Meetings

Business Committee noted the latest position on LCMs.

Business Managers asked for more information on the timetable for the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill and the Trefnydd agreed to circulate a note providing more information.

Business Committee noted the latest position on LCMs and agreed not to refer the SLCM (No.3) on the Domestic Abuse Bill for scrutiny.

Business Committee agreed that the LJC Committee’s report should be drawn to the attention of incoming Senedd Members.  

The Committee also noted the implications for the scrutiny of subordinate legislation at the start of the Sixth Senedd, and in particular, of any delays to the establishment of the new responsible committee under Standing Order 21.

Business Committee noted the latest position on LCMs and agreed to:

• refer the LCM on the Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Bill to the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee and the Climate Change, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee for scrutiny with a reporting deadline of 25 March 2021;
• refer the LCM on the Armed Forces Bill to the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee for scrutiny with a reporting deadline of 25 March 2021;
• formally refer the SLCM (No.2) on the Environment Bill  to the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee and the Climate Change, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee for scrutiny with a reporting deadline of 18 March 2021; and
• note the proposed legislative consent motion debate dates for the Non-Domestic Rating (Lists) (No. 2) Bill (2 March) and the Domestic Abuse Bill and Financial Services Bill (both 16 March).

Business Committee agreed in principle that the Senedd enter a recess period from 7 April until 28 April 2021 which will be known as the ‘pre-dissolution’ period, and that Senedd business during this period should be limited to that which is related to the specific purposes of the shortened dissolution as outlined in the Bill.

The Committee noted that, should the Bill be passed, detailed proposals will be presented to Business Committee at its meeting on either 22 February or 1 March.

The Trefnydd agreed to circulate Welsh Government ‘purdah’ guidance for the election period (pre-dissolution recess and dissolution) to Business Managers.

Business Committee agreed to refer the SLCM on the Medicines and Medical Devices Bill to the Health and Social Care Committee and LJC Committee with a reporting deadline of 11 January 2021 and the SLCM on the Environment Bill to the Climate Change, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee and LJC Committees with a reporting deadline of 4 February 2021.

Business Committee also agreed not to refer the SLCM on the Internal Market Bill to a committee.

The Llywydd informed Business Managers that she will respond to the LJC Committee chair on this matter and copy in Business Committee.

Business Committee agreed to set a reporting deadline of Thursday 3 December for the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee to report on the Order.

Business Committee noted the latest position on LCMs. The Committee agreed to refer the LCM on the Financial Services Bill to the Economy, Infrastructure and Skills Committee and the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee, and the SLCM on the Trade Bill to the External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee and the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee for scrutiny, with a reporting deadline of 18 December for both LCMs.

Business Committee discussed the letter and agreed to keep the process under review.

Business Committee noted the latest position on LCMs and agreed not to refer the SLCM (No.4) on the Fisheries Bill for scrutiny.

The Business Committee considered the paper and concluded that a general shortening of timescales for the debate of Regulations, in combination with the availability of other opportunities to discuss new Regulations, provided a way forward.

The Trefnydd informed Business Managers that the Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (No. 2) (Wales) (Amendment) (No. 16) (Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire and Wrexham) Regulations 2020 had no substantive changes from the No. 15 regulations, other than location.

Business Committee asked officials to consult with the Chair of the LJC Committee to find a way that such similar regulations can be considered in Plenary the week after they come into force in future.

Business Committee noted the latest position on LCMs, and the proposed plenary debate date of 3 November for the LCM on the Non-Domestic Ratings (Public Lavatories) Bill and 6 October for the LCM on the Fisheries Bill.

The Committee referred the LCM on the UK Internal Market Bill to the External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee and LJC Committee for scrutiny, with a reporting deadline of 19 November 2020. 

The Committee agreed not to refer the SLCMs on the Agriculture Bill for scrutiny.

The Business Committee noted the latest position on LCMs and the proposed plenary date for the LCM on the Fire and Safety Bill.

The Committee agreed not to refer the SLCM on the Fisheries Bill for scrutiny.

The Business Committee noted the latest position on LCMs.

The Committee agreed to refer the LCM on the Domestic Abuse Bill to the Equality, Local Government and Communities and LJC Committees, with a reporting deadline of 5 November.

The Committee also agreed to refer the LCM on the Non-Domestic Rating (Lists) (No.2) Bill to the Economy, Infrastructure and Skills and LJC Committees, with a reporting deadline of 5 November.

The Business Committee agreed to the request by the committee for an additional meeting slot on 20 July.

The Business Committee also agreed the proposed revised timetable for the Renting Homes (Amendment) (Wales) Bill, with a reporting deadline for Stage 1 of 2 October 2020 and for Stage 2 of 4 December 2020.

The Business Committee noted the letter and agreed the proposed timetable for the Curriculum and Assessment (Wales) Bill with a reporting deadline for Stage 1 of 4 December 2020 and for Stage 2 of 5 February 2021.

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.

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.

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.

Business Committee noted the paper and agreed to bring forward the reporting deadline on the Finance Bill LCM from 2 July to 18 June, due to an acceleration in the UK Parliamentary timetable.

The Committee agreed a reporting deadline of Thursday 12 June for the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee for both the No. 4 and the No. 5 Regs. The Trefnydd agreed to look at whether any future regulations could be scheduled for debate sooner, while still allowing some time for LJC to report. 

Business Managers agreed the Stage 2 deadline of 9 October 2020, and that tabling for amendments should re-open in the last week of summer recess as proposed by the committee.

Business Managers agreed to extend the reporting deadline on the LCM on the Environment Bill to 2 July.

