Ken Skates: Yes. It is now three years since the launch of ‘The Welsh Government Strategy for Tourism 2013-2020 Partnership for Growth’. This sets a 10 per cent growth in real terms in respect of overnight visitor expenditure in Wales by 2020, and we are on track to exceed that growth.
Ken Skates: Yes, this is a very interesting area of work. I actually asked my officials to carry out some research concerning the most inclusive forms of artistic activities and it was found that smaller festivals and musical concerts are actually the activities, the events, that people are most likely to go to from right across the socioeconomic spectrum. So, I’m very keen to ensure that we do...
Ken Skates: Diolch yn fawr iawn. Sir Terry Matthews and his colleagues on the city region board are continuing to identify priorities that deliver shared aspirations for growth and jobs, including regional collaboration to further develop the region’s digital and transport infrastructure.
Ken Skates: Well, we have been assured by the UK Government—or, we were assured before the referendum took place—that all investment that was due to come from the EU would come from the UK Government. We expect every penny to come. We expect every contract that was signed or agreed to prior to the Brexit vote to be honoured, and it is my hope that we will see—and I expect to see—electrification...
Ken Skates: Thank you. I’d like to update Members on progress with the Circuit of Wales project following a meeting I had earlier today with Michael Carrick, chief executive officer of the Heads of the Valleys Development Company and Martin Whitaker, chief executive officer of Circuit of Wales. As Members will be aware, we have been working with the Circuit of Wales and providing financial support to...
Ken Skates: Can I thank the Member for his questions? It’s a shame that the Member doesn’t recognise the fact that I’ve been able to enter this role with a fresh pair of eyes and have been able to set a very clear bar for the Circuit of Wales—50 per cent of the project costs and 50 per cent of the risks being covered by the private sector. This is a private sector project and, yes, whilst there...
Ken Skates: Can I thank the Member for his questions and just stress that, again, this is not a disappointing announcement, given that the Circuit of Wales have agreed to secure the majority of risk from the private sector in order to take this forward? If we step back to the origins of the proposal, when we were first presented with the Circuit of Wales vision, it was on a basis of no risk falling on...
Ken Skates: Well, I’d like to thank the Member for his question, but say I do hope that he will show more common sense in the future. I’m rather disappointed that the Member is saying—or inferring—that he would be content for the taxpayer to be exposed to 75 per cent, or indeed 100 per cent, of the risk of the project and yet he does not believe that the taxpayer should only be exposed to 50 per...
Ken Skates: I note that many of the Member’s colleagues don’t share his views whatsoever. The fact of the matter is that many of the Member’s colleagues are utterly opposed to this project, so giving the impression that he and his colleagues are in favour of regeneration of that area through the Circuit of Wales, I’m afraid, is not quite the reality of the situation whatsoever. Indeed, the...
Ken Skates: I did come into the Chamber and present our case. I said that this has potential to regenerate an entire area, we welcome it and our officials will be working with the Circuit of Wales to take it forward. But we have been able to reduce the level—I keep repeating myself and I do hope that Members will acknowledge it—of risk that the taxpayer is exposed to. That must surely be something...
Ken Skates: Can I thank the Member for his question, but this is very much a matter for local authorities? Whether they choose to invest in an economic development programme is a matter for them. I cannot answer on behalf of that local authority, but of course they have an opportunity still, if they so wish, to invest in it.
Ken Skates: Can I thank the Member for his question? He’s absolutely right: I think there is some misunderstanding about what it is that Welsh Government is being asked to provide resources for. It is underwriting; it is not funding of this project. I think there are many people in our communities who believe that a 50 per cent support underwriting or guarantee would amount to actual direct funding to...
Ken Skates: The National Transport Finance Plan sets out the measures we are taking to ensure that the Swansea bay region is connected via reliable modern and integrated transport network to other key agglomerations across Wales and beyond.
Ken Skates: We continue to recognise the importance of heavy industries to the economy of the whole of Wales and our priority remains to develop and strengthen its future.
Ken Skates: Inclusiveness is at the heart of our approach to City Regions. Their purpose is not just to ensure that our major cities become drivers of growth and opportunity, but that we also deliver the alignment, collaboration and joined-up thinking that allows growth and opportunity to be spread across Wales.
Ken Skates: Our actions supported over 40,000 jobs last year and nearly 150,000 jobs in the last Assembly term. Our increasing employment rate is outperforming all other parts of the UK and we have seen major employers like Aston Martin and TVR announce the creation of high quality jobs in Wales.
Ken Skates: Clearly, I was concerned to hear of the announcement. Ford is a company that we are very close to and is matching supply with demand but is still investing £100 million into the site and safeguarding 550 jobs. I will work with all stakeholders to ensure the future of the site and its loyal workforce.
Ken Skates: Can I thank the Member for her question? I’ll ignore the opportunistic cheap shot at the First Minister, but I do infer from what you were saying about the Welsh Government’s investment in Ford that you disagree with the Welsh Government’s investment in the Ford plant and the 1,850 people who work there. We are proud to have invested in that site: one of the most efficient and effective...
Ken Skates: Well, I share the Member’s concerns about the workforce, and I share the workforce’s concerns about the future operations of the plant. Indeed, I have spoken with the general secretary of Unite the union and with others to discuss how we can work together with Ford to identify opportunities to sustain engine-building operations at Bridgend. I think there are a number of positives that we...
Ken Skates: Can I thank the Member for her probing questions? First of all, in terms of guarantees, with regard to the Dragon engine, we’ve been clear, as part of the contract with Ford, that we will not release a penny until we’ve seen £90 million invested in the plant to develop the Dragon engine. So, our investment will follow their investment. Our criteria for supporting developments of this...
