Agenda and minutes

The Llywydd welcomed Members to the meeting.

Heledd Fychan requested an addition to the minute of item 4.2 from the previous meeting to state that the Plaid Cymru group’s position has consistently been to seek to identify a workable model through which the Wales COVID-19 Inquiry Special Purpose Committee can continue its work, but that its view is that the co-chairing arrangements have not worked.

Tuesday 

• Voting Time will take place before as the last item of business.
• Plenary is unlikely to run past 7.15pm.

The Llywydd informed Business Managers that live BSL interpretation has been arranged for today’s statement on The Disabled People’s Rights Plan.

Wednesday

• Voting Time will take place before the Short Debate.  
• Plenary is unlikely to run past 6.40pm.

Heledd Fychan requested oral statements from the Government on funding to support devolved public sector employers with increased National Insurance costs, and on the Welsh Government response to the Commission for Welsh-speaking Communities report. The Trefnydd noted that written statements had been issued on both matters and that she would consider the requests made.

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

Tuesday 17 June 2025

·         Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Education: Progress of the Curriculum Roll Out (45 mins) – Postponed until 24 June

The Llywydd informed Business Managers that following agreement at Business Committee’s meeting on 20 May, motions to formally dissolve the Reform Bill Committee and Future Senedd Committee will be tabled this week for consideration in Plenary on Wednesday 11 June. Therefore, the following addition was agreed:

Wednesday 11 June 2025 –  

·         Dissolution of committees (5 mins)

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

Wednesday 25 June 2025 –  

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

• Debate on the Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee report: Public Appointments (60 mins) 

• Time allocated to Plaid Cymru (60 mins)  

• Short Debate: Altaf Hussain MS (South Wales West) (30 mins)  

Business Committee considered the response received from the Committee and agreed the proposed timetable for the Environment (Principles, Governance and Biodiversity Targets) (Wales) Bill.

Business Committee considered an update from the Trefnydd and agreed to:

• Refer the LCM on the Victims and Courts Bill to the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee for scrutiny, with a reporting deadline of 18 July 2025.
• Refer the LCM on the Animal Welfare (Imports of Dogs Cats and Ferrets) Bill to the Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee and the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee for scrutiny, with a reporting deadline of 18 July 2025.
• Refer the SLCM (No.2) on the Buses (No.2) Bill to the Climate Change, Environment and Infrastructure Committee and the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee for scrutiny, with a reporting deadline for all current memoranda on the Bill of 11 July 2025.
• Refer the SLCM (No.2) on the Children’s Wellbeing and School’s Bill to the Children, Young People and Education Committee and the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee for scrutiny, with a reporting deadline for all current memoranda on the Bill of 11 July 2025.

Business Committee noted a proposal for a cross-committee visit to Brussels and agreed a request for a number of members of the Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee, the Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee, the Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee and the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee to be excused from other Senedd business between 24 – 27 June 2025.

Options for future scrutiny of UK Covid Inquiry reports

The Business Committee considered how future scrutiny of UK Covid Inquiry reports could be taken forward by the Senedd and its committees.

The Business Committee agreed to:

• write to the Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee (PAPAC) to ask it to consider whether it would have the capacity to:

o   lead the scrutiny of gaps identified by the Covid Committee in relation to module 1 and, where possible, work with other committees on areas within their remit; and

o   lead scrutiny of the module 2 report, to include sub section 2b in relation to Wales, possibly after the Welsh Government response is available.

• write to the Committee for the Scrutiny of the First Minister to request that it consider scrutinising the First Minister on gaps identified by the Covid Committee in its report on module, which fall within her responsibilities during a scrutiny session; and 
• invite the Llywydd to discuss the proposed approached with the Chairs’ Forum.

The Business Committee also considered how it could facilitate a Plenary debate on the Wales COVID-19 Inquiry Special Purpose Committee's Module 1 report, in order that the Senedd is able to discuss the Committee’s findings. Business Managers agreed in principle that the Business Committee should table a motion to enable a debate to take place during the summer term and to return to consider the matter further having discussed it with their respective groups.

Any other business

Russell George committee place

The Llywydd informed Business Managers that Russell George has indicated that he does not wish to take up the offer for a place on a committee at the present time.