Meetings

The Business Committee considered the paper and:

• agreed that the Table Office will open after the first Plenary meeting of the Seventh Senedd for accepting laid documents, written questions, urgent business, motions, amendments, statements of opinion, and laid documents;

• noted that Written Questions tabled from that point will be published in the usual way with the deadline for answers shown as five working days after they have been tabled; and
• noted that Written Questions tabled to the Welsh Government will be tabled for answer by the First Minister, who will determine who should answer them until other Ministers are appointed.

The Business Committee considered advice from the Table Office and agreed:

• that the deadline for accepting Written Questions will be 4pm Friday 20 March;
• that the deadline for accepting other items of tabled business, apart for urgent business relating to any recall meetings taking place during the Easter recess, will be 4pm Friday 27 March;
• that table Office will be open between 10am and 3pm during recess, with the exception of Tuesday 7 April when it will be open until 6pm;
• that no documents can be accepted for laying if they are received after 6pm on Tuesday 7 April;
• that no changes to the Register of Interests can be made after 6pm on Tuesday 7 April; and
• that the latest date that documentation relating to the activities of Cross-Party Groups can be submitted is 6pm on Tuesday 7 April and that all Cross-Party Groups will be automatically de-registered once dissolution begins at midnight on Wednesday 8 April.

The Business Committee confirmed the proposed arrangements for:  

·         laying documents during the Christmas period;

·         tabling plenary business for the first week of term and amendments to Bills; and  

·         the tabling of Written Questions during the Christmas recess. 

Business Committee confirmed the arrangements for tabling plenary business during the summer recess and agreed the arrangements for the tabling of Written Questions. 

Business Committee agreed the arrangements for tabling plenary business, written questions and amendments to Bills during the Easter recess, and changes to tabling deadlines as a result of the bank holidays in May.

Any other business

Future format of meetings

Business Managers discussed the future format of Business Committee meetings and agreed that meetings will be held in person from next week, with a hybrid option available.

The Llywydd referred to the high volume of procedural issues due for consideration by the Committee over the remaining 12 months of this Senedd, and noted that Business Committee may need to consider using a regular alternative meeting slot for procedural work.

Siambr Hywel lectern

Business Committee discussed the potential use for a second lectern in Siambr Hywel and noted that the Llywydd would take a decision on whether to proceed having considered the options and the cost of providing one.

Business Committee confirmed the proposed arrangements for

• laying documents during the Christmas period;
• tabling Plenary business for the first week of term; and
• tabling of Written Questions during Christmas recess. 

Business Committee confirmed the arrangements for tabling plenary business during the summer recess and also agreed the arrangements for the tabling of Written Questions.

Business Committee agreed the arrangements for tabling plenary business, written questions and amendments to Bills during the Easter recess and respective bank holidays. The Committee also noted that the Ministers referred to as answering Oral Questions after Easter recess are subject to change due to the appointment of a new Government.

Business Committee agreed the arrangements for tabling plenary business, Written Questions and amendments to the Infrastructure (Wales) Bill, should the general principles be agreed, during the Christmas recess.  

Business Committee agreed the arrangements for tabling plenary business and the arrangements for the tabling of Written Questions during the Summer recess. 

Business Committee agreed the arrangements for tabling plenary business and the arrangements for the tabling of Written Questions during the Summer recess.

Christmas Recess 2021: Tabling and Laying arrangements

Business Committee agreed:

• to confirm the arrangements for laying documents during the Christmas period, including agreeing the proposal for a duty clerk to be on call to publish any regulations laid on working days during the shutdown period between Christmas and New Year;
• to confirm the arrangements for tabling Plenary business for the first week of term; and
• the arrangements for the tabling of Written Questions.

Business Committee confirmed the arrangements for tabling plenary business during the summer recess period and agreed the usual arrangements for the tabling of Written Questions.

Business Committee noted the following changes to tabling deadlines, due to the Whitsun Bank Holiday and Privilege Day on 31 May and 1 June:

·         Motions for debate on Tuesday 8 June to be tabled by 4pm on Friday 28 May; and

·         Ballots for oral questions due for answer on 8 and 9 June will take place at 9:30am on Friday 28 May.