Agenda and minutes

The Llywydd welcomed Members to the meeting. Apologies were received from Heledd Fychan, Llyr Gruffydd attended in her place.

The Minutes of the previous meeting were agreed for publication.

Tuesday

The Trefnydd informed Business Managers of the following changes:

·         Statement by the Minister for Economy: Tata Steel (45 mins)

·         Statement by the Minister for Economy: The economy of the Heads of the Valleys (30 mins) Postponed

·         Voting Time will take place as the last item of business.

·         Plenary is unlikely to run past 6.45pm.

Wednesday

The Trefnydd informed Business Managers that the Minister for Finance and Local Government is unable to respond to the Welsh Conservative debate on local government funding as she will be travelling to an interministerial meeting in Scotland. The Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip will respond to the debate in her place. 

·         Voting Time will take place before the Short Debate.

·         Plenary is unlikely to run past 7.10pm.

The Trefnydd informed Business Managers of the following changes to the Three Week Timetable of Government Business:

Tuesday 30 January 2024

·       Statement by the First Minister Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution: The final report of the Independent Commission on the Constitutional Future of Wales (45 mins)

·       Statement by the Minister for Climate Change: White paper for a proposed Bill on environmental principles, environmental governance, and biodiversity targets (30 mins)

·       The Official Statistics (Wales) (Amendment) Order 2024 (5 mins) – postponed until 20 February

Tuesday 6 February 2024

·       The Special School Residential Services (Service Providers and Responsible Individuals) (Wales) 2024 (5 mins)

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

Wednesday 31 January 2024 –

·         Motion to amend Standing Orders (5 mins)

Wednesday 21 February 2024 –

·         Debate on the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee Report: Inquiry into UK-EU governance (45 mins)

·         Time allocated to the Welsh Conservatives (60 mins)

·         Time allocated to Plaid Cymru (60 mins)

·         Short Debate: Sioned Williams (South Wales West) (30 mins)

Business Committee considered the proposed motions for debate and agreed to schedule the following proposal on 31 January: 

Mabon ap Gwynfor

NNDM8434

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes a proposal for a Bill to establish structured oversight of NHS managers, in the form of a regulatory body.

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

a) establish a professional regulatory body for NHS Wales to define the professional standards expected of NHS Wales managers and be a place of recourse for those who feel that those standards have not been met by any one individual NHS Wales manager, and which would have the power to warn, sanction or strike off any NHS Wales manager from its maintained register;

b) define what an NHS Wales manager is and maintain a register of NHS Wales managers;

c) require all NHS managers to be registered with the professional regulatory body.

Business Committee agreed to a request from the Wales Covid-19 Inquiry Special Purpose Committee to meet on 20 February, 19 March and subsequent Tuesdays when needed, prior to a permanent slot being agreed at later date.

Business Committee considered the recommendations made to it by the Reform Bill Committee and agreed its response.

Business Committee considered and agreed a draft report containing proposals to amend Standing Orders relating to Consolidation Bills arising from its limited review of those procedures. The Committee agreed to table a motion proposing that the Senedd agree the proposed Standing Order changes for debate on Wednesday 31 January.

·       Response from the Health and Social Care Committee

·       Response from the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee

·       Response from the Chairs’ Forum

·       Correspondence from the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution

·       Paper on the procedures required for scrutiny of legislation relating to the United Kingdom Internal Market Act 2020 and UK-wide common policy frameworks

Business Committee considered responses received from the Health and Social Care Committee, the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee, the Chairs’ Forum and the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution to proposals to amend Standing Orders.

Business Committee agreed to share the responses received and to provide an opportunity for those who have provided information already to provide further reflections, before returning to the matter of whether to make amendments to Standing Orders at a future meeting.