Concise Minutes - Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee

Meeting Venue:

Committee room 5 - Tŷ Hywel

and video conference via Zoom

Meeting date: Wednesday, 26 November 2025

Meeting time: 09.15 - 12.50
This meeting can be viewed
on Senedd TV at:
http://senedd.tv/en/15417

Hybrid

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Attendance

Category	Names
Members of the Senedd:	Andrew RT Davies MS (Chair) Alun Davies MS Luke Fletcher MS Samuel Kurtz MS Rhianon Passmore MS (In place of Hannah Blythyn MS) Jenny Rathbone MS
Witnesses:	Huw Irranca-Davies MS, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs Rebecca Evans MS, Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning Jack Sargeant MS, Minister for Culture, Skills and Social Partnership Gian Marco Currado, Welsh Government Andrew Gwatkin, Welsh Government Dr Richard Irvine, Welsh Government Jamie Powell, Welsh Government Peter Ryland, Welsh Government Jo Salway, Welsh Government
Committee Staff:	Robert Donovan (Clerk) Rachael Davies (Second Clerk) Nicole Haylor-Mott (Deputy Clerk) Elfyn Henderson (Researcher) Sara Moran (Researcher) Thomas Morris (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     Apologies were received from Hannah Blythyn MS. Rhianon Passmore MS attended as a substitute for Hannah Blytyhyn MS for items 2 and 3.

1.3     Under SO 17.24A, Samuel Kurtz MS, Andrew RT Davies MS and Huw Irranca-Davies MS declared an interest at the start of the meeting.

</AI1>

<AI2>

2 Welsh Government Draft Budget 2026-27: Rural Affairs

2.1    The Committee heard evidence from Huw Irranca-Davies MS, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, Welsh Government, on matters related to rural affairs, supported by three officials.

</AI2>

<AI3>

3 Welsh Government Draft Budget 2026-27: Trade and Borders

3.1    The Committee heard evidence from Rebecca Evans MS, Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning, Welsh Government, and Huw Irranca-Davies MS, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, Welsh Government, on matters related to trade and boarders, supported by two officials.

</AI3>

<AI4>

4 Welsh Government Draft Budget 2026-27: Economy and Skills

4.1    The Committee heard evidence from Rebecca Evans MS, Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning, Welsh Government, and Jack Sargeant MS, Minister for Culture, Skills and Social Partnership, Welsh Government, on matters related to economy and skills, supported by two officials.

</AI4>

<AI5>

5 Papers to note

5.1    The Committee noted the papers.

</AI5>

<AI6>

5.1 Development of Tourism and Regulation of Visitor Accommodation (Wales) Bill: follow-up to 5 November 2025 evidence session

</AI6>

<AI7>

5.2 Development of Tourism and Regulation of Visitor Accommodation (Wales) Bill: follow-up to 13 November 2025 evidence session

</AI7>

<AI8>

5.3 Food Processing Inquiry: Follow-up questions from 24 September 2025 Committee meeting

</AI8>

<AI9>

5.4 Inter-Institutional Relations Agreement - Inter-Ministerial Standing Committee (IMSC)

</AI9>

<AI10>

5.5 The Organic Production (Amendment) Regulations 2025

</AI10>

<AI11>

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

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

</AI11>

<AI12>

7 Welsh Government Draft Budget 2026-27: Consideration of evidence

7.1    The Committee considered the evidence received under Items 3,4 and 5, and discussed points to be included in its report.

</AI12>

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