Agenda and minutes

Venue: Y Siambr - Y Senedd. View directions

Expected timing: 210(v5) 

Media

Senedd.TV: View the webcast

Transcript: Transcript for 22/05/2019 - Plenary - Fifth Senedd

Items
Expected timing No. Item

(45 mins)

1.

Questions to the Minister for Finance and Trefnydd

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

Questions 1-6 and 8-9 were asked. Question 7 was withdrawn. The Presiding Officer invited party spokespeople to ask questions to the Minister after question 2.

 

(45 mins)

2.

Questions to the Minister for International Relations and Welsh Language

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

 

View Questions

Minutes:

The item started at 14.15

The first 7 questions were asked. Question 2-4 were answered by the Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism. The Presiding Officer invited party spokespeople to ask questions to the Minister after question 2.

 

(30 mins)

3.

Questions to the Assembly Commission

Minutes:

The item started at 15.05

All 4 questions were asked.

 

(20 mins)

4.

Topical Questions

To ask the Deputy Minister and Chief Whip

Leanne Wood (Rhondda): Will the Welsh Government make a statement on the impact that the UK Government's rejection of the definition of Islamophobia has had on community cohesion?

Minutes:

The item started at 15.25

Answered by the Deputy Minister and Chief Whip

Leanne Wood (Rhondda): Will the Welsh Government make a statement on the impact that the UK Government's rejection of the definition of Islamophobia has had on community cohesion?

 

(5 mins)

5.

90 Second Statements

Minutes:

The item started at 15.39

Jayne Bryant made a statement on - Dementia Action Week.

Leanne Wood made a statement on - The headteacher of Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhondda being awarded Headteacher of the Year.

 

Rhun ap Iorweth made a statement on – Asia to Anglesey by Bike.

 

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

The item started at 15.44

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

NDM7056 Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales, in accordance with Standing Order 17.13(ii), elects Caroline Jones (Brexit Party) as a Member of the Business Committee.

The result was as follows:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

13

1

6

20

As 2/3rds of the Members voting did not support the Motion, the Motion was not agreed.

 

6.

Statement by the Chair of the Public Accounts Committee: Scrutiny of Accounts 2017-18 - WITHDRAWN

Minutes:

The item was withdrawn

 

(60 mins)

7.

Debate on the Petitions Committee report: Petition P-05-784 Prescription drug dependence and withdrawal - recognition and support

NDM7053 Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

Notes the report of the Petitions Committee on Petition P-05-784 Prescription drug dependence and withdrawal - recognition and support, which was laid in the Table Office on 21 March 2019.

Note: The Welsh Government's response to the report was laid in the Table Office on 15 May 2019.

 

Minutes:

The item started at 15.45

NDM7053 Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

Notes the report of the Petitions Committee on Petition P-05-784 Prescription drug dependence and withdrawal - recognition and support, which was laid in the Table Office on 21 March 2019

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

 

(60 mins)

8.

Welsh Conservatives debate - The Economy

NDM7055 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Notes the Welsh Government’s failure to realise Wales’s economic potential over the past 20 years.

2. Does not believe that the Welsh Government’s Prosperity for All: Economic Action Plan is sufficiently ambitious to deliver significant improvement in the Welsh economy.

3. Calls on the Welsh Government to take further action to improve the economy, including:

a) simplifying and improving access to business support;

b) ensuring policy is aligned with an effective industrial strategy;

c) reforming public procurement to support SMEs;

d) upskilling and re-skilling the workforce to take advantage of new opportunities; and

e) improving infrastructure.

Prosperity for All: Economic Action Plan

The following amendments have been tabled:

Amendment 1 - Rebecca Evans (Gower

Delete all and replace with:

1. Notes the actions taken by the Welsh Government to support the economy of Wales over the last twenty years which have helped lead to:

a) 300,000 more people in work in Wales since 1999;

b) economic inactivity rates now broadly comparable with the UK average for the first time in history;

c) the proportion of working-age people with no qualifications more than halving since 1999;

d) the proportion of working age people with higher education qualifications increasing from around one-in-five people to more than one-in-three since devolution;

e) the numbers of active enterprises in Wales the highest on record.

2. Notes the Welsh Government’s plans to drive inclusive growth through the Economic Action Plan including the new Economic Contract, major infrastructure investment such as the new £5bn rail franchise and metro as well as the new £1bn Development Bank of Wales.

3. Recognises many of the economic concerns expressed in the EU referendum and the Welsh Government’s focus since publication of the Economic Action Plan in 2017 on nurturing the foundational economy as a driver for inclusive growth.

4. Recognises the fundamental importance of fair work to Wales’s future and the Welsh Government’s commitment to work in social partnership to make Wales a fair work nation.

5. Regrets the lack of UK Government investment in Wales over the last decade as well as cancelled rail electrification, rejection of tidal lagoon plans and failure to secure Wylfa project investment.

Amendment 2 - Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Calls on the Welsh Government to:

a) convene a national economic summit to discuss with key stakeholders and industry the future of the economy; and

b) legislate for a regional renewal bill, that will impose upon government the requirement to consider regional fairness and equality in its expenditure decisions.

