Concise Minutes - Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee


Meeting Venue:

Committee room 5 – Senedd

and video conference via Zoom

Meeting date: Wednesday, 14 January 2026

Meeting time: 09.31 - 11.59
This meeting can be viewed
on Senedd TV at:
http://senedd.tv/en/15713


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:

Professor Riccardo Crescenzi, London School of Economics

Professor Nigel Driffield, University of Warwick

Russell Greenslade, CBI Cymru

Howard Rupprecht, CS Connected

Gus Williams, Chambers Wales

Committee Staff:

Robert Donovan (Clerk)

Rachael Davies (Second Clerk)

Nicole Haylor-Mott (Deputy Clerk)

Gareth David Thomas (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 at the meeting with no apologies received.

1.3     Under SO 17.24A, Jenny Rathbone MS declared an interest at the start of the meeting.

</AI1>

<AI2>

2       Inward Investment: Panel 1

2.1    The Committee heard evidence from Howard Rupprecht (CS Connected), Professor Nigel Driffield (University of Warwick), and Professor Riccardo Crescenzi (London School of Economics).

</AI2>

<AI3>

3       Inward Investment: Panel 2

3.1    The Committee heard evidence from Russell Greenslade (CBI Wales) and Gus Williams (Chambers Wales).

</AI3>

<AI4>

4       Papers to note

4.1    The Committee noted the papers.

</AI4>

<AI5>

4.1   Timetables for Bill scrutiny

</AI5>

<AI6>

4.2   Follow-up from the General Ministerial Scrutiny session held on 3 December 2025

</AI6>

<AI7>

4.3   Follow-up information from the Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2026-27 session held on 26 November 2025

</AI7>

<AI8>

4.4   Inter-Institutional Relations Agreement

</AI8>

<AI9>

4.5   Farming Connect procurement

</AI9>

<AI10>

4.6   Holyhead berthing incident, December 2025

</AI10>

<AI11>

4.7   Follow-up information from the General Ministerial Scrutiny session held on 1 October 2025

</AI11>

<AI12>

4.8   Development of Tourism and Regulation of Visitor Accommodation (Wales) Bill

</AI12>

<AI13>

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.

</AI13>

<AI14>

6       Inward Investment: Consideration of evidence

6.1    The Committee considered and discussed the evidence received under Items 2 and 3.

</AI14>

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