Motions and Amendments for Debate on 20 November 2013
Motions tabled on 13 November 2013
Short Debate
NDM5360 Keith Davies (Llanelli): Mandatory state regulation of the hairdressing industry in Wales: a wider public health concern.
NDM5361 Angela Burns (Carmarthen West & South Pembrokeshire)
To propose that the National Assembly for Wales in accordance with Standing Order 20.16:
Agrees the budget of the Assembly Commission for 2014-15, as specified in Table 1 of the “National Assembly for Wales Assembly Commission Budget 2014-15”, laid before the Assembly on 13 November 2013 and that it be incorporated in the Annual Budget Motion under Standing Order 20.26 (ii).
NDM5362 Elin Jones (Ceredigion)
To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
1. Notes:
a) the IPCC climate change report’s findings that it is 95% certain that human influence on climate caused more than half the observed increase in global average surface temperatures from 1951-2010;
b) Wales’ continuing dependence on fossil fuels for energy, providing some 80% of energy needs;
c) that control of the exploitation of Wales’ shale gas resources, together with control of any benefit deriving from it rests with the UK Government;
d) the Welsh Government’s failure to hit its target of producing 4TWh of electricity from renewables by 2010;
e) that despite Wales being a net exporter of electricity, bills are higher in Wales than in England or Scotland;
2. Calls on the Welsh Government to:
a) develop a detailed ‘Route Map’ and Action Plan leading to the 2020 renewable energy targets, showing targets for each individual energy type and the actions that will be taken to reach those targets;
b) put pressure on the UK Government to devolve in full, the energy portfolio and control of Wales’ natural resources to the National Assembly;
c) confirm with Ofgem and the National Grid whether any research has been done into the cost and viability of a submarine cable linking the National Grid between North and south Wales, and if so to provide a copy of that research;
d) investigate the potential for establishing a publicly-owned, not-for-dividend energy company to invest in energy for the benefit of the people of Wales.
NDM5363 William Graham (South Wales East)
To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
1. Notes the Welsh Conservative policy ‘A Vision for Welsh Housing’;
2. Calls on the Welsh Government to work with the whole market to ensure that a solution to the housing supply crisis is found.
'A Vision for Welsh Housing' is available at:
Motions tabled on 19 November 2013
NDM5368
Christine Chapman (Cynon Valley)
Jocelyn Davies (South Wales East)
To propose that the National Assembly for Wales, in accordance with Schedule 1, paragraph 4, to the Public Services Ombudsman (Wales) Act 2005 and Standing Order 10.5:
Agrees to nominate Professor Sylvia Margaret Griffiths to Her Majesty for appointment as Acting Public Services Ombudsman for Wales.
Amendments tabled on 14 November 2013
To propose that the Assembly resolves to adopt the following amendments to motions:
NDM5363
1. Elin Jones (Ceredigion)
Insert at end of point 1:
‘fails to recognise that the most urgent housing issue is the devastating impact of the Bedroom Tax on many social housing tenants thereby affecting social landlords’ ability to increase housing supply, and therefore urges the UK Government to repeal the Bedroom Tax’
Amendments tabled on 15 November 2013
To propose that the Assembly resolves to adopt the following amendments to motions:
NDM5362
1. William Graham (South Wales East)
Delete sub-point 1c and replace with:
that while the licensing regime for the exploration and extraction of unconventional gas lies with the UK Government, other consents (such as local planning permission) are required before unconventional gas operations are allowed to commence.
2. William Graham (South Wales East)
Insert as new sub-point 1d and renumber accordingly:
that the UK Government has consulted on a fiscal regime for shale gas extraction and has pledged to deliver a coherent framework to enable local communities to benefit directly from any development of resources in their area.
3. William Graham (South Wales East)
Delete sub-point 2b delete and replace with:
work with the UK Government to develop a comprehensive proposal to devolve further energy consenting and renewable obligation powers to Wales.
4. William Graham (South Wales East)
Insert as new sub-point 2c and renumber accordingly:
work with the UK Government to examine whether the existing UK Petroleum Exploration and Development licence is an effective regime to develop unconventional gas in the future.
5. William Graham (South Wales East)
Insert as new sub-point 2c and renumber accordingly:
develop technical planning guidance on unconventional gas exploration to assist local planning authorities to properly discharge their functions.
6. William Graham (South Wales East)
Add as new sub-point at the end of point 2:
confirm whether it supports the Mid-Wales Connection Project, which would lead to the proliferation of onshore wind turbines across Mid Wales.
7. Aled Roberts (North Wales)
Add as new sub-point at the end of point 2:
bring forward the project evaluation on the value for money of Ynni’r Fro, which was due for conclusion at the end of September 2013.
8. Aled Roberts (North Wales)
Add as new sub-point at the end of point 2:
bring forward a detailed statement outlining how the Welsh Government is maximising the opportunities for Wales through the Green Investment Bank.
9. Aled Roberts (North Wales)
Add as new sub-point at the end of point 1:
that the UK Government has established a £3 billion Green Investment Bank, the first of its kind in the world, which will channel £15 billion from private sector investment into green projects.
10. Aled Roberts (North Wales)
Delete sub-point 2b and replace with:
reaffirm the cross-party support for the devolution of energy consents above 50MWs for on-shore projects and work with the UK Government to harmonise off-shore consenting powers within Welsh waters.
11. Aled Roberts (North Wales)
Add as new sub-point at the end of point 1:
the importance of community energy schemes to the sustainability of local areas, fostering community spirit and raising awareness of energy and climate change issues.
12. Aled Roberts (North Wales)
Add as new sub-point at the end of point 1:
that nationally significant infrastructure projects (NSIPs) on energy, including nuclear power, have an impact beyond the Wales/England border.
NDM5363
1. Aled Roberts (North Wales)
Insert as new point 2 and renumber accordingly:
Regrets that there are approximately 21,551 long term empty homes in Wales and that the Welsh Government has failed to produce a Wales wide empty homes strategy.
2. Aled Roberts (North Wales)
Insert as new point 2 and renumber accordingly:
Acknowledges the concern of house builders that bureaucracy within the planning system is a major barrier to the development of new homes and calls on the Welsh Government to use the forthcoming Planning Reform Bill to remove key barriers to the delivery of an effective planning regime.
3. Aled Roberts (North Wales)
Insert as new point 2 and renumber accordingly:
Welcomes the action being taken by the UK Government to stimulate new house building through equity loans and a mortgage guarantee scheme and calls on the Welsh Government to bring forward a date for the long overdue introduction of Help to Buy Cymru.
4. Aled Roberts (North Wales)
Insert as new point 2 and renumber accordingly:
Notes that only eleven local councils in Wales still hold council housing stock which restricts the Welsh Conservative vision to rejuvenate a ‘Right to Buy’ scheme in Wales and that the power to suspend the Right to Buy for council houses in areas of high demand is a vital tool to help reduce homelessness and a lack of social housing.
5. Aled Roberts (North Wales)
Insert as new point 1 and renumber accordingly:
Regrets that decades of failure by Labour and Conservative governments left us with a housing crisis that forced rents higher and higher, left thousands of people with no hope of getting a foot on the property ladder, and resulted in 1.5 million fewer social homes available for rent.