Ken Skates: I think it's really important. Helen Mary Jones makes a really important point about the human impact of Flybe's collapse, and I am pleased to say that, as a consequence of Loganair intervening and taking up the Cardiff to Edinburgh route, they have prioritised jobs for Flybe staff and this includes at Cardiff Airport. I am also encouraged by very recent discussions that the airport is having...
Ken Skates: Diolch, Dirprwy Llywydd. I really am grateful for all Members' contributions this afternoon, especially to those Members who are supporting our motion, and to those Members on the Conservative benches who are now backing the Welsh Government position against UK Government policy. I do feel that it is most important that we recognise that it's our collective responsibility to support and...
Ken Skates: Absolutely, I would. Absolutely, I would, and I'd say to the Member as well, I welcome PAC's interest in the airport. And in terms of when those loans should begin being repaid, it's obviously for the airport to judge what is in its best financial interests, and this answer has been given to, certainly, the Economy, Infrastructure and Skills Committee. Now, before talking further about the...
Ken Skates: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. I'm proud of what the Welsh Government has done to support Cardiff Airport, a vital part of Wales's economic and transport infrastructure, and I'd like to begin my contribution today by making one very clear point. In 2013, the airport, had it continued under the existing commercial management, would have closed. It would have closed. Jobs would have been lost. We...
Ken Skates: Yes. Thank you, Dirprwy Lywydd. I'd like to thank David Rowlands for bringing this short debate forward, and I very much welcome this opportunity to respond. I'll focus, if I may, on those areas where the Welsh Government has the best opportunities to influence our future economic prospects. As Members in this Chamber are clearly aware, the UK is now in a transition period until December...
Ken Skates: Dirprwy Lywydd, I simply cannot accept that we should be working with the UK Government to deliver an M4 relief road. That decision has been made. And, if I may start with the M4, first of all, the First Minister has commented repeatedly in this Chamber and has provided his reasoning for not proceeding with the M4 corridor around Newport project. And I can assure all Members that we recognise...
Ken Skates: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. I am very grateful indeed for the opportunity to respond to this debate this afternoon. I see no reason why Members on any side of this Chamber could possibly fail to support the declaration of a climate emergency, fail to support or acknowledge the Welsh Government's £5 billion rail service, fail to regret £1 billion of underfunding in transport infrastructure by...
Ken Skates: Moved.
Ken Skates: Can I thank the Member for her questions and firstly invite her to welcome the success that the Welsh Government has had in attracting manufacturers that are at the forefront of utilising low- and zero-emissions propulsion systems within cars—for example, the success we enjoyed in attracting Aston Martin Lagonda to Wales? Aston Martin Lagonda have made Wales their home for electric...
Ken Skates: Can I thank Mohammad Asghar for his questions and say, first and foremost, it would be our hope that we'd be able to secure alternative employment for the workers affected within the Merthyr area? I don't see why people should have to move out of their community in order to maintain employment if they wish to remain where they live. And so we'll be doing all that we can to identify job...
Ken Skates: Can I thank Dawn Bowden for her questions and assure her that, through not just Welsh Government, but our partners in the Wales automotive forum, we are assessing every opportunity for existing automotive businesses and for emerging businesses in the automotive and mobility sector? Last autumn, I hosted an automotive summit, which looked at opportunities for Wales. That was incredibly well...
Ken Skates: Yes. Kasai has started a 90-day formal consultation period with the staff. This is clearly extremely disappointing news and my thoughts are with all those directly affected by this uncertainty. My officials visited the company earlier this week and we will continue to offer support as appropriate.
Ken Skates: Yes, of course. Transport for Wales is assisting the Welsh Government in reviewing how bus services could be improved in the future to ensure that communities across Wales benefit from a modern, integrated public transport service.
Ken Skates: As a result of a series of reforms and measures, I can offer that assurance, first and foremost. Although we've have had 10 years of austerity, we've been able to maintain the bus services support grant of £25 million since 2013. If austerity is truly coming to an end, then clearly there will be opportunities to increase the amount of funding allocated to support bus services across Wales,...
Ken Skates: Can I thank Huw Irranca-Davies for his question? The FE institutions that we're fortunate to have in Wales are outstanding in terms of how they respond to employer needs and how they bring life chances to so many young people, and that includes Bridgend College. I've seen first hand how Bridgend College have increased their engagement and participation in skills competitions. Through...
Ken Skates: The Welsh Government is helping to increase economic prosperity across Wales through the economic action plan. In 2020, we'll deliver inclusive growth through a focus on regional economic development and we'll encourage a sense of national movement behind a fairer, more responsible economy, fit for future generations.
Ken Skates: Can I thank Jack Sargeant for his questions and say that, whether real or perceived, the north-south divide is an issue that I'm determined to get to grips with? In terms of the relationship we have with the north west of England, can I put on record how impressed I've been by both metro mayor Steve Rotheram and metro mayor Andy Burnham in recent years? Their engagement with Welsh Government...
Ken Skates: Can I thank the Member for her question? This primarily relates to responsibilities in the hands of the education Minister, because it concerns further education institutions, of course. However, on the general point of skills, I'd say a number of things. One, that skills shortages will become more acute in certain areas as a result of our exit from the EU; that's certainly what businesses...
Ken Skates: Well, we remain open-minded about free ports, but let me just be absolutely clear, in answering the Member, what free ports, in our view, should not be. They should not be a means of lowering employment or health or environmental standards—absolutely not. Nor they should be used in a way that displaces activity away from existing ports and enterprise zones. Now, the Member is very well...
Ken Skates: Well, we're stimulating the north Wales economy in many ways. We continue to invest in people, places, business and infrastructure, as outlined in the economic action plan. My role as a Minister for north Wales also ensures the region has a strong voice in Government and in Cabinet.
