Ken Skates: Yes, can I thank the Member for his question and, again, share his concerns for the workers that are affected in terms of the reasons given by the company and the rationale that we have learned of? The red meat sector in the UK is, of course, facing significant challenges, and the company believes that its Merthyr site is no longer sustainable. We wish to know why that is the case and why the...
Ken Skates: Yes, can I thank the Member for his question? For the reasons that he outlines, it’s essential that my department acts with my colleague’s department in identifying any opportunity to retain what is a fully integrated facility and one that’s very important, not just to the agriculture sector but also to the economy of Merthyr Tydfil. I’ve already sought and received assurance that...
Ken Skates: I’d like to thank Simon Thomas for his question and say we are trying to ascertain whether any public money is being used to attract those jobs from Wales, not least because public money is already being used to secure those jobs here in Wales. As soon as I have any information with regard to the use of public funding to attract the jobs from Wales, I will of course share it with Members....
Ken Skates: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. Can I start by thanking the Member for Delyn for bringing forward this very important and very relevant debate today on the economy of north Wales, given that the autumn statement is due very soon? I’m very pleased to have a chance to respond to the comments made by a number of Members, and I think I should start my contribution concerning the future of...
Ken Skates: Thank you, Presiding Officer. We have four great national institutions, the National Museum Wales, the National Library of Wales, Cadw and the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales, acting as custodians for our rich heritage and culture. Together they preserve evidence of the entire span of human activity in Wales, from the tiny fragments of bone that attest to the...
Ken Skates: I’d like to thank Suzy Davies for her questions and for acknowledging that, in terms of commercial activity, it is important that all organisations that receive public funds look to what they can do more themselves to make themselves more resilient. It’s absolutely essential, especially for many people who may be watching today who can’t make ends meet who look to national organisations...
Ken Skates: I already have done.
Ken Skates: Well, I’d like to thank the Member for some kind comments and points that he’s made. You’ve recognised that I listen, that I can face challenge, and that is exactly what I am doing, and that is exactly why I will listen to the steering group and those experts that sit on the steering group that represent our national institutions—not just the museum. And I know you talked a lot about...
Ken Skates: Thank you. I’d like to thank David Rowlands for his questions and just to reflect, actually, as I know that this has been contentious, and Dai Lloyd quoted Dai Smith in his contribution, and perhaps I’ll reflect on another quote of Dai Smith’s, when he said that culture should be disruptive. Perhaps these proposals are disruptive, but in the right way because they are focusing attention...
Ken Skates: I’d like to thank Vikki Howells for her very important questions, in particular the significance of the heritage sector insofar as attaining skills is concerned, because I was recently pleased—I’m not sure whether this is for disclosure just yet, but I’m going to say it anyway—to support an application worth many hundreds of thousands of pounds for skills training within the...
Ken Skates: I’d like to thank Nick Ramsay for his questions. I’m very pleased that he enjoyed the event here today. I hosted the event and I took the time myself to speak to a number of the groups that came along with fascinating information about Historic Wales. There were some concerns raised. I was able to dispel them, and I think that is a task for me in the weeks and the months to come—to...
Ken Skates: I’d like to thank the Member for her questions. I think it’s absolutely essential that anybody who feels confused about the proposals reads what the options are and assesses carefully what the options are, because after assessing what those four options are, I think it will be abundantly clear to anybody that wholescale merges are not on the table. The Member asked—and I’m sorry I...
Ken Skates: Sorry, just two more quick points. I do apologise for overrunning. Cadw’s budget—if you look at last year’s budget rounds, you’ll see that Cadw’s budget, I believe, was reduced by more than the national museum, so in terms of marketing, it’s actually done more with less by driving up income and figures. In terms of St Fagans—oh, and I also believe that there are many contracts...
Ken Skates: I cannot thank the Member more, and I would never, ever question his wisdom or his ideas. He is, to me, something of an Obi-Wan Kenobi to my slightly naive Skywalker. But in all seriousness, I think it is about protecting our heritage and protecting the institutions for the future, but ensuring that the institutions serve the people of Wales first and foremost, and that we do not take our...
Ken Skates: Yes. The Wales and borders franchise is due to end in October 2018, and we have started the process of procuring an operator and development partner, who will also operate services and develop the south Wales metro.
Ken Skates: Well, there are a number of important points that the Member has raised, and, of course, some of the problems that have recently been highlighted could be avoided if we could have responsibility, powers, and a fair settlement devolved to Wales, so that we can ensure that the needs of passengers are met in the full. Now, it’s up to Arriva Trains Wales to appropriately manage capacity on the...
Ken Skates: Yes, of course. The Member will be aware that there are restrictions in place, through legislation from Parliament, that prevents only not-for-profit operators from bidding for the franchise. But we have designed the procurement system as such that it does not disadvantage any not-for-profit bidders, should they wish to come forward—none have, but what we have done is design a solution that...
Ken Skates: Yes, the green economy underpins our programme for government commitment to introduce new legislation for the environment. Our aim is to position Wales as a low-carbon, green economy, to support projects that help reduce the impact of climate change.
Ken Skates: I’d like to thank the Member for his question. Whilst other parties might be inconsistent in their approach to climate change, we will remain absolutely resolute in our determination to meet our international obligations and, indeed, to grow the green economy, which is of enormous value to communities right across Wales. In terms of green energy, we know that many jobs in some of our most...
Ken Skates: Well, of course, in terms of these responsibilities, it falls into the hands of the Cabinet Secretary for environment and natural resources. We work closely in terms of identifying the barriers for green growth, including green growth in the energy sector. Perhaps the biggest opportunity that we have—and the Member highlights the potential of this sector—perhaps the greatest opportunity...
