3. Will the Cabinet Secretary provide an update on how his department is collaborating with the Office for National Statistics to increase economic development in Wales? OAQ(5)0182(EI)

We work closely with the ONS on a wide range of issues, including more recently discussions around the economic development potential of the new data science campus and the development of new data apprenticeships.

Thank you, Cabinet Secretary. Last month I attended the first ever Welsh data dive, hosted by the ONS—an event where data scientists, developers and designers, in their own time, worked with charities to help them use data to analyse their projects and the communities they support. In this case, they worked with SafeLives and Llamau. Building on this exciting work, there are many businesses, public and third sector organisations that will benefit from such co-operation in the future. Would the Cabinet Secretary and his officials encourage further collaborations in this area and explore ways it could support economic growth and improve local services?

Well, there are considerable opportunities that could stem from collaboration in this particular field. Data are now a vital part of the global economy, and it’s clear that innovative use of data drives economic growth. There are a number of challenges to be faced, but with those challenges there are huge opportunities: the storage of data, the exploitation and use of data, and also security and making sure that the storage is appropriately managed. I do think that Wales is uniquely placed to lead the way in this area. I think Newport has an incredible story to tell—it has a great narrative about how it is building an economic future on emerging digital technologies, so I think that’s something that we should all be applauding.

There’s also been a strong team ethic in and around Newport. I think the local council deserves to be applauded for their work in this field. It’s been a great honour to be able to work with stakeholders and partners in driving forward this particular agenda. And I do hope that through this investment in the development of new skills in this area, Wales will become a world leader in ethical data management.

Cabinet Secretary, can I welcome the fact that the ONS has now started to publish data at local authority level on two key measures of economic output and prosperity, that is gross value added and gross disposable household income. And I think there’s great potential, and I’d like the Welsh Government to say what they may do in this field, to ensure that, say, the Cardiff city deal—but it applies to other city regions—uses this information, and to measure their success in leading to economic prosperity and increase of wealth across the whole region. I think these are going to be key indicators.

I think the Member’s absolutely right. This provides us with an opportunity to measure and to test our resolve to ensure that we improve wealth, not just in the aggregate, but also at an individual level, and also improve levels of well-being in both the aggregate and individual levels, so that we reduce levels of inequality in both as well. And the presence of the ONS in Newport I think can help to contribute to our understanding of this agenda, and also to holding, not just Welsh Government but all public services, and, indeed, our partners in the private and the third sector, to account as we move towards creating prosperity for all.

I know the Cabinet Secretary’s department is aiming to increase economic development in Wales and move towards prosperity for all. But is he aware of the announcement made by Tesco today that it plans to close Tesco House in Cardiff North in my constituency, with the loss of 1,200 jobs, and that the call-centre work will be moving to Dundee, where they’ll be creating 200 jobs? This affects a lot of people in Cardiff North and in surrounding constituencies. It’s been there for many years; I’ve visited it on many occasions. What can the Cabinet Secretary do with this dismaying announcement?

Presiding Officer, I have received news from Tesco in the past 45 minutes, which is being acted upon immediately. I’ve instructed my officials to put together a package of support for those who could be affected, but we have also established a telephone conference call between Tesco, myself and the First Minister in the next hour.