Minutes

The Minister for Local Government and Government Business provided an update on the Access Bill as agreed and noted in the minutes of last week’s meeting.

The minutes were noted by the Committee for publication.

The Minister for Local Government and Government Business updated the Committee on changes to Government Business.

On Tuesday, Voting Time would be after the final item of business. On Wednesday, the Business Committee agreed that Voting Time would take place before the Short Debate.

Business Committee noted the 3 Week Timetable of Government Business.

Business Committee determined the organisation of business and agreed to schedule the following items of business:

Wednesday 11 June 2014

·         Debate on the Queen’s Speech (120 mins)

·         Debate on the Finance Committee’s Report on Higher Education Funding (60 mins)

·         Short Debate - Julie Morgan (Cardiff North) (30 mins)

Business Managers confirmed their in principle decision of 29 April to refer the Higher Education (Wales) Bill to the Children, Young People and Education Committee for Stage 1 consideration and agreed the deadline for the Stage 1 Committee to report by as 3 October 2014 and the deadline for the completion of Stage 2 Committee proceedings as 28 November 2014.

Events following the autumn budget consideration prompted the Business Committee’s request for this paper. This paper was intended to support Business Managers’ consideration of whether the current budget process should be reviewed.

Business Managers indicated their broad support for the proposals in the paper, and agreed to return to the issue at a future meeting when they would consider in greater detail the proposal to extend the period available for scrutiny of the budget by committees.

In January 2013, the Business Committee considered a number of options for reforming Oral Assembly Questions, with a view to introducing more topicality and variety to backbenchers’ scrutiny of Ministers. This paper was intended to give Business Managers the opportunity to consider the success or otherwise of these reforms, and whether any further reforms might be desirable.

Business Managers requested a further paper setting out detailed proposals to take back to their groups for consultation.