Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 3:22 pm on 12 December 2017.
I'd like to start by congratulating you, Cabinet Secretary, on the publication of your long-awaited economic action plan, and looking at the way it's cross-cutting across all aspects of Government, I think it very much was worth the wait.
I welcome, in particular, the commitment to develop new structures to support the key foundational aspects of the Welsh economy. This is something that I, along with other backbench Labour AMs, have been calling for for some time. With around four in 10 Welsh jobs being based in the foundational economy, this area, I would argue, has never yet been properly integrated into Welsh economic policy. So, I'm very glad that you have redressed this.
I have two questions for you today. Firstly, we know that there can be challenges around the quality of jobs in these foundational sectors. How do you plan to work with foundational employers to improve the social ask of their firms and enhance their employment offer? And secondly, I welcome your reference to simplifying business support structures too. I know that evidence already heard as part of the cross-party group inquiry on small shops into entrepreneurship has strongly supported this, but what can the Welsh Government do around supporting those entrepreneurs who may have a great idea but who lack the time, capacity or skills to apply for funding?