2. Urgent Question: Ministry of Defence Sites in Wales

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 2:21 pm on 8 November 2016.

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Photo of Carl Sargeant Carl Sargeant Labour 2:21, 8 November 2016

I thank the Member for his questions. I share his frustration and concern about the actions of the UK Government to remove the armed forces’ bases from Wales. The armed forces are valued in Wales, and they bring a lot of economic and social benefits to communities right across our communities—the Member alludes to many of them.

I will start a dialogue with the UK Government Minister with regard to the armed forces in terms of actions that I believe that they should take. I don’t believe they should just walk away from commitments in communities. The armed forces have been with us for many years, and they are very welcome here. I would like to be assured that the exit is not just for the armed forces but actually the support for the local community as well. The residence in the civilian life is an important one. I’ve already started discussions with the Cabinet Secretary for infrastructure with regard to joint working, with regard to economic regeneration. I know he is meeting with the leader in Pembrokeshire very shortly, and we’ll continue those discussions. But initially we have to start the dialogue with the UK Ministers in order to be fully appraised of the impact in timeline and exit plans that they have proposed.