Minutes - Business Committee


Meeting Venue:

Conference Room 4B - Tŷ Hywel

Meeting date: 2 December 2025

Meeting time: 08.57 - 09.17


Private,Hybrid

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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:

Graeme Francis (Clerk)

Steffan Lewis (Deputy Clerk)

Others in attendance

Jane Dodds MS

David Rees MS, Deputy Presiding Officer

Manon Antoniazzi, Chief Executive and Clerk

Julian Luke, Director of Senedd Business

Bethan Davies, Head of Chamber and Committee Service

Marc Wyn Jones, Head of Policy and Legislation Committee Service

Helen Carey, Welsh Government

 

<AI1>

1       Introductions, apologies and substitutions

The Llywydd welcomed Members to the meeting. No apologies were received.

</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

This Week’s Business

 

Tuesday 

 

 

Business Committee noted that the Llywydd will call a break between Voting Time and the start of Stage 3 proceedings.

 

Wednesday

 

Business Committee noted the following change

 

 

 

Business Committee noted that Tom Giffard had requested to postpone his short debate but decided against re-scheduling it to a later date.

 

Heledd Fychan requested an update on the point she had raised at a previous meeting as to why the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care is no longer making an Oral Statement on the anniversary of deemed consent for organ donation. The Trefnydd indicated that she had discussed this matter with the Cabinet Secretary and that there would be an opportunity for Members to raise this issue in his Oral Questions this week. She stated that she would discuss further with the Cabinet Secretary.

 

</AI4>

<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 9 December 2025

·         Debate: Stage 4 of the Bus Services (Wales) Bill (15 mins)

</AI5>

<AI6>

3.3   Three week timetable of Senedd Business

Business Managers agreed to schedule the following items on the Three Week Timetable of Senedd Business:

 

Wednesday 14 January 2026 –

 

</AI6>

<AI7>

4       Legislation

</AI7>

<AI8>

4.1   Letter from the Member Accountability Bill Committee regarding Stage 2 proceedings

Business Committee considered the letter in conjunction with item 4.2.

 

</AI8>

<AI9>

4.2   Letter from the Member Accountability Bill Committee regarding the impact of the timetable on scrutiny

Business Committee considered the correspondence from the Member Accountability Bill Committee and the issues raised in relation to scheduling committee meetings and concerns highlighted by stakeholders around the timetable for consultation on and scrutiny of the Bill.

 

Paul Davies supported the concern raised regarding the adequacy of the time available to the Committee, and others, for scrutiny of the Bill at Stage 1.

 

Business Committee returned to discuss that matter of referring the Bill for Stage 2 scrutiny. Paul Davies and Heledd Fychan reiterated that it was their preference for Stage 2 to be conducted in a Committee of the Whole Senedd. The Trefnydd stated that it remained the Welsh Government’s view that for Stage 2 proceedings be referred to the Member Accountability Bill Committee, indicating that a lack of available time for a Committee of the Whole Senedd to meet in light of other legislative proceedings scheduled in February 2026.

 

The Llywydd proposed that Business Committee may wish to consider the option of making time available for Stage 2 proceedings to take place in a Committee of the Whole Senedd on a Wednesday afternoon by reducing the volume of Senedd Business scheduled in Plenary on that day.

 

The Trefnydd agreed to discuss the matter further with the Minister in Charge of the Bill. Business Managers agreed to return to the issue in order to take a decision at the next Business Committee meeting.

 

</AI9>

<AI10>

4.3   Update on LCMs

Business Committee considered an update from the Trefnydd and agreed to refer the LCM on the Cyber Security and Resilience (Network and Information Systems) Bill to the Climate Change, Environment and Infrastructure Committee and the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee for scrutiny, with a reporting deadline of 13 February 2026.

 

</AI10>

<AI11>

5       Committees

</AI11>

<AI12>

5.1   Letter from the Chair of the Petitions Committee requesting a debate

Heledd Fychan declared an interest on this item: she had participated in the meeting of the Petitions Committee when it agreed to request a debate on the petition.

 

The Business Committee considered the request and agreed to schedule a debate on petition P-06-1555 To review all guidance on Home to School Transport for all of Wales. Free access to an education for 14 January 2026.

 

</AI12>

<AI13>

5.2   Letter from the Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee regarding a visit to Dublin, Ireland

The Business Committee considered the request and agreed for Members to be absent from Plenary business on 24 and 25 February 2026.

</AI13>

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