Ken Skates: We’re taking a different approach to the franchise that will be operated from 2018 onwards, where we set the outcomes and then the bidders come to us with proposals to meet them. We recognise that the current franchise is not fit for purpose. The rolling stock is insufficient and is too old. What the consultation that we carried out shows us is that passengers feel that the trains are...
Ken Skates: We were waiting for the question. It was short in the end, but with a long introduction. The Member, this week, introduced his party’s strategy for investment and infrastructure with the national infrastructure commission. I welcome the paper, but the one glaring, obvious error in it is that he’s not been able to identify where, within the Government’s revenue budget, £700 million will...
Ken Skates: First, just going back to Transport for Wales, Transport for Wales reflects a model that is Transport for London, which I’m sure you would not argue is anything other than a not-for-profit organisation. In terms of Finance Wales, the member criticises Finance Wales, but if we actually look at the figures for Finance Wales for the most recent period available, we’ll see that last year was...
Ken Skates: Transport for Wales itself is a not-for-profit organisation, which will be in charge of all elements of the franchise, including all concessions. Just as with any charity or, indeed, organisation, such as Transport for London, they will be able to manage the franchise in such a way that ensures that there can be a split between the actual delivery partner and the other concessions such as...
Ken Skates: Yes. We’ve received the petition from the Petitions Committee, which my officials have viewed, and we have responded to the Chair of the Petitions Committee, as requested.
Ken Skates: I very much hope that the developers are able to live up to their promise of being able to deliver this project with the necessary private sector funding. As I say, discussions are ongoing with my officials. When I discussed the matter in the summer with the developers, they were confident of being able to reach the criteria that was set and we await a formal submission from them, which we...
Ken Skates: Yes. Discussions are ongoing between the Circuit of Wales and my officials.
Ken Skates: It is very much an issue for local authorities to consider, but also it’s something that business improvement districts can give great consideration to. And I think, where they have been operating, there’s been considerable success, demonstrated by an increase in many cases in footfall within town centres. So, it’s very much something that local authorities and, indeed, town councils...
Ken Skates: Can I thank the Member for her question and say that my sympathies go to all those affected by this morning’s news? We are doing everything we can to support the entire steel industry in Wales, and we’ve previously engaged with this company. We’ve offered the company access to Welsh Government initiatives, including the apprenticeship scheme, which is run by Coleg Gwent, the knowledge...
Ken Skates: Well, indeed they should take advantage of this scheme, and I will endeavour to raise it not just with the local authority and their economic development unit, but also with the chair of the enterprise zone, when I next meet with them.
Ken Skates: Well, Business Wales has been incredibly successful in assisting SMEs across Wales, and does pretty much what the FSB proposes for their model. If I could just highlight the success of Business Wales, in the year to date, 3,638 individuals and businesses have been supported with business advice, and, as a result, Business Wales is on course to achieve its target of 5,000 new jobs for the...
Ken Skates: Yes, indeed, I would. And I’d say that, in the Member’s constituency, there have been a notable number of success stories in recent years—successes that have been driven in part by the availability of support from Welsh Government. To name but a few: Ashwood Designs, Rokel Engineering, Heighway Pinball Limited, and Elite Paper Solutions, demonstrate what can be done when the private...
Ken Skates: Yes. Wide-ranging support is available for entrepreneurs, small and medium businesses, right across Wales, through our Business Wales service. Our absolute focus remains on supporting jobs and the economy.
Ken Skates: Yes. In fact, I met with Members from across parties on Monday in north Wales and I pledged to them to provide information from Arriva Trains Wales concerning the efforts that they are endeavouring to make to address what I think is an unacceptable summer of rail service provision. It clearly demonstrates that the current franchise is not fit for purpose, and that’s why we must ensure that...
Ken Skates: I’d like to thank the Member for his question and say that the voluntary Welsh bus quality standard, which was published in March of this year, encourages bus operators right across Wales to introduce lower emission vehicles, especially in those areas where the quality of air that we breathe is threatened by harmful emissions where traffic congestion persists. Under that scheme, local...
Ken Skates: We’ve been examining the rolling stock, which of course, right across Britain, is under pressure, but we’ve been examining the rolling stock within Wales and available to Wales since that report was commissioned and completed. We’re discussing it with potential delivery partners as part of the next franchise, and also, in setting out the outputs as a novel and innovative way of...
Ken Skates: We recognise the importance of an effective, affordable and fully integrated public transport system right across Wales. The national transport finance plan, published in July 2015, sets out investment for transport and infrastructure for services from 2015 to 2020 across all parts of Wales.
Ken Skates: Economic growth is a fundamental part of our programme for government. The strong performance of the ICT sector has led to the creation of 7,500 high-end jobs in Wales. Ongoing support to this enabling sector will assist the development of all businesses in Wales through increased adoption of digital technologies.
Ken Skates: Whilst not directly responsible for the roll-out of public Wi-Fi, we support local towns and communities throughout Wales, including those in mid Wales, to create their own public Wi-Fi networks, such as through the provision of fast and reliable enabling infrastructure.
Ken Skates: North Wales is at the forefront of the improvements in Wales’s economic performance. I want us to build on developments that have seen employment and inward investment hit record highs and a Wales unemployment rate that is lower than the rest of the UK as a whole.
