National Assembly for Wales

Okay, this is a meeting of the Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee. We'll move straight on to item 1. We've had some apologies. We welcome Paul Davies here, standing in for Suzy Davies, and we've had apologies from Carwyn Jones. The usual housekeeping rules will apply. There has also been an issue, in that we were today going to be looking at the Local Government and (Elections) Wales Bill. We've had to postpone this, because the Minister for Housing and Local Government has had a bereavement in the family. And in those circumstances, we not only send our wishes to her in these circumstances, but obviously that item has to be postponed and will be rearranged.

So, we now move straight on to those other outstanding items. We have item 5, instruments that raise issues to be reported to the Assembly under Standing Order 21.2 or 21.3. We have the Landfill Disposals Tax (Tax Rates) (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2020. We have the report, regulations and explanatory memorandum, and indeed a letter from the Minister for Finance and Trefnydd to the Llywydd, which is dated 6 January 2020. This is a matter where, in respect of the policy, I believe the Finance Committee has been looking at this issue. Do you have any comments on this?

Yes. These regulations increase tax rates that apply to landfill disposals made on or after 1 April 2020 in Wales, where the change is expected to reduce landfill waste disposals. The rates are consistent with the UK landfill rates. That consistency is, among other things, intended to reduce the risk of movement of waste across borders. The regulations require Assembly approval for them to have effect from longer than 28 days, and the Assembly debate on these regulations is scheduled for 28 January.

Okay, any comments or observations? If there are none, we then move on to the next item.

This is actually papers to note. We have the letter from the First Minister to the Chair of the External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee on the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill. This was a letter that we saw, last minute, I think, before the last meeting. So, it's being tabled now really for noting. Unless there are any comments or observations? If not, we move on to the other items that we have to note, which are: the letter from the Minister for Health and Social Services on the Health and Social Care (Quality and Engagement) (Wales) Bill; the letter from the Minister for Health and Social Services to the Chair of the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee on the Health and Social Care (Quality and Engagement) (Wales) Bill; and again another letter from the Minister on that item. I think those are really just there to be noted. Are there any comments or observations on those? If not, we move on to the next item, 6.5, a letter from the Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs regarding the inter-ministerial group on environment, food and rural affairs' meetings. This is a letter that basically sets out, under the agreement, a list of dates of meetings. Are there any particular comments on that? If not, then we'll turn to the items on the agenda.

I move a motion under Standing Order 17.42(vi). So, in accordance with Standing Order 17.42(vi), I invite the committee to resolve to exclude the public from the next item. Is that agreed?

Agreed.

Yes.

So, we move into private session.