Agenda and minutes

The Llywydd welcomed Members to the meeting.

The Minutes of the previous meeting were agreed for publication.

Tuesday

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

• Statement by the Deputy Minister for Social Services: The publication of the Child Practice Review into the death of Logan Mwangi (30 mins)
• Statement by the Minister for Social Justice: International Day of Disabled Persons (30 mins) re-ordered to item 8

The Trefnydd informed the Committee that the Minister for Social Justice will deliver her statement remotely.

• Voting Time will take place as the last item of business.
• Plenary is unlikely to run past 6.05pm.

Wednesday 

• Voting Time will take place before the Short Debate.
• Plenary is unlikely to run past 7.45pm. 

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

Tuesday 13 December

·       The Trade in Animals and Related Products (Amendment and Legislative Functions) and Animal Health (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Wales) (EU Exit) Regulations 2022 (15 mins)

·       The Food and Feed (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Wales) (EU Exit) Regulations 2022 (15 mins)

The Trefnydd informed Business Committee that the Government intends to move a motion without notice under Standing Order 26.48 on 6 December to propose that the Senedd passes the Environmental Protection (Single-use Plastic Products) (Wales) Bill, immediately following the conclusion of Stage 3 proceedings. Business Committee indicated its contentment with taking that approach for this Bill but expressed a view that it should not be common practice.

Business Committee also agreed to a request from Mabon ap Gwynfor to swap his short debate on 14 December with Jack Sargeant’s on 7 December. Therefore, the following changes were agreed:

7 December 2022

• Short Debate: Jack Sargeant (Alyn and Deeside) (30 mins) Postponed until 14 December
• Short Debate: Mabon ap Gwynfor (Dwyfor Meirionnydd) (30 mins) Moved forward from 14 December

14 December 2022

• Short Debate: Mabon ap Gwynfor (Dwyfor Meirionnydd) (30 mins)
• Short Debate: Jack Sargeant (Alyn and Deeside) (30 mins)

Business Committee also agreed to the following additions to the timetable:

Wednesday 11 January 2023

• Debate on the Local Government and Housing Committee report - Community Assets  (60 mins)
• Time allocated to the Welsh Conservatives (120 mins)

Business Committee considered the motions tabled and agreed to schedule the following motion for debate on 7 December:

NNDM8093

Mark Isherwood

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes a proposal for a Bill that would make provision to encourage the use of British Sign Language (BSL) in Wales, and improve access to education and services in BSL.

2. Notes that the purpose of the Bill would be to:

a) remove the barriers that exist for deaf people and their families in education, health, public services, support services and in the workplace;

b) strengthen the seven well-being goals of the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 as they relate to BSL;

c) work towards ensuring that deaf people who use BSL are not treated less favourably than those who speak Welsh or English;

d) ensure that deaf communities have a voice in the design and delivery of services to ensure they meet their needs;

e) establish a BSL Commissioner who will:

(i) formulate BSL standards;.

(ii) establish a BSL advisory panel;

(iii) produce reports every five years in BSL, Welsh and English on the position of BSL in that period;

(iv) provide guidance and a process for public bodies to promote and facilitate BSL in their respective domains;

f) establish a procedure for the investigation of complaints;

g) require public bodies to report on their progress in promoting and facilitating BSL through their Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 reporting cycle;

h) place a duty on the Welsh Government to prepare and publish an annual BSL report describing what Welsh Government departments have done to promote the use of BSL.

Business Committee agreed that the Bill should be referred to the Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee for consideration of the general principles.

Business Committee agreed to defer a decision on the timetable for the Bill in order to consult that Committee, and to return to the matter at a future meeting. 

Business Committee noted the letter and thanked the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee for raising this matter and agreed that it will take the points raised into account if and when it is required to consider any such request in future.

Business Committee considered an update from the Trefnydd and agreed to refer the Legislative Consent Memorandum on the Shark Fins Bill to the Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee and the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee for scrutiny, with a reporting deadline of 16 January 2023. 

Business Committee noted the letter. The Llywydd stated her intention to meet with the Chair of the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee to discuss the matter and will provide an update to Business Committee following that meeting.

Business Committee noted the letter.

Business Committee discussed a number of considerations relating to the Review of Proxy Voting. In light of the development of remote participation and voting in Senedd proceedings, Business Committee agreed that eligibility for a proxy vote should be limited to situations in which a Member was expected to be absent from all Senedd proceedings. Having done so, Business Committee agreed that the consultation with Members should commence next week and run until the end of the second week of term in 2023.

Business Committee discussed a number of considerations relating to the Review of Proxy Voting. In light of the development of remote participation and voting in Senedd proceedings, Business Committee agreed that eligibility for a proxy vote should be limited to situations in which a Member was to be absent from all Senedd proceedings. Having done so, Business Committee agreed that the consultation with Members should commence next week and run until the end of the second week of term in 2023 (20 January 2023).

Business Committee returned to its consideration of the size of the Welsh Government in a larger Senedd. A majority on the Committee agreed to a proposal from the Trefnydd that the maximum limit on the number of Welsh Ministers should be increased from 12 to 17 ministers as part of Senedd Reform legislation. The majority also agreed to a proposal by the Trefnydd that the legislation should include a mechanism which would enable the Welsh Government to propose a further increase to this limit, up to a maximum of 19, through secondary legislation, in circumstances where an increase is considered to be merited. Business Committee agreed that such an increase should be subject to an affirmative vote of the Senedd.

Darren Millar stated his view that the maximum number of Ministers should be 16, and that any further increase in the number of Ministers should be approved by two-thirds of Members voting.

Business Committee agreed to consider a report of their conclusions on the four matters that it has considered at a subsequent meeting.