4. 2. Business Statement and Announcement

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 2:51 pm on 7 February 2017.

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Photo of Jane Hutt Jane Hutt Labour 2:51, 7 February 2017

Thank you to Andrew R.T. Davies for those questions. On the first point, of course, as the Cabinet Secretary of Finance and Local Government has assured this Assembly and Members over the past few weeks, he and his officials are working hard to ensure that we can get that early notice. We’re just into February, as you say, and I know that they are seeking to announce the ways in which local businesses will be able to access what is going to be a very important additional tranche of money over and above the transitional funding that was announced, of course, last autumn. So, I can assure you that that is progressing.

On your second point, I’m a bit confused about your second point, because there is inevitably a Welsh Government policy to decentralise when and where possible not only jobs that we have any control with, but also to encourage in terms of the sectors. You mentioned the financial services sector, and I think it is very welcome that the development bank is being located in another part of Wales, linking very closely, of course, with all our financial services and businesses. But I would hope that you would appreciate that the huge prize that Wales won of getting Aston Martin to St Athan, to Wales, is what we should be welcoming. I’m very glad that the Member actually did make that point.