National Assembly for Wales

Good afternoon, everyone. Welcome to the Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee meeting of 8 January 2018. Just some introductory comments, first of all, with regard to handling. After any introductory remarks, you're advised that, in the event of a fire alarm, Members should leave the room by the marked fire exits and follow instructions from the ushers and staff. There is no test forecast for today. All mobile devices are switched to silent mode. The National Assembly for Wales operates through both the medium of Welsh and English languages. Headphones are provided, through which instantaneous translations may be received. For anyone hard of hearing, these may also be used to amplify sound. Do not touch any of the buttons on the microphones, as this can disable the system, and ensure that the red light is showing before speaking. Interpretation is available on channel 1, and verbatim on channel 2.

Two very short announcements right at the beginning: following Nathan Gill's resignation as an Assembly Member, there is a vacancy on the committee, and it will be for the Business Committee to consider the effect of the vacancy under Standing Order 17.13, but just to put on record recognition of Nathan Gill's contribution to the work of this committee. The second thing to put on record is our congratulations to David Melding in respect of his recognition in the honours list as a CBE. So, congratulations, there.

Thank you very much, Chair.

Hear, hear.

Other than that, then, we move on to item 2, instruments that raise no reporting issues under Standing Order 21.2 or 21.3, and the negative resolution instrument there is the Non-Domestic Rating Contributions (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2017. Are there any comments on that? Can that be noted? Okay, so that's noted.

We move on to item 3, instruments that raise issues to be reported to the Assembly under Standing Order 21.2 or 21.3. Affirmative resolution instrument the Non-Domestic Rating (Multiplier) (Wales) Order 2018—an issue that has obviously been of interest to this committee in the past. There are a number of papers: the Order, the explanatory memorandum, the report, and the letter from the Cabinet Secretary for Finance. I'll perhaps first of all invite the lawyers to make any comments.

Just the two merit points noted in the draft report, around the timing and the explanatory memorandum not explaining what the 272.8 as B means in this case. The explanatory note does explain it, but it's slightly strange there's no reference to that also in the explanatory memorandum.

Any other comments? Just to say on this, I obviously had a conversation, a short conversation, also, with the Cabinet Secretary, I think, really, to explain what was set out in the letter about the timescale. There are circumstances in the background. It's not the most desirable of situations, but we are where we are, and we need to move on to ensure that people aren't disadvantaged in this area. So, if there are no other comments on that, we're just required to approve that.

And then moving on to item 4, now, which is the statutory instrument consent memorandum, relating to the Control of Mercury (Enforcement) Regulations 2017, there is a letter from the Minister that explains the background to that. We have to report to the Assembly within 35 days. Are there any comments on that and how we're going to achieve that? Anything required or just—?

As usual.

We'll do that in the usual way.

We'll prepare a report for the committee to consider.

Okay. There's nothing controversial there.

Item 5, papers to note: a letter from the Chair of the Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee inquiry into human rights in Wales. I think that's just a letter to note, but obviously an interesting inquiry. Any comments on that? We'll just note it.

Note.

And 5.2, a letter from the Cabinet Secretary for Education, additional learning needs update. So, again, it's another letter just updating us on the position. Again, to be noted, unless there are any comments. 

Item 6, the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill: the letter to the leader of the house and the letter from the leader of the house. You've seen the correspondence there, which really updates us on the Welsh Government's timetable for bringing forward some audit legislation as a consequence of the EU withdrawal Bill.

Rather daunting, I thought. 

It didn't really tell us an awful lot more.  

Well, I know. There could be lots of it.

Yes. Yes, absolutely.

Well, there is a figure. 

Six hundred. 

Six hundred, yes. I thought there might have been a little bit more, but—.

Yes, that's right. I thought the figure was higher, but I suppose 800 is enough to start with, isn't it? 

Okay, on to item 7, then, motion under Standing Order 17.42 to resolve to meet in private. Is that moved?  

Agreed. 

Agreed. Okay, we move into private session.