Third Assembly Plenary Meeting

Votes and Proceedings (65)

Date: Wednesday, 14 May 2008
Time: 12.30pm

Item 1: Questions to the Minister for Finance and Public Service Delivery

The first 10 questions were answered. Question 1 was withdrawn and question 6 was transferred for written answer.

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1.04pm
Item 2: Questions to the Minister for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills

The first 9 questions were answered. Question 1 was answered by the Deputy Minister for Skills. Question 3 was transferred for written answered and question 7 was withdrawn.

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2.43pm
Item 3: Statement by the Deputy Minister for Social Services: Child Trust Fund Reimbursement Grant

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Motion to Suspend Standing Orders

NNDM3940 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 motions under Item 4 to be considered in Plenary on Wednesday 14^th May 2008.

The Motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 7.35

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Item 4: Motions to establish and elect a Proposed Learner Travel Measure Committee

NNDM3941

Dafydd Elis-Thomas (Dwyfor Meirionnydd)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales, in accordance with Standing Order 21.1 establishes a committee for Stage 2 proceedings of the Proposed Learner Travel (Wales) Measure.  The committee shall cease to exist if the proposed Measure is passed, falls or is withdrawn.

The Motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 7.35

NNDM3942 Dafydd Elis-Thomas (Dwyfor Meirionnydd)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales, in accordance with Standing Order 10.3, elects Lorraine Barrett (Labour), Ann Jones (Labour), Ieuan Wyn Jones (Plaid Cymru), Alun Cairns (Conservative) and Kirsty Williams (Liberal Democrat) as members of the Proposed Learner Travel Measure Committee.

The Motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 7.35

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Item 5: A debate seeking the Assembly's leave to introduce a Member Proposed Measure for Youth Services

NDM3918 Peter Black (South Wales West)

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

Grants leave for Peter Black to introduce a proposed Measure to give effect to the pre-ballot information provided on 6 December 2007 under Standing Order 23.102.

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

A vote was taken on the motion:

Votes and Proceedings

For	Abstain	Against	Total
15	0	29	44

The motion was not agreed.

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2.53pm
Item 6: Welsh Conservatives Debate

NDM3934 William Graham (South Wales East)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Acknowledges the recent sharp increases in the price of essential foodstuffs, and the increased pressure this is putting on household budgets;
2. Notes that increases in the prices of fuel, fertilizer and grain have substantially increased Welsh farmers’ production costs;
3. Regrets that supermarket practices, excessive red tape and market conditions have made farming increasingly unsustainable in the lifetime of the National Assembly for Wales;
4. Notes that increased prices in agricultural commodities have direct implications on the future of agri-environment schemes in Wales;
5. Calls on the Welsh Assembly Government to work with stakeholders to develop a Food Production Strategy for Wales, to maximise sustainable food production.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 - Carwyn Jones (Bridgend)

In point 3 delete all after "farming" and replace with "difficult in the past and welcomes the actions of the Minister for Rural Affairs in tackling red tape and calling for the creation of a Supermarket Ombudsman"

Amendment 2 - Carwyn Jones (Bridgend)

In point 4 delete "increased prices in agricultural commodities" and replace with "both increased prices in agricultural commodities and the change in the price of the Euro may".

Amendment 3 - Carwyn Jones (Bridgend)

In point 4 delete "the future of".

Amendment 4 - Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire)

Insert as new point 5 and renumber accordingly:

"Believes that the promotion of locally-sourced food will benefit the farming industry in Wales, will improve food security and will increase sustainable food production.”

Amendment 5 - Carwyn Jones (Bridgend)

In point 5 delete all after "stakeholders" and replace with "to continue the Minister's commendable initiative to prepare a food and farming strategy".

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

The results were as follows:

A vote was taken on Amendment 1:

Votes and Proceedings

For	Abstain	Against	Total
31	4	10	45

Amendment 1  was agreed.

A vote was taken on Amendment 2:

Votes and Proceedings

For	Abstain	Against	Total
35	0	9	44

Amendment 2 was agreed.

A vote was taken on Amendment 3:

Votes and Proceedings

For	Abstain	Against	Total
31	0	14	45

Amendment 3 was agreed.

A vote was taken on Amendment 4:

Votes and Proceedings

For	Abstain	Against	Total
44	0	0	44

Amendment 4 was agreed.

A vote was taken on Amendment 5:

Votes and Proceedings

For	Abstain	Against	Total
31	0	14	45

Amendment 5 was agreed.

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

NDM3934 William Graham (South Wales East)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Acknowledges the recent sharp increases in the price of essential foodstuffs, and the increased pressure this is putting on household budgets;

2. Notes that increases in the prices of fuel, fertilizer and grain have substantially increased Welsh farmers’ production costs;

3. Regrets that supermarket practices, excessive red tape and market conditions have made farming difficult in the past and welcomes the actions of the Minister for Rural Affairs in tackling red tape and calling for the creation of a Supermarket Ombudsman;

4. Notes that both increased prices in agricultural commodities and the change in the price of the Euro may have direct implications on agri-environment schemes in Wales;

5. Believes that the promotion of locally-sourced food will benefit the farming industry in Wales, will improve food security and will increase sustainable food production

6. Calls on the Welsh Assembly Government to work with stakeholders to continue the Minister's commendable initiative to prepare a food and farming strategy.

Votes and Proceedings

For	Abstain	Against	Total
33	0	12	45

The motion as amended was agreed.

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3.45pm
Item 7: Welsh Conservatives Debate

NDM3935 William Graham (South Wales East)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

Welcomes the Welsh Assembly Government’s publication of an action plan for autistic spectrum disorders, but notes that without further work to tackle the specific difficulties that adults with autism face, they will remain isolated and ignored.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 - Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire)

Add as new point at end of motion:

"Believes the Welsh Assembly Government should support local authorities to give appropriate social care support staff up-to-date information and training about autism.”

Amendment 2 - Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire)

Add as new point at end of motion:

"Calls upon the Welsh Assembly Government to:

a) make it a requirement for local authorities and local health boards to accurately record the number of adults with autism.

b) issue guidance to local authorities and local health boards about how to accurately record the number of adults with autism.”

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

The results were as follows:

A vote was taken on Amendment 1:

Votes and Proceedings

For	Abstain	Against	Total
14	0	30	44

Amendment 1 was not agreed.

A vote was taken on Amendment 2:

Votes and Proceedings

For	Abstain	Against	Total
14	0	31	45

Amendment 2 was not agreed.

A vote was taken on the motion

Votes and Proceedings

For	Abstain	Against	Total
41	0	0	41

The motion was agreed.

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4.40pm
Voting Time

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4.45pm
Item 8: Short Debate

NDM3933 Christine Chapman (Cynon Valley):

Making communities happier.

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The meeting concluded at 5.10pm

The Assembly will sit again in Plenary at 2.00pm on Tuesday, 20 May 2008

Chamber Secretariat