Minutes

Apologies for absence were received from the Deputy Presiding Officer.

The minutes were noted by the Committee for publication.

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

Business Committee agreed that Voting Time would take place before the Short Debate on both Tuesday and Wednesday.

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 19 November 2014 –

·         Motion to approve the Assembly Commission's Budget 2015/16 (30 mins)

·         Time allocated to the Welsh Conservatives (60 mins)

·         Time allocated to Plaid Cymru (60 mins)

·         Time allocated to the Welsh Liberal Democrats (60 mins)

·         Short Debate - Darren Millar (Clwyd West) (30 mins)

Business Managers agreed a request from the Environment and Sustainability Committee to hold additional meetings on non-business days or during the Christmas recess period to allow further time for Stage 1 scrutiny.

Business Managers agreed a request from the Public Accounts Committee to visit the Dail’s Public Accounts Committee in Dublin on Wednesday 19 November – Thursday 20 November 2014.

Business Managers agreed to consult with their groups and return to the question of whether to agree in principle to the Standards of Conduct Committee’s recommendations at their meeting on 11 November 2014.

The Welsh Government will be laying an LCM on the Consumer Rights Bill on Tuesday 21 October. However, it is unlikely there will be time for the full five week scrutiny by Committee as the provisions have been introduced by amendment in the second House. The Minister alerted Business Committee that a formal paper will be brought to the next meeting.