Meetings

NDM5403 Rosemary Butler (Newport West)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales, in accordance with Standing Order 16.3, agrees to:

1. alter the remit of the Children and Young People Committee to include Higher Education;

2. change the title of the Children and Young People Committee to the Children, Young People and Education Committee;

3. transfer tourism from the remit of the Communities, Equality and Local Government Committee to that of the Enterprise and Business Committee.

The proposals are set out in the Business Committee’s report on ‘Committee Responsibilities and Portfolios in the 4th Assembly’ laid on 15 January 2014.

Supporting Documents

Business Committee’s Report

The item started at 14.57

NDM5403 Rosemary Butler (Newport West)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales, in accordance with Standing Order 16.3, agrees to:

1. alter the remit of the Children and Young People Committee to include Higher Education;

2. change the title of the Children and Young People Committee to the Children, Young People and Education Committee;

3. transfer tourism from the remit of the Communities, Equality and Local Government Committee to that of the Enterprise and Business Committee.

The proposals are set out in the Business Committee’s report on ‘Committee Responsibilities and Portfolios in the 4th Assembly’ laid on 15 January 2014.

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

E&S(4)-30-13 paper 3

9.3 The Committee noted the letter.

6.1 The Committee discussed their remit.

NDM5334 Rosemary Butler (Newport West)

The National Assembly for Wales, in accordance with Standing Order 16.3, alters the remit of the Finance Committee, so that in addition to its current functions, it is to carry out the functions of the responsible committee set out in Standing Orders 18.10 and 18.11.

The item started at 15.24

NDM5334 Rosemary Butler (Newport West)

The National Assembly for Wales, in accordance with Standing Order 16.3, alters the remit of the Finance Committee, so that in addition to its current functions, it is to carry out the functions of the responsible committee set out in Standing Orders 18.10 and 18.11.

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

The Business Committee considered a paper outlining the experience of the committee structure during the first year of the fourth Assembly.

Committee Structure

The Business Committee agreed that the dual legislative and policy scrutiny role has yet to be fully tested and concluded that no change to the structure is necessary at this point. They agreed to keep the system under review as the volume of legislation increases.

The Business Committee also agreed that European issues should continue to be mainstreamed across the work of all committees, noting that the approach had worked well, producing a more thorough scrutiny of European matters as a result.

Business Managers noted the role of Committee Chairs and agreed to invite feedback from chairs on the existing role description (as issued by the Business Committee in June 2011).

Committee Timetable

Business Managers considered changes to the committee timetable to accommodate a request from the Chair of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) for a longer, more regular meeting slot.  The Business Committee recognised the difficulty of timetabling. They agreed that PAC would continue to have a weekly Tuesday morning slot and could also meet on Monday afternoons when their workload so demanded, as other meeting slots would lead to significant membership clashes.  The Business Committee also acknowledged that there might need to be flexibility with political group meetings on Tuesday mornings to accommodate longer meetings where necessary. 

Business Managers noted that Plaid Cymru experience PAC membership challenges given that many of its Members have held ministerial positions. Standing Order 18.8 does not allow a Member of PAC to participate in its consideration of any matters if he/she was a member of the government at that time.

The Business Committee also agreed to schedule a meeting slot for the Committee for the Scrutiny of the First Minister once a term on a Thursday (alongside Children and Young People/Communities, Equality and Local Government/Environment and Sustainability).

Business Managers agreed to retain the Monday afternoon meeting slot for the Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee, noting that Monday meetings place restrictions on the potential membership of the Committee resulting in routine substitutions.

NDM4969 Rosemary Butler (Newport West)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales, in accordance with Standing Order 16.5:

1. Establishes a Committee for the Scrutiny of the First Minister; and

2. Agrees that the remit of the Committee for the Scrutiny of the First Minister is to scrutinise the First Minister on any matter relevant to the exercise of the functions of the Welsh Government.

The item started at 15:11.

NDM4969 Rosemary Butler (Newport West)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales, in accordance with Standing Order 16.5:

1. Establishes a Committee for the Scrutiny of the First Minister; and

2. Agrees that the remit of the Committee for the Scrutiny of the First Minister is to scrutinise the First Minister on any matter relevant to the exercise of the functions of the Welsh Government.

The Motion was agreed, in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

The Business Committee considered whether to establish a committee with responsibility for the scrutiny of the First Minister.  Business Managers requested a paper from the secretariat before the Easter recess setting out options for the committee’s remit, size and proposed meeting slots. The matter will then be given further consideration during the 12 month review of the committee structure next term.

NNDM4749 Rosemary Butler (Newport West)

The National Assembly for Wales, in accordance with Standing Order 16.1, establishes a Children and Young People Committee to carry out the functions set out in that Standing Order.

NNDM4750 Rosemary Butler (Newport West)

The National Assembly for Wales, in accordance with Standing Order 16.1, establishes an Environment and Sustainability Committee to carry out the functions set out in that Standing Order.

NNDM4751 Rosemary Butler (Newport West)

The National Assembly for Wales, in accordance with Standing Order 16.1, establishes a Health and Social Care Committee to carry out the functions set out in that Standing Order.

NNDM4752 Rosemary Butler (Newport West)

The National Assembly for Wales, in accordance with Standing Order 16.1, establishes a Communities, Equality and Local Government Committee to carry out the functions set out in that Standing Order.

NNDM4753 Rosemary Butler (Newport West)

The National Assembly for Wales, in accordance with Standing Order 16.1, establishes an Enterprise and Business Committee to carry out the functions set out in that Standing Order.

NNDM4754 Rosemary Butler (Newport West)

The National Assembly for Wales, in accordance with Standing Order 16.1, establishes a Finance Committee to carry out the functions of the responsible committee set out in Standing Order 19.

NNDM4755 Rosemary Butler (Newport West)

The National Assembly for Wales, in accordance with Standing Order 16.1, establishes a Public Accounts Committee to carry out the functions of the responsible committee set out in Standing Order 18.

NNDM4756 Rosemary Butler (Newport West)

The National Assembly for Wales, in accordance with Standing Order 16.1, establishes a Standards of Conduct Committee to carry out the functions of the responsible committee set out in Standing Order 22.

NNDM4757 Rosemary Butler (Newport West)

The National Assembly for Wales, in accordance with Standing Order 16.3, agrees that the Committee on Statutory Instruments established on 15 June 2011 is retitled the Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee. The remit of the Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee is to carry out the functions of the responsible committee set out in Standing Order 21 and to consider any other constitutional or governmental matter within or relating to the competence of the Assembly or Welsh Ministers.

The motions were agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

NDM4732 Rosemary Butler (Newport West)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales, in accordance with Standing Order 16.1 establishes a Petitions Committee to carry out the functions of the responsible committee set out in Standing Order 23.

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

NDM4733 Rosemary Butler (Newport West)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales, in accordance with Standing Order 16.1, establishes a Committee on Statutory Instruments to carry out the functions of the responsible committee set out in Standing Orders 21.2 and 21.3 and to consider any other legislative matter, other than the functions required by Standing Order 26, referred to it by the Business Committee.

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

The Business Committee considered a paper outlining initial options for the establishment of a committee system for the Fourth Assembly, for further discussion with their groups. The paper would be discussed again on 14th June.

The Business Committee agreed in principle that committees to consider petitions and subordinate legislation should be established as soon as possible and requested further information on possible remits and membership for the 8th June meeting. Further consideration of the committee system as a whole would take place at the 14th June meeting.