Agenda and minutes

The Llywydd welcomed Members to the meeting. Apologies were reveived from Darren Millar. Russell George attended in his place.

The Minutes of the previous meeting were agreed for publication.

Tuesday

The Trefnydd informed Business Managers of the following changes:

• Statement by the Minister for Health and Social Services: Escalation and Intervention Arrangements for Maternity and Neonatal Services in Swansea Bay University Health Board (30 mins)
• Statement by the Minister for Health and Social Services: Update on ‘More than just words 2022-27’ (30 mins) Withdrawn
• Statement by the Minister for Education and Welsh Language: Update on the establishment of the Commission for Tertiary Education and Research and publication of the Welsh Ministers’ statement of priorities (30 mins) Withdrawn
• The Plant Health etc. (Miscellaneous Fees) (Amendment) (Wales) Regulations 2023 (15 10 mins)

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

·         Plenary is unlikely to run past 5.25pm.

Wednesday

Business Committee agreed to table a motion to propose that the Senedd elects Samuel Kurtz as a member of the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee in place of James Evans. The Llywydd drew attention to this and the following changes to Wednesday’s meeting: 

·         Questions to the Senedd Commission (30 15 mins)

·         Motion to elect a Member to a Committee (5 mins)

• Voting Time will take place before the Short Debate
• Plenary is unlikely to run past 6.25pm.

The Trefnydd informed Business Managers that there are no changes to the Three Week Timetable of Government Business.

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

Wednesday 24 January 2024 -

• Member Debate under Standing Order 11.21(iv) (60 mins) 
• Debate on Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee report: Challenges facing the creative industry workforce in Wales (60 min) 
• Time allocated to the Welsh Conservatives (60 mins) 
• Short Debate: Altaf Hussain (South Wales West) (30 mins)  

Business Committee agreed to:

• refer the LCM on the Trade (Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership) Bill for scrutiny, to the Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee and the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee, with a reporting deadline of 15 March 2024;
• refer the supplementary LCM (Memorandum No. 3) on the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill for scrutiny, to the Culture, Communication, Welsh Language, Sport and International Relations Committee and the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee, with a reporting deadline of 2 February 2024.

Business Committee considered a paper concerning a limited review of Standing Order 26C (Consolidation Acts of the Senedd), following correspondence received from the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee on 3 October which raised some issues arising from its consideration of the Historic Environment (Wales) Bill. The Committee noted that its Procedural Work Programme includes a full review of SO 26C scheduled after the next Consolidation Bill has been considered by the Senedd.

Business Committee agreed to:

·      propose that the Senedd amend Standing Orders to clarify when Detailed Committee Consideration is completed and consider a draft report on the proposed changes in the new year;

·      write to the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee to explain that, given the limited nature of this review, it intends to consider the following matters as part of the full review of SO 26C:

-   the advantages and disadvantages of amending the Standing Orders that outline how a Consolidation Bill proceeds from Detailed Committee Consideration to Detailed Senedd Consideration / Final Stage ; and

-   extending the window between the responsible committee reporting and Detailed Senedd Consideration being able to start / consideration of a Final Stage motion being possible, to give Members more time to consider and act on the responsible committee’s report and recommendation.

Business Committee noted that, in the meantime, should a situation arise in which the responsible committee is unable to reach agreement on the outcome of its Detailed Committee Consideration and a tied vote occurs, the responsible committee chair will be provided with procedural advice from the clerk in line with the underlying principles and precedents applied to the use of the casting vote.

UK Covid Inquiry hearings

The Trefnydd notified Business Managers that the UK Covid Inquiry hearings in Wales, being held between 27 February - 14 March 2024, may affect the schedules of certain Ministers during the spring term.