Agenda and minutes

The Deputy Presiding Officer chaired the meeting and welcomed Members. Apologies were received from Jane Dodds.

The Minutes of the previous meeting were agreed for publication.

Tuesday 

The Trefnydd informed Business Managers of the following changes

·         Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales: Remembrance Withdrawn

·         Motion to suspend Standing Orders (5 mins)

·         Debate: Remembrance (60 mins)

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

·         Plenary is unlikely to run past 7.20pm

Wednesday

·         Voting Time will take place before 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 26 November 2024

·      Statement by the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs: Progress on the Sustainable Farming Scheme - design through collaboration (45 mins)

·      Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning: Update on Compound Semiconductor Investments (45 mins)

·      The Environmental Protection (Single use Vapes) (Wales) Regulations 2024 (5 mins) – postponed until 10 December

·      The Partnership Arrangements (Miscellaneous Amendments etc.) (Wales) Regulations 2024 (15 mins)

Heledd Fychan requested an oral statement on the ‘New 50-day challenge to improve hospital discharge and community care’ announced  on 11 November. The Trefynydd indicated that she would consider the request.

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

Wednesday 20 November 2024 –

• Debate on the Finance Committee report: Review into the operations, processes and investigations carried out by the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales (30 mins)

Wednesday 4 December 2024 –

• Member Debate under Standing Order 11.21(iv) (60 mins)
• Debate on the Equality and Social Justice Committee report: Their Future: Our Priority? Follow up inquiry into childcare provision in Wales (60 mins)
• Time allocated to Plaid Cymru (60 mins)
• Short Debate: Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy) (30 mins)

Business Committee considered the proposed motions for debate and agreed to schedule: 

20 November 2024

Siân Gwenllian

NNDM8712 

To propose that the Senedd: 

1. Notes a proposal for a Bill on the incorporation of the right to adequate housing, as set out in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, into Welsh law. 

2. Notes that the purpose of this Bill would be to: 

a) establish the right to adequate housing as a fundamental right in Welsh law, ensuring access to safe, secure, and affordable housing for all; 

b) place a duty on Welsh Ministers and public authorities to progressively realise the right to adequate housing; 

c) require regular assessments of housing needs and conditions, with targets set to reduce unmet housing needs and improve conditions over time; 

d) strengthen tenant protections and support fair rental practices to ensure housing stability; and 

e) establish mechanisms for individuals to seek redress if their right to adequate housing is violated or unmet. 

8 January 2025

Carolyn Thomas

NNDM8723 

To propose that the Senedd: 

1. Notes a proposal for a pet abduction Bill. 

2. Notes that the purpose of this Bill would be to: 

a) make the abduction of a pet a specific criminal offence in Wales; 

b) recognise that cats and dogs are not inanimate objects but sentient beings capable of experiencing distress and other emotional trauma; 

c) recognise the significant and unique distress caused to an owner when a pet is stolen; and 

d) bring Wales in line with legislation in England. 

Legislation

Business Committee considered a response from the Finance Committee and agreed the proposed timetable for scrutiny of the Visitor Accommodation (Register and Levy) Etc. (Wales) Bill.

Business Committee agreed to refer the supplementary LCM (Memorandum No. 2) on the Water (Special Measures) Bill to the Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee and the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee for scrutiny, with a reporting deadline of 10 January 2025.

Business Committee agreed the request for Members of the Committee to depart immediately following First Minister’s Questions on Tuesday 19 November.

Business Committee agreed to requests from the Committee for it to meet outside their regular meeting slot on the mornings of Tuesday 3 December and Monday 9 December.

The Deputy Presiding Officer reminded Business Managers that the Business Committee’s consultation on job sharing with Members and groups will close on Friday 15 November.

The Trefnydd invited other Business Managers to consider co-submitting the motion for the debate on Holodomor being held in Government time on 19 November.