Concise Minutes - Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee

Meeting Venue:

Committee room 3 – Senedd

and video conference via Zoom

Meeting date: Thursday, 6 March 2025

Meeting time: 09.32 - 14.58
This meeting can be viewed
on Senedd TV at:
http://senedd.tv/en/15264

Hybrid

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Attendance

Category	Names
Members of the Senedd:	Andrew RT Davies MS (Chair) Hannah Blythyn MS Luke Fletcher MS Mike Hedges MS (In place of Hefin David MS) Samuel Kurtz MS Jenny Rathbone MS
Witnesses:	Rebecca Evans MS, Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning Ken Skates MS, Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales Duncan Hamer, Welsh Government Steven McGregor, Welsh Government Stephen Rowan, Welsh Government Sarah Bailey, West Cheshire and North Wales Chamber of Commerce Richard Ballantyne, British Ports Association Christian Branch, Isle of Anglesey County Council Howard Browes, Cybi Business Forum Ian Davies, Stena Line Limited Eugene Drennan, Irish Road Haulage Association Liam Lacey, Irish Maritime Development Office Anna Malloy, Milford Haven Ports Group Professor Andrew Potter, Cardiff University Martin Reid, Road Haulage Association
Committee Staff:	Robert Donovan (Clerk) Rachael Davies (Second Clerk) Nicole Haylor-Mott (Deputy Clerk) Ben Stokes (Researcher) Sara Moran (Researcher) Gareth David Thomas (Researcher) Andrew Minnis (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 Hefin David MS.

1.3 Under SO 17.24A, Samuel Kurtz MS declared an interest.

</AI1>

<AI2>

2 Papers to note

2.1     The Committee noted the papers.

</AI2>

<AI3>

2.1 Legislative Consent: Employment Rights Bill

</AI3>

<AI4>

2.2 Scrutiny of the Welsh Government's Draft Budget 2025-26

</AI4>

<AI5>

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

</AI5>

<AI6>

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

</AI6>

<AI7>

2.5 Meat Promotion Wales / Hybu Cig Cymru

</AI7>

<AI8>

2.6 Lord of the Manor Titles

</AI8>

<AI9>

2.7 Follow-up to the Committee meeting held on 5 February 2025

</AI9>

<AI10>

2.8 Follow-up to the Committee meeting held on 12 February 2025 - Apprenticeship pathways

</AI10>

<AI11>

2.9 Apprenticeship pathways

</AI11>

<AI12>

2.10 Future of Welsh Steel

</AI12>

<AI13>

2.11 Holyhead Port Storm Damage and Closure - additional evidence

</AI13>

<AI14>

3 Holyhead Port Storm Damage and Closure - Panel 1 - Ports

3.1     The Committee heard evidence from Richard Ballantyne, (British Ports Association), Ian Davies, (Stena Line Ports), and Anna Malloy (Port of Milford Haven).

</AI14>

<AI15>

4 Holyhead Port Storm Damage and Closure - Panel 2 - Trade and Logistics

4.1     The Committee heard evidence from Martin Reid (Road Haulage Association), Liam Lacey (Irish Maritime Development Office), Eugene Drennan (Irish Road Haulage Association), and Professor Andrew Potter (Cardiff University).

</AI15>

<AI16>

5 Holyhead Port Storm Damage and Closure - Panel 3 - Business and Local Government

5.1     The Committee heard evidence from Christian Branch (Isle of Anglesey County Council),

Sarah Bailey (West Cheshire and North Wales Chamber of Commerce), and Howard Browes (Cybi Business Forum, and Holyhead Business Owner).

</AI16>

<AI17>

6 Holyhead Port Storm Damage and Closure  - Panel 4 - Welsh Government

6.1     The Committee heard evidence from Ken Skates MS, Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales, Welsh Government, and Rebecca Evans MS, Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning, Welsh Government, with accompanying officials.

</AI17>

<AI18>

7 Motion under Standing Order 17.42(ix) to resolve to exclude the public for the remainder of the meeting and for items 1, 2 and 3 of the meeting on 12 March 2025

7.1 The Committee agreed the motion to exclude the public from the remainder of the meeting, and for items 1, 2 and 3 of the meeting on 12 March 2025.

</AI18>

<AI19>

8 Consideration of evidence following the meeting

8.1     The Committee discussed the evidence heard during items 3,4, 5 and 6.

8.2     The Committee agreed to write to Irish Ferries to seek their views on several issues raised during the session.

</AI19>

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