Agenda and minutes

The minutes for the meeting were agreed by the Committee for publication.

The Trefnydd drew Business Managers’ attention to the addition of a statement by the Minister for International Relations and Welsh Language to Wednesday’s agenda, and noted that it will include an update on tourism.

BSA

Business Managers agreed to continue with the practice of there not being any questions on the BSA.

Interventions

The Llywydd asked Business Managers to remind Members not to send Zoom messages to all, as these are broadcast. She will call to order any Members who do so from this week on.

The Llywydd reminded Business Managers that before the last speaker responds to the debate she will take one-minute contributions from Members who are responding to something that has been said during the course of the debate. That could include Members who have already spoken.

Joining instructions

The Llywydd asked Business Managers to inform Members that they need to follow the same pattern as last week – to inform Chamber Secretariat of who will be attending, and to get their speaking requests in by the end of the day on Tuesday if at all possible.

The Llywydd also asked Business Managers to remind Members that they need to join the meeting at 10.30am (or half an hour before the start time if they are only joining for the afternoon session), at the latest, to allow time for IT checks. Members arriving after 10.50am (or 10 minutes before any start time) will have to wait until after the meeting has started.

Break

Business Managers agreed that the break should come after Topical Questions, at approximately 12.20.

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

Wednesday 24 June 2020

• LCM on the Agriculture Bill (15 mins) – postponed until 15 July
• LCM on the Finance Bill (15 mins)

Business Managers agreed to a provisional start time of 11.00 for plenary for the foreseeable future.

Business Committee agreed not to refer the LCM to a committee for scrutiny, given the pace at which the Bill is expected to move through its UK Parliamentary scrutiny stages and that the debate is scheduled for this Wednesday.

The Trefnydd informed Business Managers that the debate is scheduled for 30 minutes rather than the usual 15 minutes to take into account the absence of committee scrutiny in this instance.

Business Committee noted the paper and agreed to bring forward the reporting deadline on the Finance Bill LCM from 2 July to 18 June, due to an acceleration in the UK Parliamentary timetable.

Business Committee agreed to the timetabling requests from the Committee.

The Business Committee agreed in principle to the establishment of a Llywydd’s Committee, and asked the Secretariat to bring forward a paper with more detailed proposals on its membership.

Curriculum and Assessments (Wales) Bill

The Trefnydd explained that the Bill is currently with the Llywydd for Determination and that a paper setting out a proposed timetable will be brought to the Business Committee next week.  Sian Gwenllian formally asked that use be made of time available before introduction for party spokespersons to discuss the content of the Bill with the Minister for Education.

Returning to the Senedd estate

The Llywydd sought Business Managers’ views on returning Senedd business to the Senedd estate.  Business Managers noted work under way in preparation for any decision to return to the building, and agreed that it was important to consider the principles that would guide them to make decisions in relation to returning to the building. They asked the secretariat for a paper which outlines these principles, including equality, public health and employee relations, and options for hybrid and physical plenary meetings.

Business Managers agreed in principle to implement electronic remote voting (by individual Members) as quickly as possible.

The Llywydd asked Business Managers to consider the content of plenary meetings, particularly the reintroduction of questions and of non-Covid-related issues.