Meeting Venue:
Video conference via Zoom
Meeting date: 2 February 2021
Meeting time: 09.04 - 09.52
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Category |
Names |
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Committee Members: |
Elin Jones MS, Llywydd (Chair) Rebecca Evans MS Siân Gwenllian MS Mark Isherwood MS Caroline Jones MS |
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Committee Staff: |
Aled Elwyn Jones (Clerk) |
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Others in attendance |
Ann Jones MS, Deputy Presiding Officer Manon Antoniazzi, Chief Executive & Clerk of the Senedd Siwan Davies, Director of Senedd Business Siân Wilkins, Head of Chamber and Committee Service Julian Luke, Head of Policy and Legislation Committee Service Gwion Evans, Head of the Llywydd's Private Office Elin Roberts, Policy Adviser to the Llywydd Helen Carey, Welsh Government Bethan Garwood, Deputy Clerk
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1 Introductions, apologies and substitutions
2 Minutes of the previous meeting
The minutes of last week’s meeting were agreed for publication
3 Organisation of Business
3.1 This Week's Business
The Trefnydd drew Business Managers’ attention to a change to Tuesday’s business to move the general principles and the financial resolution in respect of the Welsh Elections (Coronavirus) Bill to the end of the day.
Tuesday
· Voting Time will take place after the last item of business.
· Plenary is unlikely to run past 6.15pm.
Wednesday
· Voting Time will take place before the Short Debate.
· Plenary is unlikely to run past 5.40pm.
3.2 Three Week Timetable of Government Business
The Trefnydd drew Business Managers’ attention to the following changes:
Tuesday 9 February 2021
· Proposal under Standing Order 12.24 to debate the following together but with separate votes: (30 mins)
o The
Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel and
Restrictions) (Amendment) (No. 4) (Wales) Regulations 2021 (15
mins)
o The Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (No. 5) (Wales) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2021
Wednesday 10 February 2021
· Debate: Stage 3 of the Welsh Elections (Coronavirus) Bill (60 mins)
· Debate: Stage 4 of the Welsh Elections (Coronavirus) Bill (15 mins)
Tuesday 23 February 2021
· Motion to vary the order of consideration of Stage 3 amendments to the Curriculum and Assessment (Wales) Bill (5 mins)
Business Committee agreed that the Committee of the Whole Senedd should start at 1pm on 9 February, with Plenary starting once it is concluded. Plenary will also start at 1pm on 10 February.
3.3 Three Week Timetable of Senedd Business
Business Committee agreed to schedule the following items of business:
Wednesday 10 February 2021 –
·
Debate on a Member's Legislative Proposal (30 mins)-
postponed to 24 February
·
Time allocated to the Welsh Conservatives (30 mins) -
postponed to 24 February
·
Time allocated to Plaid Cymru (30 mins) - postponed to 24
February
·
Short Debate – David Melding (South Wales
Central)– postponed to 24 February
Wednesday 24 February 2021 –
· Joint debate with the Welsh Youth Parliament (45 mins)
·
Debate on a Member's Legislative Proposal (30 mins)-
postponed from 10 February
· Time allocated to the Welsh Conservatives (30 mins) - postponed from 10 February
·
Time allocated to Plaid Cymru (30 mins) - postponed from
10 February
·
Time allocated to the Independent Alliance for Reform Group (30
mins) - postponed to 3 March
·
Short Debate – David Melding (South Wales
Central)– postponed from 10 February
Wednesday 3 March 2021 –
· Motion to Annul The Water Resources (Control of Agricultural Pollution) (Wales) Regulations 2021 (30 mins)
· Debate on the Culture, Welsh Language and Communications Report: Should broadcasting be devolved? (30 mins)
· Debate on the Health, Social Care and Sport report: Inquiry into the impact of the Covid-19 outbreak, and its management, on health and social care in Wales: Report 2 – Impact on mental health and wellbeing (60 mins)
· Time allocated to the Independent Alliance for Reform Group (30 mins) postponed from 24 February
The Trefnydd thanked Business Managers for moving Senedd business to accommodate government legislation.
3.4 Debates on Members' Legislative Proposals
Business Committee agreed to schedule the following motion for debate on 24 February:
NNDM7478 Mark Isherwood
To propose that the Senedd:
1. Notes a proposal for a Bill that would make provision to encourage the use of British Sign Language (BSL) in Wales, and improve access to education and services in BSL.
2. Notes that the purpose of the Bill would be to:
a) ensure that the deaf community and people with hearing loss have a voice in the design and delivery of services to ensure they meet the needs of service users;
b) establish a BSL national advisory group to empower the BSL community in Wales;
c) require the Welsh Government to co-produce and publish a national BSL plan, and to establish strategic goals to improve the accessibility of public services, support services and enhance BSL skills across society.
d) require public bodies to co-produce and publish their own BSL plan to develop BSL awareness and training, and improve access to frontline services.
Business Committee also agreed that this would be the last MLP scheduled before dissolution.
3.5 Joint business item - Senedd Cymru and Welsh Youth Parliament
Business Committee agreed the joint business item on 24 February, 2021, to start at 12:45 and be taken before government business.
3.6 Letter from Llyr Gruffydd
Business Committee agreed to schedule a debate on the Motion to Annul The Water Resources (Control of Agricultural Pollution) (Wales) Regulations 2021on 3 March 2021.
4 Committees
4.1 Letter from the Chair of the Petitions Committee
Business Committee agreed to schedule a 30 minute debate on two petitions – ‘P-05-1117 Give Police Officers the Covid Vaccination as a priority’ and ‘P-05-1119 Prioritise teachers, school and childcare staff for COVID-19 vaccination’, and another 30 minute debate on ‘P-05-1078 Increase funding for mental health services and improve waiting times for people needing help in crisis. We need a change!’
5 Legislation
5.1 The Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel and Restrictions) (Amendment) (No. 4) (Wales) Regulations 2021
The Business Committee agreed to set a reporting deadline of Monday 8 February for the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee to report on the regulations.
5.2 The Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (No. 5) (Wales) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2021
The Business Committee agreed to set a reporting deadline of Monday 8 February for the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee to report on the regulations.
5.3 Welsh Elections (Coronavirus) Bill - Impact on Senedd Business
Business Committee agreed in principle that the Senedd enter a recess period from 7 April until 28 April 2021 which will be known as the ‘pre-dissolution’ period, and that Senedd business during this period should be limited to that which is related to the specific purposes of the shortened dissolution as outlined in the Bill.
The Committee noted that, should the Bill be passed, detailed proposals will be presented to Business Committee at its meeting on either 22 February or 1 March.
The Trefnydd agreed to circulate Welsh Government ‘purdah’ guidance for the election period (pre-dissolution recess and dissolution) to Business Managers.
Any Other Business
Environment Bill
The Trefnydd informed Business Managers that consideration of the Environment Bill is now paused until the next parliamentary session, and that officials would discuss a revised reporting deadline for the SLCM (No.2).