Ken Skates: I've met with the board. I've met at a political level and at an official level with leaders of local authorities and with chief executives. At an official level within Government, we're also engaged on a regular basis insofar as the projects are concerned within the growth deal bid, and it's my view that the ask for the establishment of a transport authority in the north would be very...
Ken Skates: Can I thank John Griffiths for his questions? Of course, I'll have more to say with regard to the Ebbw link and the potential to stop at Newport when we announce the preferred franchise operator and development partner and when we take forward the metro planning. With regard to Bristol and connectivity on a cross-border basis, it's my view that we should be encouraging UK Government to work...
Ken Skates: Yes. We've spoken about this already, and I think that merits a good degree of consideration. I think it's also important just to point out that during the first few minutes of my statement I wasn't complaining, I was simply stating a fact, and the fact is that we have not had the level of investment that we should have expected in the current control period. That said, Swansea parkway, as...
Ken Skates: I thank Jenny Rathbone for her questions. It's always a pleasure to answer Jenny Rathbone because she has such a keen passion for public transport, in particular the integration of rail and bus services, and of course active travel services. The Member is absolutely right that Professor Barry is a rail heavyweight. We're very pleased that he has agreed to undertake this work, and I'm sure...
Ken Skates: Can I thank David Rowlands for his questions, and say that I'd very much welcome a cross-party debate on the level of investment from the UK Government in rail infrastructure in recent times? I think that would assist in strengthening our hand at the negotiating table, and ensure that Network Rail and the UK Government recognise that there is demand across all parties in the National Assembly...
Ken Skates: With regard to that specific point that the Member spoke about last, I can confirm that our position is still that we are not looking at any reductions in services into Wales, or any reductions in station accessibility, and we'll be working with the UK Government and with Network Rail to that end. That includes Neath station. Now, if we look at how you can improve journey times whilst...
Ken Skates: Can I thank the Member for his questions and for welcoming the statement today? I'll deal with the last of the points that you made first, specifically the role that the national infrastructure commission will have. Clearly, the work that I've announced today in this statement is designed to provide, at the earliest stage, compelling reasons for investment to be forthcoming from the...
Ken Skates: Now, as we look beyond Brexit, Wales's connectivity with Britain's economic hubs and international gateways becomes even more important. We in Wales cannot afford to be sidelined and must develop a positive and compelling case for major transport investment that addresses both our economic ambitions and our broader well-being objectives. We rely on the UK Government to provide funding for...
Ken Skates: Diolch, Dirprwy Llywydd. Following the cancellation of electrification on the Great Western main line between Cardiff and Swansea, the Secretary of State for Transport announced the development of business cases for rail enhancement schemes across Wales, including improvements to the main lines in south and north Wales, enhancements to the line between Wrexham and Bidston, and improvements...
Ken Skates: Yes, I would. Rural areas should not be left at a disadvantage by virtue of having fewer transport links. Whether it might be rail or buses, we need to make sure that the right levels of investment are being pumped into rural communities, and I'm pleased to be able to tell the Member that we have decided to set up a north Wales business unit at Transport for Wales to take forward work across...
Ken Skates: Yes, of course. Since announcing our vision last year, we are making very good progress in developing key integrated transport hubs across the region, with an early focus on Deeside and Wrexham. As the latest stage of that work, I recently announced funding of £1.8 million to support rail, bus and active travel improvements in Deeside.
Ken Skates: Can I thank Jayne Bryant, not just for the question but also for kindly inviting me along to the event last week at Celtic Manor? It was a great event and well attended. I believe, after I left, a number of speakers made contributions welcoming the partnership approach that they've taken with the Welsh Government. I think it's important that we continue to ensure that businesses and...
Ken Skates: We've held face-to-face discussions with a range of businesses of all sizes, from a breadth of sectors at locations right across Wales, with major business representative organisations, including the Confederation of British Industry, the FSB and the Welsh Retail Consortium. We've also used digital and other channels to communicate the plan more broadly. This approach will continue over the...
Ken Skates: Well, this is largely a matter that's being led by my colleague the leader of the house, but digital connectivity has been at the centre of the vision for the city deal in Swansea bay for many years. I'm particularly pleased that we've seen Ed Tomp named as the preferred candidate to take on the chairmanship of the strategic board for the city deal. Ed is somebody who knows the value of...
Ken Skates: Well, I think a sector deal is absolutely vital—a steel sector deal. In order to ensure that we're able to corral all interests within the steel sector in Wales towards maximising the opportunities the UK industrial strategy offers, we have designated one of the five calls to action—if you like, the prisms through which we'll be funding businesses in the future—a decarbonisation...
Ken Skates: Can I thank David Rees for his question? This £80 million project is crucially important for the sector and particularly for Port Talbot. I'm pleased to be able to say that I spoke with the vice-chancellor just last week concerning land issues, and we hope to make very positive progress in the very near future.
Ken Skates: Absolutely. I'll ask the Cabinet Secretary for Finance to write to Suzy Davies concerning the capitalisation order. The Member will be aware that some concerns were recently allayed with the agreement on the approach to the retention of non-domestic rates for the city deal. I think this has improved relations and will take the city deal to another level, but I will ask the Cabinet Secretary...
Ken Skates: Both I and the Cabinet Secretary for Finance have continued to hold positive discussions with the region to progress the deal towards the next stage of delivery.
Ken Skates: I'd be more than happy to meet with the Member and businesses, along with, if I may suggest, the chief regional officer who is putting together the regional plan for mid and south-west Wales. The problem that Russell George identifies is one that Chris Sutton, an expert in this field, has identified as well. As a consequence of this known problem, the economic action plan was developed to...
Ken Skates: Yes. As set out in the economic action plan, we are delivering a range of actions in partnership to support a stronger, fairer economy and to help businesses to develop, grow and prosper across Wales. This includes business support, business advice and investment in strategic infrastructure, including premises.
