Meetings

3.5.1 The response was noted by the Committee

NDM7623 Russell George (Montgomeryshire)

To propose that the Senedd:

Notes the report of the Economy, Infrastructure and Skills Committee on its inquiry, Long-term recovery from COVID-19, which was laid in the Table Office on 3 March 2021.

The item started at 15.38

NDM7623 Russell George (Montgomeryshire)

To propose that the Senedd:

Notes the report of the Economy, Infrastructure and Skills Committee on its inquiry, Long-term recovery from COVID-19, which was laid in the Table Office on 3 March 2021.

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

Sian Lloyd Roberts, Regional Skills Manager, North Wales Regional Skills Partnership

David Roberts, Chair, North Wales Regional Skills Partnership

Richard Tobutt, Regional Skills Partnership Manager, Cardiff Capital Region

Huw Wilkinson, Regional Skills Partnership Manager, South East Wales

Jane Lewis, Regional Partnership Manager, South West & Mid Wales Regional Learning and Skills Partnership

4.1 Sian Lloyd Roberts, Regional Skills Manager, North Wales Regional Skills Partnership, David Roberts, Chair, North Wales Regional Skills Partnership, Richard Tobutt, Regional Skills Partnership Manager, Cardiff Capital Region, Huw Wilkinson, Regional Skills Partnership Manager, South East Wales and Rachel Clegg, Development Co-ordinator, South West & Mid Wales Regional Learning and Skills Partnership answered questions from Committee Members

2.2.1 The letter was noted by the Committee

Ken Skates MS, Minister for Economy, Transport and North Wales

Simon Jones, Director Economic Infrastructure, Welsh Government

Sioned Evans, Director Business and Regions, Welsh Government

3.1 Ken Skates MS, Minister for Economy, Transport and North Wales, Lee Waters MS Deputy Minister for Economy and Transport, Simon Jones, Director Economic Infrastructure, Welsh Government and Sioned Evans, Director Business and Regions, Welsh Government answered questions from Committee Members

Sophie Howe, Future Generations Commissioner

Haf Elgar, Director, Friends of the Earth Cymru

Tabea Wilkes, Nature Project Officer, RSPB Cymru

4.1 Sophie Howe, Future Generations Commissioner, Haf Elgar, Director, Friends of the Earth Cymru and Tabea Wilkes, Nature Project Officer, RSPB Cymru answered questions from Committee Members

4.2 Haf Elgar agreed to provide further details on a report that Friends of the Earth Cymru commissioned from consultants, Transport for Quality of Life.

Ali Abdi, Citizens Wales and Race Council Cymru

Shavanah Taj, Vice-Chair, Socio-economic subgroup of the First Minister’s Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Covid-19 Advisory Group

Ginger Wiegand, Policy and Research Lead, Ethnic Minorities and Youth Support Team Wales

3.1 Ali Abdi, Citizens Wales and Race Council Cymru,  Shavanah Taj, Vice-Chair, Socio-economic subgroup of the First Minister’s Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Covid-19 Advisory Group and Ginger Wiegand, Research and Policy, Ethnic Minorities and Youth Support Team Wales answered questions from Committee Members

5.2.a. The Committee noted the letter from the Chair of the Economy, Infrastructure and Skills Committee to the Minister for Economy, Transport and North Wales in relation to the impact of COVID-19.

