Meetings

Business Committee considered a paper containing options for allowing more time between legislative amendment tabling deadlines and proceedings on those amendments.

The Committee agreed to return to the matter at its next meeting for further discussion of the possibility of bringing forward the amendment tabling deadline to seven days in advance of proceedings on an interim basis, ahead of the broader review of the legislative scrutiny process scheduled in its procedural work programme.

Business Committee considered a paper on job-sharing for committee chairs and agreed:

• that a paper is prepared and returned to the Business Committee before Whitsun recess on the practical and procedural issues relating to committee chair job sharing, to include a proposed list of questions that will form the basis of internal and external evidence gathering;
• to consult with Members of the Senedd directly and via Business Managers, and with the Chairs’ Forum;
• to issue an open call for written evidence and promote this to relevant stakeholders; and
• to give further consideration to scheduling oral evidence in light of any written evidence received.

Heledd Fychan enquired as to whether the potential for enabling job sharing in other non-statutory roles could also be considered through this process. The Trefnydd stated that Business Committee would need to be clear in explaining the scope of this work, and the reasons for it, particularly with external audiences.

Darren Millar requested that consideration be given to whether this work should be taken forward by the Business Committee or the Reform Bill Committee, given the expertise that it has developed in related areas. He also noted the potential implications for backbenchers on scrutiny capacity if additional office holders are introduced through job sharing.

The Llywydd agreed that the Committee will return to these matters when considering the next paper on this subject.

Business Committee considered proposed criteria to help guide future decisions on the timetables for Bills when an expedited scrutiny period is requested.

Darren Millar requested an additional consideration be included in relation to whether the Bill in question contained provisions of a potentially contentious nature.

Business Committee agreed to consider the proposed addition by email and, subject to its agreement, to adopt the criteria for future use when it receives requests to agree an expedited timetable for scrutiny of a Bill.

Business Committee noted an update on the proposed scheduling of its procedural work.  

The Business Committee considered a paper on expedited timetables for Senedd Bills. The Committee noted the experience of the two Bills outlined in the paper and requested that officials draft a decision-making tool that could be used to assist it to make future decisions on timetables for Bills when an expedited timetable has been proposed.

Darren Millar requested that consideration be given to the length of time available to Members to prepare for Stage 2 and Stage 3 proceedings on Bills following the tabling deadlines for amendments. Business Committee asked officials to provide a note concerning these matters, to include the recent experience of the Infrastructure (Wales) Bill.

Business Committee returned to consider the issue of whether to take forward consideration of Committee Chair Job Sharing in advance of the Easter recess, and potential committee chair vacancies which may arise because of the new First Minister appointing their government. A majority on Business Committee agreed that a longer period of time is required to give the relevant matters full consideration.

Business Committee agreed to take that detailed consideration forward over the coming months, recognising that any changes would not be in place for any vacancies that arise following the Easter recess.

The Business Committee considered a paper on Committee Chair Job Sharing and agreed to hold a further discussion at the next meeting, following discussions with party groups.

·       Response from the Health and Social Care Committee

·       Response from the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee

·       Response from the Chairs’ Forum

·       Correspondence from the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution

·       Paper on the procedures required for scrutiny of legislation relating to the United Kingdom Internal Market Act 2020 and UK-wide common policy frameworks

Business Committee considered responses received from the Health and Social Care Committee, the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee, the Chairs’ Forum and the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution to proposals to amend Standing Orders.

Business Committee agreed to share the responses received and to provide an opportunity for those who have provided information already to provide further reflections, before returning to the matter of whether to make amendments to Standing Orders at a future meeting. 

Business Committee noted an update on, and agreed the proposed scheduling of, its procedural work programme.

Business Committee considered a paper on procedural preparedness for Senedd reform and agreed in principle to commence consideration of areas of procedural reform in autumn 2024.

Business Committee also agreed to explore the possibility of holding workshop sessions with interested Members in Spring 2024, in order to inform the development of this work.

Following recommendations previously made by the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee and the Health and Social Care Committee, Business Committee considered proposals for:

• amendments to Standing Orders to ensure that documentation accompanying Welsh Government Bills and Subordinate Legislation includes an assessment of the impact of the United Kingdom Internal Market Act 2020 (UKIMA);
• a new Standing Order which would require the Welsh Government to notify the Senedd of the effect of legislation in other parts of the UK which, by virtue of the UKIMA, might impact the sale of goods and services in Wales; and
• notification of the impact on Senedd legislation of UK-wide common policy frameworks.

The Trefnydd stated that the Welsh Government does not consider the proposals to be necessary on the basis that it does not consider that the United Kingdom Internal Market Act has an impact on legislation passed by the Senedd.

Business Committee agreed to seek the views of the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee, the Health and Social Care Committee and the Chairs’ Forum on the proposals, with a view to returning to the issue at a later meeting.

Business Committee noted a paper on the introduction of time limits for ministerial answers in the Scottish Parliament and agreed to return to a further discussion on this subject once more information about the effect of the change in Scotland is available.

Business Committee considered and agreed proposed changes to guidance on Topical Questions, relating to the publication process, the provision of supporting information by Members and the maximum number of Topical Questions that will ordinarily be accepted per session.

Business Committee discussed feedback received from groups and a number of other matters concerning the current guidance and procedures for Topical Questions.

The Committee agreed that it would consider proposals for potential revisions to guidance at a future meeting.

Business Committee noted an update on the proposed scheduling of its procedural work.

Darren Millar proposed that consideration be given to establishing a time limit on ministerial responses to questions.

Business Committee considered the paper and agreed to consult with the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee on the proposed approach to amending Standing Orders 21, 27 and 30C, and removing Standing Order 30B, with a view to subsequently proposing changes to the Senedd. 

Business Committee agreed to review the relevant Standing Orders identified in recent recommendations of the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee in relation to the practical effect of the UK Internal Market Act 2020 on legislation made by, or impacting upon, the Senedd.

As part of the review, Business Committee noted that proposals will be produced in respect of the potential ways in which Standing Orders could be amended, and agreed that it would consult with the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee.

Business Committee also agreed to consider proposals to change current scrutiny arrangements for Common Policy Frameworks as recommended by the External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee of the Fifth Senedd, in consultation with the Chairs’ Forum.

Business Committee considered and agreed an updated programme for its procedural work, including to give further consideration to the following items prior to the summer recess:

• The introduction of ‘grand debates’ in Plenary
• Post-Brexit procedural reforms
• Member Bills
• Matters arising as a result of the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill

The Committee agreed to give further consideration to procedural work which may be required as a result of Senedd Reform once legislation has been introduced.

Use of Assembly Time in Plenary

The Committee considered a paper with various options for introducing more variety in the use of Assembly time in Plenary.

Business Managers agreed to explore further options around Member statements; petition debates; public debates and topical and spokespeople questions.

As there was general support for the idea of committee statements, the Presiding Officer will write committee chairs to encourage them to bring forward statements on the work of committees from September onwards.

Use of Assembly Time

The Committee considered a paper with various options for introducing more variety in the use of Assembly time in Plenary.

Business Managers agreed to discuss the options with their groups and return to the matter at the next meeting.

Petitions Procedure

The Committee considered a paper on the recommendations in the review of Public Petitions Arrangements. Business Managers requested more detailed proposals to be brought forward in September after which the Committee would consult with the Petitions Committee

Member Bills

The Committee considered a paper on the current procedure to introduce Member proposed Bills and the issues that have arisen from that process.

Business Managers agreed to review the procedure before conducting the first ballot in the autumn and requested further options to consider in September.