Concise Minutes - Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee


Meeting Venue:

Committee room 3 – Senedd

Meeting date: Wednesday, 24 September 2025

Meeting time: 09.50 - 12.00
This meeting can be viewed
on Senedd TV at:
http://senedd.tv/en/15351


Hybrid

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Attendance

Category

Names

Members of the Senedd:

Andrew RT Davies MS (Chair)

Hannah Blythyn 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

Keith Smyton, Welsh Government

David Chapman, UK Hospitality Cymru

Committee Staff:

Robert Donovan (Clerk)

Rachael Davies (Second Clerk)

Nicole Haylor-Mott (Deputy Clerk)

Elfyn Henderson (Researcher)

Ben Stokes (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        The Chair opened with a tribute to Hefin David MS, who sadly passed way in August, and asked Members to observe a moments reflection.

1.3        Apologies were received from Luke Fletcher MS, who is currently on paternity leave – the Chair offered congratulations on behalf of the Committee.

1.4        Under SO 17.24A, Andrew RT Davies MS, Jenny Rathbone MS and Samuel Kurtz MS declared an interest in respect of the subject matter of this Committee meeting.

</AI1>

<AI2>

2       Food Processing: Panel 5

2.1     The Committee heard evidence from David Chapman (UKHospitality Cymru).

</AI2>

<AI3>

3       Food Processing: Panel 6

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), supported by his officials Gian Marco Currado and Keith Smyton.

3.1     The Committee agreed to follow-up with the Deputy First Minister in writing with some questions not reached during the session.

</AI3>

<AI4>

4       Papers to note

4.1     The Committee noted the papers.

</AI4>

<AI5>

4.1   Supplementary Legislative Consent Memorandum No.4 on the Employment Rights Bill

</AI5>

<AI6>

4.2   Bluetongue Approved Red Market

</AI6>

<AI7>

4.3   Legislative Consent: Data (Use and Access) Bill

</AI7>

<AI8>

4.4   Inter-Institutional Relations Agreement: Meeting of the Inter-Ministerial Standing Committee

</AI8>

<AI9>

4.5   Year Five of the Welsh Government’s Legislative Programme: Scrutiny of the Greyhound Bill and the Regulation of Visitor Accommodation Bill

</AI9>

<AI10>

4.6   Inter-Institutional Relations Agreement: 43rd British-Irish Council Summit

</AI10>

<AI11>

4.7   UK-EU Parliamentary Partnership Assembly

</AI11>

<AI12>

4.8   Welsh Government Draft Budget 2026-27

</AI12>

<AI13>

4.9   Petition P-06-1488 Establish a ‘Care Society’ to Tackle the Long COVID Crisis in Wales

</AI13>

<AI14>

4.10 General Ministerial Scrutiny: Follow-up to the meeting held on 17 July 2025 - Rural Affairs

</AI14>

<AI15>

4.11 General Ministerial Scrutiny: Follow-up to the meeting held on 17 July 2025 - Rural Affairs, International Trade, Economy and Skills

</AI15>

<AI16>

4.12 Development Bank of Wales

</AI16>

<AI17>

4.13 General Ministerial Scrutiny: Follow-up to the meeting held on 17 July 2025 - Economy

</AI17>

<AI18>

4.14 Proposed ban on greyhound racing in Wales

</AI18>

<AI19>

4.15 Inter-Institutional Relations Agreement: Digital Inclusion Activity in Wales

</AI19>

<AI20>

4.16 Inter-Institutional Relations Agreement: Meeting of the Culture and Creative Industries Inter-Ministerial Group

</AI20>

<AI21>

4.17 The Regulation of Visitor Accommodation (Wales) Bill

</AI21>

<AI22>

4.18 Inter-Institutional Relations Agreement: Meeting of the Inter-Ministerial Group for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

</AI22>

<AI23>

4.19 Legislative Consent: Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Bill: Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee report

</AI23>

<AI24>

4.20 Inter-Institutional Relations Agreement: Inter-Ministerial Group for Business and Industry

</AI24>

<AI25>

4.21 Anglesey Freeport

</AI25>

<AI26>

4.22 Welsh City and Regional Growth Deals

</AI26>

<AI27>

4.23 Great British Energy: Statement of Strategic Priorities

</AI27>

<AI28>

4.24 Sustainable Farming Scheme

</AI28>

<AI29>

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.

</AI29>

<AI30>

6       Food Processing: Consideration of evidence

6.1     The Committee discussed the evidence heard under items 2 and 3.

</AI30>

<AI31>

7       Discussion of Chairs' Forum Correspondence: Review of Committee Effectiveness

7.1     The Committee discussed their views on the Chairs’ Forum’s call for evidence regarding committee effectiveness over this Senedd, and agreed to formally respond to feed back this discussion.

</AI31>

<AI32>

8       Forward Work Programme Discussion

8.1     The Committee discussed the work programme for this term, including the proposed timetable for the Development of Tourism and Regulation of Visitor Accommodation (Wales) Bill.

8.1     The Committee agreed to respond to the Business Committee’s letter on this, following their request for the Committee’s views.

</AI32>

<AI33>

9       Global Centre of Rail Excellence visit washup

9.1     The Committee discussed their recent visit to the Global Centre of Rail Excellence on 18 September 2025, including agreeing to the drafting of follow-up correspondence.

</AI33>

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