Meetings

Business Committee considered and confirmed the dates for Spring Half Term and Easter Recess 2024 and agreed provisional recess dates for Whitsun Half Term and Summer Recess 2024, adjusting the provisional dates of the Summer recess for 2024 as indicated below.

* Provisional dates to be confirmed by Business Committee. 

Business Committee considered and agreed the proposed arrangements for a joint session with the Welsh Youth Parliament to be held on 21 June 2023. As part of this, Business Committee:

• noted that the Llywydd, under Standing Order 13.3, intends to invite Welsh Youth Parliament Members to participate in Plenary for the purpose of the joint session;
• agreed to deviate from the usual practice under Standing Order 12.6 and allow for the item to commence at 12.45 and to be taken in advance of Government business;
• noted that the Llywydd will suspend the meeting after the item to enable the Chamber to be cleared before the resumption of standard business; and
• noted that detail of final arrangements for the practical running of the session will be provided at the following week’s meeting.

Business Committee confirmed the dates for Autumn Half Term and Christmas Recess 2023 and agreed provisional recess dates for Spring Half Term and Easter Recess 2024. They are:

* Provisional dates to be confirmed by Business Committee.

Business Committee considered the paper and:

• agreed the arrangements for tabling Plenary business, written questions and amendments to Bills during the Easter recess and a draft note to Members;
• noted the changes to tabling arrangements, which are required as a result of the May Day Bank Holiday, the Bank Holiday for the coronation of King Charles III and the Whitsun Bank Holiday.

Business Committee confirmed the dates of the Autumn Half Term and Christmas 2023 recesses and agreed provisional recess dates for Spring Half Term and Easter 2024. 

In doing so, Business Committee considered Recommendation 14 of the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee’s report on Legislative Consent Memoranda on the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill, which had proposed that the Business Committee should “urgently consider whether the autumn term should be extended to 22 December 2023, in order to accommodate additional meetings of this Committee and additional Plenary sittings which may be required for the consideration of regulations arising from the Bill.”

Business Committee concluded that it would not make changes to the arrangements for the Christmas 2023 recess at this time, given that the final shape of the Bill nor how the Welsh Government would respond to its provisions is yet known, but would consider revisiting this matter later in the year as necessary.

Business Committee considered current practice around the scheduling of debates in opposition time and agreed not to make any revisions at this time. The Llywydd indicated that she and the Deputy Presiding Officer would seek to ensure that a range of voices are able to be heard during all debates through the number of, and order in which, Members are called to speak.

Business Committee considered current practice around the scheduling of debates in opposition time and agreed to consult with groups before returning to the issue at the following meeting. 

Business Committee agreed tabling arrangements for the Christmas recess, including for Plenary business for the first week of term, Written Questions and amendments to the Social Partnership (Wales) Bill. The Committee also agreed the arrangements for laying documents during the Christmas period.

Business Committee agreed the dates for Whitsun Half Term and Summer Recess and agreed provisional recess dates for Autumn Half Term and Christmas Recess 2023.

Business Committee considered the impact of Rhys ab Owen no longer being a member of the Plaid Cymru group in the Senedd on committees and plenary.

Business Committee agreed that the Plaid Cymru group should be invited to fill the vacancies that have arisen on committees, and to propose that the Senedd agrees the following nominations:

• Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee -  Peredur Owen Griffiths;
• Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee - Mabon ap Gwynfor;
• Llywydd’s Committee - Llyr Gruffydd.

Business Committee also agreed to offer Rhys ab Owen a place on the Petitions Committee, subject to the agreement of the Senedd.

Business Committee agreed not to make any further changes to committee memberships, chairing or the allocation of time in Plenary at this time.

Business Committee considered a paper and agreed the proposed approach and timetable for its review of proxy voting provisions, including that this exercise should consider both: the current temporary, trial arrangements for parental leave; and the possibility of extending proxy voting arrangements to long-term illness and other caring responsibilities. Business Committee agreed to consult with Members and to seek the views of current and former Members who have utilised proxy voting during the trial period.

Business Committee agreed to consider another paper covering potential definitions of long-term illness and caring responsibilities prior to the commencement of the consultation period. Darren Millar noted his opposition to the use of proxy voting.

