5. Urgent Question: Heathrow

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 3:47 pm on 1 November 2016.

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Photo of Ken Skates Ken Skates Labour 3:47, 1 November 2016

Well, I’m pretty surprised by the Member’s attitude on this issue, given that he could surely have been saying more regarding the big infrastructure projects that I outlined in my answer to Simon Thomas, especially concerning the western rail link to Heathrow, which should be delivered, which I would hope he would call on the UK Government to deliver, including the electrification of the north Wales main line, which I would hope he would call on the UK Government to deliver, including abolition of the Severn tolls over the River Severn. Again, all of these important points are within the control of the UK Government, so I would hope that he would actually criticise those who are responsible for failing to deliver the goods for Wales.

In terms of Heathrow Airport, as I said to Simon Thomas, we’ve already been conducting a major marketing exercise, which the Scottish now seem to be wishing to embark on. We’ve already been conducting that and, as a result of that, we’ve got record numbers of tourists coming to Wales; we’ve got a record number of people now using Cardiff Airport; we’ve got a new air link between Cardiff and the City of London as well. And in terms of the other areas of the memorandum of understanding, we’ll be having supplier events as well in Wales, not just in Cardiff, but it’s my aim to make sure that we have supplier events elsewhere in Wales. So, in terms of the memorandum of understanding, as I said, I aim to ensure that it is proportionate to that which Scotland has, and, on 22 November, my officials will be meeting again with Heathrow to discuss the basis of that memorandum.