Meetings

The Llywydd reminded Business Managers to consult with their groups on the proposed revisions to the committee timetable with a view to Business Committee reaching decisions at next week’s meeting. 

Recall meetings of the Senedd on 5 and 26 August

The Business Committee confirmed that the meeting will be held virtually with a start time of 1.30pm, and that any voting will take place on the remote voting app.

The Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (No. 2) (Wales) Regulations 2020 

The Business Committee agreed a deadline of 3 August for the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee to report on the regulations, ahead of the anticipated debate on 5 August.

Business Managers discussed ways of ensuring that, in the case of made-affirmative regulations, the regulations were debated at the first Plenary after they had been made, and the Llywydd asked officials to consider ways of enabling that to happen.

The Trefnydd asked for confirmation that the limit on the number of written questions in summer recess will remain the same as for previous recesses (five questions per Member per week). The Llywydd confirmed that this is the case. 

Reviewing Standing Orders

The Trefnydd asked that  the planned reviews of aspects of the Standing Orders for the sixth Senedd continue. Business Managers agreed that this work should progress in the autumn term.

The Trefnydd informed Business Managers that the delay to Stage 3 of the Children (Abolition of the Defence of Reasonable Punishment) (Wales) Bill was due to the restrictions of the pre-election period in Westminster.

Business Managers questioned the consistency of the government’s approach in relation to the pre-election period, and cited announcements that had been made via answers to questions, as well as in scheduled business.

Business Managers noted that the timetabling of Government Business was a matter for the Trefnydd. The Trefnydd agreed to make Ministerial colleagues aware of the concerns that had been raised.

LCM - Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Bill

The Trefnydd drew Business Managers’ attention to the fact that last week the Welsh Government laid a Legislative Consent Memorandum on the Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Bill as the Bill had been reintroduced into Parliament, having fallen at prorogation. However, the Bill will fall again as it will not be completed before Parliament is dissolved ahead of the general election, and therefore the government will not be asking Business Committee to refer the LCM for scrutiny.

General Election in Westminster

The Llywydd reminded Business Managers that Westminster elections should not affect Assembly business, and reminded Members that Standing Orders require that speeches must be "relevant to the business of the Assembly". Plenary is not the place to campaign for the UK general election and it should not distract Members from their focus on issues that are the responsibility of the Assembly and the Welsh Government. The Llywydd will call to order Members or Ministers who stray from this to debate Westminster election manifestos, political campaigns and individual candidates.

Proxy Voting

The Llywydd reminded Business Managers that the Committee would be returning to the paper on Proxy Voting next week to receive feedback from groups.

Reg Kilpatrick (Director, Local Government) attended the meeting to give a brief update to Business Managers on the likely requirements on Ministers as part of the Welsh Government’s planned Brexit Preparedness Response activity in the event of the UK leaving the EU without a deal on 31 October.  This included a potential need for flexibility around their availability for scrutiny in Plenary and Committees.

The Trefnydd informed Business Managers that the government will be laying a Section 109 Order before the end of the week. Business Managers provisionally agreed to refer the proposed Order to CLA Committee, with a reporting deadline of 30 September.

Business Committee Membership

Although the Brexit Party qualify to be represented on the Business Committee, the motion to elect Caroline Jones as a member was defeated on 22 May. The Llywydd has received a request from the Brexit Party to re-table the motion to elect Caroline Jones. Business Managers agreed to re-table the motion and provisionally scheduled it for tomorrow, but asked officials to check with the Brexit Party whether the timing was appropriate for them.

Business Committee Membership

Neil Hamilton is no longer a member of the Business Committee on account of UKIP having ceased to be a group. The Brexit Party group now qualify to be represented on the Business Committee and have indicated that they wish to nominate Caroline Jones. Business Managers agreed to table a motion to elect Caroline Jones to the Business Committee and for the motion to be considered on Wednesday.

Leaders and Spokespeople

Business Managers discussed the allocation of leaders and spokespeople questions to the Brexit Party. The Llywydd confirmed that she will inform Members of her decision in due course.

Chamber Seating

A revised seating plan will be circulated later this morning.

Supplementary questions

The Llywydd informed Business Managers that she intends to ensure that First Ministers’ Questions always reaches Question 8. The Llywydd also indicated that where the time taken by questions only allows time to call one supplementary, that she will alternate between calling Plaid Cymru and the Conservatives first, with Labour Members and others where appropriate.

Filming in the chamber

The Llywydd informed Business Managers that a photographer would be present in the Chamber at the start of Plenary next Tuesday 3 April.

Any Other Business

Rhun ap Iorwerth stated that Members from his party had raised the allocation of supplementary questions with him. They had concerns over a few recent instances where they were not called to ask supplementary questions in Plenary. The Llywydd explained her approach to calling supplementary questions but noted that fluidity was also crucial, and that which Members were called in which instance is always determined by time pressures and party balance.