Agenda and minutes

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1.1 Apologies were received from David Rees AM, Dafydd Elis-Thomas AM and Byron Davies AM. Andrew RT Davies AM substituted for Byron Davies AM for Items 4 and 5. 

Witnesses:

Ruth Sinclair-Jones, Director, UK National Agency, Erasmus+, British Council

Natasha Hale, Head of Sectors, MEDIA Antennae UK

2.1. The Committee took evidence from Ruth Sinclair-Jones, Director, UK National Agency, Erasmus+, British Council and Natasha Hale, Head of Sectors, MEDIA Antennae UK.

2.2. The British Council Agreed to provide detailed information on the performance of organisations from Wales in the Lifelong Learning Programme and Youth Programmes.

2.3 MEDIA Antennae UK agreed to provide data on Welsh participation in media programme and the support they provided (events etc.)

Witnesses:

Elaina Gray, Business Development Director, Chapter Arts Centre

Gethin Scourfield, Producer, Fiction Factory Films

Ron Jones, Executive Chairman, Tinopolis

3.1. The Committee took evidence from Elaina Gray, Business Development Director, Chapter Arts Centre and Gethin Scourfield, Producer, Fiction Factory Films.

Witnesses:

Edwina Hart AM, Minister for Economy, Science and Transport, Welsh Government

James Price, Director General Economy, Science and Transport , Welsh Government

Tracey Burke, Director, Strategy, Welsh Government

Lord Bourne, Chair of the Collective Enterprise Zone Boards

4.1 The Committee took evidence from Minister for Economy, Science and Transport, Welsh Government Edwina Hart AM. The Minister was supported by Tracey Burke, Director, Strategy. Lord Bourne, Chair of the Collective Enterprise Zone Boards also attended the session.

4.2 The Minister agreed to provide:

- a note (and regular future updates) on the progress of providing superfast broadband to enterprise zones under the Superfast Cymru programme;

- A note on how the provision of superfast broadband will be addressed (and the broadband technologies to be used) in the areas unsuitable for the Superfast Cymru programme;

- the figures on the number of businesses covered by the longitudinal long-term survey and what proportion of the total number of businesses on enterprise zones these figures constituted;

- a Note on the number of business rate support applications approved by zone and, once finalised, the information on the proportion of the committed £20 million budget allocation actually spent on business rate support reflecting the take-up rates;

- as part of the regular update, an analysis and a breakdown of how individual enterprise zones are performing in terms of jobs created, assisted and safeguarded and other relevant KPIs (in as far as commercial sensitivities allow it).

Witnesses:

Edwina Hart AM, Minister for Economy, Science and Transport, Welsh Government

James Price, Director General Economy, Science and Transport , Welsh Government

Jeff Collins, Project Manager-Director, Welsh Government

5.1 The Committee took evidence from Minister for Economy, Science and Transport, Welsh Government Edwina Hart AM. The Minister was supported by James Price, Director General Economy, Science and Transport, Welsh Government and Jeff Collins, Project Manager, Director, Welsh Government.

5.2 The Minister agreed to provide:

- A note on the Regional Air Connectivity Fund announced in the budget and the interplay between this and new guidance on State Aid;

- A note on State Aid in the context of projected passenger growth at the airport;

- A note on Welsh Government official travel through Cardiff Airport;

- A note on evening runway use at the Cardiff Airport - St Athan Enterprise Zone.

Witnesses:

Anne Howells, European Development Officer, University of Aberystwyth

Dr Liz Mills, Independent Policy Analyst

Dr. David Llewellyn, Independent consultant

6.1. The Committee took evidence from Anne Howells, European Development Officer, University of Aberystwyth; Dr Liz Mills, Independent Policy Analyst and Dr. David Llewellyn, Independent consultant.

Witnesses:

Jane Hutt AM, Minister for Finance

Damien O'Brien, Chief Executive, WEFO

Jeff Andrews, Specialist Policy Adviser

Jane McMillan, Head of Programme Management, European Structural Fund

7.1 The Committee took evidence from Minister for Finance Jane Hutt AM. The Minister was supported Damien O'Brien, Chief Executive, WEFO; Jeff Andrews, Specialist Policy Adviser and Jane McMillan, Head of Programme Management, European Structural Fund.

7.2 The Minister agreed to provide:

- Additional information on the performance of the European Investment Bank in Wales.

Witnesses:

Jane Hutt AM, Minister for Finance

Damien O'Brien, Chief Executive, WEFO

Jeff Andrews, Specialist Policy Adviser

Rob Halford, Head of Planning & Strategy

8.1 The Committee took evidence from Minister for Finance Jane Hutt AM. The Minister was supported by Damien O'Brien, Chief Executive, WEFO, Jeff Andrews, Specialist Policy Adviser and Rob Halford, Head of Planning & Strategy.

9.1 The Committee noted the following supporting documents:

EBC(4)-08-14(p.7) - Additional information from UKTI.

EBC(4)-08-14(p.8) – Additional information from UKTI (FDI Capability Development Support Programme).

EBC(4)-08-14(p.9) – Additional information from UKTI (Data Points)

Minutes of the previous meeting.