Agenda and minutes

Venue: Presiding Officer’s office, 4th floor - Tŷ Hywel. View directions

Contact: Aled Elwyn Jones 

Items
No. Item

1.

Introductions, apologies and substitutions

2.

Minutes of the previous meeting

Minutes:

The minutes for the meeting were agreed by the Committee for publication.

3.

Organisation of Business

3.1

This Week's Business

Minutes:

On Tuesday, Voting Time would be after the final item of business. On Wednesday, Business Committee agreed that Voting Time would take place before the Short Debate.

3.2

Three Week Timetable of Government Business

Minutes:

Business Committee noted the 3 Week Timetable of Government Business.

3.3

Three Week Timetable of Assembly Business

Minutes:

Business Committee determined the organisation of Assembly business and agreed to schedule the following items of business:

Wednesday 15 February 2017 –

  • Statement by the Chair of the Culture, Welsh Language and Communications Committee: The Big Picture, An Initial Look at Broadcasting in Wales (30 mins)

 

Wednesday 1 March 2017 –

  • Time allocated to Plaid Cymru (60 mins)
  • Time allocated to the United Kingdom Independence Party (60 mins)

3.4

Debate on Members' Legislative Proposals - Selection of Motion

Minutes:

Business Committee selected a motion for debate:

 

Wednesday 8 February

 

  • NNDM6222 Suzy Davies (South Wales West)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

 

1. Notes a proposal for a Bill on life saving skills.

 

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

 

a) create statutory rights for people to receive age appropriate life-saving skills education and training at various life stages

 

b) create statutory responsibilities to ensure:

 

i) that life-saving skills training is provided;

 

ii) provision of defibrillators in appropriate locations;

 

iii) provision of life-saving skills trained individuals in key positions in public services (as an upgrade to an identified first aid person); and

 

iv) that basic first aid materials are available to the public in public buildings not just the staff.

 

c) create remedies and enforcement regarding the above.

4.

Business Committee

4.1

Groups and Representation on Business Committee

Minutes:

The Committee discussed a paper on groups and representation on Business Committee. The paper set out possible options for amending Standing Orders so that Members who do not belong to a group are not disadvantaged by not being represented on Business Committee.

 

Business Managers also considered responses from Kirsty Williams, Nathan Gill and Dafydd Elis-Thomas to the Llywydd’s letter asking for their views on the matter. All three Members had set out that their preference would be to be represented by proxy.

 

Business Managers agreed not to make any changes to Standing Orders at this time.

5.

Use of Plenary Time

5.1

Review of Oral Assembly Questions

Minutes:

Business Managers considered options to introduce a new procedure for Topical and Urgent Questions.

 

Business Managers agreed for the Secretariat to draft possible criteria for the new procedure, and for a revised Urgent Questions procedure. The Leader of the House indicated that she intended to circulate a note setting out her proposed criteria for each. Business Managers agreed to return to the matter at a future meeting.

Any Other Business

90 Second Statements

  • Business Managers agreed to encourage Members to introduce more variety in the subject matters of 90 Second Statements. No requests have been received thus far for this week.

 

Spokespeople Questions

  • The Llywydd reminded Business Managers that, should spokespeople wish to question Ministers as opposed to Cabinet Secretaries during Spokespeople Questions, they should indicate so on the speakers forms sent to groups or notify Chamber Secretariat as soon as possible.

 

Cabinet Secretaries arriving late for debates

  • The Llywydd reminded the Government that it is a matter of courtesy for Cabinet Secretaries and Ministers who are responding to debates to be present for the duration of the debate.