Third Assembly Plenary Meeting

Votes and Proceedings (55)

Date: Wednesday, 9 April 2008
Time: 12.30pm

Item 1: Questions to the Minister for Health and Social Services

The first 14 questions were answered. Question 3 was answered by the Deputy Minister for Social Services.  Question 6 was withdrawn and Question 11 was transferred for wrritten answer.

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1.10pm
Item 2: Questions to the Deputy First Minister and Minister for the Economy and Transport

The first 10 questions were answered.

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1.56pm
Motion to suspend Standing Orders

NNDM3907 Dafydd Elis-Thomas (Dwyfor Meirionnydd)

That the National Assembly for Wales in accordance with Standing Orders 35.6 and 35.8:

Suspends Standing Order 7.18 (i) and that part of Standing Order 6.10 that requires the weekly announcement under Standing Order 6.3 to constitute the timetable for business in Plenary for the following week, to allow the motion under Item 3 to be considered in Plenary on Wednesday 9^th April 2008.

The Motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 7.35.

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1.56pm
Item 3: Motion to elect a Member to the Broadcasting Committee

NNDM3904 Dafydd Elis-Thomas (Dwyfor Meirionnydd)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales, in accordance with Standing Order 10.3, elects Nerys Evans (Plaid Cymru) as a member of the Broadcasting Committee in place of Alun Ffred Jones (Plaid Cymru).

The Motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 7.35.

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1.56pm
Point of Order - Nick Bourne raised a point of order on Amendments to motions tabled by opposition parties.

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2.11pm
The Presiding Officer made a statement on the approval by Her Majesty in Council of the Education and Training Legislative Competence Order

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2.22pm
Procedural Motion under Standing Order 7.26 to postpone the debate on Nerys Evans’ proposal for a Measure.

The Motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 7.35.

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Item 4: A debate seeking the Assembly’s leave to introduce a Member proposed Measure for Recycling - This item was postponed

NDM3891 Nerys Evans (Mid and West Wales)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales, in accordance with Standing Order 23.103:

Grants leave for Nerys Evans to introduce a Member proposed Measure to give effect to the pre-ballot information tabled on 15 February 2008 under Standing Order 23.102.

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2.22pm
Item 5: Welsh Conservatives Debate

NDM3902 William Graham (South Wales East)

The National Assembly for Wales agrees that the UK Government should halt its Post Office closure programme in Wales.

The following amendments were  tabled:

Amendment 1 - Carl Sargeant (Alyn and Deeside)

Delete all after "should” and replace with "be called upon to:

1. Recognise the concerns caused by the Post Office closure programme in Welsh communities;

2. Make every effort to keep viable post offices open;

3. Ensure alternative access to services in localities where post offices are identified for closure."

Amendment 2 - Jocelyn Davies (South Wales East)

Delete all after "halt” and replace with "the closure of any post office in Wales that has a viable future.”

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

The results were as follows:

A vote was taken on Amendment 1:

Amendment 1 was not agreed.

A vote was taken on Amendment 2:

Amendment 2 was agreed.

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

NDM3902 William Graham (South Wales East)

The National Assembly for Wales agrees that the UK Government should halt the closure of any post office in Wales that has a viable future.

The motion as amended was agreed.

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3.23pm
Item 6: Welsh Liberal Democrats Debate  

NDM3903 Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire)

The National Assembly for Wales:

1) Recognises the importance of broadband to individuals and to the survival and prosperity of businesses in Wales.

2) Recognises the number of houses in Wales who are still unable to access a broadband connection.

3) Calls on the Welsh Assembly Government to support local experts who can identify and solve the challenges of delivering broadband across different terrain in communities across Wales.

4) Calls on the Welsh Assembly Government to encourage and support local councils to develop tailored solutions for solving broadband blackspots in their area.

5) Calls on the Welsh Assembly Government to invest in the development of a portfolio of innovative solutions, to provide the infrastructure necessary to deliver high bandwidth, affordable data to all homes and businesses in Wales.

The following amendment was tabled:

Amendment - Carwyn Jones (Bridgend)

Delete all after Point 1 and replace with:

"2) Recognises that there are households and businesses in Wales that are still unable to access a broadband connection.

3) Calls on the Welsh Assembly Government to continue to support the industry in identifying and solving the challenges of delivering broadband across different terrains in Wales.

4) Calls on the Welsh Assembly Government to encourage and work with the industry and local partners to develop tailored solutions for solving broadband notspots in their area.

5) Calls on the Welsh Assembly Government to encourage the communications regulator, Ofcom, to ensure that the regulatory environment enables the industry to deliver high bandwidth, affordable broadband to homes and businesses in Wales.”

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

The results were as follows:

A vote was taken on the Amendment:

The Amendment was agreed.

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

NDM3903 Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire)

The National Assembly for Wales:

1) Recognises the importance of broadband to individuals and to the survival and prosperity of businesses in Wales.

2) Recognises that there are households and businesses in Wales that are still unable to access a broadband connection.

3) Calls on the Welsh Assembly Government to continue to support the industry in identifying and solving the challenges of delivering broadband across different terrains in Wales.

4) Calls on the Welsh Assembly Government to encourage and work with the industry and local partners to develop tailored solutions for solving broadband notspots in their area.

5) Calls on the Welsh Assembly Government to encourage the communications regulator, Ofcom, to ensure that the regulatory environment enables the industry to deliver high bandwidth, affordable broadband to homes and businesses in Wales.

The motion as amended was agreed.

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4.25pm
Item 7: Short Debate

NDM3901 Leanne Wood (South Wales Central):

Allotments for All.

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4.47pm
The meeting was adjourned.

5.00pm
The meeting reconvened for Voting Time.

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The meeting concluded at 5.02pm

The Assembly will sit again in Plenary at 2.00pm on Tuesday, 15 April 2008

Chamber Secretariat