Ken Skates: Can I thank the Member for his comments and questions, and thank him, again, for chairing the committee’s inquiry into the new franchise? It was an excellent piece of work, a very thorough and comprehensive report. I’m looking forward to responding to it in full. Meanwhile, I think it’s fair to say that the recommendations are very much in tune with the Welsh Government’s aspirations...
Ken Skates: Diolch, Llywydd. Today, I would like to provide an update to Members on progress made with the Wales and borders rail service and metro procurement. Our vision is for a modern, efficient rail service, using modern technology and working practices to deliver considerable service improvements for passengers throughout Wales. This agenda brings with it undoubtable challenges, but also fantastic...
Ken Skates: In 2014, responsibility for the specification and procurement of the next Wales and borders rail service was transferred to the Welsh Government. In 2015, we established a not-for-profit company, Transport for Wales, to help advise and support us with public transport projects, in particular to help procure rail services. Presently, its focus is procuring the Wales and borders rail services...
Ken Skates: I’d reject many of the claims made by the Member. The rescue and restructure fund that was utilised in this instance did carry an interest rate of 11 per cent, but that fund was required because there was limited scope elsewhere to draw down the necessary resources to keep the company afloat during that difficult time. No without-prejudice—and I’ll state it again: no without-prejudice...
Ken Skates: Yes, absolutely. I give my undertaking to ensure that officials continue to work with the company, with the bank and with Grant Thornton to do all that we can to save the company and also the jobs that are taken by very skilled people—approximately 50 people—who are employed at the site. I should say, as well, that the support that we were able to assist with through Finance Wales was via...
Ken Skates: Can I thank the Member for his question and his concern, which is shared by many other Members in this Chamber? Indeed, the local Member Jayne Bryant has discussed her concerns over the future of the company with me on numerous occasions and made very strong representations. Essentially, I think it would be inappropriate for me to comment or speculate over the viability of the company were...
Ken Skates: Yes. My officials have been in dialogue with the company since the flooding of the premises occurred. On 10 July, we were notified that the company intended to enter into administration, but we stand ready to help in whatever way we can.
Ken Skates: I sincerely hope that the leader of your party doesn’t get her way and stops nuclear energy in Wales. I sincerely hope, for the people of Ynys Môn and the whole of north Wales, that the facility is built. The fact of the matter is that the economy of the region is also built on a strong tourism base, and tourism in north Wales right now is experiencing record success, and it’s also based...
Ken Skates: Well, there is a need, absolutely, to ensure that there are better communications and that the growth deals and the city deals of Wales align with one another, and that they’re not competing with one another. But the reality is that much of the economic relationship that exists between the north of Wales and the north-west of England is driven by similar sectoral interests. And, for that...
Ken Skates: Yes, of course, I’d be delighted.
Ken Skates: The Member may have neglected to recognise the fact that we’ve now had seven years of crippling austerity, something that, in this Chamber, he is a cheerleader for, but out in north Wales he’s rather a crocodile-tear apologist for. The fact is we are suffering at the hands of Treasury Ministers in Westminster who belong to your party. Now, both Huw and David, and, I think as well,...
Ken Skates: Thank you, Presiding Officer. Can I start by thanking the Welsh Conservatives for bringing forward this debate today, and for giving me the chance to respond? I’d like to thank in particular David Melding for his positive, forward-looking contribution. He talked about how regeneration cannot be delivered by a silver bullet, and must be delivered at least with the community that it is...
Ken Skates: Formally.
Ken Skates: Can I thank Dai Lloyd again for bringing this issue to the Chamber’s attention? I am most sympathetic to the current uncertainty regarding ‘Y Cymro’. I actually started my journalistic career working alongside journalists on ‘Y Cymro’ back in the days when it was owned by North Wales Newspapers and based out of headquarters in Mold. It has had for many years incredible, committed,...
Ken Skates: Thank you. ‘Y Cymro’ is funded through the Welsh Books Council, and I’d strongly advise any interested parties to discuss any future support with the Welsh Books Council. The Welsh Government does not get involved in the Welsh Books Council’s funding decisions.
Ken Skates: Can I thank Rhianon Passmore for her contribution and pay tribute to her keen interest in this subject since being elected to the National Assembly last year? She’s passionate, clearly, about the historic environment, and in particular the historic assets within her constituency. I’d also like to pay tribute to the volunteers of the colliery. I think they do a magnificent job. Not only...
Ken Skates: Can I thank the Member for her contribution and for her questions? Joyce Watson is a great promoter of Harlech castle, a great promoter of the region, of the town itself, and also a great champion of the natural environment and wildlife tourism, which we also know is a huge contributor to the Welsh economy. I’d also like to pay tribute to the keen interest that Joyce Watson has shown in the...
Ken Skates: Yes. Can I thank the Member for his contribution and his questions? I agree that it’s my fault that the consent regime for scheduling monuments and listing buildings in transparent, it’s open to scrutiny and that it’s transparent, and for that reason we’ve endeavoured to make sure that those who could be affected by the scheduling of a monument or the listing of a building do have the...
Ken Skates: Can I thank Dai Lloyd for his contribution and his questions? I think he’s absolutely right to raise the issue of buildings that are at risk but not necessarily requiring urgent work. I’ve already outlined why I think that there’s no magic bullet for dealing with buildings at risk, whether in the long term, the medium term or immediately. But local planning authorities for those...
Ken Skates: I’d like to thank Paul Davies for his contribution and for his questions, and, indeed, all Members in the Chamber, for the keen interest that has been shown in the development of this legislation over quite a lengthy period of time of their continued interest in the subject matter. The historic environment is crucially important, not just to national and community pride, but also to the...
