Ken Skates: It’s my belief that the work that we are bringing forward as a Government will deliver prosperity for all—prosperity for the Valleys, prosperity for all communities across the Valleys. Deputy Presiding Officer, we understand that the Valleys of south Wales need, require, and, indeed, deserve, to be at the heart of the focus of Government. Under this Government, they will be.
Ken Skates: We are working with Network Rail to identify cost-effective options to upgrade the Maesteg branch line for additional services.
Ken Skates: We continue to provide the best support, infrastructure and conditions for all businesses to grow, sustain and prosper.
Ken Skates: Due diligence, having been delayed due to the need for clarification and additional information, will be completed in the next few weeks.
Ken Skates: Through investing in infrastructure, skills and improving general business conditions, we are promoting growth, tackling inequality and spreading opportunity.
Ken Skates: Outline design development and environmental impact assessment is nearing completion for the scheme with publication of draft orders planned for July 2017. A public local inquiry, if required, is planned for February 2018, with construction programmed to begin towards the end of 2019.
Ken Skates: Yes.
Ken Skates: Diolch, Llywydd. The Welsh Government’s programme for government sets out how we will deliver more and better jobs through a stronger, fairer economy, improve and reform our public services and build a united, connected and sustainable Wales. Our programme for government has been designed to further advance our objectives under the well-being of future generations Act. This requires us to...
Ken Skates: On 28 February, Transport for Wales started a second public consultation on the outcomes to be delivered as part of the next Wales and borders franchise. This franchise will deliver the modernisation of the core Valleys lines as part of the south-east Wales metro. It will support the development of the north-east Wales metro and it will also improve our regional railway services across the...
Ken Skates: I’d like to thank the Member for his questions, and I’ll begin with that very last point. Yes, it’s our intention to incorporate within national standards enhanced training for all drivers of taxis and private hire vehicles to ensure that there’s consistency across all services. I think one of the great advantages of our proposals is that it will bring a fares regime that is...
Ken Skates: Can I thank the Member for his questions and his contribution? I most heartily agree. I think taxi drivers and private-hire vehicle drivers last night in Manchester showed a consistent and selfless and altruistic approach. I’d like to put on record my thanks to them for showing the industry across the UK just how valuable they are to our country. It’s my belief that we are making the...
Ken Skates: Can I thank the Member for her very important points? It was brought to our attention recently in Southend that licences were refused to some drivers who then went on to Transport for London and obtained a licence from them and are now operating in Southend, outside of the Transport for London jurisdiction. Uber, who are not allowed to issue licences for places such as Reading, Hatfield and...
Ken Skates: Can I thank Gareth Bennett for his questions and observations? He makes a number of important points, and I very much welcome the petition that was submitted by Whizz-Kidz concerning access to public transport, with a particular focus on taxis and private hire vehicles. I gave evidence recently to the Petitions Committee, where I outlined how I expected change to be delivered. And the...
Ken Skates: Can I thank Mike Hedges for his two questions and for the contribution that he’s made to this discussion? There are 9,200 drivers with licences operating across Wales. There are many more people who are employed in the sector, whether it be as telephone operators or within human resources of the larger firms. So, it is an important contributor to the Welsh economy, particularly to the...
Ken Skates: Can I thank Suzy Davies for her questions, and say, essentially, that the introduction of national standards is aimed at ensuring that vehicles are of a consisting quality right across Wales? And so, whether it’s twice a year or four times a year, I think what’s crucially important is that vehicles are maintained properly and to a very clear and transparent minimum standard based, not...
Ken Skates: Formally.
Ken Skates: Diolch, Llywydd. Can I start by thanking Members across the Chamber for their contributions today and for giving me an opportunity to respond to this debate? As a Government, we are absolutely determined to spread prosperity, growth and opportunity across Wales to generate prosperity for all, and that is the foundation upon which the work to refresh our economic strategy and develop the...
Ken Skates: Of course, yes.
Ken Skates: Many, many months—and two years, indeed. Can I thank Mark Reckless for taking a very consistent position on this matter himself? He’s not taken such a consistent position on which political party he should be a member of, but on this issue he has remained very consistent indeed. Turning to our priorities for north Wales, I should say that I was very pleased to be able to attend earlier...
Ken Skates: In a moment. I’m very keen, in terms of supporting mid Wales, to look at how we can turbocharge the activities of Growing Mid Wales, which is an important partnership. Certainly, insofar as a growth deal for mid Wales is concerned, I’d be very keen to see what the UK Government, however 8 June pans out, actually looks at delivering as part of an expanded offer of growth deals,...
