Agenda and minutes

The Llywydd welcomed Members to the meeting. There were no apologies

Business Committee agreed amendments to the minute of item 4.1: Timetable for the Legislation (Procedure, Publication and Repeals) (Wales) Bill requested by the Trefnydd.

Members also accepted an invitation from the Trefnydd for the Counsel General and Minister for Delivery to provide a briefing on the Government’s legislative programme at a future Business Committee meeting.

Tuesday 

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

·         Plenary is unlikely to run past 7.00pm

Wednesday

·         Voting Time will take place before the Short Debate.  

·         Plenary is unlikely to run past 7.15pm

Future Senedd Committee

Business Committee agreed that the Future Senedd Committee, if established by the Senedd on 16 October, could hold an initial meeting on the morning of Wednesday 23 October.

Business Committee also agreed in principle for the Committee to be given a permanent meeting slot within the committee timetable in the same rotation as the Finance Committee and Local Government & Housing Committee.

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

Darren Millar requested that the Government make a written or oral statement on the Sustainable Farming Scheme before half term recess. The Trefnydd indicated that she would consider the request. 

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

Wednesday 23 October 2024 –

• Short Debate: Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy) (30 mins) Postponed until 4 December
• Short Debate: Mike Hedges (Swansea East) (30 mins)

Wednesday 13 November 2024 –

·         Debate on the Children, Young People and Education Committee Report:  ‘Do Disabled Children and Young People have equal access to education and childcare?’ (60 mins)

·         Debate on the Climate Change, Environment and Infrastructure Committee report - Restoration of opencast mining sites (60 mins)

·         Time allocated to the Welsh Conservatives (60 mins)

• Short Debate: Mabon ap Gwynfor (Dwyfor Meirionnydd) (30 mins)

Business Committee noted that a debate on the petition P-06-1456: I demand a full public enquiry into the closure of Welsh Air Ambulance bases in mid and North Wales, previously requested by the Petitions Committee, would be deferred until current judicial proceedings on the matter have been concluded.

Business Committee agreed a further request for committee members to also be excused from Plenary on Tuesday 19 November, should business run late on that evening.

Business Committee considered and indicated their contentment with proposed revisions to the Guidance on virtual and hybrid proceedings, relating to both Plenary and committee meetings. Business Managers also agreed proposed practical arrangements for the trial of pre-notification for remote voting in Plenary.

Business Committee considered its Procedural Work Programme and the interaction between a number of items within the programme and the remit of the proposed Future Senedd Committee. In relation to the proposed reviews of the legislative scrutiny process for public Bills and the Member Bill process, Business Committee noted that it would retain responsibility for both reviews, but that it may need to take account of any proposals made by the Future Senedd Committee that are relevant to those, and other, aspects of its programme.

Business Committee agreed:

·         the proposed scheduling of its procedural work; and

·         not to commence a full review of the legislative consent process as part of the programme at the present time, but to consider the position in light of experience when considering a further update to the programme in the Spring term.

The Llywydd asked Business Managers to remind their Members of drop-in sessions and upcoming consultation being held by the Independent Remuneration Board.