Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Sian Gwenllian; Dai Lloyd attended as a substitute.

The minutes of the previous meeting were agreed for publication.

The Trefnydd drew Business Committee’s attention to the postponement of the following item to 23 March:

·         The Agricultural Support (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Wales) (EU Exit) Regulations 2021 (10 mins)

The Llywydd informed Business Committee that both she and the Deputy Presiding Officer would be chairing remotely this week.

Tuesday 

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

·         Plenary is unlikely to run past 7.05pm.

Wednesday 

·         Voting Time will take place before the Short Debate.

·         Plenary is unlikely to run past 6.15pm. 

The Trefnydd drew Business Committee’s attention to the following changes:

Tuesday 23 March 2021

·                     Statement by the Minister for Health and Social Services: Update on COVID-19 Vaccinations (30 mins) – withdrawn

·                     Statement by the First Minister: Covid-19: One Year On (45 mins)

·                    Statement by the Deputy Minister for Economy and Transport: Llwybr Newydd – A New Wales Transport Strategy (45 mins)

·                     The Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (No. 5) (Wales) (Amendment) (No. 5) Regulations 2021 (15 mins)

·                     The Agricultural Support (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Wales) (EU Exit) Regulations 2021 (5 mins) – postponed from 16 March

·                     Debate: Llwybr Newydd – A New Wales Transport Strategy (60 mins) – oral statement

Wednesday 24 March 2021

·         The Senedd Cymru (Representation of the People) Amendment Order 2021 /  The Welsh Elections (Miscellaneous Provisions) Order 2021 (15 mins)

·         The Public Health (Protection from Eviction) (No.2) (Wales) (Coronavirus) Regulations 2021 (15 mins)

Business Committee agreed to schedule the following items of business:

Wednesday 24 March 2021 –

·         90 Second Statements (5 mins)

·         Proposal under Standing Order 12.24 to debate the following together but with separate votes (15 mins):

o    Motion to amend Standing Orders: Consolidation Bills

o    Motion to amend Standing Orders: Departure from the European Union

o    Motion to amend Standing Orders: Early Business Following a Senedd Election

o    Motion to amend Standing Orders: Sub Judice

o    Motion to amend Standing Orders: Recall of the Senedd

o    Motion to amend Standing Orders: Membership of Committees

o    Motion to amend Standing Orders: Miscellaneous Changes

o    Motion to amend Standing Orders: Temporary Standing Orders

·         Motion to amend Standing Orders: Definition of Political Groups (15 mins)

·         Debate on the Standards of Conduct Committee Report—Report 05-21 (15 mins)

·         Voting Time (15 mins)

·         Closing Statements (30 mins)

The Business Committee agreed that the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee should report by Monday 22 March.

The Trefnydd informed Business Managers that the Public Health (Protection from Eviction) (No. 2) (Wales) Coronavirus Regulations 2021 are due to be made and laid today, and debated on 23 March. Therefore the Committee agreed that the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee should also report on these by Monday 22 March.

Business Committee noted the latest position on LCMs and agreed not to refer the SLCM (No.3) on the Domestic Abuse Bill for scrutiny.

Business Committee agreed that the Table Office remains closed for the receipt of all business until after the first Plenary meeting of the Sixth Senedd, apart from to accept any time critical business or registration of interests forms, which may be submitted from 7 May onwards.

Business Committee also noted:

·         that written questions tabled from that point will be published in the usual way with the deadline for answers shown as five working days after they have been tabled;

·         that written questions tabled to the Welsh Government will be tabled for answer by the First Minister, who will determine who should answer them, until a new Cabinet is appointed; and

·         that written questions tabled to the Senedd Commission will be tabled for answer by the Presiding Officer.

Business Committee agreed the draft report and to table a motion to revise Standing Orders for debate in Plenary on Wednesday 24 March.

Business Committee agreed the draft report and to table a motion to revise Standing Orders for debate in Plenary on Wednesday 24 March.

Business Committee noted both pieces of guidance.

Re-laying of Statutory Instruments

The Trefnydd drew Business Committee’s attention to the fact that the Government withdrew and re-laid some draft Statutory Instruments on Friday following errors identified by the LJC committee.  As LJC is still looking at a number of draft SIs, should further withdrawing and re-laying need to take place, they may not have sufficient time to report and it may prove necessary to seek a suspension of SOs to hold the relevant debates.