Cerys Furlong, Chief Executive, Chwarae Teg

Dr Alison Parken, Cardiff Business School, Cardiff University

Ruth Coombs, Head of Wales, Equality and Human Rights Commission

Rhian Davies, Chief Executive, Disability Wales

4.1 Cerys Furlong, Chief Executive, Chwarae Teg, Dr Alison Parken, Cardiff Business School, Cardiff University, Ruth Coombs, Head of Wales, Equality and Human Rights Commission and Rhian Davies, Chief Executive, Disability Wales answered questions from Committee Members

4.2 The Committee has requested further details from the witnesses on how the Welsh Government ought to be building actions around equalities in from the beginning, rather than adding them in at the end,

John Whalley, Chief Executive, Aerospace Wales Forum Ltd

Richard Warren, Head of Policy and External Affairs, UK Steel

3.1 John Whalley, Chief Executive, Aerospace Wales Forum Ltd and Richard Warren, Head of Policy and External Affairs, UK Steel answered questions from Committee Members

Andrew Campbell, Chair Wales Tourism Alliance

David Chapman, Executive Director Wales, UK Hospitality

Victoria Brownlie, Director of Policy and Public Affairs, National Hair and Beauty Federation

Sara Jones, Head of Welsh Retail Consortium

2.1 Andrew Campbell, Chair Wales Tourism Alliance, David Chapman, Executive Director Wales, UK Hospitality, Victoria Brownlie, Director of Policy and Public Affairs, National Hair and Beauty Federation and Sara Jones, Head of Welsh Retail Consortium answered questions from Committee Members

Christine Boston, Director for Wales, Transform Cymru

Ryland Jones, Interim Deputy Director, Sustrans Cymru

Norman Baker, Adviser to the Chief Executive Officer, Campaign for Better Transport

David Beer, Senior Manager Wales, Transport Focus

3.1 Christine Boston, Director for Wales, Transform Cymru, Ryland Jones, Interim Deputy Director, Sustrans Cymru, Norman Baker, Adviser to the Chief Executive Officer, Campaign for Better Transport and David Beer, Senior Manager Wales, Transport Focus, answered questions from Committee Members.

3.2 Norman Baker agreed to send the Committee, Campaign for Better Transport’s document 'Covid-19 Recovery.

Covid:19: Recovery - Consideration of evidence following Item 3 & 4

6.1 Members considered the evidence heard during the session

Prof Glenn Lyons, Professor of Future Mobility – University of the West of England

Nick Richardson, Technical Director (Transport) - Mott Macdonald and Chair of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport Bus and Coach Policy Group

4.1 Prof Glenn Lyons, Professor of Future Mobility – University of the West of England and Nick Richardson, Technical Director (Transport) - Mott Macdonald and Chair of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport Bus and Coach Policy Group, answered questions from Committee Members.

Leighton Jenkins, Assistant Director and Head of Policy, Confederation of British Industry Wales

Amy Bainton, External Affairs Advisor, Federation of Small Businesses Wales

2.1 Leighton Jenkins, Assistant Director and Head of Policy, Confederation of British Industry Wales and Amy Bainton, External Affairs Advisor, Federation of Small Businesses Wales answered questions from Committee Members.

2.2 Leighton Jenkins agreed to provide a note to the committee on the economic support, workplace safety and the economic enabler.

2.3.1 The letter was noted by the Committee

Dr Victoria Winckler, Director Bevan Foundation

David Hagendyk, Director for Wales, Learning and Work Institute

4.1 David Hagendyk, Director for Wales, Learning and Work Institute and Helen Cunningham, Policy and Research Officer, Bevan Foundation answered questions from Committee Members

Professor Dylan Jones-Evans, Assistant Pro Vice Chancellor, University of South Wales

Professor Andrew Henley, Director of Research Engagement and Impact, Cardiff University

Professor Gillian Bristow, Professor in Economic Geography, Cardiff University

3.1 Professor Dylan Jones-Evans, Assistant Pro Vice Chancellor, University of South Wales, Professor Andrew Henley, Director of Research Engagement and Impact, Cardiff University and Professor Gillian Bristow, Professor in Economic Geography, Cardiff University answered questions from Committee Members

2.5.1 The letter was noted by the Committee

2.4.1 The letter was noted by the Committee

Sara Jones, Welsh Retail Consortium

Andrew Campbell, Chair Wales Tourism Alliance

Professor Nigel Morgan, Head of School, School of Hospitality & Tourism Management, University of Surrey

