and Transport

Suzy Davies (South Wales West): Will the Minister provide an update on the Swansea Bay City Deal following the publication of the Swansea Bay City Deal independent review?

 

Minutes:

The item started at 15.10

 

To ask the Minister for Economy and Transport

Joyce Watson (Mid and West Wales): Will the Minister make a statement on the impact of the collapse of construction company Dawnus, which has gone into administration

 

To ask the Minister for Economy and Transport

Suzy Davies (South Wales West): Will the Minister provide an update on the Swansea Bay City Deal following the publication of the Swansea Bay City Deal independent review?

 

(5 mins)

4.

90 Second Statements

Minutes:

The item started at 15.44

Vikki Howells made a statement on – 35th anniversary of the start of the 1984-85 Miner’s Strike.

 

Motion to elect a Member to a committee (5 mins)

NDM7017 Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales, in accordance with Standing Orders 17.3 and 17.13(ii), elects Janet Finch-Saunders (Welsh Conservatives) as a Member of the Committee for the Scrutiny of the First Minister in place of David Rowlands (United Kingdom Independence Party).

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

 

(15 mins)

5.

Debate: Stage 4 of the Public Services Ombudsman (Wales) Bill

NDM7003 – Llyr Gruffydd (North Wales)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales in accordance with Standing Order 26.47:

Approves the Public Services Ombudsman (Wales) Bill.

'Public Services Ombudsman (Wales) Bill'

Supporting Document
Presiding Officer’s Statement

Minutes:

The item started at 15.46

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

NDM7003 – Llyr Gruffydd (North Wales)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales in accordance with Standing Order 26.47:

Approves the Public Services Ombudsman (Wales) Bill. The result was as follows:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

46

3

1

50

The motion was agreed.

 

(60 mins)

6.

Debate on the Economy, Infrastructure and Skills Committee report: Mobile Action Plan Update

NDM6998 Russell George (Montgomeryshire)

The National Assembly for Wales:

Notes the report of the Economy, Infrastructure and Skills Committee on its Inquiry: Mobile Action Plan Update, which was laid in the Table Office on 24 January 2019

Note: The response by the Welsh Government was laid on 13 March 2019.

 

Minutes:

The item started at 16.01

NDM6998 Russell George (Montgomeryshire)

The National Assembly for Wales:

Notes the report of the Economy, Infrastructure and Skills Committee on its Inquiry: Mobile Action Plan Update, which was laid in the Table Office on 24 January 2019

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

 

(60 mins)

7.

Debate on the Children, Young People and Education Committee report: Degrees of Separation? The Impact of Brexit on Higher and Further Education

NDM6996 Lynne Neagle (Torfaen)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

Notes the Children, Young People and Education Committee Report - Degrees of Separation? The Impact of Brexit on Higher and Further Education, which was laid in the Table Office on 4 December 2018.

Note: The response by the Welsh Government was laid on 1 February 2019.

 

Minutes:

The item started at 16.39

NDM6996 Lynne Neagle (Torfaen)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

Notes the Children, Young People and Education Committee Report - Degrees of Separation? The Impact of Brexit on Higher and Further Education, which was laid in the Table Office on 4 December 2018.

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

 

(30 mins)

8.

Plaid Cymru debate - The Kurds in Turkey

NDM6999 Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Notes that, whilst foreign affairs is a matter currently reserved to the UK Government and Parliament, Section 62 of the Government of Wales Act 2006 provides that “The Welsh Ministers, the First Minister and the Counsel General may make appropriate representations about any matter affecting Wales”.

2. Recognises the substantial Kurdish community in Wales.

3. Notes that a resident of Wales - İmam Sis, a young Kurdish man - is on an indefinite, non-alternating hunger strike as of 17 December 2018, which was initiated to protest the isolation of the Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan who has been imprisoned by Turkey since 1999 under conditions which are understood to contravene the Turkish state’s legal obligations in relation to human rights.

4. Notes that hunger strikes are taking place across Europe and the world, including by Leyla Güven, an elected member of the Turkish Parliament.

5. Notes that Turkey is a signatory to several international human rights treaties, including the European Convention of Human Rights as a member of the Council of Europe.

6. Expresses its concern at the reasons behind the hunger strikes.

7. Recognises that the ultimate aim of the hunger strikes is to see a peaceful, political solution to the Kurdish question in Turkey.

8. Affirms the importance that human rights obligations are upheld in Turkey.

9. Calls on the Welsh Government, on behalf of the National Assembly for Wales, to write to the Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment calling for the committee to visit Imrali Prison to assess the conditions of Abdullah Öcalan.

