Agenda and minutes

Venue: Zoom

Contact: Aled Elwyn Jones 

Items
No. Item

1.

Introductions, apologies and substitutions

Minutes:

The Llywydd welcomed the Members to the meeting.

 

The Llywydd advised Business Committee that this would be the present Business Committee Clerk’s last meeting before moving to the Table Office. Business Managers thanked the Clerk for all his support and advice given to the committee over the years.

 

2.

Minutes of the previous meeting

Minutes:

The minutes of the previous meeting were agreed for publication.

3.

Organisation of Business

3.1

This week's business

Minutes:

 

This Week’s Business

 

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 Short Debate.

·         Plenary is unlikely to run past 7.50pm. 

 

Business Managers again raised concerns about significant Welsh Government policy announcements being made to the media rather than to the Senedd.

 

The Llywydd reiterated that it was her long-held view that significant policy announcements should be made in Plenary, and that she would continue to use her discretion to accept Topical Questions relating to such matters.

 

3.2

Three week timetable of Government Business

Minutes:

Business Committee agreed to work on the basis that there would not be any recalls over the summer recess, unless there was a political consensus to do so. Any recall Plenary meetings would be virtual.

 

3.3

Three week timetable of Senedd Business

Minutes:

Business Committee agreed to schedule the following items of business:

 

Wednesday 29 September 2021 –

 

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

·         Time allocated to the Welsh Conservatives (60 mins)

 

4.

Legislation

4.1

Legislative Consent Memorandums on the Advanced Research and Invention Agency Bill, the Skills and Post-16 Education Bill and update on current Legislative Consent Memorandums

Minutes:

Legislative Consent Memorandums on the Advanced Research and Invention Agency Bill, the Skills and Post-16 Education Bill and update on current Legislative Consent Memorandums

 

Business Committee noted the latest position on LCMs, and agreed to refer the LCM on the Advanced Research and Invention Agency Bill to the Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee, the Children, Young People and Education Committee and the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee with a reporting deadline of 21 October 2021.

 

The committee also agreed to refer the LCM on the Skills and Post-16 Education Bill to the Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee, the Children, Young People and Education Committee and the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee, with a reporting deadline of 21 October 2021

 

5.

Establishment and remits of Committees

5.1

Committee timetable

Minutes:

Business Committee agreed the  timetable, and also agreed to allow the Petitions Committee to have an additional meeting on Monday morning in week 1 to help it clear any petitions received over the summer.

 

5.2

Committee for the Scrutiny of the First Minister

Minutes:

Business Committee agreed that the Deputy Presiding Officer should chair the committee, and that there would be three Labour members, two Conservatives and one Plaid Cymru member on the committee.

 

Business Managers agreed to discuss further the remit and membership of the committee, and return to the matter at their next meeting.

 

5.3

Committee remits - responsibility for justice and policing

Minutes:

Business Committee considered the paper and agreed that high-level justice policy matters, such as the devolution of justice and policing, and any matters which relate to law-making, should be assigned to the LJC Committee.  Other matters which relate to the practical application of justice policy should be open to scrutiny by appropriate policy and legislation committees.

 

6.

Papers to note

6.1

Finance Committee Plenary debate on the Welsh Government’s spending priorities

Minutes:

Business Committee noted the letter, and agreed that the annual debate on budget priorities should revert to being a committee-led debate in the future.

 

Any Other Business

Business Managers agreed to discuss outside committee what impact any changes to Coronavirus regulations, to be announced by the First Minister the following day, would have on the format of Senedd business from September.