Agenda and minutes
Venue: Tŷ Hywel
Contact: Graeme Francis
No. | Item |
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Introductions, apologies and substitutions Minutes: The Llywydd welcomed members to the meeting. |
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Minutes of the previous meeting Minutes: The Minutes of the previous meeting were agreed for publication. |
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Organisation of Business |
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This week's business Minutes: Tuesday The Trefnydd drew Business Managers’ attention
to the following changes:
The Llywydd reflected on the variable
experience of the hybrid debates last week, noting the success of the Stage 3
debate on the Social Partnership and Public Procurement (Wales) Bill but that
several Members had expressed dissatisfaction with technical issues and
interventions between the Siambr and Zoom participants during the debate on the
Roads Review. |
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Three week timetable of Government Business Minutes: The Trefnydd drew Business Managers’ attention
to the following changes: Tuesday 21 March 2023 ·
·
LCM
on the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill (30 mins) Tuesday 28 March 2023 ·
The
Alcoholic Beverages (Amendment) (Wales) Regulations 2023 (5 mins) ·
·
LCM
on the Social Housing (Regulation) Bill (15 mins) |
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Three week timetable of Senedd Business Minutes: The following changes were agreed to the Three
Week Timetable of Senedd Business: Wednesday 22 March 2023 –
Wednesday 26 April 2023 –
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Member Debates: Selection of Motions for Debate Minutes: Business Committee considered the proposed
motions for debate and agreed to schedule the following motion on 22
March: Jack Sargeant NNDM8219 To propose that the Senedd: 1. Believes that: a) it is a national scandal that 600,000
people were forced onto prepayment meters in 2022 because they could not afford
their energy bills; b) energy regulator Ofgem has failed to
protect vulnerable households by allowing energy suppliers to bypass proper
checks; c) those forced on to a prepay meter should
be properly compensated by energy suppliers and switched back free of charge. 2. Notes that: a) 3.2 million people were cut off from
energy last year due to running out of credit on their prepay meter; b) average household energy bills could
rise even further, placing an additional burden on households already
struggling due to the cost-of-living crisis. 3. Acknowledges the Welsh Government’s
2021-22 in-home energy advice pilot, providing proactive advice and outreach
support to people who are, or at risk of being, in fuel poverty. 4. Calls on the
Welsh Government to roll out an in-home energy advice service across Wales to
ensure all households can access the support and advice they need. |
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Legislation |
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Update on LCMs Minutes: Business Committee
received an update on current LCMs and agreed to:
Business Committee
noted correspondence from the Chair of the Legislation, Justice and
Constitution Committee, which had been received and circulated
following their meeting held on Monday 13 March. Business Committee noted that
Committee’s position that they would be unable to report on the supplementary
LCM (Memorandum No. 4) on the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill due
to the very limited time available for this. |
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Paper to note - Correspondence from the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee to the Counsel General and Minister for Constitution regarding the Welsh Government's Legislative Consent Memoranda on the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill Minutes: Business Committee
noted the letter. |
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Committee Timetable |
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Correspondence from the Chair of the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee regarding alternative committee meeting slots in May Minutes: Business Committee
agreed to a request from the Committee to meet on Tuesday 2 May and Tuesday 9
May instead of in their regular slot due to the impact of bank holidays on 1
and 8 May. |
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Review of proxy voting |
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Possible areas for extension: matters for consideration Minutes: Business Committee
returned to consider matters relating to possible areas of extension as part of
its review of proxy voting. Darren Millar
stated the opposition of the Conservative Group to retaining or extending proxy
voting provisions. Business Committee agreed, on the basis of a majority view, to propose that proxy voting provisions be extended to include
long-term illness or injury, caring responsibilities and bereavement. In all
cases, entitlement to request a proxy vote would occur in circumstances where a
Member would be absent from all Senedd proceedings. For provisions relating to
long-term illness or injury and caring responsibilities there would be a
minimum duration of four weeks and a standard maximum duration of 6 months,
with the ability for this to be extended at the Llywydd’s discretion. The
duration of a proxy vote following a bereavement will be agreed between the
Member and the Llywydd. Business Committee
agreed that the current arrangements for publication of information around
individual eligibility for a proxy vote should continue, with the broad
category of proxy vote included when a report on the arrangement is laid by the
Llywydd. Jane Dodds raised how the proxy
vote process works for Members who are not part of a party group. The Committee
agreed to consider this further when considering draft updates to guidance. |