Conference Daily Saturday 16 March Autumn Conference Brighton 2024 PLAINTEXT Information from the Federal Conference Committee (FCC) for Saturday 14 September. Please read in conjunction with the Conference Agenda. Contents and Timetable 09.00-09.10 F1 Opening of Conference 09.10-09.50 F2 Report: Federal Conference Committee 3 F3 Standing order amendment: Rationalising the Reference Back Procedure 5 F4 Constitutional amendment: References Back by Federal Policy Committee F5 Report: Federal Policy Committee 5 09.50-10.35 F6 Policy motion: Reforming Sunday Trading Laws 8 10.35-11.50 F7 Consultative session: Climate Change 8 11.50-12.35 F8 Policy motion: Equitable and Improved Outcomes Throughout Pregnancy and the Neonatal Period 9 12.35-12.50 F9 Speech: Wendy Chamberlain MP Lunch break and fringe 13.00-14.30 Consultative sessions: Future of Work Policy Working Group # Opportunity and Skills Policy Working Group # 14.40-14.55 F10 Party business: Celebrating Our Election Wins 14.55-15.10 F11 Speech: Cllr Joe Harris 15.10-15.55 F12 Policy motion: Europe - Restoring Links for Young People 10 15.55-16.40 F13 Question and answer session: Defence and Veterans 11 16.40-17.30 F14 Policy motion: Supporting Disadvantaged Children 11 17.30-18.00 F15 Policy motion: Buy Now, Pay Later - Standing by Consumers During the Cost-of-Living Crisis 12 18.30-19.30 Conference Rally If no page number is indicated, there are no changes or additional information to the information in the Conference Agenda. Saturday 14 September F2 Federal Conference Committee Report: questions and accountability Q1. Submitted by Richard Younger-Ross Would the committee urgently review its total ban on leaflet distribution outside the conference centre as it restricts the rights of groups to campaign within the party on issues and amendments etc raised at conference? Q2. Submitted by Christopher Johnson What would you say the biggest opportunity and biggest challenge have been for your committee since last conference given the general election? Q3. Submitted by Ulysse Abbate How will you manage working with our 72 new MPs? Are there areas you can see opportunities and risks? Q4. Submitted by Christopher Johnson What prompted the move of Spring Conference from York to Harrogate? Q5. Submitted by Gareth Epps Following the reference back at Bournemouth, what progress has been made to deal with vexatious proposals to amend the Constitution / Standing Orders? Q6. Submitted by Toby Keynes In Reports to Conference, can each report for a committee/function that does not have its own conference report session please state how members can raise questions? Q7. Submitted by Alisdair Calder McGregor How does FCC intend to fulfil its legal duties with regards to protecting members in light of a recent FAP ruling which has permitted an individual who assaulted another party member to attend conference? Q8. Submitted by Alisdair Calder McGregor What action has FCC undertaken or considered undertaking to improve accessibility in Fringe events? Q9. Submitted by Ulysse Abbate What actions have your committee taken to support the mental health of those on your committee? Q10. Submitted by Ulysse Abbate What actions have your committee taken to improve diversity and inclusion on your committee? Q11. Submitted by John Grout National and Regional Conferences have had some good ideas lately, such as quick-fire policy pitch sessions and rotating Exhibition stand slots. How can members help FCC bring such innovations to a Federal Conference? Q12. Submitted by John Grout What are the main hurdles to the reintroduction of the Conference Creche, and how might these be overcome? Q13. Submitted by William Barter Motions for this conference were rejected due to planned submissions to a future conference by party spokespeople. Could a list of known upcoming proposals be placed on the website so that members can use their time and effort fruitfully? Q14. Submitted by William Barter FPC working groups undertake consultation of members ahead of making policy proposals. However no such consultation happens for spokespeople-led policy. Can FCC ensure relevant contact details are made available to members well ahead of motion submission deadlines so that members can provide similar input into spokespeople-led proposals? Q15. Submitted by Josh Lucas Mitte When FCC has rejected a motion because the party's spokesperson is bringing one soon, have the proposers been invited to contribute to the spokesperson's motion? F3 Standing order amendment: Rationalising the Reference Back Procedure The FCC has agreed to make the following drafting amendments to the motion: In 1. a) (line 29), 4. c) (line 67) and 5. c) (lines 102 and 115), after 'any of the bodies' insert 'or groups'. In 4. c) (line 80) and 5. c) (line 115), after 'the body' insert 'or group'. In 4. c) (line 77), after 'the committee' insert 'or sub-committee tabling the report'. In 5. c) (line 112), after 'the body' insert 'tabling