Meeting Venue:
Video Conference via Zoom
Meeting date: 29 June 2020
Meeting time: 12.45 - 14.12
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Category |
Names |
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Committee Members: |
Elin Jones MS, Llywydd (Chair) Rebecca Evans MS Siân Gwenllian MS Caroline Jones MS Darren Millar MS |
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Committee Staff: |
Aled Elwyn Jones (Clerk) |
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Others in attendance |
Ann Jones MS, Deputy Presiding Officer Manon Antoniazzi, Chief Executive & Clerk of the Senedd Siwan Davies, Director of Senedd Business Siân Wilkins, Head of Chamber and Committee Service Julian Luke, Head of Policy and Legislation Committee Service, Head of Policy and Legislation Committee Service Gwion Evans, Head of the Llywydd's Private Office Bethan Garwood, Deputy Clerk Elin Roberts, Policy Adviser to the Llywydd Helen Carey, Welsh Government |
1 Introductions, apologies and substitutions
2 Minutes of the previous meeting
The Minutes from the previous meeting were agreed for publication.
3 Organisation of Business
3.1 This Week's Business
Start time and break
Business Managers agreed that the start time should remain at 11.00 and the break should come after the questions to the Minister for Finance and Trefnydd, at approximately 13.15.
3.2 Three Week Timetable of Government Business
The Trefnydd drew Business Managers’ attention to the addition of a set of schools regulations to 15 July:
Wednesday 15 July 2020
· Proposal to debate the following items together but with separate votes: (15 mins)
o The Curriculum Requirements (Amendment of paragraph 7(5) of Schedule 17 to the Coronavirus Act 2020) (Wales) Regulations 2020 (15 mins)
o The Maintained Schools (Amendment of Paragraph 7 of Schedule 17 to the Coronavirus Act 2020) (Wales) Regulations 2020
Sian Gwenllian requested that the Agriculture Bill LCM be delayed from 15 July, due to where it is currently in the UK Parliament timetable. The Trefnydd agreed to look into this and return to the matter next week.
3.3 Three Week Timetable of Senedd Business
Business Committee agreed to schedule the following items of business:
Wednesday 16 September 2020:
· Time allocated to the Welsh Conservatives (60 mins)
4 Legislation
4.1 The Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (Wales) (Amendment)(No. 6) Regulations 2020
The Business Committee agreed to set a reporting deadline of Friday 10 July for the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee to report on the regulations.
4.2 The Curriculum Requirements (Amendment of paragraph 7(5) of Schedule 17 to the Coronavirus Act 2020) (Wales) Regulations 2020
The Business Committee agreed to set a reporting deadline of Friday 10 July for the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee to report on the regulations.
4.3 Maintained Schools (Amendment of Paragraph 7 of Schedule 17 to the Coronavirus Act 2020) (Wales) Regulations 2020
The Business Committee agreed to set a reporting deadline of Friday 10 July for the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee to report on the regulations.
4.4 Letter from the Chairs of EAAL and LJC Committees
The Business Committee agreed to extend the reporting deadline on the LCM to 1 October for the External Affairs and Additional Legislation and Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committees
4.5 Letter from the Chair of LJC Committee
The Business Committee agreed to extend the reporting deadline on the LCM to 17 July for the Climate Change, Environment and Rural Affairs and Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committees.
4.6 Letter from the Chair of EIS Committee
Business Managers noted a letter from the Chair of the Economy, Infrastructure and Skills Committee, in which it was explained that the Committee would not be producing a new report on the Non-Domestic Ratings (Public Lavatories) Bill LCM. The Committee had already reported on the LCM on a previous Bill on the same subject, which had been guillotined by the 2019 General Election.
5 Committees
5.1 Letters from chairs of Petitions, CWLC and CYPE Committees: requesting Plenary debates
The Business Committee discussed the requests and agreed to schedule the CWLC and Petitions debates for half an hour each on 8 July. The Committee also agreed to schedule the CYPE debate for one hour on 15 July.
5.2 Committee timetable
The Business Committee agreed the revised committee timetable. The Committee invited the Chairs of the PAC and the CYPE Committee to consider calling the meetings that they wish to hold in recess during the week commencing 3 August 2020 to align with plenary. The Trefnydd asked that committees be aware that Ministers will not be available to give evidence to any meetings that take place during recess.
The Business Committee also agreed to the request from the EAAL Committee to meet for an hour in the afternoon on Tuesday 30 June to accommodate the Secretary of State for Wales’s attendance.
5.3 Establishment and proposed membership of the Llywydd's Committee
Business Managers agreed to keep the committee small, and to that end the Chair of Finance should represent their group as well as the Committee
6 Standing Orders
6.1 Public Audit (Wales) Act - Amendment to Standing Orders
Business Committee agreed to propose the recommended change to Standing Order 18.10.
7 Plenary
7.1 Hybrid Plenary
The Business Committee noted the further information that had been requested, and agreed to trial hybrid plenary meetings on 8 and 15 July, to prepare the Senedd for the autumn term.
The Llywydd asked Business Managers to encourage Members to attend training on the remote voting system this week.
8 Any Other Business
Feedback on Committee scrutiny of Covid recovery
Darren Millar asked for feedback on the discussion at the Chairs’ Forum in relation to oversight of COVID recovery. The DPO confirmed that there was a consensus around a sub-committee of the Committee for the Scrutiny of the First Minister being formed for this particular issue, and that officials were preparing options.
Committee on Senedd Electoral Reform
Darren Millar noted recent social media comments made by the Chair of the Committee on Senedd Electoral Reform. The Llywydd informed the Committee that David Rowlands had resigned as a member of the Committee on Senedd Electoral Reform, and indicated that the Brexit Party will not nominate a replacement. This leaves the committee with three members: two Labour (including the chair) and one Plaid Cymru. The Llywydd said she would be taking advice on the matter.