Agenda and minutes

The Llywydd welcomed Members to the meeting. Apologies were received from Jane Dodds,

The Minutes from the previous meeting were agreed for publication.

Tuesday

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

• Statement by the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd: Strengthening our ties with Ireland and the North-West of England (30 mins)
• Statement by the Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip: Celebrating Volunteers (30 mins)
• Debate: Stage 4 of the Agriculture (Wales) Bill (15 mins) 

• There will be no Voting Time.
• Plenary is unlikely to run past 5.30pm.

Wednesday

• Voting Time will take place before the Short Debate.
• Plenary is unlikely to run past 7.10pm.

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

Tuesday 6 June 2023

·         Statement by the Minister for Education and Welsh Language: A Review of Education’s Links with Employers (30 mins) – postponed until July

·         LCM on the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill (30 mins) – postponed until 13 June

·         The Allocation of Housing and Homelessness (Eligibility) (Wales) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2023 (15 mins)

Tuesday 13 June 2023

·         LCM on the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill (30 mins) – postponed from 6 June

Darren Millar requested that the Government brings forward a statement on Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board before summer recess.

The following additions were agreed to the Three Week Timetable of Senedd Business:  

Wednesday 21 June 2023 –

• Debate on a Member's Legislative Proposal (30 mins)
• Debate on the Health and Social Care Committee report - Dentistry (60 mins)
• Time allocated to Plaid Cymru (60 mins)
• Short Debate: Joel James (South Wales Central) (30 mins)

Business Committee considered an update from the Trefnydd and agreed to:

• refer the LCM on the Victim and Prisoners Bill laid on 19 May to the Equality and Social Justice Committee and the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee for scrutiny, with a reporting deadline of 14 July.
• pre-emptively refer the SLCM (Memorandum No 2) on the Illegal Migration Bill to the Children, Young People and Education Committee, the Equality and Social Justice Committee and the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee for scrutiny, with a reporting deadline of 19 June.
• extend the reporting deadline for the anticipated SLCM (Memorandum No 3) and all other LCMs on the Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill to 12 June.

The Trefnydd also provided a verbal update on the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill, on which significant amendments are currently being made at Westminster, and confirmed that an SLCM will be laid as soon as possible. The Trefnydd indicated a possibility that the legislative consent debate may need to be held in Plenary as early as 6 June.

Business Committee noted the letter and that the Committee does not intend to report on the LCM.

Business Committee noted the letter and that the Committee does not intend to report on the SLCM.

Business Committee noted the recommendation and agreed to respond to the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee indicating that it intends to consider options for a potential review of the Member Bill process during the summer term, and will take the Committee’s recommendation into account.

Business Committee noted the letter.

Business Committee approved a request from the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee to undertake a visit to Brussels during the final week of the summer recess.

Business Committee agreed the request from the Standards of Conduct Committee for it to have the flexibility to meet on Monday mornings when it does not have a timetabled meeting slot when required.

Business Committee considered matters relating to the establishment of a Wales Covid-19 Inquiry Special Purpose Committee. Business Committee agreed to propose that the Committee should be comprised of three Labour, two Conservative and one Plaid Cymru member, including Co-Chairs.

Business Committee agreed to propose under Standing Order 17.2T to disapply the process for electing a Chair to the Committee, and to propose that Co-Chairs be appointed. It was agreed that the Co-Chairs would be Members of the Labour and Conservative groups and should be gender-balanced. Business Committee noted that the concept of Co-Chairs was novel for the Senedd.

Business Committee requested that motion(s) required to give effect to their decision be drafted, with a view to a suspension of Standing Orders being proposed to enable the Committee to be established on Wednesday 24 May. The Llywydd advised that consideration of the practical, procedural and legal implications of Co-Chairs would also be undertaken. 

Business Committee agreed to return to discuss the timetabling of meetings of the Committee at a later date.

Business Committee discussed the proposed changes to the Guidance. Darren Millar requested further advice be provided on the use of the casting vote in relation to decisions over leave to proceed on Member Bills in other parliaments. The Trefnydd asked that guidance in respect of Leaders and Spokespeople questions be revised to so indicate that they should not be used for solely constituency matters. The Llywydd indicated that she would give further consideration to the issues raised. 

Business Committee discussed the ongoing matter of the Senedd’s nominations for representatives on the Congress of the Council of Europe, noting the difference in views between party groups on the issue of nominations and agreed to return to the matter at the following meeting.

The Llywydd informed Business Managers of a proposed joint sitting with the Welsh Youth Parliament on Wednesday 21 June at 12.45 and that further information will be provided after half-term.