Ken Skates: Grief and sadness are incredibly powerful emotions—incredibly powerful. They can unite people though at times of discord and bring people together. It's happening right now at this moment in time as people are expressing their sadness and their grief for Her Majesty the Queen, and, as Sam Rowlands identified, in her life, the Queen had an unparalleled ability to unite people, at all times...
Ken Skates: Can I also thank Jayne Bryant for raising this important issue today? Trefnydd, I was in Coedpoeth, a community that you're familiar with, very recently, on patrol for a full morning with the local police there. I was astonished by just how much they know about the communities that we serve and the people that live in them. Would you join with me in thanking all of our police forces, and in...
Ken Skates: Can I also thank Rhun ap Iorwerth for tabling this important question? Of course, the inquiry will expose how effective or not communications were between Governments—the UK Government, Welsh Government and other Governments in the United Kingdom. But, of course, COVID has not gone away; we've not defeated COVID yet. I stand to be corrected by the health Minister, but I believe that right...
Ken Skates: Trefnydd, I'd be very grateful for a statement regarding the economy. It's pretty clear now that the UK Government, and the Chancellor in particular, has lost control of the UK's economy, with terrible consequences in store for us all. Could we have a statement, please, from the economy Minister specifically concerning businesses and the likely consequences for Welsh businesses of a...
Ken Skates: I’m also very grateful to Sam Rowlands for tabling this important motion today. I’m going to make four quick points that I’ll elaborate on in correspondence, Minister: first of all, that it’s essential that elite performance funding follows the athlete and doesn’t go straight to governing bodies or national centres. That’s because north Wales sportspeople must be able to access...
Ken Skates: First Minister, when the Prime Minister finally talks with you and not just about you, can you assure her on behalf of the people of mid and west Wales that you are not at all anti-growth but that you are, most proudly, anti-greed?
Ken Skates: 8. Will the Minister provide an update on the delivery of the COVID-19 vaccination programme? OQ58516
Ken Skates: What steps is the Welsh Government taking to support teaching assistants in schools?
Ken Skates: I'd like to thank Natasha Asghar for tabling this important question. Minister, given what young people have been through with COVID, what they're going to go through with the cost-of-living crisis, it is essential, is it not, that, through the new curriculum, they're able to attain those essential life skills, particularly in financial literacy and mental health awareness. Would you join me...
Ken Skates: Thank you, Minister. That's excellent news. The vaccine, of course, is the most effective way to defend ourselves against COVID, and, in order to live with the virus, it's incumbent on us all to accept the jab when it's available to us. It's also vital that the roll-out of the programme continues in the most efficient and equitable way. Are you confident that people are able to have the...
Ken Skates: 2. What assessment has the First Minister made of the impact on Wales of the recent turmoil in the financial markets? OQ58590
Ken Skates: Thank you, First Minister. Of course, the fourth Chancellor in as many months has now buried Trussonomics and u-turned on pretty much the entire mini-budget, but, as you outlined, the effects of steering the economy like a bumper car will have devastating consequences: higher taxes, higher inflation, high mortgage rates. Is it fair that the people of Wales and the people of the UK are being...
Ken Skates: Trefnydd, I'm in no doubt that you'd agree that hosting Eurovision 2023 in Liverpool is fantastic news for the whole of Wales, but particularly for north Wales. So, I'd be very grateful for a statement from the Government on how the Welsh Government plans to promote north Wales and the whole of Wales at next year's event. It is a wonderful opportunity, given how closely we work with...
Ken Skates: 5. What assessment has the Welsh Government made of how many swimming pools may have to close this winter as a result of rising energy prices and the cost-of-living crisis? OQ58557
Ken Skates: Thank you, Minister. That's really reassuring to hear. I know that you're familiar with the story of Plas Madoc Leisure Centre in my constituency and the incredible work done by volunteers to keep it open through thick and thin. But they're really facing the wall this winter, partly as a result of Brexit, with chemical costs rising through the roof and delivery challenges, but also because of...
Ken Skates: First Minister, the HyNet North West programme has the potential to radically change the way that we fuel our transport and business needs across the north-west of England and, of course, north Wales. The programme is being championed by the metro mayor of Liverpool city region, Steve Rotheram, and it's supported by Wrexham and Flintshire councils, as well as the north Wales business...
Ken Skates: Minister, may I thank you for bringing forward this valuable statement today? I very much welcome it and, at the risk of repeating the excellent contribution by Mabon ap Gwynfor, I would just like to state that, in this part of north Wales, in Clwyd South, we do have a major problem in some communities, those popular tourist communities, including Llangollen, where there are many domestic...
Ken Skates: 2. Will the Minister make a statement on the Welsh Government's review of junction improvements on the A483? OQ58740
Ken Skates: Thank you for your statement, Minister. Of course, junction 1 at Ruabon was not included in the roads review, and therefore work on improving that junction has not been paused, and it's for good reason. That particular junction is utterly lethal and has created a congestion canyon right up the A483, with resulting carbon emissions increases. And, of course, it's also sending motorists onto...
Ken Skates: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. I move the Commission's budget motion for 2023-24, and ask that it be incorporated into the annual budget motion. As you will have seen in the budget document, the Commission is seeking a total budget of £67.643 million, comprising £41 million for Commission services, £17.8 million for the remuneration board’s determination, £101,000 for the office of the...
