National Assembly for Wales

This is a meeting of the Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee. The usual housekeeping rules will apply. In terms of apologies, I've had apologies from Dawn Bowden, and Suzy Davies will be attending as a substitute for David Melding. Are there any declarations of interest?

So, if there aren't any declarations, we move straight on to the agenda, on to item 2—instruments that raise issues to be reported to the Assembly under Standing Order 21.2 or 21.3. We have the Regulation and Inspection of Social Care (Wales) Act 2016 (Consequential and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2019. Before us, we have a report, regulations and explanatory memorandum. These regulations make amendments to the Licensing and Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation and Other Houses (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Wales) Regulations 2006, and the Independent Review of Determinations (Adoption and Fostering) (Wales) Regulations 2010. The amendments are needed to correct minor errors that have been made to those instruments. Are there any comments, any issues, any observations on that? Shall we note those? Okay. 

We then move on to item 2.2—the Regulated Advocacy Services (Service Providers and Responsible Individuals) (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2019, and we have a report, regulations and explanatory memorandum. And, again, these regulations make minor corrective amendments to references in the regulated advocacy services regulations 2019. The regulations address technical issues that were previously reported by this committee during its scrutiny of the 2019 regulations. Any comments, observations? Shall we note those? Absolutely.

Written statements under Standing Order 30C. We have the Environment and Rural Affairs (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019, and you'll see with the papers the statement and the commentary, and, again, these regulations make a number of minor technical amendments to ensure consistency between the four instruments listed in the statement and other EU exit statutory instruments. Any comments, observations? Okay. So, we note those. 

We move on to item 4, then—papers to note. We have the letter from the Counsel General about the Joint Ministerial Committee (Europe) meeting. I think that's just there to be noted.

Item 4.2—a letter from the Llywydd with regard to the Senedd and Elections (Wales) Bill. So, Members are invited to note the letter from the Llywydd concerning proposals for making the Electoral Commission accountable to the Assembly. The letter is, of course, relevant to our scrutiny of the Senedd and Elections (Wales) Bill, in particular section 27. Can I suggest that we defer that to private session?

Yes, please. 

Item 4.3, then—a letter from the Minister for Health and Social Services: the National Health Service (Welsh Language in Primary Care Services) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Wales) Regulations 2019. So, you're invited to note the letter from the Minister for Health and Social Services, and, again, this is a letter in response to our letter of 29 May, which endorsed points raised by the Culture, Welsh Language and Communications Committee in its letter of 10 May to the Minister. I think we endorsed that. And, of course, there is a debate on these regulations, and there is a motion to annul those regulations, tabled by Dai Lloyd, which is coming up this Wednesday, and I'll also be making a statement on that in respect of our particular concerns. Shall we note that?

Yes. 

Moving on to item 5—motion under Standing Order 17.42(vi). So, I invite the committee to resolve to exclude the public from the remainder of the meeting. Do Members agree? That's agreed. Okay, we now move into private session.