Ken Skates: I'm coming to that very point, and I should say that the Welsh Government has not, and nor will it, make a decision without fully and diligently considering the inspector's findings and conclusions, and that's why the Welsh Government has tabled the amendment that it has today. I will say something on the issue of the Assembly, and its role concerning the voting on stand-alone projects. On...
Ken Skates: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. Can I just begin by saying how much I do respect Members' views on this issue? There have always been a wide range of opinions on this topic—passionately held beliefs and principled positions, and I recognise that strength of feeling. I hope that Members will also recognise the sincerity with which I respond to this debate today. There are Members in...
Ken Skates: Formally.
Ken Skates: Diolch yn fawr iawn. I'd absolutely agree that, whilst we have charging points not in abundance but certainly there are plenty of them along the M4 corridor and the A55, in between it's a barren land insofar as public access to electric charging points is concerned. Simon Thomas is absolutely right that whilst the available funding may only be £2 million, we can use it in a way that draws...
Ken Skates: I'll be speaking a bit of Welsh before long, however—.
Ken Skates: I'm learning again and I wouldn't want to do a disservice to the Member's question by struggling with my Cymraeg in answering the question, which is concerning the £2 million that we have offered to help secure a network of charging points throughout Wales, focusing first and foremost on locations near trunk roads to serve the major road network, which caused the greatest range anxiety....
Ken Skates: Well, I was very pleased to note the findings of the report. It fully justified the significant investment made by the Welsh Government in the area over many years, and it also demonstrates what can be done when investment is provided in a way that can meet the aspirations of passengers. We've been underfunded for too long. Certainly for the whole of the last control period, we were...
Ken Skates: Yes. Thank you. Our plans for investment across Wales are detailed in the national transport finance plan, which was updated, of course, at the end of last year, and our responses are directed to achieving a sustainable and integrated transport system across the length and breadth of Wales, including in Islwyn.
Ken Skates: We're afraid of nothing. The Member should recognise, though, first of all, that this a world first in terms of the process that we're following. It's not being done anywhere else in the world, it is truly innovative and it's designed to ensure that we challenge experts in the field to bring forward the best possible solutions for Welsh travellers. There is no doubt whatsoever that we have to...
Ken Skates: Yes, of course. Transport for Wales are currently assessing the three bidders for the next Wales and borders rail services and the south Wales metro. The contract will be awarded in May of this year and it will be operational from October of this year.
Ken Skates: Well, it's been a particular issue that we've examined very closely over the course of many years, with the current education Secretary and also with her predecessor. Changes to the curriculum will be crucial in driving up an entrepreneurial spirit at an earlier age, but we're already investing heavily in the Big Ideas Wales service that's rolled out across schools in Wales. That...
Ken Skates: Can I thank the Member for her question and for the keen interest that she has shown in entrepreneurship in her region? The Member will be aware that we've already allocated £1 million for an innovation business hub in Wrexham, which will help to support the development of 100 new businesses and 260 jobs over a two-year period. I'm pleased that we've also been able to announce, subsequent to...
Ken Skates: Entrepreneurship is the fuel of a vibrant economy, and 'Prosperity for All' and the economic action plan outline our actions and interventions to support a greater degree of entrepreneurship in Mid and West Wales and across the whole of the country.
Ken Skates: Yes, indeed. And, again, that will be a role for the chief regional officers. We've been quite consistent in our call on the shadow board to work in social partnership, as we do in Welsh Government, with businesses, with business representatives, and with trade union partners and with the third sector. I think it's absolutely essential that, with projects of this magnitude, there is full...
Ken Skates: This is largely a question for the Cabinet Secretary who leads on the city deals in the south, which is Mark Drakeford, the finance Secretary. But working to ensure that each of the projects delivers on the aims that they were meant to deliver on, that they do create jobs that we aspire to see created in those regions, and particularly within the Swansea bay area, it's absolutely essential...
Ken Skates: They are.
Ken Skates: Can I thank Suzy Davies for her question? I think it's important to revisit this issue. My problem was largely with the wording, the 'fuzzy' boundaries, and the implications that that could have for the governance structures that are already in place. My vision for the chief regional officers is that they will be the voices of Government in the regions, but also, crucially, the voice of the...
Ken Skates: I think it's important that Government considers all legitimate proposals for economic development in all parts of Wales. With regard to the Heads of the Valleys, I'm determined to move on with the development of the automotive tech park. It was found, based on international evidence, that the development of a cluster did not require the circuit that was proposed—that specific...
Ken Skates: Can I thank the Member again for his questions? And, in order to seek the clarification that he has asked for, I will ask my Cabinet colleague, the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, to engage Welsh Treasury officials to provide the answers that he requires. In terms of whether the company was told that there were no major problems, again, I would need to ask my officials whether that was the...
Ken Skates: Can I thank the Member for his question and confirm comprehensively what we informed the Heads of the Valleys Development Company? Back in 2016, I told the Heads of the Valleys Development Company that no new proposal to support the Circuit of Wales project would be considered until at least 50 per cent of the finance and 50 per cent of the risk was being taken by the private sector, and the...
