Meeting Venue:
Tŷ Hywel
Meeting date: 13 June 2023
Meeting time: 09.02 - 09.27
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Category |
Names |
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Committee Members: |
Elin Jones MS, Llywydd (Chair) Lesley Griffiths MS Siân Gwenllian MS Darren Millar 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 Manon Antoniazzi, Chief Executive and Clerk Siwan Davies, Director of Senedd Business Julian Luke, Head of Policy and Legislation Committee Service Bethan Davies, Head of Chamber and Committee Service Helen Carey, 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
There are no changes to this week’s business.
· Voting Time will take place as the last item of business.
· Plenary is unlikely to run past 5.50pm.
Wednesday
The Trefnydd informed Business Committee that, with the agreement of the Llywydd, both the Minister for Education and Welsh Language and the Deputy Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing will respond to the debate on the Children, Young People and Education Committee’s report on Mental Health support in Higher Education on Wednesday 14 June, following a request made by the Committee.
3.2 Three week timetable of Government Business
The Trefnydd drew Business Managers’ attention to the following change:
Tuesday 27 June 2023
·
The Animal By-Products, Pet Passport and Animal Health (Fees)
(Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2023 (5 mins) –
postponed until 4 July
3.3 Three week timetable of Senedd Business
The following additions were agreed to the Three-Week Timetable of Senedd Business:
Wednesday 21 June 2023 –
· Joint item with the Welsh Youth Parliament (45 mins)
Wednesday 5 July 2023 -
3.4 Members’ Legislative Proposals: Selection of Motion for Debate
Business Committee considered the proposed motions and agreed to schedule the following motion for debate on 21 June:
Adam Price
NNDM8293
To propose that the Senedd:
1. Notes a proposal for a Bill on the introduction of a civic duty to vote.
2. Notes that the purpose of this Bill would be to:
a) to seek to emulate the success of other democracies that have introduced a civic duty to vote in increasing levels of voter turnout at elections and thereby improving the level of engagement and representativeness across all ages, classes and communities;
b) to introduce a civic duty for all those eligible to vote to participate in Senedd and county council elections;
c) to allow those wishing to indicate their dissatisfaction with a candidate, party or politics more broadly to so by means of a positive abstention option on the ballot paper;
d) to allow for the introduction of an appropriate sanction for non-compliance with the civic obligation to vote or positively abstain, with legitimate exemptions; and
e) to provide for the introduction of a pilot phase for the introduction of the duty on an age-specific basis.
3.5 Note on the arrangements for the joint session with the Welsh Youth Parliament
Business Committee considered and agreed the proposed arrangements for a joint session with the Welsh Youth Parliament to be held on 21 June 2023. As part of this, Business Committee:
4 European Engagement
4.1 Correspondence regarding the Congress of the Council of Europe
Business Committee discussed further the Senedd’s nominations for representatives on the Congress of the Council of Europe and agreed to nominate:
5 Any other business
The Llywydd raised the matter of Topical Questions following recent increases in the number of questions submitted and informed Business Committee that she intended to give further consideration as to whether any changes should be made to guidance in order to further clarify the criteria. Business Committee also discussed whether Topical Question submissions could be published in the same way as Emergency Questions and agreed to also consider both matters further, with a view to implementing any changes from early in the autumn term.