Minutes - Business Committee

Meeting Venue:

Tŷ Hywel

Meeting date: 21 January 2025

Meeting time: 09.01 - 09.12

Remote / Private

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Attendance

Category	Names
Committee Members:	Elin Jones MS, Llywydd (Chair) Paul Davies MS Heledd Fychan MS Jane Hutt MS
Committee Staff:	Lisa Griffiths (Clerk) Yan Thomas (Deputy Clerk)
Others in attendance	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 Helen Carey, Welsh Government Aled Ap Neill, Chamber and Committee Service

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1 Introductions, apologies and substitutions

The Llywydd welcomed Members to the meeting. Apologies were received by Jane Dodds

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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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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: Water interruption in Conwy (45 mins)

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

· Plenary is unlikely to run past 8.20pm.

Heledd Fychan enquired whether an oral statement would be scheduled on the ceasefire in Gaza. The Trefnydd indicated that she would consider the request. 

Wednesday

· Voting Time will take place before the Short Debate.  

· Plenary is unlikely to run past 7.10pm.

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<AI5>

3.2 Three week timetable of Government Business

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

Tuesday 4 February 2025

• The Land Transaction Tax (Modification of Relief for Acquisitions Involving Multiple Dwellings) (Wales) Regulations 2025 (15 mins)

The Trefnydd indicated that a statement will be brought forward in February on Wales’s participation in the UEFA Women’s Euro 2026 tournament.

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3.3 Three week timetable of Senedd Business

The following items were agreed to be scheduled on the Three Week Timetable of Senedd Business: 

Wednesday 12 February 2025 –

• Member Debate under Standing Order 11.21(iv) (60 mins)
• Debate on the Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee Report: Culture shock - Culture and the new relationship with the European Union (60 mins)
• Time allocated to the Welsh Conservatives (60 mins)
• Short Debate: Carolyn Thomas MS (North Wales) (30 mins)

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4 Legislation

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<AI8>

4.1 Letter from the Chair of the Finance Committee regarding the Land Transaction Tax (Tax Bands and Tax Rates) (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2024

Business Committee noted that the Finance Committee will not report on the Land Transaction Tax (Tax Bands and Tax Rates) (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2024.

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5 Procedural Work

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5.1 Proposal for a longer-form debate

Business Committee considered the proposal and agreed that Members should table proposed topics and that they should be published at the point of tabling. The Business Committee would then select one topic for each debate, leaving unselected topics on the Record. It has been provisionally agreed that the first debate will take place on Wednesday 19 March.

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5.2 Draft report - Amending Standing Orders: Standing Order 12.19

The Committee considered and agreed a draft report containing the proposed change to Standing Order 12.19, and for a motion to amend Standing Orders to be tabled for consideration by the Senedd on Wednesday 29 January.

Additionally, the Committee agreed to return to consider detailed guidance regarding Open Debates at a later meeting.

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