Concise Minutes - Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee

Meeting Venue:

Committee room 4 - Tŷ Hywel

and video conference via Zoom

Meeting date: Thursday, 5 February 2026

Meeting time: 09.29 - 11.35
This meeting can be viewed
on Senedd TV at:
http://senedd.tv/en/15909

Hybrid

------

Attendance

Category	Names
Members of the Senedd:	Andrew RT Davies MS (Chair) Hannah Blythyn MS Luke Fletcher MS Lesley Griffiths MS (In place of Alun Davies MS) Mike Hedges MS (In place of Jenny Rathbone MS) Samuel Kurtz MS Rhys ab Owen MS
Witnesses:	Mark Drakeford MS, Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Welsh Language Rebecca Hawkins, Welsh Government Kate Lewandowska, Welsh Government
Committee Staff:	Robert Donovan (Clerk) Rachael Davies (Second Clerk) Nicole Haylor-Mott (Deputy Clerk) Ben Harris (Legal Adviser)

<AI1>

1 Introductions, apologies, substitutions, and declarations of interest

1.1     The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.

1.2     Apologies were received from Jenny Rathbone MS and Alun Davies MS, with Mike Hedges MS and Lesley Griffiths MS present as substitutes respectively.

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

</AI1>

<AI2>

2 Papers to note

2.1    The Committee noted the papers.

</AI2>

<AI3>

2.1 Sea Fisheries (Amendment) Regulations 2026

</AI3>

<AI4>

2.2 Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee report: Scrutiny of the Welsh Government's Draft Budget 2026-27

</AI4>

<AI5>

2.3 Industry Wales

</AI5>

<AI6>

2.4 Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee report: Development of Tourism and Regulation of Visitor Accommodation (Wales) Bill: Stage 1 report

</AI6>

<AI7>

2.5 Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee report: Development Bank of Wales

</AI7>

<AI8>

2.6 Holyhead Port Closure

</AI8>

<AI9>

2.7 Inter-Institutional Relations Agreement

</AI9>

<AI10>

2.8 Follow-up from the committee meeting held on 21 January 2026 – Inward Investment

</AI10>

<AI11>

2.9 Inward Investment

</AI11>

<AI12>

3 Development of Tourism and Regulation of Visitor Accommodation (Wales) Bill: Stage 2 proceedings

3.1    In accordance with Standing Order 26.21, the Committee disposed of the following amendments to the Bill:

Amendment 64 (Rhys ab Owen MS)

In Favour	Against	Abstain
Andrew RT Davies MS	Hannah Blythyn MS
Samuel Kurtz MS	Lesley Griffiths MS
Luke Fletcher MS	Mike Hedges MS
As the vote was tied, the Chair used his casting vote in the negative (in accordance with SO 6.20(ii)). Therefore amendment 64 was not agreed.

Amendment 65 (Rhys ab Owen MS)

In Favour	Against	Abstain
Andrew RT Davies MS	Hannah Blythyn MS
Samuel Kurtz MS	Lesley Griffiths MS
Luke Fletcher MS	Mike Hedges MS
As the vote was tied, the Chair used his casting vote in the negative (in accordance with SO 6.20(ii)). Therefore amendment 65 was not agreed.

Amendment 66 (Rhys ab Owen MS)

In Favour	Against	Abstain
Andrew RT Davies MS	Hannah Blythyn MS
Samuel Kurtz MS	Lesley Griffiths MS
Luke Fletcher MS	Mike Hedges MS
As the vote was tied, the Chair used his casting vote in the negative (in accordance with SO 6.20(ii)). Therefore amendment 66 was not agreed.

Amendment 67 (Rhys ab Owen MS)

In Favour	Against	Abstain
Andrew RT Davies MS	Hannah Blythyn MS
Samuel Kurtz MS	Lesley Griffiths MS
Luke Fletcher MS	Mike Hedges MS
As the vote was tied, the Chair used his casting vote in the negative (in accordance with SO 6.20(ii)). Therefore amendment 67 was not agreed.

