Vaughan Gething: Well, as I said, this is an area that is led by the Deputy Minister for Climate Change. Despite the fact that rail infrastructure is largely not devolved, we have, however, made rail facilities grants available to help develop some parts of the rail infrastructure. I’m sure the Deputy Minister for Climate Change will take a keen interest in your point and be happy to write to you if there...
Vaughan Gething: Thank you for the question. Rail freight is a critical part of Wales's transport system and supply chain. We will continue to encourage more freight to be moved by rail and support interventions that shift freight from road to rail, together with future innovations to help make the sector more sustainable. This is a transport infrastructure-led area that falls within the portfolio led by the...
Vaughan Gething: Thank you for the question. And, interestingly, we have good relationships with Canada, the example you mentioned—internationally—and we do look regularly to see what effective practice exists within the UK, Europe, and beyond, when developing policy and programmes, and in particular in this area, where there is a real challenge for us, but also a real opportunity, as the Member has...
Vaughan Gething: You're right to point out that there has been a real boom in film and tv production following the easing of restrictions. Wales is recognised as a place where there's a good environment to do so, not just our natural environment, but the support of the Government working alongside industry, and those are both important factors. I also recognise some of the challenges around what that's done...
Vaughan Gething: Thank you for the question. It's an important point about recognising that we have got the new Jobs Growth Wales+ programme starting in April next year, building on the success of the previous Jobs Growth Wales programme, together with ReAct+, again strengthening the offer we already have available. So, we are working with providers, so they'll understand what we are looking to do, and...
Vaughan Gething: Thank you for the question. We've extended our employer incentive scheme to support businesses in recruiting apprentices until the end of February next year. This scheme will continue alongside our ambitious young person's guarantee, and I will update the Chamber on progress with the young person's guarantee in an oral statement scheduled for 16 November.
Vaughan Gething: Well, of course, we do have clusters of advanced technology and advanced manufacturing in different parts of Wales, and in the south-east we've already got a cluster that is based around compound semiconductors, and I mentioned that in response to John Griffiths. We've also got an emerging fintech cluster in the southern part of Wales as well, recognised by the UK Government as well as a...
Vaughan Gething: Yes, I think this is an area where there is room for informed optimism. Of course, on 18 October, I set out the new approach to taking forward the mission. On 21 October, I visited Indigo with you. And actually, Indigo Telecom are a good example of exactly that sort of business. But you're right to point out the compound semiconductor cluster in south-east Wales as well. You're also right to...
Vaughan Gething: Thank you for the question. We are doing everything possible to retain and create highly skilled and well-paid jobs across Wales. On 21 October, I held an economic summit to discuss with stakeholders how we can work together to pursue a progressive economic policy that focuses on better jobs, narrowing the skills divide and tackling poverty.
Vaughan Gething: Welsh Government will work with UK Government officials over the coming days to understand in more detail what this means for Wales. However, it is evident that this budget fails to meet the challenges we face as a Government, as we continue our recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.
Vaughan Gething: The budget announcement by the UK Government falls woefully short of what is required. It cannot be ignored that it fails to meet the scale of the challenges that families, public services and the wider economy are still facing as a result of the pandemic.
Vaughan Gething: The unemployment rate in Wales remains below that of the UK and our employment rate continues to increase. Our further plans include action focused on our commitments in the programme for government such as the young person's guarantee and we will build on our proven record on apprenticeships, delivering a further 125,000 places in this Senedd.
Vaughan Gething: I had the opportunity to visit the steelworks in Port Talbot with the constituency Member who is now in the Chair in this particular session. I've had conversations not just with that company but with the other major steel producers in Wales directly about what they are looking to do, because they recognise that there is an imperative to decarbonise the way that steel is produced. There's a...
Vaughan Gething: On coal tips, we're not satisfied with the current position with the UK Government, who have thus far refused to meet their obligation in terms of the share of responsibility that is plainly not devolved for coal tips and the reality of the challenge they present, as well as refusing to recognise there is actually an economic opportunity here. The Welsh Government now has to go through its...
Vaughan Gething: Thank you for the question and the points. I've mentioned several times, during not just the statement but questions, the welcome for the further investment in the HyNet project they're looking to deliver across north-west England and through north Wales. I've had regular conversations with both the English authorities as well as the Welsh authorities involved in the Mersey Dee Alliance, and...
Vaughan Gething: Yes, I'll have to deal with your second question first, because that is the nature of the conversations we're having. We're looking at where other support is available, because parts of the UK Government in broader employability support is in a different place to where it was a few years ago. On the plainly devolved responsibilities around skills, yes, we are working with professional bodies...
Vaughan Gething: Thank you for the series of questions and comments. On your point about land use, I think the Welsh Government's pretty clear that we expect land use in Wales to be sustainable and beneficial for local populations and the economy. So, we're looking at how we can incentivise people to make proper use of the land that's available, but to do so in a way that meets the tests that we would set....
Vaughan Gething: Thank you for the series of questions. I'll do my best not to try the Deputy Presiding Officer's patience by giving long answers to the significant number of questions; I'll try and be as succinct as possible. Next year, I expect, when we're announcing what we're doing on skills, you'll have a significant section on what a net-zero skills plan looks like. I had an opportunity to meet with...
Vaughan Gething: Deputy Presiding Officer, the Climate Change Committee's Wales progress report made it clear that a coherent UK industrial strategy is needed to allow Welsh industry and business to maximise their contribution to net zero. Our plan includes important asks of the UK Government, reinforcing the need for long-term and consistent policy, support for innovation, and global leadership in action....
Vaughan Gething: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. Last month, I delivered an oral statement on how we plan to move the Welsh economy forward. I set out the action that we will take to build a stronger, fairer and greener Welsh economy. All of the issues that we discussed that day hinge upon our success in confronting the existential threat that climate change represents. Just as the reach of the threat is...
