Ken Skates: Can I thank Mark Isherwood for his comments and for his questions? I think many Members around the Chamber will welcome today’s announcement. Many Members have been consistent in calling for investment in north Wales to alleviate the congestion, particularly along this part of what is a key economic artery. I’ll deal with each question in turn, beginning with the last question that Mark...
Ken Skates: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I welcome this opportunity today to update Members regarding a number of transport developments in Deeside. It goes without saying that, as a Government, we are absolutely determined to spread prosperity and support economic development across all parts of Wales. In March this year I launched my transport vision for north Wales and the north-east Wales...
Ken Skates: I thank Suzy Davies for her questions and assure her that steel-making jobs are our priority, not just for Port Talbot but for other sites across Wales. I’ll be seeking specific assurance over jobs within the procurement departments as well within the Welsh assets. In terms of other jobs that have been speculated over elsewhere, I think the unions have made clear that the vast majority of...
Ken Skates: Can I thank Dai Rees for his question and for the interest a number of Members have shown in this subject, not just today, but over many months and indeed years? I’d like to begin in responding to Dai Rees’s questions by putting on record my appreciation to the loyal, dedicated and skilled workers employed by Tata across Wales. They have shown incredible patience and loyalty. They have...
Ken Skates: Both I and the First Minister have spoken with Tata Steel UK CEO Bimlendra Jha about the announcement of the joint venture.
Ken Skates: Children can be exposed to higher levels of pollution when travelling to and from school than when on school grounds. I recently issued guidance instructing local authorities to give special consideration to the risks posed to children by air pollution, whether at home, in school or travelling between the two.
Ken Skates: Yes, absolutely. Wrexham Association Football Club have an incredible history that deserves to be recognised and promoted. I can also assure Members, because I heard on the opposition benches concerns expressed about whether this would be a national museum of Wales or just a football museum. We will be engaging the National Museum Wales in discussions and deliberations as part of the...
Ken Skates: Okay. Can I just assure the Member that the specification does state that the preferred location is in Wrexham or elsewhere in north Wales? I think it’s well recognised that north Wales would do well to have a sports museum or a football museum—a specialist football museum. It could potentially complement the football museum that exists in Manchester. Given that it’s a live procurement,...
Ken Skates: Yes. Can I thank the Member for this question? It’s very exciting. We are currently running a procurement exercise on Sell2Wales to appoint a contractor to complete a feasibility study on the football museum. The study is set to commence around the end of August and will be completed within six months.
Ken Skates: Can I thank Andrew R.T. Davies for his questions? Very important points were raised—the need to ensure that hubs operate in a way that generates sustainable growth. I envisage the hubs developing as opportunities for clustering and agglomeration in certain specialisms. So, it may be, for example, in Ebbw Vale, automotive. It may be, in another hub, based on house building. So, my view is...
Ken Skates: The Member is absolutely right, and I’ll just reiterate our strong disappointment that the DWP did not consult with Welsh Government ahead of the decision being made, without any alternative solutions being considered. And I know that the Minister has now met with the UK Government Minister, and I’m sure will be providing a written update to Members in the coming days on the discussions...
Ken Skates: Yes. Tomorrow, we will publish ‘Our Valleys, Our Future’, building on the work of the Valleys taskforce chaired by my colleague Alun Davies. In addition to this, we’ll continue to invest in skills, in infrastructure and in the right business environment for companies to flourish.
Ken Skates: Can I thank John Griffiths for his question? I know that he’s warmly welcomed the announcement by CAF of £30 million in his constituency, which will lead to the establishment of a fairly major manufacturing facility, employing 300 people. It’s worth saying that we managed to beat more than 100 locations around the world to secure this investment for Wales, once again stepping up and...
Ken Skates: Can I thank the Member for his question? He is absolutely right in that the lack of affordable, reliable, and frequent public transport is a major barrier preventing many people from gaining work. We know, based on all available statistics, that in the Growth Track 360 region of north Wales and the Mersey Dee area approximately a quarter of people who receive job interviews are not able to go...
Ken Skates: Can I thank the Member for his question, the keen interest he shows in this area, and the passion with which he speaks about the need to grow wealth in the aggregate as well as at a community level, making sure that we spread prosperity more evenly across Wales? In terms of activities since devolution, Wales has had the fifth highest increase in gross value added per head compared to the 12...
Ken Skates: Well, on measures of household incomes and wealth, Wales is not the poorest part of the UK. Nonetheless, we do need to improve wealth and well-being considerably. Therefore, we are taking a range of actions to deliver prosperity for all in Wales, including investing in skills and infrastructure and creating an environment where businesses can start up and grow.
Ken Skates: Can I thank Llyr for his question? I know he shares a very keen interest in this subject with my colleague Lesley Griffiths, and with the local Member of Parliament, Ian Lucas. I’m sure all of you would like to see, as I would, the Racecourse receive investment to become a more active and vibrant hub within the Wrexham community, but, indeed, in the wider region. My officials, I’m pleased...
Ken Skates: Can I thank Mark Isherwood for his question? I’m looking forward to joining him at Mold Blues and Soul Festival in August. Perhaps we could share a pint at the Alehouse or the Glasfryn afterwards. I’m sure it will be a magnificent event. Mold has carved out an enviable reputation in the region for hosting cultural food and drink and sporting events, and I’m sure that the Blues and Soul...
Ken Skates: Yes, very much so. I’m looking forward to being at Flint castle this very Friday, where we’ll reveal a world-class arts installation design, which I’m sure will capture the imagination not just of people in Flint but the people of north Wales and beyond. I’d also like to extend my best wishes to the Welsh team as they go out to the Rugby League World Cup. I’m sure that they will...
Ken Skates: Yes. This year we are supporting a range of sporting and cultural events in north Wales, including FOCUS Wales, Hijinx Unity Festival, RawFfest, the Good Life Experience, and Wales Rally GB. We wish to attract more major international events to Wales and are in ongoing discussions with partners in north Wales to identify new opportunities.