Amendment 68 (Rhys ab Owen MS)

In Favour	Against	Abstain
	Hannah Blythyn MS	Andrew RT Davies MS
	Lesley Griffiths MS	Samuel Kurtz MS
	Mike Hedges MS	Luke Fletcher MS
Amendment 68 was not agreed.

Amendment 69 (Rhys ab Owen MS)

In Favour	Against	Abstain
	Hannah Blythyn MS	Andrew RT Davies MS
	Lesley Griffiths MS	Samuel Kurtz MS
	Mike Hedges MS	Luke Fletcher MS
Amendment 69 was not agreed.

Amendment 70 (Rhys ab Owen MS)

In Favour	Against	Abstain
	Hannah Blythyn MS	Andrew RT Davies MS
	Lesley Griffiths MS	Samuel Kurtz MS
	Mike Hedges MS	Luke Fletcher MS
Amendment 70 was not agreed.

Amendment 1 (Mark Drakeford MS) was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 17.34(i). 

Amendment 2 (Mark Drakeford MS) was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 17.34(i). 

Amendment 75 (Samuel Kurtz MS)

In Favour	Against	Abstain
Andrew RT Davies MS	Hannah Blythyn MS
Samuel Kurtz MS	Lesley Griffiths MS
	Mike Hedges MS
	Luke Fletcher MS
Amendment 75 was not agreed.

Amendment 3 (Mark Drakeford MS) was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 17.34(i).

Amendment 4 (Mark Drakeford MS) was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 17.34(i). 

Amendment 5A (Rhys ab Owen MS)

In Favour	Against	Abstain
	Hannah Blythyn MS	Andrew RT Davies MS
	Lesley Griffiths MS	Samuel Kurtz MS
	Mike Hedges MS	Luke Fletcher MS
Amendment 5A was not agreed.

Amendment 5 (Mark Drakeford MS) was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 17.34(i). 

Amendment 52 (Mark Drakeford MS) was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 17.34(i). 

Amendment 53 (Mark Drakeford MS) was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 17.34(i). 

Amendment 54 (Mark Drakeford MS) was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 17.34(i). 

Amendment 55 (Mark Drakeford MS) was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 17.34(i). 

Amendment 56 (Mark Drakeford MS) was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 17.34(i). 

Amendment 57 (Mark Drakeford MS) was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 17.34(i). 

Amendment 58 (Mark Drakeford MS) was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 17.34(i). 

Amendment 59 (Mark Drakeford MS) was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 17.34(i). 

Amendment 60 (Mark Drakeford MS) was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 17.34(i). 

Amendment 6 (Mark Drakeford MS) was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 17.34(i). 

Amendment 7 (Mark Drakeford MS) was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 17.34(i). 

Amendment 61 (Luke Fletcher MS)

In Favour	Against	Abstain
Hannah Blythyn MS	Andrew RT Davies MS
Lesley Griffiths MS	Samuel Kurtz MS
Mike Hedges MS
Luke Fletcher MS
Amendment 61 was agreed.

Amendment 8 (Mark Drakeford MS) was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 17.34(i). 

Amendment 62 (Luke Fletcher MS)

In Favour	Against	Abstain
Hannah Blythyn MS		Andrew RT Davies MS
Lesley Griffiths MS		Samuel Kurtz MS
Mike Hedges MS
Luke Fletcher MS
Amendment 62 was agreed.

Amendment 9 (Mark Drakeford MS)

In Favour	Against	Abstain
Hannah Blythyn MS	Andrew RT Davies MS	Luke Fletcher MS
Lesley Griffiths MS	Samuel Kurtz MS
Mike Hedges MS
Amendment 9 was agreed.

As amendment 9 was agreed, amendment 63 (Luke Fletcher MS) fell.

Amendment 10 (Mark Drakeford MS) was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 17.34(i). 

Amendment 11 (Mark Drakeford MS) was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 17.34(i). 

Amendment 12 (Mark Drakeford MS) was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 17.34(i). 

Amendment 13 (Mark Drakeford MS) was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 17.34(i). 

Amendment 14 (Mark Drakeford MS) was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 17.34(i). 

Amendment 15 (Mark Drakeford MS) was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 17.34(i). 

