Coronavirus restrictions in Wales, including pub opening times, are tightened amid local lockdowns.

New measures to control the spread of covid need to be given a chance to work, Mark Drakeford says.

That's it from the Siambr (Senedd chamber) for today.

Senedd Live returns on Tuesday. Goodbye.

The topic chosen for the Short Debate byMark Isherwood (North Wales), externalis "Building the foundations for change: the impact of the Welsh Government’s Neurological Conditions Delivery Plan".

The plan, external sets out how the NHS cares for people with conditions such as Parkinson's disease, epilepsy and multiple sclerosis.

Image source, Science Photo Library

The Plaid Cymru motion on second homes is amended entirely by the Welsh Government and then passed by MSs.

There were 26 for, three abstentions and 23 against.

So the amended motion includes a call on the Welsh Government to "undertake an evidenced, thorough review of second home ownership in Wales and the measures that might be necessary to ensure the needs of individuals, communities and the economy, in particular the visitor economy, are well balanced. Such a review should look at the role of taxation, planning, local regulation and the supply and access to affordable housing of all tenures."

The Welsh Conservatives' motion on higher education is amended by the Welsh Government and then passed by MSs.

There were 30 for, no abstentions and 22 against.

Welsh Government

The Welsh Government amendment - moved by Julie James MS, Minister for Housing and Local Government - seeks to delete all the Plaid Cymru motion and replace with a proposal that the Senedd:

1. Recognises the challenges second homes – and empty homes - can have on the affordability and availability of housing in some communities in Wales.

2. Welcomes the Welsh Government’s long-standing commitment to the provision of good quality, affordable housing, recognising its fundamental role as the bedrock of strong sustainable communities.

3. Welcomes that whilst the pandemic has had an impact on the building of affordable homes, the Welsh Government will meet the 20,000 target by the end of this Senedd term, which will help to meet the need for local housing.

4. Notes that Wales is the only nation in the UK where local authorities are able to charge a premium of up to 100 per cent of the standard rate of council tax both on second homes and long-term empty properties.

5. Further notes that in Wales, unlike the rest of the UK, the Welsh Government did not provide a temporary tax reduction for buy to let investors, investors in furnished holiday lets or buyers of second homes.

6. Calls on the Welsh Government to undertake an evidenced, thorough review of second home ownership in Wales and the measures that might be necessary to ensure the needs of individuals, communities and the economy, in particular the visitor economy, are well balanced. Such a review should look at the role of taxation, planning, local regulation and the supply and access to affordable housing of all tenures.

Independent MS Neil McEvoy (South Wales Central), external says the purchase of empty homes by local authorities and housing associations should be through compulsory purchase if necessary.

Welsh Conservatives

The Conservative amendment moved by Mark Isherwood seeks to delete all of the Plaid Cymru motion and replace with a proposal that the Senedd:

1. Recognises the housing crisis in many of Wales’s communities and the need to enable local people to access homes in those communities.

2. Calls on the Welsh Government to act immediately in developing and introducing a package of measures which would include but would not be limited to:

a) taking positive steps to promote access to housing at a price which is within the reach of local people, including reintroducing a reformed right to buy and exploring the options for encouraging the development of homes which have local market clauses attached;

b) encouraging and prioritising the purchase of empty homes by local authorities and housing associations in order to meet the local need for social housing; and

c) clarifying what constitutes an affordable home.

3. Calls on the Welsh Government to work with the tourism sector and the Valuation Office Agency to establish an evidence base for policy regarding eligibility for self-catering accommodation to be recorded on the non-domestic rating list.

Plaid Cymru

The topic chosen by Plaid Cymru for their debate is second homes.

The party has published a 16-page report containing five main recommendations ahead of the debate.

Delyth Jewell moves the motion proposing that the Senedd:

1. Recognises the housing crisis in many of Wales’s communities and specifically recognises the detrimental impact of unsustainable levels of second homes in depriving the ability of local people to access homes in those communities.

2. Welcomes the steps some local authorities have taken as a result of the Housing (Wales) Act 2014 to introduce council tax premiums on second homes as one behaviour changing method around the use of second homes and to facilitate the introduction of measures to meet the local need for housing, but agrees that renewed intervention and leadership is now required at a national level.

