Minutes - Business Committee


Meeting Venue:

Conference Room 4B - Tŷ Hywel

Meeting date: 7 October 2025

Meeting time: 08.59 - 09.34


Private, Hybrid

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Attendance

Category

Names

Committee Members:

Elin Jones MS, Llywydd (Chair)

Paul Davies MS

Heledd Fychan MS

Jane Hutt MS

Committee Staff:

Lisa Griffiths (Clerk)

Steffan Lewis (Deputy Clerk)

Others in attendance

David Rees MS, Deputy Presiding Officer

Jane Dodds MS

Manon Antoniazzi, Chief Executive and Clerk

Julian Luke, Director of Senedd Business

Bethan Davies, Head of Chamber and Committee Service

Mark Wyn Jones, Head of Policy and Legislation Committee

Service

Helen Carey, Welsh Government

 

<AI1>

1       Introductions, apologies and substitutions

The Llywydd welcomed Members to the meeting. No apologies were received.

</AI1>

<AI2>

2       Minutes of the previous meeting

The Minutes of the previous meeting were agreed for publication.

</AI2>

<AI3>

3       Organisation of Business

</AI3>

<AI4>

3.1   This week's business

Tuesday 

 

Wednesday

</AI4>

<AI5>

3.2   Three week timetable of Government Business

The Trefnydd informed Business Managers of the following changes to the Three Week Timetable of Government Business:


Tuesday 14 October 2025

·         Legislative Consent Motion: The Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill (15 mins)postponed until 21 October

 

The Debate on a Statement: The Outline Draft Budget 2026-27 (90 mins) has been moved from the end of the meeting to the first item after the BSA.

 

Tuesday 21 October 2025

·         The Free-Range Poultrymeat Marketing Standards (Amendment) (Wales) Regulations 2025 (5 mins)

·         Legislative Consent Motion: The Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill (15 mins)

</AI5>

<AI6>

3.3   Three week timetable of Senedd Business

Business Managers agreed the following changes to the Three Week Timetable of Senedd Business:

Wednesday 22 October 2025 –

 

Wednesday 5 November 2025 –

 

Business Managers agreed that for the debate on the cross-committee report on the UK-EU implementation review of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, that:

</AI6>

<AI7>

3.4   Member Debates: Selection of Motion for Debate

Business Committee considered the proposed motions for debate on 15 October 2025 and agreed to schedule the following Member debate tabled by Adam Price:

 

NNDM8884

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes that myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) is a chronic and disabling illness at all levels of severity.
2. Notes that of those suffering from ME, 25 per cent are categorised by NICE as 'severe: mainly bed bound or housebound', and 'very severe: fully bedbound', requiring full-time care and, in the severest cases, palliative care and tube feeding.
3. Regrets that it is often those with the greatest severity levels of ME who are provided with the least amount of appropriate care and treatment.
4. Calls on the Welsh Government to:
a) respond to the concerns raised in the Coroner in England’s Prevention of Future Deaths Report, and explain what practical steps they will take to ensure that no patient in Wales will ever be placed in such tragic circumstances as those described in the report;
b) ensure that the Adferiad-funded ME services are making provision appropriate to the needs of patients with severe and very severe ME;
c) bring together an expert group of health professionals and people with lived experience, at a national level, to develop all-Wales guidance and quality standards on ME, including for the most severely affected;
d) make the appointment of an all-Wales specialist consultant for post-infectious chronic conditions – including ME and long COVID - a priority;
e) improve the training on ME for professionals, firstly in the NHS, but also in social services and schools: in particular, raising awareness of the care needs of adults and children with severe and very severe ME; and
f) ensure that health boards truly co-produce their ME and long COVID Adferiad services, taking into account the lived experiences of those suffering at the severest levels and of those caring for them.

Maeve Boothby O’Neill: Prevention of Future Deaths Report

</AI7>

<AI8>

4       Legislation

</AI8>

<AI9>

4.1   Update on LCMs

Business Committee considered an update from the Trefnydd and agreed to:

</AI9>

<AI10>

5       Committees

</AI10>

<AI11>

5.1   Committee scrutiny of the Senedd Cymru (Member Accountability and Elections) Bill

The Senedd Cymru (Member Accountability and Elections) Bill will be introduced to the Senedd on Monday 3 November 2025.

 

Business Committee considered the issue and agreed:

a) that the Deputy Presiding Officer would be appointed as Chair,

b) that it be comprised of four Members (2 Welsh Labour, 1 Welsh Conservative and 1 Plaid Cymru), including the chair; and

c) to disapply Standing Order 17.2A – 17.2S relating to the election of a chair; and

 

Business Managers also agreed to consult with their groups

 

Business Managers agreed to return to Business Committee next week with names of Members for the Committee.

</AI11>

<AI12>

5.2   Letter from the Chair of the Petitions Committee requesting a debate

Business Managers agreed to schedule a debate on petition P-06-1538 Protect full stroke services at Bronglais Hospital; prevent downgrade to Treat and Transfer on Wednesday 22 October.

</AI12>

<AI13>

6       Any Other Business

The Llywydd raised the issue of rules and guidance around voting time following recent examples of Members voting from vehicles or whilst travelling.

The Llywydd invited Business Managers to further consider options around clarifying the guidance and indicated that Business Committee will return to this issue again at its next meeting.

 

Business Managers agreed to change the membership of the Children, Young People and Education Committee, with a place to be allocated to an Independent Member, in place of a Welsh Conservatives Member.

Business Managers agreed to propose that Russell George MS be elected as a member on the Children, Young People and Education Committee (currently held by Joel James MS) and that this will be added to the agenda for Wednesday 8 October.

</AI13>

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