Ken Skates: Yes. I recognise the points made by the Member for Clywd West. I think it's just important to restate the importance of finding a favourable funding model for the marine energy sector if we're going to take forward any of the proposals that have been put on the table, whether that's in the Swansea bay area or north Wales. I am aware of a number of proposals for tidal lagoons around Wales. I...
Ken Skates: Look, I should just say at the outset that the development of SMRs will not make up for the potential loss of 9,000 jobs across north Wales and the rest of Wales. It simply will not. It will contribute to filling the gap, but one project alone, I'm afraid, is not the silver bullet. Of course, Innovate UK has been heavily involved of late in activities here in Wales. We look for every and all...
Ken Skates: Can I thank the Member for his question? And, of course, it's the funding model that is broken. I don't think it would be for me to judge the strike price that would be needed to take this forward, because negotiations have taken place in confidence, although the figures, I understand, are now out there in the open. What is required is an appraisal of an alternative funding model to be...
Ken Skates: Can I thank the Member for Alyn and Deeside for his important points and the questions that he has raised? Of course, he represents an area of Wales that is integral to the nuclear arc that stretches from the north-west of Wales right through to the north-west of England, and whilst the centre of activity will, of course, be focused on Anglesey, I am conscious that many people who work on the...
Ken Skates: Rhun also raised the important point about the work that will be undertaken in the coming months, insofar as a potential new funding model is concerned. I think it's fair to say that we must do all we can collectively—here, in north Wales, and the UK Government, working with Horizon, to ensure that the project, if it can go forward, does go forward with the minimum pause. In terms of the...
Ken Skates: Can I thank the local Member for the very important points that he made and the questions that he raised? In terms of planning for this eventuality, well, of course, I'd already given the go-ahead to the development of a regional plan for north Wales, alongside the development of regional plans for the other two regions. That plan is in development as we meet here today, and will, of...
Ken Skates: Diolch. I issued a written statement in response to the announcement on 17 January, and I've since been speaking with Hitachi, with Horizon Nuclear Power, the UK Government, local stakeholders, and I also attended an emergency meeting of the North Wales Economic Ambition Board yesterday, and I can assure the Member that we are doing everything possible as this developing situation unfolds.
Ken Skates: Can I thank the Member for his question? I stress that the First Minister said that his personal comment was that he was a nuclear sceptic, for very good reason, because of incidents and accidents that have occurred in the past. However, I think it's recognised that our policy is to support the nuclear industry, as part of an energy mix, and a very necessary energy mix. And in terms of my...
Ken Skates: Well, indeed. I think the UK Government could consider doing just that. We're looking at a number of major renewable projects that could attract UK Government funding. But let's just focus on Wylfa Newydd for the moment because this has to be our key concern over the coming days and, indeed, weeks. We don't yet know what, if you like, 'pause' would look like. Would it entail a pause in the...
Ken Skates: Obviously, it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for north Wales, for Wales and for the UK. The Hitachi technology is recognised as being the most reliable technology that can be deployed, and it's important that the UK Government does all it can to secure that investment and the Hitachi technology for Anglesey. I disagree with the Member, and I think the Member, if he had correct...
Ken Skates: I'd agree entirely with the Member and I'd say to begin with, with regard to this entire project, the reports that we have seen in the news over recent days are merely speculation. However, we do expect a decision to be made, UK time, by around about 10 a.m. tomorrow. I'll be visiting Anglesey tomorrow afternoon to meet with the leader of the council, by which time I expect we will know what...
Ken Skates: Diolch. As I outlined in my written statement to Members yesterday, I've spoken with the Minister for Energy and Industry. I've also written to the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. I'm pressing for an urgent response by the UK Government on actions that it is taking on this matter. I'm also in regular contact with Horizon. I'll be meeting with the leader of...
Ken Skates: Llywydd, I think this is an excellent question. I think it's a really important point. What I'm going to do is ask Transport for Wales, as it analyses and assesses how to spend the £200 million on all stations across the Wales and borders network, to put together at speed a suicide prevention plan, together with Network Rail, so that we can take on the sort of ideas that the Member has...
Ken Skates: Well, largely because for far too many years we've seen in Wales a complete lack of investment by the UK Government in our rail infrastructure, particularly on our train lines, which remain a responsibility for Network Rail, and, therefore, the Department for Transport, and as I've said on many occasions now, this major problem can be largely attributed to the lack of wheel-slide protection....
Ken Skates: I'm pleased to be able to refer to my statement of 21 November 2018 on transport infrastructure in north Wales.
Ken Skates: Well, we stand ready to support Ford in any way that we can. The First Minister was at the Bridgend site just this morning, meeting with site managers and also with trade union representatives. I said yesterday and I said earlier today that what could be critically important to the Bridgend site is the development of hybridised engines, including a hybrid Dragon engine, and Welsh Government...
Ken Skates: Can I thank Hefin David for his question and, furthermore, thank him for the keen interest that he's taken over many years in the skills system that we operate? I met the founder of Admiral just last autumn. We discussed, amongst many other issues, the availability of people with the right skills for the company, and I'd certainly meet with key stakeholders within the financial and...
Ken Skates: Thank you. The economic action plan sets out how we'll build a 'something for something' relationship with businesses of all sizes, based upon businesses sharing our values by contributing to a social cause. We're going to do this through the economic contract, through the calls to action, and through the economy futures fund, and, of course, that social cause is to drive inclusive growth...
Ken Skates: I think the Member makes a really important point. The system is broken, and that's why the reforms that we've outlined in the White Paper are so necessary. In brief—and, again, I would invite all Members to read the White Paper and to submit observations—the proposals include franchising powers, they include the power to be able create municipal bus companies, they include proposals for...
Ken Skates: I am not yet confident that the guidance is being fully followed by all, and the extent of local authorities' commitment to maintain their own budgets for bus subsidies will therefore increasingly be reflected in my decisions about each authority's bus services support grant allocation, the reason being that I want to make sure that we use taxpayers' money that comes to Welsh Government to...
