Ken Skates: It could be. Yes, absolutely. Absolutely. It adds to the attractiveness of the facility. As I said in the statement regarding what was called within the civil service and my office 'Project Hornby', but will be a global centre of research excellence, this was demand-led by the industry and, as you're aware, there are huge, huge sums of money being set aside for the development of more...
Ken Skates: Our plans for economic development are set out in 'Prosperity for All' and the economic action plan. We continue to provide a wide range of support to businesses in Wales through, for example, Business Wales and the development bank. We also provide infrastructure investment and actions that improve business conditions.
Ken Skates: Our economic action plan sets out our approach to enable all parts of Wales to benefit from economic growth. Manufacturing is key to the economy of Wales and our priority remains to develop and strengthen the manufacturing base in all regions.
Ken Skates: We are committed to supporting the long-term viability of steel making in Wales. The US Administration’s decision to introduce 25 per cent tariffs on EU steel imports was deeply disappointing and we raised with UK Government the importance of ensuring the EU undertakes actions to safeguard the sector from consequential impacts.
Ken Skates: I launched the economic contract on 21 May and it now frames our interactions with business, including those in Mid and West Wales. We are using it to encourage and promote the adoption of responsible business practices, as part of a wider ‘something for something’ approach.
Ken Skates: Since 2013 the Welsh Government has provided local authorities with £25 million a year to support local bus services to communities across Wales. Towards the end of 2017-18 we provided an additional £3 million to enable authorities to purchase bus stop infrastructure, audiovisual kits and related support for the bus network.
Ken Skates: We are making good progress with implementing the national strategy 'Prosperity for All', and the economic action plan that supports it.
Ken Skates: The findings of the review of elite and performance sports facilities form the first element of the wider review of sports facilities in Wales that is currently under way. I will be considering them alongside the findings of the wider review once completed.
Ken Skates: Can I thank the Member for her keen interest in this particular subject, and assure her that we're in regular dialogue with both the Welsh Automotive Forum and the national sector bodies on the potential impact of Brexit? Based upon these discussions, and based on daily interaction with Welsh automotive companies, my officials continue to assess the potential scenarios.
Ken Skates: Can I thank Lynne Neagle again for making an important point about just-in-time delivering? This is something that the outgoing Confederation of British Industry director recently talked of in the context of Brexit. And the Member is absolutely right—there are hundreds of her constituents employed in the automotive sector in Torfaen, and there are 19,000 people across Wales employed in this...
Ken Skates: Well, we're in active discussions with other employers concerning utilising the Ford site in Bridgend and in terms of growing the automotive sector in Wales. Of course, Brexit, and the uncertainties concerning Brexit, are an inhibiting factor in terms of being able to attract investment. However, through our new offices not just in north America, but across Europe, we are discussing with...
Ken Skates: Look, nobody wins in the scenario that we have no agreed deal, based on the negotiations that have taken place. I think one area in which the Member is absolutely right in his assessment is in saying that this shouldn't just be a debate about who is going to be the worst loser and ensuring that the UK is not the worst loser. In order to ensure that we all benefit to the maximum, and that...
Ken Skates: Local people will be better connected and will be able to take advantage of job, health and leisure opportunities. The metro will deliver four trains per hour to each of the Heads of the Valleys communities north of Cardiff Queen Street, from 2022 for Merthyr, and from 2023 for Rhymney.
Ken Skates: Well, I'd agree entirely with the Member that transport has a crucial role to play in regeneration and growing the economy not just in established centres of wealth, but also in more deprived areas. And Rhymney will see investment in a new bay platform, will see investment in track stabling and charging points and enhanced light maintenance. And this will support the more and bigger trains...
Ken Skates: Yes, the aim with flatlining is to make sure that those who are accessing opportunities or coming from those communities at the Heads of the Valleys pay less, making sure that we bring a degree of equality of opportunity in terms of access and job opportunities. It's worth saying that one of the major barriers facing people who are not in work is the cost and availability of transport, and...
Ken Skates: I don't think we can necessarily rely on goodwill alone; I think what it requires is goodwill, a degree of co-operation with Welsh Government, but also a recognition that if you are to be successful in business, particularly in the retail sector—and the company that the Member has not named is part of the retail sector—you need to engage with the community upon which you, basically,...
Ken Skates: Of course, with the economic contract, that's designed to drive inclusive growth and then the calls to action is a new lens through which we'll be supporting businesses, intended to drive down the productivity gap between ourselves and many European countries. Within the economic contract, which is, I repeat, designed to drive inclusive growth, there is a certain point in the criteria to...
Ken Skates: I'd agree entirely, and I think the example of the Euros is perfect in demonstrating how the attention of an entire continent—actually, the entire world—can focus on a small country and focus in on what its unique attributes are. In the case of the Euros, the Welsh language was being spoken very far and wide, and giving us that added value. But I'm delighted to be able to say that we will...
Ken Skates: Not necessarily, because the economic action plan places a particular focus on regional working and now that we have the chief regional officers in place and we have strong regional working through the development of growth and city deals, I'm confident that we'll be able to further strengthen regional economies with their own distinct identities in years to come.
Ken Skates: I would say that we need to resolve certain pressing issues concerning local authority activities, including planning, for example. It's also essential that we have a simplified and more transparent process to support businesses—that's why Welsh Government is consolidating a number of funds into the economy futures fund. But, in the months to come, as we further implement the economic...
