Agenda and minutes

1.1    The Committee considered and agreed the scoping paper.

2.1    The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.

2.2    Apologies were received from Hefin David MS and Buffy Williams MS. Jack Sargeant MS and Alun Davies MS attended as substitutes.

2.3    There were no declarations of interest.

3.1    The Committee noted the papers.

Lesley Griffiths MS, Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd, Welsh Government

Gian Marco Currado, Director, Rural Affairs, Welsh Government

Richard Irvine, Chief Veterinary Officer, Welsh Government

Dean Medcraft, Director of Finance & Operations, Welsh Government

4.1     The Committee heard evidence from the Minister of Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd.

4.2     The Minister would provide the Committee with clarification of the amount of revenue funding allocated to Farming Connect for 2024-25 from within the Rural Investment Schemes BEL.

4.2     The Minister agreed to write to the Committee with additional information on impact assessments undertaken to measure the economic impact on Welsh farmers of wider macro-economic factors, such as inflation, the War in Ukraine, and policy choices relating to Brexit.

4.3     The Minister agreed to write to the Committee to provide clarity around the budget figures regarding cuts to the fisheries budget.

Vaughan Gething MS, Minister for Economy, Welsh Government

Jo Salway, Director, Social Partnership, Employability & Fair Work, Welsh Government

Dean Medcraft, Director of Finance and Operations, Welsh Government

5.1     The Committee heard evidence from the Minister for Economy.

5.2     The Minister for Economy agreed to provide a note to the Committee that was sent from the Minister for Education to the Children, Young People and Education Committee to show what Welsh Government is looking to do for degree apprenticeships.

5.3     The Minister agreed to write to the Committee to outline potential changes to objectives and targets that may be set for business support as a consequence of spending reductions, as well as provide information on what support Business Wales provide alongside the Development Bank of Wales in the business support environment.

6.1    The Motion to exclude the public from the remainder of the meeting was agreed.

7.1    The Committee considered the evidence received.