Agenda and minutes

The Llywydd welcomed Members to the meeting. The Llywydd welcomed Heledd Fychan to her first Business Committee meeting and thanked Siân Gwenllian for her contributions to the work of the Committee.

The Minutes of the previous meeting were agreed for publication

Tuesday

• Voting Time will take place as the last item of business.
• Plenary is unlikely to run past 6.35pm.

The Trefnydd informed Business Managers that she will answer FMQs today in place of the First Minister.  

Business Committee agreed to propose that the Senedd elects the following Members to committees, and for the motions to be considered following the Business Statement and Announcement:

-          Mabon ap Gwynfor to replace Rhun ap Iorwerth on the Health and Social Care Committee

-          Heledd Fychan to replace Sioned Williams on the Children, Young People & Education Committee

-          Luke Fletcher to replace Mabon ap Gwynfor on the Local Government and Housing Committee

-          Llyr Gruffydd to replace Heledd Fychan on the Culture, Communication, Welsh Language, Sport & International Relations Committee

-          Adam Price to replace Peredur Owen Griffiths on the Legislation, Justice & Constitution Committee

-          Peredur Owen Griffiths to replace Luke Fletcher on the Petitions Committee

-          Adam Price to replace Mabon ap Gwynfor on the Public Accounts Committee

Wednesday

The Llywydd drew attention to the following change:

• Motion to note the annual report on the Senedd Commission's Official Languages Scheme for 2022 – 23 (30 mins) Postponed until 20 September

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

The Trefnydd informed Business Managers that the Stage 3 debate on the Health Service Procurement (Wales) Bill would need to be postponed from 11 July until the autumn term, due to the need for amendments to be tabled taking account of changes to the Procurement Bill at Westminster.

Consequently, the Trefnydd drew Business Managers’ attention to the following changes:

Tuesday 11 July 2023

·       Statement by the Minister for Climate Change: Independent Review and Natural Resources Wales reports into flooding 2020-21 (30 mins) – postponed until 12 September

·       Debate: Welsh Government Annual Report – delivering the government’s priorities and legislative programme The Policy Objectives and Legislative Programme of the Welsh Government – the Welsh Government’s annual report (60 mins) Renamed

·       Debate: Stage 3 of the Health Service Procurement (Wales) Bill (90 mins) Postponed

Tuesday 12 September 2023

·       Statement by the Minister for Climate Change: Independent Review and Natural Resources Wales reports into flooding 2020-21 (30 mins)

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

Wednesday 12 July 2023 –

• Debate on Children, Young People and Education report – If not now, then when? Radical reform for care experienced children and young people (60 mins) Petitions Committee and Children, Young People and Education Committee joint debate on services for care experienced children and young people (60 mins) Renamed

Wednesday 20 September 2023 –

• Motion to note the annual report on the Senedd Commission's Official Languages Scheme for 2022 – 23 (30 mins)
• Time allocated to the Welsh Conservatives (60 mins)
• Time allocated to Plaid Cymru (60 mins)
• Short Debate (30 mins)  

Business Committee agreed the request for the committees to hold a joint debate on their reports relating to care experienced children and young people, with the resulting change to the title for the debate to be reflected on the Business Statement and Announcement. Business Committee also noted that:

• the motion for debate would propose that the Senedd notes both committees’ reports; and

• speaking allocations would be adjusted to provide the Chair of the Petitions Committee with an additional two minutes in recognition that he will be introducing the Petitions Committee report, and the Government with an additional two minutes to respond to the debate.

Business Committee agreed to refer the LCM on the Energy Bill to the Climate Change, Environment and Infrastructure Committee and the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee for scrutiny, with a reporting deadline of 15 September.

The Committee noted a letter from the Temporary Chair of the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee to the Minister for Climate Change expressing the Committee’s serious concern about the delay in the Welsh Government laying the LCM.

Business Committee considered a proposed timetable from the Welsh Government for the consideration of the Senedd Reform Bill and agreed to defer a decision on this matter until it has fully considered the arrangements for scrutiny of Bills relating to Senedd Reform, and had consulted with the chosen Committee on the proposed timetable for the Bill.

Business Committee considered options for the general approach to the scrutiny of Bills relating to Senedd Reform and agreed to establish a standalone Bill committee and to refer the two Senedd Reform Bills to that Committee for Stage 1 scrutiny. Business Committee agreed that it would consider proposing to the Senedd that Stage 2 proceedings should be conducted by a Committee of the Whole Senedd.

Business Committee agreed to return to consider what the implications might be of the same Committee being asked to be responsible for scrutiny also of an anticipated Bill on electoral administration and reform Bill during the same period.

A majority of Business Committee agreed that the Labour group should be invited to nominate a Chair for the Committee.  It was also agreed that the Committee should comprise four members (two Labour, one each from the Conservative and Plaid Cymru groups) and that further consideration would be given to options for including Jane Dodds. Business Committee agreed that that the Committee’s membership would be gender balanced.

The Secretariat will also share analysis of the current balance of committee chairs and members with Business Managers outside of the meeting.

Business Committee discussed the proposed timetable for publishing the draft and final budget 2024-25 and agreed to consult with the Finance Committee on the proposed timetable and to return to the matter at their first meeting in the autumn term.

Business Committee considered and agreed a draft report containing a proposal for a temporary Standing Order on the Wales Covid-19 Inquiry Special Purpose Committee. A motion for the Senedd to agree the proposed temporary Standing Order will be tabled for debate on Wednesday 12 July.

The Committee also agreed to write to the Independent Remuneration Board to provide a summary of its decisions and to inform the Board’s consideration of remuneration arrangements for the Co-chairs.