3. Following his statement on 11 October, will the Minister confirm what funding will be available for the remaining European structural fund programmes from 2014 to 2020? OAQ(5)0034(FLG)[W]

Well, may I thank Simon Thomas for the question? Over the life of the programme from 2014 to 2020, around £1.9 billion is available through European structural funds in Wales—£855 million, namely 44 of that allocation, has already been committed. I expect the remaining £1 billion to be deployed to the maximum extent, although our ability to do so remains dependent on the UK Government’s timescales for leaving the European Union.

I thank the Cabinet Secretary for that response, and I tell him, of course, that we all hope that it will be possible to retain as much of this funding as possible within the pot for as long as possible. Now, may I draw his attention to one particularly successful scheme in Wales, which is the Sêr Cymru scheme, to attract researchers and scientists to Wales? The ‘Science’ magazine, over the past fortnight, has reported on the success of this scheme, which has attracted over 100 fellows to Wales and some 20 innovative researchers, which helps us to respond to things such as climate change, energy issues, and to respond to Brexit in the way that we look at the future of the agricultural industry, for example. So, what confirmation can the Minister give that projects such as Sêr Cymru will continue to be supported by the Government even after leaving the European Union?

Thank for that question. Of course, I acknowledge the excellent work that the Sêr Cymru programme undertakes. I had an opportunity, when I was responsible the health sector in Wales, to collaborate with Edwina Hart at the time on this programme and to try and attract people to life sciences in Wales and to do the excellent work that is carried out in Swansea.

Bydd cynllunio popeth rydym am ei wneud yng nghyd-destun gostyngiadau posibl yn y cyllid Ewropeaidd yn achosi rhai heriau, ond mae’r rhaglenni hynny sydd wedi dangos y fath lwyddiant yn siarad drostynt eu hunain o ran gwneud penderfyniad ynglŷn â’r adnoddau cyfyngedig, yn anochel, y gallwn eu darparu ar gyfer yr holl anghenion gwahanol rydym yn dymuno mynd i’r afael â hwy yng Nghymru.

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Ann Jones) took the Chair.

Will the Cabinet Secretary join with me in congratulating Swansea University on the development of a programme to extend research Master’s and engineering doctorates, working with some of the UK’s and world’s leading industrial companies? Surely it’s something that the Welsh economy desperately needs. This has been backed by European Union funding. What will happen after the European Union funding ends?

I was very pleased last week to be able to announce an additional £850,000 of European Union funding for the scheme that Mike Hedges refers to. Participating businesses in it include Tata Steel, BASF, the Royal Mint and others. They will be actively involved in formulating research projects based on the technological developments taking place within their industries. Our aim, as he knows, is to draw down the maximum possible of European funding while it is available to us. The Chancellor of the Exchequer’s announcement about the lifetime guarantee for schemes agreed prior to leaving the European Union is helpful in that way. I’m sure that this scheme will demonstrate its worth and we’ll then be able to argue for its continuation beyond the period of structural funding.