Concise Minutes - Business Committee

Meeting Venue:

Committee Room 1, Senedd

Meeting date: Thursday, 19 June 2025

Meeting time: 10.32 - 12.16
This meeting can be viewed
on Senedd TV at:
http://senedd.tv/en/15546

Private, Hybrid

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Attendance

Category	Names
Members of the Senedd:	Rt. Hon. Elin Jones MS (Chair) Paul Davies MS Heledd Fychan MS Jane Hutt MS
Committee Staff:	Alun Davidson, Clerk Beth Hales, Deputy Clerk
Others in attendance:	Bethan Davies, Head of Chamber and Committee Service Julian Luke, Head of Policy and Legislation Committee Service Helen Finlayson, Clerk for Legislative Procedural Review Lisa Griffiths, Procedures Clerk Adam Vaughan, Second Clerk Josh Hayman, Research Catrin Davies, Welsh Government Anthony Cooper, Welsh Labour Jennifer Ramsay, Welsh Conservatives Francess Ifans, Plaid Cymru

<AI1>

1 Introductions, apologies and substitutions

The Llywydd welcomed Members to the meeting. Apologies were received from Jane Dodds and David Rees.

</AI1>

<AI2>

2 Minutes of the previous meeting held on 5 June 2025

The minutes of the previous meeting were agreed.

</AI2>

<AI3>

3 Standing Order Thresholds

The Business Committee considered the papers relating to Standing Order thresholds and the recommendations made by the Future Senedd Committee previously.

Members discussed the threshold for political groups and groupings and agreed to return to this at a future meeting.

It was agreed that, for the purposes of the Business Committee’s procedural work programme, a threshold of five members for political groups and groupings can be assumed for the time being.

A final decision on the threshold for political groups and groupings will not be sought until further consideration has been given to wider implications, and consultation with political groups has taken place.

The Business Committee agreed all other Standing Order threshold changes

recommended by the Future Senedd Committee.

</AI3>

<AI4>

3.1 Standing Order thresholds: Recommendations of the Future Senedd Committee

</AI4>

<AI5>

3.2 Committee Chair Nomination Threshold: Recommendations of the Future Senedd Committee

</AI5>

<AI6>

4 Categories of Members

The proposed changes to Standing Orders were agreed, subject to some minor amendments.

The Llywydd noted the need to undertake an editorial review of Standing Orders towards the end of the Business Committee’s procedural work programme, given the number of changes that are likely to be proposed to Standing Orders.

</AI6>

<AI7>

4.1 Categories of Members: Draft standing order change report

</AI7>

<AI8>

4.2 Amending Standing Orders: Categories of Member

</AI8>

<AI9>

5 Committee chair job sharing

Paul Davies said that whilst the Welsh Conservative group did not agree with the proposed model of committee chair job sharing, as the Welsh Conservative group prefers a Chair and Vice Chair model, they recognised the majority in favour of the proposals and would work constructively to develop them.

The Business Committee agreed the proposals for a trial of committee chair job sharing, and that the temporary Standing Orders needed to implement a trial should limit the trial to a maximum of three committees.

</AI9>

<AI10>

5.1 Committee chair job sharing: Agreement of final proposal

</AI10>

<AI11>

6 Review of the legislative scrutiny processes for Public Bills and Member Bills

The Trefnydd did not agree the recommended options proposed in the accompanying paper, and proposed alternative options.

Members agreed that further discussions should be held between Senedd Commission and Welsh Government officials before returning to this item at a future meeting.

</AI11>

<AI12>

6.1 Review of the legislative scrutiny processes for Public Bills and Member Bills: Admissibility of identical amendments

</AI12>

<AI13>

7 Review of the legislative scrutiny processes for Public Bills and Member Bills

The Business Committee agreed to publish the evidence presented, alongside a letter received from the Counsel General and Minister for Delivery.

</AI13>

<AI14>

7.1 Review of the legislative scrutiny processes for Public Bills and Member Bills: Evidence publication

</AI14>

<AI15>

7.2 Annex 1: Issues raised during Member drop-in session

</AI15>

<AI16>

7.3 Annex 2: Issues raised by Members and officials with experience of Member Bills

</AI16>

<AI17>

7.4 Annex 3: Issues raised by the Chairs’ Forum

</AI17>

<AI18>

8 Review of the legislative scrutiny processes for Public Bills and Member Bills

Paul Davies gave his apologies for the next meeting on Thursday 26 June 2025. Darren Millar will attend the meeting as substitute.

The Business Committee agreed that the next meeting would be held virtually.

</AI18>

<AI19>

8.1 Review of the legislative scrutiny processes for Public Bills and Member Bills: Member Bills

</AI19>

<AI20>

8.2 Review of the legislative scrutiny processes for Public Bills and Member Bills: Member Bill outcomes

</AI20>

<AI21>

8.3 Review of the legislative scrutiny processes for Public Bills and Member Bills: Comparison of Member Bill procedures

</AI21>

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