Concise Minutes - Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee

Meeting Venue:

Committee room 2 – Senedd

and video conference via Zoom

Meeting date: Wednesday, 12 February 2025

Meeting time: 09.32 - 12.24
This meeting can be viewed
on Senedd TV at:
http://senedd.tv/en/15252

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:	Rebecca Evans MS, Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning Jo Salway, Welsh Government Rachel Sanders, Welsh Government Neil Surman, Welsh Government Leigh Hughes, Cardiff Capital Region Skills Partnership Owain Jones, Regional Learning and Skills Partnership South West Wales Pryderi Ap Rhisiart, North Wales Regional Skills Partnership Ceri Stephens, Mid Wales Regional Skills Partnership
Committee Staff:	Robert Donovan (Clerk) Nicole Haylor-Mott (Deputy Clerk) Jennifer Cottle (Legal Adviser) Katy Orford (Researcher) Gareth David Thomas (Researcher) Lucy Morgan (Researcher)

<AI1>

1 Introductions, apologies, substitutions, and declarations of interest

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.

</AI1>

<AI2>

2 Papers to note

2.1     The Committee noted the papers at the end of the public session.

</AI2>

<AI3>

2.1 Memorandum of Understanding between the UK Government and the Welsh Government on Investment zones

</AI3>

<AI4>

2.2 Legislative consent: Employment Rights Bill

</AI4>

<AI5>

2.3 Holyhead Port storm damage and closure

</AI5>

<AI6>

2.4 Follow-up to 15 January 2025 Committee meeting - Young Person's Guarantee

</AI6>

<AI7>

2.5 Legislative consent: Data (Use and Access) Bill

</AI7>

<AI8>

2.6 Memorandum of Understanding between the UK Government and Welsh Government

</AI8>

<AI9>

2.7 Meeting of the Inter-Ministerial Group for Trade

</AI9>

<AI10>

3 Apprenticeship pathways - Panel 4 - Regional Skills Partnerships

3.1     The Committee heard evidence from Leigh Hughes (Chair, Cardiff Capital Region Employment and Skills Board (ESB)), Owain Jones (Regional Learning and Skills Partnership South West Wales Construction cluster group member, and CITB Trustee and Board Member), Pryderi Ap Rhisiart (Digital Skills Group Chair, North Wales Regional Skills Partnership), and Ceri Stephens (Chair, Regional Skills Partnership M&E cluster group, and the Mid Wales Manufacturing group).

</AI10>

<AI11>

4 Apprenticeship pathways - Panel 5 - Welsh Government

4.1     The Committee heard evidence from Rebecca Evans MS, Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning, Welsh Government, in place of Jack Sargeant MS, Minister for Culture, Skills and Social Partnership, Welsh Government, who gave apologies on personal grounds.

</AI11>

<AI12>

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

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

</AI12>

<AI13>

6 Consideration of evidence following the meeting and draft engagement report

6.1     The Committee discussed the evidence heard during items 3 and 4.

6.2     The Committee agreed to write to the Welsh Government on questions not reached during the session, and seeking follow-up information in some areas.

</AI13>

<AI14>

7 Legislative Consent: Employment Rights Bill - Consideration of draft report

7.1     The Committee considered and agreed the draft report.

</AI14>

<AI15>

8 Soil Health: Consideration of Scope and Approach paper

8.1     The Committee agreed the scope and approach paper on the new inquiry into Soil Health in Agriculture, and confirmed the stakeholders to be invited in to provide oral evidence at the beginning of the summer term.

</AI15>

<AI16>

9 Green Economy: Consideration of draft report

9.1     The Committee discussed and agreed the revised draft recommendations contained within the report, and were content to move forward with publication following these changes.

</AI16>

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