Ken Skates: Yes. I can assure the Member that we are taking significant steps to tackle congestion and to improve journey time reliability, through our pinch points programme, and through improvements to public transport and supporting local authorities to address, themselves, key local issues.
Ken Skates: I recognise that the Member has a very keen interest in junctions between junctions 40 and 48 on the M4. It's an interest that his colleague sitting right next to him also has. [Laughter.] I think it's fair to say that evidencing the need to invest in transport improvements is absolutely vital, and modelling current and future traffic patterns will help, in turn, inform how we can maximise...
Ken Skates: Harbour Way will be included as part of the modelling for an integrated metro across the region. I can assure the Member of that. But, given the interest that's been raised in the Chamber today, and I know that interest has been raised more widely recently, may I offer to meet with Members across political parties to discuss the M4 to the west of Bridgend?
Ken Skates: Yes, most definitely. With the economic action plan, we're placing a new and sharper focus on regional economic development to ensure that we get a greater degree of quality of spend across Wales, and I'm pleased to be able to tell the Member today that I'll be publishing indicative regional budgets alongside the spending lines within my department, so that, in the future, it'll be more...
Ken Skates: Well, can I assure the Member that the consultation that we launched just last week in respect of the latest WelTAG stage 3 appraisals was in response to the action that's been taken against Welsh Ministers, and whilst I am very, very familiar with the argument in favour of keeping junction 41 open—indeed, I've engaged with campaign leaders on this in recent years—we do have a legal duty...
Ken Skates: An award-winning Wales brand was launched just two years ago, and it's used for tourism, business, food and drink, and health campaigns, and it is delivering strong and tangible economic impact across each of these areas. Further developing this brand is a priority under the economic action plan.
Ken Skates: Can I thank the Member for his supplementary question and say how delighted I am to answer the question directed at me? But it would also be remiss of me not to wish him the very best for the election and the outcome later this week. I think it's fair to say that Ministers were not happy at all at the agreement that was reached. It was a commercial decision by the Royal Welsh. It was a...
Ken Skates: Thank you. I think a decision report is due to be published concerning Urban Myth Films. It's an investment that I very much welcome. It contributes to a very buoyant creative industries sector in Wales, a sector that's growing faster here in Wales than in any other part of the UK—bar London, which you would expect. But it is also due to the relentless focus we've placed on improving the...
Ken Skates: I'm pleased to be able to tell the Chamber today that the public inquiry inspector's report has now been received by officials. Following due diligence, a decision will be made by Welsh Ministers and, ultimately, the current First Minister, on the statutory orders process—effectively, whether planning permission is granted. An open and robust debate will then take place before a final...
Ken Skates: I don't think that's a fair comment, given some of the projects that we are currently funding in south-west Wales and given the developments that are currently in train, particularly with regard to the Swansea bay metro programme. The decision will be for the First Minister, but a debate will take place, and that debate will, I'm sure, see a number of alternative expressions of interest...
Ken Skates: It's my very firm view that easing congestion around Newport needs to be accomplished as soon as possible. We also need to look at alternative ways of enabling people to pass through Newport, or to travel within the Newport area. Again, that work needs to be conducted at speed. It's something that we're examining as part of reforms of local bus services across Wales and I'm keen to ensure...
Ken Skates: We're currently examining options. We had determined that a 'to note' debate would be appropriate, however further discussions are taking place on whether the debate should, indeed, have a binding vote.
Ken Skates: Yes. Officials are currently carrying out investigations into the potential measures that would be applied, and I will write to Members later this year to update everybody on the progress with the initiative, including proposals for future years.
Ken Skates: Yes, of course, and I would agree with the Member that we will need to look at specifically what tree species we plant in the future to adapt to climate change. It may well be that we see more Wellingtonia or Cedar of Lebanon planted across Wales, and I think that would enhance the natural environment and the beauty of many communities. In the short term, though, I'm keen to make sure that...
Ken Skates: I'd agree that we do need to see an extension of this initiative beyond our trunk roads and I very much welcome any local authority that presents ideas on how local roads can benefit from the green corridors initiative. One of the proudest achievements of my time as a community councillor was when we had a campaign, a local campaign in Pantymwyn, to try to make it the village with the...
Ken Skates: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. I'd like to thank Mark Reckless for bringing forward this debate today and I'd also like to thank my colleague Jayne Bryant for making very important points as well. I am incredibly proud of what the Welsh Labour Government is doing to support economic growth to improve infrastructure and to prepare for future opportunities in south-east Wales and, particularly, in...
Ken Skates: In addition, the Tech Valleys programme is also incredibly exciting. I recently announced £100 million of Welsh Government funding over 10 years that will support the creation of more than 1,500 high-quality jobs. In recognition of the growing importance of digital technologies, we are supporting a number of initiatives to assist the region's technological credentials. Our support of the...
Ken Skates: Well, I'd agree entirely, and the Chepstow bypass is potentially a great example of how, by working closely together and aligning priorities on both sides of the border, we can deliver for the people that we all want to see have improved life chances. And there's another example closer to my home with the work that I've been doing with counterparts just across the border, with Owen Paterson...
Ken Skates: Yes.
Ken Skates: And I was just about to say, actually, that that decision on the inspector's report will then be made available to Members before a debate and a vote on this issue in the Chamber, before final decisions are made on whether to proceed with construction. But our position is very clear and remains consistent with what our manifesto pledge was. There are, of course, many more transformational...