3. Calls on the Welsh Government to act immediately in developing and introducing a package of measures which would include but would not be limited to:

a) using the planning system to control the ability to change the use of a residential dwelling from a sole or main residence to a second home;

b) enabling the introduction of a cap on the proportion of the overall housing stock in a community which may be used as second homes in communities where the concentration of second homes is already unsustainable;

c) modernising legislation which currently means that not a penny of council tax must be paid on some second homes;

d) doubling the council tax premium which may be charged on second homes to at least 200 per cent to reinforce work already taking place in some local authorities in seeking to change behaviour around the use of second homes, generate revenue to be invested in social housing and to compensate communities for the detrimental impact of an overuse of second homes on local communities and local services;

e) doubling the higher rates of land transaction tax for an initial period of six months in an attempt to prevent house prices from spiralling further beyond the reach of the local population and first time buyers in many communities;

f) taking positive steps to promote access to housing at a price which is within the reach of the local market, including the possibility of encouraging the development of homes which have local market clauses attached;

g) encouraging and prioritising the purchase of empty homes by local authorities and housing associations in order to meet the local need for social housing; and

h) looking afresh at what constitutes an affordable home.

Welsh Government

The Welsh Government amendment, moved by education minister Kirsty Williams, is to delete points 5 and 6 of the Conservative motion and replace with:

• Welcomes the efforts of students, colleges and universities to continue operating safely and effectively in challenging circumstances over the coming term, and thanks them for their efforts.
• Notes the extensive work by colleges and universities to maintain opportunities to access learning either in person or, in the event of unavoidable COVID-19 restrictions, through online tuition, assessment, and support.
• Notes the guidance issued by Welsh Government to support higher and further education providers to prepare for the new term and open campuses safely.

Plaid Cymru

A Plaid Cymru amendment seeks to delete point 4 of the Conservative motion which "welcomes the additional financial resources provided to Welsh colleges and universities to support them through the pandemic".

Plaid's other two amendments will be de-selected if, as likely, the Welsh Government amendment is passed.

Those Plaid amendments call on the Welsh Government to:

• "ensure that the higher education sector has sufficient resources to enable institutions to continue to maintain standards and to continue to widen access";
• "work with the further education and work-based learning sectors to ensure that they are adequately and sustainably resourced to provide the best possible learning opportunities, especially to disadvantaged learners, at this challenging time".

Welsh Conservatives

The topic chosen by the Welsh Conservatives for their debate is higher and further education. Suzy Davies moves the motion proposing that the Senedd:

1. Notes the importance of higher and further education to Wales and its economy.

2. Believes that students deserve value for money in return for the investment they make in their higher and further education.

3. Regrets the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on students in Wales and the interruption to courses.

4. Welcomes the additional financial resources provided to Welsh colleges and universities to support them through the pandemic.

5. Notes that there has been no reduction in fees paid by students to reflect the adverse impact of the pandemic on their studies.

6. Calls upon the Welsh Government to:

a) work with colleges and universities to ensure that fees reflect the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on their courses;

b) ensure that students take the opportunity to access learning either in person or, in the event of unavoidable COVID-19 restrictions, through more live streaming;

c) address the concerns of students, employers, and further and higher education providers in relation to a narrowing of the syllabus of some courses which contribute towards entry requirements for colleges and universities.

Welsh Government

Finance minister Rebecca Evans responds on behalf of the Welsh Government. All the committee's recommendations are accepted or accepted in principle.

Committee Chair Llyr Gruffydd, external(North Wales), external presents the report.

He says "with 44 per cent of the Welsh population paying income tax (compared with 47 per cent of the UK’s population), it is apparent that the Welsh Government must consider ways to develop the Welsh income tax base and maximise tax revenues.

"On the issue of maximising tax revenues, we also call for research to examine taxpayers’ response to mitigating personal income tax, such as self-employed individuals incorporating their business to benefit from a lower rate of UK corporation tax on their profits, rather than paying Welsh Rates of Income Tax on their earnings.

"Though we concluded our evidence gathering for this inquiry before the true extent of the COVID-19 pandemic was realised, it is clear that difficult decisions on taxation will need to be made in order to aid economic recovery.

"We urge the Welsh Government to start considering tax policies and looking at contingencies to ensure that all the fiscal levers are available to aid Wales’s recovery from the global pandemic."

The first debate of the day is on the Finance Committee report - Impact of variations in national and sub-national income tax, external.

Members approve a motion to establish a committee called the Llywydd's Committee "in order for the Electoral Commission to be accountable to the Senedd for devolved elections and referendums, and for the Llywydd’s Committee to approve the Electoral Commission’s spending plans".

Members now have the chance to question the Senedd Commission, the body responsible for the day to day running of the institution.

Andrew RT Davies asks about the practicalities involved with holding hybrid committee meetings in the Welsh Parliament. Plenary meetings are already held in a hybrid format, with some Members in the Siambr (Senedd chamber) and others joining by video-conference. Members are able to vote from any location by electronic means.

The Llywydd Elin Jones says the local government committee will shortly have a trial hybrid format.

Conservative Laura Anne Jones refers to Joe Wicks' video this morning talking about his struggle with his mental health.

She calls for more support for recreational sport in Wales.

The Body Coach shot to fame with his lockdown PE lessons.