Ken Skates: He talked about bingo this week; I'll give him the full house. Let's talk about GVA, shall we? There's this great figure that I can quote here. Since devolution, Wales has had the fifth highest increase in GVA per head compared to the 12 UK countries and English regions. Let's talk about gross value added per hour worked. Since 2011, which is the year, of course, that we returned to having...
Ken Skates: Not at all, not at all. I completely reject that. And just going back to the very first point, the point that we need to look up: that's exactly what we in Welsh Government have been doing. That's why we've been able to achieve those staggering results in terms of lowering economic inactivity, improving job prospects, improving skills levels. And perhaps it's the party that the Member...
Ken Skates: I very much agree and celebrate the fact that Wales has a higher rate of graduate entrepreneurship in business start-ups than anywhere else. It's the highest rate in the UK—no other part of the UK has a higher rate—and that's largely down to the interventions that universities make, of course, and also working in partnership with Government—what we do, through, for example, Big Ideas...
Ken Skates: The Member raises a number of important points, first of all regarding economic intelligence and the role that the Development Bank of Wales has in this regard. It has an economic intelligence unit that's able to assess market trends and customer trends in a range of different environments and across different sectors. That sort of economic intelligence needs to be utilised, of course, by...
Ken Skates: Diolch yn fawr iawn. The land at Parc Bryn Cegin is currently available for development and is being marketed via our commercial property agents, our property database and also by Gwynedd Council.
Ken Skates: Well, the Member will be aware that Liberty Properties has been the preferred developer for a much-publicised cinema-led leisure development on the front plot for some time now. I'm pleased to say that Liberty are reporting that it still has strong interest from one cinema operator and from three to four restaurant operators, and that it's reviewing other leisure sector options to support the...
Ken Skates: Well, I'd like to say Mark Isherwood makes a very important point towards the end of his question about the role of business groups in informing economic development in north Wales, and I've been at pains to stress to the economic ambition board the crucial role that the private sector has in shaping a truly transformational growth deal and one that is backed up by private sector investment,...
Ken Skates: The Welsh Government is supporting the development of a skilled workforce, including delivering 100,000 all-age apprenticeships this Assembly term. Our flexible skills programme is supporting businesses across Wales to upskill their workforce. We're working with the regional skills partnerships to ensure that skills provision in each region responds to business demand.
Ken Skates: Can I thank the Member for his question? I don't think there is a skills Minister that's served in this or any other Government since devolution that hasn't taken a keen interest in the German dual system and considered whether it could be transplanted from Germany to Wales. However, each and every skills Minister has concluded that we need to develop a system that's, okay, informed by the...
Ken Skates: Well, the Member makes a really important point about the economic value of the food and drink sector. I also think that food and drink have a—. They offer a powerful definition of the culture and character of a nation, and as we seek to promote Wales more distinctively overseas, I would expect the role of food and drink to only improve and increase, and I imagine that the work of both the...
Ken Skates: Yes, of course. For inner urban areas, integrated public transport is the key to promoting a modal shift from the personal car to more sustainable modes of transport and, of course, a reduction of carbon dioxide and nitrogen dioxide emissions. Our programme of reform seeks to increase public transport passenger numbers, as well as those walking and, of course, cycling.
Ken Skates: Can I thank the Member for his question? I recognise that he was very delighted by the First Minister's announcement yesterday. I'm sure that the Deputy Minister will write to all Members with details of remit and the time frame of the work by the group, which is going to be chaired, Llywydd, by Phil Jones, who is highly regarded in this area and led on the design guidance work.FootnoteLink...
Ken Skates: Well, I recently approved the consultation draft masterplan 2040 for Cardiff Airport, which clearly identifies opportunities to increase freight-related businesses. This is one of a number of opportunities to diversify the business base of the airport and to ensure its sustainability. My officials are working closely with Cardiff Airport to help deliver the draft masterplan 2040 ambitions.
Ken Skates: Yes, absolutely. I think the Member makes an important point. Peter Phillips makes a very important point as well. But I would just caveat any focus on freight with the very fact that you can't develop freight without having passengers as well. So, you have to develop passenger routes in order to ensure that freight can be carried as well. So, I would guard against any shift in focus towards...
Ken Skates: Yes. I'm pleased to say that I've agreed the draft orders for this stage of the dualling to be made, which, when finished, will complete the dualling and unlock the full range of social and economic benefits to be delivered by this groundbreaking project.
Ken Skates: Yes, I can assure the Member that the scheme has my full support. As I say, I’ve already approved the draft orders. All being well, construction will begin in 2020 and will be completed by 2023, and we’ll be seeking to exploit every benefit we can from this important investment that amounts to approximately £900 million for the Heads of the Valleys communities.
Ken Skates: Can I thank the Member for his question and assure him that I've spoken with Tata Steel and with trade union representatives, along with the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy? It's too early at this stage to say what this might mean for Tata Steel in Wales, but of course, Llywydd, this Welsh Government stands ready to secure a sustainable future for iron and...
Ken Skates: Can I thank Dai Rees for his question and, as always, the passion with which he speaks for Welsh steel and iron facilities across the country? I'm going to touch on a number of really important points that he has raised, including investment by Welsh Government and the role of UK Government, but, first, can I say that, in terms of any grey clouds on the horizon, we are in a different place to...
Ken Skates: I was keen to understand what the alternative plan might be as well when I spoke with Tor Farquhar on Friday, and he assured me that the endgame, the ultimate goal, remains the same, and will remain the same, and that is to ensure that sufficient investment is made, particularly in Port Talbot, to give Welsh steel and iron making a sustainable and strong future, and of course we have a role...
Ken Skates: On partnerships with non-European countries, we've asked about any alternatives to the proposed joint venture and merger. It's a commercial matter for Tata, of course, but we are keen to understand what alternatives there might be, and what interest there might be. That's one of the reasons why I'm keen to go to the Netherlands and speak with senior executives. The shifting focus away from...
