Ken Skates: I think the Member should reflect on what his colleague said yesterday about ensuring that due diligence is followed and thoroughly pursued—it’s absolutely essential. So, whether it’s Yr Egin or any other project, we do pursue due diligence rather than rush hastily into an investment that may not offer best value for money for the taxpayer. In terms of the UK Government’s strategy,...
Ken Skates: Well, in terms of business rate relief, this is obviously something that’s in the hands of my colleague, the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government, but what I am pleased with is that the scheme is to be extended for 2017-18, and that a new permanent scheme will exist from 2018 onwards. We’re already providing something in the region of £98 million in rate relief to...
Ken Skates: The prosperous and secure strategy, which forms part of four cross-cutting strategies for Welsh Government, will be presented to the First Minister, along with the other three strategies, this spring. They will be published together, and through all four I think Members will be able to see that themes and interventions can be woven right across not just the economy, but the public sector,...
Ken Skates: I think it’s absolutely essential, with regard to the Northern Powerhouse, that the growth deal in north Wales dovetails perfectly with the aspirations and the vision that local authorities and the local enterprise partnerships have across the border. For that reason, I’ve been quite clear in saying that, ultimately, I would envisage a joint committee structure that perhaps crosses the...
Ken Skates: Well, we’ll be investing more than £700 million in the metro, and this will see vast improvements to infrastructure and to the travelling experience of many, many commuters across south-east Wales. I was very grateful that the Member was able to attend last week’s briefing session on the next rail franchise, which, of course, included a briefing on the metro as it’s going to be rolled...
Ken Skates: Well, Torfaen is a small local authority; I think we need to recognise that. And therefore £11 million, whilst, in the greater scheme of things, when we talk about more than £700 million, might appear a small sum, actually, to a small local authority, to a relatively small council, £11 million is a significant investment and demonstrates, I feel, a commitment to a vision that I think,...
Ken Skates: I’ll consider any project as part of a wider investment by Network Rail that delivers better value for money and a better experience for passengers. I think the Member may be aware of this statistic—it’s quite startling—that Welsh Government have invested more in the current control period in rail infrastructure than those who are actually responsible for rail infrastructure, and I...
Ken Skates: Yes. Visit Wales continues to promote faith and religious heritage sites as part of the overall heritage offer. Our Year of Legends will focus very much on all aspects of Wales’s heritage.
Ken Skates: We can if we look specifically at those sites that we measure visitor numbers for. So, for example, with the Cadw sites that are related to the question the Member asks, we’ve seen a considerable increase in visitor numbers. And, in terms of the associated spend, we’ve seen again an increase. We’ve seen, for example, with Cadw properties at Tintern and Valle Crucis and Strata Florida,...
Ken Skates: Yes, we already do that with the faith tourism section of the Visit Wales website. I think it’s important that we don’t see an overabundance of websites and web pages dedicated to what essentially are the same subjects, and that instead we are able to direct visitors who are looking to learn more about faith tourism to key portals. For that purpose, I am going to encourage the Member to,...
Ken Skates: Our national transport finance plan sets out the interventions we are taking to tackle congestion and provide sustainable alternatives to car use.
Ken Skates: I do very much welcome this initiative by Cardiff city council. We have some distance to travel before we catch up with some of those Scandinavian countries, but we are on the right path. The key to success is in changing people’s behaviour and cultures. For that reason, I’m particularly pleased that we are investing in the Active Journeys initiative, which is operating in primary and...
Ken Skates: I’d happily provide the Member with an update. I’m very pleased that we’ve been able to identify additional resource to solve the problems of pinch points across the trunk road network in Wales. But I’m also keen to ensure that, where we can identify solutions to in-town congestion, we implement them at speed. So, I’d be more than happy to take a look at the particular proposal for...
Ken Skates: I don’t think the honourable Member should be so disparaging about colleagues in the Chamber. But the important point to make about Cardiff is that we are rolling out one of the most ambitious programmes, in the form of the metro, for public transport anywhere in western Europe. I think that’s something that should be applauded and it’s something that will hugely contribute to removing...
Ken Skates: We are fully committed to public transport for disabled people that removes barriers to travel, that empowers people and that promotes independent living, rather than inhibits it. I’m also particularly keen to ensure that public transport empowers vulnerable groups to participate in society, and this is a cornerstone of ‘Taking Wales Forward’.
Ken Skates: As I just said to Neil McEvoy, I think community transport plays as an essential role within the mix, and we’ve seen an increase in the number of people using community transport in recent times. It’s my belief that community transport plays a particularly important role for people who are unable to access conventional buses or trains, or who may have particular health-related...
Ken Skates: I couldn’t agree more. I think it’s absolutely essential that we recognise that public transport should be an empowering provision, and that every person in society should expect access to good-quality forms of public transport. The Member might be interested to know that I’ve established an accessibility group to advise me on the new rail franchise, but the group is also able to advise...
Ken Skates: It’s essential that the PRM 2020 is met by the new franchise operators. All four bidders are well aware of their obligations that they must meet by 2020. As we are currently involved in a competitive dialogue process with the bidders, I can’t reveal any of the details of what they are offering, but I can assure the Member that we are focused on delivering a transport system that doesn’t...
Ken Skates: Yes. As set out in the national transport finance plan, we are making significant investments to modernise transport infrastructure across north Wales. We are also working closely with National Grid to explore how a third Menai crossing could be utilised to carry power from Wylfa Newydd onto the national grid.
Ken Skates: I was pleased to meet with the Member on Monday in Llandudno Junction to discuss the tidal lagoon proposal and during that discussion we raised the prospect and possibility of a lagoon actually protecting coastal communities. I think it’s really important that I continue to work with other Cabinet colleagues in finding solutions that get best value for money for the taxpayer. In terms of...
