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 Minister for Climate Change: Building Safety (30 mins)
• LCM on the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill (30 mins) Postponed until 28 March

• Voting Time will take place as the last item of business.
• Plenary is unlikely to run past 7.15pm.

Wednesday

• Voting Time will take place before the Short Debate.
• Plenary is unlikely to run past 7.10pm.

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

Tuesday 28 March 2023

·         LCM on the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill (30 mins)

·         Debate: Final Stage of the Historic Environment (Wales) Bill (15 mins)

Tuesday 25 April 2023

·         The Construction Contracts (Exclusion) (Wales) Order 2023 (15 mins)

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

Wednesday 29 March 2023 –  

·         Motion to amend Standing Orders: Proxy Voting (15 mins)  

·         Motion to amend Standing Orders: Miscellaneous Changes (5 mins) 

Wednesday 3 May 2023 –  

·         Debate on the Health and Social Care Committee report: Connecting the dots: tackling mental health inequalities in Wales (60 mins) 

·         Debate on the Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee report: Decarbonising the private housing sector (60 mins) 

·         Time allocated to the Welsh Conservatives (60 mins) 

·         Short Debate: Carolyn Thomas (North Wales) (30 mins)  

Business Committee considered the proposed motions for debate and agreed to schedule the following motion on 29 March: 

Tom Giffard

NNDM8232

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes a proposal to create a Wales tourism Bill.

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

a) revoke the Wales Tourist Board (Transfer of Functions to the National Assembly for Wales and Abolition) Order 2005;

b) create a new board of tourism for Wales;

c) transfer the functions of Visit Wales and associated Welsh Government powers to the new board, including but not exclusive to:

i) encouraging people to visit Wales and people living in Wales and the United Kingdom to take their holidays there;

ii) encouraging the provision and improvement of tourist amenities and facilities in Wales;

iii) promotion of publicity;

iv) provision of advisory and information services; and

v) establishment of committees to advise it in the performance of its functions.

The Business Committee agreed the proposed timetable for scrutiny of the Environment (Air Quality and Soundscapes) (Wales) Bill. In doing so, Business Committee noted the points raised in the letter around the potential for other Bills to be introduced in areas within the CCEI Committee’s remit during the same timeframe.

The Trefnydd acknowledged the need to provide clarity on these matters and informed Business Managers that the Government intends to introduce an Infrastructure Consenting Bill before the end of the Summer Term, and that the Minister for Climate Change will provide an update on Coal Tip Safety in the form of a Written Statement later this week.

Business Committee noted the letter. 

Business Committee noted the letter and agreed to revise the reporting deadline for supplementary LCM (Memorandum No. 4) on the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill to 27 March 2023, in light of the debate being moved to 28 March.

Business Committee noted the letter. 

Business Committee confirmed the dates of the Autumn Half Term and Christmas 2023 recesses and agreed provisional recess dates for Spring Half Term and Easter 2024. 

In doing so, Business Committee considered Recommendation 14 of the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee’s report on Legislative Consent Memoranda on the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill, which had proposed that the Business Committee should “urgently consider whether the autumn term should be extended to 22 December 2023, in order to accommodate additional meetings of this Committee and additional Plenary sittings which may be required for the consideration of regulations arising from the Bill.”

Business Committee concluded that it would not make changes to the arrangements for the Christmas 2023 recess at this time, given that the final shape of the Bill nor how the Welsh Government would respond to its provisions is yet known, but would consider revisiting this matter later in the year as necessary.

Business Committee considered the paper and:

• agreed the arrangements for tabling Plenary business, written questions and amendments to Bills during the Easter recess and a draft note to Members;
• noted the changes to tabling arrangements, which are required as a result of the May Day Bank Holiday, the Bank Holiday for the coronation of King Charles III and the Whitsun Bank Holiday.

Business Committee considered and agreed its report, and associated revisions to guidance, of its considerations and proposals on proxy voting provisions. Business Committee agreed to table a motion for debate in Plenary on Wednesday 29 March. 

Business Committee agreed its report on several miscellaneous changes to Standing Orders, and to table a motion for debate in Plenary on Wednesday 29 March.