<p>Relations between the Welsh and Qatari Governments</p>

Part of 3. 3. Topical Questions – in the Senedd at 2:18 pm on 7 June 2017.

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Photo of Jane Hutt Jane Hutt Labour 2:18, 7 June 2017

Of course, as Steffan Lewis knows, and has said, Qatar has substantial investments in the UK, including in Wales, notably the LNG terminal at Milford Haven. I think that, in terms of your second point—the development of the service and the direct link between the airports and airlines—it’s a huge boost to Wales and it does provide that direct route into one of the world’s fastest growing hub airports, and opens up Wales’s links with the rest of the world, as you say. In fact, in April, Cardiff Airport secured a commercial deal with Qatar Airways to launch this new direct route to Doha, and flights are expected to begin operating in the spring of 2018.

Clearly, in terms of the wider issues that you mention in terms of human rights, I think it is important, again, that I state that the Welsh Government is a strong supporter, for example, of LGBT rights. We expect all people in Wales and across the world, regardless of their sexuality, to be treated equally. And, of course, our strong support for Stonewall Cymru to help build a Wales where people are free to be themselves, prejudice is challenged and our laws protect LGBT people is widely known and respected across the world.