Minutes

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Business Managers noted that Leanne Woods’s Short Debate, which was re-scheduled from 18 March, has been withdrawn.

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 29 April 2015 –

• Short Debate - Suzy Davies (South Wales West) (30 mins) – Postponed to 13 May 2015

Wednesday 13 May 2015 –

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

• Debate on the Health and Social Care Committee's report on its inquiry into new psychoactive substances (60 mins)
  
  
• Time allocated to the Welsh Conservatives (60 mins)
  
  
• Short Debate - Leanne Wood (South Wales Central) (30 mins) – Withdrawn
  
  
• Short Debate - Suzy Davies (South Wales West) (30 mins) – Postponed from 29 April 2015

Business Managers agreed in principle to refer the Environment (Wales) Bill to the Environment and Sustainability Committee (ES) for Stage 1 consideration.

Business Managers agreed to defer a decision on the Bill’s timetable to a future meeting to allow for consultation with the ES Committee.

Business Managers agreed in principle to refer the Historic Environment (Wales) Bill to the Communities, Equality and Local Government Committee (CELG) for Stage 1 consideration.

Business Managers agreed to defer a decision on the Bill’s timetable to a future meeting to allow for consultation with the CELG Committee.

Business Committee noted a paper from the government outlining key legislative activity over the forthcoming months.

Business Managers confirmed the autumn half term and Christmas recess dates for 2015 and agreed the provisional recess dates for spring half term 2016.

Having considered the timing of Easter in 2016, and the proximity of this to the Assembly’s dissolution, Business Managers also agreed provisional dates for Easter recess 2016. These provisional dates will be reviewed at the end of the year before being confirmed.

* Provisional dates to be confirmed by Business Committee.

Business Managers noted a letter from the Standards of Conduct Committee in relation to the report on the Registration and Declaration of Members' Interests, confirming that the proposed amendments to standing Orders are consistent with both the Committee and the Commissioner for Standards’ intentions.

The Secretariat will draft a report on the proposed changes to Standing Orders for Business Managers’ approval, and will update the Committee in due course regarding the scheduling of the Assembly’s consideration of the proposed changes.

Business Managers agreed a request by the Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty to swap her OAQ session with the slot allocated to the Minister for Education and Skills in July, from the 15th to the 8th July 2015.