Ken Skates: I don't mind the Member talking about Wales being the wettest country in Britain in this Chamber, but please don't tell any of the tourists who are thinking of coming here. I'll ask the Cabinet Secretary for environment to write with details concerning the uptake of projects in relation to micro-hydro plants.FootnoteLink The national grid is a responsibility of UK Government, and both I and...
Ken Skates: Absolutely. I couldn't agree more, but we are already helping farmers and other people living in rural areas to develop micro-hydro schemes, funding schemes and also offering advice. I'm particularly pleased to see UKIP having converted to supporting sustainable methods of generating energy, and renewable energy at that.
Ken Skates: Well, this is a subject that is of concern across the Government. It forms part of 'Prosperity for All', it's a subject that I'm working closely with, not just with my colleague the Cabinet Secretary, but also with the Minister for Environment, working to ensure that small-scale energy schemes, and, indeed, larger-scale energy schemes, deliver benefits to local communities. That's why...
Ken Skates: Look, I would urge caution in calling for concrete to be poured as soon as possible in road projects that are in individuals' constituencies and yet urging caution and restraint on building M roads and other major pieces of infrastructure. We need to be able to demonstrate that we are approaching every piece of infrastructure development in a dispassionate way and in a way that is objective,...
Ken Skates: Can I thank Adam Price, not just for his question, but also for attending the technical briefing that took place? I've decided to hold further technical briefings on this issue, because I'm aware that a number of Members, unfortunately, weren't able to attend last week, and I'll be sharing details of those briefings as soon as they've been arranged. In terms of the debate that we have...
Ken Skates: I can assure the Member that doors will not be locked on trains to get around regulations that require operators to provide facilities for people of limited mobility. The bidders in the procurement exercise have been challenged with demonstrating how they will ensure that rolling stock complies with the regulations that are coming into force shortly, and it will require them to do that...
Ken Skates: Well, my message is this: we have intervened, because of what the Member calls a fiasco with the Cardiff bus station and, in years to come, people across Cardiff—across the whole of Cardiff—will see improvements in public transport services, not just in terms of what runs on rail lines, but also in terms of bus services through reforms to local bus services and through legislation that...
Ken Skates: Can I thank the Member for his question? He's absolutely right—people are frustrated, and rightly so, with the lack of available public transport, not just on the railways but also in terms of local bus services. I can confirm that there will be completion of the project in Cardiff Central in 2021. There will be completion of phase 2 of the metro project by 2023. But we're also bringing...
Ken Skates: I can most certainly assure the Member that cycling facilities will not be the cinderella aspect of any transport hubs that we develop in Wales, including this particular hub in Cardiff. Now, the design for the bus station is still being developed, and so there is time, there is an opportunity, to ensure that there are sufficient spaces for cyclists. I am absolutely committed to extending the...
Ken Skates: Can I thank the Member for her question and confirm that completion is due in mid 2020-21 for this particular asset, a vitally important asset for Cardiff? It is for the council to determine how section 106 funds are spent, and my understanding is that the council is determined that improvements need to be made across the city with this particular funding. I'm more than happy to assist in...
Ken Skates: Thank you. I understand that you have given your permission for questions 2 and 3 to be grouped, Deputy Presiding Officer.
Ken Skates: The metro development partnership will combine the resources of the public and private sectors to ensure that we drive forward a vision of creating an integrated, multimodal transport hub right in the centre of Cardiff, ensuring that there is a co-ordinated and managed approach to delivering the component projects as part of the MDP programme.
Ken Skates: I couldn't agree more. In fact, the example that the Member points to also demonstrates the five ways of working of the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 being delivered on a local level, with collaboration and participation, and, indeed, there is a good degree of collaboration between my officials and the local authority in order to enhance the quality of the bid from the...
Ken Skates: Well, the Member is absolutely right—whilst good progress is being made against many of the targets, for example targets concerning young people and overall the number of people who are killed or seriously injured on the roads, the statistics relating to motor cyclists remain stubborn and of grave concern to us. There's only been a 1 per cent reduction, so as a consequence proportion...
Ken Skates: Diprwy Llywydd, can I thank John Griffiths for his question, and confirm that Welsh Government's position is that we support the introduction of 20 mph zones and 20 mph speed limits where there is evidence that they are needed? The Member is absolutely right that the available evidence does suggest that they lead to a reduction in speed limits, and therefore to improved safety, particularly...
Ken Skates: The road safety framework for Wales sets out the actions that we and our partners are undertaking to improve road safety across Wales, and the mid-term review of the framework showed that good progress has been made against the targets and the actions.
Ken Skates: Transport for Wales has already started to plan future phases. These will be developed further with the operator and development partner, once appointed, to meet government priorities.
Ken Skates: We are moving forward with our ambitious vision to reshape public transport infrastructure and services across Wales. This includes rail services through the next Wales and borders contract and the south Wales metro project, which will act as a blueprint for integrated transport across Wales.
Ken Skates: Whilst we are responsible for the motorway and trunk road network in Wales, local authorities have responsibility for local roads. In this instance, Caerphilly County Borough Council is responsible for this scheme. Residents and businesses can report any issues through the council’s website or by telephoning their highways department.
Ken Skates: The road safety framework for Wales sets out the actions we and our partners will take to achieve our casualty reduction targets. I recently announced funding of over £4.5 million for north Wales through our transport grants to improve safety, reduce congestion, create economic growth and promote active travel.
