Vaughan Gething: Thank you for the question. And, interestingly, we have good relationships with Canada, the example you mentioned—internationally—and we do look regularly to see what effective practice exists within the UK, Europe, and beyond, when developing policy and programmes, and in particular in this area, where there is a real challenge for us, but also a real opportunity, as the Member has...
Vaughan Gething: Thank you for the question. Rail freight is a critical part of Wales's transport system and supply chain. We will continue to encourage more freight to be moved by rail and support interventions that shift freight from road to rail, together with future innovations to help make the sector more sustainable. This is a transport infrastructure-led area that falls within the portfolio led by the...
Vaughan Gething: Well, as I said, this is an area that is led by the Deputy Minister for Climate Change. Despite the fact that rail infrastructure is largely not devolved, we have, however, made rail facilities grants available to help develop some parts of the rail infrastructure. I’m sure the Deputy Minister for Climate Change will take a keen interest in your point and be happy to write to you if there...
Vaughan Gething: Well, when it comes to looking at the economic development opportunities that come, then, yes, we’re always interested in working with companies and other partners. But I’m pleased you mentioned Network Rail in your answer, because, outside the core Valleys lines network, rail infrastructure is not devolved, and it is for Network Rail and the UK Government to invest in that, and it’s an...
Vaughan Gething: Thank you for the question, and it's good to see you after an enforced absence, and a return to this place. We're taking widespread action to invest in business. I set out an updated approach to moving the Welsh economy forward in the statement I gave to the Chamber on 19 October. We want to invest in people and infrastructure and support a fairer, greener and more prosperous economy in South...
Vaughan Gething: Well, you’re right to focus on not just improving the number of people in work, but the quality of work that people have, including their pay. And as the Member will know, one of the key factors in that is investing in the skills of the workforce, investing in our people, and that’s one of the big challenges that we face here, and it’s one of my significant frustrations about the lack...
Vaughan Gething: Our economic resilience and reconstruction mission sets out our approach to the economy, supporting individuals, businesses and communities to succeed and flourish. The chief regional officers and their teams have been established and are more focused and engaging in a regional model of economic development. We're also, of course, working with partners on the mid Wales growth deal.
Vaughan Gething: Well, I can see why the canal project that's been supported in the UK Government's budget announcement is good news for people living in that area, and we are working constructively with the two local authorities—Ceredigion and Powys—and the UK Government on the mid Wales growth deal. But it just doesn't get away from the reality that the £120 million announced for 10 projects is skewed...
Vaughan Gething: I outlined in my statement yesterday to the Chamber the Welsh Government’s vision for the green economy and confirmed its fundamental role in the progress of our economic resilience and reconstruction mission.
Vaughan Gething: Well, that's work that I'll be undertaking with the Ministers in the department for climate change. As the Member will know, we're really interested in making sure that our obligations to the future of the planet are met, but there is real economic gain to be generated from this as well. And I take on board the Member's point about community engagement and ownership of some of the energy...
Vaughan Gething: Well, I can't give, off the top of my head, steps in the green economy in Monmouthshire, but I'm happy to write to you, and I'm sure that the former leader of Monmouthshire council will be delighted to hear you praise their record in the past. But I can say that, when it comes to promoting renewable sources of energy and the economic benefits, it had a significant range of positives, not just...
Vaughan Gething: Thank you for the question. We'll continue to analyse the recent announcement made and discuss what the Chancellor's pronouncements mean in more detail. However, it cannot be ignored that the budget fails to meet the enormous challenges we face as we continue our economic recovery from the pandemic.
Vaughan Gething: Well, the reason why there is so much chuntering from the Conservative seats in this place is because the Member correctly identifies the pork-barrel politics that went through announcements in the Chancellor's statement. And you only need to look at the facts. It is a fact that the £375 million Wales would otherwise have got has not been delivered, despite repeated promises it would be....
Vaughan Gething: That is extraordinary, absolutely extraordinary, and it was factually simply wrong to say this is a generous settlement. What we have seen are cuts to Wales from the levelling-up funding. It's undeniably the case. The money is being cut, but the Conservatives here want to celebrate that. That is just extraordinary, and more than that, the reality is that the recent budget does not replace the...
Vaughan Gething: I held an introductory meeting with the Construction Industry Training Board in June. I'll be holding regular meetings with them, together with the Deputy Minister for Climate Change, to discuss all aspects of the industry’s training and skills requirements.
Vaughan Gething: There is a key challenge about a broader point, not just in construction, but it's a good example of how, with the optimised retrofit programme that was announced by the climate change department here, a really welcome step forward to make sure the value of that is retained as far as possible, as locally as possible. That's why it's important that I continue to work with the Ministers for...
Vaughan Gething: Welsh Government will work with UK Government officials over the coming days to understand in more detail what this means for Wales. However, it is evident that this budget fails to meet the challenges we face as a Government, as we continue our recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.
Vaughan Gething: The budget announcement by the UK Government falls woefully short of what is required. It cannot be ignored that it fails to meet the scale of the challenges that families, public services and the wider economy are still facing as a result of the pandemic.
Vaughan Gething: The unemployment rate in Wales remains below that of the UK and our employment rate continues to increase. Our further plans include action focused on our commitments in the programme for government such as the young person's guarantee and we will build on our proven record on apprenticeships, delivering a further 125,000 places in this Senedd.
Vaughan Gething: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. During the last Senedd term, we made significant progress in our support for the foundational economy here in Wales. This is a cross-Government priority, and we have focused our attention on businesses offering services and products that affect our daily lives: the food that we eat, the homes we live in, the energy we use and the care we receive. Estimates...
