Carwyn Jones: Yes, I do, because sharing expertise, good practice and having a network of support is an important factor for start-ups. I know the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure, in conjunction with the regional entrepreneurial acceleration programme, REAP, is currently reviewing the requirements for incubation space, including the type of spaces that are needed in Wales, in order to make...
Carwyn Jones: We welcome it as it supports the case for developing a tidal lagoon energy industry in the UK and for the specific recognition it gives to the Welsh projects already under development around the Welsh coast.
Carwyn Jones: Well, we welcome the recommendations for better engagement and communication between the banks and customers, but it is important the UK Government, as the lead organisation here, to make sure that what the review actually suggested is taken forward, namely that the banks improve the way they engage with those communities facing branch closures, including working with small business customers...
Carwyn Jones: Yes. Business support is available for entrepreneurs, micro, small and medium-sized businesses across Wales through our Business Wales service. Our focus remains on supporting innovation-driven entrepreneurs, jobs and the economy.
Carwyn Jones: That’s a fair point, and it’s all important. If the banks can’t do it, then, in my view, they are duty-bound to ensure that there are alternative ways of delivering the financial services via the Post Office, and also, of course, as a Government we’ve been supporting the credit unions to ensure that they can fill the gap that the commercial banks are leaving, as I said earlier. By so...
Carwyn Jones: We have, of course, over the years supported our post offices financially, and they are hugely important in local communities. It is right to say that, whilst personal banking services can be provided by post offices, the reality is that most business customers don’t get that kind of service, and that’s what the Post Office needs to deliver, working with the banks. When businesses cash up...
Carwyn Jones: I was concerned to hear of the further proposed bank closures; they’re happening across Wales. What is absolutely crucial is that people, where they lose their bank branches, are able to access banking services through the post offices.
Carwyn Jones: Firstly, I thank him for what he said about the White Paper, not describing it as ‘The Beano’, of course, as we heard others in his party describe it. He talked about small and medium-sized enterprises—well, we’ve got our repayable fund to SMEs, which offers repayable finance to SMEs. Immediately following the referendum we did launch the business confidence plan, which is a series of...
Carwyn Jones: By our actions, we are judged on what we have done for the steel sector in Wales: the financial support that we’ve provided; and the fact that we’ve engaged so much with Tata and other steelmakers, particularly, showing them that we steel as an important part of the Welsh economy. There’s scant reference to steel in the Green Paper itself, despite the assurances we’ve heard from the...
Carwyn Jones: Far from it—the unemployment rate is 4.1 per cent, lower than in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and we’ve just had the best figures for foreign direct investment for 30 years. We take the view that it’s hugely important that we look to develop business, setting up a development bank for Wales and the national infrastructure commission for Wales as well, and so supporting...
Carwyn Jones: Well, let’s look at Let’s Walk Cymru: it’s a Welsh Government funded programme, which sets up walking groups all over Wales. The aim of that is to introduce walking into people’s daily lives to prevent the onset of conditions such as heart disease and obesity. That complements what we are already doing. Of course, it’s important that people know where they can walk and also that...
Carwyn Jones: Thus far, it is not full of detail, but we have long called for a rebalancing of the UK economy and we will carefully consider the UK Government’s industrial strategy Green Paper when we see it in more detail.
Carwyn Jones: The Welsh healthy school network scheme does support schools to promote schemes to improve the health of pupils in schools. Ninety-nine per cent of schools are part of that programme—those schools that aren’t private schools. And, of course, we also work with the Welsh Local Government Association in order to support children in continuing with their exercise during the summer holidays,...
Carwyn Jones: Yes, I will. It’s hugely important that people feel comfortable in taking exercise in ways that are appropriate to them. There were two points that I feared he would make. The first one, he did make, namely that he has been involved in a parkrun himself. The second, he didn’t make which I welcome, and that was to invite me to join him at a parkrun. [Laughter.] I know full well that he...
Carwyn Jones: ‘Taking Wales Forward’ sets out our ambition to increase levels of physical activity. Existing initiatives to encourage physical activity are having an impact and further measures are being considered. They will be outlined in the forthcoming healthy and active strategy.
Carwyn Jones: I think he sat down when he heard the words ‘Nigel Farage’ being uttered in the Chamber—the master of megaphone diplomacy and somebody who is Donald Trump’s representative on earth at the moment. From my perspective, the words I have chosen, I believe, have been appropriate and I think they are self-evident to most people in Britain. As I said yesterday, if circumstances change, the...
Carwyn Jones: First of all, it is right that we engage the US Government; I’ll be in America at the end of next month, as I am, at Capitol Hill hosting a reception, working with the Welsh caucus of Congress members as well, and I’ll keep on doing that. But it was Theresa May herself who said that we should speak frankly to friends; she has not done that. She has not done that. And I think it’s hugely...
Carwyn Jones: If he wishes to be—. May I remind him that the Ford Motor Company has condemned Donald Trump’s comments over the weekend? He might not have seen that, but they have done that. We all see the chaos that has resulted in America. It is for him to act as an advocate for the US Government, not for me. But what I can say to him is that the greatest threat to the Ford engine plant is the...
Carwyn Jones: The leader of the Welsh Conservatives will no doubt know that these are issues that are raised constantly in the house where I live, and the points are made very strongly, and rightly so. We will listen, of course, to those who suggest different ways in which cancer can be dealt with. We have our cancer delivery plan, of course. We want to ensure that we have the right level of medical staff...
Carwyn Jones: Yes, I think that’s reasonable. We want to see more people live with and, ultimately, survive lung cancer. The survival rates are around about 8 per cent or 9 per cent, if I remember rightly. They’re in single figures and they are low. Much of it is because early diagnosis is so crucial to any type of cancer and the symptoms don’t manifest themselves quite often unless people present as...
