Minutes

The minutes were noted by the Committee for publication.

The Minister for Economy, Science and Transport will be making an oral statement on Murco to update Members on developments since her statement last week.

Business Committee agreed that Voting Time would take place after the last item of business on both Tuesday and Wednesday.

Business Committee noted the 3 Week Timetable of Government Business.

The Stage 1 debate on Bethan Jenkins’s Financial Education and Inclusion (Wales) Bill will take place on 26 November 2014. The Plaid Cymru debate originally scheduled for 26 November has been moved to the following week.

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

Wednesday 3 December 2014

·         Questions to the Assembly Commission (15 mins)

·         Statement by Kirsty Williams: Introduction of a Member proposed Bill - Safe Nurse Staffing Levels (Wales) Bill (30 mins)

·         Debate by Individual Members under Standing Order 11.21(iv) (60 mins)

·         Debate on the Enterprise and Business Committee's Report on the Welsh Government’s approach to the promotion of trade and inward investment (60 mins)

·         Time allocated to Plaid Cymru (60 mins)

Business Managers agreed in principle to refer the Qualifications (Wales) Bill to the Children, Young People and Education Committee for Stage 1 consideration.

Business Managers agreed to defer a decision on the Bill’s timetable in order until next week to allow for consultation with the Children, Young People and Education Committee.

Business Committee considered a paper from the government regarding a Legislative Consent Memorandum (LCM) in relation to the Modern Slavery Bill.

Business Managers agreed to refer the LCM to the Communities, Equality and Local Government Committee for scrutiny. The Business Committee also agreed that the Committee should report on the LCM by Thursday 4 December 2014 to allow the Legislative Consent Motion to be debated in Plenary on Tuesday 9 December 2014.

Business Committee considered a paper from the government regarding a Supplementary Legislative Consent Memorandum (LCM) in relation to the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Bill.

Business Managers agreed to refer the Supplementary LCM to the Enterprise and Business Committee for scrutiny. The Business Committee also agreed that the Committee should report on the Supplementary LCM by Thursday 8 January 2015 to allow the Supplementary Legislative Consent Motion to be debated in Plenary on Tuesday 13 January 2015.

Business Committee considered a paper from the government regarding a proposed Order in Council under section 109 of the Government of Wales Act 2006 in accordance with Standing Order 25.7 to 25.11. Should the proposed Order in Council be agreed, an amendment will be tabled to the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Bill to include a provision amending section 79 of the 2006 Act.

Business Managers agreed to refer the proposed Order to both the Environment and Sustainability Committee and the Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee for consideration. The Business Committee also agreed that both Committees should report on the proposed Order by Wednesday 3 December to allow the draft Order to be debated in Plenary on Tuesday 20 January 2015.

Business Managers asked that the Government make the draft Amendment to the Future Generations (Wales) Bill available as soon as possible to inform the committee’s scrutiny of the proposed Order.

The Minister for Government Business agreed to discuss Business Managers’ request with the Minister for Natural Resources and to update the Committee at next week’s meeting.

Business Managers agreed in principle to refer the Safe Nurse Staffing Levels (Wales) Bill to the Health and Social Care Committee for Stage 1 consideration.

Business Managers agreed to defer a decision on the Bill’s timetable until next week to allow for consultation with the Health and Social Care Committee.

Business Managers noted a letter from Darren Millar AM informing the Presiding Officer he is not currently in a position to propose that the Assembly agrees to the general principles of the Bill. 

The Committee agreed to consider a new timetable for Stage 2 if and when the general principles are agreed.

At the request of the Minister for Government Business, Business Managers agreed to discuss the papers put forward by the Government and Business Committee Secretariat further with Party Groups and return to the matter next week.

Business Managers agreed in principle to the Standards of Conduct Committee’s recommendations.

Business Managers agreed to write to the Chair of the Standards of Conduct Committee communicating the Business Committee’s views.

Business Managers agreed a request from the Finance Committee to visit the Scottish Parliament to meet with the Finance Committee and Government Officials in Edinburgh on Thursday 4 December 2014, which means Members will have to leave the Assembly at 5pm on the Wednesday.