Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee

Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee
Name	Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee
Legislature	Senedd
Formed	2021
Chair	Paul Davies
Chair term	2021–present
Chairparty	Conservative
Oversight	Welsh Government
Portfolio	Economy, Trade, Rural Affairs
Website	https://senedd.wales

Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee is a Senedd committee established in 2021 to scrutinize the Welsh Government's policies and expenditure concerning economic development, international trade, and rural communities. It holds the Minister for Economy and the Minister for Rural Affairs to account, conducting inquiries into key sectors like agriculture, tourism, and renewable energy. The committee plays a vital role in examining legislation and advising the Senedd on matters central to the prosperity of Wales.

History and establishment

The committee was formed following the 2021 Senedd election and the subsequent establishment of the Sixth Senedd, as part of a wider restructuring of the Senedd committee system. Its creation reflected the increasing devolution of powers to Cardiff Bay, particularly in areas like taxation through the Welsh Revenue Authority and economic policy following the United Kingdom Internal Market Act 2020. The committee succeeded and expanded upon the remits of previous bodies such as the Economy, Infrastructure and Skills Committee and the Climate Change, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee, consolidating scrutiny of the interconnected rural and trade portfolios under the Fifth Welsh Government led by Mark Drakeford.

Role and responsibilities

The committee's core function is to scrutinize the performance and expenditure of the Welsh Government departments overseen by Vaughan Gething as Minister for Economy and later by Jeremy Miles, and Lesley Griffiths as Minister for Rural Affairs. Its remit covers a broad range of policy areas including business support, regional economic development, international trade and inward investment, agricultural policy post-Common Agricultural Policy, food security, and the development of marine energy in the Celtic Sea. It examines relevant Welsh legislation, holds evidence sessions with stakeholders from NFU Cymru to the Confederation of British Industry, and reviews the implementation of strategies like the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015.

Membership and structure

As a Senedd committee, it comprises nine Members of the Senedd (MSs), reflecting the political balance of the Senedd. The chair is Paul Davies of the Conservative Party, with membership drawn from Welsh Labour, Plaid Cymru, and the Welsh Liberal Democrats. The committee is supported by clerking and research staff from the Senedd Commission and regularly appoints specialist advisers for complex inquiries. It operates through regular meetings at Tŷ Hywel and the Senedd building, and can establish sub-groups or conduct visits to locations such as Port Talbot or Aberystwyth for specific investigations.

Key inquiries and reports

The committee has conducted significant inquiries into pressing economic challenges facing Wales. Major reports have included investigations into the economic resilience of rural communities, the future of the steel industry in Wales, and the impact of the United Kingdom–Australia Free Trade Agreement on Welsh agriculture. It has published influential studies on digital connectivity in the Cambrian Mountains, the promotion of Welsh food and drink, and the support for the creative industries in regions like Cardiff and Swansea Bay City Region. Its recommendations have directly informed debates in the Senedd and responses from the Welsh Government.

Relationship with other bodies

The committee interacts with a wide network of domestic and UK institutions. It regularly takes evidence from and holds joint sessions with other Senedd committees like the Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee and the Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee. It also engages with UK-wide bodies such as the Department for Business and Trade, the Competition and Markets Authority, and parliamentary committees like the House of Commons Welsh Affairs Select Committee. At a regional level, it works with entities including Business Wales, Development Bank of Wales, Visit Wales, and local authorities through Welsh Local Government Association.

Impact and legacy

The committee has established itself as a influential scrutineer of economic and rural policy in Wales, contributing to legislative refinement and heightened government accountability. Its work has shaped debates on critical issues from post-Brexit arrangements for fisheries to the just transition for a net zero economy. By providing a dedicated forum for evidence from sectors like forestry and advanced manufacturing, the committee ensures the interests of rural Wales and key industries are represented in Cardiff Bay, influencing the development of future policy frameworks and spending priorities under the Welsh Government.

Category:Senedd committees Category:Economy of Wales Category:Rural society in Wales