Agenda and minutes

The Llywydd welcomed Members to the meeting. Apologies were received from Jane Dodds MS.

The Minutes of the previous meeting were agreed for publication.

Tuesday

• There will be no Voting Time
• Plenary is unlikely to run past 6.00pm

Wednesday

The Llywydd informed Business Managers that the following items will be added to the agenda, subject to the Labour group providing confirmation of the Members it wishes to nominate:

• Motion to appoint a Member to the Senedd Commission (5 mins)
• Motion to appoint a Member to a committee (5 mins)

• Voting Time will take place before the Short Debate.
• Plenary is unlikely to run past 7.00pm.

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

Tuesday 7 October 2025

• Point Statement by the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs: Winter Flooding Preparedness Winter Weather Resilience Planning (45 mins)
• Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip: Winter Preparedness – Keeping People Warm this Winter (45 mins)
• Legislative Consent Motion: The Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill (15 mins) – postponed until 14 October

Tuesday 14 October 2025

• Point The National Health Service (Concerns, Complaints and Redress Arrangements) (Wales) (Amendments) Regulations 2025 (15 mins)
• Legislative Consent Motion: The Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill (15 mins)

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

Wednesday 8 October 2025 –

• Motion to dissolve the Wales COVID-19 Inquiry Special Purpose Committee (5 mins)

Wednesday 22 October 2025 –

• Debate on the Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee report: Charging for exhibitions (60 mins)
• Time allocated to the Welsh Conservatives (60 mins)
• Short Debate: Laura Anne Jones (South Wales East) (30 mins)

Business Committee returned to a discussion of a proposal to move Topical Questions so that they would be taken as the final item prior to Voting Time on Wednesdays, on a trial basis.

A majority of the Business Committee agreed not to make the proposed change. Business Managers noted that scheduling of Topical Questions could be revisited as part of forthcoming Business Committee discussions on the scheduling of Senedd business in the 7th Senedd.

Business Committee considered the response from the Chair of the Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee on the proposed timetable for the Bill and agreed the timetable.

Business Committee considered an update from the Trefnydd and agreed to extend the reporting deadline for the following LCMs:

• Pension Schemes Bill to 21 November 2025
• Crime and Policing Bill to 21 November 2025

The Committee also agreed to pre-emptively refer SLCM (No.6) on the Mental Health Bill, which the Trefnydd indicated is expected to be laid this week, to the Health and Social Care Committee and the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee for scrutiny. A reporting deadline of the morning of 7 October was agreed in order to allow the maximum amount of time possible for committee scrutiny prior to the debate on the same day.

In light of the vacancy on the Senedd Commission, Business Committee decided that the Labour Group be invited to nominate a Member to be a fourth Member of the Senedd Commission.

Business Committee agreed to table a motion to be considered in Plenary tomorrow, subject to confirmation of the Member to be nominated.

Business Committee confirmed recess dates for Spring Half Term and Easter Recess 2026, which runs to the end of the current Senedd.

Business Committee noted that Laura Anne Jones MS has indicated that she does not wish to take up the offer of a place on the Children, Young People and Education Committee. Members agreed to return to the matter at the following meeting.