Concise Minutes - Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee

Meeting Venue:

Committee Room 2, Senedd

Meeting date: Monday, 31 March 2025

Meeting time: 10.35 - 15.24
This meeting can be viewed
on Senedd TV at:
http://senedd.tv/en/14867

Hybrid

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Attendance

Category	Names
Members of the Senedd:	Mike Hedges MS (Chair) Alun Davies MS Laura Anne Jones MS Adam Price MS
Witnesses:	Claire Fife, Welsh Government Julie James MS, Counsel General and Minister for Delivery
Committee Staff:	P Gareth Williams (Clerk) Gerallt Roberts (Second Clerk) Sarah Sargent (Second Clerk) Kate Rabaiotti (Legal Adviser)

<AI1>

1 Introduction, apologies, substitutions and declarations of interest

There were no apologies or substitutions.

</AI1>

<AI2>

2 Legislation (Procedure, Publication and Repeals) (Wales) Bill - Stage 2 proceedings

In accordance with Standing Order 26.21, the Committee disposed of the following amendments to the Bill:

Amendment 23 (Adam Price)

In favour	Against	Abstain
Adam Price	Mike Hedges
	Alun Davies
Amendment 23 was not agreed.

Laura Anne Jones was absent for the consideration of, and vote on, Amendment 23.

Amendment 24 (Adam Price)

In favour	Against	Abstain
Adam Price	Mike Hedges
	Alun Davies
Amendment 24 was not agreed.

Laura Anne Jones was absent for the consideration of, and vote on, Amendment 24.

As amendment 24 was not agreed, amendments 25 to 32 fell. 

Amendment 33 (Adam Price)

In favour	Against	Abstain
Adam Price	Mike Hedges
Laura Anne Jones	Alun Davies
As there was an equality of votes, the Chair exercised his casting vote by voting against the amendment in accordance with Standing Order 6.20(ii). Amendment 33 was therefore not agreed.

Amendment 2 (Julie James) was agreed to in accordance with Standing Order 17.34(i).

Amendment 3 (Julie James) was agreed to in accordance with Standing Order 17.34(i).

Amendment 4 (Julie James) was agreed to in accordance with Standing Order 17.34(i).

Amendment 5 (Julie James) was agreed to in accordance with Standing Order 17.34(i).

Amendment 6 (Julie James) was agreed to in accordance with Standing Order 17.34(i).

Amendment 7 (Julie James) was agreed to in accordance with Standing Order 17.34(i).

Amendment 8 (Julie James) was agreed to in accordance with Standing Order 17.34(i).

Amendment 9 (Julie James) was agreed to in accordance with Standing Order 17.34(i).

Amendment 10 (Julie James) was agreed to in accordance with Standing Order 17.34(i).

Amendment 11 (Julie James) was agreed to in accordance with Standing Order 17.34(i).

Amendment 12 (Julie James) was agreed to in accordance with Standing Order 17.34(i).

Amendment 13 (Julie James) was agreed to in accordance with Standing Order 17.34(i).

Amendment 14 (Julie James) was agreed to in accordance with Standing Order 17.34(i).

Amendment 15 (Julie James) was agreed to in accordance with Standing Order 17.34(i).

Amendment 34 (Adam Price)

In favour	Against	Abstain
Adam Price	Mike Hedges
	Alun Davies
	Laura Anne Jones
Amendment 34 was not agreed.

Amendments 16 to 21 were disposed of en bloc. Amendments 16 to 21 (Julie James) were agreed to in accordance with Standing Order 17.34(i).

Amendment 22 (Julie James)

In favour	Against	Abstain
Mike Hedges	Laura Anne Jones
Alun Davies
Adam Price
Amendment 22 was agreed.

Amendment 35 (Adam Price) was withdrawn in accordance with Standing Order 26.66(i).

Amendment 1 (Paul Davies)

In favour	Against	Abstain
Laura Anne Jones	Mike Hedges
Adam Price	Alun Davies
As there was an equality of votes, the Chair exercised his casting vote by voting against the amendment in accordance with Standing Order 6.20(ii). Amendment 1 was therefore not agreed.