Amendment 76 (Samuel Kurtz MS)

In Favour	Against	Abstain
Andrew RT Davies MS	Hannah Blythyn MS
Samuel Kurtz MS	Lesley Griffiths MS
	Mike Hedges MS
	Luke Fletcher MS
Amendment 76 was not agreed.

Amendment 16 (Mark Drakeford MS) was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 17.34(i). 

Amendment 17 (Mark Drakeford MS) was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 17.34(i). 

Amendment 77 (Samuel Kurtz MS)

In Favour	Against	Abstain
Andrew RT Davies MS	Hannah Blythyn MS
Samuel Kurtz MS	Lesley Griffiths MS
	Mike Hedges MS
	Luke Fletcher MS
Amendment 77 was not agreed.

Amendment 18 (Mark Drakeford MS) was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 17.34(i). 

Amendment 19 (Mark Drakeford MS) was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 17.34(i). 

Amendment 20 (Mark Drakeford MS) was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 17.34(i). 

Amendment 78 (Samuel Kurtz MS)

In Favour	Against	Abstain
Andrew RT Davies MS	Hannah Blythyn MS
Samuel Kurtz MS	Lesley Griffiths MS
	Mike Hedges MS
	Luke Fletcher MS
Amendment 78 was not agreed.

Amendment 21 (Mark Drakeford MS) was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 17.34(i). 

Amendment 22 (Mark Drakeford MS) was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 17.34(i). 

Amendment 23 (Mark Drakeford MS) was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 17.34(i). 

Amendment 24 (Mark Drakeford MS) was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 17.34(i). 

Amendment 25 (Mark Drakeford MS) was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 17.34(i). 

Amendment 26 (Mark Drakeford MS) was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 17.34(i).

Amendment 27 (Mark Drakeford MS) was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 17.34(i). 

Amendment 28 (Mark Drakeford MS) was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 17.34(i). 

Amendment 71 (Rhys ab Owen MS)

In Favour	Against	Abstain
Andrew RT Davies MS	Hannah Blythyn MS	Luke Fletcher MS
Samuel Kurtz MS	Lesley Griffiths MS
	Mike Hedges MS
Amendment 71 was not agreed.

Amendment 29 (Mark Drakeford MS) was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 17.34(i). 

Amendment 30 (Mark Drakeford MS) was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 17.34(i). 

Amendment 31 (Mark Drakeford MS) was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 17.34(i). 

Amendment 79 (Samuel Kurtz MS)

In Favour	Against	Abstain
Andrew RT Davies MS	Hannah Blythyn MS
Samuel Kurtz MS	Lesley Griffiths MS
Luke Fletcher MS	Mike Hedges MS
As the vote was tied, the Chair used his casting vote in the negative (in accordance with SO 6.20(ii)). Therefore amendment 79 was not agreed.

Amendment 80 (Samuel Kurtz MS)

In Favour	Against	Abstain
Andrew RT Davies MS	Hannah Blythyn MS
Samuel Kurtz MS	Lesley Griffiths MS
Luke Fletcher MS	Mike Hedges MS
As the vote was tied, the Chair used his casting vote in the negative (in accordance with SO 6.20(ii)). Therefore amendment 80 was not agreed.

Amendment 32 (Mark Drakeford MS) was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 17.34(i). 

Amendment 33 (Mark Drakeford MS) was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 17.34(i). 

Amendment 34 (Mark Drakeford MS) was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 17.34(i). 

Amendment 72 (Rhys ab Owen MS)

In Favour	Against	Abstain
Andrew RT Davies MS	Hannah Blythyn MS
Samuel Kurtz MS	Lesley Griffiths MS
Luke Fletcher MS	Mike Hedges MS
As the vote was tied, the Chair used his casting vote in the negative (in accordance with SO 6.20(ii)). Therefore amendment 72 was not agreed.

Amendment 35 (Mark Drakeford MS) was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 17.34(i). 

Amendment 81 (Samuel Kurtz MS) was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 17.34(i). 

Amendment 82 (Samuel Kurtz MS) was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 17.34(i).