David Chapman, Executive Director Wales, UK Hospitality

4.1 Andrew Campbell, Chair Wales Tourism Alliance,

Professor Nigel Morgan, Head of School, School of Hospitality & Tourism Management, University of Surrey and David Chapman, Executive Director Wales, UK Hospitality answered questions from Committee Members

4.2 Apologies were received from Sara Jones, Welsh Retail Consortium

James Price, Chief Executive Officer, Transport for Wales

3.1 James Price, Chief Executive Officer, Transport for Wales answered questions from Committee Members

3.2 James Price agreed to provide further details on transfer of the Valleys lines and station agents

James Price, Chief Executive Officer, Transport for Wales

Nigel Winter, Managing Director, Stagecoach South Wales

Scott Pearson, Managing Director, Newport Transport

5.1 Nigel Winter, Managing Director, Stagecoach South Wales and Scott Pearson, Managing Director, Newport Transport answered questions from Committee Members

Peter Hughes, Regional Secretary, UNITE Wales

Mick Lynch, RMT Assistant General Secretary

3.1 Peter Hughes, Regional Secretary Unite and Mick Lynch, RMT Assistant General Secretary answered questions from Committee Members

Deb Bowen Rees, Chief Executive Officer, Cardiff Airport

Spencer Birns, Chief Commercial Officer, Cardiff Airport

4.1 Deb Bowen Rees, Chief Executive Officer, Cardiff Airport and Spencer Birns, Chief Commercial Officer, Cardiff Airport answered questions from Committee Members

Jeff Protheroe, Director of Operations, National Training Federation for Wales

Dafydd Evans, Chair, Colleges Wales

Professor Ewart Keep, Department of Education, Oxford University

3.1 Jeff Protheroe, Director of Operations, National Training Federation for Wales, Dafydd Evans, Chair, Colleges Wales and Professor Ewart Keep, Department of Education, Oxford University answered questions from Committee Members

Ken Skates MS, Minister for Economy, Transport and North Wales

Sioned Evans, Director, Business and Regions, Welsh Government

Emma Watkins, Deputy Director Economic Policy, Welsh Government

Simon Jones, Director, Economic Infrastructure, Welsh Government

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

3.1 Ken Skates MS, Minister for Economy, Transport and North Wales, Sioned Evans, Director, Business and Regions, Welsh Government, Emma Watkins, Deputy Director Economic Policy, Welsh Government, Simon Jones, Director, Economic Infrastructure, Welsh Government and Huw Morris, Director, Skills, Higher Education and Lifelong Learning, Welsh Government answered questions from Committee Members.

3.2 Ken Skates MS, Minister for Economy, Transport and North Wales has agreed to provide the Committee with further details as discussed at the meeting

Joshua Miles, Policy Manager, Federation of Small Businesses Wales

Adrian Greason-Walker, Policy Advocate, Wales Tourism Alliance

Leighton Jenkins, Assistant Director, CBI Wales

2.1 Ian Price Director CBI Wales substituted for Leighton Jenkins, Assistant Director CBI Wales.

2.2 Joshua Miles, Policy Manager, Federation of Small Businesses Wales, Adrian Greason-Walker, Policy Advocate, Wales Tourism Alliance and Ian Price Director CBI Wales answered questions from Committee Members.

2.3 Joshua Miles has agreed to provide the committee with further details on a coronavirus survey commissioned by the Federation of Small Businesses Wales

Shavanah Taj, Acting General Secretary, Trades Union Congress Wales

Mike Payne, Senior Organiser, Wales and South West, GMB Union

Peter Hughes, Regional Secretary, UNITE Wales

3.1 Shavanah Taj, Acting General Secretary, Trades Union Congress Wales, Mike Payne, Senior Organiser, Wales and South West, GMB Union and Peter Hughes, Regional Secretary, UNITE Wales answered questions from Committee Members.