Government of Wales Act 2006

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 - Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

In point 3, after ‘isolation of the Kurdish’, insert ‘PKK (Kurdistan Workers’ Party)’.

Amendment 2 - Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

Insert new points after point 3 and renumber accordingly:

Notes that the PKK is a proscribed terrorist organisation in the UK, the European Union, and the United States of America.

Condemns all terrorist acts perpetrated by the PKK and acknowledges the victims and civilians killed and caught up in their attacks.

Acknowledges the right of Turkey to defend itself against terrorist attacks by the PKK.

Amendment 3 - Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

Delete point 7 and replace with:

Recognises that the aim of the hunger strikers is to enable Abdullah Öcalan access to legal representation and contact with his family.

Amendment 4 - Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

Insert new point after point 8 and renumber accordingly:

Notes that the UK Government’s Foreign Secretary and Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Turkey have emphasised to the Turkish government the need to respect human rights, avoid civilian casualties and return to the peace process.

Amendment 5 - Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Calls upon the PKK to abandon terrorism as a means to furthering its aims and return to the peace process.

 

Minutes:

The item started at 17.20

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

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM6999 Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Notes that, whilst foreign affairs is a matter currently reserved to the UK Government and Parliament, Section 62 of the Government of Wales Act 2006 provides that “The Welsh Ministers, the First Minister and the Counsel General may make appropriate representations about any matter affecting Wales”.

2. Recognises the substantial Kurdish community in Wales.

3. Notes that a resident of Wales - İmam Sis, a young Kurdish man - is on an indefinite, non-alternating hunger strike as of 17 December 2018, which was initiated to protest the isolation of the Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan who has been imprisoned by Turkey since 1999 under conditions which are understood to contravene the Turkish state’s legal obligations in relation to human rights.

4. Notes that hunger strikes are taking place across Europe and the world, including by Leyla Güven, an elected member of the Turkish Parliament.

5. Notes that Turkey is a signatory to several international human rights treaties, including the European Convention of Human Rights as a member of the Council of Europe.

6. Expresses its concern at the reasons behind the hunger strikes.

7. Recognises that the ultimate aim of the hunger strikes is to see a peaceful, political solution to the Kurdish question in Turkey.

8. Affirms the importance that human rights obligations are upheld in Turkey.

9. Calls on the Welsh Government, on behalf of the National Assembly for Wales, to write to the Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment calling for the committee to visit Imrali Prison to assess the conditions of Abdullah Öcalan.

For

Abstain

Against

Total

25

14

11

50

The motion without amendment was agreed.

 

(30 mins)

9.

Plaid Cymru debate - Women against state pension inequality campaign

NDM7000 Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Recognises the continuing women against state pension inequality campaign.

2. Calls on the UK Government to make fair transitional state pension arrangements for all women born on or after 6 April 1951, who have unfairly borne the burden of the increase to the state pension age (SPA) with lack of appropriate notification.

3. Calls on the Welsh Government to make representations to the UK Government in support of the WASPI campaign.

4. Calls on the Counsel General to consider what action the Welsh Government could take in relation to the expected litigation against the Department for Work and Pensions for the alleged mishandling of raising the state pension age for women born in the 1950s.

Supporter
David Rowlands (South Wales East)

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 - Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

Delete points 2 and 4 and renumber accordingly.

Amendment 2 - Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Notes that successive UK Governments have communicated with affected women since the changes to women’s pension ages since the Pensions Act 1995 and Pensions Act 2007 and that a public consultation exercise and extensive debates were undertaken in Parliament in relation to additional increases to the state pension age in 2011.

'Pensions Act 1995'

'Pensions Act 2007'

 

Minutes:

The item started at 17.56

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

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM7000 Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Recognises the continuing women against state pension inequality campaign.

2. Calls on the UK Government to make fair transitional state pension arrangements for all women born on or after 6 April 1951, who have unfairly borne the burden of the increase to the state pension age (SPA) with lack of appropriate notification.

3. Calls on the Welsh Government to make representations to the UK Government in support of the WASPI campaign.

4. Calls on the Counsel General to consider what action the Welsh Government could take in relation to the expected litigation against the Department for Work and Pensions for the alleged mishandling of raising the state pension age for women born in the 1950s.

For

Abstain

Against

Total

41

0

8

49

The motion without amendment was agreed.

 

10.

Voting Time

Minutes:

The item started at 18.36

 

Votes Summary

Supporting documents:

(30 mins)

11.

Short Debate

NDM6997 Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

Fighting for Future Services – the case for protecting services at Withybush hospital.

 

Minutes:

The item started at 18.38

NDM6997 Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

Fighting for Future Services – the case for protecting services at Withybush hospital.