Agenda and minutes

The Llywydd welcomed the Members to the meeting.

The minutes of the previous meetings were agreed for publication.

The Llywydd drew Business Managers’ attention to the addition of the nominations for committee chairs to Tuesday’s agenda.

Tuesday

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

·         Plenary is unlikely to run past 7.05pm.

Wednesday 

·         Voting Time will take place before the first Short Debate.

·         Plenary is unlikely to run past 6.30pm. 

Backgrounds on Zoom

The Llywydd asked Business Managers to remind Members that backgrounds should be plain so that Members contributing from the Chamber and via Zoom are treated equitably. The guidance issued to Members also asks Members to ensure they have a plain background, free from distractions, for technical purposes.

BSL interpretation

The Llywydd informed Business Committee that BSL interpretation will be available on Senedd.tv for questions to the Minister for Social Justice on Wednesday, initially as a trial. The interpretation will be added to the recording ‘as live’ for publication to Senedd.tv the following day, as happens currently with First Ministers Questions.

Public gallery – breaks

The Llywydd reminded Business Managers that the public gallery will be open for the first time this week, and asked them to inform Members that they will need to be aware of the fact that they can be seen and heard during breaks. 

The Trefnydd drew Business Managers’ attention to the following changes:

Tuesday 6 July 2021

·         Statement by the Minister for Economy: The Future of the Steel Industry (45 mins)

·         Statement by the Deputy Minister for Social Services: Rebalancing Care and Support White Paper – next steps (45 mins)

Tuesday 13 July 2021

·         Debate: Priorities for 2022-23 Budget Preparations (60 mins)

Business Committee agreed to schedule the following items of business:

Wednesday 15 September 2021 –

·         Time allocated to the Welsh Conservatives (60 mins)

·         Time allocated to Plaid Cymru (60 mins)

Business Committee agreed to schedule the following motion for debate on 7 July:

NNDM7744

Hefin David

John Griffiths

Delyth Jewell

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes the significant role played by small businesses in sustaining local economies throughout the coronavirus pandemic by adapting to unprecedented circumstances.

2. Notes the importance of local small businesses, particularly those in the tourism and associated sectors, as we recover from the pandemic and start to re-build our communities and local economies.

3. Further notes the strong encouragement from the Welsh Government for people to holiday in Wales this year and enjoy its many attractions and sites of outstanding natural beauty.

4. Calls on the Welsh Government to work with representatives of the small business and tourism community to promote Wales as a sustainable tourism destination year-round.

5. Calls on the Welsh Government to work with the same stakeholders in order to integrate both sectors into its economic strategy and COVID-19 recovery plans in the sixth Senedd term to ensure that both are adequately supported and have the necessary resilience to sustain any future shocks.

Business Committee noted the latest position on LCMs, and agreed to:

·         refer the LCM on Leasehold Reform (Ground Rents) Bill to the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee and the Local Government and Housing Committee with a reporting deadline of 14 October 2021;

·         refer the LCM on the Armed Forces Bill to the  Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee and the Equality and Social Justice Committee with a reporting deadline of 14 October 2021;

·         refer the LCM on the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill to the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee with a reporting deadline of 14 October 2021;

·         refer the LCM on the Environment Bill to the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee and the Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee with a reporting deadline of 13 September 2021 and to note the proposed legislative consent motion debate date of 14 September;

·         refer the LCM on the Professional Qualifications Bill to the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee and the Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee with a reporting deadline of 30 September 2021; and

·         refer the LCM on Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill to the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee and the Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee with a reporting deadline of 14 October 2021.

Business Committee agreed to table a motion on the membership of the Finance Committee for Plenary on Wednesday. The Committee also agreed to provide meeting slots for the committee on Friday 2 July and Thursday 8 July.

Business Managers discussed the arrangements for the remaining membership of committees and the timetabling options, and agreed to discuss these with their groups and return to the matter at their next meeting.

Business Committee agreed that the committee structure and timetable should be reviewed next Easter.

Business Committee noted the guidance.

Job sharing

The Llywydd informed Business Committee that she has received a request from Alun Davies MS and Mike Hedges MS to clarify whether or not it would be possible for them to stand as a joint candidacy for one of the committee chair posts and to job-share the post if elected.

The Llywydd informed Business Committee that the proposal would require changes to Standing Orders, and the Committee decided that the request was too late to be considered for this set of Chair elections, but agreed that job sharing is an issue that should be considered further during this Senedd.

Letter from the Leader of the Welsh Conservative Party

The Llywydd informed Business Committee that she has received correspondence from Andrew RT Davies relating to the way that the government disseminates the latest public health information. Business Committee agreed to discuss this in more detail at their next meeting.