Concise Minutes - Business Committee: Procedural Work


Meeting Venue: Committee Room 5 - Tŷ Hywel

Meeting date: Thursday, 16 October 2025

Meeting time: 09.30 - 11.16
 


Private, Hybrid

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Attendance

Category

Names

Members of the Senedd:

Elin Jones MS, Chair

Paul Davies MS

Heledd Fychan MS

Jane Hutt MS

Committee Staff:

Alun Davidson, Clerk

Steffan Lewis, Deputy Clerk

Others in attendance:

David Rees MS, Deputy Presiding Officer

Jane Dodds MS

Bethan Davies, Head of Chamber and Committee Service

Graeme Francis, Head of Chamber Secretariat and Clerk to

the Business Committee

Helen Finlayson, Clerk for Legislative Procedural Review

Adam Vaughan, Second Clerk

Lisa Griffiths, Procedures Clerk

Josh Hayman, Researcher

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. No apologies were received.

</AI1>

<AI2>

2       Minutes of the previous meeting held on 9 October 2025

The minutes of the previous meeting were agreed.

</AI2>

<AI3>

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

</AI3>

<AI4>

3.1   Financial resolutions for Bills

The Committee considered the paper and agreed:

</AI4>

<AI5>

3.2   Debate and disposal of amendments to Bills, and associated issues

The Committee considered the paper and agreed:

</AI5>

<AI6>

4       Parliamentary business in the Seventh Senedd

The Committee considered the paper. Members agreed to consult their groups on the issues in the paper and provide feedback at a subsequent meeting.

 

</AI6>

<AI7>

5       Standing Order thresholds for the formation of political groups and groupings

The Committee considered the paper and agreed that the minimum threshold for forming a political group or grouping should be raised to 5.

</AI7>

<AI8>

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

</AI8>

<AI9>

6.1   Member Bills

Members provided feedback following consultation with their groups on the issues discussed at the previous meeting on 9 October.

 

The Committee agreed to propose that Members should be selected to introduce Member Bills via a name-only ballot instead of the current proposal-based ballot, and asked officials to bring forward draft proposals for further consideration at a future meeting.

</AI9>

<AI10>

6.2   Bill timetabling

Members provided feedback following consultation with their groups on the issues discussed at the previous meeting on 9 October.

 

The Committee asked officials to bring forward further advice on the outstanding issues for further consideration at a future meeting.

</AI10>

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