Agenda and minutes

The Llywydd welcomed the Members to the meeting.

The Minutes of the previous meeting were agreed for publication.

The Trefnydd drew Business Managers’ attention to the addition of the following statements:

Tuesday 22 June 2021

·         Statement by the Minister for Health and Social Services: Update on Coronavirus (45 mins)

·         Statement by the Deputy Minister for Climate Change: Roads Review (45 mins)

Tuesday

·         There will be no Voting Time.

·         Plenary is unlikely to run past 6.05pm.

Wednesday 

·         Voting Time will take place before the first Short Debate.

·         Plenary is unlikely to run past 7.00pm. 

The Llywydd informed Business Committee that she will divide the Chamber into 4 ‘blocks’: Ministers, Labour backbenchers, Conservatives and Plaid/Jane Dodds. If one Member in any block is changing during a break, then the Llywydd will ask the whole block to leave, and no Members should then enter the Chamber until the bell has been rung.

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

Tuesday 29 June 2021

·         Statement by the First Minister: Reforming our Union (45 mins)

·         Statement by the Minister for Economy: Young Person’s Guarantee (45 mins)

·         The Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (No. 5) (Wales) (Amendment) (No. 13) Regulations 2021 (30 mins)

Tuesday 6 July 2021

·         Statement by the First Minister: The Legislative Programme (60 mins)

Business Committee agreed to schedule the following items of business:

Wednesday 14 July 2021 –

·         Debate on a Member's Legislative Proposal (30 mins)

·         Time allocated to the Welsh Conservatives (60 mins)

·         Time allocated to Plaid Cymru (60 mins)

Business Committee agreed to schedule the following motion for debate on 30 June:

NNDM7713 Gareth Davies

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes a proposal for a Bill that would embed a rights based approach in the development, planning and delivery of public services which affect older people in Wales.

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

a) place a duty on Welsh Ministers to have due regard for the United Nations Principles for Older Persons when making decisions which may impact upon older people in Wales;

b) extend the due regard duty to local authorities, local health boards and other Welsh public authorities;

c) place a duty on Welsh Ministers to promote knowledge and understanding of the UN Principles for Older Persons amongst older people and Welsh public authorities;

d) place a requirement for Welsh Ministers to consult the Older People’s Commissioner, older people, and other relevant stakeholders before making or revising the Older People’s Rights Scheme; and

e) place a duty for Welsh Ministers to issue guidance to Welsh public authorities.

UN Principles for Older Persons 

Business Committee also agreed to schedule the following motion for debate on 14 July:

NNDM7723 Jane Dodds

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes a proposal for a Bill on the regulation, monitoring and commissioning of children's residential care, including those who require inpatient mental health care, and services to people with learning disabilities or other neurodiversity in Wales.

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

a) improve the commissioning and delivery of children's residential care placements in Wales, including co-ordination and delivery across local authorities to improve the sufficiency of suitable placements;

b) improve the regulation and monitoring of residential care and fostering placements, including alignment with other services such as education, housing and homelessness, and health;

c) remove the provision for profit-making providers from the residential care sector for children looked after, as well as services for people with learning disabilities and neurodiveristy.

Business Committee asked for further guidance to be drafted regarding how to select Member’s Legislative Proposals.

Business Committee agreed that Interim Subordinate Legislation Committee should report on the Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (No. 5) (Wales) (Amendment) (No. 13) Regulations 2021 by Monday 28 June. 

Business Committee agreed that the Environment Bill and the Professional Qualifications Bill will be referred to committees once they are established.  The Trefnydd agreed to confirm the timings for the Environment Bill.

Business Committee discussed the proposed remits of the committees. Siân Gwenllian stated Plaid Cymru’s preference for constitution and legislation to sit in two different committees, given the likely workload. Darren Millar noted the Conservative group’s objection to a twelve committee model, as it does not allow for the allocation of chairs between the Conservatives and Plaid Cymru to reflect the relative size of the groups, and stated that should twelve committees be established, the group would expect to chair three of the larger committees.

Business Committee agreed to continue discussions on possible remits within a twelve committee model, and to reconvene later that day.

Business Committee agreed that the ballots for Chairs should take place physically, with any Members unable to attend due to restrictions or medical reasons able to apply to vote by remote electronic means if required.

Business Committee decided by majority vote to ask the Labour group to propose the name of a fourth Commissioner for the Committee to consider, and to return to the matter at the meeting later that day.

First Supplementary Budget

The Trefnydd informed Business Committee that the first supplementary budget will be laid today with a debate planned for 13 July.

Allocation of seats in the Chamber

Darren Millar raised the fact that one seat in the Chamber is currently being shared between Plaid Cymru and Jane Dodds, and asked that it be shared between the Conservatives, Plaid Cymru and Jane Dodds. The Llywydd reminded Business Managers that all Members are equal, regardless of whether they are participating remotely or in the Chamber.

Public gallery

The Llywydd informed Business Managers that a limited opening of the public gallery is planned from 28 June.

Adam Price

The Llywydd informed Business Managers that following the revision to the guidance agreed two weeks ago, she has decided that exceptional circumstances apply to Adam Price’s application for a proxy vote and has agreed that he may have a proxy voting arrangement until the end of this term. The certificate will be laid today.