Agenda and minutes

The Llywydd welcomed members to the meeting. Apologies were received from Lesley Griffiths and Darren Millar. Jane Hutt and Russell George attended the meeting as substitutes.

The Minutes of the previous meeting were agreed for publication.

Tuesday

The Trefnydd informed Business Managers of the following changes:

• Motion to suspend Standing Orders (5 mins) 
• Motion to approve the nomination of a Counsel General (5 mins) 
• Nominations for committee chairs (5 mins)
• Statement by the First Minister: Delivering Wales' priorities (45 mins) 
• Statement by the Minister for Social Care: The Health and Social Care (Wales) Bill (60 mins) Postponed until 21 May

Following the resignation of the chairs of the Children, Young People and Education Committee and the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee after their appointment to Ministerial roles, Business Committee agreed that the chairs of those committees should continue to be allocated to the Labour group. Business Committee agreed that nominations would be invited following First Minister’s Questions today with the result of any ballots required announced prior to Voting Time.

• Voting Time will take place as the last item of business.
• Plenary is unlikely to run past 5.20pm

Wednesday

The Llywydd informed Business Managers of the following changes:

·       Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and Cabinet Office Minister for Finance and Local Government (45 mins)

·       Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd (45 mins)

·       Motion to elect a Member to a committee (5 mins)

·       Motion to appoint a Member to the Senedd Commission (5 mins)

Business Committee agreed to table a motion to appoint Jane Hutt as a member of Business Committee in place of Lesley Griffiths.

Following his resignation, Business Committee confirmed that the Labour group should be invited to propose a Member to replace Ken Skates on the Senedd Commission and for a motion to be tabled for consideration on Wednesday.

The Llywydd reminded Business Managers of the timings for speaking contributions during the 30 minute opposition debates scheduled on Wednesday.

·       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 23 April 2024

·         Questions to the Counsel General (45 mins)

·         Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care: Creating a smokefree generation and tackling youth vaping (30 mins)

·         Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Welsh Language: Economic Priorities (30 mins)

·         Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for North Wales and Transport: Transport Priorities (30 mins)

·         The Mandatory Use of Closed Circuit Television in Slaughterhouses (Wales) Regulations 2024 (15 mins) – postponed

·         The Plant Health etc. (Miscellaneous Fees) (Amendment) (Wales) Regulations 2024 (15 mins) - postponed

Wednesday 24 April 2024

·         Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for North Wales and Transport Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip (45 mins)

·         Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution (45 mins)

Wednesday 1 May 2024

·         Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Welsh Language Minister for Economy (45 mins)

·         Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care Minister for Health and Social Services (45 mins)

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

Wednesday 24 April 2024 –

• Short Debate: Jane Dodds (Mid and West Wales) Peter Fox MS (Monmouth) (30 mins)

Wednesday 8 May 2024 –

·         Debate on the Equality and Social Justice Committee report: How we must all play our part - a public health approach to halting the epidemic in gender based violence (60 mins)

·         Debate on petition P-06-1392: Reform of the additional learning needs Code of Wales 2021 (30 mins)

• Time allocated to the Welsh Conservatives (60 mins)
• Short Debate: Peredur Owen Griffiths MS (South Wales East) (30 mins)

Business Committee considered the proposed motions for debate and agreed to schedule the following proposal on 24 April:

Janet Finch-Saunders

NNDM8504 

To propose that the Senedd: 

1. Notes a proposal for a Bill that would make provisions for targets to strengthen food security in Wales.  

2. Notes that the purpose of the Bill would be to create a duty for the Welsh Government to set targets to improve food security in Wales. 

Business Committee noted the new schedule for Oral Questions.

The Llywydd consulted Business Managers on whether spokespeople should be called to ask questions without notice to the Counsel General Designate considering the new ministerial responsibilities. In light of the views expressed, the Llywydd indicated that she would continue to call spokespeople to ask questions without notice and to keep arrangements under review.

Business Committee received an update on current LCMs and agreed to:

• refer the supplementary LCM on the Criminal Justice Bill laid on 2 April to the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee for scrutiny, with a reporting deadline of 7 June 2024.
• refer the supplementary LCM on the Automated Vehicles Bill laid on 5 April to the Climate Change, Environment and Infrastructure Committee and the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee for scrutiny, with a reporting deadline of 22 April 2024.
• extend the reporting deadline for the LCM on the Renters (Reform) Bill to 10 May.

Business Committee also noted that the supplementary LCM (Memorandum No. 2) on the Victim and Prisoners Bill was laid on 15 April 2024, having been referred at its previous meeting to the Equality and Social Justice Committee and the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee with a reporting deadline of 29 April 2024.

Business Committee noted the letter.

Business Committee noted an update on the proposed scheduling of its procedural work.