Minutes - Business Committee

Meeting Venue:

Conference Room 4B - Tŷ Hywel

Meeting date: 17 March 2026

Meeting time: 09.00 - 09.25

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	David Rees MS, Deputy Presiding Officer Manon Antoniazzi, Chief Executive and Clerk Gwion Evans, Head of the Llywydd's Private Office 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

<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

An amendment to the Minutes of the previous meeting was requested by Paul Davies and agreed. The Minutes were agreed for publication.

</AI2>

<AI3>

3 Minutes of the additional meeting held on 5 March 2026

The Minutes of the additional meeting held on 5 March 2026 were agreed for publication.

</AI3>

<AI4>

4 Organisation of Business

</AI4>

<AI5>

4.1 This week's business

Tuesday

The Business Committee noted the following changes:

• Motion to suspend Standing Orders (5 mins)
• Voting time (5 mins)
• Debate: Stage 3 of the Senedd Cymru (Member Accountability and Elections) Bill (180 mins)
• Debate: Stage 4 of the Senedd Cymru (Member Accountability and Elections) Bill (15 mins)
• Debate: Report Stage for the Development of Tourism and Regulation of Visitor Accommodation (Wales) Bill (10 mins) – Subject to a suspension of Standing Orders
• Development of Tourism and Regulation of Visitor Accommodation (Wales) Bill: Signification of His Majesty’s consent (5 mins)
• Debate: Stage 4 of the Development of Tourism and Regulation of Visitor Accommodation (Wales) Bill (15 mins)
• Debate: Stage 4 of the Prohibition of Greyhound Racing (Wales) Bill (15 mins)
• Voting time (5 mins)

• There will be two Voting Times on Tuesday
• Plenary is unlikely to run past 9.20.

Stage 3 and Stage 4 of the Senedd Cymru (Member Accountability and Elections) Bill

The Business Committee noted that there will be a 10-minute break prior to the start of Stage 3 proceedings on the Senedd Cymru (Member Accountability and Elections) Bill.

Following a request made by the Trefnydd at the previous meeting for Stage 4 consideration of the Bill to take place immediately following Stage 3, the Business Committee noted that the Llywydd had indicated that she was content for the Stage 4 motion on the Bill to be moved immediately following the conclusion of the Stage 3 debate.

Report Stage of the Development of Tourism and Regulation of Visitor Accommodation (Wales) Bill

The Business Committee discussed the Development of Tourism and Regulation of Visitor Accommodation (Wales) Bill and noted that it had come to light that amendment 76 was not moved or disposed of during the Stage 3 proceedings held on 10 March 2026.  

The Trefnydd proposed that the Government would table a motion seeking the Senedd’s agreement to move to report stage and to suspend the required Standing Orders in order for the Report Stage to take place on 17 March 2026. Business Managers indicated their support for this approach.

The Business Committee noted that, should the motion be agreed:

• Report Stage will take place after Stage 4 of the Senedd Cymru (Member Accountability and Elections) Bill;
• Signification of His Majesty’s consent and Stage 4 of the Development of Tourism and Regulation of Visitor Accommodation (Wales) Bill will take place directly following the Report Stage proceedings on that Bill; and

• Stage 4 of the Greyhound Racing Bill will now be taken as the final item of business on Tuesday.

Wednesday

• Questions to the Senedd Commission (30 10 mins)

• Voting Time will take place before the Short Debate.  

• Plenary is unlikely to run past 7:45pm.

</AI5>

<AI6>

4.2 Three week timetable of Government Business

The Trefnydd informed Business Managers of the following changes to the Three Week Timetable of Government Business:

Tuesday 24 March 2026

· The Allocation of Housing and Homelessness (Eligibility) (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 (15 mins)

· Debate: Stage 4 of the Member Accountability (Wales) Bill (15 mins)

The following items have been re-ordered:

· Statement by the Minister for Further and Higher Education: Support for Further and Higher Education Students (30 mins)

· Statement by the First Minister: A Fairer Wales for All: Achievements across the Government Term (45 mins)

</AI6>

<AI7>

4.3 Three week timetable of Senedd Business

The Business Committee agreed the following change to the Three Week Timetable of Senedd Business:

Wednesday 25 March 2026 -

• 90 Second Statements (5 mins)

</AI7>

<AI8>

5 Legislation

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<AI9>

5.1 Letter from the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee in relation to a future review of Standing Order 29

The Business Committee noted the letter and agreed to pass the matters raised to the Business Committee in the Seventh Senedd.

</AI9>

<AI10>

5.2 Update on LCMs

The Business Committee considered an update from the Trefnydd and agreed to:

• note that an LCM on the Representation of the People Bill was laid on 13 March 2026 but that a legislative consent motion would not be debated prior to the end of the Sixth Senedd, and to draw the LCM to the attention of the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee; and
• note the information provided in relation to the arrangements for LCMs over the dissolution period and at the start of the Seventh Senedd.

</AI10>

<AI11>

6 Procedural Work

</AI11>

<AI12>

6.1 The Business Committee's Legacy Report

The Business Committee considered proposed revisions and agreed its legacy report.

</AI12>

<AI13>

7 AOB

Arrangements for the last Plenary meeting of the Sixth Senedd

The Business Committee considered and agreed a proposal from the Llywydd for:

• no 90 Second Statements to be scheduled for the final Plenary meeting of this Senedd;
• two Members from each party group who have indicated their intention to stand down, and the two Members who were first elected to the Senedd in 1999 who are standing for re-election, to make brief contributions prior to Voting Time; and
• the short debate to be taken after Voting Time.

</AI13>

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