Meetings

The Business Committee considered a number of matters relating to rules and practices surrounding written questions.

Business Managers noted that:

• the Llywydd has asked the Table Office to implement the three-month period in which the same question may not be asked to the same Minister as a rolling period from January 2026, in place of the current termly approach;
• an AI tool is currently being developed to assist the Table Office in checking all questions against those previously answered; and
• the effectiveness of the AI tool would be assessed prior to making any changes to rules and practices of written questions, such as moving from a three to six-month interval in which the same or similar questions may not be asked.

The Business Committee considered a paper containing options for restricting or limiting the ability for party spokespeople to ask tabled questions in the same oral question sessions in which they are called to ask spokespeople questions. Business Managers endorsed a proposal made by the Llywydd that guidance be amended to indicate that the number of questions without notice that a spokesperson would be called to ask would be reduced by one, if they have a tabled question on the order paper for that oral question session.

Business Managers discussed the potential for trialling the introduction of time limits for ministerial answers to spokespeople questions. The Trefnydd agreed to discuss with Ministers the need to ensure that answers given are succinct.

The Business Committee considered and indicated its satisfaction with proposed changes to the Llywydd’s Guidance on virtual and hybrid proceedings relating to the locations from which Members are permitted to cast their votes in Plenary proceedings. The amended Guidance would be published as soon as possible.

The Business Committee noted that it will return to consider further amendments to aspects of the Guidance relating to committee proceedings, in light of these changes and views received from the Chairs’ Forum, at a subsequent meeting.

Business Managers indicated that they were content with the approach taken to the additional meetings for the delivery of its procedural work programme to date. Business Committee agreed the intention that papers for the additional meetings would be sent out four working days in advance of the meetings.

The Business Committee considered Paper 1 - Procedural work: Prioritisation (“Paper 1”).

The Llywydd noted the interest members of the Business Committee had in this work and the role they will play in engaging with the members of their political groups regarding the procedural work programme.

The Business Committee agreed the prioritisation suggested in Paper 1, subject to the following comments and amendments:

• Jane Dodds and Heledd Fychan stated their concerns regarding the suggested deprioritisation of legislative diversity quotas.
• The Business Committee noted the question of legislative competence in the context of legislative diversity quotas, and the Welsh Government’s publication of Diversity and inclusion guidance for registered political parties in Wales.
• Heledd Fychan suggested that the Finance Committee’s review of budget procedures should be included in the procedural work programme. The Llywydd noted that this work may not be possible in this Senedd term, due to the scale of the work required, but suggested writing to the Finance Committee to seek further information before determining whether or not further work on this item is possible before the end of the Sixth Senedd.

·       In relation to the organisation of business in the Seventh Senedd, time is to be allocated within the work programme to develop a recommended framework for the organisation of business in the Seventh Senedd.

·       Further consideration is to be given to the Legislative consent process item before determining whether or not further work on this item is possible before the end of the Sixth Senedd.

·       The  following items, suggested for deprioritisation in Paper 1, are to be include in the procedural work programme:

• Operation of committees (to be incorporated into the organisation of business item);
• Legislative consent process (to determine whether further work is possible before the end of the Sixth Senedd);
• Finance Committee review of budget procedures (to determine whether further work is possible before the end of the Sixth Senedd); and
• Balance of time allocated to Members within Plenary items (to be incorporated into the organisation of business item).

The Business Committee agreed to publish a report to explain its procedural work programme and the decisions it has taken in terms of prioritisation.

The Business Committee agreed that the additional meetings would continue to be held in private.

The Llywydd stated that her preference is for meetings to be held in person whenever possible, but that hybrid facilities will be made available.

It was noted that if a public session was needed before the completion of the procedural work, this would be arranged.

The Business Committee agreed that Business Managers may bring a non-participating political group official to observe at the additional procedural meetings, and the Trefnydd may bring a non-participating political group official and a Welsh Government official.

The Llywydd indicated that arrangements for Members not in a political group were to be kept in line with current Business Committee meetings.