Agenda and minutes

The Llywydd welcomed Members to the meeting. No apologies were received.

The Minutes of the previous meeting were agreed for publication.

Tuesday 

Business Committee noted the following changes:

• Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip: Improving access to financial support for people across Wales (30 mins)
• Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales: Travel for All Transport for All (30 mins)
• Legislative Consent Motion: The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill (30 mins) - Postponed until 24 February

• Voting Time will take place as the last item of business
• Plenary is unlikely to run past 6.10pm.

Wednesday

• Voting Time will take place before the Short Debate.  

• Plenary is unlikely to run past 6.15pm.

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

Tuesday 27 January 2026

• Debate: The Police Settlement 2026-27 (30 mins) – postponed
• Legislative Consent Motion: The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill (60 mins) – postponed until 24 February

Tuesday 3 February 2026

• Statement The Recognition of Professional Qualifications and Implementation of International Recognition Agreements (Regulation and Inspection of Social Care) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Wales) Regulations 2026 (5 mins)
• Motion to vary the order of consideration of Stage 3 amendments to the Environment (Principles, Governance and Biodiversity Targets (Wales) Bill (5 mins)

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

Wednesday 04 February 2026

• Debate on a Member's Legislative Proposal (30 mins)
• Time allocated to the Welsh Conservatives (60 mins)
• Time allocated to Plaid Cymru (60 mins)
• Short Debate: Llyr Gruffydd (North Wales) (30 mins)

The Business Committee considered the proposed motions for debate on 28 January 2026 and agreed to schedule the following Member debate tabled by Cefin Campbell MS:

NNDM9115

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes the provisions of Helen’s Law, formally the Prisoners (Disclosure of Information About Victims) Act 2020, which requires the parole board to consider whether offenders have disclosed the location of a victim’s remains or identified child victims when making parole decisions.

2. Recognises that the Act was introduced following the case of Helen McCourt, whose killer has never disclosed the location of her body, and that non-disclosure continues to cause significant and ongoing distress to victims’ families.

3. Notes calls for the introduction of Helen’s Law Part 2: Stop the Desecration, which seeks to reform burial and sentencing laws, including the creation of a new criminal offence of desecrating a body.

4. Further notes the introduction of similar provisions in Northern Ireland through Charlotte’s Law, including making the concealment of a victim’s remains a statutory aggravating factor in sentencing; providing incentives for cooperation in the recovery of remains, and placing a duty on parole authorities to consider non-disclosure.

5. Recognises that the implementation of these measures in Northern Ireland demonstrates that such reforms are achievable elsewhere within the UK.

6. Calls on the Welsh Government to support the consideration of equivalent legislative reforms, in collaboration with the UK Government, to strengthen justice and provide greater dignity and closure for victims and their families.

The Business Committee considered an update from the Trefnydd and agreed to:

• extend the reporting deadline for the SLCM (No.3) on the Terminally Ill Adults Bill to 23 February 2026; and
• refer SLCM (No.4) on the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill to the Children, Young People and Education Committee and the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee for scrutiny, with a reporting deadline of 3 February 2026.

Heledd Fychan noted that Members of the Plaid Cymru group have received significant correspondence in relation to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, and questioned whether the scheduled timing of the debate on 3 February should be extended beyond 15 minutes.

The Business Committee considered a paper containing an analysis of recommendations made to the Business Committee by the Standards of Conduct Committee as party of its report of its Inquiry into Registration and Declaration of Interests: Declarations of Interests.

Business Managers agreed to discuss the recommendations with their political groups and return to further consideration at the Business Committee meeting on 29 January.

In relation to recommendation 2 of that report, the Business Committee requested a note providing further information on the implications of what is recommended for motions being tabled by Business Managers on behalf of their political group. The Trefnydd noted that practice varies between Members when orally declaring interests during proceedings and suggested that the requirement should be clarified within guidance.