Concise Minutes - Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee

Meeting Venue:

Committee room 5 - Tŷ Hywel

and video conference via Zoom

Meeting date: Thursday, 5 December 2024

Meeting time: 09.30 - 15.16
This meeting can be viewed
on Senedd TV at:
http://senedd.tv/en/14199

Hybrid

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Attendance

Category	Names
Members of the Senedd:	Paul Davies MS (Chair) Hefin David MS Alun Davies MS (In place of Hannah Blythyn MS) Luke Fletcher MS Samuel Kurtz MS Jenny Rathbone MS
Witnesses:	Huw Irranca-Davies MS, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs Matt Buckley, United Tech and Allied Workers (UTAW-CWU) Gian Marco Currado, Welsh Government Matt Davies, Ada Lovelace Institute Professor Lina Dencik, Goldsmiths, University of London Dr Richard Irvine, Welsh Government Felix Milbank, Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) Professor Alun Preece, Cardiff University Professor Rossi Setchi, Cardiff University Klaire Tanner, CreuTech Paul Teather, AMPLYFI Ceri Williams, Wales TUC
Committee Staff:	Robert Donovan (Clerk) Rachael Davies (Second Clerk) Nicole Haylor-Mott (Deputy Clerk) Aled Evans (Legal Adviser) Gareth Howells (Legal Adviser) Elfyn Henderson (Researcher) Sara Moran (Researcher) Madelaine Phillips (Researcher) Lucy Morgan (Researcher)

<AI1>

1 Introductions, apologies, substitutions, and declarations of interest

1.1 The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.

1.2 Apologies were received from Hannah Blythyn MS. Alun Davies MS attended as a substitute for items 6 to 8.

1.3 Luke Fletcher MS attended items 1 to 4 and sent apologies for the remainder of the meeting.

</AI1>

<AI2>

2 Papers to note

2.1     The Committee noted the papers.

</AI2>

<AI3>

2.1 Legislative consent: Product Regulation and Metrology Bill

</AI3>

<AI4>

2.2 Tourism industry

</AI4>

<AI5>

2.3 Recognition of Professional Qualifications and Implementation of International Recognition Agreements (Amendment) (Extension to Switzerland and Miscellaneous Provisions) (Wales) Regulations 2024

</AI5>

<AI6>

2.4 Consultation on amendments to the Joint Fisheries Statement

</AI6>

<AI7>

2.5 Official Controls (Amendment) Regulations 2024

</AI7>

<AI8>

2.6 The Foundational Economy

</AI8>

<AI9>

3 AI and the Welsh Economy - Panel 1 - Independent experts

3.1     The Committee heard evidence from Matt Davies (Ada Lovelace Institute), Professor Rossi Setchi (Cardiff University), and Professor Alun Preece (Hartree Centre Cardiff Hub, Cardiff University).

</AI9>

<AI10>

4 AI and the Welsh Economy - Panel 2 - Business

4.1     The Committee heard evidence from Paul Teather (AMPLYFI), Klaire Tanner (CreuTech), and Felix Milbank (Federation of Small Businesses Wales).

</AI10>

<AI11>

5 AI and the Welsh Economy - Panel 3 - Workforce

5.1     The Committee heard evidence from Professor Lina Dencik (Goldsmiths University of London), Matt Buckley, (United Tech and Allied Workers, CWU), and Ceri Williams (TUC Cymru).

</AI11>

<AI12>

6 General Ministerial Scrutiny - Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs

6.1     The Committee heard evidence from Huw Irranca-Davies MS, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs.

6.2     The Deputy First Minister agreed to provide the Committee further specific information regarding the implementation of the Enhanced Nutrient Management Approach.

</AI12>

<AI13>

7 Motion under Standing Order 17.42(ix) to resolve to exclude the public from the remainder of the meeting

7.1     The Committee agreed the motion to exclude the public from the remainder of the meeting.

</AI13>

<AI14>

8 Consideration of evidence following the meeting

8.1     The Committee considered the evidence received under items 3 to 6.

</AI14>

<AI15>

9 Legislative Consent: Product Regulation and Metrology Bill - consideration of draft report

9.1     The Committee agreed the draft report in principle.

9.2    The Committee noted that a response was due to its letter (noted at Item 2.1), and agreed  to consider further updates and finalise the report via correspondence.

</AI15>

<AI16>

10 Forward work programme

10.1   The Committee discussed the Forward Work Programme for the 2025 spring term, and agreed the areas of interest for the Committee to take forward.

10.2 The Committee considered the scoping paper and agreed terms of reference for a new inquiry in to Apprenticeship Pathways.

</AI16>

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