2. Urgent Question: The Circuit of Wales

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 2:24 pm on 8 February 2017.

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Photo of Ken Skates Ken Skates Labour 2:24, 8 February 2017

Can I thank Adam Price for his question and say—I’ll try to avoid motoring metaphors today—that, according to my officials, it does appear that the criteria—the two points that the Member has identified—have been met, so that’s why we’re in a position today to proceed with due diligence and consideration of the proposals before us? Nobody should ever fear due diligence that is carried out on behalf of Welsh Government or by Welsh Government. It’s my anticipation that the due diligence process will be pursued externally. I’ve never come across a situation personally in this role where I’ve shared commercial-in-confidence details of due diligence with opposition spokespeople, but I will happily look into this question that the Member raised, and come back to him with an answer. It may well be that we would also require permission from the Heads of the Valleys Development Company as well.

In terms of the considerations that will form the due diligence process, this will be carried out over the forthcoming weeks once we’ve got all of the information required. It will encompass all information that is being provided to Welsh Government. All of that information will be considered. We will follow the process that is normal for a project of this scale, and I’ve outlined, in the written statement, some of the points that will be examined as part of that process.

In terms of demand from potential investors for the technology park, well, of course, this will form part of the due diligence process and assessment of the likely demand and the likelihood of automotive clustering taking place. I can’t go into any details of the latest business plan that’s been submitted, I’m afraid, so I can’t give any details at this moment about what the exact proposals are concerning a potential automotive cluster, but that will form part of the due diligence process.