Minutes

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

Contact: Aled Elwyn Jones (Clerk) 

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies & announcements

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:

Business Committee agreed that Voting Time would take place before the Short Debate on both Tuesday and Wednesday.

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 Managers agreed that questions to the Assembly Commission would be scheduled for 23 September and every four sitting weeks thereafter. This is to provide a better balance of business in light of next year’s schedule of Ministerial OAQs, by maintaining the link between Commission and Counsel General questions.

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

Wednesday 23 September 2015 –

·         Questions to the Assembly Commission (15 mins)

·         Debate on a Petitions Committee Report on the consideration of a Petition - Stop the Army Recruiting in Schools (60 mins)

·         Time allocated to the Welsh Conservatives (60 mins)

·         Time allocated to the Welsh Liberal Democrats (60 mins)

4.

Budget

4.1

Welsh Government Budget 2016-17

Minutes:

Business Managers considered a letter from the Minister for Government Business with proposed dates for publishing the Draft Budget 2016-17. However, given the uncertainty surrounding the timing of the UK Government’s announcement on its Spending Review, the Minister informed Business Managers that it would be difficult at this stage to confirm with certainty the 2015 Budget timetable.

Business Managers agreed to write to the Finance Committee with a proposed deadline of 19 January 2016 for the Finance Committee to report on the draft budget.

 

5.

Legislation

5.1

Tax Collection and Management (Wales) Bill

Minutes:

Business Managers confirmed their in principle decision of 23 June to refer the Tax Collection and Management (Wales) Bill to the Finance Committee for Stage 1 consideration, and agreed the deadline for the Stage 1 Committee to report by as 27 November 2015 and the deadline for the completion of Stage 2 Committee proceedings as 5 February 2016.

 

6.

Standing Orders

6.1

Reviewing the Assembly's Standing Orders

Minutes:

Business Managers considered a paper detailing progress on the various reviews of the Assembly’s Standing Orders to date.

 

Business Managers agreed that a review of the Standing Orders on Privilege should be postponed until the Wales Bill has completed its parliamentary passage.

The Committee also considered whether there were any other areas of Standing Orders they would like to review before the end of the Fourth Assembly and indicated that in addition to any issues highlighted by the CLA report on making laws (due in the autumn), they would like to look at the size and role of committees.

 

Business Managers intend to discuss the paper with their groups, and return to the matter at the first meeting of the autumn term.

7.

Plenary

7.1

Summer Recess Tabling Arrangements

Minutes:

Business Committee approved the proposed tabling arrangements during the summer recess period.

Any Other Business

The Presiding Officer reminded Business Managers that the bell would be rung at 11.30 on Tuesday morning for a minute’s silence to mark the anniversary of 7/7 bombings.