the report'. In 4. c) (lines 68-69), delete 'for business motions and 1.3 d) for policy motions'. In 5. c) (lines 103-104), delete 'for business motions and 1.3 d) for policy motions'. F5 Federal Policy Committee Report: questions and accountability Q1. Submitted by Michael Kilpatrick How is it possible that Section 20 of the Manifesto included no content whatsoever from the 'England in a Federal UK' policy from a Policy Working Group in 2021, and did not offer a 'Fair Deal for England'? Q2. Submitted by Tony Vickers The term 'National Nature Parks' didn't feature in the policy paper Tackling the Nature Crisis last autumn but first appeared in the manifesto. Does that make it Party policy to commit to creating them? Q3. Submitted by Gareth Epps Will FPC review the policymaking process and whether the slow, deliberative policy paper process is still fit for purpose? Q4. Submitted by Michael Berwick-Gooding Please can it be explained why our fiscal rules in the Manifesto were not identical to those we had passed in York in the Pre-Manifesto? Q5. Submitted by Michael Kilpatrick Do Lib Dems believe in evidence-based policy, and if so, why did the Manifesto suggest that scrapping VAT on children's toothbrushes acts to prevent tooth decay when evidence shows that VAT cuts are not passed onto consumers? Q6. Submitted by Michael Kilpatrick Do FPC not consider that they have a duty to consult the membership to verify the accuracy of policies included in the Manifesto, particularly policies written by officially-sanctioned Working Groups, to avoid glaring omissions or inaccuracies? Q7. Submitted by Abrial Jerram What can be done in the event that an otherwise fully satisfactory motion is not placed on the agenda for conference due to ongoing FPC work on the subject area, how can their views be reflected (after input by federal conference) in party policy? Q8. Submitted by Abrial Jerram How can FPC ensure that it makes the necessary changes to its policy output due to the change of government and do it at a sufficient pace for effective opposition? Q9. Submitted by Christopher Johnson What would you say the biggest opportunity and biggest challenge have been for your committee since last conference given the general election? Q10. Submitted by Josh Lucas Mitte Have we polled policy lines against what our spokespeople say, as sometimes to voters what we say does not seem to support our policy goals? Q11. Submitted by Ulysse Abbate What actions have your committee taken to support the mental health of those on your committee? Q12. Submitted by Ulysse Abbate What actions have your committee taken to improve diversity and inclusion on your committee? Q13. Submitted by Ulysse Abbate How will you manage working with our 72 new MPs? Are there areas you can see opportunities and risks? Q14. Submitted by Jim Williams In surveying public opinion, what kinds of qualitative sources will the policy review use to not only identify what the priority issues should be, but also why they matter to people and how they affect people's lives? Q15. Submitted by Jim Williams Since the Board's strategy review will be conducted iteratively over the coming years, how will the FPC ensure that its policy priorities continue to harmonise with the party's strategy after the completion of the policy review exercise? Q16. Submitted by Jim Williams How far will the policy review build upon the FPC's welcome recent trend towards policy-making structured around the outcomes that people want to see, rather than around the traditional divisions of responsibility of Whitehall departments? F6 Reforming Sunday Trading Laws Amendment One 10 members Mover: Cllr Simon McGrath. Summation: Brandon Masih. In 3. (line 45), after 'rights' insert 'ensuring that retail workers can reject requests to work on Sundays with no adverse consequences'. Amendment Two ALDC Mover: Cllr Darryl Smalley. Summation: to be announced. In 4. (line 46), after 'to' insert 'choose whether to'. Background briefing: This motion creates new policy with regards to Sunday trading. F7 Climate Change Aide: Cllr Christine Willmore (Vice Chair of the Climate Change Working Group). Hall Aide: Fraser Graham. Members wishing to speak in this session should complete a speaker's card indicating which section of the consultation paper and aspect of the issue they wish to speak on, collected from and returned to the Speakers' Table at the front of the auditorium, an auditorium steward or the Information Desk. Speakers will be called to speak from the intervention microphone for a maximum of two minutes. The consultation paper is available at: www.libdems.org.uk/conference/papers/autumn-2024/157-climate-change F8 Equitable and Improved Outcomes Throughout Pregnancy and the Neonatal Period Amendment One Southwark Mover: Humaira Ali. Summation: Rachel Bentley. After i) (line 6), insert: ii) The complexities of women giving birth have dramatically increased since the 1970s which has led to