Concise Minutes - Business Committee


Meeting Venue:

Video conference via Zoom

Meeting date: Thursday, 26 June 2025

Meeting time: 09.30 - 11.19
This meeting can be viewed
on Senedd TV at:
http://senedd.tv/en/15547


Private, Remote

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Attendance

Category

Names

Members of the Senedd:

Rt. Hon. Elin Jones MS (Chair)

Darren Millar MS

Heledd Fychan MS

Jane Hutt MS

Committee Staff:

Alun Davidson, Clerk

Beth Hales, Deputy Clerk

Others in attendance:

Jane Dodds MS

David Rees MS, Deputy Presiding Officer

Bethan Davies, Head of Chamber and Committee Service

Julian Luke, Head of Policy and Legislation Committee

Service

Helen Finlayson, Clerk for Legislative Procedural Review

Lisa Griffiths, Procedures Clerk

Adam Vaughan, Second Clerk

Josh Hayman, Research

Will Whiteley, Welsh Government

Anthony Cooper, Welsh Labour

Jennifer Ramsay, Welsh Conservatives

Francess Ifans, Plaid Cymru

 

<AI1>

1       Introductions, apologies and substitutions

The Llywydd welcomed Members to the meeting. Apologies were received from Paul Davies, Darren Millar attended as a substitute. 

</AI1>

<AI2>

2       Minutes of the previous meeting held on 19 June 2025

The minutes of the previous meeting were agreed. 

</AI2>

<AI3>

3       Additional Deputy Presiding Officer

Members were broadly content with the proposals, subject to considering further information on the arrangements to propose a motion to the Senedd that an additional Deputy Presiding Officer be elected, and in relation to the delegation of responsibilities in circumstances where the office of Presiding Officer is vacant, or if the Presiding Officer is unable to act.
 

Business Managers agreed to consult their political groups on the proposals, including whether or not to consider changing English references to “Presiding Officer” and “Deputy Presiding Officer” in Standing Orders to “Speaker” and “Deputy Speaker”. 

</AI3>

<AI4>

3.1   Seventh Senedd Standing Orders: Additional Deputy Presiding Officer

</AI4>

<AI5>

4       Review of the legislative scrutiny processes for Public Bills and Member Bills

There was broad agreement that guidance on in-person participation for all amending stage proceedings on all types of Bills should be strengthened, subject to feedback from political groups. Business Managers noted the Welsh Conservative Group’s preference for in-person participation in all Senedd proceedings. 

Business Managers agreed to propose that Standing Orders should be amended to enable the Committee of the Whole Senedd (but not other committees) to vote electronically, and to clarify that it is an individual Member’s responsibility to ensure that they have in person or remote access to all committee meetings and any means of voting in use. 

</AI5>

<AI6>

4.1   Review of the legislative scrutiny processes for Public Bills and Member Bills: Virtual participation in proceedings, and means of voting in committees

</AI6>

<AI7>

5       Review of the legislative scrutiny processes for Public Bills and Member Bills

Business Managers discussed issues relating to Member Bills and agreed to return to this item following consultation with their political groups. 

</AI7>

<AI8>

5.1   Review of the legislative scrutiny processes for Public Bills and Member Bills: Member Bills

</AI8>

<AI9>

5.2   Review of the legislative scrutiny processes for Public Bills and Member Bills: Member Bill outcomes

</AI9>

<AI10>

5.3   Review of the legislative scrutiny processes for Public Bills and Member Bills: Comparison of Member Bill procedures

</AI10>

<AI11>

6       Feedback from groups

Business Managers confirmed that there was nothing to feedback from their political groups at this stage.

</AI11>

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