To: Children, Young People and Education Committee

Additional Learning Needs and Education Tribunal (Wales) Bill: preparation for Stage 2

Purpose

1. To agree the order of consideration for Stage 2 of the Additional Learning Needs and Education Tribunal (Wales) Bill (the Bill).

Background

2. The Committee reported on the general principles of the Bill on 24 May 2017. The debate on the general principles of the Bill was held on 6 June 2017. The general principles were agreed by the Assembly, and the Bill has proceeded to Stage 2. The deadline set by the Business Committee for the completion of Stage 2 proceedings is 20 October 2017.

Order of consideration

3. The order of consideration is the order in which the sections and schedules of the Bill are arranged for the purpose of disposing of amendments. Standing Orders provide for a default order of consideration. This is the order in which the sections and schedules appear in the Bill. It is open to the Committee to vary the order of consideration if it wishes to do so.

4. The Bill contains 88 sections and 1 schedule. Section 1 is an overview section relating to the whole Bill. To help streamline proceedings as much as possible, it is proposed that the Committee agrees to consider the overview section following the substantive provisions to which it relates (to enable amendments to substantive provisions to be disposed of before any consequential amendments to the overview section).

5. On this basis, the proposed order of consideration is:

– Sections 2-88

– Schedule 1

– Section 1

– Long title.

Amendments

6. The role of the Committee at Stage 2 is to consider and dispose of amendments tabled to the Bill. Any Member may table amendments for consideration at Stage 2.

7. Following the agreement of the general principles of the Bill, tabling opened on 7 June 2017. A number of amendments have been tabled and are published on the Bill’s web page. To ensure that there is sufficient time to dispose of all amendments, the first Stage 2 meeting has been scheduled for Wednesday 4 October. Standing Orders require that all amendments are tabled five working days before they are to be considered. The tabling deadlines are therefore

· Monday 25 September (Welsh Government)

· Wednesday 27 September (other Members

8. A provisional Stage 2 meeting has been scheduled for Thursday 12 October to consider any amendments that are not disposed of in that first meeting.

Financial Resolution

9. The financial resolution for the Bill has not yet been moved. We anticipate that this will be moved on Tuesday 3 October. In accordance with Standing Order 26.69, no proceedings may be taken on the Bill after Stage 1 unless a financial resolution has been agreed. This does not prevent the tabling of amendments. Similarly, any decision made in relation to the order of consideration of such amendments may be taken by the Committee prior to the financial resolution being passed. Members should note, however, that if the financial resolution is not agreed on 3 October, the Committee cannot consider and dispose of amendments to the Bill.

Action

10. Members are asked to consider and agree the proposed order of consideration for amendments to the Bill (paragraphs 3 to 5).