Ken Skates: Yes, of course.
Ken Skates: Legislation can help, but it is not necessary, as has been demonstrated by my decision to establish the regional indicative budgets. Deputy Presiding Officer, I will give Rhun ap Iorwerth and Siân Gwenllian an opportunity to respond to me, because I think there was a proposal to redistribute wealth within Wales, solely within Wales. There was talk about how there are no differences between...
Ken Skates: Dirprwy Lywydd, that's precisely why I said that we're establishing the regional units and regional indicative budgets, to ensure that we have a different funding model to that which operates within the UK Government, which in turn ensures that we are able to more fairly invest in infrastructure across Wales. Let's face it: it's infrastructure and the provision of skills that drive economic...
Ken Skates: Since 2013, the Welsh Government has provided local authorities with £25 million a year to support local bus and community transport services across Wales. Towards the end of 2017-18, we provided an additional £3 million to support the bus network, in addition to other specific grants allocated to support public transport services.
Ken Skates: We are moving forward with our ambitious vision to reshape public transport infrastructure and services across Wales, including local bus services, rail services, active travel and the various metro projects that will act as a blueprint for integrated transport across the whole of Wales.
Ken Skates: The success of the growth deal will be measured in terms of its transformation of the region’s economy, its ability to leverage private sector investment and its contribution to improving opportunity for people across the region, in line with the well-being of future generations Act and the economic action plan.
Ken Skates: Retail is a foundation sector in our economic action plan. We are working across Government to develop an enabling plan for the sector, as the foundation economy is crucial to communities in Wales. In 2018, there were 9,125 enterprises active in the retail sector in Wales, up 8 per cent since 2011.
Ken Skates: We are working closely with local authorities in the south-west region to improve the public transport in the area and to plan a modern and integrated transport system through the metro project.
Ken Skates: Yes. I am committed to investing in better transport services and infrastructure in Merthyr and Rhymney, and I understand that good progress is being made with the new Merthyr bus station.
Ken Skates: Yes. Can I thank Dawn Bowden for her question that covers three areas—the metro system, the A465 and the new bus station? Progress is being made at pace on all three key components of our intervention within the Valleys region. First of all, I can say that, with regard to the A465, we are making good progress in terms of the orders. We're going to be in position to be able to move forward...
Ken Skates: Can I thank the Member for his question? As I outlined to Dawn Bowden, we expect construction to begin in 2020. The phase of the scheme that the Member refers to, in terms of the cost pressures, has been an extremely difficult challenge for the contractors. We are, of course, managing cost overruns. It's our intention, though, to make sure that the entire project is delivered as soon as...
Ken Skates: It's my understanding that these are fully autonomous organisations and so, decisions on budgets the universities make.
Ken Skates: No, sorry, we just have to clarify: what are the cuts? This isn't about cuts coming from Welsh Government—from the department for education and skills. This is about decisions being made by universities, based on the way that they manage their own affairs. This is not based on cuts from Welsh Government.
Ken Skates: I first of all thank the Member for acknowledging that there are no cuts to higher education from Welsh Government. I think that's very helpful to clarify, and I think, in reflecting on that very fact, I should also say that we have been relentless in fighting for the higher education sector, just as we have been relentless in supporting the further education sector as well. But we are still...
Ken Skates: I'm sorry, I didn't catch the first part of the question.
Ken Skates: Absolutely. The plans are captured within the vision for the south Wales metro, and will be paid for with a huge sum of capital investment, more than £700 million. Key to the infrastructure within Cardiff will be new parkways and the development of a new Cardiff bus station, and we hope, with UK Government support, should it be forthcoming, the redevelopment of Cardiff Central station.
Ken Skates: Can I say that we are supporting local authorities with additional resource to address potholes, and we also offer funding through the local transport fund to ensure that local roads remain of adequate quality? I think what's most important for Cardiff as it continues to grow is that it gets a twenty-first century public transport system, and in that regard, the development of the metro, and,...
Ken Skates: Well, I'd have to consult with the finance Minister as to whether the mutual investment model could be adopted for such a purpose, but, of course, even if it could be, it would be a decision for the local authority and/or, as the Member suggests, the Cardiff capital region. As a Welsh Government, we're doing all we can with our precious resource in order to improve transport infrastructure...
Ken Skates: Yes, the economic contract has been very well received since its launch in May. We've agreed over 120 contracts with businesses across Wales and, later this year, we intend to apply the economic contract principles to a wider range of settings, including, I'm pleased to say, our sponsored bodies, and also infrastructure contracts.
Ken Skates: Can I thank Jack Sargeant for his question? I'd be delighted to meet with him to discuss how we can further utilise the economic contract for this purpose. This is an issue that he and I share a very keen interest in. It's an issue that causes almost £100 billion of damage to the UK economy in terms of lost output per year—the estimate is between £74 billion and £100 billion. Indeed,...
