Ken Skates: Yes, I will consider quick wins of that nature, particularly those relating to active travel, given my stated desire to see a significant increase in the availability of capital funding to support active travel projects. Aproposal for reopening Landore station is being considered as part of a Welsh Government assessment of proposals for new rail stations. We'll be putting Landore forward as...
Ken Skates: I can confirm that we will bring forward a debate in Government time on the M4 corridor around Newport project following conclusion of the public local inquiry. Given the legal implications of an ongoing public inquiry, we are currently considering options available to us and the timing, of course, of this debate, and I will inform the Assembly of those plans as soon as they are finalised.
Ken Skates: We are committed to delivering many improvements to the A40. It's a key strategic route, and I'm pleased to be able to say that preliminary investigations have already begun to develop several more overtaking opportunities along the entire stretch of the A40. We're currently looking at when these can be delivered alongside other priorities that are identified in the national transport finance...
Ken Skates: The national transport finance plan, updated in December of last year, sets out our priorities for transport schemes across Wales, including in Pembrokeshire.
Ken Skates: Can I thank Mick Antoniw for his question? I recognise that he's spoken regularly and with great commitment on this subject. I'm pleased to be able to say that the statutory pre-application period of four weeks for the proposed depot concluded at the end of February. Transport for Wales have carefully considered the comments from the community. A consultation took place and...
Ken Skates: Yes. Development of the site depends on the solution proposed by the successful bidder. As part of their robust approach to programme management, Transport for Wales are considering comments submitted on the outline planning consultation for the potential use of the site as a depot, prior to progressing with an outline planning application.
Ken Skates: Yes, I would, and I thank the Member for her question. I think it's fantastic news. Valero's £127 million project, I think, shows confidence in the Pembrokeshire site and in the wider Welsh economy. It's interesting that the refinery is one of only six remaining refining businesses in the UK and it's located right at the heart of the Haven Waterway enterprise zone. It demonstrates how, by...
Ken Skates: I can assure the Member that the Cabinet Secretary for Finance is very alive to the concerns of businesses in Pembrokeshire, and in particular to the concerns that they have over rates. I will raise with him further the points that you have raised today. But I would say that, as a whole across Pembrokeshire, we've seen a significant increase in the number of enterprises operating in...
Ken Skates: The 'Prosperity for All' national strategy and the economic action plan set out the actions we are taking to improve the economy and business environment across the whole of Wales.
Ken Skates: I do. I'd argue that now, more than ever before, businesses, and particularly higher education, are working more closely than they ever have done, and I'd point to an abundance of examples right across Wales where that is the case. Just today, I'm pleased to be able to share with Members the news that the advanced manufacturing research institute is being given planning permission in...
Ken Skates: I think it's fair to say that higher education gives us the strategic weapons for future economic growth in the fight for competitiveness, whereas further education gives us the tactical arsenal. In terms of FE, I think we have a very, very proud story to tell indeed. We have amongst Britain's best further education institutions based here in Wales. In terms of our higher education estate, I...
Ken Skates: Well, given the alarms that have been raised recently by Airbus, by Ford and by many other companies, I would imagine that as we leave the EU, if we don't get the best possible deal, Wales, along with the UK as a whole, will be left further behind.
Ken Skates: Well, it is addressed in the plan, as I say, through the disaggregation of major contracts. That will prove to be hugely beneficial, given the size of infrastructure projects—road in particular. And we're also working with not just industry bodies, but also with the sector teams within Government, to identify ways that businesses are able to work together and learn from one another in how...
Ken Skates: Again, I'd refer this issue to my Cabinet colleague, who retains responsibility for it. I'm sure that my Cabinet colleague Mark Drakeford would be able to offer detailed answers to the questions that the Member has raised.
Ken Skates: It's not actually the responsibility of my department. It's the responsibility of the Cabinet Secretary for Finance.FootnoteLink However, in terms of the economic action plan, we've made clear that with the economic contract, we could open up opportunities to extend the economic contract—the £6 billion of procurement opportunities within the Welsh public purse. We stated that we wish to...
Ken Skates: Let's just be clear that devolution of responsibility for and funding for core Valleys lines is taking place, and we remain absolutely committed to upgrading the core Valleys lines as part of the metro vision, so that people can have more regular journeys. Four journeys an hour, we believe, is appropriate within a metro area, as a minimum. We've been clear in stating that. We've been clear in...
Ken Skates: This is not correct. First and foremost, we have consulted on, and published, on numerous occasions, the high-level objectives for the Wales and borders franchise and the development of the metro. The specific design of the metro, and the build of the metro, will take place once the award has been made. But what counts most is that passengers see a vast improvement in the services that are...
Ken Skates: Well, first of all we're awaiting, or I'm awaiting, full evaluation of the two bids for the franchise and the metro development. It would be premature for me to identify which projects are going to be taken forward and in what form within the next Wales and borders franchise and the development of the metro until the award has been made. But I would say, with regard to the tender process,...
Ken Skates: I don't think anybody in the Chamber would disagree with the assertion that the A55 requires investment and upgrades. I'm pleased that we've been able in recent months to avoid planned daytime closures of the A55. Night-time closures will continue through to September of this year with no daytime planned closures taking place. But I also recognise that there is a need at the same time to...
Ken Skates: Yes, of course. We're continuing to invest significantly in this strategic route in north Wales. We are spending £40 million to upgrade junctions 15 and 16, another £250 million in the Deeside and Flintshire corridor project, and looking at accelerating the delivery of the third Menai crossing. Of course, the road forms part of The Wales Way—a strategy to promote tourism in Wales—and...
