Ken Skates: Well, I very much welcome the positive news from the garden. It’s great to hear that visitor figures and membership have increased. Of course, the garden has taken advantage of Welsh Government schemes such as the Year of Adventure and also the funding that we provide annually to ensure that more people are attracted to the garden, not just once, but on a repeated basis. That’s why I...
Ken Skates: I understand that the UK Government intend to go out to consultation later this year on tolling arrangements.
Ken Skates: Yes, I do. Subject to the consultation, the bridge reverts to public ownership in 2018, and once the debt has been repaid, all revenues will then go to the Exchequer—above the maintenance costs. That, to me, constitutes a tax on travel to Wales, and I would expect the tolls to be abolished.
Ken Skates: Yes, the Historic Environment (Wales) Act 2016 has placed Wales at the forefront of the UK nations in the protection and management of the historic environment. We continue to work closely with a wide range of partners in building a heritage sector that has a sustainable future.
Ken Skates: Local groups are absolutely crucial in helping the historic environment remain a vibrant place that people visit, that people experience, that people can volunteer at and that people can acquire skills at. The voluntary group that has looked at Ruperra castle is particularly active, and I congratulate them on their work. In the Member’s constituency, we have the fastest growing visitor...
Ken Skates: Formally.
Ken Skates: Thank you, Presiding Officer, and can I thank Members for their contributions today and welcome the opportunity to debate this very important issue? I do believe that we have before us a once-in-a-generation opportunity to develop a world-class transport infrastructure in Wales. Together with metro south and metro north-east, the new Wales and borders franchise, upgrades to the A55, the M4...
Ken Skates: As a Government, our focus for poverty continues to be on investment in the early years and employability. Evidence tells us that this is where we can have the most impact and reflects the policy levers available in relation to tackling poverty and improving the outcomes of low income households.
Ken Skates: Yes, the procurement process to select an operational and delivery partner is being undertaken by Transport for Wales, a wholly owned, not-for-profit company established by the Welsh Government to provide support and expertise to deliver the next Wales and borders rail franchise and the next phase of the metro project.
Ken Skates: I’d like to thank the Member for giving me an opportunity to confirm that the headquarters of Transport for Wales will be located in the Valleys. When I made my statement, which was comprehensive, back in July I said it was my intention to ensure that that happens, and I can tell Members today that it is still my intention, once we have identified suitable premises, for the headquarters of...
Ken Skates: I’d like to thank the Member for his questions. We were very disappointed that the UK Government has not agreed to invest more in the network within Wales and those parts of the network in England that are operated as part of the current franchise. Historically, the network has been underfunded and I think the latest statistics suggest that only 1 per cent of the network spending has come...
Ken Skates: Competition can be helpful; the problem with the current franchise is that, when the contract was awarded, it was based on—as Members have already identified this afternoon—zero growth. That, in turn, led to all increases in passenger travel and passenger tickets, all of the revenue that was gathered from them, to be generated as profit for the operator. If we look at the current...
Ken Skates: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. Today, I am launching a consultation on a national infrastructure commission for Wales. This Government’s delivery document, ‘Taking Wales Forward’, sets out how we will work to secure more and better jobs through a stronger, fairer economy; improve and reform our public services; and build a united, connected and sustainable Wales. ‘Taking Wales...
Ken Skates: Can I thank the Member for his comments, and put on record my thanks to both Adam Price and to Dai Lloyd for the very constructive discussions that we’ve had? I’d like to thank the Members and their party for the advance notice that I was given as well of the proposals for the Plaid Cymru infrastructure commission for Wales. I do think discussions and the document that you have produced...
Ken Skates: Can I thank the Member for his contribution, and say that, actually, I think we need to give more respect to the discussions that have taken place between the Government and Plaid Cymru, because the compact is what has actually delivered this piece of work that is now going to be taken forward? I think it is a major piece of work that we can be proud of. In terms of the commission itself,...
Ken Skates: I’d like to thank the Member for his comments and assure him that it is not due to a cosy friendship that we’re here today, presenting plans for a national infrastructure commission, it’s because both parties have decided to be inclusive, to be tolerant and open-minded in discussions that have taken place. We’d welcome any other parties that wish to act in a similar way and that have...
Ken Skates: Can I thank the Member for the important points and questions that she raised in her contribution, and say that she is absolutely right in that the well-being goals are the driving force behind the creation of an infrastructure commission—goals that will ensure that we focus on longer-term strategies to drive infrastructure investment to help provide the sort of sustainable and integrated...
Ken Skates: I think the Member is absolutely right to identify the need for higher quality jobs within the economy, not just in order to give improved life chances to people right across all of our communities, but also to drive up the GVA of the Welsh economy. We will be piloting a Better Jobs, Closer to Home project, I believe, in the Valleys as part of the Valleys taskforce that my colleague the...
Ken Skates: I'd like to thank Dai Lloyd for his comments and for his kind thanks, as well, for the way that I and my office have been able to discuss proposals with him and with Adam Price. I've said before that I've no monopoly on wisdom or any copyrights on good ideas, and I think what this process has shown us is that, actually, it's really important that we should share good ideas, discuss and debate...
Ken Skates: Can I thank Jeremy Miles for his questions and say that, under the model that we are proposing in terms of the pool of available funding, the financing and the delivery of infrastructure would remain the responsibility of Government. It would be informed by the advice of the new body, but the actual quantum of resources available would still be determined by Government. I would expect...
