Agenda and minutes

Venue: Committee Room 3 - Senedd. View directions

Contact: Naomi Stocks 

Media

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Transcript: Transcript for 25/01/2018 - Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee - Fifth Senedd

Items
Expected timing No. Item

1.

Introductions, apologies, substitutions and declarations of interest

Minutes:

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

 

1.2     Apologies for absence were received from Rhianon Passmore AM.

(09.15 - 10.45)

2.

Inquiry into poverty in Wales: making the economy work for people on low incomes - evidence session 11

Ken Skates AM, Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Transport

Eluned Morgan AM, Minister for Welsh Language and Lifelong Learning

Marcella Maxwell, Deputy Director for Organisational Development & Change Programme, Welsh Government

Maureen Howell, Deputy Director, Equality and Prosperity, Welsh Government

Rachel Garside-Jones, Acting Deputy Director, Skills, Employability and EU Funding, Welsh Government

 

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

2.1 The Committee received evidence from:

 

·         Ken Skates AM, Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Transport

·         Eluned Morgan AM, Minister for Welsh Language and Lifelong Learning

·         Marcella Maxwell, Deputy Director for Organisational Development & Change Programme, Welsh Government

·         Maureen Howell, Deputy Director, Equality and Prosperity, Welsh Government

·         Rachel Garside-Jones, Acting Deputy Director, Skills, Employability and EU Funding, Welsh Government

 

2.2 During the session the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Transport agreed to provide a note on:

·         the activity across Welsh Government in its approach to securing commitments from employers in return for sectoral support;

·         the role of women in households receiving Universal Credit, following consultation with the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Minister for Housing and Regeneration.

3.

Motion under Standing Order 17.42 (vi) to resolve to exclude the public from items 4, 8, 9 and 10 of the meeting

Minutes:

3.1 The Committee agreed the motion.

(10.45 - 10.55)

4.

Inquiry into poverty in Wales: making the economy work for people on low incomes - discussion of evidence received under item 2

Minutes:

2.1 The Committee discussed the evidence received evidence under item 2.

 

(11.00 - 12.00)

5.

Public Services Ombudsman (Wales) Bill: evidence session 11 - financial scrutiny

Simon Thomas AM, Member in Charge

Gareth Howells, Legal Services, Assembly Commission

Joanne McCarthy, Research Service, Assembly Commission

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

5.1 The Committee received evidence from:

·         Simon Thomas AM, Member in Charge

·         Gareth Howells, Legal Services, Assembly Commission

·         Joanne McCarthy, Research Service, Assembly Commission

 

5.2 The Member in Charge agreed to provide a note on his views on the Expert Adviser report.

(12.30 - 14.00)

6.

Public Services Ombudsman (Wales) Bill: evidence session 12 - scrutiny of general principles

Simon Thomas AM, Member in Charge

Gareth Howells, Legal Services, Assembly Commission

Joanne McCarthy, Research Service, Assembly Commission

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

6.1 The Committee received evidence from:

 

·         Simon Thomas AM, Member in Charge

·         Gareth Howells, Legal Services, Assembly Commission

·         Joanne McCarthy, Research Service, Assembly Commission

 

6.2 The Committee agreed to write to the Member in Charge in relation to how the criteria on “Extended investigations” could be clarified.

7.

Paper(s) to note

7.1

Letter from Simon Thomas AM in relation to the Public Services Ombudsman (Wales) Bill

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

7.1.a The Committee noted the letter from Simon Thomas AM in relation to the Public Services Ombudsman (Wales) Bill.

7.2

Letter from the Cabinet Secretary for Finance in relation to the Public Services Ombudsman (Wales) Bill

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

7.2.a The Committee noted the letter from the Cabinet Secretary for Finance in relation to the Public Services Ombudsman (Wales) Bill.

7.3

Additional information from Citizens Advice Bureau in relation to the Public Services Ombudsman (Wales) Bill

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

7.3.a The Committee noted the additional information from Citizens Advice Bureau in relation to the Public Services Ombudsman (Wales) Bill.

7.4

Response from the Welsh Government to the report on the draft budget 2018-19

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

7.4.a The Committee noted the response from the Welsh Government to the report on the draft budget 2018-19.

(14.00 - 14.45)

8.

Public Services Ombudsman (Wales) Bill: consideration of key issues

Minutes:

8.1 The Committee discussed the key issues ahead of drafting the report.

(14.45 - 14.50)

9.

Consideration of the draft report on the Legislative Consent Memorandum: Financial Guidance and Claims Bill

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

9.1 The Committee discussed and agreed the draft report on the Legislative Consent Memorandum: Financial Guidance and Claims Bill.

(14.50 - 15.00)

10.

Inquiry into pregnancy, maternity and work in Wales: consideration of scope and approach

Minutes:

10.1 The Committee discussed and agreed its terms of reference and approach to the inquiry.