Amendment 36 (Adam Price) was not moved. 

As all amendments had been disposed of, the Chair confirmed that Stage 2 proceedings were completed.

During proceedings, the Committee agreed to write to the Welsh Government in respect of scrutiny procedures for Welsh statutory instruments. The Counsel General also committed to share with the Committee further details about exploratory work the Welsh Government is undertaking in respect of the partial annulment of subordinate legislation.

</AI2>

<AI3>

3 Instruments that raise issues to be reported to the Senedd under Standing Order 21.2 or 21.3

</AI3>

<AI4>

3.1 SL(6)602 - The Education (Information about Children in Independent Schools) (Pilot) (Wales) Regulations 2025

The Committee considered the instrument and agreed to report to the Senedd in line with the reporting points identified.

</AI4>

<AI5>

3.2 SL(6)604 - The Charges for Residues Surveillance (Amendment and Revocation) (Wales) Regulations 2025

The Committee considered the instrument and agreed to report to the Senedd in line with the reporting point identified.

</AI5>

<AI6>

4 Instruments that raise issues to be reported to the Senedd under Standing Order 21.2 or 21.3 - previously considered

</AI6>

<AI7>

4.1 SL(6)601 - The Children Act 2004 (Children Missing Education Database) (Pilot) (Wales) Regulations 2025

The Committee noted the Welsh Government response.

</AI7>

<AI8>

5 Inter-Institutional Relations Agreement

</AI8>

<AI9>

5.1 Correspondence from the Welsh Government: Meetings of Inter-ministerial groups

The Committee noted the correspondence from the Welsh Government in relation to meetings of: the Inter-Ministerial Group for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Interministerial Group on Elections and Registration.

</AI9>

<AI10>

5.2 Correspondence from the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs: The Official Controls (Extension of Transitional Periods) (Amendment) Regulations 2025

The Committee noted the correspondence from the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs.

</AI10>

<AI11>

6 Papers to note

</AI11>

<AI12>

6.1 Correspondence from the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip to the Llywydd: The Crime and Policing Bill

The Committee noted the correspondence from the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip.

</AI12>

<AI13>

6.2 Correspondence from the Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales: Legislative Consent Memorandum on the Bus Services (No. 2) Bill

The Committee noted the correspondence from the Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales.

</AI13>

<AI14>

7 Motion under Standing Order 17.42 to resolve to exclude the public from the remainder of the meeting

The motion was agreed.

</AI14>

<AI15>

8 Disused Mine and Quarry Tips (Wales) Bill: Draft report

The Committee agreed its draft report subject to some minor changes to be agreed by the Chair outside of Committee.

</AI15>

<AI16>

9 Legislative Consent Memoranda on the Mental Health Bill: Draft report

The Committee agreed its draft report.

</AI16>

<AI17>

10 Supplementary Legislative Consent Memorandum (Memorandum No. 2) on the Data (Use and Access) Bill: Draft report

The Committee agreed its draft report.

</AI17>

<AI18>

11 Correspondence to the Business Committee: Review of the Public Bill and Members Bill processes

The Committee considered a draft submission to the Business Committee in relation to its review of the Public Bill and Members Bill processes, and agreed to consider it again at a future meeting.

</AI18>

<AI19>

12 Forward Work Planning

The Committee considered its work programme for the coming months.

</AI19>

<AI20>

13 The Review of the United Kingdom Internal Market Act 2020: Consideration of draft response

The Committee considered and approved the draft response to the Department for Business and Trade’s consultation on its Review of the United Kingdom Internal Market Act 2020, subject to a minor change to be agreed by the Chair outside of Committee.

</AI20>

<AI21>

14 Correspondence from the Independent Water Commission: Call for evidence

The Committee considered and approved the draft response to the Independent Water Commission’s call for evidence.

</AI21>

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