Mark Drakeford: We meet regularly with industry representatives across all sectors of our economy to discuss opportunities for investment and job creation across Wales.
Mark Drakeford: On this year’s visit to the USA, I visited companies from within the aerospace, agriculture, energy and information and communications technology sectors.
Mark Drakeford: I expect Powys Teaching Local Health Board to commission hospital services that meet the needs of the people of Powys. The health board is involved in NHS England’s Future Fit programme so that the health needs of Powys residents accessing services in Shropshire can be taken into account.
Mark Drakeford: The Welsh Government is supporting the provision of additional affordable housing in Caerphilly and across Wales. In 2016/17, we are making over £98 million available through our social housing grant programme. This will significantly support our target of 20,000 affordable homes during this administration.
Mark Drakeford: We set out our view clearly in the White Paper ‘Securing Wales’ Future’. Common approaches to support the effective operation of the UK’s internal market must respect the devolution settlement and must be agreed between the UK and devolved Governments rather than imposed.
Mark Drakeford: Since being put in special measures, the health board has virtually eliminated diagnostic waits over eight weeks and consistently achieved above the target for ambulance performance. However, performance in some other areas is not where we would expect and the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Well-being and Sport has made his expectations clear.
Mark Drakeford: Thank you very much. The Welsh Government provides funding for public service projects, large or small, within the City and County of Swansea, from £100,000 invest-to-save money for a new looked after children service to £100 million at the Morriston Hospital site.
Mark Drakeford: Well, thank you very much for the question. I am familiar with this issue. I saw the response issued by the leader of Swansea council, stating that additional funding is available for the farm to submit a bid, in order to see whether they can assist them in that manner. The county is going to assist the farm in the submission of that bid and I am happy to speak to other Cabinet colleagues to...
Mark Drakeford: I’m very happy to give that commitment this afternoon, Llywydd. The Welsh Government has been ready to sign the Swansea city deal for some weeks now. We are frustrated by the actions of the UK Government in the different messages that different Ministers in that Government appear to relay. I was pleased to see the letter from the Chancellor of the Exchequer to Jonathan Edwards, the MP for...
Mark Drakeford: I’m very happy to provide those figures and that level of detail to the Member. In general, as she knows, private sector partners are one of the major ways in which we’re able to deliver European funding alongside our universities, local government and the Welsh Government itself. Private sector partners are up there at that end of the league, and are fully represented at the programme...
Mark Drakeford: I do think that the people of Swansea get good value for money from the investment that we make in their public services—both health services and services provided by local authorities. Of course, we need to be ambitious for levels of satisfaction. Health service levels of satisfaction, as you know, at primary and secondary care are eye-wateringly high and always have been. I know that...
Mark Drakeford: To date, only one local authority, Caerphilly, has responded formally to the White Paper consultation on local government reform, which closes on 11 April. The Welsh Local Government Association, on behalf of local authorities in Wales, welcomed the White Paper, noting it had been formed by dialogue and engagement with local authorities.
Mark Drakeford: Llywydd, as I said, we’ve received only one formal response to date, and that was a very constructive response, which, of course, raised questions and gave us new comments about trying to strengthen the White Paper. That is what I’m looking for from the respondents to the White Paper. If people ask questions, that does help, but it’s better still if they offer solutions and make...
Mark Drakeford: I’ve been pleased with the progress that PSBs have made to date on their first core task, and that is the assessment of local well-being. I believe now, as a Government, we’ve received drafts of those assessments from all local authorities in Wales, and they’re being reviewed by my officials. I’ve had an opportunity to read parts of those assessments from different parts of Wales and...
Mark Drakeford: I’m not disappointed, Llywydd, in the sense that the closing date for the consultation isn’t until 11 April. I’m absolutely confident that we will have a large number of responses from right across Wales by the closing date. There were two specific questions that the Member raised. We’ve received no formal request on the voluntary mergers front as yet. Frankly, with local government...
Mark Drakeford: Apologies. We were engaged very much with local authorities to encourage them to make sure that they do make those submissions, but it will be in their own best interests to do so, and that’s why I feel confident we will see a far larger number over the next few weeks.
Mark Drakeford: Well, of course, I remember that piece of work 20 years ago. I believe that I remember hearing the Member talking at a conference here in Cardiff about the work and what emanated from that work. Mae’r map yn darparu tri ôl traed—tri ôl traed y dinas-ranbarthau i bob pwrpas—ac rydym yn dweud mai hwy a fydd yn gyfrifol am gyfrifoldebau datblygu economaidd. Yn yr ystyr hwnnw, mae’r...
Mark Drakeford: Well, Llywydd, I have a great interest in the work of the Bevan Foundation. Professor Karel Williams’s work was part of the discussions in the PMC back in Merthyr in February, where the debate was about place. Sut y gallwn gael ymdeimlad o le yn y ffordd yr ydym yn llunio ein polisïau datblygu economaidd rhanbarthol yn y dyfodol sy’n ystyried y mannau hynny lle y ceir y crynodiadau mwyaf...
Mark Drakeford: Chair, I heard the exchanges in the Chamber yesterday between the leader of the house and the Member in relation to investment in different parts of Wales. There is a lot of information already available on patterns of investment over recent years and I’m sure that information can be made available. I am myself more focused on making sure that we make the right investments for the future...
Mark Drakeford: Well, thank you, Llywydd. Since the fiscal framework was signed between the UK Government and the Welsh Government in December, I’ve continued to meet with the Chief Secretary to the Treasury. I met him last in Edinburgh in a quadrilateral meeting between finance Ministers, at which fiscal devolution in all parts of the United Kingdom was discussed. Two aspects, I suppose: how we make the...
