Concise Minutes - Business Committee

Meeting Venue:

Video Conference via Zoom

Meeting date: Tuesday, 15 March 2022

Meeting time: 09.01 - 09.17
This meeting can be viewed
on Senedd TV at:
http://senedd.tv/en/12624

Attendance

 

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1       Introductions, apologies and substitutions

The Llywydd welcomed Members to the meeting.

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2       Minutes of the previous meeting

The Minutes of the previous meeting were agreed for publication.

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3       Organisation of Business

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3.1   This week's business

Tuesday

 

• Voting time will take place as the last item of business.
• Plenary is unlikely to run past 7.05pm.

 

Wednesday 

 

• Questions to the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution (45 30 mins)
• Voting Time will take place before the Short Debate.
• Plenary is unlikely to run past 6.55pm. 

 

Business Committee discussed further the possibility of making 30 minutes the default scheduling for government statements. The Trefnydd stated that the government has shortened the time allocated to some statements in coming weeks and would be keeping this under review until the Easter recess.

 

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3.2   Three week timetable of Government Business

The Trefnydd drew Business Committee’s attention to the following changes:

 

Tuesday 22 March 2022 –

·         Statement by the Minister for Climate Change: The Housing with Care Fund (45 mins) – withdrawn

·         LCM on the Building Safety Bill (30 mins) – postponed until 29 March

 

Tuesday 29 March 2022 –

·         Statement by the Minister for Health and Social Services: Update on Covid-19 (45 30 mins)

·         Statement by the Minister for Finance and Local Government: Non- Domestic Rates Reform (30 mins)

·         The Local Authorities (Amendments Relating to Publication of Information) (Wales) Regulations 2022 (15 mins)

·         LCM on the Building Safety Bill (30 mins)

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3.3   Three week timetable of Senedd Business

Business Committee agreed to schedule the following items of business:

 

Wednesday 27 April 2022 –

 

·         Time allocated to the Welsh Conservatives (60 mins)

·         Time allocated to Plaid Cymru (60 mins)

·         Short Debate (30 mins)

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<AI7>

3.4   Member Debates: Selection of Motions for Debate

Business Committee agreed to schedule the following motion for debate on 23 March 2022:

 

NNDM7953 Mike Hedges

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes the continuing closure of religious buildings, including churches and chapels, throughout Wales.

2. Calls upon the Welsh Government to work with the different denominations in Wales to discuss the future of these buildings.

Co-submitters

Rhys ab Owen

Jane Dodds

Darren Millar

Supported by

Alun Davies

Sam Rowlands

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4       Legislation

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4.1   Update on LCMs

Business Committee received an update on current LCMs and agreed:

 

• to refer the LCM on the British Sign Language Bill to the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee and the Equality and Social Justice Committee for scrutiny, with a reporting deadline of 26 May.
• not to refer the SLCM (No.3) on the Professional Qualifications Bill for scrutiny by a committee in light of the tabling of late amendments and the timetable for the remaining stages of the Bill at Westminster.

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5       Senedd Timetable

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5.1   Recess dates

Business Committee confirmed recess dates for the Whitsun Half Term and Summer Recess and agreed provisional recess dates for Autumn Half Term and Christmas 2022.

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5.2   2022 Easter Recess, May Day And Whitsun Half-Term Tabling Arrangements

Business Committee agreed:

 

• the arrangements for tabling Plenary business and amendments to Bills during the Easter recess;
• agreed the arrangements for the tabling of written questions during Easter recess;
• noted the changes to the tabling arrangements, which are required as a result of the May Day Bank Holiday, Whitsun Bank Holiday and Platinum Jubilee Bank Holiday.

 

The Trefnydd noted that there is a privilege day for Welsh Government staff on Monday 6 June 2022 and requested that committee scrutiny sessions with Ministers are not scheduled for that day.

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6       Committee Timetable

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6.1   Letter from the Chair of the Standards of Conduct Committee

Business Committee agreed to the Committee’s request for an additional meeting on 28 March. 

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6.2   Letter from the Chair of the Children, Young People and Education Committee

Business Committee agreed to the Committee’s request for an additional meeting during the week of 28 March. 

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7       Nominations to European committees

Business Committee noted an exchange of correspondence between the UK Government Minister of State for Equalities and Levelling Up Communities and the Llywydd regarding the Senedd’s nominations for the UK delegation to the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities at the Council of Europe, and agreed to discuss the issue further once a response has been received from the Minister. Business Committee asked officials for a background note on previous nominations to the Council of Europe.

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7.1   Letter from the Minister of State for Equalities and Levelling Up Communities

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7.2   Letter from the Llywydd to the Minister of State for Equalities and Levelling Up Communities

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