increased risk to women, significantly increased workloads for healthcare professionals especially midwives and an increased burden on the wider aspects of the health service. iii) The method for measuring maternity services (and therefore its requirements) has been in place since the inception of the NHS, is inaccurate as it is currently based solely on the number of women birthing at a location, ignores the volume and variety of increase to healthcare workloads as well as the complexity of mums and babies accessing care; A significant gap therefore exists in understanding the real resolution to many birthing challenges across the landscape. After 1. (line 52), insert: 2. Modernisation of the way maternity services are measured including use of women's birthing complexity (Dependency Score), volume and variety of healthcare professional workloads and improved reporting to determine maternity services priorities. Amendment Two LDCRE Mover: Dr Mohsin Khan. Summation: Lee Dargue. Delete 2. (lines 52-53) and insert: 2. Referral to NHS mental health support services to be made available after every miscarriage, not just after three, and for a report on mental health service waiting times for these patients to be published annually. After 8. (line 73), insert: 9. The Government to publish annual reports on progress in reducing miscarriage and stillbirth rates among ethnic minorities. Amendment Three Liberal Democrat Christian Forum Mover: to be announced. Summation: to be announced. After 8. (line 73), insert: 8. Interpreters for those whose first language is not English must be available when the expectant mother is with health professionals. Background briefing: This motion updates and develops policy on health care with regards to pregnancy and neonatal care. It builds on existing policy as set out in the general election manifesto For a Fair Deal (2024). F12 Europe - Restoring Links for Young People Amendment One 12 members Mover: Simon Hughes. Summation: Irina von Wiese. After 5. (line 70), insert: 6. Conference commits Liberal Democrats to work and campaign across the UK with youth organisations, schools, colleges, universities and others in the public, private and voluntary sectors for the reciprocal Youth Mobility Scheme, passport and visa-free school trips and a full return of the UK to Erasmus+ as an associated country all to be in place by 2027 at the latest. Background briefing: This motion updates European policy with regards to young people. It builds on existing policy as set out in the general election manifesto For a Fair Deal (2024), policy paper 144, Rebuilding Trade and Cooperation with Europe (March 2022), and policy motion Rebuilding our Cultural, Artistic and Educational Ties with Europe (September 2021). F13 Defence and Veterans The panel is: Richard Foord MP (Spokesperson for Defence), Mike Martin MP, Helen Maguire MP, Chris Coghlan MP, Cameron Thomas MP and Ian Roome MP. F14 Supporting Disadvantaged Children Amendment One West Suffolk Mover: Andy McGowan. Summation: Helen Korfanty. In 3. a) (line 61), after 'needs' insert 'or who are young carers'. After 5. (line 73), insert: 6. Introduce a Young Carers Pupil Premium so that schools have the proper resources to support pupils who are young carers. Amendment Two 13 members Mover: Callum Robertson. Summation: Rob Herd. After 5. (line 73), insert: 6. The establishment of a Commissioner for Tackling Educational Disadvantage who shall be tasked with identifying centres of excellence for tackling the disadvantage gap, promoting best practice within the education sector and producing evidence led guidance on the effective spending of Pupil Premium funding. Background briefing: This motion updates and develops policy on children and their welfare. It builds on existing policy as set out in the general election manifesto For a Fair Deal (2024), policy motion Investing in our Children's'Future (September 2023), and policy motion A Child Maintenance Service that Works for Children (September 2023). F15 Buy Now, Pay Later - Standing By Consumers During the Cost-of-Living Crisis Background briefing: This motion updates and creates new policy with regard to buy now, pay later products. It builds on existing policy as set out in the general election manifesto For a Fair Deal (2024). Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Q&A Saturday 14 September 16.30-17.30 With Tim Farron MP and Earl John Russell. Chair: Duncan Brack. The Brighton Centre, Meeting Room 1C Party members may submit questions using the Q&As online form at: www.libdems.org.uk/conference/submissions Consultative sessions Saturday 14 September 10.35-11.50 Climate Change Chaired by Duncan Brack. Brighton Centre, auditorium. Saturday 14 September 13.00-14.30 Opportunity and Skills Chaired by Rosie Shimell. The Grand, Alexandra Room. Saturday 14 September 13.00-14.30 The Future of Work Chaired by Vinous Ali. The Grand, Empress Room. See Conference Agenda for more information.