Agenda and minutes

1.1 The Chair welcomed Members to the meeting.

1.2 There were no apologies or declarations of interest.

2.1 The papers were noted.

Vaughan Gething MS, Minister for Economy

Sioned Evans, Director, Business and Regions

Duncan Hamer, Director of Operations, Business and Regions

Andrew Gwatkin, Director, International Relations and Trade

Helen John, Programme Director, Border Controls Programme

3.1 The Committee scrutinised the Minister for Economy.

3.2 The Minister agreed to provide the Committee with  further information on the discussions taking place with young people, following the publication of the young person’s guarantee annual report in the new year.  

3.3 The Minister agreed to provide a note on degree apprenticeships and their future development, following the publication of the Draft Budget.

3.4 The Minister agreed to share with the Committee the Welsh Government’s response to the UK Government’s Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy’s consultation on the energy business relief scheme, once available.

3.5 The Minister agreed to engage with the Committee in a longer term conversation about the future of business rates following the Draft Budget.  

3.6 Due to time constraints the Chair agreed to send questions on research and innovation to the Minister for a written response.

Gwyneth Sweatman, Head of Media and Communications (Wales), Federation of Small Businesses

David Chapman, Executive Director for Wales, UKHospitality Cymru

Leighton Jenkins, Head of Policy - Wales, Confederation of British Industry

Sara Jones, Head of Wales, Welsh Retail Consortium

4.1 The Committee heard evidence from the Federation of Small Businesses, UKHospitality Cymru, the Confederation of British Industry and the Welsh Retail Consortium. 

4.2 The Confederation of British Industry agreed to provide further information on:

- the Scottish Government’s emergency budget review including the recommendations from its economic expert panel; and

- its involvement with the Development Bank of Wales and how often businesses within its membership access the bank’s support.

4.3 The Federation of small businesses agreed to provide further information on how the energy bill relief scheme operates for non-domestic energy suppliers.

5.1 The motion was agreed

Consideration of evidence following the meeting

6.1 The Committee considered the evidence it had heard in the previous evidence session.

7.1 The Committee considered and agreed its legislative scrutiny programme.