Agenda and minutes

The Llywydd welcomed Members to the meeting.

The Minutes of the previous meeting were agreed for publication.

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

Tuesday

• Statement by the Minister for Economy: Regional Economic Development (3045 mins) moved forward from 11 October
• Statement by the Minister for Climate Change – Biodiversity (30 mins)

• There will be no voting time.
• Plenary is unlikely to run past 5.00pm.

Wednesday 

• Voting Time will take place before the Short Debate.
• Plenary is unlikely to run past 7.20pm. 

The Llywydd noted that, as only one question was tabled, the time allocation for Commission Questions has been reduced to 10 minutes.

A break will be taken before Voting Time on Wednesday to enable Members to further familiarise themselves with new voting procedures.

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

Tuesday 11 October –

·         Statement by the Minister for Economy: Regional Economic Development (30 mins) – moved to 4 October

·         Statement by the Minister for Education and Welsh Language: Welsh Language Community Housing (30 mins)

Wednesday 12 October –

·         Questions to the Minister for Economy (45 mins) – postponed to 19 October

·         Questions to the Minister for Education and Welsh Language (45 mins) – moved from 19 October

Tuesday 18 October –

·         The Regulated Services (Service Providers and Responsible Individuals) (Wales) (Amendment) and (Coronavirus) (Revocation) Regulations 2022 (15 mins)

Wednesday 19 October –

·         Questions to the Minister for Education and Welsh Language (45 mins) – moved to 12 October

·         Questions to the Minister for Economy (45 mins) – moved from 12 October

Business Committee agreed to schedule the following items of business:

Wednesday 26 October 2022 -          

• Debate on a Member's Legislative Proposal (30 mins) 
• Motion under Standing Order 26.91 seeking the Senedd's agreement to introduce a Member Bill – the Outdoor Education (Wales) Bill (60 mins) 
• Debate on the Children, Young People and Education Committee’s report – Everybody’s affected: Peer on peer sexual harassment among learners (60 mins) 
• Time allocated to the Welsh Conservatives (60 mins)

Business Committee considered the response from the Committee and agreed the proposed timetable for scrutiny of the Agriculture (Wales) Bill. 

Business Committee considered correspondence from the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee and agreed short extensions to the reporting deadlines for the Initial Consideration stage on the Bill to 23 December 2022, and for the Detailed Committee Consideration stage to 10 March 2023.

Business Committee considered an update from the Welsh Government and agreed:

• to refer the supplementary LCM on the Online Safety Bill laid on 28 September to the to the Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee and the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee for scrutiny, with a reporting deadline of 8 December;
• to refer the LCM on the Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill laid on 28 September to the Climate Change, Environment and Infrastructure Committee, the Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee, the Local Government and Housing Committee and the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee for scrutiny, with a reporting deadline of 8 December; and
• to refer the LCM on the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill laid on 29 September to the Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee, the Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee and the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee for scrutiny, with a reporting deadline of 7 November.

Business Committee discussed its approach to considering several recommendations made by the Special Purpose Committee on Senedd Reform, with a view to providing conclusions to inform the development of policy instructions for a Bill on Senedd Reform by the Welsh Government.

Business Committee agreed to:

• consult with Members and Party Groups on the four recommendations: the size of the Welsh Government, the number of Deputy Presiding Officers and the number of Senedd Commissioners in a larger Senedd; and the consequences of a Member of the Senedd changing their political party between elections;
• invite views from stakeholders to inform its consideration of the above issues;
• invite views from the Llywydd and DPO on the number of Deputy Presiding Officers there should be in a larger Senedd;

• invite views from the Senedd Commission on the number of Senedd Commissioners there should be in a larger Senedd;
• request that the Welsh Government provides information about scoping and analysis that has been conducted on the number of Welsh Ministers in a larger Senedd and the issue of Members changing their political party between elections; and
• consider examples of how Members changing their political party between elections are dealt with in parliaments with comparable electoral systems.

Business Committee also agreed to hold a technical workshop with Senedd and Welsh Government officials prior to the autumn half-term recess. They agreed to consider these matters and the evidence received during the existing committee meeting slots in November. Meetings would be held in public where appropriate.

The Environmental Protection (Single-use Plastic Products) (Wales) Bill – timetable

Business Committee noted correspondence received from the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee and agreed to provide that Committee with the information requested.

Committee Timetable – Membership Clash

Business Committee returned to a discussion of the issue relating to the timetabling of the Children and Young People Committee and the Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee raised by Siân Gwenllian during the previous meeting. Officials reported back on efforts by clerking teams to co-ordinate the business of the two committees concerned in order limit the impact on the Members concerned, in particular in relation to the current inquiry on Welsh in Education Strategic Plans. Sian Gwenllian thanked officials on both committees for their efforts.

Business Committee noted that such a close degree of co-ordination between committees is unlikely to be sustainable, and is not a long-term solution to the situation.