Agenda and minutes

The Llywydd welcomed Members to the meeting.

The Minutes of the previous meeting were agreed for publication.

Tuesday 

The Trefnydd informed Business Managers of the following changes:

·         Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Welsh Language: Tata Steel (45 mins) 

·         Proposal under Standing Order 12.24 to debate the following items together but with separate votes (30 mins):

o   LCM on the Victims and Prisoners Bill – motion 1 – postponed until 7 May

o   LCM on the Victims and Prisoners Bill – motion 2 – postponed until 7 May

·         Stage 3 of the Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill (360 240 mins)

The Llywydd informed Business Managers that there will be a 10 minute break before Stage 3 proceedings commence.

• There will be no Voting Time prior to Stage 3 proceedings.
• Plenary is unlikely to run past 7.30pm

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 7 May 2024

·         Statement by the First Minister: Senedd at 25 (45 mins)

·         Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs: Priorities for climate change and rural affairs (45 mins)

·         Proposal under Standing Order 12.24 to debate the following items together but with separate votes (30 mins):

o    LCM on the Victims and Prisoners Bill – motion 1

o    LCM on the Victims and Prisoners Bill – motion 2

Wednesday 8 May 2024

·         Debate: Stage 4 of the Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill (30 mins)

Tuesday 14 May 2024

·         Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Education: Our national mission: delivering on Wales’ education priorities (45 mins)

·         Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs: The future of farming in Wales (45 mins)

·         Statement by the Minister for Mental Health and Eary Years: Improving mental health in Wales (30 mins)

·         Statement by the Minister for Social Care: Our vision for foster care in Wales (30 mins)

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

Wednesday 8 May 2024

·         Debate on petition P-06-1392: Reform of the additional learning needs Code of Wales 2021 (30 60 mins)

Wednesday 22 May 2024 –  

• Debate on a Member's Legislative Proposal (30 mins) 
• Debate on Petition P-06-1407: We want the Welsh Government to rescind and remove the disastrous 20mph law (60 mins) 
• Time allocated to the Welsh Conservatives (60 mins) 
• Short Debate: Joyce Watson MS (Mid and West Wales) (30 mins) 

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

• refer the LCM (Memorandum No 4) on the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill to the Culture, Communication, Welsh Language, Sport and International Relations Committee and the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee for scrutiny, with a reporting deadline of 13 May;
• refer the LCM (Memorandum No 4) on the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill to the Local Government and Housing Committee and the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee for scrutiny, with a reporting deadline of 31 May.

The Committee also noted the lack of time available for scrutiny of the LCM (Memorandum No 3) on the Victims and Prisoners Bill ahead of the Plenary debate scheduled for 7 May and agreed not to refer the LCM to a committees for scrutiny as a result. In doing so, Business Committee noted the unsatisfactory nature of this situation. The Trefnydd explained that due to the Government’s concerns about the Bill, they consider that the Senedd should consider it as soon as possible whilst the Bill is still in the amending stages at Westminster. The Trefnydd also highlighted that, as there is a high volume of amendments currently tabled at Westminster, a further SLCM will likely be tabled at a later date.

Business Committee agreed to schedule a debate on petition P-06-1407: We want the Welsh Government to rescind and remove the disastrous 20mph law on Wednesday 22 May.

Business Committee agreed to the request for the Equality and Social Justice Committee to meet earlier than its allocated slot on 17 June in order to accommodate an evidence session with the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice, subject to all members of the Committee being content to do so.

Business Committee considered a paper on job-sharing for committee chairs and agreed:

• that a paper is prepared and returned to the Business Committee before Whitsun recess on the practical and procedural issues relating to committee chair job sharing, to include a proposed list of questions that will form the basis of internal and external evidence gathering;
• to consult with Members of the Senedd directly and via Business Managers, and with the Chairs’ Forum;
• to issue an open call for written evidence and promote this to relevant stakeholders; and
• to give further consideration to scheduling oral evidence in light of any written evidence received.

Heledd Fychan enquired as to whether the potential for enabling job sharing in other non-statutory roles could also be considered through this process. The Trefnydd stated that Business Committee would need to be clear in explaining the scope of this work, and the reasons for it, particularly with external audiences.

Darren Millar requested that consideration be given to whether this work should be taken forward by the Business Committee or the Reform Bill Committee, given the expertise that it has developed in related areas. He also noted the potential implications for backbenchers on scrutiny capacity if additional office holders are introduced through job sharing.

The Llywydd agreed that the Committee will return to these matters when considering the next paper on this subject.