Agenda and minutes

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

The Minutes of the previous meeting were agreed for publication.

Business Committee noted that Jack Sargeant and Vikki Howells have resigned as chairs of the Petitions Committee and Standards of Conduct Committee respectively, following their appointments to ministerial posts. Business Committee agreed that the chairs of both committees should continue to be allocated to the Labour group. Business Committee agreed that the Llywydd will invite nominations for the committee chairs at the start of Tuesday’s Plenary meeting.

The Trefnydd informed Business Managers of the following changes:

·       Nominations for Committee Chairs (5 mins)

·       Questions to the Counsel General (45 mins) Moved to 1 October

·       Motion to suspend Standing Orders (5 mins)

·       Motion to approve the nomination of a Counsel General (5 mins)

·       Statement by the Minister for Social Care: The National Framework for the Commissioning of Care and Support in Wales Postponed until 24 September

·       Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Welsh Language: The green economy Withdrawn

·       Statement by the First Minister: Inter-governmental relations Postponed until 24 September

·       Statement by the First Minister: Government priorities (60 mins)

·       Statement by the First Minister: Tata Steel (45 mins)

·       Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Welsh Language: Public sector pay (45 mins)

·       Statement by the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs: Cleaning up on rivers, lakes and seas (45 mins)

·       Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Education: Universal primary free school meals (45 mins)

The Llywydd informed Business Managers that a photographer will be present in the Siambr at the start of Tuesday’s meeting to take images of First Minister’s Questions.

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

·       Plenary is unlikely to run past 7.15pm

Wednesday

·       Voting Time will take place after the short debate.  

·       Plenary is unlikely to run past 7.10pm

The Trefnydd informed Business Managers of the following changes to the Three Week Timetable of Government Business.

Tuesday 24 September 2024

·         Statement by the First Minister: Inter-governmental relations (45 mins) – postponed from 17 September

·         Statement by the Minister for Children and Social Care: The National Framework for the Commissioning of Care and Support in Wales (45 mins) – postponed from 17 September

·         Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales: A new partnership to transform our railways (45 mins)

·         Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care: Winter preparedness in the NHS (45 mins)

·         Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Education: Universal free school meals in primary schools (45 mins) – brought forward to 17 September

·         Motion under Standing Order 26.79 to withdraw the Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill (30 mins)

Wednesday 25 September 2024

·         Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning Welsh Language (45 mins)

Tuesday 1 October 2024

·         Questions to the Counsel General and Minister for Delivery (45 mins)

·         Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government: More homes towards ending homelessness (45 mins)

·         Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Education: Welsh language immersion (45 mins)

·         Statement by the Minister for Children and Social Care: The importance of the first 1000 days of life – conception to 2 years (45 mins)

Wednesday 2 October 2024

·         Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government and Planning (45 mins)

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

Wednesday 25 September 2024 –

·         Debate on the Standards of Conduct Committee report: Fourteenth report to the Sixth Senedd under Standing Order 22.9 (15 mins)

·         Debate on the Climate Change, Environment and Infrastructure Committee report - Natural Resources Wales - Annual Scrutiny 2023-24 (60 mins) Postponed to 2 October

Wednesday 2 October 2024 –

·         Debate on the Climate Change, Environment and Infrastructure Committee report - Natural Resources Wales - Annual Scrutiny 2023-24 (60 mins)

• Time allocated to Plaid Cymru (60 mins)

Wednesday 9 October 2024 –

• Debate on the Petitions Committee report: Freedom to thrive: Free and accessible public transport for young people (30 mins)
• Debate on the Equality and Social Justice Committee report: Sound the Alarm: the Governance of Fire and Rescue Services (60 mins)
• Time allocated to Plaid Cymru (60 mins)
• Short Debate: Sian Gwenllian (Arfon) (30 mins)

Business Committee noted the new schedule for Oral Questions to Welsh Ministers and the Counsel General.

Business Committee received an update on LCMs and agreed to:

• refer the LCM on the Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Bill to the Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee and the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee for scrutiny, with a reporting deadline of 1 November 2024.
• refer the LCM on the Great British Energy Bill to the Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee and the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee for scrutiny, with a reporting deadline of 15 November 2024.

Business Committee noted the response from the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee regarding a comprehensive review of the legislative consent process. Business Committee agreed to consider options for taking forward this work when agreeing its procedural forward work programme at a future meeting.

Business Committee noted the letter and that it has agreed to propose amendments to the wording of Standing Order 29.1 to the Senedd.

The Committee also noted that Standing Order 30A could be considered within any broader review of the legislative consent and associated processes that Business Committee may decide to undertake when agreeing its procedural forward work programme at a future meeting.

Business Committee noted the letter. The Trefnydd confirmed the Welsh Government’s intention to introduce the draft budget on 10 December 2024.

Business Committee considered a request from the Co-chairs of the COVID-19 Inquiry Special Purpose Committee for that Committee to be provided with a permanent meeting slot within the committee timetable.

Business Committee discussed the potential options for accommodating the Committee within the existing timetable and noted that anticipated changes to committee memberships would need to be factored into any decision. Business Committee indicated that a Monday meeting slot may at present be the best solution but agreed to return to the matter at the following meeting.

Business Committee considered a request from the Petitions Committee and agreed to schedule a debate on petition P-06-1456: I demand a full public enquiry into the closure of Welsh Air Ambulance bases in mid and North Wales.

Business Committee agreed a request from the Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee’s for its Members to be excused from Plenary on Wednesday 2 October in order to undertake committee business.

Business Committee agreed the report, and for it to be laid and a motion proposing that the Senedd agree the change to Standing Orders to be tabled for debate on Wednesday 25 September 2024.

Business Committee discussed the operation of the current guidance on virtual and hybrid proceedings, including matters relating to the locations from which Members can join Plenary proceedings and the ability to accommodate high numbers of Members joining remotely at voting time.

The Committee noted the merits of hybrid proceedings but acknowledged the challenges that this can sometimes present for the chairing of meetings and the need to ensure professionalism at all times. Business Committee also noted that the Chairs Forum has indicated a desire for some changes to be made to aspects of the guidance relating to committee proceedings.

Business Managers agreed to discuss the issues raised with their groups and to return to a further discussion of possible amendments to the guidance at a future meeting.