Ken Skates: Whilst banking is non-devolved and branch closures are a commercial matter for the banks, we are keen to ensure that businesses and individuals across Wales have access to banking facilities, including cashpoints and cash deposits and collection facilities. We have put in place measures to support this.
Ken Skates: Can I say to the Member that I am most sympathetic to what he is going through and what his communities are going through at the moment? In my constituency of Clwyd South, I have just one bank remaining—just one bank. That’s a Barclays bank. So, I’ve been through, over the past five years, repeated so-called consultations, which always conclude with the closure of a bank. I think it’s...
Ken Skates: Yes. The additional funding is welcomed but it does not reverse the cuts to our capital budget over recent years. Our priority will be ensuring that we use this additional funding to support the creation of a prosperous and secure Wales.
Ken Skates: I’m very interested in the proposed transport hub at Celtic Manor, particularly given the development of the convention centre there and its increasing significance as a major destination in south-east Wales. In terms of costs and resources for the metro project as a whole, we expect every penny that was to come from Europe to come from the UK Government when we exit the EU. The guarantees...
Ken Skates: This is an extremely interesting subject matter and the Welsh Government is fully committed to harnessing the opportunities that the fourth revolution presents. Our support for cutting-edge technology, research and development will ensure that innovation is a major economic enabler for Wales.
Ken Skates: Yes, I most certainly would. I’m pleased to be able to tell the Member today that the Wales European Funding Office understands that Industry Wales, who, can I put on record, have been incredibly helpful in teaching me something about industry 4.0, are working in partnership with a number of Welsh universities and are planning to submit an industry 4.0-related bid for funding under the...
Ken Skates: Yes. Some 30,000 buildings across Wales have been protected through listing as nationally important buildings of special architectural or historical interest. Four hundred and ninety three of these are grade I.
Ken Skates: Local authorities are able to put together local lists of historic interest, but, in terms of what Cadw is doing—and I think it’s important that we recognise that Welsh Government is there to support, both in terms of statutory functions and non-statutory functions, the historic environment—we’re leading on three key initiatives. One is the places of worship action plan, another is...
Ken Skates: Our culture sector has an important part to play in promoting Wales as an outward-facing nation that values cultural exchange. We will press for a cultural exemption clause to restrictions on freedom of movement, and for any loss in EU funds for culture to be replaced by UK national funds.
Ken Skates: I’m very pleased to be able to inform the Member that I am funding our activity at that festival. I am absolutely delighted that we’ve been chosen to be a key partner in 2018, the Year of the Sea, but also the year of friendship with our partners across Europe.
Ken Skates: Yes. I’m delighted to say that international visitors to Wales have grown strongly, with trips increasing by 10 per cent and spend by 25 per cent between 2011 and 2015. Figures from the international passenger survey for the first six months of 2016 also show growth in both trips and spend.
Ken Skates: Can I thank the Member for his question and say that I am also pleased that north Wales is the fourth greatest region on the planet? This week, I’m pleased to be able tell the Member that Wales won another award. We won the best in UK for youth, student and educational travellers, and that was at the British Youth Travel Awards. North Wales, without a doubt, has a unique offer, and I am...
Ken Skates: Yes. The Secretary of State’s comments relate to how legal functions might be shared in the future, and final agreement in this area is yet to be reached. What we would stress, as the Secretary of State has confirmed, is that Welsh Government will either receive functions in respect of cross-border services, or be able to exercise them on his behalf. The details of the agreements reached on...
Ken Skates: I was intending to be, unlike the Member, generous in my response and suggest that it was a mistake of his rather than a mischief that has led him to assert many factual inaccuracies. But I’m going to begin with the quote that he repeated, from Chris Grayling, which he did not repeat in full. Chris Grayling said, ‘I need to correct the hon. Gentleman on that: we are not devolving...
Ken Skates: Yes, I’d like to thank the Member for his question. I’d also like to thank the Presiding Officer for deferring this urgent question until this moment. This is a huge moment for steel in Wales and Britain. I welcome, as a very significant step, the announcement earlier this afternoon that steel unions have secured from Tata Steel a commitment to secure employment and production at Port...
Ken Skates: Yes, I’d like to thank the Member for his questions. I agree that this has been a very long and taxing year for all Tata employees, for their families and for the wider communities, and I’m pleased that the uncertainty is now over and that they can look forward to Christmas and face the new year with confidence and security. I’m going to be making further announcements in due course...
Ken Skates: I’d like to thank the Member for his questions and say that it most certainly does just that, and I’m surely not the only Member in this Chamber to have family employed within the Tata steelworks estate. Today marks a very significant moment in terms of giving security to many people who have lived the past year in a constant state of anxiety about their future employment. In terms of our...
Ken Skates: I would like to thank John Griffiths for his questions and say that, whilst I am very grateful for his kind words, I do believe that it is the First Minister who has led on this issue, and has been able to ensure that we are at the point where we are today. I’d also say that Assembly Members have expressed concern over the future of the steel industry from across the Chamber, and I think...
Ken Skates: Can I thank Suzy Davies for her questions? We have been working on this, as you’re aware, for many months and there has been no freezing out. In fact, the relationship that Welsh Government has had with Tata has been very productive. I would have dearly loved to be able to provide a running commentary on where we were with Tata, but unfortunately, given the sensitivity of this issue and the...
Ken Skates: Local management is, of course, crucial and accountability to the community is essential. I think one of the lessons that we can take from the past year is that communities will stand up united when they face the prospect of a significant number of jobs being lost. That, in turn, I think justifies the position that we’ve taken through the programme for government and the Welsh Labour...
