Ken Skates: I’d like to say that the Member is absolutely right on this issue. I have been clear with the director general and the president of the museum that the results of that survey must be addressed, and that I expect to see a report on how the issues raised by the workforce are being addressed. I’ve also been clear that the workers at the museum—the people who ensure that visitors have the...
Ken Skates: Can I thank the Member for her question, and just remind her that this Government itself has faced the deepest cuts to its budgets in recent years imaginable? No area of my portfolio has been immune, I’m afraid, from having to make difficult decisions and implement budget cuts, with one exception—the Welsh Books Council, where there was an overwhelming feeling that a reduction in their...
Ken Skates: Yes, absolutely, and can I first of all put on record my thanks to the local Member for her relentless and her resolute support for the loyal and dedicated workers that she refers to? The outcome of the PCS ballot and resolution of the pay dispute was publicly confirmed on 24 June. I’m pleased that 78 per cent of PCS members voted to accept the enhanced offer made by the national museum....
Ken Skates: There are various ways and means of promoting enterprise zones. They have budgets, not least to promote themselves, to market themselves and the services and the benefits of investors locating within them. The Member may be aware that we will be publishing data on enterprise zone performance very shortly, and the Member may wish to take note of the figures for the latest year.
Ken Skates: Yes. I am pleased that this long-running pay dispute has now been resolved and that all national museum sites have reopened to the public.
Ken Skates: I think the time is right, given the vote that’s taken place, for the development of a new economic strategy that takes account of the fact that we’ll be leaving Europe, but also ensures that manufacturing grows and prospers in the future. The Member is right in her analysis that manufacturing is a shrinking sector across the UK. But, here in Wales, it still accounts for 11.3 per cent of...
Ken Skates: Yes. Manufacturing in Wales is vitally important to the Welsh economy. We offer a wide range of support to the industry, including help and advice on areas such as international trade, research, development and innovation, improving workforce skills, finding new business premises, e-business support and tendering for public sector contracts.
Ken Skates: This is a point of ongoing consideration by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government, but the Member is right, we should use every lever at our disposal to attract investors to Wales. Last year, we recorded the second highest level of inward investment here. That’s something that, again, we want to make sure that we maintain. In terms of financial support to businesses, we...
Ken Skates: Well, it’s my view that we in north Wales—and I speak as someone who was born there, grew up there and who lives there—has as much to offer the Northern Powerhouse as the Northern Powerhouse has to offer north Wales. We have a good deal to contribute. It’s predicted that up to 70,000 jobs can be created in the next two decades in north Wales. I’m confident that that can be achieved...
Ken Skates: Can I thank the Member for her question? I’m delighted that the dragon, the Caerphilly dragon, was received so well in Delyn and at Flint castle. The pictures that I’ve seen show that many, many visitors, particularly young visitors, thoroughly enjoyed seeing the red dragon there. At this time of the year, when we’re celebrating an incredible performance by our national football squad,...
Ken Skates: Yes, I’ve discussed this matter not just with the Under-Secretary of State, but I was actually discussing it as well with the Secretary of State himself on Sunday. We very much hope that the growth deal bid will be submitted in full as a proposal to the Chancellor of the Exchequer by the end of this month. I would also hope that the business case for electrification of the main line in the...
Ken Skates: I’d be delighted to do that. It sounds like this is an exceptional cluster of economic activity in your constituency. I think it would also be helpful if we invited those companies to contribute to the development of the new economic strategy.
Ken Skates: We are taking several wide-ranging actions to encourage 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: Yes, absolutely, and perhaps the local firm that the Member refers to is a firm that he and I could visit together to discuss the problems that they’ve encountered and the solutions that we might be able to present. In terms of the Welsh Government’s procurement portal, Sell2Wales, it was set up to help businesses win contracts in the public sector. Since June 2013, almost 14,000 notices...
Ken Skates: I’ll retract that statement.
Ken Skates: I’ll instead refer to the letter that the Member received that highlighted how much support Welsh Government gives to small businesses right across Wales and that this Government is business friendly.
Ken Skates: Well, SMEs are always listened to and are always included where we are involved in events and activities. We have a very, very good working relationship with the Federation of Small Businesses. I note that the Member refers to the event that he was at last week. I’m sure that he has now received a letter that outlines that it was an untrue statement that he made in Plenary last week to the...
Ken Skates: No, the development bank for Wales will have access to far more resources to be able to then pass on and to lend to businesses across Wales. I have every confidence in Giles Thorley and also in Gareth Bullock to deliver a bank that offers not just more lending, but also offers bespoke, tailored advice to the business community, which is what they’ve called for for many years.
Ken Skates: Yes. We continue to support indigenous businesses and have a record number of active enterprises headquartered in Wales. In 2015-16, we supported over 40,000 jobs in all sizes of businesses here in Wales, which included 5,000 jobs created and safeguarded through our Business Wales service.
Ken Skates: I am principled, but I am also pragmatic. I remain open-minded, and as I’ve said on numerous occasions, I don’t have a monopoly on wisdom. I do listen to experts, and I do have an open mind on this issue.