Amendment 3 - Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Expresses concern for the future of the Welsh economy post-Brexit.

Amendment 4 - Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Notes the failure of the UK Government to deliver detailed proposals or consult upon a new post-Brexit Shared Prosperity Fund to replace EU funding, given its place as a key component of the Welsh economy.

 

 

Minutes:

The item started at 16.13

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

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM7055 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Notes the Welsh Government’s failure to realise Wales’s economic potential over the past 20 years.

2. Does not believe that the Welsh Government’s Prosperity for All: Economic Action Plan is sufficiently ambitious to deliver significant improvement in the Welsh economy.

3. Calls on the Welsh Government to take further action to improve the economy, including:

a) simplifying and improving access to business support;

b) ensuring policy is aligned with an effective industrial strategy;

c) reforming public procurement to support SMEs;

d) upskilling and re-skilling the workforce to take advantage of new opportunities; and

e) improving infrastructure.

For

Abstain

Against

Total

12

1

33

46

The motion without amendment was not agreed.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 - Rebecca Evans (Gower

Delete all and replace with:

1. Notes the actions taken by the Welsh Government to support the economy of Wales over the last twenty years which have helped lead to:

a) 300,000 more people in work in Wales since 1999;

b) economic inactivity rates now broadly comparable with the UK average for the first time in history;

c) the proportion of working-age people with no qualifications more than halving since 1999;

d) the proportion of working age people with higher education qualifications increasing from around one-in-five people to more than one-in-three since devolution;

e) the numbers of active enterprises in Wales the highest on record.

2. Notes the Welsh Government’s plans to drive inclusive growth through the Economic Action Plan including the new Economic Contract, major infrastructure investment such as the new £5bn rail franchise and metro as well as the new £1bn Development Bank of Wales.

3. Recognises many of the economic concerns expressed in the EU referendum and the Welsh Government’s focus since publication of the Economic Action Plan in 2017 on nurturing the foundational economy as a driver for inclusive growth.

4. Recognises the fundamental importance of fair work to Wales’s future and the Welsh Government’s commitment to work in social partnership to make Wales a fair work nation.

5. Regrets the lack of UK Government investment in Wales over the last decade as well as cancelled rail electrification, rejection of tidal lagoon plans and failure to secure Wylfa project investment.

A vote was taken on amendment 1:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

27

0

21

48

Amendment 1 was agreed.

Amendment 2 - Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Calls on the Welsh Government to:

a) convene a national economic summit to discuss with key stakeholders and industry the future of the economy; and

b) legislate for a regional renewal bill, that will impose upon government the requirement to consider regional fairness and equality in its expenditure decisions.

A vote was taken on amendment 2:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

7

13

29

49

Amendment 2 was not agreed.

Amendment 3 - Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Expresses concern for the future of the Welsh economy post-Brexit.

A vote was taken on amendment 3:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

34

2

13

49

Amendment 3 was agreed.

Amendment 4 - Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Notes the failure of the UK Government to deliver detailed proposals or consult upon a new post-Brexit Shared Prosperity Fund to replace EU funding, given its place as a key component of the Welsh economy.

A vote was taken on amendment 4:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

37

2

10

49

Amendment 4 was agreed.

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Notes the actions taken by the Welsh Government to support the economy of Wales over the last twenty years which have helped lead to:

a) 300,000 more people in work in Wales since 1999;

b) economic inactivity rates now broadly comparable with the UK average for the first time in history;

c) the proportion of working-age people with no qualifications more than halving since 1999;

d) the proportion of working age people with higher education qualifications increasing from around one-in-five people to more than one-in-three since devolution;

e) the numbers of active enterprises in Wales the highest on record.

2. Notes the Welsh Government’s plans to drive inclusive growth through the Economic Action Plan including the new Economic Contract, major infrastructure investment such as the new £5bn rail franchise and metro as well as the new £1bn Development Bank of Wales.

3. Recognises many of the economic concerns expressed in the EU referendum and the Welsh Government’s focus since publication of the Economic Action Plan in 2017 on nurturing the foundational economy as a driver for inclusive growth.

4. Recognises the fundamental importance of fair work to Wales’s future and the Welsh Government’s commitment to work in social partnership to make Wales a fair work nation.

5. Regrets the lack of UK Government investment in Wales over the last decade as well as cancelled rail electrification, rejection of tidal lagoon plans and failure to secure Wylfa project investment.

6. Expresses concern for the future of the Welsh economy post-Brexit.

7. Notes the failure of the UK Government to deliver detailed proposals or consult upon a new post-Brexit Shared Prosperity Fund to replace EU funding, given its place as a key component of the Welsh economy.

For

Abstain

Against

Total

27

0

22

49

The motion as amended was agreed.

 

9.

Voting Time

Minutes:

The item started at 17.15

 

Votes Summary

Supporting documents:

(30 mins)

10.

Short Debate

NDM7054 John Griffiths (Newport East)

Breathing easier in Wales: Pulmonary rehabilitation and smoking cessation services.

 

Minutes:

The item started at 17.19

NDM7054 John Griffiths (Newport East)

Breathing easier in Wales: Pulmonary rehabilitation and smoking cessation services.