Concise Minutes - Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee

Meeting Venue:

Committee room 5 - Tŷ Hywel

and video conference via Zoom

Meeting date: Thursday, 5 March 2026

Meeting time: 11.21 - 15.34
This meeting can be viewed
on Senedd TV at:
http://senedd.tv/en/15775

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:	Rebecca Evans MS, Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning Huw Irranca-Davies MS, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs Gian Marco Currado, Welsh Government Emily Hole, Welsh Government Dr Richard Irvine, Welsh Government Russell Roberts, Welsh Government
Committee Staff:	Robert Donovan (Clerk) Rachael Davies (Second Clerk) Nicole Haylor-Mott (Deputy Clerk) Sara Moran (Researcher) Katy Orford (Researcher)

<AI1>

1 Inward Investment: Consideration of draft report

1.1     The Committee considered the draft report, and agreed to its publication followed some small drafting changes.

</AI1>

<AI2>

2 Introductions, apologies, substitutions, and declarations of interest

2.1     The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.

2.2     Apologies were received from Samuel Kurtz MS in relation to items 1, 2 and 3.

2.3     Under SO 17.24A, Andrew RT Davies MS declared an interest.

</AI2>

<AI3>

3 General Ministerial Scrutiny: 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 borders, supported by officials Emily Hole and Russell Roberts.

</AI3>

<AI4>

4 General Ministerial Scrutiny: Rural Affairs

4.1    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 officials  Gian Marco Currado and Dr Richard Irvine.

4.2    The Cabinet Secretary committed to writing to the Committee with further information on several points raised in the session.

</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: Response to the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee's Stage 1 report recommendations

</AI6>

<AI7>

5.2 Audit Wales podcast: Challenges and opportunities for Welsh public services

</AI7>

<AI8>

5.3 Inter-institutional Relations Agreement: Meeting of the Inter-Ministerial Group for Trade

</AI8>

<AI9>

5.4 The Chemicals (Health and Safety) (Amendment, Consequential and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2026

</AI9>

<AI10>

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 this meeting.

</AI10>

<AI11>

7 General Ministerial Scrutiny: Consideration of evidence

7.1    The Committee considered the evidence received under items 3 and 4.

7.2    The Committee agreed to write to the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs with questions not reached during the session.

</AI11>

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