Enterprise and Business Committee

 

Meeting Venue:

Committee Room 3 - Senedd

 

 

 

Meeting date:

Wednesday, 29 February 2012

 

 

 

Meeting time:

09:32 - 12:13

 

 

 

This meeting can be viewed on Senedd TV at:


http://www.senedd.tv/archiveplayer.jsf?v=en_400001_29_02_2012&t=0&l=en

 

 

Concise Minutes:

 

 

 

Assembly Members:

 

Nick Ramsay (Chair)

Byron Davies

Keith Davies

Julie James

Alun Ffred Jones

Eluned Parrott

David Rees

Ken Skates

Joyce Watson

Leanne Wood

 

 

 

 

 

Witnesses:

 

Carl Sargeant, Minister for Local Government and Communities

Frances Duffy, Director of Transport, Welsh Government

Tim James, Deputy Director, Networks & Planning

Martin Evans, University of Glamorgan Business School

Professor Stuart Cole, Wales Transport Research Centre, University of Glamorgan Business School

 

 

 

 

 

Committee Staff:

 

Siân Phipps (Clerk)

Sarah Bartlett (Deputy Clerk)

Andrew Minnis (Researcher)

 

 

 

<AI1>

1.  Introductions, apologies and substitutions

1.1 The Chair welcomed everyone to the Committee. There were no apologies.

 

</AI1>

<AI2>

2.  Ministerial Scrutiny session - Minister for Local Government and Communities

2.1 The Chair welcomed the Minister and his Officials. Members questioned the Minister.

 

2.2 The Minister agreed to provide a note on the following:

         

- When appropriate a written update providing details of the Minister’s proposals for freight, and an update on the progress in relation to each of the ‘steps towards delivery’ identified in the Wales Freight Strategy;

- Details of the discussions between the First Minister and UK Government regarding the proposed opportunities for the M4;

- Details of work undertaken to improve north/south links;

- Update the Committee following discussions on the new scheme for bus financing, and provide KPI’s to measure the success of the scheme.

- Provide the Committee with more detail on the basic BSOG rate figures and comparison with England, including a comparison of BSOG rates prior to reduction, and comparison of the new rates in England and Wales once all available additional allowances and rebates are included;

- Provide the Committee with a copy of the work by the Chair of the WCVA on non-emergency hospital transport;

- Provide more information on the delivery and finance of the Walking and Cycling action plan including the success rates and the level of expenditure in connection with the plan;

- Figures showing the achievements of the Sustainable Travel Centres initiative along with details of revenue funding allocated to the Sustainable Travel Towns programme, both historically and over the next 3 years.

 

</AI2>

<AI3>

3.  Inquiry into international connectivity through Welsh ports and airports - Evidence session

3.1 The Chair welcomed Martin Evans and Professor Stuart Cole to the meeting. Members questioned the witnesses.

 

3.2 The unasked questions would be sent to Professor Cole who agreed to provide a written note.

 

</AI3>

<AI4>

4.  Motion under Standing Order 17.42 to resolve to exclude the public from the meeting for the remainder of the meeting

4.1 The Chair moved a motion under Standing Order 17.42 to resolve to exclude the public for the remainder of the meeting.

4.2 The Committee agreed the motion, and moved into private session.

 

</AI4>

<AI5>

5.  Discussion of Forward Work Programme - Consideration of future inquiry

5.1 The Committee agreed the conduct an inquiry into apprenticeships in Wales and subject to a few amendments agreed the draft terms of reference. 

 

</AI5>

<AI6>

6.  Papers to note

 

</AI6>

<AI7>

Transcript

View the meeting transcript.

</AI7>

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