Part of 1. Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Planning and Rural Affairs – in the Senedd at 1:34 pm on 13 June 2018.
I've just come from a meeting of the cross-party group on sustainable energy, which I chair, and which is highly recommended to all Members, I'm sure you'd agree, Cabinet Secretary. But, amongst the presentations that we had was one about the work of the National Research Network for Low Carbon Energy and Environment, which is funded by the Welsh Government. Amongst a number of research clusters that this network has established is one particularly on marine energy, which clearly contributes importantly to innovation and research in this area. Now, funding for the network is coming to an end in December; there is no succession plan, from what I understand. The network has built up a great momentum—it has attracted renowned researchers from across the world, who are now leaving because they don't see a future for that particular network. So, given the importance of the work that they do in this particular sector, which is particularly promising for us here in Wales, what discussions are you having with Government colleagues to see what the Government can do to ensure that this Welsh Government-funded network continues with this work?