Concise Minutes - Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee

Meeting Venue:

Committee room 3 – Senedd

and video conference via Zoom

Meeting date: Thursday, 20 November 2025

Meeting time: 09.31 - 15.48
This meeting can be viewed
on Senedd TV at:
http://senedd.tv/en/15701

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 Julie Morgan 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 Emma Anderson, Welsh Government Barbara Griffiths, North Wales Holiday Cottages Zoë Hawkins, MWT Cymru Fiona MacConnacher, Booking.com Carl Thomson, Airbnb Emma Thornton, Visit Pembrokeshire Nicky Williamson, Professional Association of Self-Caterers UK
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) Gareth David Thomas (Researcher)

<AI1>

1 Introductions, apologies, substitutions, and declarations of interest

1.1     The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.

1.2     Hannah Blythyn MS was present for the start of the meeting, but notified the Chair of her apologies from item 3 onwards. 

1.3     Julie Morgan MS attended as a substitute for Hannah Blytyhyn MS for item 9.

1.4     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 7

2.1     The Committee heard evidence from Barbara Griffiths (North Wales Holiday Cottages), Carl Thomson, (Public Policy Manager (UK), Airbnb), and Fiona MacConnacher (Head of Public Affairs UK and Ireland, Booking.com).

</AI2>

<AI3>

3 Development of Tourism and Regulation of Visitor Accommodation (Wales) Bill: Evidence Session 8

3.1     The Committee heard evidence from Emma Thornton (Chief Executive, Visit Pembrokeshire), Nicky Williamson (UK Director for Wales, Professional Association of Self-Caterers UK), and Zoë Hawkins (Chief Executive, MWT Cymru (Mid Wales Tourism)).

3.2      The witnesses agreed to provide further information in writing in relation to section 7 of the Bill.

</AI3>

<AI4>

4 Papers to note

4.1     The Committee noted the papers.

</AI4>

<AI5>

4.1 Development of Tourism and Regulation of Visitor Accommodation (Wales) Bill: written evidence

</AI5>

<AI6>

4.2 Welsh Government's consultation: proposals for a new Local Growth Fund in Wales

</AI6>

<AI7>

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

</AI7>

<AI8>

4.4 Future of Welsh steel: Transition Board

</AI8>

<AI9>

4.5 Development of Tourism and Regulation of Visitor Accommodation (Wales) Bill: Follow-up information from the meeting held on 5 November 2025

</AI9>

<AI10>

4.6 Biocidal Products (Data Protection Periods) (Amendment) Regulations 2025

</AI10>

<AI11>

4.7 UK-India Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA)

</AI11>

<AI12>

4.8 Inter-Institutional Relations Agreement

</AI12>

<AI13>

4.9 Development of Tourism and Regulation of Visitor Accommodation (Wales) Bill: Follow-up from the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee meeting held on 10 November 2025

</AI13>

<AI14>

4.10 Business Committee review of the Public Bill and Member Bill processes: publication of pre-introduction Bills

</AI14>

<AI15>

4.11 Banning peat compost

</AI15>

<AI16>

4.12 EU-MERCOSUR Free Trade Agreement

</AI16>

<AI17>

5 Motion under Standing Order 17.42(vi) to resolve to exclude the public from items 6, 7, 8 and 10 of today's meeting

5.1     The Committee agreed the motion.

</AI17>

<AI18>

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

6.1     The Committee considered the evidence heard during items 2 and 3 of the meeting.

</AI18>

<AI19>

7 Forward Work Programme Discussion

7.1     The Committee considered the paper and agreed its forward work programme to the Spring term.

7.2     The Committee also agreed to launch a short, focussed inquiry on the Local Growth Fund.

</AI19>

<AI20>

8 Private pre-meet ahead of item 9

8.1     The Committee held a private discussion ahead of its final evidence session on the Development of Tourism and Regulation of Visitor Accommodation (Wales) Bill.

</AI20>

<AI21>

9 Development of Tourism and Regulation of Visitor Accommodation (Wales) Bill: Evidence Session 9 - Final Scrutiny of the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Welsh Language

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

</AI21>

<AI22>

10 Development of Tourism and Regulation of Visitor Accommodation (Wales) Bill: Consideration of evidence and key issues

10.1   The Committee considered all the evidence heard during this meeting and previous oral evidence sessions, and discussed their key issues and findings, to be reflected in the report.

10.2     The Committee agreed to consider its draft report at a future meeting.

</AI22>

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