Ken Skates: Indeed I will. Actually, our transport contract documents state that the contractor must ensure that materials used by them and their subcontractors comply with the requirements of responsible sourcing of construction products, and it explicitly states that there is an expectation from the Welsh Government that the contractor will not use steel dumped from overseas markets on any project....
Ken Skates: The Member identifies what he calls a ‘dodgy’ deal and a ‘staggering loss’, but you can’t consider the loss without also considering the purchase price, and the Minister who was responsible at the time for the purchase was somebody who sat on your benches.
Ken Skates: Yes. ‘Taking Wales Forward’ sets out how we will deliver a more prosperous and secure Wales, underpinned by more and better jobs.
Ken Skates: Well, the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government and I will be working very closely to ensure that the levers available to us in terms of tax devolution are used primarily to grow the economy and to grow opportunities to create wealth in all parts of Wales. I don’t think GVA is necessarily the best or only measure of prosperity, and I think that view is shared by the chief...
Ken Skates: I think it’s essential that we see the living wage—and that’s the proper living wage—rolled out right across the economy. As a Government, we’re taking action to promote the living wage in the private sector. Material is being produced on the benefits of adopting the living wage, and that’s shared with businesses, using existing business support mechanisms, and we’ll continue to...
Ken Skates: I think it requires a brass neck to ask about levels of income when you actually take an opportunity in a different place to vote against national minimum wage. And the Member may be able to confirm whether or not—[Interruption.] Well, does the Member support a national minimum wage? Did he, when the national minimum wage was voted upon in the UK Government, back it or oppose it? It’s a...
Ken Skates: There’s a question there: did you support the national minimum wage? Did your party support the national minimum wage? Because we all know the answer is that UKIP did not and do not support efforts to raise the living standards of lowest income families. The fact is that it was the Labour movement that introduced the national minimum wage. It’s the Labour movement that’s rolling out the...
Ken Skates: Our economic development priorities for all parts of Wales are set out in ‘Taking Wales Forward’.
Ken Skates: I’d like to thank the Member for her question. Of course, mobile connectivity is a non-devolved area. Where we have been able to directly intervene through Superfast Cymru, we have made great strides. Superfast Cymru will see Wales become the most connected nation in western Europe, and in parts of mid Wales, such as Powys, 63 per cent of properties are now able to access it. We’ll be...
Ken Skates: I’m intuitively opposed to a tax on travel by taxing bridge use, which may actually be raised shortly in a future question from Mark Reckless. In terms of the particular bridge that the Member mentions in the enterprise zone, I’ve not yet investigated trunking that particular route, but it is something that I would be keen to give consideration to if it can, in turn, lead to a growth in...
Ken Skates: Ultimately, I am responsible for signing off decisions and I’m responsible for ensuring that due diligence has been carried out by my officials and by my heads of sector teams. If the Member has any specific concerns regarding decisions that I or any of my predecessors have taken, I’d very much welcome any notice of that.
Ken Skates: ‘Taking Wales Forward’ sets out how we will deliver a prosperous and secure Wales that supports business and enables the economic conditions necessary to create wealth and employment opportunities across Wales.
Ken Skates: The all-age apprenticeship programme has been commenced. We are confident, based on our record—and it’s a proud record—of being able to deliver at least 100,000 all-age apprenticeships. I say we’re proud of the record, because we have a record completion rate for apprenticeships in Wales. Completion rates now stand at well above 80 per cent. That fares incredibly well compared to...
Ken Skates: My officials have been in regular discussions with the garden team. I intend to meet the chair in the next few weeks to discuss the report I commissioned on future commercial opportunities for the garden. The report will be published once the chair and trustees have seen it.
Ken Skates: Well, I very much welcome the positive news from the garden. It’s great to hear that visitor figures and membership have increased. Of course, the garden has taken advantage of Welsh Government schemes such as the Year of Adventure and also the funding that we provide annually to ensure that more people are attracted to the garden, not just once, but on a repeated basis. That’s why I...
Ken Skates: I understand that the UK Government intend to go out to consultation later this year on tolling arrangements.
Ken Skates: Yes, I do. Subject to the consultation, the bridge reverts to public ownership in 2018, and once the debt has been repaid, all revenues will then go to the Exchequer—above the maintenance costs. That, to me, constitutes a tax on travel to Wales, and I would expect the tolls to be abolished.
Ken Skates: Yes, the Historic Environment (Wales) Act 2016 has placed Wales at the forefront of the UK nations in the protection and management of the historic environment. We continue to work closely with a wide range of partners in building a heritage sector that has a sustainable future.
Ken Skates: Local groups are absolutely crucial in helping the historic environment remain a vibrant place that people visit, that people experience, that people can volunteer at and that people can acquire skills at. The voluntary group that has looked at Ruperra castle is particularly active, and I congratulate them on their work. In the Member’s constituency, we have the fastest growing visitor...
Ken Skates: Formally.
