Ken Skates: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Minister, I'd be very grateful for a statement on the status of the Wrexham Gateway project in light of the failure by the UK Government to support the scheme through the levelling-up bid process. This is a hugely important scheme for north Wales. It was conceived by Welsh Government; it's backed by Welsh Government, by the local authority, by the university and by the...
Ken Skates: Thank you, Minister. That’s really helpful to know. I recently met with small businesses in the house-building industry, and they were raising this matter as a concern. Will the housing industry be present at that meeting on 9 February, and will you be able to give some reassurance that their concerns have been paid attention to?
Ken Skates: 9. Will the Minister make a statement on phosphate levels in Welsh rivers? OQ58928
Ken Skates: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Minister, thanks very much for your exciting statement. I think the ARTHUR programme has all of the potential to become an incredibly important, strategic part of the economy of north Wales and, indeed, the wider nuclear arc across north Wales and the north-west of England. Of course, as you said, north Wales is in a unique position of being the only part of the UK...
Ken Skates: Diolch, Minister, for your statement. And as you've already alluded to, there is a role for all citizens to play a part in alleviating the pressure on the NHS, whether it's in terms of our own health management or accessing appropriate services. But what is the Welsh Government doing to support citizens in doing this, and what more could we do as Members of the Senedd in our own...
Ken Skates: First Minister, would you agree that discourse on sensitive matters such as gender recognition should be conducted with respect and compassion? It really doesn't help when anonymous groups and intolerant keyboard warriors inflame discussion with untruths and intolerant language. First Minister, I'd be really interested in your view on the UK Government's immediate response of threatening to...
Ken Skates: What steps is the Welsh Government taking to protect children and young people's mental health and well-being?
Ken Skates: May I ask for a statement regarding progress made over the last 12 months on delivery of the north Wales metro, and suggest that an annual statement would be very helpful for Members? I also ask for a statement regarding funding for bus services, given bus services are going to be so prominent in terms of delivery of the north Wales metro. Diolch.
Ken Skates: First Minister, I was wondering whether you'd made an assessment of the half-year results of the Development Bank of Wales, and, in particular, its investment in housing projects, including the leasehold support scheme, which will secure new long-term properties for rent by local authorities, in turn helping to prevent homelessness.
Ken Skates: Can I thank Huw Irranca-Davies for raising this important question, and for his keen interest in the subject? He's absolutely right, of course, that, whilst electric cars are much better for the environment in terms of their day-to-day operation, they still carry with them problems concerning brake and tyre particulates, so they're not the be be-all and end-all, as Huw Irranca-Davies has...
Ken Skates: I'm pleased to say that excellent progress has been made on the implementation of a salary sacrifice scheme for electric vehicles for Members, for Members' staff and also for Commission staff. The executive board has given in-principle approval of the scheme, following detailed background work, and final arrangements are now under way to set up the necessary systems and processes within the...
Ken Skates: Trefnydd, could I ask for an urgent statement from the Minister for health regarding the situation concerning group A streptococcus, particularly in schools? The situation is very serious indeed and there are reports in the media now that antibiotics could be used as a preventative measure to protect children from more serious conditions, including scarlet fever and invasive group A...
Ken Skates: What steps is the Welsh Government taking to protect children and young people's mental health and well-being?
Ken Skates: Minister, that's great to hear because, of course, public transport is a key issue—probably the most important issue—to consider on a cross-border basis in the Mersey Dee area. Last weekend, Carolyn Thomas and I went to Chester. We met with key figures from across the border in England, including metro mayors Steve Rotherham and Andy Burnham, as well as Samantha Dixon, and we of course...
Ken Skates: Thank you, Minister. I can only imagine how difficult those decisions are going to be, because, as you say, the money that has come from Westminster, while it's an increase, doesn't cover those dreadful inflationary pressures that public services are facing the length and breadth of Wales. Minister, can you give us an indication of the guiding principles that will be followed in determining...
Ken Skates: 3. What assessment has the Minister made of the impact of the UK Government's autumn statement on the management of Welsh Government resources? OQ58770
Ken Skates: 3. What consideration has the Cabinet standing committee for north Wales given to cross-border collaboration through the Mersey Dee Alliance? OQ58772
Ken Skates: Well, I must say, the Member wishes us to reduce our budget, and doing what I've proposed will do exactly that. You can't have your cake and eat it.
Ken Skates: And in terms of consultation, you do have a member of the Commission in your group who is able to inform you of decisions—
Ken Skates: —and it was agreed at the Commission meeting that we would take this cost-saving measure. It was agreed by the Commission. Look, I must also say that, in terms of the rem board, I think that perhaps the Finance Committee should feel confident in inviting the rem board before it to scrutinise it, and to ask the difficult questions that I think Mike Hedges and others have raised. In...