Business Committee noted the paper on the various roles available to chair proceedings and agreed to table a motion to propose that Paul Davies MS is elected as Acting Chair of Plenary Meetings under Standing Order 6.23A, for consideration on 26 October.

Business Committee confirmed recess dates for the Autumn Half Term and Christmas 2022 and agreed provisional recess dates for Spring Half Term and Easter 2023. 

* Provisional dates to be confirmed by Business Committee.

Business Committee agreed:

• the arrangements for tabling Plenary business and amendments to Bills during the Easter recess;
• agreed the arrangements for the tabling of written questions during Easter recess;
• noted the changes to the tabling arrangements, which are required as a result of the May Day Bank Holiday, Whitsun Bank Holiday and Platinum Jubilee Bank Holiday.

The Trefnydd noted that there is a privilege day for Welsh Government staff on Monday 6 June 2022 and requested that committee scrutiny sessions with Ministers are not scheduled for that day.

Business Committee confirmed recess dates for the Whitsun Half Term and Summer Recess and agreed provisional recess dates for Autumn Half Term and Christmas 2022.

Sian Gwenllian declared an interest as a Designated Member.

Business Committee considered the potential options for facilitating scrutiny of the Leader of Plaid Cymru and Designated Members on the Co-operation Agreement further, following Business Managers’ consultation with their groups.

The Conservative and Plaid Cymru groups were in favour of introducing mechanisms for scrutiny of Designated Members and the Leader of Plaid Cymru in Plenary. The Labour group and Liberal Democrat were not in favour.

There was therefore no majority in favour of proposing any changes to Standing Orders. However, Business Committee noted the existing mechanisms through which Designated Members and the Leader of Plaid Cymru can be scrutinised by Senedd committees.

Sian Gwenllian declared an interest as a Designated Member.

Business Committee considered the potential options for facilitating scrutiny of the Leader of Plaid Cymru and Designated Members on the Co-operation Agreement and agreed that Business Managers should consult with their groups and return to discuss the issue further at next week’s meeting.

Sian Gwenllian declared an interest as she has been appointed as a Designated Member.

Business Committee returned to the implications for Senedd Business arising from the Co-operation Agreement.

The Conservatives and Jane Dodds were of the view that the Chair should not be allocated to Plaid Cymru. Labour and Plaid Cymru were of the view that the Chair of the Finance Committee should continue to be allocated to Plaid Cymru. As there was no majority on the Business Committee in favour, no change would be proposed. For the record, the Llywydd stated her view that Plaid Cymru should not chair the Finance Committee.

Business Committee noted that the name, responsibilities and portfolios of Designated Members would be published.  The Committee discussed how to accommodate the role of Designated Members within existing Senedd business arrangements including: questions, statements, debates; the allocation of non-government time; Senedd committees; and the scope for scrutiny of Designated Members. The Llywydd stated her intention to issue a further statement on Wednesday outlining her decisions on matters within her discretion.

Business Committee would consider options for scrutiny of the Leader of Plaid Cymru and Designated Members on matters relating to the Co-operation Agreement at a future meeting.

Business Committee agreed to keep the operation of the Agreement and any changes taken forward under review and to return to them in due course.

Sian Gwenllian declared an interest as she has been appointed as a Designated Member.

Business Committee noted the external legal opinion provided by Lord Pannick QC on the Co-operation Agreement between the Welsh Government and Plaid Cymru, and that the legal opinion would be shared with all Members. The advice supported the Llywydd’s preliminary view that Plaid Cymru was not a group with an executive role. Business Committee noted that the Llywydd’s view on the matter was therefore unchanged and was final.

Business Committee held an initial discussion on the potential implications for the operation of Senedd Business resulting from the Agreement. Business Managers agreed that they would seek the views of their groups before returning to the matter at the next meeting.

Business Committee considered the letter and noted that action is being taken by the Senedd Commission to limit the number of staff working on the Senedd estate in response to the current high numbers of Covid-19 cases across Wales. Business Managers agreed to discuss taking similar action with their groups and to encourage Members who are not attending Plenary in person to join the meeting off-site. The Llywydd also asked Business Managers to encourage Members to consider greater use of face-coverings in the Chamber when not making a contribution.

Business Committee considered and agreed changes to the guidance for the selection of Members’ Legislative Proposals.