Ken Skates: It is two weeks since I announced the roll-out of the calls to action. The initial reception has been positive, but we will continue to monitor feedback to refine implementation.
Ken Skates: The Welsh Government’s tourism strategy, ‘Partnership for Growth’, sets out our priorities for developing and marketing all of Wales. Over the past few years we have provided support for a number of exciting projects and events in the south Wales Valleys, a prime example of this is Rock UK in Trelewis.
Ken Skates: The written statement issued on 24 May is the latest position. I will update Members on developments of air links in due course.
Ken Skates: My written statement on Monday, 4 June provides Members with an update of the benefits across Wales that the new rail services contract will provide passengers. The Rhymney line will be transformed as part of the south Wales Metro by 2023.
Ken Skates: The 'Prosperity for All' national strategy and economic action plan sets out the actions that we are taking to support sustainable economies across all parts of Wales.
Ken Skates: Yes. The Welsh Government supports a wide range of events and festivals across Wales. In 2018, we have confirmed funding for 24 sporting and cultural events, including major international sporting events such as the Volvo Ocean Race, and home-grown cultural events such as the Machynlleth Comedy Festival and the Steelhouse Festival.
Ken Skates: Can I thank the Member for raising this important question? I also applaud the organisers of the Merthyr Rising festival. It's absolutely vital that we use major events and smaller musical, cultural and sporting events to showcase and celebrate our history, our heritage and our culture, and the Merthyr Rising festival did just that. I'm pleased to say that, in terms of going forward...
Ken Skates: Well, can I thank the Member for his question? He makes a very important point about the value of the food and drinks sector to Wales and, in particular, in attracting visitors to Wales. The Abergavenny Food Festival is amongst many, many food festivals in Wales that are growing strong. We support a huge number of food and drink festivals now in Wales, because they don't just support in turn...
Ken Skates: The 'Prosperity for All' national strategy and the economic action plan set out the actions we are taking to improve the economy and business environment across the whole of Wales, including the Swansea bay region.
Ken Skates: I think universities do have a crucial role in fusing their work with up-and-coming businesses, particularly in the tech sector. I think that the Swansea bay region is showing world-class expertise in the development of exciting new companies in the tech sector. I think it's fair to say that the Be The Spark methodology emphasises the importance of true stakeholder collaboration....
Ken Skates: I'm very, very keen to see both the regional plans that are being drawn together at this moment in time and the enabling plans for the foundation sectors, of which tourism is one, to ensure that we identify all communities and all of the assets that can drive the visitor economy. Those particular destinations, which the member has just identified, are clearly opportunities. Yes, they may...
Ken Skates: Can I thank David Rees for this very important question for the entire region, but particularly for the community that Neath station serves? Let me be absolutely clear: regardless of who recommends what, Neath station is staying on the main line. Moreover, Neath station won't just be protected; Neath station will be enhanced as part of the franchise agreement that we've reached with...
Ken Skates: Can I thank the Member for his question and say that our position is very clear and is based on our trade White Paper? We need a customs union with which to do business, and I am deeply concerned about the future not just of the automotive sector, but all sectors that rely on smooth customs arrangements. Now, of course, there are opportunities for the automotive sector in terms of the UK...
Ken Skates: Well, again, we've been entirely consistent in saying that we believe that we will need access to the single market on our exit from the EU. With regard to a customs arrangement, we've also been very clear in saying that we have to have a consistent regulatory environment across the UK and Europe to ensure that we can have smooth passage of goods and services, and that we also need...
Ken Skates: We've been entirely consistent, and the Member here accuses me of glossing over what might be semantics. Actually, we've been very clear in our approach and we will not budge in our approach. And that will inform every position that we take in terms of informing and encouraging Members of Parliament and Members of the House of Lords. We wish to see access to the single market continuing and...
Ken Skates: The Member raises a crucially important point, in that automation is probably the biggest challenge for many, many sectors of the Welsh economy, and will continue to be so for many years, if not decades to come. Business would not wish us to be overly prescriptive in the way that we support their future development, but what we have done is created a calls to action, essentially five points...
Ken Skates: I have met with National Grid and it's quite clear that significant investment is required to strengthen the grid if we are to see the development of electric vehicles as we would wish, and certainly as we would wish in order to cut carbon emissions. That investment should be provided centrally and it should be provided speedily. For our part, we are looking at developing more electric...
Ken Skates: I'd be more than willing to meet—. I should say I'd be happy to meet with the Member to discuss the proposals, because I think they align quite neatly with our proposals for the Tech Valleys initiative and for the automotive sector as a whole. And indeed, for that matter, they align perfectly with the work that's going on at the moment by Professor Brown concerning automation and...
Ken Skates: Granted I'm not responsible for energy, but I will answer the question because I think it's a very important question. No, we won't shift our approach insofar as shale gas. Instead, we believe, and it's stated very clearly in the economic action plan, that we wish to see both well-being and wealth improved in the aggregate across Wales, but we also wish to see inequality in both reduced. We...
Ken Skates: I'd argue that, actually, it's renewable energy that has the potential to create more jobs and jobs that are sustainable. And also in terms of renewable, you can guarantee that it will be there tomorrow, whereas once you've drawn out all of the shale gas, it's gone. My belief is that the United States' position is a rather quick fix, here today, gone tomorrow approach to energy, drawing out...
