Agenda and minutes

The Llywydd welcomed Members to the meeting. No apologies were received.

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 6.25pm.

Wednesday

Business Committee agreed the following change:

• Member Debate under Standing Order 11.21(iv): Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) (Adam Price MS) (60 mins) – Postponed until 26 November

• Voting Time will take place before the Short Debate. 
• Plenary is unlikely to run past 6.00pm.

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

Tuesday 4 November 2025

• Statement by the Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing: Gambling Levy – Treatment and Prevention Services (45 mins) – postponed until January
• Statement by the Minister for Culture, Skills and Social Partnership: Flexible Skills Programme (45 mins)
• The Non-Domestic Rating (Description of Differential Multipliers) (Wales) Regulations 2025 (15 mins)
• Legislative Consent Motion: The Planning and Infrastructure Bill (15 mins)

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

Wednesday 12 November 2025 –

• Debate on the Climate Change, Environment and Infrastructure Committee report: The response to recent storms (60 mins)
• Debate on the Local Government and Housing Committee report: The role of local authorities in supporting hospital discharges (60 mins)
• Time allocated to the Welsh Conservatives (60 mins)
• Short Debate: Sioned Williams MS (South Wales West) (30 mins)

The Business Committee noted the letter and agreed to consider removing the provision set out in Standing Order 18A.2(i) as part of any miscellaneous review of Standing Orders carried out prior to the end of this Senedd term.

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

• refer SLCM (No. 4) on the Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill to the Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee and the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee for scrutiny, with a reporting deadline of 20 October. The Business Committee noted that the short deadline means that it is unlikely that committees will be in a position to report ahead of the debate.

The Business Committee considered further matters concerning the establishment of a Member Accountability Bill Committee to scrutinise the Senedd Cymru (Member Accountability and Elections) Bill.

The Business Committee had agreed, in principle, for the Committee to be constituted with four members (2 Labour, 1 Conservative, 1 Plaid Cymru) and the Deputy Presiding Officer as a non-voting Chair. The Committee’s membership – in terms of the composition and the identity of the members – were noted to be dependent on whether or not it was intended that the Bill be referred to a Committee of the Whole Senedd at Stage 2. Subject to that point being resolved, and political groups being able to provide the names of Members to be nominated as members of the Committee following the meeting, Business Committee agreed for a motion to establish the Committee to be proposed in Plenary on 15 October, through a suspension of Standing Orders.

The Trefnydd indicated that the Welsh Government’s preference is for Stage 2 proceedings to be referred to the Member Accountability Bill Committee, as opposed to by a Committee of the Whole Senedd. The Llywydd stated that previous precedent is that Bills of a constitutional nature have been referred to a Committee of the Whole Senedd for Stage 2. Paul Davies, Heledd Fychan and Jane Dodds all indicated that it was their preference for Stage 2 to be conducted by to a Committee of the Whole Senedd.

Business Managers agreed to discuss this matter further with their groups, with a view to seeking agreement to enable the Committee to be established on Wednesday 15 October.

The Business Committee considered and indicated its satisfaction with proposed changes to the Llywydd’s Guidance on virtual and hybrid proceedings relating to the locations from which Members are permitted to cast their votes in Plenary proceedings. The amended Guidance would be published as soon as possible.

The Business Committee noted that it will return to consider further amendments to aspects of the Guidance relating to committee proceedings, in light of these changes and views received from the Chairs’ Forum, at a subsequent meeting.