Meeting Venue:
Presiding Officer’s office, 4th floor - Tŷ Hywel
Meeting date: 2 April 2019
Meeting time: 08.30 - 09.14
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Category |
Names |
Committee Members: |
Elin Jones AM, Llywydd (Chair) Rebecca Evans AM Darren Millar AM Rhun ap Iorwerth AM Neil Hamilton AM |
Committee Staff: |
Aled Elwyn Jones (Clerk) |
Others in attendance |
Ann Jones AM, Deputy Presiding Officer Siân Wilkins, Head of Chamber and Committee Service Siwan Davies, Director of Assembly Business Gwion Evans, Head of the Llywydd's Private Office Elin Roberts, Policy Adviser to the Llywydd Helen Carey, Welsh Government |
The minutes for the meeting were agreed by the Committee for publication.
Tuesday
· The Llywydd reminded Business Managers that there will be an external photographer in Plenary today for the start of FMQs.
· Voting Time will take place after the last item of business.
Wednesday
· Business Managers agreed to the request by the Standards of Conduct Committee to schedule a debate on their ‘Report 01-19’ during tomorrow’s Plenary. A motion to suspend Standing Orders will be tabled in the Llywydd’s name, as a precursor to the debate.
· All voting will take place before the short debate.
Business Committee noted the 3 Week Timetable of Government Business.
Business Managers noted the following, to take place after the Llywydd’s statement on Tuesday 7 May:
· Address by the First Minister to mark the twentieth anniversary of devolution (15 mins)
Business Committee determined the organisation of Assembly business and agreed to schedule the following items of business:
Tuesday 7 May 2019 –
· Address by the Llywydd to mark the twentieth anniversary of devolution (15 mins)
Wednesday 15 May 2019 –
· Statement by the Chair of the Standards of Conduct Committee: Maintaining Confidence in the Standards Procedure (30 mins)
· Debate on a Member's Legislative Proposal (30 mins)
· Member Debate under Standing Order 11.21(iv) (60 mins)
·
Time allocated to the Welsh Conservatives (60 mins)
Business Managers considered the request and agreed to return to the matter after Easter recess.
Business Managers agreed to refer the Supplementary LCM to the same committees as the first memorandum – the Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee, the Climate Change, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee, and the External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee – with a reporting deadline of 11 June.
Business Managers noted the uncertainty over the Parliamentary timeline in Westminster.
Business Managers agreed in principle to a joint business item with the Welsh Youth Parliament and the Assembly on 26 June 2019 and, in accordance with Standing Order 13.3, agreed that the Llywydd should invite some Welsh Youth Parliament Members to participate in Assembly proceedings for that purpose.
Business Managers noted the letter and invited officials to bring forward a paper on the impact of Brexit on Standing Orders after Easter recess.
Business Managers noted the paper and agreed to consult with the Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee once Business Committee has agreed a draft Standing Order for Consolidation Bills.
Oral Assembly Questions (OAQs)
Business Managers confirmed their in principle decision from last week’s meeting to reduce the number of tabled OAQs from 15 to 12. However, Business Managers decided to continue the current ballot arrangements where 20 Members are chosen to table questions in the first instance (followed by a shuffle to select a top 12) for the time being. This change will be implemented immediately after Easter recess.
Business Managers also agreed to trial allowing Members to enter the ballot only once for Ministerial OAQ sessions for the duration of the summer term, with a view to amending Standing Orders if it was a success.
Leaders and Spokespeople’s questions, committee membership vacancies, and opposition debates
Business Managers discussed these issues in light of recent events which caused the UKIP Group to reduce in size to 3 Members, and for a number of committee vacancies to arise. The Committee requested that officials bring forward a paper after Easter recess to inform their decisions.