Agenda - Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee

Meeting Venue:

Committee room 4 - Tŷ Hywel

and video conference via Zoom

Meeting date: 25 February 2026

Meeting time: 09.30
For further information contact:

Robert Donovan

Committee Clerk

0300 200 6565

SeneddEconomy@senedd.wales

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Private pre-meeting

09.15 - 09.30

 

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Public session

09.30 - 11.30

 

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1       Introductions, apologies, substitutions, and declarations of interest

09.30                                                                                                               

 

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2       General Ministerial Scrutiny: Economy and Skills

09.30 - 10.30                                                                             (Pages 1 - 33)

 

Rebecca Evans MS, Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning, Welsh Government

Liz Lalley, Director - Economic Policy and Strategy, Welsh Government

 

Attached Documents:
Research brief
Evidence paper - Welsh Government

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Break

10.30 - 10.35

 

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3       General Ministerial Scrutiny: Economy and Skills

10.35 - 11.30

                                                                                                                          

Rebecca Evans MS, Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning, Welsh Government

Jack Sargeant MS, Minister for Culture, Skills and Social Partnership, Welsh Government

Liz Lalley, Director - Economic Policy and Strategy, Welsh Government

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

 

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4       Papers to note

11.30                                                                                                               

 

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4.1   The Chemicals (Health and Safety) (Amendment, Consequential and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2026

                                                                                                 (Pages 34 - 37)

Attached Documents:
Letter from the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs - 2 February 2026

 

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4.2   Follow-up from the Committee meeting held on 26 November 2025: Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2026-27

                                                                                                 (Pages 38 - 41)

Attached Documents:
Welsh Government response - 11 February 2026

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4.3   Learning and Work Institute report: A Work, Health and Skills Plan for Wales

                                                                                                 (Pages 42 - 43)

Attached Documents:
Letter from the Director for Wales, Learning and Work Institute - 6 February 2026

 

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4.4   Follow-up from the Committee meeting held on 21 January 2026: Inward Investment

                                                                                                 (Pages 44 - 63)

Attached Documents:
Response from Councillor Dave Hughes, Leader of Flintshire County Council - 9 February 2026
Response from Councillor Rob Stewart, Leader of Swansea Council - 19 February 2026
Response from Ken Poole, Head of Economic Development, Cardiff Council - 19 February 2026

 

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4.5   UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA)

                                                                                                 (Pages 64 - 73)

Attached Documents:
UK-EU Parliamentary Partnership Assembly: Sixth meeting summary report

 

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4.6   Holyhead Port closure

                                                                                                 (Pages 74 - 75)

Attached Documents:
Letter from the Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales - 12 February 2026

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4.7Local Growth Fund

                                                                                                 (Pages 76 - 78)

Attached Documents:
Written evidence from Industrial Communities Alliance - 9 February 2026

 

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4.8   Report on the UK-India Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement: The Welsh Government Perspective

                                                                                               (Pages 79 - 133)

Attached Documents:
Letter from the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning - 13 February 2026

 

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4.9   Follow-up from the Committee meeting held on 29 January 2026

                                                                                             (Pages 134 - 137)

Attached Documents:
Letter from the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning - 17 February 2026

 

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4.10 Inward Investment

                                                                                             (Pages 138 - 141)

Attached Documents:
Letter from New York Welsh - 17 February 2026

 

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4.11 Farming Connect Procurement

                                                                                             (Pages 142 - 144)

Attached Documents:
Letter from the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs - 18 February 2026

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5       Motion under Standing Order 17.42(ix) to resolve to exclude the public from the remainder of the meeting and under Standing Order 17.42(vi) for item 1 of the meeting on 5 March 2026.

11.30                                                                                                               

 

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Private session

11.30 - 11.45

 

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6       General Ministerial Scrutiny: Consideration of evidence

11.30 - 11.45                                                                                                  

 

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