Amendment 73 (Rhys ab Owen MS)

In Favour	Against	Abstain
Andrew RT Davies MS	Hannah Blythyn MS	Luke Fletcher MS
Samuel Kurtz MS	Lesley Griffiths MS
	Mike Hedges MS
Amendment 73 was not agreed.

Amendment 36 (Mark Drakeford MS) was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 17.34(i). 

Amendment 37 (Mark Drakeford MS) was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 17.34(i). 

Amendment 38 (Mark Drakeford MS) was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 17.34(i). 

Amendment 39 (Mark Drakeford MS) was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 17.34(i). 

Amendment 40 (Mark Drakeford MS) was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 17.34(i). 

Amendment 41 (Mark Drakeford MS) was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 17.34(i).

Amendment 83 (Samuel Kurtz MS)

In Favour	Against	Abstain
Andrew RT Davies MS	Hannah Blythyn MS	Luke Fletcher MS
Samuel Kurtz MS	Lesley Griffiths MS
	Mike Hedges MS
Amendment 83 was not agreed.

Amendment 42 (Mark Drakeford MS) was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 17.34(i). 

Amendment 84 (Samuel Kurtz MS) was not moved.

Amendment 43 (Mark Drakeford MS) was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 17.34(i). 

Amendment 44A (Rhys ab Owen MS)

In Favour	Against	Abstain
Hannah Blythyn MS		Andrew RT Davies MS
Lesley Griffiths MS		Samuel Kurtz MS
Mike Hedges MS
Luke Fletcher MS
Amendment 44A was agreed.

Amendment 44 (Mark Drakeford MS)

In Favour	Against	Abstain
Hannah Blythyn MS		Andrew RT Davies MS
Lesley Griffiths MS		Samuel Kurtz MS
Mike Hedges MS
Luke Fletcher MS
Amendment 44 was agreed.

Amendment 45 (Mark Drakeford MS) was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 17.34(i). 

Amendment 46 (Mark Drakeford MS) was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 17.34(i). 

Amendment 85 (Samuel Kurtz MS)

In Favour	Against	Abstain
Andrew RT Davies MS	Hannah Blythyn MS
Samuel Kurtz MS	Lesley Griffiths MS
Luke Fletcher MS	Mike Hedges MS
As the vote was tied, the Chair used his casting vote in the negative (in accordance with SO 6.20(ii)). Therefore amendment 85 was not agreed.

Amendment 74 (Rhys ab Owen MS) was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 17.34(i). 

Amendment 47A (Rhys ab Owen MS)

In Favour	Against	Abstain
Luke Fletcher MS	Hannah Blythyn MS	Andrew RT Davies MS
	Lesley Griffiths MS	Samuel Kurtz MS
	Mike Hedges MS
Amendment 47A was not agreed.

Amendment 47 (Mark Drakeford MS) was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 17.34(i). 

Amendment 86 (Samuel Kurtz MS)

In Favour	Against	Abstain
Andrew RT Davies MS	Hannah Blythyn MS
Samuel Kurtz MS	Lesley Griffiths MS
Luke Fletcher MS	Mike Hedges MS
As the vote was tied, the Chair used his casting vote in the negative (in accordance with SO 6.20(ii)). Therefore amendment 86 was not agreed.

Amendment 48 (Mark Drakeford MS) was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 17.34(i). 

Amendment 49 (Mark Drakeford MS) was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 17.34(i). 

Amendment 50 (Mark Drakeford MS) was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 17.34(i). 

Amendment 51 (Mark Drakeford MS) was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 17.34(i). 

Amendment 87 (Samuel Kurtz MS)

In Favour	Against	Abstain
Andrew RT Davies MS	Hannah Blythyn MS
Samuel Kurtz MS	Lesley Griffiths MS
Luke Fletcher MS	Mike Hedges MS
As the vote was tied, the Chair used his casting vote in the negative (in accordance with SO 6.20(ii)). Therefore amendment 87 was not agreed.

Amendment 88 (Samuel Kurtz MS) was not moved.

</AI12>

<AI13>

4 Motion under Standing Order 17.42(vi) to resolve to exclude the public from the next meeting on Wednesday 11 February 2026

4.1    The Committee agreed the motion to exclude the public from the next meeting.

</AI13>

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