5. Welsh Conservatives Debate: E-sports

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 3:31 pm on 8 May 2019.

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Photo of Rhun ap Iorwerth Rhun ap Iorwerth Plaid Cymru 3:31, 8 May 2019

(Translated)

You’re quite right, and I was going to come to that point, that this now has to be at the heart of what we offer to people in terms of opportunities—in education first of all, and then in business. What Wales needs to demonstrate, and why it’s so important that the Government does proceed to carry out specific research in this area, as the motion suggests, is that we are seeking a way to be innovative, that we are saying that Wales is eager to be in the vanguard. And, in order to do that, we must consider what’s happening out there, and consider carefully what we in Wales can achieve in setting an ambition.

I was in Scotland recently—doing a piece of work on electric vehicles, as it happens, and I will be publishing a report on that next week. I was in Dundee, where journalism was once the great industry—jute, jam and journalism were the three elements of the Dundee economy traditionally. But now the gaming industry is at the very heart of the excitement in Dundee at the moment, and Rockstar North, one of the major international companies in gaming, is a large local employer, and signals to us what can be achieved in making the right investment in the right place. As it happens, Dundee is also very innovative in terms of electric vehicles—that’s why I was there. And I think what we have there is a clear sign that, where you do have a community, or a town, or a nation such as Wales, deciding, 'This is something that we are determined to do', then it’s possible to aim towards that.

So, I do welcome the motion. Yes, it would be a shame if the Government’s amendment were to be passed. For example, it does note

'the significant investments made by the Welsh Government and its partners...that has helped establish a thriving Creative Industries sector in Wales.'

But we are talking here about a very specific sector within the creative industries in Wales, and we need specific investment for it. So, yes, it would be a shame if that amendment were to be passed, but as the Conservatives, as the movers of the main motion, do suggest that we should support an amended motion, if that is the case, then we will do likewise.