Agenda and minutes

The minutes of last week’s meeting were agreed for publication

The Trefnydd drew Business Managers’ attention to a change to Tuesday’s business to move the general principles and the financial resolution in respect of the Welsh Elections (Coronavirus) Bill to the end of the day.

Tuesday 

·         Voting Time will take place after the last item of business.   

·         Plenary is unlikely to run past 6.15pm. 

Wednesday 

·         Voting Time will take place before the Short Debate.  

·         Plenary is unlikely to run past 5.40pm. 

The Trefnydd drew Business Managers’ attention to the following changes:

Tuesday 9 February 2021

·           Proposal under Standing Order 12.24 to debate the following together but with separate votes: (30 mins)

o   The Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel and Restrictions) (Amendment) (No. 4) (Wales) Regulations 2021 (15 mins)

o   The Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (No. 5) (Wales) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2021

Wednesday 10 February 2021

·           Debate: Stage 3 of the Welsh Elections (Coronavirus) Bill (60 mins)

·           Debate: Stage 4 of the Welsh Elections (Coronavirus) Bill (15 mins)

Tuesday 23 February 2021

·           Motion to vary the order of consideration of Stage 3 amendments to the Curriculum and Assessment (Wales) Bill (5 mins)

Business Committee agreed that the Committee of the Whole Senedd should start at 1pm on 9 February, with Plenary starting once it is concluded. Plenary will also start at 1pm on 10 February.

Business Committee agreed to schedule the following items of business:

Wednesday 10 February 2021 –

·         Debate on a Member's Legislative Proposal (30 mins) - postponed to 24 February

·         Time allocated to the Welsh Conservatives (30 mins) - postponed to 24 February

·         Time allocated to Plaid Cymru (30 mins) - postponed to 24 February

·         Short Debate – David Melding (South Wales Central) – postponed to 24 February

Wednesday 24 February 2021 –

·         Joint debate with the Welsh Youth Parliament (45 mins)

·         Debate on a Member's Legislative Proposal (30 mins) - postponed from 10 February

·         Time allocated to the Welsh Conservatives (30 mins) - postponed from 10 February

·         Time allocated to Plaid Cymru (30 mins) - postponed from 10 February

·         Time allocated to the Independent Alliance for Reform Group (30 mins) - postponed to 3 March

·         Short Debate – David Melding (South Wales Central) – postponed from 10 February

Wednesday 3 March 2021 –

·         Motion to Annul The Water Resources (Control of Agricultural Pollution) (Wales) Regulations 2021 (30 mins)

·         Debate on the Culture, Welsh Language and Communications Report: Should broadcasting be devolved?  (30 mins)

·         Debate on the Health, Social Care and Sport report: Inquiry into the impact of the Covid-19 outbreak, and its management, on health and social care in Wales: Report 2 – Impact on mental health and wellbeing (60 mins)

·         Time allocated to the Independent Alliance for Reform Group (30 mins) postponed from 24 February

The Trefnydd thanked Business Managers for moving Senedd business to accommodate government legislation.

Business Committee agreed to schedule the following motion for debate on 24 February:

NNDM7478 Mark Isherwood

To propose that the Senedd: 

1. Notes a proposal for a Bill that would make provision to encourage the use of British Sign Language (BSL) in Wales, and improve access to education and services in BSL. 

2. Notes that the purpose of the Bill would be to:

a) ensure that the deaf community and people with hearing loss have a voice in the design and delivery of services to ensure they meet the needs of service users;

b) establish a BSL national advisory group to empower the BSL community in Wales;

c) require the Welsh Government to co-produce and publish a national BSL plan, and to establish strategic goals to improve the accessibility of public services, support services and enhance BSL skills across society.

d) require public bodies to co-produce and publish their own BSL plan to develop BSL awareness and training, and improve access to frontline services.

Business Committee also agreed that this would be the last MLP scheduled before dissolution.

Business Committee agreed the joint business item on 24 February, 2021, to start at 12:45 and be taken before government business.

Business Committee agreed to schedule a debate on the Motion to Annul The Water Resources (Control of Agricultural Pollution) (Wales) Regulations 2021on 3 March 2021. 

Business Committee agreed to schedule a 30 minute debate on two petitions – ‘P-05-1117 Give Police Officers the Covid Vaccination as a priority’ and ‘P-05-1119 Prioritise teachers, school and childcare staff for COVID-19 vaccination’, and another 30 minute debate on ‘P-05-1078 Increase funding for mental health services and improve waiting times for people needing help in crisis. We need a change!’

The Business Committee agreed to set a reporting deadline of Monday 8 February for the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee to report on the regulations. 

The Business Committee agreed to set a reporting deadline of Monday 8 February for the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee to report on the regulations. 

Business Committee agreed in principle that the Senedd enter a recess period from 7 April until 28 April 2021 which will be known as the ‘pre-dissolution’ period, and that Senedd business during this period should be limited to that which is related to the specific purposes of the shortened dissolution as outlined in the Bill.

The Committee noted that, should the Bill be passed, detailed proposals will be presented to Business Committee at its meeting on either 22 February or 1 March.

The Trefnydd agreed to circulate Welsh Government ‘purdah’ guidance for the election period (pre-dissolution recess and dissolution) to Business Managers.

Environment Bill

The Trefnydd informed Business Managers that consideration of the Environment Bill is now paused until the next parliamentary session, and that  officials would discuss a revised reporting deadline for the SLCM (No.2).