Concise Minutes - Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee


Meeting Venue:

Video conference via Zoom

Meeting date: Monday, 14 July 2025

Meeting time: 13.03 - 15.59
This meeting can be viewed
on Senedd TV at:
http://senedd.tv/en/15172


Remote

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Attendance

Category

Names

Members of the Senedd:

Mike Hedges MS (Chair)

Alun Davies MS

Samuel Kurtz MS

Witnesses:

Claire Fife, Welsh Government

Dr James George, Welsh Government

Dewi Jones, Welsh Government

Dion Thomas, Welsh Government

Catrin Huws, Welsh Government

Committee Staff:

P Gareth Williams (Clerk)

Gerallt Roberts (Second Clerk)

Sarah Sargent (Second Clerk)

 

<AI1>

1       Introduction, apologies, substitutions and declarations of interest

Apologies were received from Adam Price MS, who was representing the Committee at the Equality and Social Justice Committee’s evidence session with Lord Timpson, UK Minister of State for Prisons, Probation and Reducing Reoffending.

</AI1>

<AI2>

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

</AI2>

<AI3>

2.1   SL(6)632 - The Education (School Day and School Year) (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2025

The Committee considered the instrument and was content.

</AI3>

<AI4>

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

</AI4>

<AI5>

3.1   SL(6)623 - The Infrastructure Consent (Examination and Decision) (Procedure) (Wales) Regulations 2025

The Committee noted the Welsh Government response.

</AI5>

<AI6>

3.2   SL(6)624 - The Infrastructure Consent (Compulsory Acquisition) (Wales) Regulations 2025

The Committee noted the Welsh Government response.

</AI6>

<AI7>

3.3   SL(6)625 - The Infrastructure Consent (Pre-Application and Application Procedure and Transitional Provisions) (Wales) Regulations 2025

The Committee noted the Welsh Government response.

</AI7>

<AI8>

3.4   SL(6)627 - The Environmental Protection (Single-use Vapes) (Wales) (Amendment) (Wales) Regulations 2025

The Committee noted the Welsh Government response.

</AI8>

<AI9>

3.5   SL(6)621 - The Infrastructure Consent (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Wales) Regulations 2025

The Committee noted the Welsh Government response.

</AI9>

<AI10>

3.6   SL(6)622 - The Infrastructure Consent (Fees) (Wales) Regulations 2025

The Committee noted the Welsh Government response.

</AI10>

<AI11>

3.7   SL(6)630 - The Welsh Elections Financial Assistance Scheme (Disabled Candidates) Regulations 2025

The Committee noted the Welsh Government response.

</AI11>

<AI12>

4       Inter-Institutional Relations Agreement

</AI12>

<AI13>

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

The Committee noted the correspondence from the Welsh Government in relation to meetings of: the Inter-Ministerial Group for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; the Finance: Interministerial Standing Committee; the Inter-Ministerial Group meeting on Work and Pensions; and the Culture and Creative Industries Inter-Ministerial Group.

</AI13>

<AI14>

5       Papers to note

</AI14>

<AI15>

5.1   Correspondence to the Welsh Government: Environment (Principles, Governance and Biodiversity Targets) (Wales) Bill

The Committee noted the correspondence to the Welsh Government.

</AI15>

<AI16>

5.2   Correspondence from the Welsh Government: The Welsh Government's response to the Committee's reports on the Welsh Government's Legislative Consent Memorandum and the Supplementary Legislative Consent Memorandum (Memorandum No. 2) on the Planning and Infrastructure Bill

The Committee noted the Welsh Government response.

</AI16>

<AI17>

5.3   Correspondence from the Cabinet Secretary for Local Government and Housing: The Allocation of Housing and Homelessness (Eligibility) (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2025

The Committee noted the correspondence from the Cabinet Secretary for Local Government and Housing.

</AI17>

<AI18>

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.

</AI18>

<AI19>

7       Legislative Consent Memoranda on the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill: Draft report

The Committee agreed its draft report.

</AI19>

<AI20>

8       Legislative Consent Memorandum on the Absent Voting (Elections in Scotland and Wales) Bill: Draft report

The Committee agreed its draft report subject to minor changes to be agreed outside the Committee meeting.

</AI20>

<AI21>

9       Supplementary Legislative Consent Memorandum (Memorandum No. 3) on the Planning and Infrastructure Bill: Draft report

The Committee agreed its draft report.

</AI21>

<AI22>

10    Legislative Consent Memorandum on the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) Bill

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

</AI22>

<AI23>

11    Legislative Consent Memorandum on the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Bill: Draft report

The Committee agreed its draft report.

</AI23>

<AI24>

12    Supplementary Legislative Consent Memorandum (Memorandum No. 4) on the Employment Rights Bill: Draft report

The Committee considered the Supplementary Legislative Consent Memorandum and agreed its draft report in respect of the memorandum.

</AI24>

<AI25>

13    Review of the implementation of the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement: Draft report chapter on cross-cutting issues

The Committee agreed an introductory chapter to the report, to be agreed jointly with other Senedd committees. The Committee also formally noted the submission received from the Wales Council for Voluntary Action.

</AI25>

<AI26>

14    Consolidation Acts of the Senedd: The role of the responsible committee

The Committee received a briefing as to the role of the responsible committee in scrutinising Consolidation Acts of the Senedd.

</AI26>

<AI27>

15    The Welsh Government's exercise to consolidate planning law in Wales: Briefing from Welsh Government officials

The Committee received a briefing from Welsh Government officials.

</AI27>

<AI28>

16    Planning (Wales) Bill: Approach to scrutiny (subject to the Bill's introduction)

</AI28>

<AI29>

17    Planning (Consequential Provisions) (Wales) Bill: Approach to scrutiny (subject to the Bill's introduction)

The Committee considered and agreed its approach to scrutiny of the forthcoming Planning (Consequential Provisions) (Wales) Bill (subject to the Bill's introduction).

</AI29>

<AI30>

18    Supplementary Legislative Consent Memorandum (Memorandum No. 4) on the Mental Health Bill: Draft report

The Committee considered the Supplementary Legislative Consent Memorandum (Memorandum No. 4) and agreed its draft report.

</AI30>

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