National Assembly for Wales - Autumn Term

Plenary

The Autumn Term of the National Assembly for Wales has already started with some key opposition debates on the Welsh Government's Programme for Government and the McClelland Report on Procurement, Ministerial Statements on the GCSE English Language results in Wales and support for the Dairy Industry and a debate on the Independent Advisory Group's Report on Planning. 

This week sees a Statement by the Minister for Finance on the  Welsh Government's Budget for 2013/14. The 2012/13 Budget was only passed after some concessions to the Liberal Democrats and it will be interesting to see how this year's Budget discussions progress.

For those interested in Wales' trading links with the outside world there is a debate on Wednesday 3rd October on the Enterprise and Business Committee's report on International connectivity through Welsh ports and airports. 

Scheduled for 16th October are a Statement on Jobs Growth Wales and  a Debate on the Cities Region Report. The Cities Region Report has generated some interest in the business community and provides some interesting thoughts on the economic regeneration of South East Wales coupled with the approved  electrification of the London Swansea railway line and the South East Wales rail network.

Also of interest is a debate scheduled for 17th October on the  Environment and Sustainability Committee's report on Energy Policy and Planning Wales.

Committees

The Enterprise and Business Committee is conducting an inquiry into Integrated Public Transport, any submissions should be sent to the Committee by 2nd November 2012. The Committee's Inquiry into Apprenticeships in Wales is also ongoing.

Welsh Government

After a period of instigating a number of reviews and reports the Welsh Government will now be expected to develop some clear policy initiatives in areas such as procurement and business rates. The sectoral approach to developing the Welsh economy will come under increasing scrutiny as stakeholders look to see some significant benefits from that approach whilst there is also keen interest in the development of Enterprise Zones as key economic hubs.

Silk Commission

The  Silk Commission continues its deliberations and the Welsh Government continues to discuss the need for borrowing powers with the UK Government. The future funding of the Welsh Government is still unclear, with a solution to the problems of the Barnett formula still seeming some way off.

Severn Bridge

The Welsh Government commissioned report on the economic impact of the Severn Bridges' Tolls on the Welsh economy has still not been published, many are awaiting that report with interst.