Third Assembly Plenary Meeting

Votes and Proceedings (9)

Date: Wednesday, 27th June 2007
Time: 12.30pm

12.30pm
Item 1: Questions to the Minister for Social Justice and Public Service Delivery

The first 10 questions were answered.  Questions 4 , 5 and  8 were answered by the Deputy Minister with responsibility for Housing.

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1.02pm
Item 2: Questions to the Minister for Budget and Business Management

The first 10 questions were answered.  

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1.35pm
Item 3: Plaid Cymru Debate

NDM3624 Jocelyn Davies (South Wales East)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Believes that the Welsh Assembly Government should take active steps to address the ongoing housing crisis by:
a) Implementing a range of policies to address the problem of affordable housing;b) Increasing investment in social housing through the development of new and innovative sources of investment;c) Reforming the planning system in order to improve local authorities’ ability to meet local demand for housing;d) Improving the supply of publicly owned land to meet local housing need.The Motion was agreed, in accordance with Standing Order 7.35.

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2.43pm
Item 4: Welsh Conservatives Debate

NDM3623 William Graham (South Wales East)
To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
1. Calls on the Assembly Government to draw up a programme of action in order to achieve a more bi-lingual Wales, including;
a) The creation of the office of Language Commissioner and set out the functions of that office.b) The introduction of legislation to establish Welsh, as well as English, as an official language in Wales.The following amendments were tabled:Amendment 1 - Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)Delete point 1 b) and replace with:"Confirming the statutory status of Welsh as an official language in Wales.”A vote was taken on amendment 1:

Votes and Proceedings

For	Abstain	Against	Total
24	0	32	56

Amendment 1 was not agreed.Amendment 2 - Jocelyn Davies (South Wales East)In point 1 b), delete all after 'establish’ and replace with:"Rights for individuals to receive services through the medium of Welsh, and to confirm official status for Welsh and English.”  Amendment 2 was agreed, in accordance with Standing Order 7.35.
Amendment 3 - Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire)Add new sub-point at end of motion:"Seeking the power to introduce legislation to ensure that all public services are made available through the medium of Welsh.”A vote was taken on amendment 3:

Votes and Proceedings

For	Abstain	Against	Total
18	14	24	56

Amendment 3 was not agreed.Amendment 4 - Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire)Add new sub-point at end of motion:"Developing and expanding Language Action Areas, to help reverse the trend towards de-population and ensure the welcome and integration of individuals moving into Welsh-speaking communities.”A vote was taken on amendment 4:

Votes and Proceedings

For	Abstain	Against	Total
18	14	22	54

Amendment 4 was not agreed.Amendment 5 - Jocelyn Davies (South Wales East)Add as new sub point:"Supporting the dot.cym campaign to designate an internet Top-Level Domain for the Welsh language and cultural community.”Amendment 5 was agreed, in accordance with Standing Order 7.35.Amendment 6 - Jocelyn Davies (South Wales East)Add as new sub point:"Revising TAN 20: The Welsh Language - Unitary Development Plans and Planning Control (2000) to strengthen guidance for language impact studies.”Amendment 6 was agreed, in accordance with Standing Order 7.35.Amendment 7 -  Jocelyn Davies (South Wales East)Add as new point at end of Motion:"2. Condemns recent actions by Thomas Cook to prevent the use of the Welsh language in all aspects of the workplace.”Amendment 7 was agreed, in accordance with Standing Order 7.35.A vote was taken on the motion, as amended:To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
1. Calls on the Assembly Government to draw up a programme of action in order to achieve a more bi-lingual Wales, including;
a) The creation of the office of Language Commissioner and set out the functions of that office.b) The introduction of legislation to establish rights for individuals to receive services through the medium of Welsh, and to confirm official status for Welsh and English.c) Supporting the dot.cym campaign to designate an internet Top-Level Domain for the Welsh language and cultural community.d) Revising TAN 20: The Welsh Language - Unitary Development Plans and Planning Control (2000) to strengthen guidance for language impact studies.2. Condemns recent actions by Thomas Cook to prevent the use of the Welsh language in all aspects of the workplace.The Motion as amended was agreed, in accordance with Standing Order 7.35.

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3.53pm
Item 5: Short Debate

NDM3622  Bethan Jenkins (South Wales West):

Student Debt in Wales.

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The meeting concluded at 4.26pm

The Assembly will sit again in Plenary at 2.00pm on Tuesday, 3^rd July 2007

Chamber Secretariat