Vaughan Gething: Thank you. My officials continue to work in partnership with the Cardiff capital region to ensure that this important industry continues to thrive in Wales, specifically in the south-east Wales cluster, which is recognised across the UK to have real growth potential.
Vaughan Gething: Yes, I think it's a really good example of what we're doing with the food business investment scheme, and it's the Pembrokeshire Creamery Limited. This is about trying to add value to primary producers and to do the first or the second stage of processing activities nearer to where they are so that they have more control over the product and greater value added. It should also help us in...
Vaughan Gething: I'm happy to confirm we are already working in that way alongside industry. You mentioned the south Wales industrial cluster. That's already received over £21 million of industrial decarbonisation cluster funding to deliver a route-map, with a variety of deployable projects across south Wales. I am looking forward to carrying on working together also with the Swansea bay city deal programme...
Vaughan Gething: We are working with partners across the public, private and voluntary sectors to support economic development in west Wales and meet our ambitions for a greener, more equal and prosperous Wales. Our manufacturing action plan, launched in February 2021, provides a focus for futureproofing our manufacturing across Wales.
Vaughan Gething: Well, there are a couple of things there that I'd point out. I've had a number of conversations with our chief scientific adviser, and, actually, the value generated from scientific research here in Wales is really significant and we do really well compared to other parts of the UK. Where we don't do so well is in winning funds from competitive bidding processes. So, there is something there...
Vaughan Gething: The Welsh Government supported the creation of FinTech Wales in 2019. It's a particularly active industry membership body and meets regularly with Ron Kalifa, the City of London and the City Finance team to monitor the Kalifa report's implementation and opportunities for the fintech sector here in Wales.
Vaughan Gething: I do recognise that dark skies can be something that will attract people to come to Wales who wouldn't otherwise do so and, actually, it's an asset for us as well. So, there are challenges for us about protecting dark sky status where it exists. And I should say that I recognise that the former Tower site is already having a significant positive impact as part of our tourist economy. So,...
Vaughan Gething: With respect, I think the Member is really asking me about the visitor economy rather than science policy. I do think, though, I welcome his support for the Welsh Labour Government manifesto pledge to create a national park based on the Clwydian range. I'm not sure every Conservative Member has been quite as supportive as I am delighted to hear the Member being. If there is a serious proposal...
Vaughan Gething: Given current pressures on the Welsh Government budget, exacerbated by the loss of structural funds, astronomy is not currently featuring as a high science policy priority.
Vaughan Gething: As you'll know, as well as the proposals for offshore wind, we have with former European money supported the potential for tidal energy off Ynys Môn as well—real and significant potential for a new industry to be created, as well as a more mature industry that exists as well. I want to be clear—this isn't about moving investment; that would suggest it's going to come from somewhere else....
Vaughan Gething: Yes, I'm very keen that we don't just take the opportunity to generate more sustainable energy, but we see the real economic benefit being kept within Wales, as well. That's why we are already having conversations with a range of people who are going to be running the new lines that have been granted to try to make sure that supply chains are as localised as possible. That should benefit...
Vaughan Gething: Thank you for the question. I have regular discussions with the Minister for Climate Change to discuss cross-cutting portfolio responsibilities. I met with her yesterday with the Deputy Minister for Climate Change. Our officials are jointly pursuing opportunities for attracting green energy investment on both the island and the wider north Wales region, including discussions with key...
Vaughan Gething: You'll see our ambition to be a fair work nation has been taken forward in a number of areas, not just in the social partnership and procurement Bill and what that will mean, but also in the work that we're leading on in this department in taking forward the economic contract. And the next stage will be really important about looking to further develop what we do and at the same time as...
Vaughan Gething: Okay, so the lead Minister with the responsibility for procurement is the finance Minister, but we are already reviewing with a group of Ministers including myself and others how we further benefit local supply chains when it comes to procurement, and small and medium enterprises are a key factor, in our minds, to do so. So, that work is in hand as well as the guidance note that Rebecca Evans...
Vaughan Gething: Yes. Look, we are very fortunate to have a tourism industry that has had lots of extra demand coming into it, but that's been a challenge for some of the communities that host some of those tourist hotspots. I have enjoyed it myself, taking my own family around Wales. I've enjoyed time on the Llŷn peninsula, and I've enjoyed time on the island up in Ynys Môn, and we've had a great time...
Vaughan Gething: Well, you can expect to hear more from this Government about what we expect to do to be able to invest together with businesses. You can expect to hear that as part of further reforms in taking forward the economic contract. You can expect to hear that when I do indicate over the next month further detail on what we're going to do to try to restart the Welsh economy to build back better. But...
Vaughan Gething: Well, you'll see a number of things we already have done, for example, the work that we're doing on supporting exporting industries—the export action plan that's already in place. You can, though, expect to hear more from me about taking forward the economic mission over the next month or so. So, it won't be much longer that you have to wait for much more detail on our ambitions and how...
Vaughan Gething: Well we still face a couple of difficult challenges as we move forward. So, it is true to say we have undertaken an assessment to try to understand those areas of work that may yet be affected as furlough comes to an end. Most employers, though, will already have made choices, because furlough has been stepped down and more people have been returning to work and coming off furlough. We do,...
Vaughan Gething: Well, the Member sets out some of the impact on some people who have worked from home. And I recognised it in my first answer—there are reasons about people's well-being where people may want to return to the office for some of the week. But the guidance and the advice from this Government is to work from home where you can. And the reason for that is that the clear advice we have is it...
Vaughan Gething: Well, this doesn't sound wildly dissimilar to some of the challenges we had with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency earlier in the pandemic. And I know that there are Members who have workers in the DVLA based in Swansea who will recall the difficulty in engaging with the employer at that time. So, I want to restate a couple of what should be straightforward points. The law in Wales...
