​The Business Committee of the National Assembly for Wales has agreed the proposed new committee structure, and procedures for electing committee chairs. Both proposals will be considered by the Assembly in Plenary on 28 June.

The structure is centred on seven combined policy and legislation committees and six specialist committees.

“This system covers all the responsibilities of the Welsh Ministers and all areas of devolved legislative competence,” said Presiding Officer, Elin Jones AM.

“We have provided a more even distribution of work  to ensure all aspects of policy receive the attention that is necessary. We have also included a reserve committee in the structure for the first time so that we can react swiftly to emerging issues and peaks in the legislative programme.

“This structure, combined with our new procedures to elect and therefore increasing the authority and independence of committee chairs, provides a firm foundation from which the Assembly Commission’s ambition of delivering robust and meaningful scrutiny can be achieved.”

The key features of the new procedures for electing chairs are:

• The Assembly in Plenary will agree which chair positions are allocated to which political party groups.
• A Member may be then nominated, in Plenary, by another Member of his or her group (and has to be seconded by another Member of the group if the group has more than 20 Members) for a chair position allocated to his or her party group.
• If there is more than one nomination for a chair position, or if any Member objects in Plenary to a single nomination, a secret ballot will be held, using a preferential voting system.
• Once the chairs have been elected, the Assembly will agree the remaining memberships of the committees.
• Chairs can only be removed from office by resolution of a majority of committee members voting from more than one party group, subject to a resolution of the Assembly in Plenary.

The Business Committee will now consider the timetable for this process, subject to the decision made by the Assembly.

The committee structure is as follows:

Policy and Legislation Committees

Children, Young People and Education Committee

To examine legislation and hold the Welsh Government to account by scrutinising its expenditure, administration and policy, encompassing (but not restricted to): the education, health and well-being of the children and young people of Wales, including their social care.

Climate Change, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee

To examine legislation and hold the Welsh Government to account by scrutinising expenditure, administration and policy matters encompassing (but not restricted to): climate change; energy; natural resources management; planning; animal welfare and agriculture.

Culture, Welsh Language and Communications Committee

To examine legislation and hold the Welsh Government to account by scrutinising expenditure, administration and policy matters encompassing (but not restricted to): culture; the arts; historic environment; Welsh language; communications; broadcasting and the media.

Economy, Infrastructure and Skills Committee

To examine legislation and hold the Welsh Government to account by scrutinising expenditure, administration and policy matters encompassing (but not restricted to): economic development; transport; infrastructure; employment; skills; and research and development, including technology and science.

Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee

To examine legislation and hold the Welsh Government to account by scrutinising expenditure, administration and policy matters encompassing (but not restricted to): local government; housing, community regeneration, cohesion and safety; tackling poverty; equality of opportunity and human rights.

Health, Social Care and Sport Committee

To examine legislation and hold the Welsh Government to account by scrutinising expenditure, administration and policy matters encompassing (but not restricted to): the physical, mental and public health and well-being of the people of Wales, including the social care system.

Reserve Policy and Legislation Committee

To consider any matter referred to it by the Business Committee.

Specialist Committees

Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee

To carry out the functions of the responsible committee set out in Standing Order 21 and to consider any other constitutional, legislative or governmental matter within or relating to the competence of the Assembly or the Welsh Ministers, including the quality of legislation.

Petitions Committee

To carry out the functions of the responsible committee set out in Standing Order 23.

Scrutiny of the First Minister Committee

To scrutinise the First Minister on any matter relevant to the exercise of the functions of the Welsh Government.

Standards of Conduct Committee

To carry out the functions of the responsible committee set out in Standing Order 22.

Public Accounts Committee

To carry out the functions set out in Standing Orders 18.2 and 18.3 and consider any other matter that relates to the economy, efficiency and effectiveness with which resources are employed in the discharge of public functions in Wales.

Finance Committee

To carry out the functions of the responsible committee set out in Standing Order 19; the functions of the responsible committee set out in Standing Orders 18.10 and 18.11; and consider any other matter relating to the Welsh Consolidated Fund.