Ken Skates: I’d like to thank Jenny Rathbone for her questions. We remain confident that there will not be slippage and that there will be a seamless transition from the current franchise to the new one. The consultation that has taken place has been in public, but we’ll also follow that up with a further consultation after we have been able to award the operator and development partner status. And...
Ken Skates: I would like to thank the Member for her question. I’ll quickly run through the timetable. We’re going to commence the procurement this summer; we’re going to award the operator and development partner for the franchise and metro by the end of this year; we’ll award the infrastructure contracts in spring 2018; the new franchise starts in October 2018 with the metro designed during...
Ken Skates: I’d like to thank Mark Reckless for his questions. First of all, one of the reasons—or two of the reasons—that it’s taken 18 months is because we’ve had two general elections, one across the UK, and one in Wales. This also concerns an operation that crosses a considerable border as well. So, given those two factors, it’s no surprise that negotiations have taken place over a period...
Ken Skates: Can I thank the Member for his questions and, again, thank him for welcoming the statement today? He is absolutely right to say that the south Wales metro is vital in alleviating some of the congestion—much of the congestion that we see in the region. It’s my belief as well that the metro initiative will be a great driving force for social mobility. In terms of contingency planning...
Ken Skates: Can I thank the Member for his questions today, and also for the fact that he welcomed this statement and the progress that is being made on the franchise? As I said in my opening statement, we hope to resolve questions over cross-border services that will deliver the best outcome for Wales in the coming weeks and months. In terms of funding from the EU, the capital sum amounts to...
Ken Skates: Diolch yn fawr iawn. As part of an integrated public transport system, rail services have an important role in transforming the socioeconomic prospects of our communities, and it is vital that they are of a high quality and are effective, affordable and accessible to all. Services must be designed to meet the needs of passengers in the twenty-first century. We want to ensure that the right...
Ken Skates: The Member, Russell George, makes a valuable contribution, and I can say that we are actively evaluating a number of measures to support the steel sector with business rates, and we’re testing these against the current existing state aid law. But, of course, we take note of what happened in the EU referendum and we are also liaising, especially with the UK Government, on how business rates...
Ken Skates: Yes. And can I thank John Griffiths for his questions? The destiny of any one plant in Wales is conditional, if you like, on the destiny of the whole Welsh steel family. And it’s my belief that Welsh steel right now is in a strong position; it has a bright future, provided it continues to get the support of Welsh Government and UK Government. The investment that the Member talks of, I...
Ken Skates: Can I thank the Member for her questions, and say that, with the alternative still on the table and under consideration, I wish to continue talking with some of those potential buyers? And that’s why I’ll be talking with one today, and why I wish to also speak urgently with Tata Steel themselves. Backing, any backing, will be conditional on long-term job security, and, insofar as the...
Ken Skates: Yes, I would agree with the Member. The support that’s on the table is conditional on a number of factors. The support contains environmental improvement programmes, and we are absolutely and utterly committed to ensuring that the environment is improved. In terms of the support that we’re offering, we would expect it to be, and that will be the case moving forward.
Ken Skates: I found the Member’s contribution pretty appalling. At a time when we should be dropping the political opportunism, and ensuring that there is a long-term solution for Welsh steel, the Member always goes back to the default position of either blame everything on Europe or embrace the idea that the free market can solve everybody’s worries. The fact of the matter is, in terms of duties, in...
Ken Skates: Can I thank Suzy Davies for her questioning and say that we have been clear throughout with Tata that any support offered would be conditional upon safeguarding of jobs and sustainable steel production here in Wales, not just for the short term, but for the longer term as well? That support is on the table, as I’ve said already. We are willing to work with anybody who is willing and...
Ken Skates: I’d like to thank the Member for his question, and I accept much of what he says, but I’m surprised that he hasn’t seen from the Tata Steel news release from last week, actually, that they state in there, categorically, that they are also looking at a joint venture, not that they are looking at it instead of a potential sale. Now, we’ve said that we will work with anybody that offers...
Ken Skates: First of all, can I thank the Member for his continued passionate defence of the Welsh steel industry? I fully recognise the anxiety and uncertainty that many, many families are going through. I, myself, grew up in a family that relied on steel for employment back in the 1980s. I know full well how much anxiety and uncertainty and distress it can cause when you don’t know whether you’re...
Ken Skates: Yes. Can I thank the Member for his question?We are continuing our extensive dialogue with Tata and are continuing to press the UK Government on a number of points including appropriate relief from high-energy costs, which is more critical than ever to ensure our industries are competitive, as well as the need for a solution on pensions.
Ken Skates: Yes, of course I will.
Ken Skates: The Member has repeatedly ignored the fact that raw materials imported from abroad are now even more expensive and will stifle growth in this sector. There is no doubt about it; there is no net benefit. There is also, as Members have already pointed out—Bethan Jenkins, Dai Lloyd and others—a tragic Shakespearian irony in what UKIP Members have said today and what they’ve actually done...
Ken Skates: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. Can I thank Members for their contributions today? I do know that everyone will be concerned about the impact that the referendum has had on the UK’s steel industry, and there is no doubt that the referendum result has created considerable uncertainty, but also a deep sense of anxiety. I endorse the contribution made by Lee Waters, who I think captured...
Ken Skates: Move, formally.
Ken Skates: I’d like to thank the Member and say I wholeheartedly agree with her. In terms of ensuring that people have an opportunity to contribute to the inquiry, I think a lot of people are probably somewhat tired of hearing politicians in any environment debate the merits of any given project, and would like to be able to contribute to that discussion themselves, knowing that there is an...
