Ken Skates: Well, the Member is absolutely right, and I’m pleased that we’ve been able to give support both in terms of advice and guidance, but also financial resource to Riversimple—a company that the Member may be aware of—which is at the forefront of research, development and innovation insofar as hydrogen cell engines are concerned. This is a growing area of interest for innovators and...
Ken Skates: Can I thank the Member for his question, and say that he is right—events overnight have certainly led to us needing to focus more attention on economic growth being relevant to all people in all communities? And this follows considerations, which I know the Member has had, since the referendum as well. And in part of the development of the new economic strategy, I think it’s essential...
Ken Skates: Yes. I read the report from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation with great interest, and whilst I think the idea of an enterprise zone for the whole of the Valleys has merit, I do not think that that would offer a silver bullet solution to Valleys communities. And I think more needs to be done over and above such a suggestion to actually address some of the structural problems that continue to...
Ken Skates: As I say, it’s about making sure that there is relevance to what we do in all parts of Wales. As I’ve spoken on numerous occasions now about the area that I personally represent in Wales, I think sometimes the north-east feels distant from this institution and somewhat removed from the process of devolution. I would agree as well about regional economies and the importance that urban...
Ken Skates: Well, my latest discussions took place yesterday. The Member will be aware from my committee appearance last week—and this actually relates to the questions and the points that Adam Price has just made—that I do have concerns about ensuring that national institutions such as the National Assembly for Wales and Welsh Government have a presence right across Wales, and that no part of Wales...
Ken Skates: If you look at north-east Wales, you’ll see that many, many people—hundreds of people in north-east Wales—travel across the border into England every day to work in major financial centres. They travel across the border to work at the Bank of America in Chester, they travel across the border to work at Marks & Spencer Financial Services, and to the banks and financial centres in...
Ken Skates: These are being examined as part of the options, and there are options on the table for the development of the bank and where it should be located. Insofar as what ‘a headquarters’ means, well there are two options: one, the wholesale transfer of staff and functions away from the capital to the new headquarters; or two, the second option would be to have a headquarters and, over a period...
Ken Skates: Well, I can’t do that on this occasion, because we’re still assessing the merits of the application. I think what the group has done so far has great merit. I think the work that they’ve carried out has been incredibly valuable in terms of informing Welsh Government what it is that the communities need in order to create a more connected environment. And so we will give very sympathetic...
Ken Skates: For the same reason that I’ve already given, I couldn’t give any guarantees about whether I’d be able to fund the full £160,000. I’m sure the Member is sympathetic to the reason why. I can’t do that because the application has not been thoroughly scrutinised yet. But in terms of stations, well, the metro project does have flexibility built into it so that there can be extensions...
Ken Skates: I would very happily meet with the Member and the group that he talks of, because I think they have made a very strong case, as has the Member, for support from Welsh Government. I would happily discuss their aspirations and the application with them.
Ken Skates: In 2015, we published an initial scoping report into reopening this line. Subsequently, we funded a further appraisal of the regional transport needs, which is currently being finalised. I am pleased that we have included further development funding in the draft budget.
Ken Skates: Being connected is one of the fundamental needs of every human if they’re going live in an environment that has minimal distress and anxiety, and I think it’s essential that, within the programme for government, we place just as much of an emphasis on the united and connected element of Government strategy as we do on the other three important strategies. I think that this project would...
Ken Skates: Yes. In fact, I believe my next meeting with Network Rail is coming up in the next six weeks, so that’ll be an issue that I’ll be discussing with them, along with the need to invest more in tree clearance. A lack of investment in tree clearance is leading to too many leaves on the lines, which is leading to a lack of reliability in the network. So, I’ll be raising a number of points...
Ken Skates: The money is allocated within the next financial year’s budget—or in the draft budget—and, subsequent to that work being carried out, I’d expect the project to be able to be examined thoroughly by NICW and, following their assessment of the project, Government would then receive a set of recommendations. We would then, if NICW or the experts were minded to recommend the project go...
Ken Skates: Yes. The tourism investment support scheme is a fund that Members are aware supports the tourism industry. From 2013, the value of offers totals £5.5 million, together with an additional £11.3 million for strategic tourism projects, such as the Royal Mint Experience and Surf Snowdonia. In total, the fund has helped to create 1,087 jobs and includes a further £40 million of investments...
Ken Skates: I can confirm the latter. In fact, I’ll write to Members with an update on the tourism investment support scheme, because the criteria for support were changed. I think I’ve highlighted this in a previous session here in Plenary, or in a committee, but the criteria changed so that there was a minimum of 30 per cent repayment allocated within the award process. In terms of Ruthin Castle...
Ken Skates: I’d like to thank Dawn Bowden for her question. A number of Members have, in recent weeks, raised with me questions about whether the Government could support certain projects and certain installations in their constituencies and regions. I know Neil McEvoy has recently raised the same question. What I’ll undertake to do is to write to Members with details of TISS—the criteria—but...
Ken Skates: Yes. Businesses looking to access grant support will need to complete the appropriate application and provide any necessary supporting documentation. This will usually be a business plan and relevant financial information.
Ken Skates: Well, it is essential that due diligence is taken fully into account as part of the process of determining whether a business should get Welsh Government or taxpayer support, and processes are rigorous. I am looking at ways that we can strengthen that process. I think it’s also important to recognise, though, that in terms of the support we have offered, only 4.9 per cent of the 1,110...
Ken Skates: Well, it’s for the Wales Audit Office to assess any cases that Members may have concerns about. The examples that the Member has raised are contentious issues, and we would have wished no losses to be incurred by the taxpayer. But the Wales Audit Office carries out a thorough inquiry of projects that it deems to be in the public interest, and I would expect their work to continue. I would...
