Ken Skates: Well, the Member will know from my evidence session at his committee just recently that the consolidated economy futures fund has been established. That's now in operation. We've awarded a significant number of businesses support. Those include small and micro-sized businesses. The new economic contract is being promoted first and foremost in the initial stages to businesses that are seeking...
Ken Skates: Yes. Storm Callum, autumn conditions and the poor quality of the rolling stock that we inherited from Arriva Trains Wales have impacted on Transport for Wales’s operational start. Transport for Wales has, as I have already said, implemented a recovery plan, and passengers are beginning to see the consequential service improvements, which will continue over the next few weeks.
Ken Skates: Well, I'm pleased to be able to say that this is an objective of ours for the first five years before we get to the five-year point review. It's my view that the Oyster card in London has been a great success, but, of course, we're now able to use our bank cards on the London underground rather than having to buy an Oyster card; so, again demonstrating that technology has moved on still...
Ken Skates: Yes. New rolling stock will be introduced to the rail line serving the communities of Torfaen from 2022. Once the new rolling stock is introduced, the number of services serving the communities of Torfaen will, I'm pleased to say, increase to two trains per hour.
Ken Skates: I will do exactly as the Member has requested. Of course, 2022 is some way off, and I recognise the need to provide improved services whenever and wherever possible in the shorter term, so I will endeavour to do just that for my friend and colleague's constituents.
Ken Skates: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Can I begin by saying that I very much welcome the committee's report? I'd like to thank Members for their contributions today and their hard work in compiling the report and its recommendations. I really do think that international engagement and delivery is a vital part of our agenda to grow the Welsh economy.
Ken Skates: Now, our relationship with the European Union might well be changing, but with two thirds of Welsh exports currently going to the European market, we will do everything possible to maintain a relationship with the European single market that allows companies to maintain free and unfettered access. Now, we have seen an increase in the value of exports in the last few years, and we need to...
Ken Skates: Thank you, acting Presiding Officer. Can I thank Suzy Davies for bringing forward this short debate today, and also thank Mike Hedges for his contribution to an important matter for many people in the Swansea bay area? I have no doubt that the vision is clear and the partners want to work together to deliver the Swansea bay city region, with the city deal that is associated so closely with it.
Ken Skates: That collaborative approach to regional working is already achieving results, and an example of this is, of course, the Parc Felindre business park. It's a high-quality strategic employment site for the Swansea bay city region, exactly as Suzy Davies identified it. It provides fully infrastructured land for developers and for occupiers alike. In the absence of sufficient private sector...
Ken Skates: Mark Drakeford.
Ken Skates: Diolch, Llywydd. Can I begin by thanking Jane Hutt for bringing forward this important, and I think very timely, debate and motion this afternoon? Jane has been a tireless campaigner over many, many years for greater workers' rights in Wales, both in and, it's fair to say, out of Government and today, again, makes a powerful, compelling case for a living wage Wales, along with many other...
Ken Skates: I will in a moment, yes—on ethical employment in supply chains and do all that they can to make sure their own workers and the workers within the supply chain are employed fairly. And I'd like to give way to Helen Mary Jones.
Ken Skates: More than happy to do that because, as the Member said, it's more prevalent in certain industries and in certain sectors, and I'm pleased that we will be reviewing all of the guidelines, and I think that segregation is a key feature that we must take a closer look at. I'm also pleased to say that the work of the Fair Work Commission looking at the definition of fair work is reaching a...
Ken Skates: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. It's a great pleasure to be able to respond to this important debate today. I'd like to begin by thanking the Chair and the members of the committee for their hard work. I'd like to thank all Members who have contributed this afternoon, and I'd also like to thank the Chair of the committee for providing the complementary visuals to today's debate. I hasn't realised...
Ken Skates: Thank you. I've spoken with Ford UK and also with UK Government Ministers, pressing the case for the Bridgend plant. We'll continue to work closely with Ford to protect the highly skilled jobs and supply chain, as well as look for other high-tech opportunities for the Bridgend site.
Ken Skates: Yes, indeed. Can I thank the Member for his question and for his keen interest in this matter, and for the dedication that he's shown to the Bridgend Ford plant? I do commit to monitoring the situation across Europe, but particularly in the UK and at Bridgend. The First Minister will be joining unions tomorrow morning at the Bridgend plant, and following my discussion today with Ford UK, I'm...
Ken Skates: Can I thank Suzy Davies for her questions? There are a number of important points and potential products, particularly powertrains, that could be considered in the years to come for the Bridgend site. First of all, in terms of conditions that are attached to support from Welsh Government, of course, the Dragon engine was brought to Bridgend as a consequence of support offered by the Welsh...
Ken Skates: Well, can I thank the Member for his questions and say that it's largely as a consequence of the support that the Welsh Government has been able to provide over many years and the public-private collaboration that we've seen between Ford and the Welsh Government that the site is still in Bridgend, alive and well, producing some of the world's most cutting-edge engines? And we stand ready to...
Ken Skates: Well, can I thank Huw Irranca-Davies for his question? There are, of course, a number of areas that the UK Government could be of great assistance in right now. First of all, Brexit is a factor that needs to be considered. Because of sterling weakness, there's been impact to the tune of £600 million on Ford UK's turnover. That, in turn, of course, has affected profitability. Secondly, there...
Ken Skates: The A55 is our key strategic route in north Wales and we continue to develop and invest significantly on improvements and upgrade schemes to improve resilience.
