Minutes

The Deputy Presiding Officer and Darren Millar sent their apologies, due to representing the Assembly at the BIPA Conference in London.

Business Managers requested that revised minutes be circulated for agreement.

Tuesday

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

Wednesday

·         Voting Time will take place before the Short Debate.

Business Committee noted the 3 Week Timetable of Government Business.

Business Committee determined the organisation of Assembly business and agreed to schedule the following items of business:

Wednesday 14 November 2018 –

·         Motion to approve the Assembly Commission's Budget 2019-20 (30 mins)

·         Time allocated to Plaid Cymru (60 mins) – postponed until 28 November

Wednesday 21 November 2018 –

·         Member Debate under Standing Order 11.21(iv) (60 mins)

·         Debate on the Standards of Conduct Committee report: Creating the Right Culture (60 mins)

·         Debate on Petition P-05-828 Presumption in Favour of Rural Schools (60 mins)

Business Managers noted that the plenary debate is proposed for 6 November and agreed, in this instance, that there is insufficient time for full committee scrutiny. 

Business Managers agreed the request.

Business Managers agreed the request.

Further to the discussion at the previous meeting, the Llywydd indicated that she wanted the issue of the allocation of chairs to be discussed and decided on separately to that of the order in which leaders and spokespeople are called. 

On a vote, Business Managers agreed in principle to propose to re-allocate the Chair of Petitions Committee from UKIP to the Welsh Conservatives. However, Business Managers agreed not to table a motion for the time being - to allow discussions between Plaid Cymru and the Welsh Conservatives regarding the possible re-allocation of other committee chairs.

On the issue of calling leaders and spokespeople, the Llywydd again stated that she would be guided by the majority view of the Business Committee in terms of the order in which they are called. The majority view among Business Managers was that the Business Committee should not seek to dictate how the Llywydd uses her prerogative in such a way, and so the Llywydd committed to bringing forward a paper reviewing all aspects of leaders’ and spokespeople’s questions after half term.

Business Managers agreed to take nominations to elect a new Chair of Finance Committee at tomorrow’s Plenary.

Business Committee agreed to revise the allocation of opposition time from 2:2:1 to 6:5:2.