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 as the last item of business.

·         Plenary is unlikely to run past 6.50pm.

Wednesday

The Llywydd informed Business Managers of the following change:

·         Wales COVID-19 Inquiry Special Purpose Committee: Debate on the gaps identified in the preparedness and response of the Welsh Government and other Welsh public bodies during the COVID-19 pandemic that should be subject to further examination (60 0 mins) Postponed 

·         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 changes to the Three Week Timetable of Government Business:

Tuesday 29 April 2025

·         Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care: Report of the Ministerial Advisory Group on NHS Wales Performance and Productivity (45 mins)

·         Statement by the Minister for Further and Higher Education: International Education (45 mins)

Tuesday 6 May 2025

·         Statement by the First Minister: VE Day (45 mins)

·         Motion to vary the order of consideration of Stage 3 amendments to the Legislation (Procedure, Publication and Repeals) (Wales) Bill (5 mins)

Heledd Fychan expressed disappointment that the Government had not brought forward an Oral Statement on the impact of the UK Government’s Spring Statement on Wales and requested that the Government reconsider.

The Trefnydd noted that a Written Statement had been issued and that there are Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Welsh Language tomorrow. The Trefnydd confirmed that no Oral Statement would be made.

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

Wednesday 30 April 2025 –

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

Wednesday 14 May 2025 –

·         Member Debate under Standing Order 11.21(iv) (60 mins)

·         Debate on the Petitions Committee report: P-06-1482: Ban smartphones in all schools in Wales (with exemptions for exceptional circumstances) (60 mins)

·         Time allocated to the Welsh Conservatives (60 mins)

·         Short Debate: Heledd Fychan (South Wales Central) (30 mins)

Business Committee agreed the proposed timetable for scrutiny of the Bus Services (Wales) Bill.

Business Committee noted the request and that the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee will lay its report on the Bill on 9 April.

Business Committee considered an update on Legislative Consent Memoranda and agreed to:

• refer the LCM on the Crime and Policing Bill to the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee for scrutiny, with a reporting deadline of 6 June 2025; and
• refer the LCM on the Planning and Infrastructure Bill to the Climate Change, Environment and Infrastructure Committee and the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee for scrutiny, with a reporting deadline of 6 June 2025.

Business Committee noted the letter.

Business Committee noted the letter and that the Welsh Government laid a Legislative Consent Memorandum on 24 March 2025.

Business Committee agreed to schedule a debate on P-06-1476: 1000 meter mandatory buffer zone for all new and existing quarries.

Heledd Fychan declared an interest as she had provided evidence to the Petitions Committee on the petition.

Following the resignations of Tom Giffard as Co-chair and Sam Rowlands as a Member of the Wales COVID-19 Inquiry Special Purpose Committee, the Business Committee invited the Welsh Conservative group to nominate a replacement Co-chair from within its membership, in accordance with Standing Order 35.7. Paul Davies confirmed that the Conservative group would not put forward a nominee for the vacant Co-chair position.

The Llywydd reflected on the importance of ensuring that the Senedd is able to engage with the UK Covid Inquiry and the amount of effort and resource that has gone into supporting the Committee to date.

The Business Committee discussed the current status of the Committee in light of the absence of a Co-chair and the other vacancy in its membership, and options for ensuring Senedd consideration of decisions taken during the Covid-19 pandemic/ the Inquiry module reports is maintained. Business Managers agreed to discuss with their groups and to provide feedback to the Llywydd as soon as possible.