Concise Minutes - Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee

Meeting Venue:

Committee room 3 – Senedd

and video conference via Zoom

Meeting date: Wednesday, 5 November 2025

Meeting time: 09.17 - 12.36
This meeting can be viewed
on Senedd TV at:
http://senedd.tv/en/15700

Hybrid

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Attendance

Category	Names
Members of the Senedd:	Andrew RT Davies MS (Chair) Hannah Blythyn MS Alun Davies MS Luke Fletcher MS Samuel Kurtz MS Jenny Rathbone MS
Witnesses:	Mark Drakeford MS, Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Welsh Language Helen John, Welsh Government Robbie Thomas, Welsh Government Dylan Hughes, Welsh Government Hannah Starkey, Welsh Government Fiona Campbell, Association of Scotland's Self-Caterers Marc Crothall, Scottish Tourism Alliance Joseph Dooher, Welsh Government Rebecca Godfrey, Welsh Revenue Authority Anthony Pritchard, Welsh Revenue Authority
Committee Staff:	Robert Donovan (Clerk) Rachael Davies (Second Clerk) Nicole Haylor-Mott (Deputy Clerk) Claire Butterworth (Legal Adviser) Ben Harris (Legal Adviser) Ben Stokes (Researcher)

<AI1>

1 Introductions, apologies, substitutions, and declarations of interest

1.1     The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.

1.2     All Members were present for the start of the meeting however Alun Davies MS indicated he would need to leave at the end of item 3.

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

</AI1>

<AI2>

2 Development of Tourism and Regulation of Visitor Accommodation (Wales) Bill: Evidence Session 1

2.1     The Committee heard evidence from Mark Drakeford MS, Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Welsh Language (Welsh Government), supported by four officials.

</AI2>

<AI3>

3 Development of Tourism and Regulation of Visitor Accommodation (Wales) Bill: Evidence Session 2

3.1     The Committee heard evidence from the Welsh Revenue Authority, represented by Rebecca Godfrey (Interim CEO), Anthony Pritchard (Chief Digital Officer), and Joseph Dooher (Head of Visitor Levy and National Registration Delivery).

</AI3>

<AI4>

4 Development of Tourism and Regulation of Visitor Accommodation (Wales) Bill: Evidence Session 3

4.1     The Committee heard evidence from Marc Crothall MBE (Chief Executive, Scottish Tourism Alliance) and

Fiona Campbell (Chief Executive, Association of Scotland's Self-Caterers).

</AI4>

<AI5>

5 Papers to note

5.1     The Committee noted the papers, and discussed several letters in relation to the Committee’s work on the future of Welsh steel.

5.2     In relation to item 5.4, the Committee agreed to also write to the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, UK Government, with an invitation to give oral evidence to the Committee on the developments in the Welsh steel industry.

</AI5>

<AI6>

5.1 UK Steel Industry

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<AI7>

5.2 European Commission Steel proposals

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<AI8>

5.3 Future of Welsh Steel session - 9 October 2025

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5.4 Invitation to give oral evidence to the Committee on the developments in the Welsh steel industry

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5.5 Future of Welsh Steel

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<AI11>

5.6 Organic Production (Amendment) Regulations 2025

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5.7 Follow-up from the committee meeting held on 1 October 2025 - General Ministerial Scrutiny

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<AI13>

5.8 Follow-up questions from the committee meeting held on 24 September 2025 - Food Processing

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<AI14>

5.9 Food Processing

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<AI15>

5.10 Global Centre of Rail Excellence

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<AI16>

5.11 Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee report: Hybu Cig Cymru

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<AI17>

5.12 Welsh City and Regional Growth Deals: Letter to the UK Government and Welsh Government

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<AI18>

5.13 Office for National Statistics (ONS) and  Government Statistical Service (GSS) consultations

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<AI19>

5.14 Report on the UK-EU implementation review of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement

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<AI20>

5.15 Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement between the UK and India

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<AI21>

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.

</AI21>

<AI22>

7 Development of Tourism and Regulation of Visitor Accommodation (Wales) Bill: Consideration of evidence

7.1     The Committee discussed the evidence heard during items 2,3 and 4.

7.2 The Committee agreed to write to Marc Crothall MBE (Chief Executive, Scottish Tourism Alliance) and Fiona Campbell (Chief Executive, Association of Scotland's Self-Caterers) to seek further information regarding evidence which arose during item 4.

</AI22>

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