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
Alun Davidson,
Head of Procedures and Parliamentary Skills
Lisa
Griffiths, Procedures
Clerk
|
<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
Tuesday
- Voting Time will take place as the last item
of business
- Plenary is unlikely to run past 8.20pm.
Stage 3 of the Environment (Principles,
Governance and Biodiversity Targets) (Wales) Bill is scheduled for
three hours. There are 54 amendments in 11 groups. A 10 minute
break will take place prior to the start of Stage 3.
Wednesday
The Business Committee agreed the following
change:
- Questions to the Senedd Commission (
30
10 mins)
- Voting Time will take place before the Short
Debate.
- Plenary is unlikely to run past 7:25pm.
</AI4>
<AI5>
3.2
Three week timetable of Government
Business
The Trefnydd informed Business Managers of the
following changes to the Three Week Timetable of Government
Business:
Tuesday 3 March
2026
- Proposal under Standing Order 12.24 to
debate the following items together but with separate votes (5
mins):
-
- The Tertiary Education and Research
(Wales) Act 2022 (Consequential Amendments and Transitory
Provision) Regulations 2026
- The Online Safety Act 2023 (Exempt
User-to-User and Search Services) (Amendment) Regulations
2026
- Proposal under Standing Order 12.24 to
debate the following items together but with separate votes (10
mins):
-
- The Infrastructure Consent (Fees) (Wales)
(Amendment) Regulations 2026
- The Infrastructure Consent (Compensation
for Changing or Revoking Infrastructure Consent Orders) (Wales)
Regulations 2026
- The Road Traffic (Vehicle Emissions)
(Fixed Penalty) (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 (15
mins)
Heledd Fychan raised that Members of her group
had asked whether the 24 February remained the preferred date for
the debate on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill LCM, in
light of the further supplementary LCM to be laid by the
Government. The Trefnydd confirmed that 24 February is still
considered to be the most appropriate date.
</AI5>
<AI6>
3.3
Three week timetable of Senedd
Business
Business Managers agreed the following changes
to the Three Week Timetable of Senedd Business:
Wednesday 25
February 2026 –
- Motion to amend Standing Orders:
Categories of Members (5 mins)
- Motion to amend Standing Orders: Standing
Order Thresholds (5 mins)
- Motion to amend Standing Orders: Political
Groups and Groupings (5 mins)
- Motion to amend Standing Orders:
Additional Deputy Presiding Officer (5 mins)
- Motion to amend Standing Orders: Committee
Chair Job Sharing (5 mins)
- Motion to vary the order of consideration
of Stage 3 amendments to the British Sign Language (Wales) Bill (5
mins)
Wednesday 11 March
2026 -
- Debate on the Economy, Trade and Rural
Affairs Committee report: Bringing home the harvest: Supporting the
Welsh food processing industry (30 mins)
- Debate on the Economy, Trade and Rural
Affairs Committee report: Local Growth Fund (30 mins)
- Debate on the Family-Friendly and
Inclusive Parliament Review Board Report (60 mins)
- Debate: Stage 4 of the British Sign
Language (Wales) Bill (15 mins)
- Time allocated to the Welsh Conservatives
(60 mins)
- Short Debate: Russell George MS
(Montgomeryshire) (30 mins)
</AI6>
<AI7>
4
Legislation
</AI7>
<AI8>
4.1
Letter from the Health and Social Care
Committee in relation to the LCM for the Medical Training
(Prioritisation) Bill
The Business Committee noted the letter and
that the Committee has not reported on the LCM due to the limited
time available.
</AI8>
<AI9>
4.2
Update on LCMs
The Business Committee considered an update
from the Trefnydd and agreed to:
- refer SLCM (No.2) on the Railways Bill to the
Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee and the
Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee for scrutiny, with
a reporting deadline of 20 March 2026;
- pre-emptively refer SLCM (No.3) on the Crime
and Policing Bill to the Legislation, Justice and Constitution
Committee for scrutiny, with a reporting deadline of 24 February
2026;
- pre-emptively refer SLCM (No.4) on Terminally
Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill to the Health and Social Care
Committee and the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
for scrutiny, with a reporting deadline of 24 February 2026;
and
- pre-emptively refer SLCM (No.2) on Pension
Schemes Bill to the Local Government and Housing Committee and the
Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee for scrutiny, with
a reporting deadline of 24 February 2026.
</AI9>
<AI10>
5
Tabling Arrangements
</AI10>
<AI11>
5.1
Post-election tabling: Early day
arrangements
The Business Committee considered the paper
and:
- agreed that the Table Office will open after
the first Plenary meeting of the Seventh Senedd for accepting laid
documents, written questions, urgent business, motions, amendments,
statements of opinion, and laid documents;
- noted that Written Questions tabled from that
point will be published in the usual way with the deadline for
answers shown as five working days after they have been tabled;
and
- noted that Written Questions tabled to the
Welsh Government will be tabled for answer by the First Minister,
who will determine who should answer them until other Ministers are
appointed.
</AI11>
<AI12>
6
Committees
</AI12>
<AI13>
6.1
Letter from the Committee for the
Scrutiny of the First Minister requesting an alternative meeting
slot
The Business Committee considered and agreed a
request from the Committee for the Scrutiny of the First Minister
for it to meet on Friday 13 March 2026.
</AI13>
<AI14>
7
Procedural Work
</AI14>
<AI15>
7.1
Consideration of changes to Standing
Order 23
The Business Committee returned to
consideration of amendments to Standing Orders proposed by the
Petitions Committee and agreed to propose some of the changes to
the Senedd.
The Business Committee decided that it would
not take forward a proposal to amend Standing Order 23.1, which
would have required petitions to be referred to a single committee,
on the basis that it does not wish to limit the flexibility of the
next Business Committee when it establishes committees in the
Seventh Senedd.
Business Managers noted that a draft Standing
Order change report would be produced for agreement at a future
meeting.
</AI15>
<AI16>
7.2
Letter from the Standards of Conduct
Committee in relation to declarations of interest
The Business Committee noted the response from
the Standards of Conduct Committee containing proposed guidance
relating to the requirement for Members who table business on
behalf of others to declare interests at the point of tabling. The
Business Committee indicated that it was content with the
proposal.
</AI16>
<AI17>
7.3
Declarations of interest: Standing Order
Change Report
The Business Committee agreed the draft
report.
</AI17>
<AI18>
7.4
Parliamentary business in the Seventh
Senedd: Standing Order Change Report
The Business Committee agreed the draft
report.
</AI18>
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