Ken Skates: Yes. The Wales and borders franchise is due to end in October 2018, and we have started the process of procuring an operator and development partner, who will also operate services and develop the south Wales metro.
Ken Skates: As outlined in my letter to Assembly Members on 1 November, we are in the process of appointing a contractor for these works and hope to award a contract this month. Works are programmed to start in January 2017 and should be completed by the end of March.
Ken Skates: Officials have been discussing various aspects of this project over the last two years. I have asked that discussions continue, to determine whether a satisfactory business case can be submitted; demonstrating financial viability, the economic, cultural and linguistic benefits of the development and explaining the need for public sector intervention.
Ken Skates: The Welsh Government continues to invest circa £180 million in rail services annually, including many additional services above those specified in the original Wales and Borders franchise. We also continue to fund a programme of rail infrastructures improvements, despite this area being non-devolved, to enable additional and enhanced rail services.
Ken Skates: The apprenticeship levy is a UK Government led employment tax. Welsh Government has already determined its priorities for apprenticeships these include higher level skills and support for young people to make the transition into sustainable employment.
Ken Skates: We are taking several wide ranging actions to increase prosperity by encouraging economic development across all parts of Wales. In north Wales, we are exploiting the significant opportunities that will arise from investment projects such as Wylfa Newydd, providing support through our dedicated business support service and investing in various transport schemes.
Ken Skates: Welsh Government have entered in to an agreement with Liberty Properties over delivery of a leisure scheme on part of Bryn Cegin. Liberty Properties are currently in the process of seeking a planning permission for their proposed scheme as well as negotiating with potential tenants of the scheme.
Ken Skates: We continue to provide financial support, where needed, to help businesses invest, grow and remain competitive.
Ken Skates: I cannot thank the Member more, and I would never, ever question his wisdom or his ideas. He is, to me, something of an Obi-Wan Kenobi to my slightly naive Skywalker. But in all seriousness, I think it is about protecting our heritage and protecting the institutions for the future, but ensuring that the institutions serve the people of Wales first and foremost, and that we do not take our...
Ken Skates: Sorry, just two more quick points. I do apologise for overrunning. Cadw’s budget—if you look at last year’s budget rounds, you’ll see that Cadw’s budget, I believe, was reduced by more than the national museum, so in terms of marketing, it’s actually done more with less by driving up income and figures. In terms of St Fagans—oh, and I also believe that there are many contracts...
Ken Skates: I’d like to thank the Member for her questions. I think it’s absolutely essential that anybody who feels confused about the proposals reads what the options are and assesses carefully what the options are, because after assessing what those four options are, I think it will be abundantly clear to anybody that wholescale merges are not on the table. The Member asked—and I’m sorry I...
Ken Skates: I’d like to thank Nick Ramsay for his questions. I’m very pleased that he enjoyed the event here today. I hosted the event and I took the time myself to speak to a number of the groups that came along with fascinating information about Historic Wales. There were some concerns raised. I was able to dispel them, and I think that is a task for me in the weeks and the months to come—to...
Ken Skates: I’d like to thank Vikki Howells for her very important questions, in particular the significance of the heritage sector insofar as attaining skills is concerned, because I was recently pleased—I’m not sure whether this is for disclosure just yet, but I’m going to say it anyway—to support an application worth many hundreds of thousands of pounds for skills training within the...
Ken Skates: Thank you. I’d like to thank David Rowlands for his questions and just to reflect, actually, as I know that this has been contentious, and Dai Lloyd quoted Dai Smith in his contribution, and perhaps I’ll reflect on another quote of Dai Smith’s, when he said that culture should be disruptive. Perhaps these proposals are disruptive, but in the right way because they are focusing attention...
Ken Skates: Well, I’d like to thank the Member for some kind comments and points that he’s made. You’ve recognised that I listen, that I can face challenge, and that is exactly what I am doing, and that is exactly why I will listen to the steering group and those experts that sit on the steering group that represent our national institutions—not just the museum. And I know you talked a lot about...
Ken Skates: I already have done.
Ken Skates: I’d like to thank Suzy Davies for her questions and for acknowledging that, in terms of commercial activity, it is important that all organisations that receive public funds look to what they can do more themselves to make themselves more resilient. It’s absolutely essential, especially for many people who may be watching today who can’t make ends meet who look to national organisations...
Ken Skates: Thank you, Presiding Officer. We have four great national institutions, the National Museum Wales, the National Library of Wales, Cadw and the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales, acting as custodians for our rich heritage and culture. Together they preserve evidence of the entire span of human activity in Wales, from the tiny fragments of bone that attest to the...
Ken Skates: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. Can I start by thanking the Member for Delyn for bringing forward this very important and very relevant debate today on the economy of north Wales, given that the autumn statement is due very soon? I’m very pleased to have a chance to respond to the comments made by a number of Members, and I think I should start my contribution concerning the future of...
Ken Skates: I’d like to thank Simon Thomas for his question and say we are trying to ascertain whether any public money is being used to attract those jobs from Wales, not least because public money is already being used to secure those jobs here in Wales. As soon as I have any information with regard to the use of public funding to attract the jobs from Wales, I will of course share it with Members....
