Concise Minutes - Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee

Meeting Venue:

Committee room 5 - Tŷ Hywel

and video conference via Zoom

Meeting date: Wednesday, 30 April 2025

Meeting time: 09.31 - 12.00
This meeting can be viewed
on Senedd TV at:
http://senedd.tv/en/15076

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:	Professor Bridget Emmett, UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology Dr William Stiles, Aberystwyth University Professor Prysor Williams, Bangor University
Committee Staff:	Robert Donovan (Clerk) Rachael Davies (Second Clerk) Nicole Haylor-Mott (Deputy Clerk) Sam Mason (Legal Adviser) Ben Stokes (Researcher) Elfyn Henderson (Researcher) Sara Moran (Researcher) Thomas Morris (Researcher) Katy Orford (Researcher) Madelaine Phillips (Researcher) Gareth David Thomas (Researcher)

<AI1>

1 Introductions, apologies, substitutions, and declarations of interest

1.1 The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.

1.2 Under SO 17.24A, Andrew RT Davies MS declared an interest in relation to item 2.

</AI1>

<AI2>

2 Soil Health in Agriculture: Panel 1

2.1     The Committee heard evidence from Professor Bridget Emmett (UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology),

Dr William Stiles (Department of Life Sciences, Aberystwyth University), and Professor Prysor Williams, (School of Environmental and Natural Sciences, Bangor University).

</AI2>

<AI3>

3 Papers to note

3.1     The Committee noted the papers.

3.2     The Committee agreed to seek further information from Welsh Government in relation to their correspondence under item 3.9. 

</AI3>

<AI4>

3.1 P-06-1507 We call on UWTSD and the Welsh Government to create a viable, sustainable plan for the long-term future of Lampeter campus

</AI4>

<AI5>

3.2 Official Controls (Extension of Transitional Periods) (Amendment) Regulations 2025

</AI5>

<AI6>

3.3 Meeting of the Inter-Ministerial Group for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

</AI6>

<AI7>

3.4 Petitions regarding animal health and welfare

</AI7>

<AI8>

3.5 Follow-up to the committee meeting held on 14 November 2024 - The Foundational Economy

</AI8>

<AI9>

3.6 Follow-up to the committee meeting held on 5 February 2025 - Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS)

</AI9>

<AI10>

3.7 Lord of the Manor titles

</AI10>

<AI11>

3.8 The Ivory Prohibitions (Exemptions) (Process and Procedure) (Amendment) Regulations 2025

</AI11>

<AI12>

3.9 Apprenticeship pathways inquiry

</AI12>

<AI13>

3.10 Request for economic impact assessment of proposed closures in languages and cultures at Cardiff University

</AI13>

<AI14>

3.11 Meeting of the Tourism Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG)

</AI14>

<AI15>

3.12 UK’s agri-food and drink attachés

</AI15>

<AI16>

3.13 Follow-up to the Committee meeting held on 6 March 2025 - Freight and logistics, and regulation of ports

</AI16>

<AI17>

3.14 Meeting of the Inter-Ministerial Standing Committee (IMSC)

</AI17>

<AI18>

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.

</AI18>

<AI19>

5 Consideration of evidence following the meeting

5.1     The Committee discussed the evidence heard during item 2.

</AI19>

<AI20>

6 AI and the Welsh Economy: consideration of draft report

6.1     The Committee considered the draft report, and agreed to its publication.

</AI20>

<AI21>

7 City Deals: Scope and approach

7.1     The Committee discussed the scoping paper and potential witnesses for the inquiry.

7.2     The Committee agreed the terms of reference and the manner of the consultation, committing to moving forward with the inquiry.

</AI21>

<AI22>

8 Food Processing: Scope and approach

8.1     The Committee considered the scoping paper and potential witnesses for the inquiry.

8.2     The Committee discussed the terms of reference, the manner of the consultation and meetings, and agreed to moving forward with the inquiry.

</AI22>

<AI23>

9 Supplementary Legislative Consent Memorandum: Data (Use and Access) Bill: consideration of draft report

9.1     The Committee considered the changes to the draft report following the laying of Supplementary Legislative Consent Memoranda on the Bill, and agreed to its publication.

</AI23>

<AI24>

10 Scrutiny of the Draft Budget 2025-26: Evidence provided by the Welsh Government

10.1   The Committee considered the letter from the Chair of the Finance Committee.

10.2   Following discussion, the Committee agreed for officials to draft a response submitting the Committee’s views for consideration.

</AI24>

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