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

Tuesday 

·         Voting Time will take place prior to Stage 3 proceedings.

·         Plenary is unlikely to run past 8.00pm.

The Llywydd informed Business Managers that a 10 minute break will be required prior to Stage 3 proceedings commencing. Business Managers agreed that this would take place after Voting Time.

Wednesday

·         Voting Time will take place before the Short Debate.  

·         Plenary is unlikely to run past 6.45pm.

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

Tuesday 4 February 2025

·         Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government: Culture and Governance Reform in the Fire and Rescue Service (45 mins)  Withdrawn

Tuesday 11 February 2025

·         Debate: The Learner Travel Measure (60 mins) Withdrawn

The Trefnydd stated that both of items will be re-scheduled at a later date.

Heledd Fychan requested that the Government consider scheduling oral statements on: the recent BBC investigation into far-right groups in Wales; the implications of pension reforms for Wales; and progress towards achieving targets for reducing NHS waiting lists by Spring 2025. The Trefnydd indicated that she would consider each of the requests with the Cabinet Secretaries concerned.  

The following items were agreed to be scheduled on the Three Week Timetable of Senedd Business: 

Wednesday 5 February 2025 –

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

Wednesday 19 February 2025 –

·         Debate on the Children, Young People and Education Committee Report: Children on the margins (60 mins)

·         Time allocated to the Welsh Conservatives (60 mins)

·         Time allocated to Plaid Cymru (60 mins)

• Short Debate: Adam Price (Carmarthen East and Dinefwr) (30 mins)

Business Committee considered the proposed motions for debate and agreed to schedule the following motion on 5 February:

Sioned Williams MS

NNDM8724 

To propose that the Senedd: 

1. Notes a proposal for a Bill on ensuring recognition and support for unpaid carers. 

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

a) improve the support available from the Welsh Government, local authorities and healthcare settings for unpaid carers, based on the rights set out in the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014; 

b) solidify data capture and monitoring of engagement with unpaid carers across statutory services to be reported on periodically; 

c) ensure greater sharing of unpaid carers’ data, where appropriate, between statutory services to support carers as they navigate services and advocate for the person(s) they care for; and 

d) place a duty on the Welsh Government and local authorities to recognise unpaid carers as a priority group in the design and delivery of all future policy interventions. 

Business Committee considered an update on LCMs and agreed to:

• refer the SLCM (Memorandum No.2) on the Renters’ Rights Bill to the Local Government and Housing Committee and the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee for scrutiny, with a reporting deadline of 7 March 2025 for all legislative consent memoranda on this Bill.
• refer the SLCM (Memorandum No.2) 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 3 February 2025.
• extend the reporting deadline for the LCM on the Data (Use and Access) Bill to 14 March 2025.

The Trefnydd also provided an update on the Water (Special Measures) Bill, following the debate held in Plenary on Tuesday 21 January. Following UK Government amendments tabled during Report Stage in the House of Commons, the Welsh Government intends to lay a further SLCM on the Bill. As Report Stage proceedings are expected to take place today, Business Commtitee noted that it would no longer be possible for the Senedd to make a meaningful decision on consent in relation to the latest amendments.

Business Committee agreed not to set a reporting deadline for Senedd committees to report on the latest SLCM, but noted that committees remain able to consider and report on the SLCM should they choose.