Meetings

The Llywydd informed Business Managers that eight questions will be drawn from the ballot for questions to the Deputy Minister and Chief Whip and that there will not be time allocated for spokespeople’s questions at the moment, given that the item will be allocated 15 minutes, but if Members felt strongly about this it could form part of the review of the procedure in a few months’ time.

Rhun ap Iorwerth raised the fact that the Deputy Minister and Chief Whip’s responsibilities had been distinguished from those of the First Minister in the revised Ministerial responsibilities document, but that this was not the case for other Deputy Ministers. Given that, he queried whether spokespeople should continue to assume that their questions should be directed to the Minister. The Llywydd stated that it was for the Government to decide who answered spokespeople’s questions,  and noted that unless it was immediately obvious that a spokespersons question was for a Deputy Minister, they should be answered by the Minister. If spokespeople felt strongly that they would like their questions answered by the Deputy, they could indicate that to the government privately in advance.

Business Managers noted the changes. The Trefnydd stated that Ministers and Deputy Ministers were in discussion over the allocation of responsibilities between them. A revised ‘Ministerial Responsibilities’ document will be re-circulated to Members shortly.

Recess Dates

Business Managers agreed the Christmas and spring half term recess dates and agreed for Christmas recess to be reduced from 4 weeks to 3 weeks. Paul Davies asked that his group’s objection to the reduction of the Christmas recess from four to three weeks be noted.

The Assembly Timetable

Business Managers considered the paper which provided options for reforming the Assembly timetable.

Business Managers were in general agreement that Plenary meetings should not happen on a Thursday afternoon, and that Monday afternoons should be utilised as a formal committee slot.

Business Managers recognised they needed to reconsider the slot allocated to Business Committee meetings, and agreed to consider the paper with groups and return to the timetable issues at a later meetings.

Business Managers agreed to return to the matter of the Assembly Timetable at the next meeting.