Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee

This takes us on then to item 3, which are instruments that raise issues to be reported to the Senedd under Standing Order 21.2 or 21.3 that we have previously considered. We have one item under this to look at, and it's item 3.1, referring to SL(6)312, the Government of Wales Act 2006 (Budget Motions and Designated Bodies) (Amendment) Order 2023, and within your papers you'll have a report, a letter from the Minister for Finance and Local Government, and a letter to the Minister for Finance and Local Government, which preceded that. We considered this instrument as a committee at our meeting on 30 January, and we laid our report the same day. So, I just invite Members to consider the correspondence from the Minister for Finance and Local Government in response to the two technical scrutiny points in our committee's report and our letter of 3 February. Is there anything that we need to add to this, Kate?

We've got no further comments. We wouldn't necessarily agree with Welsh Government's view, but they've set it out very clearly in the letter.

We don't always agree with Welsh Government on things; that's not unusual. That's what we're here for sometimes. Colleagues, are you happy to note that correspondence and the response? We are. Thank you very much.

This brings us on, then, to item 4, notifications and correspondence under the inter-institutional relations agreement. The first of these is item 4.1, correspondence from the Minister for Finance and Local Government in respect of the Finance: Interministerial Standing Committee meeting, which took place on 9 February in Edinburgh. In the Minister's letter, it's outlined what was discussed as well as linking to a communiqué that was published following the meeting. It also informs us that the next meeting will be in June, hosted by Welsh Government, and chaired by the Minister. I'll continue on, colleagues, if you're happy, and if there's anything you want to jump in on, just jump in on it as we go.

Item 4.2, we have a written statement and correspondence from the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd in respect of the Approved Country Lists (Animals and Animal Products) (Amendment) Regulations 2023. We have those relevant items within your pack, so I invite you to note the correspondence and that the Minister is giving consent to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to make those regulations, the purpose of which is to correct errors in the lists of animals and animal products, so that Switzerland and Iceland are legally approved to export to Great Britain. These regulations will be laid before the UK Parliament on 28 February 2023, and they're subject to the negative procedure and they will come into force on 21 March 2023.

This brings us on, then, to item 5, our papers to note. First of all, item 5.1, we have correspondence from the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution in respect of correcting Welsh statutory instruments. Just to note for committee members, the Counsel General has clarified points that were raised in our letter to him on 6 February, including about correspondence sent to us on 26 January by the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd, and the Deputy Minister for Mental Health and Well-being. I don't know if anybody has any comments at this point, or we can save it for private session if need be.

So, we'll move on to item 5.2. We have correspondence from the Minister for Finance and Local Government in respect of the supplementary legislative consent memorandum on the UK Infrastructure Bank Bill. In that correspondence, the Minister thanks the committee for our report, published on 16 January, on the UK Infrastructure Bank Bill and responds to our concerns in the report relating to inter-governmental working.

Item 5.3, we have to note a written statement by the Counsel General in respect of the report on the implementation of Law Commission proposals. The eighth annual report on the Welsh Government's implementation of Law Commission proposals has been laid, covering the period of 15 February 2022 to 14 February 2023.

Then item 5.4—again, leap in if there's anything that you want to say on these, otherwise we'll note them and return to them in private. Item 5.4, we have correspondence from the Counsel General. He has sent a letter to certain Members of the House of Lords, a copy of which is attached to his letter to us, and it sets out amendments that might mitigate some of the 'very serious concerns' the Welsh Government has about the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill.

We'll go on to item 5.5, where we have correspondence from the Minister for Economy in respect of our recent report, published on 27 January, on the Supplementary Legislative Consent Memoranda (Memoranda No. 3 and No. 4) in respect of the UK Government's Online Safety Bill.

And then, item 5.6. We have correspondence from an organisation called Families First in Education Wales in respect of home education and home schooling.

And then, item 5.7. We have correspondence from the Local Government and Housing Committee to the Business Committee in relation to the Supplementary Legislative Consent Memorandum (Memorandum No.5) for the Social Housing (Regulation) Bill, regarding times available for scrutiny. That concludes all items under section 5 to note.

So, we have proceeded quite rapidly, actually, to our standard motion under Standing Order 17.42 to resolve to exclude the public for the remainder of the meeting so that we can go into private session. Colleagues, are you happy to move into private session? We are. We'll go into private session, and we'll wait for our clerks to tell us we are in private. Thank you.