Business Managers agreed to set a reporting deadline of Thursday 14 May for the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee to report on the Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (Wales) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2020

Business Managers agreed to set a reporting deadline of Thursday 14 May for the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee to report on the Direct Payments to Farmers (Crop Diversification Derogation) (Wales) Regulations 2020.

Business Committee considered the letters from the ELGC committee and the Minister for Housing and Local Government and agreed to a temporary suspension of Stage 2 proceedings, including no tabling of amendments. The Trefnydd indicated that the government hopes to bring a proposal for a new timetable to the committee in the near future.

Business Managers discussed the letter and agreed to return to the matter at the next meeting, once the Cabinet has discussed the legislative programme next week.

Business Managers also asked officials to investigate how Stage 2 proceedings could work in the current circumstances, either virtually or in person while respecting social distancing rules.

Business Managers discussed the paper and the letter from the Chair of the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee. They agreed the process proposed in the paper for the consideration and reporting on SIs.

They also agreed to write to the LJC to say that the Business Committee will be considering the work of committees more broadly at their next meeting, and would review the role of the LJC Committee at that point.

Business Managers noted the paper.

Business Committee decided not to set a timetable for the consideration of these regulations.

Business Managers noted the letter and agreed the proposed timetable for the Bus Services (Wales) Bill with a reporting deadline for Stage 1 of 13 July and for Stage 2 of 16 October 2020. Business Managers noted the high probability that this timetable would also need to change.

Business Managers considered the letter on the Common Agricultural Policy (Direct Payments to Farmers) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Wales) Regulations 2020, and agreed to set the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee a reporting deadline of Thursday 27 February.

Business Managers noted the letter and agreed the proposed timetable for the Renting Homes (Amendment) (Wales) Bill with a reporting deadline for Stage 1 of 22 May 2020 and for Stage 2 of 16 July 2020.

The Trefnydd advised that the government intends to introduce the  Social Partnership Bill just before summer recess. As Business Managers were minded to reduce the timetabling pressure on the ELGC Committee, they agreed to write both to that committee and to the External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee regarding the Social Partnership Bill.

Business Managers noted the letter.

Business Managers noted the letter and agreed again to look at the period available for Stage 1 scrutiny as part of their legacy work. 

Business Managers agreed to a deadline of Thursday 5 December for the Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee and the Finance Committee to report on the draft Order

Business Managers agreed that the Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee should report on the Rural Affairs (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Wales) (EU Exit) (No.3) Regulations 2019, and the Animal Health and Welfare (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Wales) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 by Thursday 21 November.

Business Managers agreed not to refer the sLCM to a committee for further scrutiny, given the Bill’s tight Parliamentary timeline in Westminster, but noted that the Health and Social Care Committee may consider it at their meeting on Thursday. Business Managers noted that the Plenary debate for the sLCM is scheduled for 12 March.

Business Managers agreed in principle to refer the Bill to the Children, Young People and Education Committee to consider its general principles, and to write to the committee to consult on the proposed timetable.

The Deputy Presiding Officer Chaired this item, as the Llywydd is the Member in charge of the Bill.

In light of the two responses received from the CLA and CCERA committees, Business Managers agreed in principle to refer the Bill to CLA committee for Stage 1 consideration but agreed to return in due course to the proposed timetable in light of the comments in CLA’s letter on having an extended deadline for Stage 1 scrutiny.

Land Transaction Tax and Anti-avoidance of Devolved Taxes (Wales) Bill

At last week’s meeting the Committee agreed in principle to refer the Bill to the Finance Committee for scrutiny. The Minister brought forward a paper for Business Committee, setting out proposed dates for the Bill’s consideration, but did not include dates for Stage 2 consideration.

Business Managers discussed the proposed dates and agreed that the timetable should include an indicative deadline for Stage 2 consideration and this would be subject to change.

Business Managers requested that Government and Commission officials liaise to agree a proposed date for Stage 2 to include in the consultation with the Finance Committee, and agreed to return to the matter at the first meeting after summer recess. 

Committee Scrutiny of Tax Legislation

Business Committee considered a paper from the Government regarding committee scrutiny of tax legislation. The Government suggested that it would be helpful in arranging briefings for Members if Business Committee could agree at this early stage that the general principles of the Bills are referred to a responsible committee for Stage 1 consideration and the Committee or Committees that will undertake scrutiny.

Business Managers agreed in principle to refer the Bill on Land Transaction Tax and Anti-avoidance of Devolved Taxes to the Finance Committee for scrutiny and to write to the committee to notify them of that decision.

Business Managers also agreed to write to the Climate Change, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee to ask whether they would have capacity to scrutinise a Bill on Landfill Disposal Tax. The Minister for Government Business asked that it be noted that her preference would be for it to go to the Reserve Policy and Legislation Committee.

Business Committee considered a paper from the government regarding a Legislative Consent Memorandum (LCM) in relation to the Policing and Crime Bill.

Business Managers agreed to refer the LCM to the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee for scrutiny. The Business Committee also agreed that the Committee should report on the LCM by Thursday 22 September 2016 to allow the Legislative Consent Motion to be debated in Plenary on Tuesday 27 September 2016.

LCM on the Cultural Property (Armed Conflicts) Bill

Business Committee considered a paper from the government regarding a Legislative Consent Memorandum (LCM) in relation to the Cultural Property (Armed Conflicts) Bill.

Business Managers agreed to refer the LCM to the Culture, Welsh Language and Communications Committee on the assumption that the title and remit of that committee would be agreed under the following item of business. Should the establishment of the Culture, Welsh Language and Communications Committee be delayed, Business Managers agreed to consider, at a later date, referring the LCM to the Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee for scrutiny. Business Managers also agreed that the relevant Committee should report on the LCM by Thursday 15 September 2016 to allow the LCM to be debated in Plenary on Tuesday 20 September 2016.