Minutes - Business Committee


Meeting Venue:

Tŷ Hywel

Meeting date: 10 December 2024

Meeting time: 09.01 - 09.37


Remote/ Private

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Attendance

Category

Names

Committee Members:

Elin Jones MS, Llywydd (Chair)

Heledd Fychan

Jane Hutt MS

Paul Davies MS (In place of Darren Millar MS)

Committee Staff:

Graeme Francis (Clerk)

Yan Thomas (Deputy Clerk)

Others in attendance

Jane Dodds MS

David Rees MS, Deputy Presiding Officer

Manon Antoniazzi, Chief Executive and Clerk

Matthew Richards, Interim Director of Senedd Business

Bethan Davies, Head of Chamber and Committee Service

Julian Luke, Head of Policy and Legislation Committee Service

Aled ap Neill, Plenary Clerk

Helen Carey, Welsh Government

 

<AI1>

1       Introductions, apologies and substitutions

The Llywydd welcomed Members to the meeting. Darren Millar MS sent his apologies, Paul Davies MS attended in his place.

</AI1>

<AI2>

2       Minutes of the previous meeting

The minutes of the previous meeting were agreed for publication.

</AI2>

<AI3>

3       Organisation of Business

</AI3>

<AI4>

3.1   This week's business

Tuesday 

The Trefnydd informed Business Managers of the following change:

·         Statement by the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs: Storm Darragh (45 mins)

 

Business Managers also agreed to schedule the following items:

·         Motion to suspend Standing Orders (5 mins)

·         Motion to annul the National Health Service (General Medical Services Contracts) (Prescription of Drugs Etc.) (Wales) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2024 (30 mins)

 

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

·         Plenary is unlikely to run past 8.45pm

 

Jane Dodds followed up a query she had raised at the previous meeting regarding when an Oral Statement on the Animal Welfare Plan would be scheduled, and noted a previous indication that this would happen before the end of this year. The Trefnydd indicated that a Written Statement on the response to a public consultation will be issued before Christmas and that she would discuss the matter of an Oral Statement further with the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs.

The Llywydd informed Business Managers that she will announce the new membership of the Welsh Youth Parliament at the beginning of Plenary on Tuesday. The announcement will precede FMQs and will be accompanied by visuals.

 

Wednesday

The Llywydd informed Business Managers of the following change:

 

</AI4>

<AI5>

3.2   Three week timetable of Government Business

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

 

Tuesday 7 January 2025

·         Statement by the First Minister: Delivering for Wales (60 mins)

·         Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Welsh Language: Welsh language technology (45 mins)

 

Tuesday 14 January 2025

·         Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care: NHS winter pressures (45 mins)

·         Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip: Income Maximisation and update on work to implement the Welsh Benefits Charter (45 mins)

·         The Representation of the People (Electoral Registration without Applications) (Pilot Scheme) (Wales) Regulations 2025 (15 mins)

 

Heledd Fychan requested that the Government consider bringing forward oral statements on the Learner Travel Measure and how it plans to maximise the benefits of the Wales women's national football team’s qualification for Euro 2025. The Trefnydd responded that she would give consideration to both matters.

 

</AI5>

<AI6>

3.3   Three week timetable of Senedd Business

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

 

Wednesday 22 January 2025 –

</AI6>

<AI7>

3.4   Request to schedule a debate on a the Motion to annul the National Health Service (General Medical Services Contracts) (Prescription of Drugs Etc.) (Wales) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2024

Business Committee considered a request received from Adam Price MS to schedule a debate on a Motion to annul the National Health Service (General Medical Services Contracts) (Prescription of Drugs Etc.) (Wales) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2024, which he had tabled on 4 December. Business Committee noted that the 40 period for such a motion to be considered under Standing Order 27.2 would expire on 10 December 2024.

Business Committee agreed to make time available for the motion to be debated by the Senedd today, and to table a motion to suspend Standing Orders to enable the debate to take place.

</AI7>

<AI8>

3.5   Request to schedule a debate on No Named Day Motion 8756

Business Committee considered a request received from Mabon ap Gwynfor MS to schedule a debate on a No Named Day Motion tabled in his name concerning Natural Resources Wales’ 'Case for Change' agenda. A majority of Business Committee agreed that a debate should be scheduled at a date to be confirmed during the next term. 

</AI8>

<AI9>

4       Legislation

</AI9>

<AI10>

4.1   Update on LCMs

Business Committee considered an update on LCMs and agreed to:

 

Business Committee noted that discussions would continue between Senedd Commission and Welsh Government officials in respect of whether it will be possible to extend further the deadline for LCMs on the Water (Special Measures) Bill and the Renters Rights Bill.

The Trefnydd also noted that the Government will lay an LCM for the Data (Use and Access) Bill this week, for formal referral for scrutiny in January, and that the Government currently envisages recommending a reporting deadline of 7 March for this LCM.

</AI10>

<AI11>

5       Procedural Work

</AI11>

<AI12>

5.1   Proposal for a longer-form debate

Business Committee considered responses received from Members and party groups to the proposal for a trial of a new format for occasional longer-form debates and agreed to proceed with the trial. The Committee agreed:

</AI12>

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