Minutes

Apologies for absence were received from the Deputy Presiding Officer.

The minutes were noted by the Committee for publication.

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.

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 4 March 2015 –

·         Motion to amend Standing Order 30 in relation to the notification of UK Parliament Bills (5 mins)

Wednesday 18 March 2015

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

·         Time allocated to the Welsh Conservatives (60 mins)

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

Business Committee considered a paper from the government regarding a Supplementary Legislative Consent Memorandum (Memorandum No. 4) 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.

As a number of recent LCMs have not been referred to a Committee, and given their constitutional and policy significance, Business Managers agreed that in future they would write to the relevant committee to inform them that an LCM had been laid but not referred for committee scrutiny. In this instance, the Presiding Officer will write to Communities, Equality and Local Government Committee (CELG) and send a copy to the Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee (CLA).

Business Managers noted that the Legislative Consent Motion in relation to this provision is scheduled for debate in Plenary on 3 March 2015.

Business Committee considered and approved a draft Report on amending Standing Order 30 in relation to the notification of UK Parliament Bills.

Business Managers agreed to table a motion to amend the Standing Orders for the Assembly’s consideration on Wednesday 4 March 2015.

The Presiding Officer informed Business Managers that the Minister for Government Business had written to the Children, Young People and Education Committee (CYPE) with regards to considering the issue of protecting children from battery on grounds of reasonable chastisement. The Presiding Officer noted that the Minister was not writing on behalf of the Business Committee.