Meeting Venue:
Tŷ Hywel
Meeting date: 29 November 2022
Meeting time: 09.00 - 09.58
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Category |
Names |
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Committee Members: |
Elin Jones MS, Llywydd (Chair) Lesley Griffiths MS Darren Millar MS Siân Gwenllian MS |
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Committee Staff: |
Graeme Francis (Clerk) Yan Thomas (Deputy Clerk) |
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Others in attendance |
Jane Dodds MS David Rees MS, Deputy Presiding Officer Tom Jackson, Welsh Government Manon Antoniazzi, Chief Executive and Clerk Siwan Davies, Director of Senedd Business Siân Wilkins, Head of Chamber and Committee Service Julian Luke, Head of Policy and Legislation Committee Service, Helen Carey, Welsh Government Matthew Richards, Head of the Legal Service, Anna Daniel, Head of Strategic Transformation Richard Thomas, Strategic Transformation Tom Jackson (Welsh Government) |
1 Introductions, apologies and substitutions
The Llywydd welcomed Members to the meeting.
2 Minutes of the previous meeting
The Minutes of the previous meeting were agreed for publication.
3 Organisation of Business
3.1 This week's business
Tuesday
The Trefnydd drew Business Managers’ attention to the following changes:
The Trefnydd informed the Committee that the Minister for Social Justice will deliver her statement remotely.
3.2 Three week timetable of Government Business
The Trefnydd drew Business Managers’ attention to the following changes:
Tuesday 13 December
· The Trade in Animals and Related Products (Amendment and Legislative Functions) and Animal Health (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Wales) (EU Exit) Regulations 2022 (15 mins)
· The Food and Feed (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Wales) (EU Exit) Regulations 2022 (15 mins)
The Trefnydd informed Business Committee that the Government intends to move a motion without notice under Standing Order 26.48 on 6 December to propose that the Senedd passes the Environmental Protection (Single-use Plastic Products) (Wales) Bill, immediately following the conclusion of Stage 3 proceedings. Business Committee indicated its contentment with taking that approach for this Bill but expressed a view that it should not be common practice.
3.3 Three week timetable of Senedd Business
Business Committee also agreed to a request from Mabon ap Gwynfor to swap his short debate on 14 December with Jack Sargeant’s on 7 December. Therefore, the following changes were agreed:
7 December 2022
14 December 2022
Business Committee also agreed to the following additions to the timetable:
Wednesday 11 January 2023
3.4 Debates on Members' Legislative Proposals - selection of motion for debate
Business Committee considered the motions tabled and agreed to schedule the following motion for debate on 7 December:
NNDM8093
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) remove the barriers that exist for deaf people and their families in education, health, public services, support services and in the workplace;
b) strengthen the seven well-being goals of the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 as they relate to BSL;
c) work towards ensuring that deaf people who use BSL are not treated less favourably than those who speak Welsh or English;
d) ensure that deaf communities have a voice in the design and delivery of services to ensure they meet their needs;
e) establish a BSL Commissioner who will:
(i) formulate BSL standards;.
(ii) establish a BSL advisory panel;
(iii) produce reports every five years in BSL, Welsh and English on the position of BSL in that period;
(iv) provide guidance and a process for public bodies to promote and facilitate BSL in their respective domains;
f) establish a procedure for the investigation of complaints;
g) require public bodies to report on their progress in promoting and facilitating BSL through their Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 reporting cycle;
h) place a duty on the Welsh Government to prepare and publish an annual BSL report describing what Welsh Government departments have done to promote the use of BSL.
4 Legislation
4.1 The Food (Wales) Bill - timetable
Business Committee agreed that the Bill should be referred to the Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee for consideration of the general principles.
Business Committee agreed to defer a decision on the timetable for the Bill in order to consult that Committee, and to return to the matter at a future meeting.
4.2 Letter from the Chair of the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee regarding the Environmental Protection (Single-use Plastic Products) (Wales) Bill
Business Committee noted the letter and thanked the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee for raising this matter and agreed that it will take the points raised into account if and when it is required to consider any such request in future.
4.3 Update on LCMs
Business Committee considered an update from the Trefnydd and agreed to refer the Legislative Consent Memorandum on the Shark Fins Bill to the Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee and the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee for scrutiny, with a reporting deadline of 16 January 2023.
4.4 Letter from the Chair of the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee regarding the Climate Change (Targeted Greenhouse Gases) Order 2022
Business Committee noted the letter. The Llywydd stated her intention to meet with the Chair of the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee to discuss the matter and will provide an update to Business Committee following that meeting.
4.5 Paper to note - letter from the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd to Committee Chairs regarding the Animals and Animal Health, Feed and Food, Plants and Plant Health (Amendment) Regulations 2022
Business Committee noted the letter.
5 Review of Proxy Voting
Business Committee discussed a number of considerations relating to the Review of Proxy Voting. In light of the development of remote participation and voting in Senedd proceedings, Business Committee agreed that eligibility for a proxy vote should be limited to situations in which a Member was expected to be absent from all Senedd proceedings. Having done so, Business Committee agreed that the consultation with Members should commence next week and run until the end of the second week of term in 2023.
5.1 Scope of review and Member consultation paper
Business Committee discussed a number of considerations relating to the Review of Proxy Voting. In light of the development of remote participation and voting in Senedd proceedings, Business Committee agreed that eligibility for a proxy vote should be limited to situations in which a Member was to be absent from all Senedd proceedings. Having done so, Business Committee agreed that the consultation with Members should commence next week and run until the end of the second week of term in 2023 (20 January 2023).
6 Senedd Reform
6.1 Consideration of Special Purpose Committee on Senedd Reform's Recommendations - decision update
Business Committee returned to its consideration of the size of the Welsh Government in a larger Senedd. A majority on the Committee agreed to a proposal from the Trefnydd that the maximum limit on the number of Welsh Ministers should be increased from 12 to 17 ministers as part of Senedd Reform legislation. The majority also agreed to a proposal by the Trefnydd that the legislation should include a mechanism which would enable the Welsh Government to propose a further increase to this limit, up to a maximum of 19, through secondary legislation, in circumstances where an increase is considered to be merited. Business Committee agreed that such an increase should be subject to an affirmative vote of the Senedd.
Darren Millar stated his view that the maximum number of Ministers should be 16, and that any further increase in the number of Ministers should be approved by two-thirds of Members voting.
Business Committee agreed to consider a report of their conclusions on the four matters that it has considered at a subsequent meeting.