, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Hospitality, retail and tourism issues - Business representatives
Diolch, Gadeirydd.
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Hospitality, retail and tourism issues - Business representatives
Okay. Did David Chapman want to come in? I've got no more questions so I can round off there.
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Hospitality, retail and tourism issues - Business representatives
Okay. And Welsh Government would have a role there in developing things like degree apprenticeships. I'll just come back to where I started, really.
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Hospitality, retail and tourism issues - Business representatives
Yes, but I think if there was—. We all know about CIPD, for example, or the Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals. It just seems that there isn't that kind of high-profile—. Michael is nodding there; were you going to add anything there, Michael? I…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Hospitality, retail and tourism issues - Business representatives
I think the fact that we don't know about this suggests that there is a lack of an academic underpinning of—
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Hospitality, retail and tourism issues - Business representatives
Yes. Is there an academic body, a Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development-style body, for tourism?
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Hospitality, retail and tourism issues - Business representatives
When I was at Cardiff Metropolitan University, they had a whole department for degrees in tourism and hospitality and some renowned academic experts providing qualifications in that field. So, do you think there's a disconnect between what academia is…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Hospitality, retail and tourism issues - Business representatives
I'd like to pick up where Suzy left off there regarding degree apprenticeships, because at the moment, the degree apprenticeship scheme is focusing on science, technology, engineering and mathematics, and is very much in pilot mode. So, you're suggesting that…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Hospitality, retail and tourism issues - Business representatives
Yes. I'd like to focus my question to Suzy, and can I just say it's lovely to see you here, Suzy? You really are much missed; from this side of the fence, that's certainly the case. Can I ask, just about some of the anecdotal evidence we've heard with regard…
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Chair of Sport Wales pre-appointment hearing
Thank you.
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Chair of Sport Wales pre-appointment hearing
So, my last question, then, would be: Sport Wales went through quite a well-documented and very publicly documented turbulent time in 2016-17, which I think, if we just say, frankly, it was down to a failure of leadership—we've seen stability since—what…
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Chair of Sport Wales pre-appointment hearing
Do you think that's a fundamental change to the current approach? And if it isn't, then is there anything else you'd like to fundamentally change?
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Chair of Sport Wales pre-appointment hearing
Sorry, the operator was unmuting me and I'm unmuting myself. Can you hear me okay? I did have a bad line. Yes. Okay, great. It's hard not to be reductionist in the time we've got, but would you be able to outline your three key objectives for the role and…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Development Bank of Wales - Annual Report scrutiny
Okay. I think we'd probably be speculating, then, if we went any further, so I'll hand you back to the Chair.
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Development Bank of Wales - Annual Report scrutiny
The only difference now is that this economic crisis is inflationary whereas the last one wasn't.
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Development Bank of Wales - Annual Report scrutiny
Okay. And finally, the economic environment with regard to inflation and interest rates, is this changing your forecast for the future? Is that having an impact on what you're able to achieve in this regard?
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Development Bank of Wales - Annual Report scrutiny
Okay. And what we're trying to get to is: are those discussions fruitful?
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Development Bank of Wales - Annual Report scrutiny
Okay. But you must have discussions with Welsh Government about the ability to achieve what they've asked—
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Development Bank of Wales - Annual Report scrutiny
Yes, sorry. My internet connection might be a bit unstable here. Has the Welsh Government given you the guarantees that you need in order to achieve that, particularly when you said that you need to keep capital in the system? Is that likely to happen? Is the…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Development Bank of Wales - Annual Report scrutiny
And are the Welsh Government agreeing, or is the Minister agreeing, to offer the—[Inaudible.]—support that you require in order to do that?
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Development Bank of Wales - Annual Report scrutiny
And with regard to the Wales flexible investment fund, the Minister wanted it to operate on what we understand to be a year-round what they call a 'fully evergreen basis'. Is the operation of the fund likely, therefore, to change as a result of that?
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Development Bank of Wales - Annual Report scrutiny
Is that the intention to meet the expectation, the remit letter, for you to help businesses spread the cost of borrowing and manage costs through economic recovery? Is that how you're tackling that, or are there other ways that you're achieving that?
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Development Bank of Wales - Annual Report scrutiny
As we move into the year ahead, we start to think about pandemic recovery rather than support through restrictions. With that in mind, can I ask what—? Can you give us an insight into the kind of discussions you've had with the Minister for Economy on how you…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Joint Fisheries Statement - Environmental Groups
Okay, I think that's it, Chair, unless you've got anything else.
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Joint Fisheries Statement - Environmental Groups
So, you feel optimistic about the JFS. What I'm reflecting, both from the fisheries sector and from what you've said, is that it's been a mixed bag in the past, but the JFS suggests there are opportunities for developing partnership working.
