Agenda and minutes

The Llywydd welcomed the Members to the meeting.

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 6.25pm.

Wednesday 

·         Voting Time will take place before the Short Debate.

·         Plenary is unlikely to run past 6.20pm. 

Following confirmation that the government has laid the Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (No. 5) (Wales) (Amendment) (No. 17) Regulations 2021 and scheduled a debate and vote on 5 October, Darren Millar informed Business Committee that the Conservative group will not move their motion on COVID passes tabled for debate on 29 September. Business Committee agreed to extend the Conservative debate on Transport on that day to an hour.

The Trefnydd drew Business Managers’ attention to the following changes:

Tuesday 5 October 2021 -

·         The Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (No. 5) (Wales) (Amendment) (No. 17) Regulations 2021 (45 mins)

Tuesday 12 October 2021 -

·         Statement by the Minister for Education and Welsh Language: Supporting mental wellbeing in education (45 mins)

·         Statement by the Minister for Health and Social Services: Update on Covid-19 (45 mins)

·         Debate: The Children’s Commissioner for Wales Annual Report 2020-21 (60 mins)

The government agreed to extend the amount of time scheduled for debate on the Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (No. 5) (Wales) (Amendment) (No. 17) Regulations 2021 from 30 to 45 minutes.

Business Committee agreed to schedule the following items of business:

Wednesday 20 October 2021 –

·         Debate on a Member's Legislative Proposal (30 mins)

·         Time allocated to the Welsh Conservatives (60 mins)

Business Committee noted the Welsh Government’s letter and intention for the Senedd to debate these regulations on Tuesday 5 October and that, under the draft affirmative procedure, this would mean that the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee would need to report to an earlier deadline as a result.  

Business Committee agreed that Senedd and government officials should discuss issues around Legislative Consent Memorandum deadlines and look in more detail at which committees are facing challenges in reporting to current deadlines as well as how deadlines are proposed more generally.  Further consideration would also be given to the potential for providing further additional meeting slots this term for committees engaged in the scrutiny of LCMs.

Business Committee also agreed to:

·         refer the LCM on the Rating (Coronavirus) and Directors Disqualifications (Dissolved Companies) Bill to the Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee and the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee, with a provisional reporting deadline of 18 November 2021;

·         refer the SLCM (No. 2) on the Building Safety Bill to the Local Government and Housing Committee and the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee, with a provisional reporting deadline of 18 November 2021;

·         revise the reporting deadline on the LCM on the Leasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Bill to 18 November 2021 initially; and

·         note the latest position on LCMs.

Business Committee agreed a new reporting deadline for the Health and Social Care Committee and the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee of 11 November 2021 for the LCM on the Health and Care Bill.

Business Committee considered the conclusions of the Climate Change, Environment and Infrastructure Committee in its report on its scrutiny of the Environment Bill LCM and asked officials to provide further advice.

Business Committee discussed arrangements for substitutions on the proposed SFM Committee and agreed to return to the matter at a future meeting. 

Business Committee noted the letter.