Vaughan Gething: I can confirm that my officials drafted the 'Keep Wales safe at work' guidance, and in doing so consulted health and social services colleagues. This guidance was then discussed and approved at Cabinet. The guidance sets out the obligations on people responsible for premises open to the public or where work takes place, and reasonable measures that must be assessed and risk assessments...
Vaughan Gething: Thank you for the question. As you know, nationally, we've invested over £6.5 million as part of our Transforming Towns initiative. For Pembrokeshire itself, for the three designated towns of Pembroke, Haverfordwest and Milford Haven, there is £2.75 million in loan support to help develop town centres. So, it's part of working with the council to understand what they want to be able to...
Vaughan Gething: Thank you. Our priorities are about promoting a greener, more equal and prosperous economy for all parts of Wales, including Preseli Pembrokeshire, as we continue to work closely with Pembrokeshire County Council and partners on the development of the regional economic framework.
Vaughan Gething: Between 2013 and 2021, the employment level in the South Wales West Senedd electoral region increased by 6.5 per cent, above the figure for Wales, which was 6 per cent. In our Programme for government, we have made a commitment to deliver a young person’s guarantee, giving everyone under 25 the offer of work, education, training, or self-employment.
Vaughan Gething: The manufacturing action plan will futureproof manufacturing and create skilled jobs. AMRC Cymru expertise supports manufacturers to develop and invest in new technologies—companies like Tata Steel with 750 staff at Shotton making advanced steel products for construction and which this week proudly celebrated 125 years of continuous manufacturing.
Vaughan Gething: Employment law is a reserved matter but we are using our influence and policy levers to promote and encourage improved employment practices. Our economic contract ensures we target our support at those businesses that are contributing to our key priorities such as fair work, climate resilience and well-being.
Vaughan Gething: I think the Member will find that, if you compare the county of Flintshire to areas of England that are included, you'll find there is a significant disparity in wealth and opportunity, and it does not make sense that Flintshire is not included in the priority areas when more wealthy and prosperous areas of England are. If he wants to make an alternative case and celebrate the fact that...
Vaughan Gething: I really don't think it's helpful to have Janet Finch-Saunders saying, 'Find deprivation, find Labour'. I think many people who live in less well-off communities will find that insulting. People make choices about how to vote and we are here to represent them. I do think, though, that, when it comes to the challenges that Michael Gove now faces, as I say, I think there is a point of...
Vaughan Gething: That is the message that we have tried to offer on a number of occasions and, to date, we have not had prompt or timely replies from the previous ministerial team. And I do hope that, with a new Secretary of State, there will be an opportunity to reset what we are able to do. And the point the Member makes about other partners is well put and, in many respects, those partners are trying to...
Vaughan Gething: I think there are significant flaws in the way that the current process has worked, and it's certainly not a process that this Government supports at all. And I recognise what the Member says about where Gwynedd is, and also I see a Member representing the county of Bridgend who will also know about the exclusion of areas of Wales that are objectively less well-off than parts of England that...
Vaughan Gething: It's odd about how long a departmental title is, and Michael Gove's LUHC department isn't one that I think will be judged on its title, but what it's actually prepared to do. I do know that Welsh local government has felt excluded from the process of even the engagement that took place up to this point in time, and that in itself is not at all helpful. The requests for meetings with Luke Hall...
Vaughan Gething: We've had a constructive and grown-up conversation with the WLGA, with the varieties of political leadership that it represents, and, actually, one of the key asks of local government has been about the fact that they are significantly unimpressed with the time frame to put bids in, and, actually, the money itself you referred to didn't really make much difference, it was time. But it's also...
Vaughan Gething: Thank you for the comments and the questions. I do recall being a new Member to this institution, and shortly after the Member had been appointed to the Government, talking exactly of that experience—of working in the Council of Ministers, and having an agreed UK line, where Scottish and Welsh Ministers of different political persuasions to the UK Ministers still had a constructive and...
Vaughan Gething: Thank you for the questions. I'll deal with your last point first, and that is that I'm afraid that it does matter what happens over the next month with the spending review, about our ability to take forward the commitments we've made. Our commitment to having a forward-looking science strategy and to maximise our opportunities in research, development and innovation is still there. But we...
Vaughan Gething: Thank your for the series of questions. I'm pleased to note that he recognises the very practical concern that, regardless of the policy framework, the lack of decision making is a real handicap for local authorities of any and every political leadership here in Wales. I hope that decisions can be made, but, as I say, that is already compromising the ability to spend that money in time and...
Vaughan Gething: And by making these funds solely available to competing local authority bids, the UK Government is also wilfully creating sector funding gaps, including among higher and further education, the third sector, and business. These sectors have previously maximised European Union funds to help close disparities in research and innovation, to support vulnerable people in society, and to help boost...
Vaughan Gething: Thank you, Deputy Llywydd. In June, this Senedd overwhelmingly agreed that the UK Government’s approach to European Union successor funds represented an assault on Welsh devolution. It is clear that these distant and poorly defined plans at present systematically exclude this Senedd on matters that its Members are elected to take decisions upon. We now face a vast reduction in funding this...
Vaughan Gething: The Welsh Government is fully supportive of the work of Banc Cambria as it continues its dialogue with the regulator and refines its proposition aiming to establish Banc Cambria as the first community bank in the UK.
Vaughan Gething: Now, as we look towards economic recovery, we now have to consider how we make our services, including the support we provide through Business Wales, sharper and more tailored to the needs of firms and companies the length and breadth of Wales. And we certainly need to ensure that our businesses are prepared and supported as we continue the journey of having left the European Union and emerge...
Vaughan Gething: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer, and I want to thank Members for their contributions and for the opportunity to respond, and thank Hefin David for bringing the subject today, and I think he should be pleased and positive that the Government will vote in favour of the motion. [Interruption.] I know. [Laughter.] Since the beginning of the pandemic, our aim has been and continues to be to...
