Agenda and minutes

The Llywydd welcomed Members to the meeting. Darren Millar MS sent his apologies, Paul Davies MS 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 Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales: Port of Holyhead (45 mins)

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

·         Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning: Offshore Wind Task and Finish Group (45 mins)

·         Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Welsh Language: Welsh language technology (45 mins) Written Statement 

The Llywydd informed Business Managers that she will pay tribute to Jenny Randerson at the start of today’s Plenary meeting and that she will also invite Jane Dodds to speak as Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats.

Following the resignation of Paul Davies as Chair of the of the Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee, Business Committee agreed that the Chair of that Committee should continue to be allocated to the Conservative group. Business Committee agreed that the Llywydd would invite nominations at the start of Plenary today, with the result of any secret ballot that is required to be announced at the end of meeting. 

Business Committee also agreed to table motions to change Conservative members on a number of committees for consideration in Plenary on Tuesday.

As a result, the following additional changes to Tuesday’s agenda were agreed:  

·         Motion to elect Members to committees (5 mins)

·         Nominations for a Committee Chair (5 mins)

·         There will be no Voting Time.

·         Plenary is unlikely to run past 6.00pm

Wednesday

The Llywydd informed Business Managers of the following change:

• Questions to the Senedd Commission (30 10 mins) 

• Voting Time will take place before the Short Debate.  
• Plenary is unlikely to run past 6.20pm

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

Tuesday 14 January 2025

·         Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government: Warm Homes (45 mins)

·         Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care: NHS winter pressures (45 mins)

Tuesday 21 January 2025

·         Statement by the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs: Restoring nature in Wales (45 mins)

·         The Council Tax Reduction Schemes (Prescribed Requirements and Default Scheme) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Wales) Regulations 2025 (5 mins)

·         The Land Transaction Tax (Modification of Special Tax Sites Relief) (Wales) Regulations 2025 (5 mins)

·         The Land Transaction Tax (Tax Bands and Tax Rates) (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2024 (15 mins)

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

Wednesday 22 January 2025 –

• Debate on NNDM8756: Mabon ap Gwynfor MS (Dwyfor Meirionnydd) (60 mins)

Wednesday 29 January 2025 –

• Debate on the Finance Committee report: Financial Transactions Capital (30 mins)
• Time allocated to the Welsh Conservatives (60 mins)
• Time allocated to Plaid Cymru (60 mins)
• Short Debate: Delyth Jewell MS (South Wales East) (30 mins)

Business Committee considered a paper on LCMs and agreed to:

• refer the supplementary LCM on the Employment Rights Bill to the Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee, the Equality and Social Justice Committee and the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee for scrutiny, with a reporting deadline of 7 March 2025;
• refer the LCM on the Data (Use and Access) Bill to the Culture, Communication, Welsh Language, Sport and International Relations Committee, the Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee, the Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee, the Equality and Social Justice Committee and the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee for scrutiny, with a reporting deadline of 7 March 2025. The Trefnydd noted that it may be possible to extend this deadline, subject to the timetable for the Bill at the UK Parliament.
• extend the reporting deadline for the Renters’ Rights Bill LCM until 31 January 2025.

The Committee also noted that Senedd and Welsh Government officials would discuss the possibility of extending the reporting deadline for the LCM on the Water (Special Measures) Bill from 10 January 2025, given that the consent debate is currently scheduled for 28 January and there is a possibility that a further supplementary LCM may be laid.

Business Committee agreed to refer the Land Transaction Tax (Tax Bands and Tax Rates) (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2024to the Finance Committee and the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee for scrutiny, and to request that the committees report by 20 January 2025 ahead of the Senedd debate on the regulations scheduled for 21 January 2025.