Minutes - Business Committee


Meeting Venue:

Video Conference via Zoom

Meeting date: 23 January 2024

Meeting time: 09.01 - 09.20


Private

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Attendance

Category

Names

Committee Members:

Elin Jones MS, Llywydd (Chair)

Lesley Griffiths MS

Darren Millar MS

Llyr Gruffydd MS

Committee Staff:

Graeme Francis (Clerk)

Yan Thomas (Deputy Clerk)

Others in attendance

David Rees MS, Deputy Presiding Officer

Manon Antoniazzi, Chief Executive and Clerk

Siwan Davies, Deputy Chief Executive and Clerk and Director of Senedd Business

Bethan Davies, Head of Chamber and Committee Service

Julian Luke, Head of Policy and Legislation Committee Service

Llinos Madeley, Procedures and Parliamentary Skills

Alun Davidson, Constitutional Change / Parliamentary Business Strategy Team

 

<AI1>

1       Introductions, apologies and substitutions

The Llywydd welcomed Members to the meeting. Apologies were received from Heledd Fychan, Llyr Gruffydd attended in her place.

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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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<AI4>

3.1   This week's business

Tuesday

 

The Trefnydd informed Business Managers of the following changes:

 

·         Statement by the Minister for Economy: Tata Steel (45 mins)

·         Statement by the Minister for Economy: The economy of the Heads of the Valleys (30 mins) Postponed

 

·         Voting Time will take place as the last item of business.

·         Plenary is unlikely to run past 6.45pm.

 

Wednesday

 

The Trefnydd informed Business Managers that the Minister for Finance and Local Government is unable to respond to the Welsh Conservative debate on local government funding as she will be travelling to an interministerial meeting in Scotland. The Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip will respond to the debate in her place. 

 

·         Voting Time will take place before the Short Debate.

·         Plenary is unlikely to run past 7.10pm.

</AI4>

<AI5>

3.2   Three week timetable of Government Business

The Trefnydd informed Business Managers of the following changes to the Three Week Timetable of Government Business:

 

Tuesday 30 January 2024

 

·         Statement by the First Minister Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution: The final report of the Independent Commission on the Constitutional Future of Wales (45 mins)

·         Statement by the Minister for Climate Change: White paper for a proposed Bill on environmental principles, environmental governance, and biodiversity targets (30 mins)

·         The Official Statistics (Wales) (Amendment) Order 2024 (5 mins) postponed until 20 February

 

Tuesday 6 February 2024

 

·         The Special School Residential Services (Service Providers and Responsible Individuals) (Wales) 2024 (5 mins)

</AI5>

<AI6>

3.3   Three week timetable of Senedd Business

The following additions were agreed to the Three Week Timetable of Senedd Business:

 

Wednesday 31 January 2024 –

·         Motion to amend Standing Orders (5 mins)

Wednesday 21 February 2024 –

·         Debate on the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee Report: Inquiry into UK-EU governance (45 mins)

·         Time allocated to the Welsh Conservatives (60 mins)

·         Time allocated to Plaid Cymru (60 mins)

·         Short Debate: Sioned Williams (South Wales West) (30 mins)

</AI6>

<AI7>

3.4   Members’ Legislative Proposals: Selection of Motion for Debate  

Business Committee considered the proposed motions for debate and agreed to schedule the following proposal on 31 January: 

 

Mabon ap Gwynfor

NNDM8434

 

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes a proposal for a Bill to establish structured oversight of NHS managers, in the form of a regulatory body.

2. Notes that the purpose of the Bill would be to:

a) establish a professional regulatory body for NHS Wales to define the professional standards expected of NHS Wales managers and be a place of recourse for those who feel that those standards have not been met by any one individual NHS Wales manager, and which would have the power to warn, sanction or strike off any NHS Wales manager from its maintained register;

b) define what an NHS Wales manager is and maintain a register of NHS Wales managers;

c) require all NHS managers to be registered with the professional regulatory body.

 

</AI7>

<AI8>

4       Committees

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<AI9>

4.1   Letter from the Co-Chairs of the Wales Covid-19 Inquiry Special Purpose Committee regarding meeting slots

Business Committee agreed to a request from the Wales Covid-19 Inquiry Special Purpose Committee to meet on 20 February, 19 March and subsequent Tuesdays when needed, prior to a permanent slot being agreed at later date.

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<AI10>

5       Senedd Reform

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<AI11>

5.1   Consideration of recommendations to the Business Committee arising from the Reform Bill Committee's Stage 1 report on the Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill

6       Standing Orders

Business Committee considered the recommendations made to it by the Reform Bill Committee and agreed its response.

 

</AI11>

<AI12>

6.1   Consideration of draft report on amending Standing Orders: Limited review of Consolidation Bill procedures

Business Committee considered and agreed a draft report containing proposals to amend Standing Orders relating to Consolidation Bills arising from its limited review of those procedures. The Committee agreed to table a motion proposing that the Senedd agree the proposed Standing Order changes for debate on Wednesday 31 January.

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<AI13>

7       Procedural Work

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<AI14>

7.1   Procedures required for scrutiny of legislation relating to the United Kingdom Internal Market Act 2020 and UK-wide common policy frameworks

Business Committee considered responses received from the Health and Social Care Committee, the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee, the Chairs’ Forum and the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution to proposals to amend Standing Orders.

Business Committee agreed to share the responses received and to provide an opportunity for those who have provided information already to provide further reflections, before returning to the matter of whether to make amendments to Standing Orders at a future meeting. 

</AI14>

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