Meeting Venue:
Conference Room 4B - Tŷ Hywel
Meeting date: 3 June 2025
Meeting time: 08.59 - 09.28
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Category |
Names |
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Committee Members: |
Elin Jones MS, Llywydd (Chair) Paul Davies MS Heledd Fychan MS Jane Hutt 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 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 |
The Llywydd welcomed Members to the meeting.
Heledd Fychan requested an addition to the minute of item 4.2 from the previous meeting to state that the Plaid Cymru group’s position has consistently been to seek to identify a workable model through which the Wales COVID-19 Inquiry Special Purpose Committee can continue its work, but that its view is that the co-chairing arrangements have not worked.
Tuesday
The Llywydd informed Business Managers that live BSL interpretation has been arranged for today’s statement on The Disabled People’s Rights Plan.
Wednesday
Heledd Fychan requested oral statements from the Government on funding to support devolved public sector employers with increased National Insurance costs, and on the Welsh Government response to the Commission for Welsh-speaking Communities report. The Trefnydd noted that written statements had been issued on both matters and that she would consider the requests made.
The Trefnydd informed Business Managers of the following change to the Three Week Timetable of Government Business:
Tuesday 17 June 2025
·
Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Education: Progress of
the Curriculum Roll Out (45 mins) – Postponed until 24
June
The Llywydd informed Business Managers that following agreement at Business Committee’s meeting on 20 May, motions to formally dissolve the Reform Bill Committee and Future Senedd Committee will be tabled this week for consideration in Plenary on Wednesday 11 June. Therefore, the following addition was agreed:
Wednesday 11 June 2025 –
· Dissolution of committees (5 mins)
Business Managers agreed the following changes to the Three Week Timetable of Senedd Business:
Wednesday 25 June 2025 –
Business Committee considered the response received from the Committee and agreed the proposed timetable for the Environment (Principles, Governance and Biodiversity Targets) (Wales) Bill.
Business Committee considered an update from the Trefnydd and agreed to:
Business Committee noted a proposal for a cross-committee visit to Brussels and agreed a request for a number of members of the Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee, the Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee, the Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee and the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee to be excused from other Senedd business between 24 – 27 June 2025.
Options for future scrutiny of UK Covid Inquiry reports
The Business Committee considered how future scrutiny of UK Covid Inquiry reports could be taken forward by the Senedd and its committees.
The Business Committee agreed to:
o lead the scrutiny of gaps identified by the Covid Committee in relation to module 1 and, where possible, work with other committees on areas within their remit; and
o lead scrutiny of the module 2 report, to include sub section 2b in relation to Wales, possibly after the Welsh Government response is available.
The Business Committee also considered how it could facilitate a Plenary debate on the Wales COVID-19 Inquiry Special Purpose Committee's Module 1 report, in order that the Senedd is able to discuss the Committee’s findings. Business Managers agreed in principle that the Business Committee should table a motion to enable a debate to take place during the summer term and to return to consider the matter further having discussed it with their respective groups.
Any other business
Russell George committee place
The Llywydd informed Business Managers that Russell George has indicated that he does not wish to take up the offer for a place on a committee at the present time.