Minutes

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

Contact: Aled Elwyn Jones (Clerk) 

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies & announcements

Minutes:

Apologies were received from the Deputy Presiding Officer.

2.

Minutes of the previous meeting

Minutes:

The minutes were noted by the Committee for publication.

3.

Organisation of Business

3.1

This Week's Business

Minutes:

The Minister for Finance and Government Business updated the Committee on changes to Government Business on Tuesday.

 

The First Minister would be making a statement on the Metro.

 

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 business and agreed to schedule the following items of business:

 

Wednesday 20 January 2016

 

  • Questions to the Assembly Commission (30 mins)

  • Debate on the Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee's report on Making Laws in Wales (60 mins)

o   Stage 3 Debate on the Nurse Staffing Levels (Wales) Bill (60 mins)

3.4

Scrutiny of the Draft Wales Bill

Minutes:

Business Managers considered a paper setting out possible options for scrutinising the draft Wales Bill in Plenary. At its meeting of 24 November, Business Managers decided to schedule a 3 hour Plenary debate on Wednesday 13 January and return to the matter this week to decide on the structure of the debate.

 

The committee agreed that the debate should be held in Plenary and, in light of the fact that the Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee (CLA) is expected to report on its scrutiny of the draft Wales Bill on Friday 4 December, Business Managers agreed to decide on the structure of the debate once the report had been published.

4.

Standing Orders

4.1

Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee Recommendations on Making Laws in Wales

Minutes:

On 17 November, Business Manages considered a paper to review the recommendations made by the CLA Committee in the report on its inquiry into making laws in Wales in so far as they relate to the Business Committee’s remit and agreed to return to the matter at today’s meeting following consultation with their groups.

 

The committee agreed in principle to the CLA Committee’s recommendations, including proposed changes to Standing Orders. The Secretariat will draft a response to the CLA committee, and draft amendments to the relevant Standing Orders for consideration by the Business Committee in the New Year, when it will decide whether or not proposals for change should be put before the Assembly. 

5.

Plenary

5.1

Christmas Recess Tabling Arrangements

Minutes:

Business Committee approved the proposed tabling arrangements for the Christmas recess period.

6.

Business Committee

6.1

Business Committee Legacy Report

Minutes:

Business Managers considered the evidence put forward in response to the committee’s consultation on its Legacy Report, and asked the Secretariat to draw up draft conclusions and recommendations for it to consider.