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 

The Trefnydd informed Business Managers that she would answer Oral Questions in place of the Counsel General and Minister for Delivery today due to illness. The Trefnydd also noted the following changes to today’s agenda:

·       Statement by the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs: Animal health and welfare (45 mins)

·       Statement by the Minister for Culture, Skills and Social Partnership: UEFA Women’s EURO 2025 (45 mins) Written Statement

Heledd Fychan asked why the statement on UEFA Women’s EURO 2025 was not being delivered by the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning in the Minister for Culture, Skills and Social Partnership’s absence. The Trefnydd indicated that she had noted the point made.

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

·       Plenary is unlikely to run past 6.15pm.

Wednesday

The Llywydd informed Business Managers of the following change:

·       Debate on the Children, Young People and Education Committee Report: Children on the margins (60 mins) Postponed until 12 March

·       Voting Time will take place before the Short Debate.  

·       Plenary is unlikely to run past 6.10pm.

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

Tuesday 11 March 2025

·       The Landfill Disposals Tax (Tax Rates) (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 (15 mins)      

The Trefnydd proposed a swap of the Oral Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Education and the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, due to be held on 26 March and 2 April respectively. Business Committee agreed with the proposal.

Heledd Fychan asked if the Trefnydd has given consideration to an oral statement on UK Government pension reforms and the implications for Wales. The Trefnydd indicated that she would consider the request.

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

Wednesday 12 March 2025 –

• Debate on a Member's Legislative Proposal (30 mins) Moved to 26 March
• Debate on the Children, Young People and Education Committee Report: Children on the margins (60 mins) Rescheduled from 19 February

Wednesday 19 March 2025 –

• Open debate (120 mins)
• Time allocated to the Welsh Conservatives (60 mins)

Business Committee considered a request from Luke Fletcher MS to allocate time to a debate on NNDM8829 concerning the Crown Estate Bill. The Trefnydd stated that the Government does not support the case for a debate being urgently required prior to Half-Term recess, given that the Bill was introduced in Westminster in July 2024. She noted the Welsh Government’s position that the Crown Estate should be devolved to Wales and that the Government would be willing to table a motion on the Crown Estate in government time at a later date

Business Committee considered an update on Legislative Consent Memoranda and:

• agreed to refer the LCM on the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill to the Children, Young People and Education Committee, the Equality and Social Justice Committee, the Local Government and Housing Committee and the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee for scrutiny, with a reporting deadline of 2 May 2025.
• agreed to extend the reporting deadlines for all Legislative Consent Memoranda on the Employment Rights Bill and the Data (Use and Access) Bill to 28 March 2025.
• noted that the Welsh Government will lay a Supplementary LCM on the Great British Energy Bill following amendments tabled during House of Lords Report Stage, but agreed not to set a reporting deadline for committees due to the late stage of the UK Parliamentary process on the Bill.
• noted that the Welsh Government will lay a further Supplementary LCM (No.7) on the Water (Special Measures) Bill and also noted additional correspondence received from the Chair of the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee seeking an opportunity for a debate to be held on SLCM (No.6). Heledd Fychan and Paul Davies supported the LJC Committee’s request for the Government to table a motion for a debate on that Memorandum. The Trefnydd indicated that she would discuss the request with the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs and would inform Business Managers of her decision in relation to scheduling a debate this afternoon. No reporting deadline on SLCM (No 7) would be set in the meantime.

The Trefnydd noted the unwelcome position this places the Senedd in and stated that the Welsh Government will continue to raise the importance of the legislative consent process as a factor for UK Government to be aware of in timetabling their legislation.

Business Committee agreed to refer the Landfill Disposals Tax (Tax Rates) (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 to the Finance Committee and the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee for scrutiny, and to request that the committees report by 10 March 2025, should they wish to, ahead of a scheduled Senedd debate on the Regulations on 11 March 2025.    

Business Committee considered an update on potential changes to Standing Orders relating to procedures for scrutiny of legislation relating to the United Kingdom Internal Market Act 2020 and UK-wide common policy frameworks.

The Trefnydd stated that the Welsh Government does not consider it necessary to make changes to Standing Orders at the present time, in light of a statutory review of the Act announced by the UK Government. Business Committee agreed to return to consider potential amendments to Standing Orders further following the UK Government’s review and its own reviews of the Public Bill and Member Bill processes.

Session with the Counsel General and Minister for Delivery

The Llywydd informed Business Managers that the Counsel General and Minister for Delivery will attend the Business Committee meeting on 4 March to discuss the fifth year of the Welsh Government’s legislative programme.