Meeting Venue:
Tŷ Hywel
Meeting date: 17 January 2023
Meeting time: 09.10 - 09.40
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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 |
David Rees MS, Deputy Presiding Officer 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 |
1 Introductions, apologies and substitutions
The Llywydd welcomed Members to the meeting. No apologies were received.
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:
Wednesday
3.2 Three week timetable of Government Business
The Trefnydd drew Business Managers’ attention to the following changes:
Tuesday 24 January –
· Statement by the Minister for Health and Social Services: Increasing Allied Health Professionals in Primary and Community Care (30 mins)
· Statement by the Minister for Social Justice: Update on Ukraine (30 mins) postponed from 17 January
Business Committee also agreed the following changes to scheduled business:
Tuesday 31 January –
· Questions to the Minister for Economy (45 mins) Moved from 1 February
· Questions to the Minister for Health and Social Services (45 mins) Moved from 1 February
· Topical Questions (20 mins) Moved from 1 February
· LCM on the Trade (Australia and New Zealand) Bill (15 mins)
3.3 Three week timetable of Senedd Business
Business Committee agreed to make the following changes to the timetable:
Wednesday 1 February –
Wednesday 8 February 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 25 January:
Rhun ap Iorwerth
NNDM8155
To propose that the Senedd:
1. Notes a proposal for a Bill on digital carbon footprint reduction.
2. Notes that the purpose of this Bill would be to:
a) respond to the need to be more efficient in our use of digital in Wales, as part of the effort to reach net zero, specifically in relation to the use of energy to run digital platforms;
b) include a strategy to deal with data that is created, stored and processed in a more energy efficient way;
c) set targets for ensuring that data centres run in the most efficient manner, including through the use of renewable energy sources, thereby supporting the development of a green data sector in Wales;
d) ensure that sustainability is the basis of all decisions made when public bodies deal with data;
e) encourage innovation to help decarbonise and reach national net-zero objectives.
4 Legislation
4.1 Correspondence from the Chair of the Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee regarding the Legislative Consent Memorandum on the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Bill
Business Committee noted the Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee's concerns regarding the timescales for scrutiny of the Legislative Consent Memorandum on the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Bill, as a result of the late laying of the LCM.
The Trefnydd confirmed that she would be responding to the Business Committee’s letter on this point, and would copy that response to committees.
5 Committees
5.1 Correspondence from the Chair of the Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee regarding an upcoming committee visit
Business Committee considered and agreed the request for Members of the Committee to be excused from Plenary on 26 April 2023.
6 Any other business
Industrial action on 1 February
Business Committee discussed the impact on Senedd business of planned industrial action by members of the PCS Union on Wednesday 1 February.
In accordance with Standing Order 11.5(iv), a majority of the Committee voted to move Plenary business previously scheduled for 1 February, with the effect that no Plenary meeting would be held on that day. The Welsh Conservatives voted against rescheduling business from 1 February.
Business Committee agreed to move Topical Questions and Questions to the Minister for Economy and the Minister for Health and Social Services to 31 January, and to reschedule the Member Debate, Children, Young People and Education Committee debate, Time allocated to the Welsh Conservatives and the Short Debate to Wednesday 8 February. The Committee also agreed to schedule two Short Debates on 15 February.
Business Committee agreed to amend the deadline for tabling Oral Questions for answer on 31 January to Tuesday 24 January and to amend the deadline for tabling Oral Questions and motions for debate on 8 February to Tuesday 31 January.
Business Committee agreed that the Finance Committee and Local Government and Housing Committee could meet on the morning of Tuesday 31 January, in place of their meetings scheduled for 1 February.
Review of proxy voting provisions
The Llywydd asked Business Managers to remind their Members that the survey to inform the current review of proxy voting provisions will close at noon on Friday 20 January.