Concise Minutes - Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee

Meeting Venue:

Committee Room 3 - Senedd

Meeting date: Thursday, 25 January 2018

Meeting time: 08.59 - 14.18
This meeting can be viewed
on Senedd TV at:
http://senedd.tv/en/4585

------

Attendance

Category	Names
Assembly Members:	John Griffiths AM (Chair) Mick Antoniw AM Gareth Bennett AM Janet Finch-Saunders AM Siân Gwenllian AM Bethan Sayed AM Rhianon Passmore AM Jenny Rathbone AM
Witnesses:	Ken Skates AM, Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Transport Eluned Morgan AM, Minister for Welsh Language and Lifelong Learning Marcella Maxwell, Welsh Government Maureen Howell, Welsh Government Dr Rachel Garside-Jones, Skills Policy & Youth Engagement Division (Welsh Government) Simon Thomas AM Gareth Howells Joanne McCarthy, Research Service
Committee Staff:	Naomi Stocks (Clerk) Elizabeth Wilkinson (Second Clerk) Chloe Davies (Deputy Clerk) Osian Bowyer (Researcher) Hannah Johnson (Researcher) Megan Jones (Researcher) Jennifer Cottle (Legal Adviser) Stephen Davies (Legal Adviser)

<AI1>

1 Introductions, apologies, substitutions and declarations of interest

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.

</AI1>

<AI2>

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

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.

</AI2>

<AI3>

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

3.1 The Committee agreed the motion.

</AI3>

<AI4>

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

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

</AI4>

<AI5>

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

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.

</AI5>

<AI6>

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

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.

</AI6>

<AI7>

7 Paper(s) to note

</AI7>

<AI8>

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

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

</AI8>

<AI9>

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

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

</AI9>

<AI10>

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

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

</AI10>

<AI11>

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

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

</AI11>

<AI12>

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

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

</AI12>

<AI13>

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

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

</AI13>

<AI14>

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

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

</AI14>

<TRAILER_SECTION>

</TRAILER_SECTION>

<LAYOUT_SECTION>

1.FIELD_TITLE

FIELD_SUMMARY

</LAYOUT_SECTION>

<TITLE_ONLY_LAYOUT_SECTION>

2.FIELD_TITLE

</TITLE_ONLY_LAYOUT_SECTION>

<HEADING_LAYOUT_SECTION>

FIELD_TITLE

</HEADING_LAYOUT_SECTION>

<TITLED_COMMENT_LAYOUT_SECTION>

FIELD_TITLE

FIELD_SUMMARY

</TITLED_COMMENT_LAYOUT_SECTION>

<COMMENT_LAYOUT_SECTION>

FIELD_SUMMARY

</COMMENT_LAYOUT_SECTION>

<SUBNUMBER_LAYOUT_SECTION>

2.1FIELD_TITLE

FIELD_SUMMARY

</SUBNUMBER_LAYOUT_SECTION>

<TITLE_ONLY_SUBNUMBER_LAYOUT_SECTION>

2.2FIELD_TITLE

</TITLE_ONLY_SUBNUMBER_LAYOUT_SECTION>