Ken Skates: I’ve not reached the point of determining who is responsible for reversing. [Laughter.] But what we have been assessing is the potential of installing designated autonomous vehicle lanes on major trunk roads. I think this would give us an opportunity to capture a greater degree of investment in this particularly important sector of the automotive economy. Such investment is costly; it’s...
Ken Skates: We continue to support economic development across the whole of Wales by helping businesses to grow, investing in high quality infrastructure, and improving economic development conditions.
Ken Skates: Transport for Wales is seeking views on the high level direction for the new Wales and borders franchise, including the south Wales metro. The consultation launched on 28 February and will end on 23 May. I will provide an update on the consultation once the process has closed.
Ken Skates: The eastern bay link road will be opened in early June.
Ken Skates: The development of indoor sports facilities provides both economic and health benefits and Sport Wales are committed to ensuring people have access to quality sport facilities. Later this year they will undertake research involving the economic importance of sport in Wales, based on factors including consumer spend, gross value and employment.
Ken Skates: The creative industries make a significant contribution to the Welsh economy, through growth within the sector, but also in its supply chain and the wider creative economy. In recognition of this, we have pledged to set up a separate body to provide a rounded support service, Creative Wales.
Ken Skates: The Mersey Dee region offers huge economic opportunities on both sides of the border. It is important for strategic investments by both Governments to stimulate growth in north Wales as well as north-west England. The Mersey-Dee Alliance can assist us with this in relation to the growth bids.
Ken Skates: We are working to improve employers’ recruitment practices in terms of equality and diversity. An example is via ESF support, we are funding an equality and diversity champion to work with the work based learning provider network to improve all aspects of equality in apprenticeship recruitment.
Ken Skates: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. Members will be aware that I published a written statement on 2 February to inform them that I had received a report setting out a road map towards success, resilience and sustainability for the heritage of Wales. I confirmed that I’d considered the recommendations in detail and that I would respond to each in due course. I have now written to Justin...
Ken Skates: I recognise that a formal agreement is needed for a strategic partnership, and this approach has my full support. The Welsh Government will play its part in supporting and contributing to the partnership, but I believe for it to reach its full potential it needs to be led and be driven by the institutions involved, with their adequate resources put behind it. I, therefore, look forward to...
Ken Skates: Yes, can I thank Dai Lloyd for his contribution and his questions? I believe I’ve said on numerous occasions now that this Historic Wales initiative could have huge benefits for local museums, not just in terms of skills—I’ll come to that point in a moment—but also in terms of promoting the sector more widely and attracting more people with an interest in heritage to visit not just...
Ken Skates: Can I thank Suzy Davies for her questions? First and foremost, no, the advice on recommendation 1 is not being ignored. I’ve already assured Members that the inclusion of those two other options that I highlighted will form the work that officials are going to be undertaking in compiling a business case, but I do think it’s important to consider every option. Also, the Member suggested...
Ken Skates: Well, can I thank Hannah Blythyn for her questions, an also for her observations? The presence of trade union representatives on the steering board added enormous value, and also ensured that the workforce of each of the institutions, and indeed those who were employed through Cadw, were well represented at every stage. I’ve been determined throughout this process to ensure that workers in...
Ken Skates: Can I thank the Member for his generous statement and for the support that he and his colleagues are giving to this initiative? I am very grateful for that. Our aim is to make sure that there are net economic benefits from this initiative, not just for the sector, but, again, for the whole economy of Wales. I do believe that, whilst we can retain the independence of the institutions, we...
Ken Skates: Well, can I thank the Member for his positive and kind comments, and say that the Harlech castle investment has delivered huge benefits for the community? We’ve seen a very significant increase in the number of visitors visiting the castle, and it’s also won—I’m pleased to say—a number of national architectural awards. It’s helped to put Wales on the global map during the Year of...
Ken Skates: Can I thank David Melding for his contribution and say that I agree entirely that there must be intellectual integrity, and that that integrity should be maintained and protected? There should be the freedom to challenge, to be disruptive and also to be innovative. I believe it was Professor Dai Smith who said that it was the role of culture and cultural institutions to be disruptive of the...
Ken Skates: Can I thank Bethan Jenkins for her questions and points? I’d actually dispute the claim that nobody is against change. I think there has been resistance to this initiative. To those who have objected to closer collaboration, I would ask one very simple question: what’s your alternative vision? Because, quite frankly, if there is no vision, if there is no action, then the heritage sector...
Ken Skates: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer, and I’d like to thank all Members today for their contributions, especially Lee Waters for bringing forward this debate, to Dai Lloyd, Vikki Howells, Jeremy Miles and David Rowlands, and also David Melding and Rhianon Passmore who both offered, I think, a wider political and social context for the challenges and the risks that we face. David Melding’s...
Ken Skates: Diolch, Presiding Officer. In a month’s time, Cardiff and Wales will host the UEFA Champions League final, one of the biggest and most prestigious sporting events in the world, and the biggest single sporting event in the world in 2017. The men’s final on 3 June will attract a global live tv audience of 200 million and an estimated additional 170,000 visitors to our capital city. Members...
Ken Skates: Can I thank Russell George for his contribution and his questions, and also for his enthusiasm for this and other major events that we’ve hosted in Wales in recent years? We do have a proud record of hosting quality major events of global significance, including the Ryder Cup, for example, which placed Wales on a global map in terms of the country as a golf destination, as well as a raft of...
