Vaughan Gething: Well, it's an interesting series of comments. I'm not sure he's listened to the statement or the previous answers I've given where I've talked about investing in skills and talked about investing in young people. We've talked about the fact the Welsh economy has improved during the course of devolution, and I'm very proud to follow Ken Skates in this role: someone who really did make a...
Vaughan Gething: Well, I think it's the definition of what we call a 'green new deal'. When you hear Julie James talk about the second low-carbon delivery plan, we hear lots about leading to a green new economy to make sure that we improve our impact—our environmental impact—on our activity today, and make sure we can take advantage of those industries that are here already. We've recently had...
Vaughan Gething: Well, it's our job to make sure those people do have a future where they don't need to get out to get on. And, actually, when we visited Flowtech yesterday, we found that lots of people were within walking distance of that employer as well, so a genuinely local business properly grounded in that community. And, of course, as the Member for the Rhondda has said, they're not just having an...
Vaughan Gething: I think it's relevant to people in Islwyn and in every constituency and region across Wales; it's our ability to invest in future industries with the level of certainty we will need. The stability that the Welsh Government can provide needs to be matched by a level of consistency from the UK Government as well, because, actually, if we have a slightly chaotic approach to the future, with all...
Vaughan Gething: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I'd like to thank Huw Irranca-Davies for bringing forward today's debate. I should make clear that I, too, am a Welsh Labour and Co-operative member, as I have been since my election to this place in 2011. I think it is an important and a timely discussion, and I want to thank Members for their thoughtful contributions, including a note of disagreement in...
Vaughan Gething: No-one is arguing that co-ops or mutuals are a magic bullet and guarantee survival; that's always been the case. And I recognise of course that the Member is right to highlight that in the finance sector, there is a long tradition of successful mutuals, and a business model that I think is here to stay for the future. We already have in Wales extensive support available for the sector....
Vaughan Gething: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. Last month, I delivered an oral statement on how we plan to move the Welsh economy forward. I set out the action that we will take to build a stronger, fairer and greener Welsh economy. All of the issues that we discussed that day hinge upon our success in confronting the existential threat that climate change represents. Just as the reach of the threat is...
Vaughan Gething: Deputy Presiding Officer, the Climate Change Committee's Wales progress report made it clear that a coherent UK industrial strategy is needed to allow Welsh industry and business to maximise their contribution to net zero. Our plan includes important asks of the UK Government, reinforcing the need for long-term and consistent policy, support for innovation, and global leadership in action....
Vaughan Gething: Thank you for the series of questions. I'll do my best not to try the Deputy Presiding Officer's patience by giving long answers to the significant number of questions; I'll try and be as succinct as possible. Next year, I expect, when we're announcing what we're doing on skills, you'll have a significant section on what a net-zero skills plan looks like. I had an opportunity to meet with...
Vaughan Gething: Thank you for the series of questions and comments. On your point about land use, I think the Welsh Government's pretty clear that we expect land use in Wales to be sustainable and beneficial for local populations and the economy. So, we're looking at how we can incentivise people to make proper use of the land that's available, but to do so in a way that meets the tests that we would set....
Vaughan Gething: Yes, I'll have to deal with your second question first, because that is the nature of the conversations we're having. We're looking at where other support is available, because parts of the UK Government in broader employability support is in a different place to where it was a few years ago. On the plainly devolved responsibilities around skills, yes, we are working with professional bodies...
Vaughan Gething: Thank you for the question and the points. I've mentioned several times, during not just the statement but questions, the welcome for the further investment in the HyNet project they're looking to deliver across north-west England and through north Wales. I've had regular conversations with both the English authorities as well as the Welsh authorities involved in the Mersey Dee Alliance, and...
Vaughan Gething: On coal tips, we're not satisfied with the current position with the UK Government, who have thus far refused to meet their obligation in terms of the share of responsibility that is plainly not devolved for coal tips and the reality of the challenge they present, as well as refusing to recognise there is actually an economic opportunity here. The Welsh Government now has to go through its...
Vaughan Gething: I had the opportunity to visit the steelworks in Port Talbot with the constituency Member who is now in the Chair in this particular session. I've had conversations not just with that company but with the other major steel producers in Wales directly about what they are looking to do, because they recognise that there is an imperative to decarbonise the way that steel is produced. There's a...
Vaughan Gething: Thank you for the question. We are doing everything possible to retain and create highly skilled and well-paid jobs across Wales. On 21 October, I held an economic summit to discuss with stakeholders how we can work together to pursue a progressive economic policy that focuses on better jobs, narrowing the skills divide and tackling poverty.
Vaughan Gething: Yes, I think this is an area where there is room for informed optimism. Of course, on 18 October, I set out the new approach to taking forward the mission. On 21 October, I visited Indigo with you. And actually, Indigo Telecom are a good example of exactly that sort of business. But you're right to point out the compound semiconductor cluster in south-east Wales as well. You're also right to...
Vaughan Gething: Well, of course, we do have clusters of advanced technology and advanced manufacturing in different parts of Wales, and in the south-east we've already got a cluster that is based around compound semiconductors, and I mentioned that in response to John Griffiths. We've also got an emerging fintech cluster in the southern part of Wales as well, recognised by the UK Government as well as a...
Vaughan Gething: Thank you for the question. We've extended our employer incentive scheme to support businesses in recruiting apprentices until the end of February next year. This scheme will continue alongside our ambitious young person's guarantee, and I will update the Chamber on progress with the young person's guarantee in an oral statement scheduled for 16 November.
Vaughan Gething: Thank you for the question. It's an important point about recognising that we have got the new Jobs Growth Wales+ programme starting in April next year, building on the success of the previous Jobs Growth Wales programme, together with ReAct+, again strengthening the offer we already have available. So, we are working with providers, so they'll understand what we are looking to do, and...
Vaughan Gething: You're right to point out that there has been a real boom in film and tv production following the easing of restrictions. Wales is recognised as a place where there's a good environment to do so, not just our natural environment, but the support of the Government working alongside industry, and those are both important factors. I also recognise some of the challenges around what that's done...
