<p>Questions Without Notice from Party Spokespeople</p>

Part of 2. 1. Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure – in the Senedd at 2:13 pm on 1 March 2017.

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Photo of Ken Skates Ken Skates Labour 2:13, 1 March 2017

I think the Member lets himself down with such cheap pot shots at the First Minister that do nothing to offer security to those workers. But, actually, what the First Minister has said in the past few minutes confirms that I have been speaking to the right person—the person that will make the decision about Ford. In terms of FDI projects, there’s been a 77 per cent increase in the number of projects and an 84 per cent increase in the number of jobs from companies that are headquartered elsewhere in the UK coming to Wales. We do have a very proud record of attracting investment to Wales, as shown by Aston Martin. As we leave the European Union, it will become more important that we work with businesses and investors in England, and that’s why I believe that exports—not just abroad, but also exports across the border to England, Scotland and Ireland—will become essential. I do think that we have to have the right balance between attracting inward investment and ensuring that we have more Welsh-based businesses and indigenous companies exporting outside of Wales. For that reason, we’ve been very clear that as we exit the European Union, we must have tariff-free and unfettered access to the single market. I am pleased—it has taken some time—but I am pleased that the UK Government is now talking of a free and frictionless relationship. I think this recognises that the Welsh Government has been right throughout to call for unfettered access that doesn’t have any tariff or technical barriers that prevent companies in Wales from exporting. But I do think, as a whole, exports will become more important to Wales’s economic growth and prosperity.