Agenda and minutes

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1.1 The Committee discussed the draft report on the Potential of the Maritime Economy in Wales

2.1 The Committee discussed the Legislative Consent Memorandum on the Trade Union Bill

3.1 Apologies were received from Keith Davies AM and Gwenda Thomas AM

Julie James AM, Deputy Minister for Skills and Technology

Huw Morris, Director, Skills, Higher Education and Lifelong Learning, Welsh Government

Neil Surman, Deputy Director, Higher Education Division, Welsh Government

Andrew Clark, Deputy Director, Further Education and Apprenticeships Division, Welsh Government

4.1.1 Julie James AM, Deputy Minister for Skills and Technology, Huw Morris, Neil Surman and Andrew Clark answered questions from Members of the Committee

4.1.2 Julie James AM, Deputy Minister for Skills and Technology offered to provide the following:

·         an analysis of the actual number of English and International students that entered the Welsh Higher Education System measured against the forecasted number for the last four academic years.

·         report back to the Committee on the outcomes set for the new all-age employability programme Skills for Employment Wales when the approval process has been completed.

·         report back to the Committee on the lessons that have been learnt which will ensure that the latest traineeships programme will be effective and deliver good value for money and ensure an increase in uptake of traineeships and decrease in dropout rates, when she has completed her process of reviewing traineeships.

Edwina Hart AM, Minister for Economy, Science and Transport

Simon Jones, Director, Transport & ICT Infrastructure

4.2.1 Edwina Hart AM, the Minister for Economy, Science and Transport and Simon Jones answered questions from the Members of the Committee.

4.2.2 Edwina Hart AM, the Minister for Economy, Science and Transport offered to provide the following information:

·         a year on year comparison of the 2015-16 Supplementary Budget and the Draft Budget for 2016-17.

·         a written clarification of the funding allocation to the Road and Rail Scheme Action.

·         a written clarification of the reduction in the Economy and Science revenue allocation between the 2015-16 Supplementary Budget and the draft Budget for 2016/17, with specific consideration of the services or programmes that will be most affected by these reductions in 2016-17.

·         examples of companies in certain sectors that have achieved good results/impact in terms of growth and jobs; an analysis of how their success has been quantified; and information on specific areas in the budget where the Minister has increased allocations for 2016-17 based on previous good performance. The Minister also agreed that this note would outline the activities that were found to be unsuccessful or not providing value for money and as a result are not to be funded in 2016-17.

·         update the Committee as soon as possible on her decision on the business rate schemes to be introduced in 2016 – 2017.

·         provide a note on revenue and capital funding for multiannual transport projects and programmes.

·         a consideration of whether the funding allocation for Active Travel infrastructure could be more transparent and provide an analysis of funding allocations in previous years.

5.1.1 The paper was noted by the Committee

5.2.1 The paper was noted by the Committee

5.3.1 The paper was noted by the Committee

5.4.1 The paper was noted by the Committee

5.5.1 The paper was noted by the Committee

5.6.1 The paper was noted by the Committee