Concise Minutes - Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee

Meeting Venue:

Committee room 5 - Tŷ Hywel

and video conference via Zoom

Meeting date: Wednesday, 5 February 2025

Meeting time: 09.30 - 12.22
This meeting can be viewed
on Senedd TV at:
http://senedd.tv/en/14823

Hybrid

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Attendance

Category	Names
Members of the Senedd:	Andrew RT Davies MS (Chair) Hannah Blythyn MS Hefin David 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 Gian Marco Currado, Welsh Government Mark Alexander, Welsh Government Naomi Matthiessen, Welsh Government
Committee Staff:	Robert Donovan (Clerk) Nicole Haylor-Mott (Deputy Clerk) Jennifer Cottle (Legal Adviser) Aled Evans (Legal Adviser) Sam Mason (Legal Adviser) Elfyn Henderson (Researcher) Sara Moran (Researcher) Katy Orford (Researcher) Gareth David Thomas (Researcher) Lucy Morgan (Researcher)

<AI1>

1 Introductions, apologies, and declarations of interest

1.1 The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.

1.2 Under SO 17.24A, Samuel Kurtz MS, Andrew RT Davies MS and Huw Irranca-Davies MS declared an interest.

</AI1>

<AI2>

2 Papers to note

2.1     The Committee noted the papers.

</AI2>

<AI3>

2.1 Meeting of the Inter-Ministerial Group for Business and Industry

</AI3>

<AI4>

2.2 Future of Welsh Steel

</AI4>

<AI5>

2.3 Meeting of the Inter-Ministerial Group for Trade

</AI5>

<AI6>

2.4 Review of the Public Bill and Member Bill processes

</AI6>

<AI7>

2.5 Holyhead Port Storm Damage and Closure

</AI7>

<AI8>

2.6 The Disability Employment Gap and the education system

</AI8>

<AI9>

2.7 Development Bank of Wales Annual Scrutiny session - 20 November 2024: Follow-up

</AI9>

<AI10>

3 Sustainable Farming Scheme: Ministerial Scrutiny Session

3.1     The Committee heard evidence from Huw Irranca-Davies MS, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, Welsh Government, on the Sustainable Farming Scheme.

</AI10>

<AI11>

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

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

</AI11>

<AI12>

5 Consideration of evidence following the meeting

5.1     The Committee considered the evidence received under Item 3.

5.2     The Committee agreed to write to the Deputy First Minister with several follow-up questions, seeking further information on some specific areas of interest brought up during the session.

</AI12>

<AI13>

6 Legislative consent: Employment Rights Bill

6.1     The Committee considered the Legislative Consent Memorandum legal advice note, and agreed its view ahead of the drafting of its report on the policy matters.

6.2     The Committee agreed to write to the Chair of the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee, as the Committee leading on constitutional issues, expressing its concerns over some specific legal powers granted to the UK Government contained within the Bill.

</AI13>

<AI14>

7 Legislative consent: Data (Use and Access) Bill

7.1     The Committee considered the Legislative Consent Memorandum legal advice note and briefing, and agreed its approach to its report.

</AI14>

<AI15>

8 Hybu Cig Cymru Inquiry: Consideration of Scope and Approach Paper

8.1     The Committee agreed the scope and approach to its new inquiry into Hybu Cig Cymru, and agreed to move forward with oral evidence sessions in the next half term.

</AI15>

<AI16>

9 The Foundational Economy: Consideration of Key Issues

9.1     The Committee discussed the key issues briefing and agreed the basis on which to begin drafting its report.

</AI16>

<AI17>

10 Green Economy: Consideration of draft report

10.1   The Committee began consideration of its draft report, and agreed to revisit this item at its next meeting, following amendments to the recommendations within the report.

</AI17>

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