The first vote this afternoon is on item 6, the debate on a Member's legislative proposal for a British Sign Language Bill. I call for a vote on the motion tabled in the name of Mark Isherwood. Open the vote. Close the vote. In favour 38, 12 abstentions, none against, therefore the motion is agreed. 

Item 6. Debate on a Member's Legislative Proposal - A British Sign Language (BSL) Bill: For: 38, Against: 0, Abstain: 12

Motion has been agreed

Item 9 is the next vote—the Welsh Conservatives debate on an independent review of children's social care. I call for a vote on the motion tabled in the name of Darren Millar. Open the vote. Close the vote. The vote is tied—25 in favour, 25 against, no abstentions, so I will exercise my casting vote against the motion. Therefore the result is 25 in favour, no abstentions, and 26 against.

Item 9. Welsh Conservatives Debate - Independent review of children’s social care. Motion without amendment: For: 25, Against: 25, Abstain: 0

As there was an equality of votes, the Llywydd used her casting vote in accordance with Standing Order 6.20(ii).

Motion has been rejected

That means that we will move on to amendment 1. I call for a vote on amendment 1, tabled in the name of Lesley Griffiths. Open the vote. Close the vote. In favour 25, 14 abstentions, 11 against, therefore the amendment is agreed. 

Item 9. Welsh Conservative debate - Independent review of children’s social care. Amendment 1, tabled in the name of Lesley Griffiths: For: 25, Against: 11, Abstain: 14

Amendment has been agreed

The final vote under this item is on the motion as amended.

Motion NDM8160 as amended: 

To propose that the Senedd:

Supports the Welsh Government’s plans for the reform of children’s social care without the need for an independent review that would draw in valuable resources and be a distraction to the excellent work carried out by those providing services to vulnerable children, their parents and carers.

Open the vote. Close the vote. In favour 23, there are 15 abstentions, 12 against, and therefore the motion as amended is agreed. 

Item 9. Welsh Conservatives Debate - Independent review of children’s social care. Motion as amended: For: 23, Against: 12, Abstain: 15

Motion as amended has been agreed

The next vote is on item 10, namely the Welsh Conservatives debate on business rate relief for self-catering accommodation. I call for a vote on the motion tabled in the name of Darren Millar. Open the vote. Close the vote. In favour 14, no abstentions, 36 against, therefore the motion is not agreed. 

Item 10. Welsh Conservatives Debate - Business rates for self-catering accommodation. Motion without amendment: For: 14, Against: 36, Abstain: 0

Motion has been rejected

Amendment 1 will be next, and if amendment 1 is agreed, amendment 2 will be deselected. I call for a vote on amendment 1, tabled in the name of Lesley Griffiths. Open the vote. Close the vote. In favour 26, no abstentions, 24 against, and therefore amendment 1 is agreed and amendment 2 is deselected. 

Item 10. Welsh Conservatives Debate - Business rates for self-catering accommodation. Amendment 1, tabled in the name of Lesley Griffiths: For: 26, Against: 24, Abstain: 0

Amendment has been agreed

Amendment 2 deselected.

The final vote, therefore, on the motion as amended. 

Motion NDM8161 as amended:

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Recognises that:

a) the Welsh Government has consulted widely on changes to the criteria used to classify self-catering accommodation as non-domestic for local tax purposes, which will take effect from April 2023.

b) compliance with the new criteria will not be assessed until after 1 April 2023.

c) these changes are part of a wider package measures to designed to support vibrant local communities, in which people can afford to live and work all year round

Open the vote. Close the vote. In favour 35, no abstentions, 15 against, and therefore the motion as amended is agreed. 

Item 10. Welsh Conservatives Debate - Business rates for self-catering accommodation. Motion as amended: For: 35, Against: 15, Abstain: 0

Motion as amended has been agreed