Vaughan Gething: I'm happy to have a discussion with my colleague the Minister for Climate Change around insurance for businesses because I understand, too, the Flood Re, developed in association with the Association of British Insurers, covers domestic properties; it doesn't cover businesses. So, I'm more than happy to take up the Member's suggestion, around the conversations that are ongoing and where the...
Vaughan Gething: I have regular meetings with my colleague the Minister for Climate Change. Our funding objectives and strategic priorities to reduce the flood risk to communities and businesses across Wales are set out in our national flood strategy and the programme for government.
Vaughan Gething: Our 'Economic resilience and reconstruction mission' sets out our vision to make Wales an attractive place to live, study, work and invest. An important element of this is improving gross disposable household income per head in Wales by 2035 and committing to set a stretching growth target for 2050.
Vaughan Gething: We support the right of all workers to take industrial action but recognise this can be disruptive for businesses and households across Wales. It is in everyone’s interest in disputes to negotiate fair settlements that protect the lowest paid and most vulnerable workers, while avoiding damage to the wider economy.
Vaughan Gething: I regularly meet with the Minister for Climate Change to discuss climate change and decarbonisation. We are working together closely on policies to help businesses deliver in line with our shared net-zero carbon objectives.
Vaughan Gething: Yes. We've done some direct work with Engage to Change; I've met them directly myself as well to understand what more we can do. Part of the point is that, when you look at economic access for disabled people in every age sphere, it's significantly less than the rest of the population, so it's again one of the strands I was trying to respond to in some of Paul Davies's questions, about...
Vaughan Gething: Thank you. On your point about the take-up of opportunities between different genders, I'll look again at that, but I want to be clear about the budget review that we've got and actually starting off the guarantee and understanding where we go, because in some parts of it, it'll be clear. We already collect data, for example, on who goes into further education, it's an easy thing to collect,...
Vaughan Gething: Thank you for the series of questions and comments. Let me just go to some of the starting points he made. When it comes to how we're actually understanding who the young person's guarantee is reaching, and how we're actually dealing with a diverse range of young people, and the complexity, it's because of a number of things. So, some young people have a successful route already into work,...
Vaughan Gething: Diolch yn fawr, Dirprwy Lywydd. Last month saw the one-year anniversary of the launch of the young person's guarantee here in Wales. This key programme for government commitment provides under-25s in Wales with the offer of support to gain a place in education or training, support to find a job, or support to become self-employed. I recognise the importance of work for our young people, and I...
Vaughan Gething: Now, on our net-zero agenda, net zero and energy security are focused on deploying nuclear and renewables together to sustain our low-carbon energy transition, and we all accept the reality that more work is needed to decarbonise power supply in Wales and across the UK, and we have seen that colleagues in Germany are stuck in a position where they're still relying on coal power, which I think...
Vaughan Gething: Thank you to Mabon ap Gwynfor for bringing this debate and for the other contributions. I welcome the debate as an opportunity to both note the importance of the nuclear sector in Wales, but also to recognise, from my point of view, the contribution the sector makes in sustaining local economies, developing communities and helping to create jobs. I appreciate I have a different perspective...
Vaughan Gething: Thank you, Llywydd. As Members will know, we have debated this matter before. On 27 April, the Minister for Finance and Local Government responded to a debate on taxes and tourism making all of these similar points, and on 6 July, she responded to a motion to annul the legislation in question. It is clear that there is majority support within the Senedd for our change to criteria used to...
Vaughan Gething: Formally.
Vaughan Gething: And since this report was published, unfortunately the situation has worsened. Many Members have highlighted the appalling reality for far too many families, and just to return to one of the points Jenny Rathbone made, for those people that are helping, there will be real challenges, and I think it is true that help for the hungry will be stopped to be better able to help the starving. That...
Vaughan Gething: Thank you, Dirprwy Lywydd. I'd like to start by thanking the committee again for their work in preparing this report, which has led to the debate. We are all very well aware of the cost-of-living crisis. It is being fuelled by a range of factors. But of course, the headline inflation rate today is partly driven by energy, but of course, as I mentioned earlier, the headline rate of food...
Vaughan Gething: Thank you, Dirprwy Lywydd. First of all, I'd like to thank the committee for its work on the report, which succinctly highlights those areas where we are continuing to make progress, and further progress, indeed, is required. We can all agree that digital connectivity is an essential service. I also agree that I would like it to be treated properly as a public utility, with all of the...
Vaughan Gething: I'm not entirely sure there will be food shortages as a result of Garth Bakery no longer existing; it's the challenge in the broader sector, and whether actually there are alternative suppliers. Think about the supermarkets: if you go into broadly any supermarket, you'll find a range of products on the shelves at slightly different price points as well. I'm not aware that there's going to be...
Vaughan Gething: Yes, thank you for the questions. I recognise completely your point about the timing of the company going into administration and what it means for workers at this point in the year. And we know that the great majority of fuel bill costs are in this chunk of the year, through autumn, winter and into early spring, and the run-up to the turn of the year and Christmas. But we will and are...
Vaughan Gething: Yes, thank you for the question. It is deeply regrettable that Garth Bakery has gone into administration. The Working Wales and the ReAct+ team, along with Jobcentre Plus, are engaged with the employees, and I understand that assistance has also been offered from the local authority, Rhondda Cynon Taf. ReAct+ will provide tailored information, advice and guidance to the affected staff over...
Vaughan Gething: Thank you for the question. I certainly do recognise the significant challenges that exist within the sector. I was recently with the Deputy Minister for Social Partnership at the consultation event around the detailed plan. Again, the leading trade union, USDAW, together with other colleagues and the Welsh Retail Consortium, which you will be familiar with—your former deputy leader, Sara...
