Agenda and minutes

1.1 The Chair welcomed Members and members of the Public to the meeting.

FIN(4)-04-12 : Paper 1

Professor Richard Davies, Higher Education Wales 

Berwyn Davies, Wales Higher Education Brussels  

2.1 The Chair Welcomed Professor Richard Davies, Berwyn Davies, Head of Welsh Higher Education Brussels. 

Action Points:

Higher Education Wales agreed to provide a note to clarify whether the need for external evaluations, and wider financial discipline, were required only in Wales, or more broadly across Wales.

FIN(4)-04-12 : Paper 2 

Alun Davies, Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries, Food and European Programmes    

Damien O'Brien - Director WEFO

Peter Ryland - Deputy Director, Programme Performance & Finance, WEFO   

3.1 The Chair welcomed Alun Davies, Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries, Food and European Programmes.      

Damian Obrien

Peter Ryland

Action Points:

The Welsh Government agreed to provide notes:

·       Comparing the effectiveness of structural funds in Wales against those achieved by EU15 regions, particularly in terms of Growth and Jobs.

·       Comparing the effectiveness of structural funds in Wales against those achieved by other UK regions, particularly in terms of Growth and Jobs.

·       Setting out the consideration that WEFO gives to the future sustainability of projects during the application process.

·       Setting out whether lesser funding is now available to further education colleges, than under the old objective-2ESF funding.

·       Setting out the number of projects which will be funded via JESSICA which Local Authority are either leading, or partners in.

FIN(4)-04-12 Paper 3 – Paper to note – Correspondence from the Minister for finance and Leader of the House

Minutes of previous meeting

4.1 The Committee ratified the minutes of the previous meeting, and noted correspondence from the Minister for Finance. 

Items 6 - 8

Items 6-8

5.1 The Committee discussed the HM Treasury Public Expenditure – (PESA) Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses – User Consultation, and resolved to respond to the consultation.

7.1 The Committee postponed its discussion of the evidence received in its inquiry into the Effectiveness of European Structural Funding in Wales.  

8.1 The Committee postponed a discussion of future inquiries for a future meeting date.

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