Concise Minutes - Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee


Meeting Venue:

Hybrid - Committee Room 4, Tŷ Hywel and videoconference via Zoom

Meeting date: Monday, 30 June 2025

Meeting time: 13.31 - 16.22
This meeting can be viewed
on Senedd TV at:
http://senedd.tv/en/15137


Hybrid

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Attendance

Category

Names

Members of the Senedd:

Mike Hedges MS (Chair)

Alun Davies MS

Samuel Kurtz MS

Adam Price MS

Witnesses:

Huw Irranca-Davies MS, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs

Naomi Matthiessen, Welsh Government

Bernadette Payne, Welsh Government

Joel Scoberg-Evans, Welsh Government

Alice Teague, Welsh Government

Colin Harvey, Queen’s University Belfast

Committee Staff:

P Gareth Williams (Clerk)

Gerallt Roberts (Second Clerk)

Sarah Sargent (Second Clerk)

 

<AI1>

1       Introduction, apologies, substitutions and declarations of interest

There were no apologies or substitutions.

</AI1>

<AI2>

2       Environment (Principles, Governance and Biodiversity Targets) (Wales) Bill: Evidence Session with the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs

The Committee received evidence from the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs in relation to the Environment (Principles, Governance and Biodiversity Targets) (Wales) Bill. The Committee also noted a submission from the Green Alliance in relation the Bill.

</AI2>

<AI3>

3       Instruments that raise issues to be reported to the Senedd under Standing Order 21.2 or 21.3

There were no items of business to consider.

</AI3>

<AI4>

4       Inter-Institutional Relations Agreement

</AI4>

<AI5>

4.1   Correspondence from the Welsh Government: Meetings of inter-ministerial groups

The Committee noted the correspondence from the Welsh Government in relation to: a meeting of the Inter-Ministerial Group on Work and Pensions; a meeting of the Inter-Ministerial Standing Committee; and the first meeting of the Tourism Inter-Ministerial Group.

</AI5>

<AI6>

4.2   Correspondence from the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs: The Welfare of Animals (Transport) (Amendment) Regulations 2025

The Committee noted the correspondence from the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs.

</AI6>

<AI7>

5       Papers to note

</AI7>

<AI8>

5.1   Written Statement by the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs: Border Controls on imports into Wales from Ireland

The Committee noted the Written Statement by the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs.

</AI8>

<AI9>

5.2   Correspondence from the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Welsh Language to the Finance Committee: Visitor Accommodation (Register and Levy) Etc. (Wales) Bill

The Committee noted the correspondence from the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Welsh Language to the Finance Committee.

</AI9>

<AI10>

5.3   Correspondence from the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning: The Welsh Government's response to the Committee's report on the Welsh Government's Supplementary Legislative Consent Memorandum (Memorandum No. 3) on the Product Regulation and Metrology Bill

The Committee noted the correspondence from the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning.

</AI10>

<AI11>

5.4   Correspondence from the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip: The Welsh Government's response to the Committee's report on the Welsh Government's Supplementary Legislative Consent Memorandum (Memorandum No. 3) on the Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill

The Committee noted the correspondence from the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip.

</AI11>

<AI12>

5.5   Correspondence from the Minister for Culture, Skills and Social Partnership to the Llywydd: The Employment Rights Bill

The Committee noted the correspondence from the Minister for Culture, Skills and Social Partnership to the Llywydd.

</AI12>

<AI13>

6       Motion under Standing Order 17.42(vi) and (ix) to resolve to exclude the public from the remainder of the meeting

The motion was agreed.

</AI13>

<AI14>

7       Environment (Principles, Governance and Biodiversity Targets) (Wales) Bill: Consideration of evidence

The Committee considered the evidence it heard from the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs in relation to the Environment (Principles, Governance and Biodiversity Targets) (Wales) Bill. The Committee agreed to write to the Deputy First Minister with questions not reached in the session.

</AI14>

<AI15>

8       Constitutional Change in Ireland and the implications for Wales: Briefing with Professor Colin Harvey - Queen's University Belfast

The Committee received a briefing from Professor Colin Harvey in relation to Constitutional Change in Ireland and the implications for Wales.

</AI15>

<AI16>

9       Statutory Instrument Consent Memorandum on the Legislative Reform (Disclosure of Adult Social Care Data) Order 2025: Draft report

The Committee agreed its draft report.

</AI16>

<AI17>

10    Legislative Consent Memorandum on the Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Bill

The Committee considered the Legislative Consent Memorandum and agreed to consider a draft report at its next meeting.

</AI17>

<AI18>

11    Bus Services (Wales) Bill: Draft report

The Committee agreed its revised draft report.

</AI18>

<AI19>

12    Supplementary Legislative Consent Memorandum (Memorandum No. 2) on the Bus Services (No. 2) Bill: Draft report

The Committee agreed its draft report.

</AI19>

<AI20>

13    The Welsh Government's planning Consolidation Bills

The Committee received an update on the Welsh Government’s plans for the introduction of the planning Consolidation Bills.

The Committee also considered the Welsh Government’s proposed timetable for the scrutiny of the Bills, as well as discussing the associated impact on the Committee during the autumn term.

The Committee agreed to:

</AI20>

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