Vaughan Gething: Well, on the roads review, as you know, the Deputy Minister for Climate Change is more than happy to answer questions about the policy he's leading on behalf of the Government. Also, in terms of housing, I think that the Minister for Climate Change is very clear about the need to build more houses and more houses in the affordable span, which is a real challenge for us, for people to be...
Vaughan Gething: Yes, on your second point about progress, yes, I do expect to be able to share reports with the Senedd and with committees on the sort of progress we're making. On your first point, about the Industrial Communities Alliance, more and better jobs closer to home, that's certainly where I want us to be, and it goes a bit into the question that Alun Davies asked, and, bearing in mind where Cynon...
Vaughan Gething: Yes, sorry, yes. And actually, I expect to meet the ambitions we set out to double the size of the co-op economy in Wales. The conversations that I committed to have with Huw Irranca-Davies following a previous debate with him following a legislative proposal have not been concluded. We did have a time arranged that had to be put off for COVID reasons. But, yes, I fully intend to meet the...
Vaughan Gething: To answer as briefly as possible, given the Deputy Presiding Officer's instructions: yes, I do believe we need to continue to invest in infrastructure, including digital infrastructure, to enable what are not so much new ways of working, but standard ways of working that already exist in large parts of Wales, to make sure that access to those opportunities is practically provided in...
Vaughan Gething: What I think will be different this time is that I think we'll want to be able to come back to point out the improvement in the regional economy and what it means not just for jobs, but in terms of pay and conditions as well, because we're looking to see real change made. And I genuinely think that there is going to be a focus on the Heads of Valleys, not just because of the works that are...
Vaughan Gething: I've had a number of very constructive conversations with my ministerial colleague Rebecca Evans about the role of regional economic development and CJCs and making sure that the legislation that the Senedd passed in the last term is realised. I think there's a real danger that we keep on arguing about the past rather than actually trying to remake the future, and I think there has been a...
Vaughan Gething: Thank you for the questions and comments. On your starting point about local services and what it means for rural economies, I recognise that the point is well made, both in the previous debate around Banc Cambria and your consistent interest in this area. I actually think that our growth deals do show that there are real opportunities to develop a successful future economy in mid Wales. We...
Vaughan Gething: Okay, I'll take them in reverse order. On higher education, actually, one of our challenges is, and has always been, ever since I've been a Member—I'd like to think that higher education has got better at this as well—about the research and the excellence they produce and how that gets applied into the economy. So, the difference between research, development, innovation and application...
Vaughan Gething: Thank you for the series of questions. On your starting point, I believe there is a strong and progressive case to be made for the future of the union, but it won't be made by the sort of attempts to centralise and hijack powers and money away from devolved national Governments that people have voted for in more than one referenda in Wales, Scotland and elsewhere. The Member may of course...
Vaughan Gething: Thank you for the series of comments and questions within those. I'll take on board what the Deputy Llywydd asked. In terms of the broad sweep of what the Member has been saying, I think there's a bit of a misunderstanding about the regional economic frameworks. That helps us to define a vision for the future of each region, with a common set of priorities for economic development. They go...
Vaughan Gething: Thank you, Llywydd. I'm pleased to provide Members with an update today on the progress that this Government has made with partners to help build stronger regional economies across Wales. As part of my statement I will reflect on the challenges that we continue to face, particularly in light of the impact of leaving the European Union and the absence of UK Government plans to date for...
Vaughan Gething: We've been looking to maintain and protect businesses right across Wales, of course, including within this region. The £2.5 billion and more we've provided to support Welsh businesses during the pandemic has meant that in Swansea, over £127 million has been provided, in Neath Port Talbot, over £60 million, in Carmarthen, over £109 million and in Pembrokeshire, over £111 million from the...
Vaughan Gething: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer, and thank you to Mike Hedges for his choice of short debates, together with his opening remarks. Fascinating—I'm really interested in what Mike has had to say, and in particular the areas he's highlighted—it highlights some areas of continuing strength to build on, as well as potential new areas to look at in the future as well. And Mike has got a...
Vaughan Gething: Well, if Banc Cambria were in any doubt about Members keenness for there to be a successful community bank for Wales with a proper presence in each constituency and communities within those constituencies, they can be in no doubt after the contributions of Members today. I recognise that the passion from Members is genuine because of the constituencies and regions you serve, where you're...
Vaughan Gething: Indeed, I do understand that there are people who don't live in the Member's constituency, but I praise him for mentioning a number of his constituency towns. Look, there is a real challenge, and the Member highlights it again, about town-centre reinvigoration having a real successful future forward look for our local high streets, and it really does matter for a sense of place in those towns...
Vaughan Gething: Thank you. What we're doing in Wales with the community bank is a novel policy approach that's not been successful anywhere else. Banking hubs are piloting what they might do, and the Member is right to highlight them as part of the answer for the future. So, we're expecting there to be a pilot report on shared banking hubs imminently, and my understanding is that there are two banking hub...
Vaughan Gething: That's a fair question, and, look, what we're looking at is, we're looking at something that would be a proper investment proposal on a commercial basis. So, it's not as if we're looking to provide preferential lines of credit; it's about finding a partner who can provide a proper detailed commercial investment proposal, provide a return on an investment that the Welsh Government would make....
Vaughan Gething: Thank you, and thank you again for the broad welcome. And the point about consultation and the potential for new branches to be a real catalyst for high-street regeneration as well as community wealth, that's a point that I know Members across the Chamber are really interested in, and how to do that in a way that we understand and that Banc Cambria, when they're developing a proposal,...
Vaughan Gething: Well, I'm sure the good people at Banc Cambria will have heard you before today, as well as today, and I know that they’ll be taking an interest in today’s debate across the Senedd. Look, we expect to receive an investment proposal over the next calendar year, so during 2022, and we’ll then need to go through our due diligence exercise, as I’ve indicated before. So, I can’t give you...
Vaughan Gething: Thank you for the questions and comments. I agree with your points about the challenge of it's not just about branch services, but about access to cash services as well—not just ATMs but, in particular, free-to-use ATMS as well. Part of the drive behind this is a recognition that the flight of traditional branches and cash services does mean that there is an increasing divide between those...
