Ken Skates: First Minister, the hard work of successive Labour Governments has led to the employment rate in north Wales reaching a record high, and we now have a record number of businesses in existence in north Wales. But of course, cross-border collaboration has been instrumental in driving the success story of the north Wales economy, and there are particularly strong ties in key sectors such as...
Ken Skates: Previous Welsh Labour Governments have invested very heavily in education institutions, including schools, through the twenty-first century schools programme in the past, and I'd like to congratulate the Minister on his very, very well-deserved appointment and also invite him to Clwyd South to view some of the twenty-first century schools investment. And I'd be very grateful for any further...
Ken Skates: 6. Will the Minister make a statement on investment in education in Clwyd South through the twenty-first century schools programme? OQ56582
Ken Skates: Will the First Minister make a statement on the Welsh Government's plans to create a new national park in north-east Wales?
Ken Skates: Well, thank you, Minister; that's fantastic to hear. Previous Welsh Labour Governments have invested very heavily in health facilities in Clwyd South, with new facilities in particular in Chirk and Llangollen, and the Minister will be aware of the phenomenal workforce in the health sector in Clwyd South and across Wales. But, unfortunately, there are still some facilities in Clwyd South that...
Ken Skates: 7. Will the Minister make a statement on investment in health facilities in Clwyd South? OQ56550
Ken Skates: First Minister, you've clearly put together a ministerial team that illustrates a determination to address the two biggest challenges that we face now, and that we're going to continue to face for many years to come: the climate emergency and the need for greater social justice. And I think what most people yearn for in life is a sense of security—security of employment, a secure home,...
Ken Skates: My ambition since the start of this pandemic has been twofold: firstly, to support businesses so that they survive and retain employees, despite the grave situation that they are facing; and then secondly, to support those who unfortunately become unemployed or who are entering the labour market for the very first time. You'll have heard me say on numerous occasions that if you had a good...
Ken Skates: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd, and can I start as I did at committee just this morning by thanking the current and past members of the committee for the incredibly constructive way in which it's worked with me and my officials over the past five years to get the best possible ideas and outcomes for the people of Wales? And to that end, I broadly warmly welcome the report and I thank the committee...
Ken Skates: I thank Jayne Bryant for her question today and for being so consistent and so passionate in promoting Newport. I think there is great excitement in and around Newport about the city's prospects in the years to come, and we're working to make sure that we work in partnership with the local authority in delivering on some of those hugely ambitious schemes that Jayne has identified. In...
Ken Skates: I'm pleased to say that Newport City Council has been allocated around £7 million in grant and loan funding in support of its Transforming Towns programme. These projects include £1.2 million towards a £2.9 million project to improve the city centre's Market Arcade.
Ken Skates: Can I thank Jenny Rathbone for her question today, and also for the many campaigns that she has led during this term, and in particular during this pandemic? The way that she has supported and championed taxi drivers and freelancers, particularly freelancers in the creative industries who do so much for Cardiff—it's my view that some of the most creative cities on this planet are the most...
Ken Skates: As part of our Transforming Towns approach, the Welsh Government and our partners in local government have adopted the 'town centre first' principle that is so important the length and breadth of Wales. Cardiff Council has received over £3.5 million in Transforming Towns funding to date. Possible interventions include digital-based, green infrastructure, residential and commercial property...
Ken Skates: Well, can I thank Jack Sargeant for his questions, and for his kind remarks as well? Yes, Members are being very kind today. It's making me wonder whether there's a conspiracy, whether all Members know something about my fate on 6 May with these kind words and tributes to be made, but it has been an absolute pleasure to work with Members over the past five years during my time in this role,...
Ken Skates: Can I thank Janet Finch-Saunders for her very kind words and say that I've hugely enjoyed working with her? She may be a Member of the opposition to my party, but, equally, she's been very constructive and fair in the way that she's both scrutinised me and sought answers to questions. Obviously, the next 21-day review is taking place next week, so businesses within tourism, hospitality and...
Ken Skates: Well, further to my answer to Mark Isherwood, in north Wales, we've also provided over 2,500 businesses with £44.1 million of support under phases 1 and 2 of the economic resilience fund, safeguarding more than 20,000 jobs in north Wales. In north Wales, we've also provided £1.1 million to 472 start-up businesses.
Ken Skates: Can I thank Mandy Jones for her question and say that we do have a process in place, a 21-day review process, that enables us to determine how we can safely reopen the economy? We're keen to make sure that hospitality, tourism and leisure can reopen as soon as possible, but they must do so in the safest way possible as well. No matter how small, pretty much every sector has, unfortunately, a...
Ken Skates: I thank Mark Isherwood for his question and just remind Members again that we're investing more than £2 billion in businesses in Wales. That's £400 million more than we've received in business-related consequentials, and it demonstrates that we are maintaining the most generous and comprehensive packages of support for businesses anywhere in the United Kingdom. But, of course, that package...
Ken Skates: Our latest restrictions business fund has seen over 22,000 grants paid to north Wales businesses, totalling over £69.5 million. Our hospitality, leisure and tourism sector-specific fund has also provided, to date, £12.7 million to almost 1,500 businesses. Last week, of course, I announced a further £30 million for that fund.
Ken Skates: Can I thank David Rowlands for his question and for his comments, and also for his kind words regarding the time that he's spent both as opposition spokesperson and as an MS who has scrutinised me very fairly? Very challenging at times, but very fairly. It's been a pleasure to have held this brief with such constructive opposition spokespeople and with a Siambr of dedicated MSs who care so...
