Meetings

Business Committee returned to consider matters relating to possible areas of extension as part of its review of proxy voting.

Darren Millar stated the opposition of the Conservative Group to retaining or extending proxy voting provisions.

Business Committee agreed, on the basis of a majority view, to propose that proxy voting provisions be extended to include long-term illness or injury, caring responsibilities and bereavement. In all cases, entitlement to request a proxy vote would occur in circumstances where a Member would be absent from all Senedd proceedings.

For provisions relating to long-term illness or injury and caring responsibilities there would be a minimum duration of four weeks and a standard maximum duration of 6 months, with the ability for this to be extended at the Llywydd’s discretion. The duration of a proxy vote following a bereavement will be agreed between the Member and the Llywydd.

Business Committee agreed that the current arrangements for publication of information around individual eligibility for a proxy vote should continue, with the broad category of proxy vote included when a report on the arrangement is laid by the Llywydd.

Jane Dodds raised how the proxy vote process works for Members who are not part of a party group. The Committee agreed to consider this further when considering draft updates to guidance.

Business Committee considered the responses to its consultation with Members and a range of matters relating to possible areas of extension of proxy voting as part of its review.

Business Managers agreed to consult further with their party groups on the basis of an emerging consensus around the extension of proxy voting provisions to cover long-term illness or injury of a Member, caring responsibilities for a dependent with a long-term illness or injury and bereavement leave, and to return to a further discussion at its meeting on 14 March.

Darren Millar stated the opposition of the Conservative Group to retaining or extending proxy voting provisions.

As part of its review of proxy voting arrangements, Business Committee considered the responses to its consultation with Members and a range of matters relating to the temporary Standing Orders on proxy voting for parental leave.

Business Committee agreed, on the basis of a majority view, to propose that the current provisions on proxy voting for parental leave should be made permanent. Darren Millar stated the opposition of the Conservative Group to retaining the current provisions.

Business Committee agreed to propose that the maximum durations should be revised to seven months for the mother or father of a baby, the partner of a person giving birth, an adoptive parent or carer in a surrogacy arrangement, of which a maximum of one month shall be taken before the due date or adoption date and a maximum of six months after the due date or adoption date. The Llywydd noted that it should not be for the Presiding Officer to determine which parent is the lead carer. Siân Gwenllian asked for consideration to be given to the arrangements that would relate to premature births when the guidance is drafted.

Business Committee agreed that, in the event of any ambiguity, the Presiding Officer should continue to be able to use their discretion in determining matters around the eligibility of individuals to be granted a proxy vote and the duration of such arrangements. However, the Committee agreed that when a Member or their partner suffer a miscarriage or stillbirth that discretion should only be used to determine the length of a proxy voting arrangement and not the Member’s eligibility.

Business Committee agreed to return to the issue of what information is published when a proxy voting arrangement is agreed once it has considered the possibility of extending proxy voting provisions at a subsequent meeting.

Business Committee agreed to propose that proxy voting should be permitted in all types of voting in Plenary and a Committee of the Whole Senedd, including those that require a resolution or motion to be passed on a vote in which the number of Members voting in favour is not less than two-thirds of the total number of Senedd seats, or when the proxy vote would count toward the number required for quorum.

Business Committee noted the responses to its consultation on proxy voting with current and former Members and agreed to consider a paper reviewing the trial of proxy voting for parental leave at the following meeting, before subsequently considering possible extensions to provisions.

Business Committee discussed a number of considerations relating to the Review of Proxy Voting. In light of the development of remote participation and voting in Senedd proceedings, Business Committee agreed that eligibility for a proxy vote should be limited to situations in which a Member was expected to be absent from all Senedd proceedings. Having done so, Business Committee agreed that the consultation with Members should commence next week and run until the end of the second week of term in 2023.

Business Committee discussed a number of considerations relating to the Review of Proxy Voting. In light of the development of remote participation and voting in Senedd proceedings, Business Committee agreed that eligibility for a proxy vote should be limited to situations in which a Member was to be absent from all Senedd proceedings. Having done so, Business Committee agreed that the consultation with Members should commence next week and run until the end of the second week of term in 2023 (20 January 2023).