Agenda and minutes

Venue: Video Conference via Zoom

Contact: Aled Elwyn Jones 

Items
No. Item

1.

Introductions, apologies and substitutions

Minutes:

Apologies were received from Caroline Jones; Mandy Jones attended as a substitute.

2.

Minutes of the previous meeting

Minutes:

The minutes of the previous meetings were agreed for publication.

3.

Organisation of Business

3.1

This Week's Business

Minutes:

Business Committee noted and agreed the following practical arrangements for legislative scrutiny this week:

 

·         relevant Members’ mics will be active during periods when amendments are being moved formally and voted on, to avoid delays;

 

·         for voting purposes, there will be two separate meetings with different PINs on both days, and so Members will need to log into the system twice;

 

·         on Tuesday, there will be a break before the first vote in the Committee of the Whole Senedd, and a short break between the Committee and the start of Plenary; and

 

·         on Wednesday, there will be a break before the first vote in each Stage 3 proceeding, a short break between the first Stage 3 and Oral Questions, and again before the Stage 3 on the Emergency Bill.

 

Tuesday 

 

·         Plenary will start at the conclusion of the Committee of the Whole Senedd proceedings for the Welsh Elections (Coronavirus) Bill, which will start at 13.00.

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

 

Wednesday 

 

·         Plenary will start at 13.00.

·         There will be no Voting Time, other than during the two Stage 3 debates.

·         Plenary is unlikely to run past 6.50pm. 

 

 

The Llywydd informed Business Managers that she would be exercising her powers of selection, to avoid Stage 3 of the emergency Bill being a re-run of Stage 2, and encouraged Members not to re-table amendments which have been comprehensively rejected at Stage 2.

 

3.2

Three Week Timetable of Government Business

Minutes:

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

 

Tuesday 23 February 2021

 

·           Debate: Stage 4 of the Renting Homes (Amendment) (Wales) Bill (15 mins)

 

 

3.3

Three Week Timetable of Senedd Business

Minutes:

Business Committee agreed to schedule the following items of business:

 

Wednesday 24 February 2021 –

 

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

Wednesday 3 March 2021 –

 

·         Debate on the Culture, Welsh Language and Communications Report: Should broadcasting be devolved?  (30 mins) – postponed to 17 March

·         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 (630 mins)

·         Debate on petitions concerning the COVID-19 vaccination programme (30 mins) 

Wednesday 10 March 2021 –

 

·         Member Debate under Standing Order 11.21(iv) (30 mins)

·         Debate on the Economy, Infrastructure and Skills Committee report on long term recovery from Covid-19 (60 mins)

·         Debate on petition P-05-1078 Increase funding for mental health services and improve waiting times for people needing help in crisis (30 mins)

·         Time allocated to the Welsh Conservatives (30 mins)

 

Welsh Youth Parliament

 

The Llywydd informed Business Managers that the item on 24 February will be a series of statements, rather than a debate, and so there will be no vote at the end. She also outlined the proposed structure in more detail, including that the First Minister and party leaders would be invited to contribute.