Minutes

Proposed venue: Presiding Officer’s office, 4th floor - Tŷ Hywel. View directions

Contact: Aled Elwyn Jones (Clerk) 

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies & announcements

2.

Minutes of the previous meeting

Minutes:

The minutes were noted by the Committee for publication.

3.

Organisation of Business

3.1

This Week's Business

Minutes:

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

3.2

Three week timetable of Government Business

Minutes:

Business Committee noted the 3 Week Timetable of Government Business.

3.3

Three week timetable of Assembly Business

Minutes:

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

 

Wednesday 4 March 2015

·         Debate on the Health and Social Care Committee's report on the post-legislative scrutiny of the Mental Health (Wales) Measure 2010 (60 mins)

 

·         Time allocated to the Welsh Conservatives (60 mins)

·         Time allocated to Plaid Cymru (60 mins)

3.4

Individual Member Debate: Selection of Motion for Debate

Minutes:

Business Committee selected the following motion for debate:

 

Wednesday 11 February 2015

NNDM5683
To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
1. Notes:

a) Bite the Ballot's national voter registration day on 5 February and the nationwide week of action between 2 and 8 February;

b) 'The quality of the 2014 electoral registers in Great Britain' report by the Electoral Commission, which found that 49% of 16-17 year olds are not registered to vote;

c) the 'Analysis of the confirmation live run in England and Wales' Electoral Commission progress report, which found that the individual electoral registration match-rate for 16 to 17 year olds has declined from 86% to 52%; and

d) the success of the Electoral Office for Northern Ireland's 'Schools Initiative' in adding 57,000 young people (approximately 50% of the age group) to the register.

2. Regrets that turnout in Assembly elections has been decreasing and supports action to encourage active, engaged participation of young people in democracy.

3. Calls for steps to empower electoral registration officers to improve data-sharing, increase the number of people registered from under-represented groups - especially young and student electors - and ensure greater participation of young people.

‘The quality of the 2014 electoral registers in Great Britain' report by the Electoral Commission is available at: http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/169889/Completeness-and-accuracy-of-the-2014-electoral-registers-in-Great-Britain.pdf

 

Business Committee agreed that the next individual Member debate should be on Wednesday 18 March 2015.

4.

Legislation

4.1

Supplementary Legislative Consent Memorandum (Memorandum No. 6) on the Deregulation Bill

Minutes:

Business Committee considered a paper from the government regarding a Supplementary Legislative Consent Memorandum (Memorandum No. 6) in relation to the Deregulation Bill.

 

The Minister for Government Business informed the Committee that the Bill is at a late stage in its progress through Parliament and as the purpose of the amendment is to clarify a perceived ambiguity in existing legislation, rather than making substantive new provision, Business Managers agreed to note the SLCM, and that it should not be referred to an Assembly committee for scrutiny. The Legislative Consent Motion in relation to these provisions is scheduled for debate in Plenary on 10 February 2015.

4.2

Supplementary Legislative Consent Memorandum (Memorandum No. 3) on the Serious Crime Bill

Minutes:

Business Committee considered a paper from the government regarding a Supplementary Legislative Consent Memorandum (Memorandum No. 3) in relation to the Serious Crime Bill.

 

The Minister for Government Business informed the Committee that the Bill is at a late stage in its progress through Parliament. Due to the time constraints, Business Managers agreed to note the SLCM, and that it should not be referred to an Assembly committee for scrutiny. The Legislative Consent Motion in relation to this provision is scheduled for debate in Plenary on 10 February 2015.

4.3

Regulation and Inspection of Social Care (Wales) Bill

Minutes:

Business Managers confirmed their in principle decision of 27 January to refer the Regulation and Inspection of Social Care (Wales) Bill to the Health and Social Care Committee for Stage 1 consideration, and agreed the deadline for the Stage 1 Committee to report by as 3 July 2015 and the deadline for the completion of Stage 2 Committee proceedings as 16 October 2015.

5.

Standing Orders

5.1

Consent to Changes to Assembly Functions

Minutes:

Business Committee considered a paper from the Secretariat regarding options for changes to Standing Orders as recommended by the Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee for changes to the Assembly’s functions.

 

Business Managers considered the various options and agreed in principle to amend Standing Order 30 in accordance with option C.